The Other Side with Logan Taylor

Join Kosta and his guest: Logan Taylor, Founder and Creative Director of Dream Reality Group, Producer and Founder of DRG Films, Photographer, Artist and Psychic Medium. In This Episode: How Logan discovered and developed his psychic abilities, dealing with skeptics and criticism, what it's like to grow up as a medium in the bible-belt, and his upcoming tour. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.Find out more about&n...

Show Notes

Join Kosta and his guest: Logan Taylor, Founder and Creative Director of Dream Reality Group, Producer and Founder of DRG Films, Photographer, Artist and Psychic Medium.

In This Episode: How Logan discovered and developed his psychic abilities, dealing with skeptics and criticism, what it's like to grow up as a medium in the bible-belt, and his upcoming tour.
 
Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.

Find out more about  Logan Taylor and Dream Reality Group:
http://www.intuitivelogan.com
https://drgmcminnville.com/

Find out more about Kosta and all the ways we're better together:
http://kostayepifantsev.com/

What is Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev?

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a podcast about business, parenting and living life intentionally. We're here every week to bring you intentional conversations on making your own path to success, challenging the status quo, and finding all the ways we're better. Recorded in Cookeville, TN, Kosta joins guests from all walks of life to bring fresh perspective and start your week with purpose. We're better together.

Logan Taylor: I know it sounds
wackadoodle I know that gimmicks

but to me, I am a skeptic. It is
not something I do really by

choice. I just know it to I'm
destined to be because of the

impact. It makes others it's not
easy, but it's worth it.

Morgan Franklin: Welcome to
Better Together with Kosta

Yepifantsev, a podcast on
parenting business and living

life intentionally. We're here
every week to bring you

thoughtful conversation on
making your own path to success,

challenging the status quo, and
finding all the ways we're

better together. Here's your
host, Kosta Yepifantsev

Kosta Yepifantsev: Hey y'all,
this is Kosta and today I'm here

with my guest Logan Taylor,
founder and creative director of

dream reality group, producer
and founder of DRG Films,

photographer, artist and psychic
medium. Today we're taking a

trip to the other side or at
least a peek behind the curtain

logon. The only place we can
start is from the beginning

right? Tell us about how you
made it to McMinnville your

career thus far in theater and
how you landed the medium

roadshow tour.

Logan Taylor: How long do we
have to talk about

Kosta Yepifantsev: I mean we can
talk we can talk for four hours

Logan Taylor: well first of all,
thank you so much for having me.

Absolutely. I'm really excited
to be here. To start off I

didn't plan on moving to
McMinnville because I grew up

here in Cookeville I always said
growing up my dad my parents are

originally from McMinnville my
dad still lives there but he

would say just move down here
because high school was kind of

a trip for me and I I was like
I'm not moving to McMinnville.

No. Why are you going to catch
me in that sort of you know,

small town but never say never.

I've always learned never say
never. But my stepmom got sick

so I moved to McMinnville to
help my dad. Okay. Honestly,

it's funny because I believe
everything happens for a reason.

I'm a firm believer in that. And
I moved down there with no

expectation, no plan whatsoever.

I remember stumbling into this
little coffee shop and this

woman was standing there. She
had this beautiful red hair and

she just started talking to me
and she said, You're special.

She said I need to talk to you.

She said we were supposed to
meet today for a reason. Oh wow.

And she took me across the
street to her office. Turned out

she was a spiritual guru. She
was a master metaphysician of

over 20 years, there's truly
nothing this woman had done. And

I was just kind of talking about
my life what I had been through

a lot about my journey in mental
health. And she was saying, you

know, this is probably spirits
trying to get in touch with you

because I had seen spirits on
and off my whole life. But I

didn't really have a pinpoint as
to what they needed for me.

Yeah. So from that point, I
started listening more and I

would start trusting my
intuition more. And it didn't

matter where I was, I was
getting pulled over if I was in

a Taco Bell drive thru, if I
felt that message, they were

gonna get it, you know, and it
made me feel better. Yeah. And

it made a difference. So that's
really where I started. I didn't

have any friends in McMinnville
at that time. But my cousin

would be like, hey, come over
here to this party I'm at, I

want you to read everybody. And
then I'd go drive my little self

over and I'd start reading all
his friends. And it was just a

lot of fun.

Kosta Yepifantsev: What was it
like though in high school? I

mean, I'm assuming you're like
sitting in class and all these

things are happening to you. I
mean, yes, in terms of spirits

and stuff like that, like, how
do you stay grounded,

Logan Taylor: I didn't learn. I
learned I learned over a lot of

trial and error. I spent a lot
of my time I think in high

school. The biggest advice I
could give to younger me would

be just be yourself. Yeah, I
spent so much time trying to run

from who I really was because of
a lot of structural norms that I

had grown up with, I think in
running from everything that I

am it just kind of I made it
worse. You know, I didn't cope.

I have a lot of horror stories
from high school. I showed my

patootie several times I'm sure
you know, I remember getting my

first job and realizing oh,
there are people from all over

that I have a lot of different
life paths. It's not just people

that think I'm weird from high
school you know, so it starts to

feel like oh, I matter who I am
matters. So that kind of

developed and then after I'd
moved to McMinnville, I got

bored one winter, I like to keep
myself busy and it was it was

snowing. It was an ice storm.

And I'm like you know what, I'm
gonna buy the rights for a show.

I'm just gonna look it up online
gonna buy some playwrights and

just have auditions. Incredible.

And I did that and McMinnville
had never had a theater program

before. I remember I called the
lady at the Civic Center. It was

just like a municipal building
and I said hey, can I rent out a

room at the Civic Center to do a
show? She said well, why don't

you do it at the park theatre
and I never heard or thought

about the park theatre. It had
been closed since the 80s. So

anyway, we were the first show
in the theater after it had been

reopened in 2015. I remember we
held auditions we had like 50

kids show up and now was seven
years ago and we've done 21

shows since then, they've just
gotten bigger and bigger and

bigger. And, you know, it's
funny because I was talking to a

friend the other day. I love
what I do. I love all the

aspects of my career, because I
know it makes an impact on

others. But it just so happens
that I have a lot of fun doing

it.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Kind of makes
sense. In high school. Did you

do theater?

Logan Taylor: I did. I actually
in the fourth grade, I started

doing goodwill Children's
Theater. Okay. And, and then I

did shows throughout high
school, I will say, for me, I

never truly never saw myself
directing theater. I mean, I

remember, in our front yard, we
all would always put on plays.

And these weren't just your
typical household plays. Okay,

we would get the red curtains
strung up, we would have my

siblings ziplining from a tree,
it was a production. And so I

guess looking back, it's like
fate that it was meant to be you

know, but I never saw it. I've
always tried even in my worst

days to trust my intuition.

trust my gut. So far, it's led
me in the right direction.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Is there a
specific genre of plays that you

do?

Logan Taylor: Um, I will tell
you the reason I think I have

had such a good time with it.

And what I think makes our group
stand out from other groups.

There are so so so much passion
involved, for myself, from the

staff from every single actor,
it just feels like they're truly

a part of something bigger than
themselves. And so my personal

style of directing is fun,
colorful, vibrant, you will see

whimsy, I love to have fun, I
love visual stimulation, my

shows, it's more than just a
musical. It's a visual

spectacle. And I know that
sounds corny, and I have a sound

like that. But that's how I like
everything I do to be larger

than life. So even when we go on
tour, even if it's 20 people in

the room, I'm still gonna, you
know, I'm still gonna wear my

suit. I'm gonna wear my fancy
shoes, because it is an event.

And I think I treat everything
in my life like that. And so it

just serves me well.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Yeah. So you
said in high school, you're

trying to kind of run away from
who you truly are. And so I

assume, and this may be a bit of
a complicated question, but I

assume that you have been
essentially acting almost your

entire childhood. Right? So
we're getting deep here. I mean,

I'm just curious, because
obviously, like, as an actor, or

as a director, specifically, as
a director, you have to try to

get people to believe in
themselves, right? How do you

convince people or essentially
project kind of your childhood

and your upbringing and the
challenges that you faced and

the times that you've had to be
maybe somebody that you're not?

How do you then reiterate that
and encourage other people that

you direct to do the same thing

Logan Taylor: I grew up.

Luckily, having a firm Family
Foundation, who really, for the

most part supported every single
thing I did always showed up on

the polar opposite end of the
spectrum. At school, I don't

know it's kind of hard to talk
about because I'm at this 10

year mark in my life, it's about
to be my 10 year reunion.

Kosta Yepifant: Congratulations,
by the way, I usually don't know

about that. But

Logan Taylor: I am at this point
where I'm like, okay, 10 years

has snuck up on me. And I'm
realizing that I'm still

addressing and letting go of
things that affected me in

school. And looking back, I
realized so much of it was

spiritual. And I didn't even
realize it. I think I was

running from my identity. I was
trying to be fit a mold of the

person, I thought others would
want me to be right. Looking

back, I treat my kids as I would
have wanted to be treated. And I

think they relate to me on such
a level because I'm still really

childlike in a lot of ways. I
think my superpower is I'm able

to see potential in people long
before they see it in themselves

through nurturing a tough love.

Now, I want us to say that my
mama always gave me tough love.

And at the time, I really didn't
understand it. But looking back,

it has been the best thing that
ever happened to me. Because

that tough love is how I cuz you
can ask my actors. I love them

deeply. And they know that but
I'm gonna make them work. Our

rehearsal schedule, they all
have school, but then we

rehearse four to five days a
week, four to eight hours each

day. It's not to be messed
around with but I think that

work ethic instills in them that
they're, that they're good

enough that they can do it. And
a lot of these kids are

amateurs, they have no training,
but we present a caliber of a

production to them and a quality
and says you can do it. It's

going to be really hard. It's
not going to be easy. Yeah, it's

not gonna be easy, but you can
do it. You know,

Kosta Yepifantsev: and believe
me, this is not a podcast about

high school. Yes, yeah, it's
just I reflect back on my time

in high school. I mean, if you
would have told me that I'd be

here 10 years from the time that
I graduated, I would have said,

You're crazy. Because at the
moment that nine through 12th

grade was everything in your
life, you know what I mean? But

you didn't peak in high school.

So that's essentially the most
important thing. God, yeah.

Right. So I want to talk about
being a medium, like, when did

you realize that you could do
this? And what was kind of that

first aha moment, like, wow,
this is a big deal

Logan Taylor: that comes to me
immediately, actually, like I

said, I saw spirits growing up,
I have so many memories and

encounters, interacting with
souls that I now realize we're

not here in the physical. It
does run in my family. It's not

something my family likes to
talk about, but the gift, it

runs, generations of generations
down. I remember after I'd met

my guru, that's the only thing I
know to call her. She said,

Okay, I want you to read
somebody, I'm gonna line up some

clients for you. And I remember,
months after I had kind of been

reading and it was going
fabulously. There was one

reading that stuck out to me.

And still, I still think about
every day, not every day, but

often. There was this gentleman
who came from Memphis, somebody

had got him a gift card, I guess
to get a reading. He came from

Memphis and he sits there. He
came in and first thing he says,

I don't believe in this. I'm
just here to appease my friend.

But I'm open to whatever you
have sight. I'm like, okay,

great Challenge accepted. So we
start the reading. And I say, I

felt the woman the mother
energy. And she brought forward

the little girl. I said, I don't
know if this is your wife and

daughter. And he started tearing
up. And I said, I feel like it

didn't hurt at all, you know,
and he started tearing up more.

I'll never forget, they had been
in a car wreck and passed

tragically. But I said to him, I
said, your little girl stepping

forward, and her little outfit
turned right into a Cinderella

dress and she spun around. And
he let out a whale. This grown

military man let out this like
pitiful little whale. And he

said we buried her in a
Cinderella dress. It's little

things like that. I mean, this
past weekend on tour, one

powerful moving moment. I mean,
there were so many but one

moving moment, I felt the
younger woman that got the hit

in the head. And I said, you
know, she, she's she was like,

she fell asleep. She didn't
hurt, you know, and I was

talking to this lady. And all of
a sudden, as we're doing the

reading, she says, it was my
friend Eliza, who got abducted

in Memphis. And the whole room
was just stunned. But the

healing that she got from that,
and the healing that just being

in one of these group sessions,
that's why I do it. Because let

me tell you, I've gotten so much
hate for being a medium over the

years. I know it sounds
Wackadoodle. I know the gimmicks

I know this the tricks. But to
me, I am a skeptic. It is not

something I do really by choice.

I just know it to I'm destined
to be because of the impact it

makes to others. It's not easy,
but it's worth it.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Are there
spirits in here today? Oh, my

goodness coming. I don't know.

We might not have talked long
enough for you to come in. But

you can be honest. Yeah. There's
a spirit looming right here,

guys right on top of my head.

Logan Taylor: Because it's
funny, like as I look at you

right now, I do see kind of the
angelic figures behind you a lot

of times in this life, things
are so uncertain. I feel like so

many times we get lost in our
own minds, and they want us to

know that they're with us.

They're behind us. I do feel oh,
no, I do kind of feel like this

grandmotherly or motherly figure
that I don't know if this is

somebody who was really
important to you. I see kind of

some water around you, but I
just feel like she's saying,

okay. So a lot of times they'll
walk me through like a tunnel,

and they'll show me different
things from your life. Okay. Do

you have a little girl? I do.

Yeah, I just they she shows me
this specific moment. I don't

know if this is your
grandmother. I don't know who

this is. But it is the female.

She shows me that moment when
your daughter was born. And I

don't know if things really
changed for you. But she says

you've gone through a lot and
you've overcome. I don't know

what the number 20 means for
you. I don't know if 20 was a

significant age, but she's just
showing me a lot of growth, a

lot of mental clarity and you're
a lot stronger.

Kosta Yepifantsev: So I met my
wife when I was 20. And that was

a pretty significant moment. Not
to say that I wasn't here we go

guys reading on the podcast. It
changed you. Yeah, it did. It

did. And I credit pretty much
everything in my life to my

wife. I'm not you know, I'm not
a very like religious person. I

don't really prescribe to any
type of organized religion. But

I do understand that it would be
naive for us to think that you

know, we're just here all by
chance. All alone, right. And I

also grew up with kind of like I
was telling you earlier, like

the whole horoscope spiritual
realm, being a part of our

lives. My mom, I don't know if
she'd liked me saying this, but

she always says that we are at
some point from a line of

gypsies. From Russia, I love Oh,
yeah. And I always feel my

grandparents. My grandmother, my
mom's mom, who passed away in

2012. And my dad's parents who
passed away in oh three, and

then 2010, they were very
important because when we came

to America, the only people who
weren't working, you know, three

jobs were my grandparents. And
so they were the only people

that I really spent time with.

And so they were the ones that
kind of raised me when they

passed, is is going to sound
strange, but I almost feel like

I became more. I feel like I
have their protection. And I

feel like they've kept me on the
right path. And they've

supported me. And they've
shielded me from a lot of

things. That could have been
terrible,

Logan Taylor: Though, it's so
funny when you just raised your

head and you said it. Like I
said, Is there something over

me? These are your guardian
angels kind of always standing

behind you to say, we're right
here protecting you. Because

listen, life is hard. Yeah, for
sure. I mean, having that

support in times where you feel
alone, because it it doesn't

matter who we are, there are
times where we feel like nobody

understands what we're trying to
say or do. And that's why a lot

of sessions, the overall
underlying message is, you're

not alone in this, you've got
that support. And it's funny

what you said about your
grandparents, because I say to a

lot of clients, because so many
people don't understand why

people are taken from them.

Death is such a strange thing.

And people grieve differently.

But I do tell people, and I
think I find comfort in it

sometimes as odd and as strange
as it is to hear. We have to

lose something to get something
else. And that is a hard pill to

swallow. But sometimes even the
loss of someone we love so

dearly, opens doors to things we
didn't know were possible. Yeah.

So that's something to think
about.

Kosta Yepifantsev: I probably
would have never left home at 15

to play hockey if my grandma
hadn't passed in 2003. Because

when she passed, she was kind of
like the glue of our family. And

so everything became a little
bit less connected. And so I

moved, you know, moved away,
played hockey, but all right,

move movie. Thank you very much
for that for that. For that.

Call it a reading, if that's
okay. Sure. I mean, like, I want

to know, though, how does
somebody seek your services out?

Like, I know you're doing your
roadshow tour now. But before

you did the tour, like how did
people find you? Or did you seek

people out Jad advertisement?

What do you do? Did you have
like a storefront?

Logan Taylor: Right? Well, okay,
when I first started, I didn't

really think it was gonna be a
big deal at all, I just started

reading people. And I didn't
really advertise at all it just

more and more people. I would
post like little clips or just

little things, and you would not
believe how many people seek

help from the other side. It's
just, it became a whirlwind at

one point. So I started reading
in 2013, or 14. And by the time

I was 23, okay, okay, I'm gonna
give you this tape because I can

talk about it. Now. I had a year
long waiting list at one point.

So people were waiting a really
long time for a reading. And I

never would have thought that
would even be a thing. I was

reading three people a day, four
days a week, I was just

overdoing it. And then I was in
a series of TV deals,

development deals, I should say.

And in 2015 I went on a TV show.

I'm not gonna say the name of
the TV show, but I went on a TV

a dating show, actually. Oh,
wow. And the whole premise. They

kind of set us up and the whole
premise was I was a medium

Barbara do go on the day with
this person. They're wanting to

meet and this guy just shuts me
down. I mean, it was just the

worst experience ever. And it
happened on national TV. So that

book on this thing, my my book,
I'm like, okay, but bah bah,

bah. So this aired in air baby
under that point. I had been on

fire. I mean, there wasn't a
thing in this world that can

stop me but that kind of
traumatize me. I thought, oh my

god, this is gonna ruin my life
or my business, blah, blah.

Well, nobody cared. Nobody saw
it. So through that show. I got

another TV deal with one of the
biggest reality TV companies in

the country. And I was in
development with them for a

year. They flew me out to LA
three or four times I read for a

bunch People, they were
basically going to develop a

show around my life with a
really major television network.

I got signed with the network,
they shot some stuff, they

develop some stuff. They're
like, Hey, this is happening.

You're getting a show, you got
one more interview, you're gonna

read the exact, I'm filling my
fantasy like, Okay, let's do

this. So I get on the interview,
it was this was a zoom, I get on

the Zoom, my grandma's in the
room for moral support. And this

was years after the TV show
aired, but it was in my head, I

went back to that moment, and
I'm in my brain and I'm like,

Oh, my God, I'm gonna mess this
up. Is this this self doubt this

inner monologue of you can't do
it. You know,

Kosta Yepifantsev: I don't mean
to interrupt. But what happened

on this other TV show that was
so dramatic.

Logan Taylor: So we go on this
day and the guy. Now mind you, I

was only 20. At this point. He
was several years older, and

there was a blind date. They
like cast us and it happened in

Chicago. They flew us to
Chicago. Okay. He was drinking.

And I, like I said, couldn't
drink yet. Yeah. Because he was

drinking. And so he was feeling
kind of spicy, I guess. And he

was like, Do you feel anything
with me? Of course, I was

waiting for that question. You
know, yeah, that's the question

of the ages isn't a caster. But
I told him when I was feeling

totally shut me down. And then
he was like, just to be honest,

I feel like you just say
something really general and

build from there. And I just
feel like you're grasping at

nothing. I feel like this is a
cold reading type deal. And of

course, me sitting there
thinking, okay, my mama does not

know, I'm on national TV with a
guy. Not only that, I'm giving

this reading. It was just so
dramatic. And he was just, I

don't even say anything bad.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Are you
scared that you were going to

come out on national TV before
anybody knew anything? Or was

that?

Logan Taylor: Well, here's the
deal. When I came out, it wasn't

like, I'm gay. It was just kind
of like, this is this guy I'm

talking to No, it wasn't a big
thing for me. But my family

really struggled. And still kind
of does. But my mom said

something the other day. And now
growing up. It was our biggest

fear to have a gay kid. I mean,
biggest fear your family? Yes.

My mom specifically. But yes, my
family. It was just it was a big

fear for them. Because I mean,
first of all, me as a little

boy, I mean, if it walks like a
duck and quacks like a duck, the

duck, you know what I mean? I'm
sure my mom was like, Oh, my

God, this kid cannot be gay.

Yeah, but I remember a few
months ago, I also have a trans

brother. Oh, okay. My mama. She
cried and cried. But she said a

few weeks ago, she said, You
know, I never realized how much

our family needed you and
Reagan, we've learned so much.

And I think it makes me feel
like it's okay to be born

different. You know what

Kosta Yepifantsev: I mean?

Right? So your mom's come to
terms with it. She sure has.

Logan Taylor: She doesn't love
it. But she loves her children.

And I'm trying to tell people
because I know so many people

who are deathly afraid to be who
they are openly, even afraid to

acknowledge it. Some people and
it just kind of ended up

snowballing for that. But it's
never as bad as you think.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Do you think
that that's what contributed to

a lot of your struggles in high
school?

Logan Taylor: Without a doubt,
one of my first memories in

kindergarten, I went to a pool
party. I remember I was swimming

in nice kids. I'm sure I grew up
with them. But they said to me,

why do you talk like a girl. And
that has never left my brain?

You know, and it wasn't a big
deal. And for so many years, I

look back at videos, I used to
make YouTube videos, I would

talk with a deeper voice, you
know, type deal. And I think

that's really sad. Because I
think if I would have just been

who I was all those years, or
probably would have saved me a

lot of heartache. I remember
people would say, Are you gay?

No. And it just, who cares?

Yeah, isn't a big deal. You

Kosta Yepifantsev: know, I
talked to a lot of people on

this podcast, who know people
who struggle with their

sexuality with their identity,
and it's so sad. All you want is

for them to just be themselves.

Like if you could just shake and
give them the platform that

everything is okay. And just,
you know, be honest with

yourself. But then, you know,
you realize, like we've just now

seen, there's a large segment of
the population in our area that

doesn't like homosexuality, we
look at, we see the drag show

and attack and stuff. So growing
up, and I didn't mean to derail

you from the I have a squirrel
Brian, let's,

I'm ready to when you're growing
up. And obviously your mom's

coming to terms with this.

You're coming to terms with
this. You're in this high

profile family, your dad. Your
stepdad is a city council member

celebrity is right. I mean, you
know, he's got he's a city

council member. He's he becomes
mayor of Cookeville. He's got a

son who's gay and Regan, who is
trans. I mean, what was it like?

Logan Taylor: Here's the deal,
and the only reason I'm filming

comfortable even talking about
it is I'm so open with them now,

I'm at such a point where I can
talk to them freely about my

views, their views, how they're
different. And I like to think

that having me and Reagan always
joke help turkeys campaign, but

maybe appeal to a more broad,
broader base or base. But I know

my views are different from
theirs. And we are able to just

kind of neutralize I mean,
growing up, it was hard for me

to acknowledge Ricky as a step
for, you know,

Kosta Yepifantsev: step parents
in general.

Logan Taylor: And through
school, I just felt like

anything I did, they were gonna
find out. And so I would make

friends who I knew, like, Mama,
this sounds so bad, my mom would

always be like, I just wish you
would hang out with different

people and the people mom wanted
me to hang out with and never

appealed to me. And I was like,
you know, the oddballs, the

weirdos. I was never really
drawn to the popular crowd. But

I remember one night, I had a
breakdown, and I went off

somewhere and mom and Ricky came
and found me. And Ricky said, I

am so tired of this shit. And I
never heard him cuss because

they just didn't cuss in front
of me. So I was like, Oh my

gosh, he's so mad. And they were
like, we're not getting out of

this car until you tell us
what's going on? Because buddy,

I put them through it.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Your school?

Had no idea that you were gay.

Logan Taylor: Well, no. And I
remember mom tells me she would

say to Ricky, I think he hasn't
even said no, no, he's on. And

they still joke with me a lot
about now. You know, there's a

pretty girl down here. I think
it would be perfect with but I

remember after that point, I
gained so much more love and

respect for him. Yeah, him on
both because they were willing

to put those things aside. Yeah,
to be who we needed to be. And

Ricky, this makes me this is
gonna sound kind of corny. But

he's so proud of me. And he
always brags army to his people.

And I mean, you know, I think
Ricky Shelton is the biggest

Still, despite our differences,
but he he's so proud of me and

always brags on me to people and
always tries to like, book me,

you know, his little game. Yeah.

And it just means a lot because
he is so high profile that I

feel like I could be at the
bottom of his list of people to

use. And it's just like getting
to that point of your parents

being proud of you. I remember
mom would always be like, if you

don't get a college degree,
you're not gonna get me

inheritance, money type deal.

And I'm like, Oh, my God, I do
school is not for me. And then

once I, you know, built dream
reality group built myself as an

entrepreneur, and as a business
owner, of course, that all went

out the window, and the will was
amended hallelujah. But you

know,

Kosta Yepifantsev: you know, I
tell you, Ricky is he's a great

guy. He's an interesting guy.

And he's overcome. I mean, he's
had a lot of adversity,

especially in these last few
years. Right now, things are

just, they're visceral. You
can't be just a regular person,

you can't just be like, Okay, I
think, you know, a little bit

about this way. And then I think
a little this way, and yeah,

we'll meet somewhere in the
middle, then, you know, you're

you're not in a tribe. And Ricky
has really been open to change

that. And I hope that the new
leadership will also have that

same type of Outlook. But were
you ever worried like that you

would lose the connection to
your family when you were coming

out?

Logan Taylor: Yes, I was. That
was one of my biggest fears

probably was that I was going to
be estranged, I was going to be

cut off, because family is
important to me. So it was a big

fear. And looking back, you
know, family loves you nine

times out of 10. If a family's
worth a flip, they love you, you

know, I want to say about Reiki,
there were so many things that

were brought to him when we were
kids that he did not understand

or agree with, I gotta go in a
little Ricky, right? Because I

just do love him. I just
remember him as kids. He always

worked so, so so hard, he would
be in his office all the time in

the house. But he always made
time for us. And my dad is an

amazing dad. He's very active in
my life now, but he was out of

it for a long time. And Ricky
was the best example of a hard

worker, an honest person, Ricky
really is an honest person. And

he's a good guy. And like I
said, we view a lot of things

differently. And he knows that
we both know it. Yeah. But he

was such a good example a father
figure to say, you know, if you

work really hard, despite
anybody who's standing against

you, you can do it. I always
tell people, anytime I go into

schools, and we'll let on career
days and talk to the kids, I

always say if you do these two
things, if you work really hard,

and you're kind, you can do
anything.

Kosta Yepifantsev: And that's
the truth. How often do you talk

to children though, because like
you've had that criticism, that

societal judgment firsthand, not
just your identity, but also the

type of work that you do. I
mean, you're getting it from all

different facets. So when you
talk to kids that may feel like

they're out. of place or that
may feel like they're

misunderstood. I mean, I have an
eight year old and some of the

things that I'm starting to deal
with, it's just like, What do I

do? What do I say? How do I talk
about this? I mean, I'm so ill

prepared,

Logan Taylor: Well, kids, hey,
they make them different these

days, I'll just tell you, I
really do make them different.

But I think that a lot of the
kids that we talk to, these

things are never on their radar.

I'll just say this. I have just
accepted that I'm going to be a

person probably for the rest of
my life that is judged by

others. I remember when I first
started reading, there were

several preachers in
McMinnville, who preached

sermons that I was a Satanist,
that I was going to hell that I

was a devil or all this crazy
stuff. And I would go to

restaurants. And I mean, people
still dodge me in the grocery

store. Sometimes, you know, I
mean, it's just like, I feel

that so you've got that. And
then as a director, my job is

hard. There have been shows
where I've had to turn away 50

or 60 kids. And one thing that
I've learned in my career,

especially with the medium
stuff, and the theater stuff, I

try really hard not to mix the
two worlds, and never talk about

my psychic stuff in front of the
kids at rehearsal, I just trying

to keep those things separate,
because I'm all about anybody

speaking their truth being
themselves. But I've never been

one to just be really in your
face about much of anything. I'm

kind of low key about stuff
Contrary to popular belief. But

I don't know, I think that a lot
of these kids are just looking

for somewhere to feel like they
matter. Because it's I know, I

was blessed, growing up with a
family that really cared. But

I've talked to a lot of people
who didn't feel that way, who

didn't feel like they had that
love at home. So to come into

our group and build that. And
also, you know, we've had so

many kids that came to us
couldn't even look up from the

ground couldn't even make eye
contact with you couldn't speak.

And over the years with us, we
build these kids up and it's a

genuine feeling. I'm going to be
tough on you, but I love you.

And I'm tough because I want to
make you better, right? And they

know that it's not just, this is
my job, they feel that

connection. And so it motivates
them. It's funny because I like

to drill sergeant yell at a
scout say all that stuff. Some

people have given me like about
it, but you're gonna ask any of

those kids it works. They're
just looking for somebody to

believe in them. Yeah.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Right. Do you
mentor them a lot and talk

through their problems? Yes,
stuff

Logan Taylor: all the time. And
you know, I think I can relate

to them. And so many of them
Hey, baby, they keep me young,

these teenagers and these kids,
they keep me on my toes, you

know, so I'm able to offer
insight in the way that I think

doesn't seem like a parent. I'm
able to be versus their 60 year

old drama teacher I'm just I'm a
few years older than them and

I'm kind of vibe and just like
they are I'm not really

conforming to any structural
norms and I think they love that

Kosta Yepifantsev: well and
especially in a place like

McMinnville, where they need an
outlet like that. And I mean

cookbook is not that much
different. It's a maybe a little

bit larger. So let's talk about
the creation of dream reality

group, your role and what you
feel like it does in terms of

contributing to community.

Logan Taylor: I am the founder
and director of dream reality

group. I love it. Okay, and we
started in 2014 dream reality

group is a production company,
we started to create quality

theater experiences in small
town, Tennessee. Nice. We

started with the musicals, and
then we advanced to doing some

short films. We did some reality
TV stuff, but our bread and

butter is our stage shows. I
remember our first show we did I

raised all the money myself, I
think we may have spent $8,000

Nice. Oh yeah, it was beautiful,
but I don't know it was just we

just finished Newsies which was
our 21st or second show. And my

friend who has known me since I
was really young. She looked

over at me and she said Did you
ever think all those years ago

that this is what this would be?

Because for a long time I
thought you know we do cute

little shows I've always felt
underestimated because we're in

McMinnville. I think people
naturally think well, I'm ever

but I'm telling you, I'm telling
you cost a mark my words on

this, our productions rival even
the best in this area

specifically because I'm telling
you, it goes back what makes us

special. And like I said, I've
been asked this question a lot.

What makes your group different?

It is the true passion. I
believe it's important. My crew

believes it's important. So the
kids believe it. And so their

parents do so to our community.

It's a big deal. It's not just a
play. These people think it's a

concert. You've never seen a
more hot audience than at a

dream reality group show. I'm so
serious. I love it, you know,

and it's just because they eat
it up. I think that's maybe why

I've had such a recipe for
success in McMinnville

specifically because they were
so hungry for everything I had

to offer not to toot my own horn
but I'm fit Talking about it

now. That's how it seems, you
know.

Kosta Yepifantsev: So what does
your tour look like in

conjunction with creative
direction? Dream reality group

and D G, our films like what can
fans expect from the live

events,

Logan Taylor: I will say I love
doing the tours, because I feel

like I still kind of get to be a
performer. I haven't been on

stage for many years. But I feel
like when I'm doing the tour, I

can still get that little
performance edge, I get to get

cute wear my cute stuff. And it
really makes an impact. There

are still logistics involved.

It's still a show, we have a
time schedule. I feel like it's

a good time for me to practice
my stand up comedy. I'm very

funny. I like that you laugh.

So. But one thing I love about
theater. One thing I love about

these group sessions, it's the
energy when you get a bunch of

people in a room, kind of set on
the same intention or the same

goal. Okay, we're getting a
little woowoo here. But you

know, you've got everybody in a
room celebrating the show, or

even in these readings. I don't
read everybody, I probably just

end up reading five or six
people in the group. But

everybody's crying. Everybody's
failing. So to me, I think

that's what keeps me going is
the community element of what I

do.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Yeah, I mean,
do these people seek you out?

Like, how do you pick the city?

I mean, when you said logistics
like we're all Do you travel? So

I

Logan Taylor: have an amazing,
Assistant. She's in the room. So

what we do is, she reaches out,
she finds places and just kind

of troubleshoots and just calls
and says, Hey, I've got this

guy. Here's what he does. Are
you interested or not? Most

times they are and we go in
these people. It's interesting

because they have their own
little fan bases. And then,

like, on Sunday, we did a venue
that we had done last year, the

audience is getting bigger and
bigger. Right? And so I feel

like word of mouth, baby. That's
all I gotta say. When it comes

to these things. You would be
surprised how much people taught

and that's the thing is talking
about spiritual stuff. My church

is being barefoot in my
backyard. You know, I'm saying

my my church is deep breathe and
under the sun hollow. I feel

like spirituality is so, so
needed and like, this will sound

kind of silly, but I don't know
if you've ever heard of Reiki.

Do you know what that is? Yeah,
what do they do the tapping

know, Reiki is just like energy
work with your hands. Okay, so

basically, it's, you go to a
Reiki healer and they just kind

of put their hands kind of hover
over certain spots, have their

mantras in their meditations,
whatever. I don't know the

details. But all I know is I
myself am a skeptic, you're not

going to find me believe in
every fortune cookie I find. So

whenever I do these things, like
just a Reiki session if I have

pain or stress or whatever, the
noticeable differences, my body

feels just in the transfer. And
the movement of my energy is

something that everybody needs.

But mainstream rats, a lot of
this office just new agey,

whatever bullcrap. But really,
there are so many therapeutic

uses for all of this stuff that
people are really missing out

on.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Did you go to
church when you're again? No,

Logan Taylor: I did. Every
Sunday and Wednesday.

Kosta Yepifantsev: So did my
wife too. She went to the

Catholic Church. It's same thing
mom

Logan Taylor: and Ricky love the
early morning service Sunday,

baby 8am. We were there hunting
bright eyed and bushy

Kosta Yepifantsev: tailed out.

How many siblings? Did you have
grown up? Okay, so

Logan Taylor: There's six of us
all together. So there's me and

my brother, which were my mom's
kids originally, Ricky had two

kids, Ben and Sarbat. And then
the twins man severe that are

between mom and richer. So
there's six of us.

Kosta Yepifantsev: I mean, the
reason why I feel like we don't

get up on Sundays and go to
church is because man, it's just

such a hassle getting everybody
ready. Oh my god. You know, I

mean, people are probably going
to be like, it's church. Suck it

up.

Logan Taylor: I mean, mom had us
on the structure. You know, she

did you know, she had that drill
sergeant modelling.

Kosta Yepifantsev: We did it one
time. We went to church on the

Hill one time with the kids. And
you know, we got up at Sunday.

All I want to do is just, you
know, drink some coffee and

watch Meet the Press. And I
mean, getting these kids go in

and but anyway, I don't want to
get out on a tangent.

Logan Taylor: Did you get there
in time? We did. I

Kosta Yepifantsev: got there in
time. We actually got there

early, I think. Thank you. So I
want to talk about your future.

You've got the theater. You've
got the road show. Obviously, I

think in a lot of ways after
having this conversation, I

think you've come to terms and I
think that you've moved past

anything that may have been
holding you up. I think as human

beings we're always going to
have to carry some baggage

that's unfortunately our our
life but I think you've moved

past and you're on the next
chapter of your life. So I want

you to talk about what's next
for you.

Logan Taylor: And so funny when
you just said that my brain

automatically went to people
saying he's a psychic, he should

know what's next. So I want to
say something. Or somebody

that's listening says that very
famous, I will answer that

question. But a very famous
psychic once said, Well, we're

on this earth, we don't get to
cheat. There are no gimmicks, we

don't get to challenge the
spirit world. So my life is

meant for me to live just like
the rest of us not knowing what

the heck's going on here. But I
think the readings, I don't know

that I'll ever be able to stop.

And I think somehow I'll always
be pulled back to theater. But I

feel like I've dedicated really
my life since I was a little kid

to show business, I use more
quotes performing using my

voice. And I don't know, I want
to continue to make an impact. I

want to continue having fun. I
also feel like this is a point

in my life to refocus on myself,
really, at this time for

everybody. It's important to be
a little selfish. It's frowned

upon. But I think everybody
needs to be a little more

selfish self

Kosta Yepifantsev: care. I mean,
if I didn't have self care every

week, you know, whether it's a
massage or something, you know,

just to sort of unplug. I don't
know if I could exist.

Logan Taylor: Yeah, here's the
deal, I'll probably be in a TV

deal for the rest of my life
until one sticks test. That's

all I can say on that.

Kosta Yepifantsev: You do know
that there was a show in the 90s

that I used to watch. When I
will convince my parents that I

was sick. And I'd watch daytime
TV, there was a show that had a

psychic and an audience and he
would do readings, I would

Logan Taylor: Google it if your
name's John Edward, I think I

know what you're talking.

Kosta Yepifantsev: So I mean,
maybe 2.0 version with you.

Logan Taylor: I wouldn't have so
much. I would love it right now.

Like I said, I am certain that
one day I will be reading for

audiences all over the world.

But until then catch me on the
medium merch.

Kosta Yepifantsev: Deal. Well,
this was fun. Now we need to do

this again. Because there's so
many other things that I wanted

to talk to you about. We just
don't have time. But listen, we

always like to end the show on a
high note. Okay, who is someone

that makes you better when
you're together?

Logan Taylor: Okay, after our
talk today, I feel like somebody

who makes me feel better when
we're together is my mom.

Because there have been so many
times where I have felt like I

didn't measure up to somebody's
expectation, or I wasn't good

enough, or I couldn't do it. And
my mom always, always has

believed in me, she's a mirror
of the best version of myself.

And so when I'm around her, I
feel like I'm capable of

anything, and I'm worthy of
everything. So I would have to

be my mama bear.

Morgan Franklin: Thank you for
joining us on this episode of

Better Together with Kosta
Yepifantsev. If you've enjoyed

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Kosta Yepifantsev is a Kosta

Yepifantsev Production. Today's
episode was written and produced

by Morgan Franklin post
production mixing and editing by

Mike Franklin. Want to know more
about Kosta visit us at

kostayepifantsev.com. We're
better together!