Becoming Wilkinson
When I started this podcast, I thought it would be the story of my journey from married man with three sons, involved in ministry in the NW, to my current life as a gay man in Palm Springs, CA. I'd weave in interesting interviews with amazing people whom I've met along the way. But as the podcast has evolved, I realized that interacting and hearing other people's stories has changed me. The Universe always sends me just the right person at just the right time to guide me along my own journey of "Becoming". Join me as I have conversations with these fascinating people and share this journey with you.
Becoming Wilkinson
After his husband was murdered by a mentally ill neighbor, he became a champion for getting people with mental health issues the help that they need.
In Joseph's own words:
"I grew up in a large Catholic Family in the 60s and 70s. My family has a long history of depression, suicide and addiction and I not only navigated my parent’s battles, but as an adult lived with my own. I started singing as a child and at the age of 13 sang with the MN Orchestra in the nationally known Metropolitan Boy’s Choir. I met my husband during my 40th birthday weekend and married him on my 43rd Birthday. He told me the first night we met that he had a mental illness, but he was managing it successfully. I was profoundly and deeply in love with him throughout our marriage and I think he felt the same about me. Two weeks after we took our 16th Anniversary roadtrip vacation, he was murdered by our mentally ill neighbor. My life exploded and I almost killed myself with alcohol. Luckily, with mass amounts of support I sobered up and dealt with my grief by helping to pass historic mental health legislation in the state of MN. I formed a foundation in my husband’s name (ThePaulJamesPfeiferFoundation.org) to advocate for those suffering with a mental illness and use my lifelong passion for singing and story telling to raise $ for that foundation. I continue to live in MN, but also own a home in Palm Springs (paradise) California".
More info: http://www.thepauljamespfeiferfoundation.org
Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024
Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.
To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com