Riffin' About Life with Brian R. King, MSW cover art

Riffin' About Life with Brian R. King, MSW

Riffin' About Life with Brian R. King, MSW

By: Brian R. King MSW
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About this listen

Riffin About Life is a raw and real podcast hosted by Brian R. King, MSW — speaker, author, and neurodivergent dad of three. In each episode, Brian shares honest, unscripted conversations with thought leaders, educators, creators, and fellow humans navigating life with all its complexity. Whether they’re talking parenting, neurodivergence, communication, resilience, or just what it means to be human — no topic is off-limits. This show is about real stories, real connection, and the small, everyday moments that shape us. Perfect for parents, caregivers, and anyone who’s ever felt like they doBrian R. King, MSW Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Riffin with GLORIA K VANDERHORST
    Apr 2 2026
    37 mins
  • Pink Socks and the Power of Love: A Conversation with Nicholas Adkins
    Mar 12 2026

    What if changing the world was as simple as saying “Good morning”?

    In this joyful and soul-shifting conversation, Brian R. King sits down with Nicholas Adkins, founder of the Pink Socks movement: a global phenomenon that began with a single funky pair of socks and a simple mission: spark human connection.

    Nick shares how gratitude, patience, love, and kindness guide his daily life, and how the Pink Socks movement became a symbol of authentic connection in a world increasingly dominated by algorithms, isolation, and fear.

    If you’ve been wondering how to stay grounded, present, and human in the chaos of everyday life, this episode is your reset button.

    • How the Pink Socks movement started- and why it caught fire globally

    • Why authentic connection is not the same as connectivity

    • The neuroscience of social media and how it hijacks our attention

    • How to practice gratitude, mindfulness, and presence in small daily ways

    • The difference between reacting vs. responding- and why it matters

    • How Nick re-centers in the morning with just one thing he’s grateful for

    • The power of noticing, saying hello, and being truly present with others

    • How we’re all “just characters in each other’s films”- and what that means for empathy

    The Pink Socks movement is built on gifting and connection. Every time someone comments on your socks, you get to create a real moment with another human being- offline, unplugged, and fully present.

    “The world is full of good. When you believe it, you see it. Keep doing that.”

    Over 300,000 pairs of Pink Socks have been gifted around the world, one pair, one smile, one hug at a time.

    • Buy Pink Socks at cost ($5/pair): pinksocks.life

    • Follow on Instagram: @pinksocks.life

    • Connect with Nick: LinkedIn, X

    • Read the Book: PINKSOCKS: How a Pair of Socks Became a Symbol of Love and Connection

    Next time you pass someone, take out your earbuds, look up, and say, “Good morning.”

    Connection is a practice- and it starts with you.

    If this episode lit something up in you, share it, rate it, and leave a review. Let’s help more people remember: We’re all in this together.

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Now That I’m Still Here: Autism, Abuse, Survival, and Healing with Chris Carazas
    Mar 5 2026

    What does it mean to stay when leaving feels easier?

    In this raw and profoundly human conversation, Brian R. King sits down with author and suicide attempt survivor Chris Carazas, whose life story spans late autism diagnosis, emotional abuse, profound loss, and the slow, gritty work of healing.

    Chris opens up about growing up ungrounded, discovering he’s autistic at age 35, enduring psychological abuse within his marriage, surviving multiple suicide attempts, and ultimately choosing to rebuild his life- one micro‑win at a time.

    This episode explores grief, masculinity, mental health, community, storytelling, and the quiet courage it takes to keep going when you’re not “fixed,” not finished, but still here.

    You’ll hear about:

    - Growing up overseas and feeling chronically unrooted

    - Receiving an autism diagnosis later in life, and how it reshaped identity

    - Emotional abuse, boundary-setting, and the cost of protecting your mental health

    - Two suicide attempts, and the turning point toward recovery

    - Returning home to rebuild community, belonging, and self-trust

    - Writing an accidental memoir born from grief, love, and survival

    - Why healing isn’t cinematic- it’s built from micro‑moments

    - The power of men telling the truth about pain, vulnerability, and recovery

    Chris’s story is not about perfection. It’s about persistence.

    Healing isn’t linear- it’s built from small, daily choices

    Sometimes survival starts with a micro‑win: getting out of bed, walking the dog, saying hello.

    A late autism diagnosis can bring clarity, compassion, and self-understanding.

    Emotional abuse leaves real scars, and boundaries can be lifesaving.

    Community matters: friends, family, survivor groups, and chosen support systems.

    You don’t need to be “fully healed” to share your story

    For men especially, vulnerability is not weakness; it’s leadership

    Chris is the author of Now That I’m Still Here: A Memoir of Ruin and Resurrection, a powerful account of trauma, love, grief, survival, and rebuilding a life after everything falls apart.

    It’s a book for:

    - Survivors

    - Neurodivergent readers

    - Men struggling in silence

    - Anyone wondering if healing is still possible

    If this episode resonated, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with someone who may feel alone, broken, or unsure if staying is worth it.

    ➡️ Follow Chris:

    Website: ⁠https://chriscarazas.com

    Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@ccarazas⁠

    Instagram: @christophercarazas

    Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help more people find stories that remind them: healing is possible- and staying can be a powerful choice.

    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
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