Episode 120: What does it mean to break a chain you were born into? In this deeply moving episode, Amanda Powers sits down with Tavarus Taylor — Nashville entrepreneur, community advocate, drag performer Vivica Steele, and radio host of The Queen's Table — for one of the most layered and honest conversations this show has ever had.
Tavarus opens up about growing up carrying an identity hedidn't yet have the language to explain, surviving a criminal justice system that took away his right to vote over a $5.44 check, getting laid off from corporate America and turning that betrayal into a thriving business, and the moment he realized his drag persona, Vivica Steele, wasn't just a performance. She was saving his life.
This conversation is about what it really looks like to carrygenerational trauma without letting it become your whole story. It's about LGBTQ+ identity, systemic injustice, radical self-acceptance, and the quiet everyday courage it takes to build a life on your own terms — even when the world around you keeps trying to write a smaller story for you.
What you'll hear in this episode:
- How generational trauma shapes who you are before youeven understand it
- What it actually costs to lose your constitutional rights — and what it takes to reclaim them
- Why Tavarus walked away from corporate America and started a his own business
- How drag became his pathway to self-love, purpose, and liberation
- What "breaking chains" really means when you're the first in your family to do it
- The one thing Tavarus says every lost person needs to do first — before any book, podcast, or sermon
If you've ever felt like the story someone told about youwasn't yours to keep — this episode is for you.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction to Tavarus Taylor
01:35 - Understanding Identity and Trauma
07:54 - Overcoming Adversity and Self-Discovery
13:24 - Navigating the Criminal Justice System
17:43 - Empowerment and Community Advocacy
22:15 - Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship
25:07 - The Turning Point: From Employment to Entrepreneurship
27:43 - Embracing Identity: The Journey of Vivica Steele
30:15 - Navigating Life's Challenges: The Importance of Self-Love
35:21 - Creating Safe Spaces: The Queen's Table Initiative
42:37 - Building Meaningful Relationships: Love and Support
44:46 - Finding Your Path: The Power of Self-Reflection
CONNECT WITH TAVARUS:
Business Website: tntcommercialservices615.com
Vivica Steele Website: vivicasteele.com
Vivica's Instagram: @vivicasteele615
The Queen's Table: acmeradiolive.com/the-queens-table
The Queen's Table Instagram: @thequeenstable615
Personal Instagram: @ttaylor608
CONNECT WITH AMANDA:
Don't forget to subscribe for more content about reclaiming your identity, finding your purpose, and steps for becoming your future self.
Want to share your story or question for an upcoming Wanderer Wisdom Episode? Send Amanda a message here: podcastforthelost.com/contact/
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.podcastforthelost.com
Instagram: @podcast.for.the.lost & @amanda.k.powers
TikTok: @podcast.for.the.lost
YouTube: @podcastforthelost
Substack: podcastforthelost.substack.com
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