Creating safe outlets for coping with trauma| Guest: firefighter Chad Dillon

Creating safe outlets for coping with trauma| Guest: firefighter Chad Dillon

Author: Jim McDonald December 18, 2025 Duration: 53:54
50% Facts
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In this conversation, Jim McDonald and firefighter Chad Dillon delve into deeper topics surrounding mental health, community, and self-expression through photography and music. They discuss Chad's journey from firefighting to founding the nonprofit, Ruted Above, aimed at fostering community connections and safe spaces for expression. The conversation highlights the importance of therapy, the impact of culture on personal growth, and the role of art in healing. They also touch on the significance of manifesting goals and the influence of music and tattoos in their lives.

You can find Chad and his new non-profit on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ruted_above/  

Chapters
00:00 Reconnecting and Reflecting on the Past
03:00 The Journey into Photography and Culture
05:53 Exploring Mental Health and Personal Growth
09:12 The Impact of Community and Expression
12:07 Building a Nonprofit: Rooted Above
15:05 The Art of Photography and Its Evolution
18:01 The Importance of Community and Connection
27:04 The Art of Photography and Personal Expression
29:16 Building Community Through Events and Nonprofits
32:06 The Search for Belonging in a Negative World
33:50 Mental Health and Identity in First Responders
37:41 The Impact of Technology on Human Connection
41:18 Tattoos: Personal Stories and Meanings
45:02 Manifesting Goals and Building Community
48:26 Music as Motivation and Personal Growth


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50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network.

Hosted by Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). https://www.instagram.com/thejimmcd/

Produced by Jim McDonald
Production assistance by Sebastian Brambila.
Theme by Aaron Moore.
Show art by Joseph Manzo (@jmanzo523)  

Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/!  

Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/  

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/50-facts--5538735/support.

Ever notice how a movie scene about training or a social media trend about nutrition can feel a bit off, like the reality got lost in translation? That’s the space where 50% Facts lives. Hosted by veteran podcaster and gym owner Jim McDonald, this series digs into the wide gap between how popular culture depicts our well-being and how things actually work. Each episode takes a closer look at the portrayals of health, fitness, mental health, and more in films, TV, and online media, questioning where the truth ends and the distortion begins. Jim brings his perspective from running Third Street Barbell in Sacramento to conversations with a diverse range of guests, from fitness experts and athletes to voices from entertainment. The discussions are grounded, often surprising, and focused on separating Hollywood flair from actionable knowledge. Tune in for a podcast that doesn’t just review media but investigates the stories we’re told about our own bodies and minds, all through Jim’s straightforward and experienced lens.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 500

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Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 40:32
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Duration: 59:17
Last week, we talked a little about public figures who have committed terrible acts, been “canceled,” and then somehow rehabilitated their public images. Apologies – sometimes heartfelt, sometimes performative – have bee…
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Duration: 45:07
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Celebrity Death Match but influencers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:01
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