#101 Exploring Consciousness and Discovering One’s Self

Today I interview Nicholas Whitaker who shares his journey of finding his place in the world. He felt out of place in his hometown and decided to leave, which led him to Baltimore where he struggled with poverty and lived with a woman that was not a good fit. For years, he lived in unstable housing, including his car and squat buildings, while working in restaurants and coffee shops to make ends meet. During this period, he often turned to partying to escape reality. However, his perspective changed after experiencing hallucinogens, which sparked his interest in exploring consciousness and understanding his place in the world. Following his time in Baltimore, Nicholas moved to New York City to attend film school, where he discovered that he was more passionate about telling other people's stories than his own. This led him to become a documentary filmmaker, instructor, and teacher, working with various industries such as business, government, nonprofits, advocacy groups, universities, and even the Occupy Wall Street movement. Through his work, he aimed to give people a voice and help them tell their stories in a way that resonates with others. After meeting his partner, Nicholas relocated to Colorado to be closer to nature and have more space to process and deal with his experiences. Since 2013, he has been on a journey of self-discovery, learning how to help others through the experiences he has overcome and the things he has learned along the way. He describes his experience with hallucinogens as a catalyst moment for him to explore consciousness and better understand the world, which he has been investigating and discovering ever since. ________________________Nicholas is a Chief Wellbeing Officer and Coach helping tech workers and founders thrive in ambiguity. He will coach you through the uncertainty of life’s big pivots to find greater balance, calm, focus, and fulfillment. You can find Nicholas here: https://www.nicholaswhitaker.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholaswhitaker/https://twitter.com/sitwithnick________________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak from the amazing Essence of they truly are. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.