Have you ever felt like the underdog, chasing dreams that seemed just out of reach? This podcast episode features Damien Horne, a motivational musician and educational entertainer, who transformed his life's toughest battles into a symphony of success. As we usher in the new year at Killer Bee Studios, Damien's story unfolds, revealing his roots in a large blended family, the adversities he faced, and his unwavering pursuit of inspiration through a 20-year journey in the competitive music industry.
From the quiet hum of Hickory, North Carolina, to the bright lights of Los Angeles, Damien's tale is not unlike a melody with complex harmonies and dissonant chords. He paints a raw picture of his leap of faith, periods of homelessness, and the grit needed to navigate the stark realities of Hollywood. Damien's return to the East Coast marks a crescendo in his life, where the internal battle of surrendering to defeat or pushing through became his daily rhythm. Throughout our conversation, listeners will find solace in the familiar refrains of faith and the power of scripture that buoyed him during his darkest moments.
In the final act of our session, the spotlight shines on the discovery of purpose and the profound impact of mentorship. Damien's narrative, peppered with encounters with strangers who became angels in disguise, emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's gifts and the courage required to let one's light shine. As Damien shares the importance of trusting in the unseen, drawing parallels with iconic figures who embraced unconventional paths, we invite you to reflect on the transformative potential of answering a higher calling in your own journey. Tune in for an episode that harmonizes the essence of faith, perseverance, and the art of inspiring others.
Have you ever felt like the underdog, chasing dreams that seemed just out of reach? This podcast episode features Damien Horne, a motivational musician and educational entertainer, who transformed his life's toughest battles into a symphony of success. As we usher in the new year at Killer Bee Studios, Damien's story unfolds, revealing his roots in a large blended family, the adversities he faced, and his unwavering pursuit of inspiration through a 20-year journey in the competitive music industry.
From the quiet hum of Hickory, North Carolina, to the bright lights of Los Angeles, Damien's tale is not unlike a melody with complex harmonies and dissonant chords. He paints a raw picture of his leap of faith, periods of homelessness, and the grit needed to navigate the stark realities of Hollywood. Damien's return to the East Coast marks a crescendo in his life, where the internal battle of surrendering to defeat or pushing through became his daily rhythm. Throughout our conversation, listeners will find solace in the familiar refrains of faith and the power of scripture that buoyed him during his darkest moments.
In the final act of our session, the spotlight shines on the discovery of purpose and the profound impact of mentorship. Damien's narrative, peppered with encounters with strangers who became angels in disguise, emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's gifts and the courage required to let one's light shine. As Damien shares the importance of trusting in the unseen, drawing parallels with iconic figures who embraced unconventional paths, we invite you to reflect on the transformative potential of answering a higher calling in your own journey. Tune in for an episode that harmonizes the essence of faith, perseverance, and the art of inspiring others.
But welcome to today's podcast replay from the Killer Bee Studios. Let's go ahead and dive on in. Well, hey everybody. Thank you guys all for coming out. We're so excited you guys are all here, this is the first Killer Bee prime time of the year.
Speaker 3:
Yes, happy new year.
Speaker 1:
Happy new year. Everybody Happy new year.
Speaker 3:
Yes, we love it 24. Can't believe it?
Speaker 1:
And first we're some confetti and welcome our guests to the stage Damien Horn. Let's hit that guest intro. Damien, come on out. Yeah, oh, hey, hi, there he goes.
Speaker 2:
All right.
Speaker 1:
Damien. Hey, thanks for joining us. Welcome, we'll let you come right here in the middle. So now, this is like your dance move, tom now. So we got a. Oh the robot.
Speaker 4:
Oh wow, that's very good.
Speaker 3:
I can't even dance that good in real life.
Speaker 1:
Well, Damien, thanks for joining us tonight out here at the Killer Bee Studios. I would love for you to take about 30 seconds and just kind of let her by. No, who is Damien Horn?
Speaker 5:
Okay, yeah Well, I'm Damien Horn. I'm based in Nashville, tennessee, and my kind of my title is like motivational musician, educational entertainer, and I just I love the arts, I love performing, but I also want to motivate and inspire and impact people's lives, so that's kind of what I'm all about. So I try to do that, musically or speaking, however, you know, the opportunity presents itself.
Speaker 1:
And how long have you been playing music now?
Speaker 5:
I've been playing music professionally for this is I'm going into my 20th year. So my first publishing bill in 2004. So yeah, this is my 20th year.
Speaker 1:
That's amazing. Now do you play like, do you play multiple instruments?
Speaker 5:
Yes, I mainly play guitar and piano, but you know I play a little bit of everything. You know you kind of have to become a jack of all trades in the industry sometimes.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I love that, you know there's a. I know you're getting used to this. We're just talking about mixed reality back there and there is a piano app that they have and if you actually have a keyboard or a piano or I think they call it a MIDI board, is that right Right? Yeah.
Speaker 2:
Okay.
Speaker 1:
If you have one of those, you can sync it with it and in mixed reality, you can see it right in front of you like the real keyboard in your, in your living room or wherever you're playing it, and it connects all these lines in these. You choose a song and it brings down the keys and you actually learn how to play oh wow, keys with it. So, yeah, I started messing with that. Has anybody else messed with that before? That piano app for no, okay, cool.
Speaker 4:
Well, oh yeah, no, we just we can put you out there, yeah.
Speaker 1:
I forgot there's a delay when I ask questions. But yeah, that's awesome, yeah, that's pretty cool yeah.
Speaker 5:
this place never ceases to amaze me.
Speaker 3:
If you come in here enough, damien, then in the real world, when someone says something that makes you happy and you go like this and no confetti comes out of your arms. You're like what's happening? This is a prank.
Speaker 5:
I'm going to. I'm going to do this tonight when I see my wife.
Speaker 4:
Wow, see you, honey. What are you doing?
Speaker 1:
And nobody ever has to clean it up, you know. Right, yeah it just disappears, it just disappears. If confetti was just like that in real life, it would be amazing Glitter.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, that'd be nice.
Speaker 1:
This is Killer Bea's right on there. Like I do a lot of video meetings and I, when we first, are doing this a lot, me and one of my team members she's another one of our co-hosts in here too, meta Olivia. Some of you guys know Meta Olivia. She me and her in a meeting and literally like our client as we coach them. They're doing a really good job and they're like man, it's really. This is really taken off and I found myself going like this and I was like they're probably wondering what in the world are you doing? Like I'm doing like jumping jacks, but there's nothing. Yeah, it was definitely awkward.
Speaker 3:
Meta-verse problems.
Speaker 1:
Right, I saw that you were on TED Talks. Now that's that's. That's pretty cool. I don't even know how that even happens, but I'm sure you can take us down that a little bit. But during that, during your story, when I was watching that, you mentioned that you specifically had a dream, and it was become rich and famous. Right, does anybody else have a dream to become rich or famous, or has had a dream of becoming rich and famous before? Okay, yeah okay, yeah.
Speaker 4:
That's it daddy.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I was like yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
He's like he's trying to make it rain, but it's just confetti, it's just confetti, can you take us back to tell us a little bit about your journey? How did this start and how did all this come into play? And where are you at today?
Speaker 5:
Yeah, so I'm originally from North Carolina, hickory, north Carolina, which is a small town in between Charlotte and Asheville, north Carolina, if you've ever been there. But I grew up in a big blended family of 12 children, so I'm from a huge family and I was the middle child, if there is such a thing in a big family like that.
Speaker 5:
You know like yeah, but I just grown up in that family, like at a young age. You know kind of all the statistics that you kind of hear in certain situations. You know I was raised by a single mother. You know the home was filled kind of with you know. You know substance abuse, physical abuse, you know all types of abuse that you can think of was going on, and it was kind of things that are not only that you know in the streets. You know I lost two of my older brothers who were murdered, and then two of my younger brothers were incarcerated for 10 plus years of peace. So, like you know, this is kind of what I was seeing all the time.
Speaker 5:
And you know, when you see things like that a lot, you know you start to think that like that's what life has to offer for you. So that was kind of my thought process in the beginning. But I kind of had a what I like to call a divine encounter with a salvation on me boys and girls club and it kind of helped me get off the streets and stop kind of getting in those situations where you kind of left to your own devices and doing bad things and people there kind of started doing what I like to call. They started speaking life into my life. You know, they recognize potential in certain areas of my life and so I started to believe that. And it's crazy when you can start to believe something good about yourself and you know it just empowers you to kind of, you know, you know, see that through. And my thing was music at a young age.
Speaker 5:
You know, like I really love music, I love playing it here and it, singing it, what it, writing it, whatever I could do I just want to be around music and so it gave me another channel to focus on instead of being out in the streets and kind of, like you know, getting in trouble.
Speaker 5:
I started focusing on music, you know and you know, and really like wanting to pursue kind of a better life than what I was seeing around me. Like what I noticed about my family was, like, you know, even as dark as things could look at times, you know, music was always kind of escaped. For all of us you know, my mom included in my brothers and sisters it was always something that made the situation better. So I was like man, I love the way that, like it kind of changes the atmosphere. You know it's like that's kind of that's powerful. So I, you know, I knew I wanted to be able to do that, you know, to people and in situations. And so you know a lot of these artists I was in, you know, everybody from Michael Jackson, all across the board, not just like pop and rock, but, like you know, you know rock music like Chris Cornell, or gospel music like Fred Hammond, or you know like old school music like Sam Cook, or country music like Murrow Hagger, like all these things.
Speaker 5:
All these great songs and songwriters, you know, all of them had its place. But so for me, you know, I was like, all right, that's what I want to pursue. So once I graduated from high school, you know, I saved up my money that summer and I got a one way Greyhound bus ticket all the way to Los Angeles, california, to pursue my dream of being rich and famous.
Speaker 3:
So I heard you mentioned that in your TED talk and now maybe I just. I don't know that much about the music industry, but is LA a natural choice if you want to go into the music industry?
Speaker 5:
Yeah, that's a very good question and I wish I had the answer to that at the time. But you know, I grew up in the time where, like this is when you still had to turn televisions with your hand, like you didn't, didn't have remotes. So when you look on television, when you think about being rich and famous, you always thought Hollywood, california.
Speaker 5:
Sure you know, and me, being a young guy, you know I was from Hickory. We didn't. You know, I wasn't exposed to a lot outside of the area. So when I'm thinking rich and famous, I'm thinking, oh, Hollywood, that's where people who are rich and famous, so absolutely.
Speaker 1:
Hollywood. Yeah, so you guys, so you packed up and you had like like what, like five, six thousand dollars ready to go. Yeah, you know.
Speaker 5:
I wish I had a whopping four hundred dollars in my pocket and a suitcase with clothes in it.
Speaker 5:
So, needless to say, that didn't last for, like you know, a few days, and then I found myself clear across the country with you know, nowhere to sleep, no money, no food or anything. So I would end up spending the next two years, you know, just like just literally, you know, more focused on survival than trying to pursue this dream out. You know I was sleeping squats and what you know, which are abandoned buildings. I did Skid Row for a while. I did the Covenant House, which is a huge organization that I support to this day, because they were so instrumental during the time I was homeless. So, yeah, oh, and then I spent the next two years really just trying to survive, you know, and doing that time.
Speaker 5:
For me, I think that's the time, you know, I came to my faith when I was, you know, kind of growing up through this salvage on me boys and girls clubs, actually, when I got my first Bible and and and and doing the time when I was homeless, it kind of had my lowest is really when, like you know, I really just kind of turned to scripture and turned to God to really like seek help, because I had no idea what I was doing and I felt like the situation I left from was bad. And then I went into another horrible situation. I almost felt like you know if you're still you know the story of the Israelites that kind of leave Egypt and then now they're in the desert and they're like wait a minute, we should just go back to Egypt.
Speaker 3:
Exactly. Yeah, I was just going to say real quick that it really does say something too, that you didn't just go back home, that you, like you know, pushed your way through and you know, then started to rely on God, it sounds like while you were in that really low point. But that's really interesting, because I'm worse Some people saying like, why don't you just go back home?
Speaker 5:
Yeah, and, to be honest, I mean I did for two years, but then I eventually did go back toward the East Coast because I just, I kind of almost was, I was that. I was basically this point in my life. I felt like, OK, well, you know, I would read scriptures that you know, like Jeremiah 2911, for I know the plans I have for you. Thus said the Lord pray as the prospering, not the harm. You give you hope and a future you know, improbable as three, five, six. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding, all your ways, acknowledge him and direct your path.
Speaker 5:
I will read these, these scriptures, but like it didn't seem like it was working in my life. So I just, at one point in time, I just felt like maybe it wasn't for a person like me, and so I did end up going back home. I went back to the East Coast nonetheless and I was just like, well, maybe I should just, you know, give up on this dream, but I'm going all the way back home to North Carolina and making my way to Nashville, Tennessee, I was like I need to give this one more try, you know, before.
Speaker 5:
I you know before I toss it in, and and that's how I ended up in Nashville, and this is in 2002.
Speaker 3:
Did you mention how old you were when you went to California?
Speaker 5:
Yeah, I would. I turned 18 in California, so I graduated when I was 17 and my birthday is in July, so I was soon. As you know. School was over in June, I packed up and left and I was in by that Gotcha. Yeah, wow, so you were just a baby too. Yeah, I had no idea what I was doing.
Speaker 1:
But here you are, you've packed up your move to Nashville. What is it like? Because I mean, you're still You're still like homeless. Yeah, yeah, I'm still homeless.
Speaker 5:
By this time I had saved up money and had a kind of beat up car and so I would just sleep in the car. But when I got to Nashville I could see all these people doing what we call busking on the side of the street, like on 2nd Avenue and Broadway so, which is kind of where you sit down and you just kind of play your instrument and people bring money up to your guitar case or whatever case you have. So I was like, all right, that's my first gig, that's what I need to do. I'm going to just sit out there for hours and play and people, you know, hopefully don't money in for tips and I would use that for food or, you know, if I made enough I would get like a cheap hotel. You know stuff like that, wow.
Speaker 5:
And that was kind of how I survived for a while.
Speaker 1:
Yes, deena, do we have a? Do we have a question from the audience?
Speaker 4:
I did so. Jay Rock has a question, but he has a strep throat, so I'm going to ask it for him. Amy, what gave you the strength to keep pushing forward after facing so many obstacles that were deterrents to your goals?
Speaker 5:
That's a good question. I think it was two things, you know. I think one thing is, you know, I kind of grew up in a world that had a lot of, like you know, adversity. So I think part of that was just kind of bred in me. You know what I'm saying. Like I just always, when I was growing up, life always felt hard. So this didn't feel much different, you know so, and I just kind of felt like that's how life was. And I think it does one or two things it can either break you or make you stronger. You know what I'm saying, I think so I was kind of bred for a lifestyle like that.
Speaker 5:
But then I think, ultimately, at the end of the day, my faith is what did that? My faith in God, because I had to believe that. You know, like those scriptures I mentioned before, I had to believe in something bigger than myself, because myself alone wasn't getting things done. And then I find scripture and I learn about God and he says no, I got good plans for you. And I'm like. So I was like man, those good plans are out there. I just got to figure out how to get to them or how can I get him to deliver those to me, and so the hope in that, you know, killed me moving forward. I really just believed. I was like man, like I feel like there's something more out there for me, and then I believe in God, and so God was telling me that there were. So I wanted to believe that and I just stood on that until I saw it.
Speaker 1:
When you just said that, it made me think I was telling Mrs Killer Bee when we're preparing to come in here. I was like I was listening to a podcast. No, it was an audiobook by John Maxwell that I'm listening to right now and he said this and I thought it was so good. He said setbacks. We need to look at setbacks as opportunities for comebacks, and that's what I'm excited to about your story, Because I know there's a lot of setbacks, but there's there's a comeback that's coming up here. So let's go back to. You're on the. You're on the side of the street, You're playing music in Nashville, You're trying to make some money to stay somewhere, get some food. Take us back to that moment.
Speaker 5:
So now, yeah, I'm in Nashville and I'm busking, I'm playing, you know, making tip money, and I'm probably there maybe a couple of weeks doing that. You know, and one particular night I was out playing and this guy kind of walks by with a crew of people and he's like a shorter gentleman, has on a big old black cowboy hat and like a handlebar mustache. You know, at the time that described like a third of Nashville. This guy kind of walks by and he kind of stops and he listens and then he opens his wallet and he throws $100 into my guitar case and so he's like, he's like, man, you have some skill, you have some talent, and I was like thanks, and he's like, you know, he's like I want you to come hang with me. You know what I'm saying. Like we, we played a little club up the street, you know, we got microphones and everything. You know you don't have to sell.
Speaker 5:
And I didn't know who he was at the time, but I later found out it was a guy by the name of John Rich from a country duo called Biggin Rich.
Speaker 5:
And so he was you know, he was the first guy I met kind of in the city who was doing music and he, you know, I got there they were, they were playing this little club called the pub of love, you know, and his, his partner was this, this big, bigger than life guy named Big Kenny, you know. And then Gretchen Wilson, james Otto, john Nicholson, the list goes on and on.
Speaker 5:
I'm like all crammed in this like little tiny club, just on a stage playing music, and so they just invited me to play with those guys and that's kind of how my career took off. You know, I started playing with these guys and then Big Kenny and John Rich became Big and Rich and then Gretchen Wilson became the Redneck woman.
Speaker 1:
And her she's rockin' and James.
Speaker 5:
Otto took off. So, like I, was a part of this whole movement, which we call the music mafia that was in Nashville. And so that's kind of how my career took off you know just being associated with these guys and I got my first published.
Speaker 1:
Wow. So then that's so. Now you're not homeless anymore. So now I'm not homeless anymore.
Speaker 5:
I'm not homeless anymore. I got my first publishing deal, which is where they, you know, they pay you to write songs for other artists, you know. And so I was. I was making, you know, a living doing that. And then I always wanted to be a songwriter. That was kind of first and foremost. But like my songs weren't getting into people's hands the way that I wanted to, so I kind of started playing and singing myself and then then the artistry kind of started developing and then, you know, I went on from there to, you know, I toured with John Legend for a while, opened up for him, and then eventually I ended up in a country trio, a older brother's called the farm, where we had, you know, two top 40 singles and toured and played the whole, you know, did the Hoax Shebain.
Speaker 1:
Wow. So here's what blows me away, damien, is, you know I came, I got connected with you through, well, through a group called Cywalk Profits had, actually, they posted a video of a lady named I believe it was Kylie Phillips Is that right? Yep, Is that right? I'm bad at names, so I'm hoping to kind of fill it out. Yeah, cool. So reached out to her, they connected me with her and I talked to her about coming out to the Christmas show and she's like. She told me she's like I'm more of like a background singer. She does voice coaching, is that correct? Yep? And she said you know what? I know somebody that I would like to connect you with. I think that this might be right up his alley. And she connected me to you, damien, and I immediately started going to Instagram. I was like, wow, this guy is like. I really like this guy, and I hadn't even seen your TEDx. So this is what's blown me away.
Speaker 1:
You know, you went through this time of having to overcome, like what some of the overcoming no death and destruction, like stuff that's your face in your life and I could see your testimony in your Instagram. I was like, okay, I want to, I want to connect with this guy. I would love to have him out here. I knew there's a story here that could, that could actually help people and transform people's lives. And when I asked you, you sent me the TEDx video. I'm like whoa, he's getting opportunities open up. But you're not just taking those as opportunities as, hey, here's Damien Damien Horn, here I am to perform for you and and get a applause. You're taking it so much further, because that TEDx and you guys, I'm going to share that TEDx and our Instagram and stuff and if you're on our Discord, I'll post it in there. You guys have to watch it to get the full story it's amazing, but you're using this gift of music to give back.
Speaker 1:
How did you get to that realization that this is a gift and there's a purpose?
Speaker 5:
behind your gift, right? And that's a great question For me. That's like kind of that was the light bulb moment for me in LA before I left, you know, at one of the times where I was at my lowest there, you know, I remember going into a church and, just like you know, kind of at my wits end, I hadn't eaten for a while and I didn't know where I was going to stay. And this guy kind of you know came. I went to a church and this guy prayed with me and he was like you know, what can I pray for you about? I was like I don't even know. I just know I need things to change, I need like a breakthrough to happen. And so we kept talking a little further and he did something as simple as offer me a job, you know, which is a very hard thing when you don't have, like an ID, a place of residence and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 5:
So he took a chance on me and gave me a job. So, like, right when I feel like you know, I'm done, I don't know I can't take anymore, like something came through that kind of give me more hope, you know. And so that guy felt like a hero to me. And then, like I started thinking about all the heroes that have been in my life up until that point, like my mom you know, a single mom but super strong and always took care of us.
Speaker 5:
And, you know, the people at the Boys and Girls Club, the Salish Army, the list went on and on and the light bulb moment for me was like, oh, that's what I really want to do. It's like, you know, the rich and famous thing was like a service thing, because I didn't really understand what my purpose was, and I used to think my purpose was to play music and entertain, but that's why I like it goes beyond that. I feel like that's just more the tool now to do what I'm actually here to do, which is, you know, inspire, impact and motivate people. You know, for the kingdom.
Speaker 1:
So oh, I love that Good Diner. Who's our next question or?
Speaker 4:
thought from here. The next question is from Dawn and I'm going to ask the question.
Speaker 3:
Okay.
Speaker 4:
Did you have someone who was there for you as a mentor during your times of struggle?
Speaker 5:
That's a really good question. And first, before I even say that, I think I think everybody should have a mentor in the field or the area that you're trying to achieve. You know what I'm saying it's always good to have some kind of path that you can follow in that and unfortunately I didn't during that time. I do now but as I was, which is why I made a lot of mistakes on my own. You know it's because I didn't have a mentor, you know, and I didn't kind of have that guidance. But now I had that and I feel like you know, and not only that, I try to do that for other people.
Speaker 5:
I mentor other people, especially people in the industry who, like you know that you know a lot of us artists. You know we all have dreams of, you know, being rich and famous. You know we all kind of want that kind of like level, I guess, but you know like it's a very small, you know demographic who get to that, that 1% level. But you know you could still make a living and do what you love to do every day, and so I get to talk to, you know, other artists, independent artists, about that and like how that looks. And you know, share like mistakes I made and things that I did, right you know, and kind of mentor other people. But yeah, that's a great question. I think you know whatever it is that you want to do in life, I think having a mentor is like it's a very small, that's good.
Speaker 3:
And you know, damien, I am so glad for I'm glad that there's room for so many artists, because all of my favorite music is not made by, like, the top 1% and the big household names. All of my favorite music is made by people who are just out there like making a living, but they're not billionaires.
Speaker 1:
You know what?
Speaker 3:
I'm saying so. I'm so thankful for that, because there's such a depth and like a connection with music, with artists who are like just out there just doing it because they love it, not because they're becoming a mega rich yeah, so I'm so thankful for that and I'm so thankful for you mentoring, you know younger artists so that you can continue, like you know, helping people be the best that they can be and what they're made to do.
Speaker 5:
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:
Awesome so is that was before dinner goes out. Is that where the concept of shine comes?
Speaker 5:
in, yeah, the concepts of shine. You know it came from a scripture in Matthew where he tells let your light shine before man, that you see people see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven. And you know it kind of initially came from, you know the thought, for when I created the song you know Marianne Williamson has a quote, you know you probably heard it in like speeches by, you know, nelson Mandela and a few movies but it's like our deepest fear is not that we're inadequate but that we're powerful. We have this ability, we all have this light in us to shine, that shines, and sometimes that's a scary thing, you know, like stepping out into that and owning that can be scary.
Speaker 5:
Because you know, I know that growing up, being a middle child, it was easy for me to get lost in the shuffle and try to hide away from everything. And sometimes you don't want to go against the grain because you know where I was at everybody was kind of doing one thing but it wasn't necessarily a good thing to be doing. So my shining would step outside of that and then people would, you know, might judge me a certain way, or you know, kind of outcast me.
Speaker 5:
But the cool thing about it is like when you're stepped into what you're designed to be and who you're supposed to do, you shine. But when you do that, I feel like you liberate other people to do the same thing, you know. I saw somebody who was like oh, I can step out and do that too.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely, I love that. I love that. I love that. All right, deener, who's our next question from here?
Speaker 4:
Alright, our next question is from J Rock. Again, I'm going to ask it for him what? Is your one scripture that helps you on a daily basis.
Speaker 5:
Oh, man, there's so many scriptures, you know, I think I think I probably always have to lean on the first, those first two scriptures that I said at the beginning. You know, like this, there's so many scriptures, you know, like you know, in Philippians it talks about we can do all things through Christ. You know, in Hebrews it talks about the faith and the substance of faith is the evidence of things, hopeful evidence of things, not saying so many different scriptures, but, like for me, you know, I look at this journey of life and we're all living this journey. You know what, no matter if you believe or not, we're all living the human experience. So it's like, you know, the scripture that sticks out to me is just like man, you know, trust in me with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, if you acknowledge me, you know, direct your path because, like, sometimes we don't know what we're supposed to do, we don't know which way to go, and it's it can be very confusing in a world that has so much stimuli and like so many things coming at us in all directions.
Speaker 5:
Like, well, I don't know, am I supposed to go to Hollywood and pursue this? Am I supposed to go back home. And so it's like you know what, if I, if I trust in God's guidance, he's going to leave me where I need to be because he's he's the grand designer, he created me, so he knows better what I'm created and made for than even myself. So once I tapped into that and really started like you know what, I'm going to put my own agenda of you know, rich and famous aside, you know, and just really trust in, like where he's got in a leading, I think I'll be okay. And and that's exactly what happened.
Speaker 3:
That's so good.
Speaker 1:
That's so good and it's. I think that it can I don't know about for you, damian, or Mrs KillerB, but for anybody else here maybe throw some confetti if you guys have felt like this. But there's been a times when, if I don't know the why or what I'm I'm supposed to be doing right now, or if I'm supposed to, just I kind of feel like something's wrong with me. That's the case. But you're saying it's okay. Yeah, totally it's okay, it's okay.
Speaker 5:
It's a process I feel like you know. You know if you, if you look through scripture man, you see so many times where God is leading people but they don't even know it, like he's like Abraham go over here, Take your son, Go do this Go do this Like what I'm going to do when I get that. Don't worry, just go Exactly. So it's like it's so much of that in scripture, like I feel like, okay, well, I feel like I'm in good company sometimes when I don't know what's going on.
Speaker 3:
I was like oh, such a good way to think about it yeah Wow. I always think about Noah building a boat. No one had ever even seen rain. Like put yourself in his shoes and then be like All right. Like everyone might think, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know what I'm doing, but it's all right.
Speaker 5:
It's so much of that happening, but like, yeah, no, I totally agree. So I you know what I feel like that in moments. That's why it's so important to make sure your relationship is connected like you have, that connection you know with God and you can hear, because also you know, there's other voices that are trying to speak to you as well.
Speaker 5:
Yeah, you got to make sure you're hearing from the right voice, you know. But when you, when you do that, I'm not a wide person all the time, like I don't have to know the why. You know. I'm saying I'm more about like, what do I need to do? Just tell me what I need to do.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I'm not even going to question it anymore, just tell me yeah, he's just put it so many times over and over.
Speaker 5:
So now you know, my faith in that area is very strong, so I'm just like, tell me what to do, I'll do it.
Speaker 1:
Send me. So now, when this, when you started first going down this path and learning this, did other people look at you like Damien, something's wrong, like are you all right? Like like you're a little crazy.
Speaker 5:
Absolutely. Yeah, you're going to get a lot of that, I feel like you know. But you know, like I said, like you know, when I just kind of look at life and look at scripture, you know saying like that's the company of people who you know, like you know, the everybody you know, these people you think about, like Martin Luther King Jr, you think about Mother Teresa, or any Gandhi, any great name you could think of, like they all kind of took their own light of beating path and I'm sure at one point time people were saying, oh, you're crazy, why are you doing this?
Speaker 3:
What is this about? Why would you do that? Yeah?
Speaker 5:
But like we still talk about these people to this day and they've left this mark, this amazing mark on the world. And that's what I want to do. You know, I'm the rich and famous. Thing was just the ignorance of myself. You know, now I understand, man, I really want to make a mark on this world, but make the mark for the kingdom.
Speaker 1:
So I love that. I love that and I want to encourage everybody here too, because you know, I know, like I know you know Damien's new to the virtual reality and metaverse stuff, and I know a lot of people here has great purpose in here and what you're doing I mean I know there's pastors in here, I know there's there's church members in here, there's there's people that's leading other talk shows in here. There's some of you that's creating games for kids. What I want to encourage you is to realize like your purpose is greater than what you might realize, even in here, and even though I know people can look at us and say, well, at least we have legs now.
Speaker 1:
So I mean they used to look at us like we're crazy, because we're like, oh, we're just floating torsos. We're like, well, it's not about that, it's about the connection with people. Like we're connecting people from all around the world and I know people in here that from the Christmas event that you're at, they said it meant so much to them because they don't have anywhere to go at Christmas time anymore and so they all come in here in the community and they're really building real friendships. So you guys have an amazing purpose in here, no matter what the voices outside are saying. Remember that I would love, damien. If there was one thing that you would hope people would take away from our conversation today, what would it be?
Speaker 5:
Well, that's a good question.
Speaker 5:
I think for me like I don't know who in the room is like a believer or not but I would say I would say try it out. Test it, because I've experienced so many amazing things by just giving over, surrendering my ideas and my actions and everything to God. I believe that there's a creator who loves you and cares about you and wants to see the best for you. And it might not feel like that at times, but I know that any just for a testament of my own life, I know that at any second, any moment, any event, that your life can be turned around, and I believe that the creator is the catalyst for that. So my kind of challenge to you is to test it. I'm not here to force anything, but try it. If you feel like you're in a place in life where you don't know which way you're going, or you don't know what to do, or things aren't going the way you want them, to try it. Test it out if you have it, and I'm telling you it's good, yeah, it's good.
Speaker 1:
Amen, I love that. All right, guys. So here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna get the stage ready here for Damien to do a song. If you want to hit the change set dinner so he can get lined up by the mic. So you can come up to the mic here, damien, people know how can they connect with you outside of this virtual reality.
Speaker 5:
Yeah, you can connect with me. Any other social media is under my name, which is Damien Horan D-A-M-I-E-N-H-O-R-N-E, and also my website is Damien Horancom. But yeah, very easy to find. Everything is based under my name, so yeah.
Speaker 1:
Awesome, awesome, all right. Well, I'm gonna get out of your way and this is your song Shine right. Yes, yes, all right. Well, thank you so much, you guys enjoy.
Speaker 2:
See how can we learn the lesson of love it reaches the height and the door shines, so everybody can shine too.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, hold me in your heart and leave the way. You don't have to be afraid. It's in you. It's in you to rise High above your greatest fears and with a little bit of light, you can make it brighter here. Oh, oh, oh, oh. So everybody shine, shine on, shine on Everybody, shine, shine on, shine on, everybody, shine. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh. Grace, see, we can use the little grace, sisters and brothers, and it's a shame oh, what a shame when we do not give it to one another. See, how can we learn the lesson of love? It reaches the height and the door shines, so everybody can shine too. Yeah, hold me in your heart and leave the way. You don't have to be afraid. It's in you. It's in you to rise High above your greatest fears and with a little bit of light, you can make it brighter here. Oh, oh, oh, oh. So everybody shine, shine on, shine on Everybody, shine, shine on, shine on Everybody shine. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh.
Speaker 5:
So, before I go, I just want to say one thing it's a pleasure to be here and share this song with you, and I want you to know, no matter what people might think or say about you.
Speaker 2:
When they see your face, there's not a thing that I would change, because you're amazing just the way you are, oh. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stands for a while because you're amazing just the way you are. Oh, so pretty pretty, please. Don't you ever, ever, feel like you're less than less than perfect. Pretty pretty, please. Don't you ever, ever, feel like you're nothing. You are worth it and everybody shine, shine on, shine on Everybody, shine, shine on, shine on Everybody. Shine, shine on, shine on Everybody, shine, shine on, shine on Everybody, shine. Yeah.
Speaker 1:
That was amazing. Thanks for tuning in to today's podcast episode, if you liked or, let's be honest, loved today's episode go ahead and hit the subscribe button or leave us a review.