Scarred Not Silent: Stories from the intersections of survival

This week, I pause to honor my family as we grieve the passing of my uncle. At the same time, I continue to process my own recent job loss, a weight that has tested my identity and my faith. Yet, in the middle of loss, an unexpected gift appeared. Through my wife’s persistence, I decided to begin applying for SSDI.

What surprised me most was the decision and the walk to the office. Each step gave me distance from my circumstances an...

 At home, I caught myself picturing the ocean as an off switch for the noise in my head. I did not go. I only imagined the hush underwater, knowing even the thought could be misunderstood. What I really wanted was stillness long enough to face what I have avoided: the truth about homelessness, my own selfishness, and the question of what now. In this episode, I unpack that moment, the clarity it sparked, and the steady steps forwar...

In this episode, Rodney Washington candidly discusses the relentless pressures of working in social services and the impact on his health. Despite facing anxiety, pneumonia, and the stress of managing discharges without support, Rodney reveals how he navigated these challenges without truly coping. As he confronts the decision to resign and the looming uncertainty of his future, his story serves as a stark reminder of the importanc...

 Moving to San Diego for a coveted job felt like the next logical step, but nothing prepared me for the frosty reception that awaited. In this episode, I share my first days on the job and how I learned that my assistant had been eyeing the same role for years. Because she didn’t hold a degree, she’d been passed over repeatedly, and my arrival reignited old wounds. I threw myself into the work, logging long days and nights to prove...

 Sometimes the most powerful conversations are the ones you can’t share, but the lessons still deserve to be told. 

 In this unscheduled edition of Scarred Not Silent, I reflect on an unexpected meeting with my kidney donor. He reached out for guidance on improving communication in his volunteer work with Kidneys for Communities. While the details of our talk will stay private, the insight I walked away with is worth sharing. Join m...

 After surviving what can only be described as the “Airbnb Olympics of Chaos,” I finally touched down in a new neighborhood that feels like a Beach Boys remix—Yes, even the White folks said hi… at night… in California. 😳 The journey was equal parts exhausting and enlightening. But despite the drama, the stress, and late nights, I'm still standing. Yeah... yeah... yeah! 

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 In this raw and reflective episode, I take you inside my move to San Diego. It was a journey filled with hope, struggle, and the constant drag of medical equipment through Airbnbs and high-rise elevators. What started as a fresh chapter slowly gave way to doubt and fatigue. The move initially felt like the right decision, but reality started asking hard questions. And we haven’t even talked about the job yet. 

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 In the final episode of Season 1, I share the surprising pivot that led me from the familiar comfort of Arizona to what felt like a second home — San Diego, California. From the jaw-dropping moment of being offered more money than expected to my wife’s bold plan of hopping Airbnbs until we were settled, I reflect on the hopeful start of a new chapter. But as you'll hear, chasing the "mighty dollar" wasn't witho...

In this raw and revealing episode, I share the emotional aftermath of discovering I was never placed on the transplant list in Tucson. From the initial shock to the silent scrutiny that followed, this story uncovers the mental toll of unanswered questions and the quiet battles many patients face behind closed doors. This isn’t just about medical systems—it’s about resilience, truth, and the unseen weight of being unlisted.

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In this raw and personal episode, I unpack one of my biggest pet peeves: when patients reject medical advice, deny treatment options, or lash out at healthcare professionals—only to face the fallout later. We’ll talk about how patient self-determination, while a vital right, can sometimes lead to devastating consequences like being removed from the transplant list or increasing life-threatening comorbidities.

I firmly believe that t...

 In this episode, Rodney breaks down his method—OPA: Observation, Process, Action—a simple, powerful approach for navigating kidney disease. Born out of lived experience, OPA helps listeners tune into their bodies, make sense of their journey, and take necessary steps. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, living with chronic kidney disease, or supporting a loved one, this method gives you a mindset shift and a roadmap. There is no medic...

Join me as I share my personal journey of craving and consuming paper, flour, and yes, even baby powder. Call it fine dining for the nutritionally challenged. This unusual menu is rooted in iron deficiency and a condition called pica. Together, we will break the silence around these cravings, explore the medical reasons behind them, and talk about real solutions. If you have ever wondered why someone might swap lunch for stationery...

 This episode shares the day peritonitis had me truly down and out. I talk about the pain, the fear, and finding moments to chuckle at my own misery, because sometimes laughing is the only thing that doesn’t hurt too much. For anyone who knows that healing needs both grit and a little humor. 

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 I used to burn with embarrassment over the tubes and the scars, the roadmap of survival carved into my skin. It is hard, truly hard, not to care about the eyes that linger too long, judging what they do not understand. Some days I want to hide it all away. Other days I fight to stand tall, daring them to look and teaching myself not to give a damn. 

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Thanks for tuning in to Scarred Not Silent: Stories from the Interse...