The Tragedy Academy

Summary

This week, tattoo artist and actor Sam Suarez, a.k.a. High Noon, is on the show. A star of Tattoo Nightmares Miami, Sam offers a unique insider perspective into the art of tattooing and how he has translated that experience into acting. Plenty of bad tattoos are discussed, as are the larger themes of transparency and transformation. Make sure you don't miss out on this contribution to our larger discussion of authenticity!

Episode Highlights

? Moving To The Midwest

? Changing Canvases

? Bad Tattoos

? Superheroes And Literacy

??? Digital Renaissance

? Welcome to The Tragedy Academy Podcast ?

Immerse yourself in the transformative power of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, an extraordinary platform showcasing stories of resilience and redemption. As we unravel the rich tapestry of human experiences, our episodes meld wisdom with wit, enlightening and entertaining. Hosted with profound empathy, we delve into the indomitable spirit of our guests, providing our audience with opportunities to gain insights, share laughter, and experience growth. Become a part of our community that values genuine connections and collective healing through the strength of shared narratives.

? Connect with Us! 

Explore more about The Tragedy Academy: https://www.thetragedyacademy.com 

? Support and Grow With Us ?

? Podcasting Made Easy: Build your stunning podcast website with Podpage:

Podpage: https://bit.ly/3LSCBh5. 

?Take your recording to the next level with Riverside.fm

Riverside.FM: https://bit.ly/3ImjNWD

? Get the Gear Loved Jay's t-shirt from the latest episode? Grab yours at Into the AM. 

Into the AM: https://bit.ly/431MLD5.

? Expand Your Mind Dive into our recommended reads at our Bookshop.

Bookshop: https://bit.ly/42pPHcv.

? Stay Updated – Subscribe! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and never miss an episode.

? Follow Us on Social Media

• Instagram: @thetragedyacademypodcast

? Support The Tragedy Academy. Your support helps us keep bringing meaningful content. Consider donating through PayPal or BuyMeACoffee.

PayPal Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YMU9L4TBWX6AG

Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tragedyacademy

Summary

This week we're joined by professional fighter and Moyamoya survivor Vince Murdock. Vince has gone through a lot of setbacks in life:

• A Moyamoya diagnosis led to brain surgery.

Others may have crumpled, but Vince proved his fighting spirit and returned from it all. You won't want to miss this episode as Vince shares parts of his challenging childhood and how it has affected raising his son. The group discusses the merits of alternative medicines and fighting as a universal language and art form.

Episode Highlights

? Comeback king

? Leading by example

? Breaking the cycle

?? The art of fighting

? Alternative medicine

Connect

• You can find Vince on Instagram and Twitter.

*Some of the links above are affiliate links, and The Tragedy Academy will receive proceeds from purchases made using them.*

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Summary

In this episode, we welcome professional fighter Bobby Maximus to the show. A long-time friend of Gary's, the two first met on the set of The Ultimate Fighter years ago and discussed their shared experience on the show. Bobby also shares his experience of growing up in a community focused on generosity and acts of service - he credits this upbringing as the source of his philosophy today: kindness makes the world go around. Living out his dreams and pursuing his hobbies - regardless of what other people think - Bobby challenges all of us to live our best and chase our goals without fear.

Episode Highlights

? Go after what you want

?? Live every day like it is your last

? Define your own success

?? The opposite of regret is peace

? Change the world with kindness

? It's cool to be a nerd

? Welcome to The Tragedy Academy Podcast ?

Immerse yourself in the transformative power of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, an extraordinary platform showcasing stories of resilience and redemption. As we unravel the rich tapestry of human experiences, our episodes meld wisdom with wit, enlightening and entertaining. Hosted with profound empathy, we delve into the indomitable spirit of our guests, providing our audience with opportunities to gain insights, share laughter, and experience growth. Become a part of our community that values genuine connections and collective healing through the strength of shared narratives.

? Connect with Us! 

Explore more about The Tragedy Academy: https://www.thetragedyacademy.com 

? Support and Grow With Us ?

? Podcasting Made Easy: Build your stunning podcast website with Podpage:

Podpage: https://bit.ly/3LSCBh5. 

?Take your recording to the next level with Riverside.fm

Riverside.FM: https://bit.ly/3ImjNWD

? Get the Gear Loved Jay's t-shirt from the latest episode? Grab yours at Into the AM. 

Into the AM: https://bit.ly/431MLD5.

? Expand Your Mind Dive into our recommended reads at our Bookshop.

Bookshop: https://bit.ly/42pPHcv.

? Stay Updated – Subscribe! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and never miss an episode.

? Follow Us on Social Media

• Instagram: @thetragedyacademypodcast

? Support The Tragedy Academy. Your support helps us keep bringing meaningful content. Consider donating through PayPal or BuyMeACoffee.

PayPal Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YMU9L4TBWX6AG

Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tragedyacademy

Summary

This week Jay and Gary are joined by an extra special guest: Jay’s father-in-law, Gabriel Torres…and he’s got quite the story to tell. Gabe grew up in Colombia where as a student he was a basketball star. After graduating high school, Gabe had an opportunity to come to the US and another adventure began. Gabe built a life here: met his wife, had a family, and played street ball in NYC in the 70s. Gabe’s story is an immigrant one, and also an American one.

Episode Highlights

? Street Ball

? An Immigrant’s Journey

?? Be Here, Not There

? Finding Home

? Listen First

Connect

• Visit our website to find links to our YouTube channel, other social media, show notes, and more!

*Some of the links above are affiliate links and The Tragedy Academy will receive proceeds from purchases made using them.*

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Summary

Jay and Gary are joined in the studio by musician and rapper, Matthew Scheall. Matthew came to music a little later in the game, not starting his journey until college when he was inspired and encouraged by close friends. Matthew has grown as an artist in the years since embracing his authentic self and staying true to his faith. You won’t want to miss this episode as the gang talks about the ins and outs of artistry, creativity, and music.

Episode Highlights

? Discovering your inner artist

? Importance of a Supportive Environment

? Artistic Authenticity

? Believing In Yourself

? Overcoming Your Implicit Biases

? Welcome to The Tragedy Academy Podcast ?

Immerse yourself in the transformative power of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, an extraordinary platform showcasing stories of resilience and redemption. As we unravel the rich tapestry of human experiences, our episodes meld wisdom with wit, enlightening and entertaining. Hosted with profound empathy, we delve into the indomitable spirit of our guests, providing our audience with opportunities to gain insights, share laughter, and experience growth. Become a part of our community that values genuine connections and collective healing through the strength of shared narratives.

? Connect with Us! 

Explore more about The Tragedy Academy: https://www.thetragedyacademy.com 

? Support and Grow With Us ?

? Podcasting Made Easy: Build your stunning podcast website with Podpage:

Podpage: https://bit.ly/3LSCBh5. 

?Take your recording to the next level with Riverside.fm

Riverside.FM: https://bit.ly/3ImjNWD

? Get the Gear Loved Jay's t-shirt from the latest episode? Grab yours at Into the AM. 

Into the AM: https://bit.ly/431MLD5.

? Expand Your Mind Dive into our recommended reads at our Bookshop.

Bookshop: https://bit.ly/42pPHcv.

? Stay Updated – Subscribe! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and never miss an episode.

? Follow Us on Social Media

• Instagram: @thetragedyacademypodcast

? Support The Tragedy Academy. Your support helps us keep bringing meaningful content. Consider donating through PayPal or BuyMeACoffee.

PayPal Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YMU9L4TBWX6AG

Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tragedyacademy

Summary

To kick off the third season of The Tragedy Academy, Jay and Gary are joined by Ellie Neidhart, the wife of late WWE legend, Jim The Anvil Neidhart. Jay and Gary are able to geek out over their shared childhood experiences of watching wrestling, while Ellie gives us her unique perspective on the sport. Things weren’t always easy: Ellie often functioned as a single mother because Jim had to travel so much for his wrestling career, and the convenience of communication certainly wasn’t what it is today! But throughout the episode, Ellie emphasizes the true love they shared and the special relationship they had.

Episode Highlights

? Welcome to Our New Co-host!

???? WWE Legends

? Supportive Family

? Destined Love

? The Power Of Sport

Connect

• Find Ellie on Instagram.

*Some of the links above are affiliate links and The Tragedy Academy will receive proceeds from purchases made using them.*

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Summary

Welcome to The Tragedy Academy... 2.0! In this episode get the scoop on what we have in store for our relaunch. Jay sits down with our new co-host, Gary, to talk about this new era of TA - from new team members to new merch, we've got it all. We also give a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the re-release, and another huge thank you to all the Academics out there for your continued support ??

Episode Highlights

??????? Meet the team

? Preview our awesome guests to kickoff the relaunch

? New episode formats

? Rundown on our merch

? Sponsors and affiliates to support the pod

Connect

• Visit our website to find links to our YouTube channel, other social media, show notes, and more!

*Some of the links above are affiliate links and The Tragedy Academy will receive proceeds from purchases made using them.*

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This week on The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes back musician and executive producer, Gary DeFranco, for a very special episode: The Tragedy Academy’s season finale! This is TA’s last episode before taking a short hiatus to come back even bigger and better. Jay covers some of the highlights from the past two seasons, lessons that have stuck with him the most, and sends out a huge thank you to everyone who has supported him on this journey. You also don’t want to miss out on the final reveal of all the exciting changes taking place at TA during the break, including new faces and new directions!

Key Points

? Reminisce on episodes past

? Underdogs

? Bullying

? Gratitude

? BIG Changes Coming…

[3:17] - Jay explains that this episode will be a little different, beginning with some of the highlights of the season. First, he mentions the incredibly important lesson that he learned from guest, Brandon Lloyd. A veteran dealing with PTSD from his war experiences, Brandon explained that comparing trauma is not helpful. Jay’s conversation with Brandon led him to the realization that while we may all experience different traumas, they still have similar damage and we all carry similar burdens.

[11:02] - After Gary mentions being inspired by a fighter who is trying to enter the professional ring later in life, Jay asks why we seem to like the underdog so much. Gary believes this comes from our own experiences as underdogs in various areas of our lives.

[13:22] - Jay argues that you need confidence that you’ll succeed before you have achieved success. Gary agrees, elaborating that fear of success can be the biggest hindrance to people achieving their dreams. Instead of external forces putting up roadblocks in your path, sometimes you can be your own biggest enemy.

[20:51] - Jay pays tribute to his dear friend, Garrett Dano, for inspiring him to start the show. Jay really broke down after he lost Garrett to suicide. The realization that Garrett felt he could not turn to Jay for help is part of what inspired Jay to tackle topics such as trauma and mental health on the podcast. Gary agrees with Jay that it can be impossible to tell from the outside that someone is struggling, which makes projects like The Tragedy Academy that open up with conversation all the more important.

[32:32] - Jay and Gary take on the topic of cyberbullying. Gary notes how different things are today than when he was in school. The conflict was often resolved through quick physical fights, whereas now physical fighting seems to be obsolete. In contrast, today’s victims of bullying are subjected to harassment 24/7 through social media and the internet. Jay is only half-joking when he says he would prefer physical pain that fades with time to constant jabs of mental and emotional hurt from cyberbullying.

[41:25] - Both Jay and Gary agree that an easy way to learn if a person is someone you want to associate with is to pay attention to how they treat others. Anyone who treats those in service positions poorly clearly values some people more highly than others and Gary and Jay have no time for this kind of thinking.

[45:31] - To wrap up the episode, Jay gives thanks to everyone who has made Seasons 1 & 2 of The Tragedy Academy possible. Gary announces that he will be joining the show, and Jay talks about all the exciting changes coming up in TA’s future.

Connect with The Tragedy Tragedy Academy

Our Website | www.thetragedyacademy.com

Our Merch | https://bit.ly/3uo3QJc

Instagram | https://bit.ly/35U8B31 | @thetragedyacademypodcast

Twitter | https://bit.ly/3osbEG0 | @tragedy_academy

YouTube | https://bit.ly/3B8l4eT

TikTok |

Summary

This week on the Tragedy Academy podcast, Jay rolls out a very big welcome for the talented multi-disciplinary artist, Katie Chonacas (aka KYRIAKI). Not only has Katie acted in numerous productions with A-list stars, but she also recently released a book of poetry and her debut album, Dreamland 1111. Jay and Katie dive deep into her musical inspirations, her revolutionary work creating NFTs and the future of art in the blockchain. Be sure you don’t miss out on this episode, and don’t forget to check out Katie’s podcast, She’s All Over The Place!

Key Points

?Quantum Physics

?Healing Frequencies

 ?Dealing with Toxic People

?????Mindfulness

?NFT Art & The Blockchain

Episode Highlights

[1:46] - Katie recounts her fond memories of growing up in Detroit’s EDM scene. Attending raves and after-parties until the early morning, Katie loved the incredible energy she felt and the connection with others in the crowd. The music of her childhood would go on to influence her own artistic journey.

[6:12] - Katie explains that she has always been on a spiritual path, but after being introduced to Eric Thompson, an energy scientist, she began to experiment putting certain frequencies in her music to promote emotional healing.

[12:16] - Referencing Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Sacred Contracts, Katie discusses the misconception that most people have about micro versus macro choices. While people may assume that macro choices are what govern our lives, Katie argues instead that it is the daily micro choices that are most important. Micro choices build the habits and behaviors that shape our lives.

[17:17] - Continuing on this theme of choices, Jay emphasizes the impact mindfulness and meditation have had on his ability to shape his own life. Cultivating mindfulness, allows us to take a step back from any situation and choose how we would like to respond. Katie agrees that meditation is vital in creating this “space in-between”.

[27:13] - Katie points out that we typically only have the capacity to focus on one thing at a time, but if the thing that we are focusing on is negative, this serves to amplify that negativity in our lives. Katie recommends that if there are toxic people in your life, gradually limit the amount of time that you spend focusing on them. This isn’t about maliciously cutting people from your life, but lovingly letting go of emotions that do not serve you.

[32:45] - Jay congratulates Katie on her success as an NFT artist. Katie is at the forefront of this new movement and works actively to get more people into the space. When she released her album, Dreamland 1111, on the blockchain, two of her songs were purchased by artist and NFT collector, Blake Jamieson. Jay also reveals some exciting new directions for the Tragedy Academy podcast.

[40:23] - Jay and Katie discuss how the blockchain can be a difficult topic to discuss with others as it is still so new and not well understood. However, Katie emphasizes the incredible diversity and financial benefits that this space can have for artists. There are many options for people to support causes that are important to them, and not all platforms within the blockchain are destroying the planet.

[48:23] - To finish out the episode, Jay and Katie discuss authenticity and gratitude. Katie mentions Miguel Ruiz’s book, Mastery of Love, which argues that at our most primal ...

Summary

This week on the Tragedy Academy, Jay introduces Ben Dykstra, a.k.a. The Rolling Dragon. Born with Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Ben hasn’t let his disability limit his potential. Ben is a talented voice actor with tireless perseverance in a field that can be tough to break into. Ben is also in the midst of developing a new podcast that would highlight the stories, voices, and talents of the disabled. Tune in to hear Jay and Ben discuss everything from perspective and authenticity to the Metaverse and bonobos.

Key Points

? Living with cerebral palsy

?Voice acting

?Silver linings

??Authenticity attracting opportunity

??Social media & advocacy

Episode Highlights

[2:35] - Jay introduces us to Ben, whose cerebral palsy has allowed him to develop a unique perspective on life. While Ben acknowledges that it is easy to get angry or bitter when dealing with disabilities, he also suggests that the universe gives even as it takes away. His own example of this “universal trade-off” is his outgoing personality and ability to use his voice.

[11:21] - Ben comments on how he has gained a unique perspective on pursuing authenticity early in life. Jay explains that this is hardly a mystery because of what Ben has experienced so far. Each experience in our lives adds to the nuance of our worldview.

[13:21] - Jay asks Ben about his podcast idea that centers around the universal trade-off. Ben explains that while the podcast is still under development, his goal is to create a space where he can showcase the hidden talents behind disabilities. While society often considers disabilities to be solely disadvantages, Ben wants to prove that there are many advantages to be found as well.

[14:53] - Ben mentions his career as a voice actor allows him to conceal his disability from potential employers and therefore potential discrimination. Jay understands Ben’s perspective but encourages him to try to avoid doing this if possible in order to attract the best people and best opportunities into his life.

[21:00] - Jay asks Ben what impact he thinks the Metaverse will have on the disabled community. Ben expresses his concerns that rather than solving any problems, the Metaverse could simply increase the presence that trolls have on social media. Jay counters that the Metaverse could be a way to move past society’s implicit bias against the disabled.

[33:41] - Ben shares his experience with recent wind storms that hit the entire province of Ontario. With no power or Wifi, he had to cancel a scheduled performance, and many others in the province are still without power days later.

Connect With Ben

Instagram | https://bit.ly/3fISp67 | @_rollingdragon_

Twitter | https://bit.ly/3FJBcnH | @benendykstra

Facebook | https://bit.ly/3IkrUQI | @rollingdragon-media

Website | https://www.rollingdragonmedia.com/

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