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The Walk
Episode Summary
In this deeply personal episode, AJ sits down with longtime friend Markus Harris for a conversation AJ admits makes him nervous—because it touches a kind of pain that changes everything. Markus shares his life as a coach, school administrator, mentor, and filmmaker, then opens up about the unimaginable loss of his daughter Deia Wynn, who was killed in her sleep on October 19, 2023.
Markus walks through the events of that night, the shock, the grief, and the moment his family had to face the reality that she was gone. He also shares how his sons responded in powerful ways—showing strength in the middle of devastation—and how Markus made a promise: to honor Deia’s life by how he lives.
Out of that grief came a mission. Markus returned to the school system to pour into students who need structure, love, and guidance, and he also revived a story he wrote years earlier—The Walk—transforming it into a tribute film built with and for parents who have suffered the loss of a child.
This is a conversation about grief, purpose, fatherhood, faith, and a truth Markus learned the hard way: you can still live in joy, even when your heart is broken.
About the Guest: Markus Harris
Markus Harris is a high school basketball coach, football coach, school administrator, and student mentor who is passionate about helping young people find direction and stability. Outside of education, Markus is a screenwriter, producer, and actor, and the founder of Inspire Life Productions.
His film work includes The Walk, a project born from personal loss and created as a love letter to his daughter. Markus also shares upcoming projects in development, including a comedy film currently titled The Shop, multiple short films aimed at film festivals, and larger story-based projects tied to community impact.
About the Host: AJ (Aaron James)
AJ (Aaron James) is the host of the Comeback Kings Podcast, where real conversations help men face setbacks, rebuild stronger, and live with purpose. In this episode, AJ brings vulnerability and care—giving Markus the space to share his story fully, while guiding the conversation toward healing, meaning, and hope for listeners walking through grief themselves.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
• Markus’s life today: coaching, school leadership, mentoring, and filmmaking
• How Markus got into screenwriting without film school
• The night everything changed: losing Deia Wynn
• How grief impacted memory, focus, and daily functioning
• How Markus’s sons carried strength in the middle of tragedy
• The promise Markus made: to honor her life by how he lives
• How The Walk became a tribute film rooted in faith and healing
• Why Markus returned to education to pour into students
• A message to anyone grieving: don’t live in the darkest place
• Choosing joy without guilt—even when someone you love is gone
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By The Come Back Kings Episode Summary
In this deeply personal episode, AJ sits down with longtime friend Markus Harris for a conversation AJ admits makes him nervous—because it touches a kind of pain that changes everything. Markus shares his life as a coach, school administrator, mentor, and filmmaker, then opens up about the unimaginable loss of his daughter Deia Wynn, who was killed in her sleep on October 19, 2023.
Markus walks through the events of that night, the shock, the grief, and the moment his family had to face the reality that she was gone. He also shares how his sons responded in powerful ways—showing strength in the middle of devastation—and how Markus made a promise: to honor Deia’s life by how he lives.
Out of that grief came a mission. Markus returned to the school system to pour into students who need structure, love, and guidance, and he also revived a story he wrote years earlier—The Walk—transforming it into a tribute film built with and for parents who have suffered the loss of a child.
This is a conversation about grief, purpose, fatherhood, faith, and a truth Markus learned the hard way: you can still live in joy, even when your heart is broken.
About the Guest: Markus Harris
Markus Harris is a high school basketball coach, football coach, school administrator, and student mentor who is passionate about helping young people find direction and stability. Outside of education, Markus is a screenwriter, producer, and actor, and the founder of Inspire Life Productions.
His film work includes The Walk, a project born from personal loss and created as a love letter to his daughter. Markus also shares upcoming projects in development, including a comedy film currently titled The Shop, multiple short films aimed at film festivals, and larger story-based projects tied to community impact.
About the Host: AJ (Aaron James)
AJ (Aaron James) is the host of the Comeback Kings Podcast, where real conversations help men face setbacks, rebuild stronger, and live with purpose. In this episode, AJ brings vulnerability and care—giving Markus the space to share his story fully, while guiding the conversation toward healing, meaning, and hope for listeners walking through grief themselves.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
• Markus’s life today: coaching, school leadership, mentoring, and filmmaking
• How Markus got into screenwriting without film school
• The night everything changed: losing Deia Wynn
• How grief impacted memory, focus, and daily functioning
• How Markus’s sons carried strength in the middle of tragedy
• The promise Markus made: to honor her life by how he lives
• How The Walk became a tribute film rooted in faith and healing
• Why Markus returned to education to pour into students
• A message to anyone grieving: don’t live in the darkest place
• Choosing joy without guilt—even when someone you love is gone