Behind the Mic: Where Real Voices Bring Truth to the Table

Ever wondered who the voices behind The Blinded Truth Podcast really are?

In this special episode, hosts Destinnee Vance and Eric Foster step out from behind the questions and into the spotlight to share the heart behind the mic. They open up about their why, their purpose, and the real life experiences that inspired them to create a platform dedicated to truth, healing, recovery, and real conversations.

From lived experiences with addiction, grief, trauma, and redemption, to the passion for creating a space where people can share their authentic stories, Destinnee and Eric break down what The Blinded Truth Podcast truly represents.

This episode is about more than just a podcast. It is about building a community where voices that have been overlooked, misunderstood, or silenced finally have a place to be heard.

If you have ever struggled, overcome obstacles, or wondered how purpose can grow from pain, this conversation will remind you that your story matters and your truth has power.

Tune in to learn:
 • The personal stories behind Destinnee and Eric
 • Why they started The Blinded Truth Podcast
 • The mission to amplify voices and real life experiences
 • How storytelling can create healing and connection
 • The vision for the future of the podcast and the community

Join the conversation and be part of a movement where truth meets purpose and stories create impact.

🎙️ Want to be a guest on The Blinded Truth?
 Send Destinnee Vance a message on PodMatch here:
 https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17695346051615228f0999724

Be sure to include the term PodMatch or use #PodMatch on your episode posts on social media and around the web.

If this episode speaks to you, make sure to LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE so we can continue bringing powerful stories and real conversations to the table.

Because when you walk in your truth, purpose and passion align.

And remember… your destiny is by choice, not by chance.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:03

So we're gonna start with probably the single most important question of this particular episode.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Who are we gonna ask you to, but who are um that's a good question because I got so many layers. I'm a mom, I am a daughter, I'm a registered crisis certified peer recovery specialist, um, which their title will end obviously because then I will be a social worker. Um I am a deaconess in the church. I don't lead with that because this goes back to our episode we just did. Who our title doesn't make us who we are? I'm obviously focused. Sorry. Um I'm somebody that cares. Um I'm very caring and I've I've been told as a visionary, and I'm starting to learn it.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

Who are you? I I will say that I am a um unapologetic black man in America that um loves his people, loves himself, and just has a heart for the people who it's less than that society says. And uh it's a caring guy, man, you know. And I think a lot of times I would confuse what I do to with who I am, you know, and and I can't do that. And it's only because on most days I'm far from what I do, you know. Um I'm so far from it, or I don't even um think about it anymore because the help is just like always there because like my new job, I do more peer work there than I did in my old job, and I'm not getting paid to be a peer, so it's to say that black man in America trying to make some change, you know, quite a good fight.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

So, where does your passion for uh for healing and truth? Where does that come from?

SPEAKER_02 2:35

It it comes from my life experiences, you know. My dad uh died when I was 14 from um at the time I didn't know, but HIV complications. Um and he was very stubborn. He was like, I ain't taking medicine, I ain't doing anything. Um and so he passed away very quickly from that. Um, and then in 2012, I was six months pregnant with my oldest son, and my oldest brother had committed suicide. Um, and I I didn't quite understand at the moment why, because I had just talked with him. He had just told me, you know, I I had had complications with Josiah, and he had told me I need you to get through the back, the finish line, because he had knew I had had miscarriages and stuff, and he had now I know he was doing the cleanup, what they considered the cleanup. Um, because he had he was just telling me all this stuff, um which thinking back to it, I I'm like he knew he knew a lot of a lot of things I didn't know. And then um three years ago, I lost my youngest brother to overdose to Sussex Two president, and so a lot of the things that those are some of the events I had been through, but like what I do now with working with adolescents and IOP, I've been there before. Having to get drug tested, having to go to the courts, um, being in the justice system, then um, you know, being sexually abused when I was younger. I mean, it's just several different things that have shaped me into why I do what I do because there was things that at the moment I didn't quite understand why I was going through it or why it was happening, and then seeing like to help other people. Um, I think what really showed me like I'm having to go through this was when I I came out with my very first video after going through chemotherapy, and I had so many people call me and message me and they said I'm going through this. I'm going through the same thing. Um I'm I'm I I wanted to commit suicide. I wanted and I was like, okay. So it really um shaped me and and want me to help other people basically be like, you know how you I've been there before. I I know what that I know what that feels like.

SPEAKER_01 5:46

So Eric, how would you say your personal life experiences have shaped the way you see growth and human?

SPEAKER_00 5:56

All right, I was for the first 13 years of my life, I was raised in the project. Okay, I my mom moved into an all-white neighborhood and my life changed. Um all my friends that were black became white, and all my friends that were black, once I started hanging with the white guys, turned it back on me. Um, and it was the nickname white boy and all that stuff, you know, that comes with that because the thing is I used to like I don't longer like because of my environment. And started listening, you know, heavy metal, riding bikes and stuff like that. And not knowing how to deal with um being, I guess you can say being bullied to a certain extent, I turned it uh the drugs uh early, drinking and smoking weed and stuff. And that shifted my whole perspective, I believe, at that moment because the world that I saw, I don't know how anymore. Um and I started seeing things from uh a different lens, like my best friend Jamie, his mom, he's a white kid, he was a white kid. His mom loved me just like my mom loved me, you know. Um I remember one time I was in the the the police was messing with us, and out of all the people, they arrested me. And she went and opened the back door to get out, you know, go home. I was like, whoa, you know what I mean? And then, you know, not knowing how to, I guess, adjust and in my own skin and be who I really wanted to be because of being judge. I I wore a mask for so long, man, you know, and then when I got to the point where I didn't care, I started living my life and uh just doing what I felt like I wanted to do for me, you know, and then it just changed how everything around me changed to make me who I am, you know, all the pain and all the um ups and downs and like dating women in their 30s when I'm 15 and 16, you know, um going to jail, going to prison, um ODing, uh my uncle giving me heroin, um taking LSD in school, whatever, you know, it's just like all those situations where they're not good situations, but it had to make me the person I am, you know. And and and to be completely honest, as bad as it was, I wouldn't change a thing about it. Uh because I say if I change one thing, I'll change who I am. You know, um, and I think it is made me more aware and me more um willing to listen to other people going through what they're going through. Because it's a it's a it's a hell of a feeling when you feel like you're uh alone and and you're hopeless, you know. And um I seen my mom get abused by her boyfriend one time. I was like eight years old and I couldn't help her. And every time I feel hopeless, that plays in my head. And I just I feel like everything happens for a reason, you know, and you know, it made me so that I care for people. Um I don't abuse women, you know, I don't abuse kids, you know. I don't, I don't, I don't verbal or physical abuse, no, but you know, I don't try to make nobody feel less than because I know how that feels. Even even with people like that I don't like, I still wouldn't do it, you know. I I I I I refuse to allow um a person to make me someone like who I'm not, you know. So I like experiences like the best thing that ever happened to me.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

So this is a question for you both. What does the word truth mean to you personally?

SPEAKER_02 10:21

It's it's I feel like it's the realism of the real. It's it's who you are, whether it's good or bad. Um the facts is like the facts are is there. You can't deviate from the truth.

SPEAKER_00 10:47

Um saying that says um the truth don't need to kickstand, it's gonna stand up by itself. Um and it's it's it always goes back to darkness and light for me. Um because the truth will shine, it may take a a little longer, but once it does, it it can't go back to the darkness, you know. Um, and people have a hard time with the truth, you know. And sometimes I do too because of feeling um not I don't want to hurt somebody else, you know. Um it isn't the consequence of the actions that may come from it. It's just that are they ready for it? You know, um, because I I sometimes I be questioning myself, like, do you really want to know about certain stuff? Because once the blind is gone, you can't go understand it. You know, like once you know, you know, you can't go back unknowing. So, but I do know the truth really is such a free man, regardless of how it looks, you know what I'm saying? That's true. Um, and it's the most time the truth is better than telling a lie because it's less painful and you can get to work on it, you know, regardless of where you're at with it, because if you tell a lie about it, uh can't come back from it. But I do have a problem with it's not telling the truth, it's a problem with leaving out a lot of the information. You know, it people can still consider it me telling a lie, but I'm not lying, I'm just not telling you everything. Right, right, you know, and it makes it seem like a line, right? But omitting just a few things that we'll alter the story, I don't know which way, but it's like I'm not gonna volunteer this information if I don't have to. Right. But then they find out about it, and like, why you ain't tell me? It's like I didn't think it was important, right, right. You know, I think you still got the just the story without me giving you things. And it is it is not for the be malice or uh addictive, it's just to be a need-to-know thing, like this is what's going on, this is happening. And if I think you really, really need to know it, I'm gonna tell you. But if I don't, if I can get through it without you knowing everything that really don't matter no way, I'm gonna hold some of it back. You know, get straight to the point, and I'm gonna give it to you. Truth is, I like people who have similar thoughts about the truth and being just like intentional with whatever they're doing, you know. Um not hiding stuff for or have a hidden agendas. I hate that. I I don't never have a hidden agenda and nothing I do because it's don't sit right with me, you know. So I try to surround myself with people who pretty much similar to me, you know, um don't lie, don't steal, don't hurt, you know, um and just try to heal, you know, heal people, heal each other, uh, and just build off of that, man, because I just like going on.

SPEAKER_01 14:00

What problem would you say this podcast exists to solve?

SPEAKER_02 14:11

I would say the I would say it would be what's in the the title, exposing the truth, and and uh allowing a space for people to speak their truth without being judged and have a place to heal. A lot of people don't have that space or place to heal and and not have a platform that they can authentically be theirself. Um a lot of people say they have that that space or they have that platform or they have, you know, are able to do that, but they really don't. Um because I think the one of the great things that we do allow is you don't have to be on camera if you don't want to be on camera. And you can and you can speak your truth without being sued being judged. You don't even have to, we don't even have to put your name out there. You can tell us your name is Bubbles. Well, bubbles, tell us tell us about what happened. And and still be able to speak that and and and be able to heal without being judged.

SPEAKER_00 15:26

Okay. I think the problem, I think the problem most of the time is people getting misinformation. Um not given the information that's gonna allow them to heal, to grow, to change. Um, and most of the time you hear stuff that is about people, but it's not about me. You know, um I I I can see the thin line between when somebody's talking about a subject and I'm not involved in it, you know. Um because it's this it has nothing to do with color, it's just it has something to do with choices people like me have made. You know, um, so we all are in the room, there's no color there, it's a bunch of issues that we have the answers for, but no one wants to listen to us, you know, because most of the time these people have gone to all these colleges and got this book knowledge. But everybody in that room has lived through everything that they're talking about and can give them the right information to help somebody else. So, me personally, I'm trying to be the person that if you have a problem, you can reach out. You know, if you if you see me somewhere and you want to talk, pull up on. You know, um I I just want to be dependable and I just want this this to be a place, a safe, safe place.

SPEAKER_01 17:00

So in this day and age where subject matters such as what we or what you're gonna cover on the podcast is often straight away from you know, people kind of tippy toe around the truth. That is what makes you what is it about it that makes you feel or realize that these conversations are important to have? Because so many people don't want to have these conversations where you're giving people that safe space to say, hey, this is your platform, like let it talk, let it out. What is what about it makes you say, you know, it's necessary that we have these conversations and not straight away like most of society does, just like brush that off to the side, we're not gonna touch that. But why?

SPEAKER_02 17:46

I I'm about to say, and I I can stick for the both of us, and correct me if I'm wrong, we we don't mind pushing the envelope. I've always touched it, me. Like if it's something where someone is kind of like, I don't want to touch the subject. Well, I'm gonna touch the subject and we can talk about it, and at the end of the day, I'm gonna do it in a tactful way. Right. But I think there's so many people saying they want to make a difference, make a difference, make a difference, but they don't want to deal with the repercussions of coming from that. I don't care if you don't like me because I'm talking about the subjects that we're talking about: recovery, sexual abuse, addiction, whatever. I don't care if you don't like me. That sounds like you got something that you might want to deal with and you you need to deal with. It takes me back to kind of like the black household where it's like what happens in this house stays in this house. We gotta stop getting out and doing that because there's stuff going on in the house that is causing problems with people and they're not healing, and then they get out into the world and they don't know how to communicate or they don't know how to express their feelings, they don't know how to say what you did or what you said to me bothered me because everything y'all did going on in the household stayed in the household. So I think what makes us unique is that we don't we don't care what you feel or what you think about what we're talking about, you can either press prayer or you can keep scrolling. And I say that respectfully because I'm not in the business of plea people pleasing. I did that for years where it was like, I don't want to do this, I don't want to do that because it's gonna hurt somebody's feelings. I really don't care about your feelings at this point. When I have people that we I literally see on a day-to-day basis that are suffering, I'm working with kids that are suffering. So I really don't care if you if you have a problem with it, you can go write about it, journal about it, you know, talk about it on your podcast. I don't care. But when I have people that are suffering and I get the reports of who done committed suicide, who's in the hospital because of a dick they are going through psychosis or they children trying to jump off buildings and stuff, I don't really care. So I I I think that's what makes us unique is because we we don't care about how you feel about what we're talking about. You can either press play or keep it moving.

SPEAKER_01 20:30

That's good. Anything you want to add?

SPEAKER_00 20:36

I mean, she said a lot, didn't she? Um, but for me, just a little bit. Um I want to be, I want to say maybe the voice for the people, um, especially for being that uh are afraid to uh be vulnerable, be transparent, um, and and tell the whole world like this is what happened to me, this is what's going on, this is what I had to do, you know, because a lot of a lot of times we're afraid of being judged. You know, um, you know, then you got shame and guilt, all that that plays apart. Of course. And you know, you got it's a lot to work through, man. It's not an easy process. Um, I go to therapy, you know, and it and I say that like because a lot of black men would not go to therapy because of men don't suppose to cry, right, you know, all that that wild stuff that we were taught. Yep. Until you find yourself um backed up in a corner, not knowing what to do, thinking it's easier to take your life than to live. You know, and it is this is crazy because one day, and then in my madness, man, I'm walking down the street, I get to a bridge, and And I look over the bridge and I wanted to jump. I really, I really wanted to jump. And the only reason I didn't jump is because I thought about my mom, right? So fast forward a few weeks later, I walk across the same bridge, but this time they had put big fences up. So you can't jump. So and and and that's the only time I've ever thought about suicide. Wow. So, you know, we're not alone. You know, that's why you know like every time I see that you are enough thing saying, it registers with me. I don't have, I don't I haven't had a lot of uh suicidal thoughts, but that one time scared me so bad that I knew that could easily be me. That one time was enough. Yeah. Because you know, it's like if I would have jumped, I don't know if I would have died, you know? I'd ought to been hurt. Yeah. And it was like with cars, trucks coming through, so I probably I know I probably would have died, but it wouldn't have been the fall that killed me. It would have been the pain that I would give my mom that would have killed me. You know? It's just just to be just to be a voice for us.

SPEAKER_01 23:21

Okay. And what what responsibility do you feel when telling somebody else's story? Because again, we're talking delicate stuff. We're talking trauma, we're talking pain, we're talking hurt. What personal responsibility do you feel? Like you said, you don't have to be on camera, you don't have to tell us your real name, but there's something in there that's like the story needs to be heard. What responsibility do you feel?

SPEAKER_02 23:47

The truth.

unknown 23:48

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 23:49

They're their truth, and and making sure that it's it's their truth. It could be somebody else can listen to them and be like, I remember that situation, but I remember this that this is not your truth. This is their truth. Yeah, this is what they they experience. Okay. Um, and making sure that it's not about us, it's about them. It's not, you know, it's not about how I look that day, it's about how can I help still so best support you while you're telling the story.

SPEAKER_01 24:28

Okay. What do you hope people get from this? Maybe, maybe not even folks that are giving their story, but a casual viewer that sits down and and just comes across an episode of yours and they're like, hmm, seems interesting. What do you hope they gather from these stories of truth?

SPEAKER_00 24:50

These stories of you know what they should get is I hope that anything is possible. You know, um three years ago, I came up here in the rehab with um a backpack, a suitcase, and two pants. No job, facing 20 years in prison, um coming from being homeless, strong out, to coming up almost three years clean, um, meeting great people, um having a business partner, you know, uh how she's helped, she saw something when I was in treatment that I didn't see, you know, because she had got me to start um mentoring kids. Yeah, and that was spun all this out. And it's just, man, if you give up, you never know. So true. You know, and it's just it'd be so sometimes emotional for me. Like I'd be in the car going to work, whatever, and I just start crying. Because I remember a time where I would be walking down the street three, four, five o'clock in the morning, and it's 15 degrees below zero or whatever, and aimlessly not knowing where I was going. You know, and I got purpose now. Yeah, you know, and you know, a purpose-driven life is something that I didn't think that I would ever have. So if a person sees this, and they don't have to be a drug addict, they don't have to have a mental issue, they just gotta have a problem with what they can do. And hopefully we can inspire just one person, you know. Like you said last night we were talking, man. We just inspire one person. The job is a job. And and just to be like, we're not this isn't not about us, it's about the person who we talk to. And and and most of the time, I believe they help me more than I help them.

SPEAKER_02 27:03

Yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_00 27:05

It just it just iron shopping time. And even if we was gonna put it on on a uh on social media or whatever, I feel like they would still need to tell their story. Like it's just for us to just sit down and just have a conversation. They can be like, we don't want to be in front of the camera, we don't want to record it, we just want to have a conversation. I'm cool with that.

SPEAKER_01 27:28

I think it's good. So I think I want to close with this one. This is for both of you. If somebody looks at this episode and they're going through heartbreak, they're going through addiction, they're going through grief right now in this moment as they're watching this episode. What message do you want to deliver to them? Because I heard you say very clearly the podcast is here to deliver hope. But for that person who's watching this right now who has lost hope, what's your message to them through this podcast right here in this moment?

SPEAKER_02 28:03

I would have to say don't give up. Do not. I know that you probably have already given up. So what I need you to do is take a nap, and I need you to get back up, and after you take a nap, get back with it because I promise you, in that moment, like this moment right now, is not your forever. The right now is not your forever. And just take a nap. Just take a nap and get back up and start it again. I promise you, you have a whole different way of thinking. Um, because there's there's been moments where, you know, this week, I was like, you know what? I'm good. And I took a nap. Do what you gotta do. I don't care if you gotta take clothes off, get one with the the bed, take a nap, and then start back up again. Because if not, if you keep dwelling in the right now, I promise you your future. It's it's it's not gonna happen, but take a nap. And then get back up and be the boss that you are. That that's that's what you sometimes you need that reset to remember who you are, and and sometimes taking a nap, it can do some things that you need to do to take place, and we just have to remember who we are, and we have to remember that our right now moment is not the end all end off, and I know it's hard, I know, I know, I know. And there's moments where it's like, but right now, and that's the thing, right now, like at 12 o'clock or whatever time you're watching is right now, but that doesn't mean it's gonna be like it at five o'clock. That doesn't mean it's gonna be like it at 7 17 p.m. It's just not take a nap and then get back up and revamp. And even if they remember, if that means you're not dealing with whatever you're dealing with right now, when you get back up, you go to the next task and be like, I can't deal with that right now. That's okay. But as long as you know that here right now, it's not what it's gonna be an hour from now, a day from now, a week from now, a month from now. It's just not not. We got somebody that needs help.

SPEAKER_00 30:54

Okay, this camera right here. You know, on the tons of where my camera at sit, where my camera at? Well, I always want to do that. Um a baseball game has nine endings, yeah. And we're only in the dirt. Okay, so pick yourself up, dust yourself off, go get you some water, and when it's time to get back at your bed, swing for the fence. Just keep your eye on the ball, and I promise you, you hit a hard one. I have. Let's play ball.

SPEAKER_01 31:36

That's a perfect place to end this, Destiny Eric. Thank you. Take your opportunity, plug the podcast, let them know when to expect it dropping. When are we launching?

SPEAKER_02 31:47

We are launching on next week. We are launching on next week. We have a couple things that we get to good put out there for you all, and we're really excited for it. Um, we're just wanting to help people, and we're really excited that we finally get to do a a lot, just a long time coming.

SPEAKER_00 32:15

And before we go, I just want to thank you, Bear, uh, and your assistant uh for being with us and helping us out through this process. Um, a lot of knowledge. Um, he's showing us a lot, man, and um it's always genuine. Uh I just want to thank you personally.

SPEAKER_01 32:33

Welcome, thank you, ladies and gentlemen. The blinded truth podcast coming everywhere streaming is available. So you don't have an excuse, you won't miss it. Tune in, you will be changed.

SPEAKER_02 32:45

Yes, thank you.