Life & Work with Daniel G Garza

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel G Garza.

Hi Daniel G, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Please join me while I walk you through my story. I won’t take you too far back. The parts that really defined who I am as a man today started about 20 years ago. It brings together my advocacy work, entertainment, and spirituality. I had no idea at the time that they would work together but allow me to share. In September of 2000, I was diagnosed with AIDS, I was living in Houston and was very sick. My doctors and family didn’t think I would make it out of the hospital. Plans were being made for me to not go home. Spoiler alert: I lived. But it was a tough road from being in the hospital for three weeks, weighing 110lbs, and having a low T-cell count.

My advocacy career started with learning for myself what HIV/AIDS was and wasn’t. I was selectively naive, as a gay man in my 20s I chose to not be more informed and I taught my family. Then I was invited to share my story at events representing the Latino community.

The hardest part was letting go of my nurturing. I grew up with the social, religious, and patriarchal norms that kept sex and sexuality taboo and under shame. For the first time, I was able to express myself, share information, and maybe help another Latino gay man open up to himself, his family, and the community.

In 2007 I entered rehab in Dickinson, Texas. I had hit my rock bottom with drugs and alcohol. In a sad, cliched-filled movie way, I lost my home, my car, and my job. I walked in on June 21 and walked out on August 23. It was the best summer of my life. I claim that the year I became a man.

In 2009 I moved to California after starting to dip my toes into acting so followed my then-boyfriend. The relationship didn’t last but my stay did. I’ve worked on some TV, films, and music videos. I did improv with LA Comedy Connection and started my own brand Lilmesican Productions Inc.

2012 was a big year for me both personally and professionally. In January, I started my podcast “Put It Together” which aired for nine years and over 300 episodes. In February, I started to learn about spirituality. On May 9, I met my partner in life and work, Christian. Also started my group Light Knights, a support group for folks finding their energetic gifts.

On May 5, 2015, yes, that’s Cinco de Mayo, I was diagnosed with anal cancer. That day I started a 30-day video journal on my journey. I finished chemo on the 4th of July. Then on April 1, 2016, I had my ostomy, yes, that’s April Fool’s Day. And did I mention I was born on December 26? Special dates are part of my story!

About my spiritual journey, I started working with Oracle cards when I started working at the Chakra Shack in Laguna Beach. Doing reading for friends, then clients, then on live streams. Eventually, a friend nicknamed me El Divo de las Cartas/The Card Divo, which is my alter ego. Now, I’m a Reiki Master, Spiritual Coach, and Intuitive Reader.

In 2020 Lilmesican Productions Inc was trademarked and in 2021 we are officially registered as a business. We produce three shows at the moment, “The Christian & Daniel Show”, “The Card Divo Show”, and “Put It Together Live Stream”. We moved the podcast to a live stream format.

Our logo has ‘A Social Enterprise’ on it to remind us that along with growing our business, we also want to contribute with constructive, educational, and informative content. Putting positive energy into our community. Despite everything I’ve been through, I feel very fortunate, blessed, and spoiled by God, The Universe, and LIfe. I have everything I could need, love, health, abundance, financial security, and happiness. With those five things, I can do anything!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. In my 51 years, I have seen my share of tragedies. You could write a Mexican telenovela. Some of it has been of my own doing, some life, some a collective. I found myself getting through them almost unscathed. I’ve lost, learned, and conquered. I started smoking and drinking when I was about 15 and tried drugs for the first time when I was 20. Continued until I was 36. Even my AIDS diagnosis in 2000 didn’t stop me. It only added to the reasons for me to get drunk and high. Any breakup was a reason to turn to my addiction.

I was outed when I was 17 which led to losing connection with my family for a while. They eventually realized it was not a phase. But it cost me many tears, lonely nights, and many therapy sessions. Those feelings don’t just go away, I keep them at bay but they creep up once in a while.

I was sent to rehab after dealing with the courts. I was very fortunate that my probation officer saw something in me and advocated for rehab versus jail. I fought it and she fought back eventually wearing me down. To this day I’m so grateful to her for seeing into the darkness I was living in.

During my recuperation with cancer, I had an artery burst from complications with radiation that sent me to the hospital for a week. Had a near-death experience, But also made me more spiritually aware, gave me a bigger appreciation for life, and brought Christian and me closer together.

Those are the top of the list of things I can recall. We could sit here and include all the bullying, being a young gay boy, and feeling misunderstood. Being homeless for a short while. This is where I think I should write that book!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I share my time between one of the three rings of the circus that’s my life. I find that each one has its own attractive points. In entertainment, I do love interviewing folks. I started that journey in 2005 on Zona Festival at Houston Media Source in Houston, TX. Co-hosting a weekly talk show. In advocacy, I do enjoy speaking to students at high schools, community colleges, and universities about prevention, patient interaction, and caring for folks with HIV/AIDS. You see the light come on in their eyes when they can put a story with an actual human.

And The Card Divo has his own life, he is there for folks, sharing words of wisdom, his cards, and guidance. It’s amazing to be able to channel information that is so specific to the person I’m talking to in a way that only they understand, hoping that it will help them be a better version of themselves.

I’m so lucky that I get to do what I love. What’s the saying, do what you love and you won’t work a day in your life. I’m doing that. I get to do what I love!!!

Now, what sets me apart is my passion, my enthusiasm, my view of life. The way I deliver a message, interview someone or make fun of things in my comedy. I’m Daniel G Garza and there is no one else like me!

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If we were in person, this is where I would pull out a deck of cards and do a reading. I would tell you about being a sick baby and almost dying there. I could tell you that I’m a workaholic and have to punish myself to stop working. How I love meeting folks and everyone is a potential guest. Oh… and I wrote a book called “Grumpy Bunny and the Colors Game”. A children’s book for parents to help them center, ground, and balance their energy. It’s really for all ages.

Pricing:

• One-On-One Card Reading or Spiritual Life Coaching Sessions $175/hour
• Corporate and Group Sessions 2 Hours Minimum

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.lilmesicanproductions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdanielggarza/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Iamdanielggarza
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LilMesican
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DanielGarza/featured
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-card-divo-laguna-beach?osq=the+card+divo
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarddivo?