S2Ep12: Belong-ish: Season 2 Highlights - Stories of Vulnerability, Healing, and Community

In this special episode of At-homish, host Wil takes us on a reflective journey through Season 2's most powerful moments, so far, reminding us that belonging doesn't have to be burdensome or complex—it calls on us to be curious, present, and vulnerable.

Opening with a deeply personal story from 48th Street Pub and Grill in Tacoma, Wil shares how a spontaneous moment of vulnerability—dancing and crying to classic songs with friends—led to an unexpected connection with a tough-looking biker who declared, "Any man that is vulnerable enough to let go like that in public, that's a man's man right there."

Featured Voices and Themes:

Seth on Service: "If I give you all my money, well, I'm broke. But if I give you all of me, my life gets really darn good."

Elizabeth on Recovery: A powerful testimony about saying "I'm an alcoholic" out loud for the first time and how admitting our struggles takes away their power. Coming up on nine years sober, she reminds us why sharing our stories can save lives.

Lori on Domestic Violence: Breaking the silence and shame around DV, emphasizing how sharing our stories opens opportunities for others to come forward and find support.

Kid Sensation on Purpose: Discussing his book "Kings: Young Men Discovering Purpose and Shaping Their Destiny" and the wisdom gained from life's lessons.

Wally's Pivotal Moment: An 81-year-old's incredible story of being told he wasn't "college material," only to have one stranger's intervention change everything—leading to a 32-year career rising to senior vice president at Bank of America.

DeLon on Inner Journey: "The journey's not always outward sometimes... You got to do a lot of soul searching, figure out what's best for you and your tribe."

Jeff on Honesty: The transformative power of being honest with yourself first: "If I don't want to do something, you won't see me there. And you can always tell what I want to do because you'll see me doing it."

Erica's Tree of Life: A moving story about driving past a tree she planned to crash into, choosing instead to discover herself, and now calling it "the tree of life" as a reminder of the importance of self-discovery and community.

Toni on Marketing and Inclusion: "Nothing you do in marketing is ever about you... Inclusion is not about what I want. It's really understanding the people around us."

LaRae on Special Olympics: Creating space and patience for athletes to be themselves, recognizing that everyone's timeline and process looks different.

Catherine on Growth: Embracing vulnerability and admitting "I totally sucked and I needed to learn and I needed to grow"—showing that persistent trying and consistent showing up creates ripple effects of impact.

Nick and Richard on Representation: The importance of intentional diversity in marketing and platforming voices that represent everybody, not just certain types of people.

Key Takeaways:

• Don't be ashamed of your story—it will inspire others
• Vulnerability is strength, not weakness
• Service to others enriches our own lives
• Saying our truths out loud breaks through barriers
• One person's intervention can change a life trajectory
• The journey within is just as important as the journey outward
• Inclusion means understanding and serving others, not ourselves
• Creating space for people to be themselves is essential
• Our stories are unwritten—stay curious, not judgmental

Wil's Closing Wisdom:

"Belonging does not have to be burdensome or complex. We don't have to know everything. We don't have to have read everything, but it really calls on us to be curious, calls on us to smile, to answer that phone call, reply to that email, to show up and be present. That's where we can really work to build community and create spaces where we belong."

Merch Available: At Snohomish Apothecary and online at the website. If Wil sees you wearing it on the streets, he will say hi!

Remember: Be curious, not judgmental. When we're curious, we receive information, which allows us to wise up and we rise up.

Peace out.