What happens when your first language is movement?

In this episode of The Last Zebra, Dr. Ugo Ezema sits down with Annelise Senkowski—a lifelong dancer turned medical device professional who’s helping push the conversation forward in lung cancer early detection. From starting dance at three years old, to leaving home at 14 for a rigorous arts boarding school, Annelise shares what it takes to dedicate your life to an art form that’s both breathtaking and brutal.

She opens up about the beauty of expressing emotion without words, the perfectionism ballet can demand, and the moment she realized injury can change everything. The conversation weaves through identity, discipline, creativity, and the pivot from dance dreams (including a near shot at Australia) to building a meaningful career in healthcare—without losing the part of herself that still needs a stage.

This is The Last Zebra—real stories, real people, and real purpose.

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra highlights the human stories behind medicine—where purpose, identity, and impact meet.

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What happens when the system meant to protect our most vulnerable ends up failing them?

In this powerful episode of The Last Zebra Podcast, Dr. Sebastian Del-Corral Winder - Clinical Psychologist and expert in infant and early childhood mental health - breaks down the realities of the U.S. foster care system with honesty, clarity, and compassion.

He explains how the system’s origins are rooted in racism, separation, and institutional mistrust… and how those roots still shape outcomes for families today. Most parents in foster care aren’t “bad parents,” he reveals - they’re people who were mistreated themselves, carrying trauma, addiction, and generational wounds they were never taught to heal.

Dr. Del-Corral Winder shares eye-opening truths, including the staggering fact that infants aged 0–2 make up the highest percentage of children entering foster care in the U.S. Many are taken from the hospital nursery within days of birth. And while the public often imagines teenagers and troubled youth, the reality is far more heartbreaking - and far more preventable.

Through his work in psychology, family therapy, and court testimony, Dr. Del-Corral Winder is fighting to change the narrative: healing doesn’t happen by punishing parents, but by understanding the systems that shaped them, restoring compassion, and rebuilding support.

He also opens up about the emotional toll of the work, the concept of moral injury in caregivers, and how play, connection, and cultural identity shape a child’s healing - even in the most chaotic circumstances.

This is The Last Zebra - real stories, real people, and real purpose.

💬 Comment “ZEBRA” if this conversation opened your eyes.

🎧 Watch or listen to the FULL episode with Dr. Sebastian Del-Corral Winder on The Last Zebra Podcast:

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores the stories at the intersection of medicine, justice, identity, and the human mind - reminding us that healing is not just individual, but systemic.

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What does it take to reclaim a dream you were told to abandon?

In this remarkable episode, Dr. Brittney Carman shares her decades-long journey from a 16-year-old who fell in love with medicine on a pediatric oncology floor to a mother, writer, professor, and finally a physician who started medical school at 42 years old.

Raised in a culture where higher education wasn’t encouraged and where religious leaders explicitly told her not to pursue medicine , Brittney followed the expected path - marriage, motherhood, and a career in teaching and creative writing. But the dream never left.

A single, unexpected moment - being asked as a contestant on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" what she would do if she won - cracked everything open:

“I’d go to medical school.”

That answer became the turning point that brought her back to the life she once thought was impossible. Today, she’s a nearly 3rd-year Internal Medicine resident at Tulane, a mother of three daughters, and a living testament that timing doesn’t define destiny.

This episode is about ambition, loss, faith, motherhood, courage, and the quiet power of trusting yourself enough to begin again.

This is The Last Zebra - real stories, real people, and real purpose.

💬 Comment “ZEBRA” to learn more.

🎧 Listen to the FULL, unfiltered conversation with Dr. Brittney Carman on The Last Zebra Podcast:

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra uncovers the extraordinary journeys of people reshaping medicine and redefining what it means to choose a life of purpose — no matter when the journey begins.

#TheLastZebra, #TheLastZebraPodcast, #DrBrittneyCarman, #UgoEzemaMD, #WomenInMedicine, #NonTraditionalStudent, #MedSchoolAt40, #SecondCareerMedicine, #CareerChange, #InspirationalStories, #MedicineJourney, #StorytellingInMedicine, #EmpathyInMedicine, #MedicalPodcast, #NeverTooLate, #PurposeDriven, #Resilience, #BeTheZebra

In this powerful episode of The Last Zebra Podcast, Bivian “Sonny” Lee III, Founder & CEO of Son of a Saint, sits down with Dr. Ugo Ezema to share how losing his father at age three shaped his purpose and inspired him to help fatherless boys in New Orleans find guidance, family, and belonging.

What started as a simple mission, to mentor boys growing up without dads, has become one of the city’s most transformative youth programs. For nearly 15 years, Son of a Saint has changed hundreds of lives through mentorship, therapy, education, and unconditional support.

In this heartfelt conversation, Sonny opens up about grief, resilience, fatherhood, and what it means to turn pain into purpose. His story is a testament to how healing one life can ripple through generations.

This is The Last Zebra - real stories, real people, and the courage it takes to care.

💬 Comment ZEBRA if you believe mentorship changes lives. 🦓

🎙️ Listen to the FULL, unfiltered conversation with Bivian “Sonny” Lee III on The Last Zebra Podcast:

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores the human stories that connect medicine, mentorship, and meaning — uncovering the extraordinary side of ordinary people who are changing the world through compassion, courage, and purpose.

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Stacy Ann Smith — therapist, nonprofit founder, and survivor — joins The Last Zebra Podcast to share a story of faith, forgiveness, and fierce compassion.

From surviving childhood trauma to dedicating her life to helping women trapped in cycles of abuse, sex work, and human trafficking, Stacyann’s journey is one of purpose born from pain. What began as a trip to Indonesia turned into a calling that now transforms lives across Jamaica through her organization, Pursued International Foundation.

In this heartfelt episode, she and Dr. Ugo Ezema explore the intersection of faith, justice, and mercy — how hope can rebuild what trauma once shattered, and why every story, no matter how broken, deserves to be heard.

This is The Last Zebra: where empathy meets action, and faith becomes a force for healing.

🎙️ Listen to the FULL, unfiltered conversation with Stacyann Smith on The Last Zebra Podcast:

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra uncovers the extraordinary stories of people who lead with purpose and compassion — from doctors to healers, teachers to survivors. In a world quick to label, we look deeper to find the common ground that makes us human.

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Kevin Thompson — Marine veteran, husband, father, and optimist — joins The Last Zebra Podcast for an unforgettable conversation about resilience, leadership, and finding purpose beyond the uniform.

After nearly twenty years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Kevin reflects on the moments that shaped him — from growing up in Atlanta to surviving combat in Iraq, raising a family while serving overseas, and learning how to lead with empathy in one of the world’s toughest professions.

In this deeply human and often moving conversation, Dr. Ugo Ezema and Kevin explore what it means to grow through adversity, to redefine identity after service, and to balance duty with family, faith, and personal growth. From “reasoning with death” in the desert to building a life rooted in gratitude and authenticity, Kevin’s story is a reminder that even in chaos, there’s clarity — and that the best leaders are those who never lose their humanity.

This is The Last Zebra: where medicine, military, and humanity intersect. More than just a podcast about healthcare or service, it’s a space for real stories — raw, honest, and deeply personal — that remind us what connects us all.

🎙️ Listen to the FULL, unfiltered conversation with Kevin Thompson on The Last Zebra Podcast:

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores the extraordinary side of ordinary lives — doctors, veterans, and professionals whose experiences redefine what it means to serve, to lead, and to care. Every episode looks beyond titles and diagnoses to uncover the authentic, human stories at the heart of medicine and modern life.

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From a small town in Ecuador to the ICUs of New Orleans, Dr. Diana Espinoza’s story is one of courage, resilience, and discovery. 🇪🇨💙

In this episode of The Last Zebra, Dr. Espinoza sits down with Dr. Ugo Ezema to share her remarkable journey—from studying medicine at 17, to moving to the U.S. without knowing English, to finding purpose in Pulmonary and Critical Care during the pandemic.

Through language barriers, long nights, and moments of self-doubt, she found strength in service—and a passion for advocating for Spanish-speaking patients and the communities she serves.

Watch the full episode to hear how she’s redefining what it means to practice medicine with heart, empathy, and purpose.

🎙️ Listen to the conversation with Dr. Diana Espinoza on The Last Zebra Podcast:

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, "The Last Zebra" looks for the common in all of us, focusing on the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. In a world defined by seeking the most likely causes, we explore the stories that deviate from dogma to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine and humanity.

How do you find peace after a deeply painful experience? Join us for a powerful conversation with Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens on overcoming trauma and forging a new path forward.

Dr. Bryant-Stevens, a leading pediatrician and advocate, shares her extraordinary journey, from navigating segregated schools in her youth to facing overt racism during medical school. She reveals the profound lesson her parents taught her about unconditional love and service , and why she believes you must forgive for yourself, not for those who hurt you. She also explains her impactful work in health equity, which goes beyond describing disparities to actively closing the gaps , including a program that repairs homes for children with asthma.

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Listen to the FULL, unfiltered conversation with Dr. Ognjen Gajic on The Last Zebra Podcast: Stream TLZ Pod On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS?si=_94N98AiTYGFD02EgHXZtA

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, "The Last Zebra" explores the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. It seeks the commonalities among us by focusing on stories that deviate from dogma to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine and humanity.

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For Critical Care Intensivist Dr. Ognjen Gajic, avoiding burnout in a demanding medical career isn't about "work-life balance," but harmony. In a clip from The Last Zebra, Dr. Gajic shares a personal story of career rejection that led to a profound realisation at home with his son. He explains why the conventional idea of "balance" is flawed and why prioritising family is the ultimate foundation for a sustainable and meaningful career in medicine.

This insightful conversation from "The Last Zebra" delves into the human challenges that shape a medical professional's life and career, highlighting how personal values are integral to professional success.

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Listen to the FULL, unfiltered conversation with Dr. Dee Ford on The Last Zebra Podcast:

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, "The Last Zebra" explores the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. It seeks the commonalities among us by focusing on stories that deviate from dogma to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine and humanity.

GUEST

Featuring Ognjen Gajic, MD (Critical Care Intensivist)

MUSIC BY

'Solecism' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This episode we speak to Dr. Dee Ford, MD, MSCR, ATSF (Pulmonary / Critical Care), as a Critical Care doctor, she's seen it all. But when her own near-death experience began with a single symptom—fatigue—she discovered a opportunity in modern medicine hiding in plain sight.

This is the essence of The Last Zebra: a story that looks past the diagnosis to find a profound, human truth. It's not about a rare disease, but a rare insight into what we're getting wrong in patient care, showcasing the authentic, grounded conversations we need to have.

In this powerful clip, Dr. Ugo Ezema and Dr. Dee Ford discuss her harrowing journey from doctor to patient, exploring the complex intersection of medical ethics, diagnosis, and the doctor-patient relationship.

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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, "The Last Zebra" looks for the common in all of us, focusing on the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. In a world defined by seeking the most likely causes, we explore the stories that deviate from dogma to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine and humanity.

Song: Filaments

Composer: Scott Buckley

Website: https://youtube.com/user/musicbyscottb

License: Creative Commons (BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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