Out of the Blue - The Podcast: Finding the Way Forward

Healing Through Vibration and Harmony with Kidd Griffey

Seizures that strike in your sleep change the way you think about tomorrow. Music artist Kidd Griffey sits down with us to tell the story of what happened when his life took an unexpected turn at 21, how fear and uncertainty reshaped his priorities, and why music became a dream and then a lifeline.  We talk about the “out of the blue” moments that defined his path, including a disruptive move to Detroit during high school, the isolation of being forced to learn independently, and the slow rebuild that followed years of health battles. Griffey explains what it’s like to create while you’re still healing and how faith helped him shift from constant stress to a steadier mindset. Along the way, we discuss songwriting choices: uplifting records versus sad songs, how harmony and vibration feel physical, and why live music can feel like church.  Griffey describes his transition from hip hop into country music and his decision to pull his catalog from streaming platforms. If you care about resilience, spiritual growth, and independent artists, this conversation is for you. Follow Kidd Griffey: @iamkiddgriffey [https://www.instagram.com/iamkiddgriffey/] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/podcastOOTB] Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog [https://www.outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog]

Resilience Is A Daily Practice with Dave Loiterstein

Dave Loiterstein's recovery story starts earlier than most, with a quiet belief he carried as a kid: if his own mother didn’t want him, nobody ever would. Alcohol and drugs showed up fast, and the “off switch” never really existed. Together we talk honestly about what craving feels like, why some brains chase blackout instead of “just one,” and the disease model of addiction. Then we get into the part most people avoid saying out loud: relapse. Dave doesn’t glamorize it or call it inevitable, but he also refuses to let shame be a life sentence. He shares what it meant to have 21 years of continuous sobriety followed by relapse. We dig into the pressure of the sobriety number and the daily reprieve that keeps recovery alive. Dave’s journey stretches far beyond survival: a music-driven life, a career as a Hollywood makeup artist, and a pivot into substance abuse counseling and rehab admissions, taking crisis calls from families who need help immediately. Structure, routine, creativity, and parenting with boundaries are part of this discussion, because stability can feel unfamiliar after years of chaos. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/podcastOOTB] Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog [https://www.outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog]

Groove And Gratitude with Steve Thoma (Part 2)

We pick up part two of our conversation with Steve Thoma and get honest about what happens when a musician finally lands the dream gig and decides it is time to “relax” with alcohol and drugs. Steve traces the arc from steady ambition to “using with great purpose,” and why the post-show rush can become the most seductive drug of all. We also get into the nuts and bolts of recovery in the real world: getting sober while still surrounded by touring life, the anxiety of being searched, and the quiet code of “Friend of Bill.” Steve talks about how sponsorship, meetings, and service keep people grounded. The spiritual side comes up too, including the tension many feel around higher power and how some people choose to stay anyway and keep moving forward. Steve Thoma concludes the episode with a message that applies to both recovery and artistry: dreams are not granted by hype or competition, they are earned through preparation, listening, and practice. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/podcastOOTB] Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog [https://www.outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog]

Groove And Gratitude with Steve Thoma (Part 1)

At six years old, playing piano duets with his grandmother was the first step toward the music industry, Hollywood, and even Frank Sinatra for musician Steve Thoma. From Detroit roots to a life as a classically trained pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor, Steve serendipitously found himself in “right place, right skill, right attitude” moments you can’t plan. Steve breaks down what musicianship really is when the lights come on: paying attention, listening harder than you play, and learning how to support other people. We talk about Catholic school training and the high school scholarship that changed everything by turning Steve into the go-to accompanist for choirs and productions. We also get into the professional world that shaped his standards; truly just the tip of the iceberg. Steve shares why ambition needs boundaries and why humility is the hidden engine behind long-term creative excellence. Stay tuned for Part Two. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/podcastOOTB] Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog [https://www.outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog]

Reconstructing After Addiction with Dr. Nicole Labor (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Nicole Labor, we discuss practical healing from trauma and why the "survive, strive, arrive, and thrive" model can work for anybody, not just those who are recovering from addiction. We get concrete about nervous system support: movement, breath work, cold exposure, and the “smallest possible win” approach when depression or shutdown makes everything feel impossible. Then we zoom out to the bigger arc of growth and the key areas of Dr. Nicole Labor's books: survive, strive, arrive, and thrive. “Arrive” is the moment you’re no longer only your recovery story – you’re a whole person with identity, goals, and meaning. “Thrive” is what comes next: optimizing health, cognition, and quality of life while accepting that life still gets messy. For more on Dr. Nicole Labor: Laborhood Change Project, Inc. [https://www.theaddictsdoc.com/] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/podcastOOTB] Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog [https://www.outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog]