Tragedy Academy

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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In this episode of the Tragedy Academy, Jay brings trauma survivor and life coach, Michael Unbroken, on to the show. Michael is the host of his own podcast, “Think Unbroken”, where he invites experts, researchers, psychologists, and therapists to discuss healing from trauma and childhood PTSD. Michael himself is no stranger to this healing process. Growing up with two abusive parents, Michael was trapped in a nightmare familiar to many of his listeners. Having overcome his past to choose a brighter future of his own making, Michael hopes to inspire others to do the same.

Key Points

?? Taking Action

? Mistakes & the Human Experience

???? Forgiveness vs. Letting Go

? Facing Fear

? Finding Your True Self

? Are we in the matrix?

Episode Highlights

[1:47] - Jay introduces Michael Unbroken, host of the Think Unbroken podcast. In addition to sharing about his own experiences of overcoming trauma, Michael sees his podcast as an opportunity to bring on other experts and inspire people to begin their own healing journey. Michael focuses on bringing raw, real experiences to his show so his listeners see that they are not alone.

[6:14] - Michael explains that while he produces his podcast on mental health and healing, he’s never actually helped anyone change their life after trauma. This is because each person has their own individual responsibility to begin their healing journey. While Michael and his guest speakers may have built a roadmap for listeners, it is up to them to act and follow those instructions.

[13:31] - Is letting go just a valid option as forgiveness? Does forgiveness always bring emotional healing? Michael points out that some events in his childhood are hard to forgive, but he has let them go because they are not the things that he wants holding him down in life. 

[22:36] - Michael explains his worst fear: dying and being forced to watch a movie of his life - but all the things he didn’t do when he had the chance. While people may have the tendency to push off action until tomorrow, Michael urges listeners to overcome these fears and live the life they want now so they don’t have regrets later.

[26:57] - Jay asks Michael to explain a term that comes up a lot in his work: the vortex. The vortex is a space of negativity that some people are drawn into. This space prevents them from taking action, from taking care of their health, from pursuing their authentic selves.

[34:24] - As a biracial man, Michael has spent a great deal of time thinking about cultural and historical trauma, and how this trauma can be passed down over time. Michael believes that the energy of oppression and violence some groups have experienced in history can be transferred from generation to generation. This in turn combines with family systems that perpetuate trauma.

[38:51] - Michael agrees with Jay that sometimes service to others can be ego-driven, but argues that this shouldn’t be seen in a negative light. Rather than being humble about what we do for others or what achievements we have, Michael suggests that we should embrace the fact that these actions provide us benefits as well as others.

Connect With Michael:

Blog | https://bit.ly/3r8wdYG

Think Unbroken Podcast | https://bit.ly/3GnztFK

Instagram | https://bit.ly/34wdrmb | @michaelunbroken

YouTube | https://bit.ly/3zP0X4C

Twitter | https://bit.ly/3r9anEr | @michaelunbroken 

TikTok | @michaelunbroken  

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Summary

In this episode of the Tragedy Academy, we sit down with Amir Yass, digital creator, and LGBTQ activist. As a queer Muslim man, Amir has faced discrimination from all sides - even from other LGBTQ individuals. This discrimination inspired him to affect change and begin a series of panels that address biases within the queer community. As host of "The Take On" podcast, Amir continues his work tackling the big topics while interviewing some of Bravo TV's brightest stars. Today, Amir lives out his authentic, unapologetic self, bringing him closer to his faith and reaffirming his belief that orientation and religion are not mutually exclusive. Through candor and humor, Amir paints how standing up for equality of all facets is how we bring about change.

[1:45] - Amir describes his experience on the gay dating app, Grinder. Even within this supposedly open community, he was surprised to find he was on the receiving end of racist bullying. These events inspired him to begin a series of panels on various forms of discrimination within the LGBTQ community.

[5:36] - Amir discusses the unique position as gay and Muslim and how these communities interact. While many in the LGBTQ community have complicated relationships with religion, Amir believes that his relationship with God is very personal and doesn't need to involve his sexual orientation. The two are mutually exclusive to him.

[12:05] - As a stand-up comedian, Amir has witnessed how jokes made at the expense of the LGBTQ community are still very funny to most people. He believes that while queer people are still the butt of the joke, bullying and homophobia will continue. It also means there is still a lot of work to do in our own country to address these attitudes.

[18:47] - Jay points out that comedy can also be an excellent vehicle for change. While you have a captive audience, you can use humor to point out ignorance. Perhaps the ignorant minds in the audience will go home and begin to think differently without having been personally accosted.

[24:02] - Amir argues that coming out can almost be performative for straight people. Amir brings up the enormous pressure that is put on people within the LGBTQ community to come out as themselves for the benefit of their family and friends - something straight people will never experience. Amir believes this pressure can cause mental health issues that extend beyond coming out.

[30:45] - Toxic masculinity has recently been at the forefront of our social consciousness, but in Amir's experience, some of the most vitriolic comments surprisingly come from women. Amir suggests that these women feel threatened by effeminate men because they encroach on their territory of femininity.

[40:55] - To wrap up the episode, Amir tells us it isn't rocket science. While some may confuse the issue by saying there are too many pronouns or genders to keep up with, Amir explains that all you need to do is just be kind.

Instagram | https://bit.ly/3JR9Krm | @amiryassofficial

Cameo | https://bit.ly/3pZyUwi

The Take On Podcast | https://bit.ly/3JRaoVO

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Summary:

Welcome back to another episode of The Tragedy Academy; today, Jay meets Australian native Damien Boath. Damien shares with us his fascination for deep space and his love for pondering the unknown. Through his discovery of astrophotography, Damien can get a tiny glimpse of what is out there waiting for us to explore!

Key Points:

?? Asking an Aussie

? Florida’s weird reputation

? Astrophotography

???? Discovering the passion for Astrophotography

??? Envisioning exploring space

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Introduction to Damien Boathe

[06:01] Jay asks Damian what we all want to know about living in Australia. Damien sets the record straight on how common it is to see kangaroos in the wild, the truth behind koala’s deceiving cuddly face, and Aussie’s blunt banter.

[11:21] Jay weighs in on Florida’s weird reputation; he attributes it to the Sunshine Law, where every portion of every meeting of an agency shall be open to public observation – essentially, It is available, records state. Jay continues by providing significant state pros, like no state tax, high tourism, diverse cultures, tropical weather year-round, and low cost of living.

[19:08] Damien shares his fascination with deep space and the unknown, so deep he shares his hobby of Astrophotography with his son. He admits that taking on this hobby can be expensive and has a steep learning curve, but getting a glimpse of deep space makes it all worth it.

[24:10] Damien’s fascination with space deepened with the realization that we are so minute compared to the universe. He points out that looking into space is like looking back in time. Similarly, he ponders how people in 1975 could look into space with limited technology.

[29:31] Damien and Jay dwell on what it would look like if we ever made it into deep space. How would it look? Would our senses even be able to understand it? Is there life on other planets? If there are, are they even looking for us?

[32:36] Damien shares an anecdote on how oblivious he is when women try to get his attention. He mentions his long marriage and recent divorce and notices a significant shift in dating culture. Time plus technology have made dating difficult in some ways and easy in others; etiquette and expectations are also different.

[49:04] Outro

Connect with Damien:

Twitter

Instagram

Youtube

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Summary: In this episode of The Tragedy Academy, we meet Christian Valera. Christian runs a YouTube channel where he dives deep into the Marvel and DC universe and details each superhero. Christian used art and superheroes to escape his reality, which later blossomed into a love for film and creating. His story is one of self-exploration and self-discovery; through years of being raised by movies, he takes a peek into the outside world and experiences the endless possibilities it holds.

Key Points:

? Dealing with loss in childhood and turning to art

? The double-edged sword in life

????? Surrogate parental figures

? Growing into the person you've become

???? Entering the superhero world

? Constantly moving as a child

? Sadness to appreciate happiness

Episode Highlights:

[00:03:33] Christian shares his experience growing up with parents who had children out of wedlock. His mother passed away at the age of 5, being raised by his father and grandmother. During this transitionary period, Christian had trouble comprehending the severity of losing a parent while rarely seeing his caretakers due to work. He grew a latchkey kid leaving tv to raise him.

[00:07:41] Christian credits his love of art to his art teacher. He describes being on a first-name basis with him and details a moment when he even helped him purchase a book at the scholastic book fair. His generosity made a lasting impact on Christian. In addition to his teacher's kindness, Christian also pulled his value from movies. He describes it as a window into other people's lives.

[00:13:47] Christian describes being raised by tv as a double-edged sword; on the one hand, it gives you a peek into the world, and on the other hand, it gives unrealistic expectations. As he grew up, Christian realized that you could not apply everything to real life, one example being a hopeless romantic. He would obsess over girls, and it left him feeling confused and lost without reciprocation.

[00:18:25] Growing up, Christian had different surrogate parental figures. His grandmother raised him until 15 and from there was raised by his aunt and uncle until he moved out. As a result, he never experienced a stable one-on-one connection with someone, which was amplified by constantly moving around. In addition to the loneliness, Christina had no one to turn to when he had felt to express and resulted in keeping everything bottled up.

[00:24:44] The first film Christian ever saw in theatres was Spiderman in 2002; his father took him for his birthday. Since then, he fell in love with creating ideas in his head and seeing them come to fruition through self-directed videos. When he got to high school, Christian took every film class they had available to dig deeper and learn more about his passion.

[00:28:17] Christian admits to being an impressionable kid with a good heart. He looks back to the people he has helped, even reluctantly. Jay points out the importance of allowing yourself first before helping others.

[00:35:39] Moving a lot as a kid made a significant impact on Christian's life. It changed how he perceived himself; he often felt unwanted and homeless. During this time, he perfected the use of "the mask." Every time he moved found himself displaying different parts of himself to other people.

[00:54:00] Jay points out the reality of needing to experience Sadness to appreciate happiness. Without adversity, joy loses its meaning and becomes a disposable feeling in life.

[00:57:44] Christian shares the concept behind his YouTube videos. With his friends, he noticed a need for an explanation for superhero movies and their franchises. So, he starts from the very beginning. He begins a series where he goes into every movie's details.

[01:05:59] Connect with Christian

Connect with Christian:

Youtube | https://bit.ly/3ErXUA4

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Summary:

This week on The Tragedy Academy, Jay invites Dee McB. Dee is a zookeeper and lover of all animals, and in this episode, we get into compassion fatigue and growing up with ADHD. Dee educates us on animal behaviors and touches on how her nurturing personality contributes to compassion burnout. 

Key Points:

? Compassion fatigue

? ADHD

?? Nurturing

? The difference between the four great apes

? Howling monkeys and Macaques

? Interacting with animals as with humans

?? Death

? Bats

Episode Highlights:

[00:01:55] Dee shares the concept of compassion fatigue or fatigue burnout; is mainly experienced by veterinarians or those in any form of medical care. She explains the toll animal care takes on people, specifically when euthanizing litters at a time.

[00:14:20] Jay and Dee discuss Olympic athlete Simone Biles and her refusal to continue participating during the 2020 Olympics. They point out the strain in which athletes are put through both mentally and physically and point out that in the end, a life of stress is not sustainable. They also touch on the indifference people have toward athletes.

[00:16:54] Dee gives some background on growing up with ADHD. During the first quarter of her life, Dee never considered having ADHD because she earned good grades in school – mainly because she had a teacher-parent. Naturally, Dee did not assume there was nothing to treat. It wasn't until a friend helped her recognize that her scatterbrain tendencies were a symptom of ADHD.

[00:22:24] Dee describes herself as highly nurturing, even to her detriment. She notes that although she loves bringing joy to others, she recognizes that compassion fatigue is a symptom. Her zookeeping proclivities transferred over into helping her friends – an everybody keeper. 

[00:27:14] Dee breaks down the difference between the four great apes; bonobos, gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans. Gorillas are the most loyal but not the brightest, orangutans are mechanically minded, bonobos are the "hippies" of the group, they solve everything with sex, and chimpanzees are the most aggressive.

[00:37:04] Jay recalls his experience with Howler monkeys and Macaques. He details the piercing, screeching yells of howler monkeys and their constant movements through the jungle. Jay also gives an anecdote with a Macaques; he shares the story of almost getting his finger bitten off over a bag of Cheetos and a sprite.  

[00:48:02] Dee shares the difficulty in trying not to form bonds with animals as a zookeeper. She notes that animals are frequently moved from zoo to sanctuary and vice versa, especially if the endangered ones. Dee describes how it's near impossible not to feel compassion and form a bond with the animals for which she cares.

[00:51:00] Jay and Dee agree that we need to destigmatize Death. There is beauty in Death; it's the body decomposing and returning to mother earth to continue the circle of life. Dee also touches on the existence of conservation cemeteries.

[01:05:00] Dee shares her experience dealing with a terrible waiter. She notes that her previous experience working in food service has the credentials to weigh in how a waiter should treat guests. Jay details the waiter's point of view and how we should have sympathy on what they might be going through.

[01:24:50] Dee shares her love for her two favorite animals, bears and bats. Jay shares his disdain towards bats, specifically Vampire bats from Panama, due to their method of attacks and the contents of their tongues that can cause a numbing effect.  

[01:34:25] Outro

Contact Dee: 

Instagram | @thedeemcb https://bit.ly/3p5OvK3

TikTok | @deemcb https://bit.ly/3yCUWaN 

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Summary:

In this installment of the Tragedy, Academy Jay welcomes Aliza Sherman to the show. Aliza is an author, entrepreneur, and web pioneer. She has written 12 books and co-founded Ellementa, a company dedicated to educating women on the use of cannabis for wellness. In this episode, Aliza shares the most critical turning point in her life – the passing of both her parents. She unveils the grief behind death, that although we are aware of it, we are not prepared. Aliza reveals her treacherous journey of navigating the death of a parent while gathering the strength to remain sane and balanced.

Key Points:

? Losing both parents

?? Toxic parents

???? Connecting while separating

??????? Generational trauma

? Grief and fear

???? Searching for moments of centralization

???? Transforming anger into fuel

? End of life doula

Episode Highlights:

[07:15] Aliza shares her tragic past of losing both parents within two years. She describes it as a major turning point in her life; no one could prepare for it. Her father went to outpatient treatment for his liver only to be omitted to the emergency room 12 days later for liver failure. Due to the massive amount of antibiotics given, his kidneys also began to fail. Aliza describes this time as terrifying, stressful, and traumatic.

[10:18] As her father’s end came near, Aliza became responsible for handling his finances. Not knowing anything about finances before, Aliza felt overwhelmed but grateful she spent time with her dad daily. At the time, she did not understand the impact this would have on her, watching her father die while simultaneously dealing with medical misconduct. She expresses that she has never recovered from the trauma and does not know if she ever will.

[13:17] Aliza’s mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer soon after her father’s death. She was doing chemo for over two years until she decided to stop and let nature take its course. Aliza described this time as being much easier than the last; this time around, she learned how to die with more dignity and peace.

[18:18] Aliza shares being very close to her father but not her mother. As an adult, she disowned her, which lasted six years. The time apart gave her the ability to heal and separate herself from the fear of turning out like her mom.

[20:40] Jay and Aliza agree that humans tend to allow people and experiences to rent space in our heads, often with those who have mistreated us. Aliza points out the difference between difficult and abusive and carries that logic to toxic parents.

[24:17] Grief and fear manifest differently in people, but ultimately it makes you face your demise. Aliza shares watching her parents die made her recognize her mortality and accept that as a reality check.

[26:41] During the intense years of dealing with Grief and trauma, Aliza made it a point to take a moment for herself. She would go outside every day to walk on the grass, sit under the sun and breathe. Most importantly, Aliza ensured her health was intact and fully hydrated to combat her body constantly being on overdrive.

[33:33] Aliza shares the significance of turning her anger into fuel. She used her anger to articulate problems, find better support, and get out of her mental fog. In those moments of anger, Aliza describes it as opportunities to cut through the Grief and get things done with determination.

[41:42] In the last hours of her father’s life, Aliza fulfilled his last request to order takeout from his favorite Thai retreatant. She turned every stone to make it happen, and as her dad went to sleep, she noticed an intense pain in her hips. Aliza later learned that women stored Grief in their hips and knew she needed to find a way to destress her body.

[44:54] Aliza shares her discovery of end-of-life d ...

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In this episode of The Tragedy Academy, we meet runway model and actor Max Eric Lemberger. Max's journey into acting and the fashion industry came later in life but with double the intensity. He is a true testament to time having no boundaries and an inspiration to those who have a dream to chase but think it's too late for them.

Key Points:

? Acting at 69

? Becoming an at-home dad

? Getting discovered by being seen

?? Multisport athlete

? Breaking into the fashion industry

? Being a part of a non-inclusive industry

Episode Highlights:

[04:06] Max began acting at 69, but the journey started in 1959 when he saw Steve Reeves in Hercules. At the time, he felt that a career in acting was unachievable, but the desire never left his heart. In his early 60s, Max revisited his love for acting and decided to take the plunge. He researched, took his headshots, and joined a modeling agency.

[10:00] Max became a stay-at-home dad after losing his job and leaving a collapsing career. Throughout the years, he started picking up handyman jobs in his community. At 41 years old, Max discovered that he enjoyed handy work and felt he would have pursued a blue-collar career had he been exposed to it. Yet, through trial and error, he landed his lifelong dream of acting.

[18:57] Max shares that getting discovered is only part of the battle; another important factor is how you get found. He gives the example of filming adult movies as a bad way to get noticed. Conversely, Max has been given opportunities from other non-traditional forms of scouting – he's become a regular at a local shopping channel that has a reach of over 70 million homes.

[23:43] Max shares his background in athleticism. Growing up, he was a multisport athlete, with his main focus being basketball. Max shares that although he was one of their top players, his 5'9" stature kept him from getting any scholarship offers. In his 30s, Max took up tennis and skiing while maintaining a consistent gym schedule throughout his whole life.

[25:40] Max gives his experience breaking into the fashion industry. He recently signed with Naturally Fit Agency to join their campaign focused on hiring models of senior age with a goal to shift towards inclusivity. The fashion industry is known for being ageist, with editorial being the most ageist. Nonetheless, Max expresses being overwhelmed with pride and accomplishment.

[33:00] Breaking stereotypes and becoming a part of a traditionally non-inclusive industry is inspiring. Max shares a similar story of a colleague who broke into fashion on similar terms but with different body types. He gives an example of a friend who is a plus-size model and dominating in her career, setting the standard that anyone has the potential to become a model.

[40:44] Jay describes the reason behind all the masks we wear in our lifetime; he notes that they each serve a purpose and rose from a wound that wanted to remain hidden. Jay gives the example of growing up in poverty and having a false idea of happiness. He notes that pursuing other people's ideas of happiness will only overshadow your happiness.

[48:18] Connect with Max

Instagram

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Summary: 

In this episode of the Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes gymnast turned firefighter Alex Pacheco. Alex shares her journey battling with body dysmorphia on top of a slew of other medical conditions starting from a young age. Her story is a testament to what can happen when you fight for what's right no matter how much you're hurting inside.

Key Points:

? Shifting social currencies

? Getting into dance

?? Medical diagnosis

? Learning ASL

??? Pursuing firefighting

? Changing your body due to body dysmorphia

[01:44] Alex shares her background in gymnastics. She notes that for ten years of her life, gymnastics consumed her. She would attend programs that required homeschooling, one of which included 12-hour days. She would get there at 6 am and leave at 6 pm, with 3 hours allotted for schooling. During her time there, Alex reveals having multiple injuries from her toes to her hands.

[06:14] Alex expresses having feelings of reservations towards gymnastics. She recalls breaking her foot the day before nationals and felt she could no longer continue living a life where she was prone to get hurt. Alex did a complete 180 when she entered middle school. A Charter School that required uniforms, and although she felt out of place, at least one girl she knew and became close friends with throughout her remaining middle school years.

[11:40] Entering high school, Alex decided to pursue dance along with her sister. Although she loved the sport, this was around the time her body dysmorphia began to surface. Alex started to notice the difference between her body and her classmates. What she considered a compliment in the past (having a solid body) started becoming her insecurities.

[16:55] Growing up, Alex was continually being diagnosed with different medical issues. Most notably, ovarian failure. Alex cannot have children and did not experience hormones until 10th grade, which meant she experienced puberty in one year. She had to take patches to produce hormones and went through high school as if she was going through menopause. Other diagnoses' included both her knee caps split in half as well as a broken elbow for three years.

[24:59] Alex shares her decision behind switching from being a dance major wanting to go to medical school. She earned a scholarship and yet still decided to back out due to the massive amount of math classes she would have to take. In the end, Alex decided to become a firefighter.

[32:08] Alex detailed the moment when she knew she wanted to become a firefighter. About a year ago, a driver t-boned her, causing the car to spin. Fortunately, neither she nor her sister sustained any severe injuries but what stood to Alex was the firefighter's ability to be on the scene fast and ready to help.

[41:22] During the peak of Alex's body dysmorphia, she recalls feelings self-conscious and insecure. However, once she started firefighting and joined the circus, Alex was surrounded by people who shared similar body types as hers. She learned that everybody type serves a different purpose and that she's not so different after all. She no longer wastes her energy worrying about what others think and instead shifts that energy into herself and her skills.         

[48:07] Alex and Jay agree that the essential thing in life is to embrace it, yourself, and be yourself. The emphasis on the importance of overcoming the fear of being judged because, in the end, the only person watching us is ourselves. Life is about laughing at your mistakes and learning from them.

[58:00] Outro

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Join us for another episode of The Tragedy Academy, where host Jay speaks with author and poet Zelda Black about her latest book, Butterfly Words. In this episode, Zelda shares her inspiring journey of growing up in a rural town surrounded by racism and prejudice and how she found solace in poetry. We discuss the importance of mental health, diversity, authenticity, and holding space for yourself and others.

Are you ready to be inspired? In this week's episode, we sit with Zelda Black, a creative force and author of Butterfly Words, to discuss her powerful story of overcoming adversity. Growing up in a rural town where racism and prejudice ran rampant, Zelda struggled to find her place and feared being ostracized for her progressive beliefs. Despite the challenges, she found refuge in poetry and used her creativity to escape a reality that didn't always accept her.

We delve deep into Zelda's journey and discuss the importance of mental health, authenticity, and diversity. We can all learn from Zelda's message of holding space for yourself and others around you. She reminds us that we all have a voice and should use it to inspire change. So tune in and get ready to be moved by the power of Butterfly Words.

Key Takeaways:

? Butterfly Words is a powerful book encouraging readers to embrace their unique voice and authenticity.

? Mental health is crucial; we need to hold space for ourselves and others.

? Creativity can be a powerful escape from reality and a way to express ourselves authentically.

???? Diversity is essential, and we need to celebrate and accept each other's differences.

?? Communication is key; finding your modicum of communication with your peers can be empowering.

? Turning away from drugs and alcohol can be crucial in overcoming adversity.

Guest Bio:

Zelda Black is a poet, author, and creative force whose work encourages others to embrace their unique voice and authenticity. Growing up in a rural town surrounded by racism and prejudice, she found refuge in poetry and used her creativity to escape a reality that didn't always accept her. Her latest book, Butterfly Words, is a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health, authenticity, and diversity.

Guest Quotes:

CTA for Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Tragedy Academy podcast and leave a review. Jay and Gary provide a unique perspective on the human experience through the lens of tragedy and triumph, and their conversations with guests like Zelda Black are always inspiring. Remember to be cool and keep learning.

CTA for Guest:

To learn more about Zelda Black and her work, visit her Beacons Page or follow her on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. She is a powerful voice for authenticity, diversity, and mental health; we can all learn from her journey.

Conclusion:

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Tragedy Academy. Zelda Black's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of holding space for yourself and others and embracing your unique voice. Her book, Butterfly Words, is a must-read for anyone looking to overcome adversity and find their way. Join us next week for another.

Visit our site for more information and episodes.

https://www.thetragedyacademy.com

Connect with Zelda:

Beacons Page / Zeldablack

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