Behind Beautiful Things

In this week’s episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin sits down with Jasmin, the Chief Growth Officer at CHOW—a nonprofit dedicated to supporting mental health and overall wellness in the hospitality and service industry. Jasmin opens up about her journey as a chef, the mental health challenges she faced in the kitchen, and how those experiences led her to CHOW’s mission of providing community, resources, and real support for hospitality professionals. Together, Kevin and Jasmin dive into the importance of mental health in food service, the impact of shared stories, and why taking therapy seriously has transformed her life and leadership. Jasmin also shares how CHOW is working to reduce burnout, stress, and the unique pressures facing chefs, servers, bartenders, and all industry workers. If you’re passionate about hospitality, wellness, or the power of community, you won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation. Tune in now! Check out CHOW’s website: http://www.chowco.org/ Behind Beautiful Things Website: www.sadtimespodcast.com Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373292146649249 Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Instagram: @behindbeautifulthingspodcast Learn more about Kevin’s Professional Speaking and Acting at www.kevincrispin.com Check out Kevin’s substack: https://allconviction.substack.com Get your very own “Sad Schwag”: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51/albums/253388-sad-times-podcast?ref_id=9022 Editorial note: Behind Beautiful Things is committed to sharing various stories from generous guests. The hope is to allow any number of stories to be shared to help people feel less alone and, perhaps, more empathetic. It is important to clarify that the guests’ stories, perspectives, and sentiments do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Behind Beautiful Things in any way. Please note that Behind Beautiful Things is in no way a substitute for medical or professional mental health support. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week’s episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin sits down with Shawn, author of F*ck Happiness: The Search for Meaning in a World Gone Mad Chasing Happiness*. Shawn shares his powerful life story—from growing up in Chicago and working long hours in a steel factory to navigating serious mental health challenges that shaped his early adulthood. Kevin and Shawn explore how Shawn took a bold leap of faith, moving to Los Angeles to launch his own talent agency and building it from the ground up. As his career progressed, an unexpected personal tragedy changed the course of his life and set him on a new journey of purpose and self-discovery. If you’re interested in personal growth, mental health, resilience, and the pursuit of meaning over happiness, this episode offers an inspiring and deeply human conversation. Please join us! Please note: This episode contains discussions about suicide. Please take care while listening. Check out Shawn’s website: https://www.shawnleonnowotnik.com/ Behind Beautiful Things Website: www.sadtimespodcast.com Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373292146649249 Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Instagram: @behindbeautifulthingspodcast Learn more about Kevin’s Professional Speaking and Acting at www.kevincrispin.com Check out Kevin’s substack: https://allconviction.substack.com Get your very own “Sad Schwag”: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51/albums/253388-sad-times-podcast?ref_id=9022 Editorial note: Behind Beautiful Things is committed to sharing various stories from generous guests. The hope is to allow any number of stories to be shared to help people feel less alone and, perhaps, more empathetic. It is important to clarify that the guests’ stories, perspectives, and sentiments do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Behind Beautiful Things in any way. Please note that Behind Beautiful Things is in no way a substitute for medical or professional mental health support. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week’s episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin welcomes Pamela, acclaimed author of When You Look Like Us and This Town Is on Fire. In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, Pamela opens up about her childhood, her lifelong journey with anxiety, the challenges and triumphs of raising her child as a single mother, and the passion behind her powerful work as an author. With honesty and warmth, Pamela shares the personal experiences that shaped her voice, fueled her creativity, and helped her navigate both struggle and success. This episode offers encouragement for listeners facing anxiety, single parenthood, or anyone pursuing a creative path. Join us for an insightful, uplifting discussion that celebrates resilience, storytelling, and the beauty that emerges from life’s hardest moments. Check out Pamela’s work: •           https://www.pamharriswrites.com/ •           https://www.instagram.com/pamharriswrites •           https://www.threads.net/@pamharriswrites •           https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14941847.Pamela_N_Harris Behind Beautiful Things Website: www.sadtimespodcast.com Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373292146649249 Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Instagram: @behindbeautifulthingspodcast Learn more about Kevin’s Professional Speaking and Acting at www.kevincrispin.com Check out Kevin’s substack: https://allconviction.substack.com Get your very own “Sad Schwag”: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51/albums/253388-sad-times-podcast?ref_id=9022 Editorial note: Behind Beautiful Things is committed to sharing various stories from generous guests. The hope is to allow any number of stories to be shared to help people feel less alone and, perhaps, more empathetic. It is important to clarify that the guests’ stories, perspectives, and sentiments do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Behind Beautiful Things in any way. Please note that Behind Beautiful Things is in no way a substitute for medical or professional mental health support. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week’s episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin sits down with Tony, the author of Carrying the Tiger, for an intimate and deeply moving conversation about love, loss, and resilience. Tony opens up about the moment he learned of his wife’s cancer diagnosis, the challenging years of treatment that followed, and the heartbreaking experience of saying goodbye. He also reflects on living with daily grief, healing at his own pace, and eventually discovering the possibility of new love. This powerful discussion offers comfort, hope, and insight for anyone navigating grief, caregiving, or life after loss. Join us for a heartfelt episode that reminds us of the beauty and complexity within every season of life. Tune in now to hear Tony’s story and explore the emotional truths behind the pages of Carrying the Tiger. Check out Tony’s work: Find Carrying the Tiger at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DX8M6L1C Tony's website: https://www.TonyStewartAuthor.com. You can read or play an excerpt from Carrying the Tiger here. Follow Tony on LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/tonystewartny/ Follow Tony on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570889459153 Follow Tony on Substack: https://substack.com/@tonystewartauthor    Behind Beautiful Things Website: www.sadtimespodcast.com Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373292146649249 Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Instagram: @behindbeautifulthingspodcast Learn more about Kevin’s Professional Speaking and Acting at www.kevincrispin.com Check out Kevin’s substack: https://allconviction.substack.com Get your very own “Sad Schwag”: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51/albums/253388-sad-times-podcast?ref_id=9022 Editorial note: Behind Beautiful Things is committed to sharing various stories from generous guests. The hope is to allow any number of stories to be shared to help people feel less alone and, perhaps, more empathetic. It is important to clarify that the guests’ stories, perspectives, and sentiments do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Behind Beautiful Things in any way. Please note that Behind Beautiful Things is in no way a substitute for medical or professional mental health support. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin welcomes Aaron, the author of Four Walks in Central Park: A Poetic Guide to the Park. In this deeply personal conversation, Aaron opens up about his journey through childhood depression, the loneliness of the pandemic, and the addiction that followed. As he shares his story, we follow him through the quiet paths of Central Park—a place that became both his refuge and his teacher. Through poetry, nature, and small moments of stillness, Aaron found a way to heal and rediscover beauty in the world around him. Join us for an intimate, hopeful conversation about pain, recovery, and the power of walking toward healing—one step, one poem, one day at a time Check out Aaron’s work: Buy Aaron’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Walks-Central-Park-Poetic/dp/B0DWJGKLY2 Visit Aaron’s website: https://www.aaronpoochigian.com/ Behind Beautiful Things Website: www.sadtimespodcast.com Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373292146649249 Follow Behind Beautiful Things on Instagram: @behindbeautifulthingspodcast Learn more about Kevin’s Professional Speaking and Acting at www.kevincrispin.com Check out Kevin’s substack: https://allconviction.substack.com Get your very own “Sad Schwag”: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51/albums/253388-sad-times-podcast?ref_id=9022 Editorial note: Behind Beautiful Things is committed to sharing various stories from generous guests. The hope is to allow any number of stories to be shared to help people feel less alone and, perhaps, more empathetic. It is important to clarify that the guests’ stories, perspectives, and sentiments do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Behind Beautiful Things in any way. Please note that Behind Beautiful Things is in no way a substitute for medical or professional mental health support. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.