Comedians will Talk about Anything - with Special Guest Brad Bonar

Send us Fan MailBrad Bonar, a comedian and former gym owner, discusses his experiences owning a kickboxing fitness gym and surviving the challenges of COVID-19. He shares stories about the community he built at the gym and the impact of inflation on his business. Brad also talks about his comedic influences and his style of storytelling comedy. He discusses the connection between comedy and depression and how he uses comedy as a form of therapy. Brad shares memories of his father and the lessons he learned from him. He also discusses the importance of finding a grounding place and practicing meditation to deal with depression.  He shares his personal journey with depression and how he found solace under a tree. He then discusses the creation of One Degree of Separation, a comedy show that addresses depression and suicide. Brad explains the importance of conversation and the impact it can have on individuals struggling with mental health. He also highlights the power of using humor to address difficult topics and shares his vision for expanding the reach of One Degree of Separation. Finally, Brad reflects on the role of comedians as cowboys, constantly moving from town to town to bring laughter to others.Takeaways:Finding a quiet place in nature can provide solace and grounding during difficult times.One Degree of Separation is a non profit organization that addresses depression and suicide, aiming to create conversation and provide tools for individuals to discuss mental health.Conversation and connection can be powerful tools in supporting individuals struggling with mental health.Humor can be a healing and empowering force, allowing individuals to find strength and resilience in difficult situations.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background02:54 Owning a Kickboxing Fitness Gym06:01 Surviving COVID-1907:42 Closing the Gym and Dealing with Inflation10:02 Creating a Community at the Gym11:26 Finding Inspiration from Other Comedians16:33 Learning Comedy from Erik Myers19:25 The Connection Between Comedy and Depression21:41 Influences and Style of Comedy25:23 Writing and Performing Comedy28:03 Different Audiences and Clean vs. Dirty Comedy31:28 Growing Up with an Outlier Father34:43 Surviving and Thriving in Difficult Circumstances38:05 Memories of Brad's Father40:28 Dealing with Depression and Meditation41:25 Finding Solace Under the Tree47:02 One Degree of Separation51:17 The Power of Conversation56:17 Using Comedy to Address Depression01:07:58 Expanding the Reach of One Degree of Separation01:13:20 The Healing Power of Humor01:15:44 Comedians as CowboysTo learn more please visit:  https://www.1degreeofseparation.life/Support the showThanks for listening!  SUBSCRIBE, Review, Rate, and Share.  Contact us: [email protected]     Let us know if you want a hat ($20), tee shirt ($30), coffee cup ($25), or window decal for your truck. ($30)