Friends, family, listeners and those bold enough to be here -
If you’re short on time, here’s the gist:
Life is wacky. Grand Exit is a teacher—for us, and we hope for you too. This week’s episode features Peter Gold, a remarkable individual who has lived through two near-death experiences and tells a story unlike any you’d expect.
Why This Episode Matters
Truth be told: we've been swimming upstream over here, upholding a commitment to ourselves and you that we'd share new episodes every other Thursday, as a total side-hustle to the other things we're involved with in work and life. And, some weeks, that commitment has been tough. But the flip side of that coin is this: keeping our commitment to Grand Exit amidst trying life circumstances -- which we most certainly cannot keep to a managed timeline (annoying...) -- has been a gift we get to receive from ourselves and share with you, week over week.
You see, each episode, for us, is not a polished product but a living manifestation of our beliefs and character, a lot of which we are realizing and/or processing in real-time, with you as witness. Preparing for, having/recording and sharing these conversation-starting conversations is like diving into our inner worlds and flipping the inside-out, to look at, process again and watch as you take the content into your lives. It's a wild experience!! And it's tested us and taught us more and differently than we could have ever imagined. We're really proud of that, and we're really freaking humbled that you keep tuning in. So, thank you...deeply 🙏🏻
It's with that aired-out lil' monologue that we get to bring our next episode, one that we (honest to goodness) tried to capture three times over 2.5 years! And once we finally got it done this time around, we realized why tech (and other stuff) stood in its way prior: because this third time was THE time. So, without further ado:
What to Expect in Episode 8
This episode is a heartfelt conversation with Peter Gold, and it’s been 2.5 years in the making! After three attempts to capture this story, we realized that this was the right time.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
🟣 The Story Behind the Headlines: How Peter found himself in a national news story in 2015 after intervening in an attempted assault and being shot in New Orleans.
🟣 The Rocket Ship Experience: How Peter’s second near-death experience gave him a gift he carries every day.
🟣 A Unique Perspective on Legacy: Why legacy after living doesn’t much interest him.
🟣 Much More: Thoughtful insights, humor, and heartfelt reflections in a conversation among friends.
This one's about end-of-life conversations with almost-end-of-life in the rear-view (yes: this is a very unique case of two near-death experiences for our guest, Peter!). So it's definitely about death awareness, embracing mortality, and mindful dying.
It's about legacy building by living how you want to be remembered. It's about death positivity (Peter says death doesn't hurt; and once you surrender to where you're going, it just may feel like the most peaceful journey yet!).
It's about spiritual growth through death, as many near-death experiences are. And second (and third) chances to recalibrate when your whole damn life gets new perspective! TUNE IN!
Special Thanks
To Peter: Thank you for your trust, your willingness to explore new conversational terrain, and your openness. You’re remarkable. (And happy belated birthday!)
Shoutouts also go to:
Spencer Allen: For helping us pull the golden nuggets from the raw conversation and share them on Instagram.
Gail Gold: Peter’s mom, a loyal listener (and fabulous mother-in-law to Chelsea), for navigating this deeply personal episode with grace.
Phineas Ellis & Will Smith: Our producer and editor at Studio Friends, for helping us balance authenticity and quality in every episode.
What’s Next?
We’ll be back on Thursday, March 23rd with our next episode. In the meantime, catch up on previous episodes here.
'Til Then: Stay Connected
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Follow on Instagram: Join us at @grand.exit for exclusive clips and insights.
🙏
Tamatha & Chelsea