Scarred Not Silent: Stories from the intersections of survival
Welcome to Scarred, Not Silent, a podcast where I open up about life with kidney disease, the transplant journey, and the healing that comes after. I'm Rodney, a kidney recipient, life coach, and social worker who's lived through dialysis, disability, and the quiet moments nobody talks about.This space is real talk for resilient souls. Whether navigating your chronic illness, supporting a loved one, or just curious about what it means to start over with a second chance, you're in the right place.Here, we keep it honest. We keep it hopeful. And most of all, we keep going.New episodes drop every Monday and Friday.Let’s breathe deep, live rooted, and walk this journey together.
Episodes
54 episodes
The Mystery Guest Who Tried to End the Episode
This episode takes a warm walk through a quieter Thanksgiving, the kind where the meal still hits the soul even if the table isn’t full. But when things settle in, some unexpected “wild guests” crash the moment and nearly shut the whole show do...
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Season 2
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Episode 33
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15:37
Locked In: The Decision That Could Have Cost Me My Life
When the world shut down, the danger outside my door was more than a headline—it was a direct threat to my life. After a year of unemployment, I was finally cleared to return to work. Job offers came quickly, but so did the rising fear of a vir...
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Season 2
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Episode 32
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14:42
What November Teaches Us About Being Human
In this episode, Rodney opens November with a quiet conversation about gratitude, resilience, and the unexpected places healing can come from. He reflects on family, forgiveness, and the moments that shaped his empathy, while inviting lis...
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Season 2
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Episode 31
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17:07
Stent Baby Number Three: Why Am I Still Giving Birth?
This episode walks you into the operating room of my life… again. I learned that my urethra did not stay fully open, which meant another procedure and the arrival of my third stent. Yes, you read that correctly — I am now parenting a t...
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14:12
The Day I Gave Birth Through My Urethra
There comes a moment in a man’s life when he enters a room believing he is there for a “simple procedure,” only to discover he is about to reenact the male version of childbirth—stent removal from the bladder. The medical team refers to it as m...
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Season 2
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Episode 30
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32:03
The Biopsy Surprise: When Nobody Warned the Brother
In this episode, I revisit my very first biopsy — and trust me, it wasn’t what I expected. Let’s just say there are some experiences you never forget, especially when you walk in blind. I share the uncomfortable truth about being unprepared, a ...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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13:44
When People Really See You
In this episode, I talk about what it truly means to be seen. I share the gratitude I felt when family, friends, and even strangers stepped up with food, cards, and financial help. So often, we move through life believing no one notices u...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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19:12
The Taco Truck Conversation
In this episode, I step away from my regular broadcast to discuss another often-overlooked survival method: grieving. During Halloween, I decided to wear my old scrubs from my veterinary social work internship. While waiting at a taco truck sur...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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10:44
You Can’t Heal Alone — And That’s Okay
Leaving the hospital is supposed to mean you’re headed home to heal — but what if home isn’t ready for healing? Many of us believe we can care for ourselves until reality catches up. The truth is, recovery isn’t a solo act. Whether it’s a...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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11:26
When Healing Becomes the Only Thing Left To Do
In this episode of Scarred Not Silent, I share what it was like to wake up after transplant surgery and begin the healing process. The hospital stay wasn’t what I expected—major surgery, but surprisingly manageable pain. Within days, I...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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12:49
Careless Whispers: The Bittersweet Day I Was Reborn
There are days that mark us forever — my transplant day is one of them. What should have been my rebirth turned bittersweet when I learned it was also the day my best friend faced a devastating loss. Now, every anniversary carries both gratitud...
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11:11
No Rehearsal, Just Showtime: Facing Life’s Big Moments
My first late upload. Life threw a curveball when Amazon’s system crash froze several of the tools I use to run this show, but I’m back and grounded. After some deep reflection, I realized it’s time for everyone, myself included, to take their ...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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6:09
Answering the Call of a New Life
I finally got the call. This time, it was real. The moment I’d prayed for, fought for, and feared all at once. With little time to prepare, I was handed a few instructions—and a lifetime of emotions flooded in. As I sat in sile...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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11:12
Can’t Pee? The Truth About Life on Dialysis
In this episode, I pull back the curtain on what really happens while waiting for a kidney transplant. Many people don’t realize that dialysis often means you stop urinating altogether—and how that simple loss can change everything. I share wha...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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6:25
Thinking for Yourself: Lessons from Malcolm X and Modern Medicine
This week’s episode comes to you a little later—dog-sitting duties and an occasional yapper made sure of that. Somewhere between walks and water bowls, I fell into a YouTube rabbit hole watching two Malcolm X interviews: one during his time wit...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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10:04
When the Phone Rings, So Does Your Heart
They say “the call” changes everything. For most transplant patients, that phone call means life, hope, and a second chance. But what happens when you get the call, only to find out you’re not next? This week, I open up about what it feel...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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11:18
Affect vs. Effect: Lessons from the Road
This week, I take you on a personal trip down to South Carolina. I've been to Florida twice, or at least that's what some folks debate about whether Florida is considered part of the South. It was my first time experiencing that blend of heat, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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11:31
When Normal Never Comes Back
People often say they just want life to go back to normal. But what if normal never returns? In this episode, I reflect on how chronic illness and transplant change our definition of “normal.” There’s grief in letting go of the life we on...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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3:17
Five Years Ahead: What Would You Say?
Sometimes, the only way to face today is to imagine the voice of tomorrow. In this episode, I take a step into the future—five years post-transplant—and reflect on what that version of myself might say about resilience, patience, and faith. By ...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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3:07
Clarity in the Chaos
In this episode, I open up about my search for faith in the midst of life’s hardest seasons. With the backdrop of war and devastation in the Middle East reminding us of how fragile the world can be, I share the story of the religion that ...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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16:45
Orientation Day: Facing the Realities of Transplant Life
In this episode, I share a pivotal moment in my transplant journey—finally being invited to orientation. The transplant team laid out the possibilities and the risks, reminding me that this path is far from a cake walk. A transplant bring...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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25:31
The True Champion’s Spirit: What Boxing Teaches Kidney Patients and Caregivers
Today’s episode draws on the grit and determination shown in the Canelo vs. Crawford championship boxing fight. While Crawford’s skills carried him far, his resilience—the ability to keep getting back up, to walk through setbacks, and to prepar...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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8:08
Behind on the House, Ahead in Life
This week, I share how we are adjusting to life in our new apartment in North Park. Our home had fallen behind on payments, which forced us to make a difficult decision. The adult children chose different paths. At the same time, my healt...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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10:53
Purpose Grows Where You Reward It
Positive reinforcement is not fluffy talk. It is the classic fuel that helps purpose take root. In this episode, I unpack how praise, cues, and small rewards shape who we become. I share why some people who feel “purposeless” may simply b...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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10:32
Four Months, Forty-Five Pounds, and a New Perspective
In this episode, I share how I lost over 45 pounds in just four months, without a gym membership or fancy routine, just by walking to get groceries. I open up about how dialysis reshaped the way I ate, bringing both discipline and unexpec...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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10:00