We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lino Martinez, PSY.D. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lino, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
In taking risks in my life, I had to face fears and let go of them. I had to take risks with over 40 surgeries in 10 years to save my life. I had to take risks, dropping my career as a doctor in Clinical Psychology, to become a full-time podcaster/ producer and author. All risks that I have taken have been redirections towards my soul’s true calling to connect humanity. There was also a big risk changing my gender from female to male at age 34. That risk was losing friends and family. Those who cared and mattered stayed. Now, at 43 years old, I am finally thriving living a life of joy, compassion, integrity and love. I am happy and in alignment with my Podcast being in the Global Top 100 for about year!
Lino, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I had to make life decisions that pertained to saving my life with over 40 surgeries in 10 years, right after graduating with my doctorate in Clinical Psychology, back in 2010. I did not have the opportunity to fully get into that field since I was living in hospitals for 10 years. One of my biggest operations was losing my urinary bladder. To this day, I’ve only met one man who had this surgery, and he was in his 90’s. I was 33 years old when I had mine removed. I had my entire urinary system reconstructed and I now pee out of a hole called a stoma, from my abdomen. I catheterize about 9 times a day.
I was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease that is statically 1 in a million, called MUCKLE-WELLS SYNDROME. By the time I was diagnosed, I was 36 years old and had already undergone over 30 plus surgeries. The disease causes an atypical paralysis of peripheral nerves and motor neurons. It also resulted in my vocal cords becoming paralyzed for over two years. I could not speak for over two years and went to sign school to learn sign language. It also affected my hearing and now wear a hearing aid,
I am also transgender. I decided to transition from female to male when I was 34 years old. While living in hospitals, I knew that if I did not become my true self, I could potentially die in the wrong body. Transitioning saved my mental and emotional health.
There is a lot more to be said and you can visit my website at www.alittlelessfear.com if you have more questions. I am now finally thriving at age 43, I have my memoire out on Amazon and Amazon Kindle titled, A Little Less Fear. I also am a producer/host of the podcast that is called A Little Less Fear Podcast and it has been consistently in the Top Global 100 podcasts.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Yes! My goal is to have my own Podcast TV SHOW. A Little Less Fear Podcast is a motivational podcast. It interviews people from all walks of life, describing their journeys to where they are today. All guests have overcome obstacles. The guests I have interviewed have such incredible stories that I feel needs to not only be shared online, but also on television.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I wish I would have known or had the resources or connection to other podcasters prior to podcasting. It took a lot of work and studying and digging to find all the information I needed to get started. Luckily, I am an open book and I have helped others start their podcast by giving them details on what they need.
I also wish I would have known that it is not a good idea to write a book on Google Docs. It’s always best to use WORD. Google Docs does not convert to PDF which is not easy to convert. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alittlelessfear.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alittlelessfearpodcast/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lino-martinez-48ba83202/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/alittlelessfear
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtP4TN79CnanTFpRfOw0lUA