Gregg Braden

I want to kind of lay that out as we start this conversation.

I want to kind of lay that out as we start this conversation.

Sure.

Sure.

I'm with those people. You know, just off camera, just now, we just had a conversation. I'm I don't talk about it a lot because it's not often relevant, and I'm not ashamed to share. I'm the product of a very dysfunctional, abusive, alcoholic family. I was born in the 1950s, and the idea of abuse and addiction and counseling and therapy were very different in the 50s and 60s than they are today.

I'm with those people. You know, just off camera, just now, we just had a conversation. I'm I don't talk about it a lot because it's not often relevant, and I'm not ashamed to share. I'm the product of a very dysfunctional, abusive, alcoholic family. I was born in the 1950s, and the idea of abuse and addiction and counseling and therapy were very different in the 50s and 60s than they are today.

It was not accepted then as much, right? Well, it was as there was a stigma. Something's wrong with you if you need that. There was a stigma attached to it. And to complicate it even more, I was born in a rural community in northern Missouri, which is for our international viewers, it's right in the middle of this big, beautiful country we live in.

It was not accepted then as much, right? Well, it was as there was a stigma. Something's wrong with you if you need that. There was a stigma attached to it. And to complicate it even more, I was born in a rural community in northern Missouri, which is for our international viewers, it's right in the middle of this big, beautiful country we live in.

So I was raised in an environment where the abuser will typically belittle and criticize those around them to elevate their sense of worth. And fortunately, I was born with a very strong soul compass. I didn't believe what I was being told. I have a younger brother, four years younger, same household, same experience, you know, listening to the same things. And he's a good man.

So I was raised in an environment where the abuser will typically belittle and criticize those around them to elevate their sense of worth. And fortunately, I was born with a very strong soul compass. I didn't believe what I was being told. I have a younger brother, four years younger, same household, same experience, you know, listening to the same things. And he's a good man.

And I love my younger brother. And we're like night and day. If you were in this room, we don't look alike. We certainly don't think alike. Wow. And unfortunately, he believed everything that he heard. And and has chosen to be defined in his life by that criticism.

And I love my younger brother. And we're like night and day. If you were in this room, we don't look alike. We certainly don't think alike. Wow. And unfortunately, he believed everything that he heard. And and has chosen to be defined in his life by that criticism.

And I can't say consciously when I made the decision, but I remember thinking I will not be defined by my father's idea of who I am because I was blessed, as again, with a strong soul compass. I'm not saying I did it all right. For me, in the 50s and 60s, music was my outlet. And I began playing guitar at eight, play it to this day. I'm a musician when I'm not doing what I'm doing right now.

And I can't say consciously when I made the decision, but I remember thinking I will not be defined by my father's idea of who I am because I was blessed, as again, with a strong soul compass. I'm not saying I did it all right. For me, in the 50s and 60s, music was my outlet. And I began playing guitar at eight, play it to this day. I'm a musician when I'm not doing what I'm doing right now.

And I left our home at the age of 14, which now I think is probably illegal, but I moved in with my rock band. And during that time, the drugs were abundant. And I watched beautiful, talented men and women. We had a female vocalist. I saw their lives destroyed in a matter of months through the chemicals that they, put into their bodies.

And I left our home at the age of 14, which now I think is probably illegal, but I moved in with my rock band. And during that time, the drugs were abundant. And I watched beautiful, talented men and women. We had a female vocalist. I saw their lives destroyed in a matter of months through the chemicals that they, put into their bodies.

And, you know, Louis, I didn't know then obviously what I know now, but I always had a sense that there's something about us that is so rare and so beautiful. that we need to honor and respect this gift of the body. And I had a sense I would need this body for something later in life. And my friends didn't think that way. So it was hard to have these conversations. Sure.

And, you know, Louis, I didn't know then obviously what I know now, but I always had a sense that there's something about us that is so rare and so beautiful. that we need to honor and respect this gift of the body. And I had a sense I would need this body for something later in life. And my friends didn't think that way. So it was hard to have these conversations. Sure.

But I was always looking to see what it is within me. How can I be the best version of myself? How can I serve this world? And I leave this world. I don't know how long I'm here. We never do. I feel good, and I think I'm here for a while.

But I was always looking to see what it is within me. How can I be the best version of myself? How can I serve this world? And I leave this world. I don't know how long I'm here. We never do. I feel good, and I think I'm here for a while.