We had the good fortune of connecting with Danny Medina and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danny, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
This is a great question , I believe the most important factor to the success of Below Sycamore is that I write what I know. I didn’t write about the cartel because I have never had any experience with the cartel but I have been a hopeless addict and I have found hope in that hopelessness. I know about that and have been blessed with the ability to share the gift. Truth is, I came face to face with real demons and they had me in their grip, dragging me around my life.  I believe the addict or alcoholic comes to a point where even the most precious people in their lives are unable to get through to them and most addicts or alcoholics are unwilling to ask for help. I know about that because I was one of them. People who read Below Sycamore or who have seen the play are attracted to the authenticity of the story and the characters because almost everyone in modern society has someone in their lives that struggles with addiction and has seen or felt or heard about the destructive nature of this monster that is addiction. This commonality of pain, loss and hope results in an uncanny attraction to the storyline and that is the most important factor to the popularity and success of Below Sycamore.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I want the world to know that Below Sycamore is more than a play or a television series or a comic book, it’s really about hope in our most desperate hour. More importantly, I want the world to know that the monster of addiction is far too powerful to fight on your own. If you continue on this path you are headed for destruction because the monster does care about you or your life, the monster just wants “more and again” how are you gonna get free from that thing when you have been fooled into thinking that thing is you?

You may not believe me but that thing, that so called addiction, it’s not you and that’s the real message of freedom that we are spitting in your ear earth people.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Great…really weird question but ironically enough I wrote something about this some time ago….here it is!

Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, 50 cent Heinekens in the Castro, Chinatown, The Hoe Stroll in the Fillmore, North Beach, Union Square, The Tenderloin and Coit Tower are all landmarks, beauty marks, if you will, located in my favorite city, San Francisco, California.

There are quite a few local diamonds that did not make that prestigious list up there. This week we will concentrate on the Richmond District. In northwest corner of “The City” the Richmond is robed in Her grey gowns, noble in Her misty crown and bejeweled with some of finest gems for the world’s traveler.

Traveling westbound on Geary Avenue, “The Richmond” begins around Arguello and continues until She runs into the Pacific Ocean, bordered respectively by the Golden Gate Park to the south and The Presidio to the north. Also known as the “Outside Lands”, because She was originally “outside” of the city’s borders when California became a state, The Rich’ has Her charms and gifts for both the bustle of the local scene and the meanderings of the tourist.

Ninety percent of Golden Gate Park lies inside the Richmond and that 1000 acre Golden Gate Park has everything from bison and botanical gardens to groves of colonial trees, concourses for music and food festivals and a Frisbee course to accompany their 9 hole golf course. Sojourners in the SFC could spend 2 to 3 days exploring this lush city getaway alone! “Outside Lands” also offers 3 golf courses, several museums, gardens, a mini Chinatown and a myriad of unique restaurants, bars, boutiques and some of the finest produce the City by the Bay has to offer!

The next time you visit San Francisco make some time for the Richmond District, She will not disappoint!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes there is a group I would like to give a shout out to, I would like to give a fat shout out to everyone in the recovery community. When everyone in my life was telling me to go away (for good reason) these beautiful people in 12 step recovery told me to keep coming back and for that reason they will always be my familia and they will always have a very special place in my heart and mind.

Website: www.belowsycamore.com

Instagram: @belowsycamore

Linkedin: @belowsycamore

Twitter: @belowsycamore

Facebook: Daniel Anthony Medina Below Sycamore

Youtube: Below Sycamore

Other: TikTok. Below Sycamore

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.