Dating A Genius Nearly Killed Me | Episode 147

In this gripping episode of the Bookaholic Podcast, author Brenda Coffee opens up about her extraordinary life story as detailed in her memoir, 'Maya Blue.' Brenda recounts her tumultuous childhood, where she assumed a parental role after her mother's nervous breakdown. She shares her 17-year relationship with Philip Ray, a genius behind the first personal computer who led a life filled with adventure, danger, and eventual addiction. Brenda describes their ventures, from car racing to living on the edge with Philip's secret cocaine lab. The conversation takes a dark turn when Brenda reveals their company's entanglement with tobacco industry threats and government complications over their revolutionary vaping product. Amidst recounting harrowing experiences, including a near-fatal encounter in a Guatemalan jungle, Brenda highlights her transformative journey from living in Philip's shadow to reclaiming her identity. This episode is a powerful narrative of survival, transformation, and the endurance of the human spirit.

00:00 Introduction and Root Refresh
00:21 Welcome to the Bookaholic Podcast
01:09 Brenda's Childhood and Family Background
04:59 Meeting Philip Ray
08:33 Life with Philip Ray
14:38 Philip's Dangerous Obsession
21:25 The Smokeless Cigarette Invention
23:51 Big Tobacco's Threats and Government Collusion
27:41 Philip's Death and Financial Ruin
29:01 A Journey to Belize and a Dangerous Encounter
32:35 Surviving the Jungle and Finding Strength
36:27 Transformation and Writing Maya Blue
41:13 Conclusion and Future