Today’s episode is an origin story with the edges left on. I pick up a chapter I once wrote called “Being Born,” and talk through the real beginning: born out of wedlock, a name that wasn’t my father’s, in and out of foster care, a near-adoption, and a kind, brilliant mother who didn’t have the tools. I share how a steady farmhouse (thank you, Beverly), a big-hearted sister (hi, Denise), and a stubborn streak of resilience kept me from breaking—and how early trauma twisted my sense of worth until I learned to untangle it. This isn’t an autobiography; it’s context for why I care so much about helping people navigate life without a script. The headline I’ve earned: survival informs adaptation, and beginnings don’t dictate endings. If your story feels chaotic, you’re not broken—you’re mid-chapter.

We’ll lighten it up on Friday. For now, breathe, give yourself some credit, and be kind (even when people are… a lot).

Content note: brief mentions of childhood sexual abuse.