Inside the Mind of Daniel Thompson

One of the biggest things that I think people just "all about that positive" don't understand is that, at its core, it's a clear sign of deflection, in my opinion. 

In this episode, I explain my thought process behind that conclusion, toxic positivity and encourage you to embrace the positives and negatives of life. 

It has been a long time since I've opened the door and let you into my mind. 

And I'm sorry it's been so long.

It's open again. Come on in. 

Let me tell you where I've been. 

As of Jan. 1, 2022, I am now five years sober from alcohol. While I've talked about my struggles with alcoholism in previous episodes, I wanted to offer some thoughts and encouragement to those dealing with addiction. 

I hope that sharing my experiences helps perhaps shed some light on your own. 

"Maybe I should be dethroned."

That's the response in my mind and the reaction I have when others tell me to treat others as competition. 

More at theuptownobserver.com.

This episode is about derealization, and the feeling that comes with trying to come back to life and being kept on standby for a year. 

It’s taken me a long time to appreciate and understand my grandfather, Arzell “Flukie” Thompson, and how his kindness is the most apartment trait he imparted on my family.

Listen to this episode to listen to me explore that role of kindness in his life, and now my life. 

I've talked about my past alcohol and drug use quite a lot as a musician. However, I rarely really recap it live on air in detail because it's hard to tell how to talk about it. 

Addiction is highly subjective, and not all people experience it the same way.

However, here is how I've come to think of addiction after about 13 years of a combination of various drugs and alcohol and now the last four years and four months sober from alcohol and my former vices.

You can read more about me and see my work as a journalist at theuptownobserver.com.

In this episode, I talk about my relationship to music.

In short, throughout my entire life, music has been the only place, the only space where I can just be me, regardless of what I look like on the outside. 

I wanted to capture my initial thoughts following the guilty verdicts returned against Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd. Because I feel like maybe some people are feeling a little in shock by the verdict as, historically, this is just the fairytale ending for people of color. 

Not the one we actually get when loved ones are taken from us. 

In this episode, I recap my journey through the world of journalism, from my humble beginnings in the corporate realm in 2012, to my exodus from it in 2020. 

For more of my work, visit theuptownobserver.com. 

KENOSHA -- In this episode, Uptown Observer founder Daniel Thompson discusses the mass shooting at Somers House in Kenosha County, Wis., on Sunday, April 18, 2021.  For more from the Observer, visit theuptownobserver.com.