When we think of clowns, the images that come to mind are children's birthday parties, a circus, or a park. Those clowns' mission is to entertain, make the little ones smile, and make happy places happier. However, there is a less known clowning activity, perhaps more significant - humanitarian clowning. Humanitarian clowns' job is to put smiles on the faces of those who feel forgotten or invisible, those who are going through challenging moments.

Joining me today is Bullseye, the Clown, a humanitarian clown that fights against bullying, injustice, invisibility, and loneliness. He is a happiness coach and an anti-bullying activist. He sponsors two kids from Children International. He also participated in the 2020 Humana Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon, raising money for St. Jude's Children's Hospital, and traveled to Russia with Dr. Patch Adams. They visited children's hospitals, orphanages, drug rehabilitation centers, homes for the deaf and blind, and even hospices in San Petersburg. 

In this episode, we talked about Bullseye's journey on becoming a humanitarian clown, his past as a stand-up comedian, and his stint teaching drama classes to prison inmates. He kindly shared his adventure with the renowned Dr. Patch Adams in Russia and how that experience changed his life. We spoke about bullying, how a positive attitude can save someone's life, and his mission of bringing laughter where it is needed. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• How did you decide to become a clown? (5:14)
• Could you share with the audience a particular story from your trip to Russia that particularly stands out? (10:50)
• When you get home, do you need to decompress? How your job impacts your overall being? (12:49)
• Can you tell us a bit of how you got into anti-bullying activism? And what do you do? (16:48)
• What advice do you have for those who want to break the bullying pattern? (24:42)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Adults need clowns in their lives as much as kids do (3:50)
• Honoring his father. Bullseye's first trip into clowning (5:45)
• The power of being present. The story of the lady on the bus stop (11:38)
• The powerful technique of distracting your bully (17:24)
• The importance of posture and mindset to effectively face bullying (24:40)

Resources:

• Bullseye the Clown website
• Book: Bryan Lee - Bullseye on Bullying: Survival Tips To Beating The Bullies. Pre-order the book

Connect with Bullseye:

• Facebook
• Twitter

Useful Rejuvenaging Resources:

• Website: https://www.thementalhealthgym.com/
• Book: Dr. Ron Kaiser -Rejuvenaging: The Art and Science of Growing Older with Enthusiasm
• Email: ron.kaiser@thementalhealthgym.com 
• TEDx Talk: Aging Enthusiastically to Make the World a Better Place

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