Ryan Oelrich is a highly regarded mental health trainer and facilitator, having trained thousands of professionals since 2008. He’s developed mental health curriculum used by Washington State. He has an MBA and an MA in Leadership.
Starting August 1, 2026, a complex of fast-moving wildfires—including the Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires—devastated the edges of Spokane, Washington. The wind-driven blazes scorched over 10,500 acres, destroyed at least 900 homes and structures, and forced roughly 65,000 residents to evacuate in
How one spectacularly awkward attempt to make a new friend reminded me friendship is built, one tiny brick at a time. I was trying to decide what to write about this month when my husband gave me one very specific piece of advice: "Absolutely do not write about your
Finding community one garden party, movie night, and bowl of cereal at a time. My last two articles have both been "Guides," which is ironic because I once guided an entire holiday parade down a dark alley and right into a dead end (true story for another time)
A public service announcement from a man who has been successfully gay married exactly one time with wisdom from couples smarter than he is. I received 67 written responses to my last column, “I Made All the Gay Dating Mistakes So You Don’t Have To.” …thank you. This doesn’
A public service announcement & gay dating guide no one asked for, but many desperately need. Let’s start with a disclaimer. This is not a guide to straight dating. I am wildly unqualified for that. If you need help navigating heterosexual courtship, I suggest literally anyone else. This is
What does it take to survive—and even win—in trying times?. Recently, in my search for answers, I found myself locked in battle with a giant and sinister cell phone company. It was not a battle I had planned to fight, but history rarely asks our permission. The experience
Why 2026 is Forcing Us to Choose Who We Really Are Like so many others, I held my breath as I watched hockey star, Scott Hunter, risk everything to courageously invite the love of his life onto the ice after his victory in Heated Rivalry. I definitely was feeling that
“Since you’re now in public office, I should probably tell you all the weird things you do—and all the ways you’re wrong.” My husband, Robert, offered this loving threat shortly after I began my term as a Spokane City Council Member. Robert has always had quick wit
A Journey from Magic to Mindfulness As a child, I was absolutely certain I would grow up to be a world-renowned magician. Not a hobbyist. Not a guy who does card tricks at parties. A world-renowned magician. I rehearsed relentlessly, fundraised to buy expensive props, and devoured every
During the pandemic, I was diagnosed with heart failure after landing unexpectedly in the ER. The medical team was covered head-to-toe in plastic shields, gowns, and gloves. I spent hours alone in a dark hospital room. My husband wasn’t allowed to enter. I held onto my cell
We’re lonelier than ever, and it’s killing us. We’re forgetting what community looks like—just when it’s what will save us. But community isn’t found in another app- it’s found on the front porch, at a coffee shop, or out on the kickball field.
Conflict. Just the word makes many of us uncomfortable. For me, as a gay man, it has often carried an even heavier weight. When I think of conflict, I don’t just imagine tense conversations—I recall the time someone spit on me in a Walmart. The time food was
I considered running for office years ago, so I sat down and drafted a set of courageous, self-reflective questions—questions I felt I needed to answer honestly before moving forward. This wasn’t an academic exercise; it was born out of genuine concern. At the time, I was disillusioned.
When horror and harm dominate our vision, we risk losing sight of the good that still surrounds us. And when we lose that vision, we surrender a vital source of power—one we need not only to heal, but to keep moving forward. At the Center for Trauma and Stress
I was supposed to have a drink with an ICE agent. His wife had arranged it—she said it was important that I, and others like me, understood. She said her husband was a good man, doing a hard job for the sake of the country, and she wanted me
The first team sport I ever played was basketball in sixth grade at Cornerstone Academy in Helena, Montana. I didn’t exactly join the team by choice—my father declared it was time I picked a sport, and, apparently, puppetry and magic tricks didn’t qualify. Spoiler alert: I was
