Episode 20: Building community, finding God and living clean with Wilner P Joseph

In this episode of the Stack'n'Days podcast, host Ray Donovan interviews Wilner Joseph, a motivational speaker, community leader and activist who uses sport to help children with various challenges. Wilner talks about his background, his mission with his different organizations, and his efforts to bring resources to his community.

Wilner and Ray discuss the importance of spirituality, self-care, and having positive influences in your life. 

Wilner's relationship with alcohol 

Wilner discusses his early relationship with alcohol, which started in his early teens as a way to fit in with older men and impress women. He talks about how alcohol is condoned in Caribbean households and how this can be detrimental later in life. 

Wilner continued to indulge in alcohol throughout college and into adulthood, which had negative effects on his physical and mental health. He credits his faith with saving him from potential harm caused by his alcohol use.

Giving up alcohol 

Wilner talks about his decision to quit alcohol cold turkey and how attending meetings helped him realize the importance of giving up something that wasn't doing anything good in his life. He also mentions the negative consequences of drinking and driving, including the loss of his nephew.

Using fashion to honor his brother's legacy and address gun violence 

Wilner shares that his brother was murdered in 2017. In his memory Wilner started a clothing brand inspired by his brother's passion for fashion. The project, called Million Dollar Smile, aims to raise awareness about gun violence through T-shirts with the slogan "No More Silence and Gun Violence." 

The conversation then shifts to the role of alcohol in violent situations, with Wilner acknowledging that drug and alcohol use often play a part in such incidents. In his community, Wilner tried to address this issue by promoting positive messages and being a role model for youth.

Importance of spirituality and forgiveness in overcoming grief and addiction 

Wilner discusses the importance of spirituality in his daily life, including reading the Bible, praying, and hosting a prayer circle. He believes that removing religion and God from schools and homes has contributed to societal issues such as mass shootings and mental health problems. 

He also credits his sobriety and spiritual discipline for helping him cope with the loss of his brother and nephew, and for allowing him to become a wise and forgiving person. He recommends the movie "The Shack" as a lesson on the importance of forgiveness.

Importance of self-care 

Self care is extremely important to Wilner. He points out that you can’t pour from an empty cup. He notes that he would be useless to the people he wants to help if he doesn’t take care of and love himself first. Ray mentions that the concept of self care in black communities wasn’t much of a known thing until recent years. He mentions that self-care goes beyond just getting a massage and includes acts of love for oneself. 

Wilner also talks about the importance of prayer in his self-care and how it helps him stay disciplined in his interactions with others. He attends a church that is well-diverse and involved in the community.

Benefits of sobriety and physical activity 

Wilner and Ray discuss the physical benefits of cutting out alcohol. Wilner enjoys feeling healthy and physically fit, and says his doctor is impressed with his blood work and overall health. He also talks about how physical activity has allowed him to regenerate and feel youthful, even as he ages.

Wilner’s details

Wilner’s Instagram: @Wpjoseph 

Wilner’s FB: Wilner P Joseph 

Instagram for Million Dollar Smile: @Milliondollersmile83

Instagram for his Hoops 4 All: @Hoops4allstamford 

Website for Hoops 4 All: www.hoops4allstamford.com 

Instagram for his nonprofit: @youngathletes4change

Contact the show:

Email: rdg@stackndays.com

Instagram and TikTok: @stackndays

Website: stackndays.com