Ya Never Know w/ Jake Haendel

Leah tells us how one back surgery changed her entire life. What should’ve been a simple procedure ended up causing CRPS, a nerve condition so brutal that many people lose hope the moment they hear the diagnosis. For Leah, it started in her foot and turned into nonstop pain — something she describes as feeling like she was “walking to her death daily.”

Her sober father started growing her marijuana just to help ease the pain. We talk about ketamine treatments, what it’s really like living with chronic pain, and how she went to grief therapy to mourn the life she thought she’d have.

Now, she’s figuring out how to push through — working again, finding moments of peace, and proving that even when life hits you with the unthinkable, you can still fight your way back.

Kyle’s story is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. A prolific weed grower, a transgender man, and a terminal brain cancer survivor — somehow, he’s still here.

After years of building his life in California and Colorado, Kyle was diagnosed with an aggressive, “incurable” form of brain cancer that no one else has survived. Forced to leave everything behind and return home to the South Side of Chicago, he faced his mortality head-on.

Through a groundbreaking experimental immunotherapy, Kyle began to defy every medical prediction. Along the way, weed became both his medicine and his metaphor — a symbol of resilience, balance, and growth

In this episode of Ya Never Know, Dr. Ellen Reed (@drellenreed) joins us to share her journey as a performance coach and expert in Relentless Solution Focus. We talk about how we met, how she’s helped me as my coach, and how her work has shaped both my mindset and Big A’s approach to recovery.


Dr. Reed opens up about what it means to help people unlock their potential, stay solution-focused, and grow through life’s challenges. Big A and I also get real about our own recovery journeys and the daily work it takes to keep moving forward.


A great episode for anyone looking to tap into their potential, shift their mindset, and start focusing on solutions instead of problems.


Check out Dr. Reed’s book and more of her work here: Ellen Reed on Amazon

This episode picks up where Part One left off — after Daniella’s daring escape from the Children of God cult. What came next was a new kind of structure, discipline, and control: the U.S. military. Daniella (@daniellamyoung_) opens up about serving two tours in military intelligence, the psychological aftermath of leaving one cult only to find herself in another, and how she ultimately reclaimed her freedom and voice.

Her bestselling memoir, Uncultured: A Memoir (available everywhere), tells the story of her journey from indoctrination to independence. Her forthcoming book, The Culting of America (available now for pre-sale at knittingcultlady.com), explores how cult dynamics appear in modern society.

This is Part Two — powerful, revealing, and impossible to forget.

This episode dives into a story so wild it sounds like fiction — but it’s all very real. Daniella, also known as the knitting cult lady, was born into Children of God as a third-generation member. From birth, she suffered control, abuse, and was even trafficked across borders under the guise of loyalty to the cult.

What makes her story even more extraordinary is how she broke free. As a teenager she escaped, built a new life for herself, and later served in the U.S. military. Her resilience led her to become an author. Her first memoir, Uncultured: A Memoir (available now) (bookshop.org) reflects on her journey through indoctrination and freedom. Her second book, The Culting of America, is currently on pre-sale (ships January 20, 2026) (knittingcultlady.com) and examines cult behavior in modern society.

Follow Daniella on Instagram: @daniellamyoung_

This is Part One of her escape — raw, gripping, and full of revelations.

Caitlyn (@caitlyn.cohen) is a model, TikTok star, and passionate advocate who’s opening up about life with a stutter. In this episode she shares what it’s really like, how she found the courage to speak out, and why using her platform matters so much.


Keep up with Caitlyn’s journey here: linktr.ee/caitlyn.cohen

A vacation ferry ride turned into the Greek Tragedy of the Century when the ship began sinking like the Titanic. Joanne shares what it felt like to be trapped on a foreign vessel as the captain and crew abandoned ship and left everyone to die. Against all odds she survived—and even risked her life going back inside to grab her brand-new $40 Skechers. From chaos on the water to the shocking aftermath that put the captain behind bars, this is one story you won’t forget.

Ashley tells us about her high school sweetheart, Travis, whose life was turned upside down when he became locked in. He is still currently fighting to survive, fluctuating through different states of consciousness while facing the medical complexity of locked-in syndrome. Ashley opens up about the challenges of navigating hospital care, the emotional weight of raising their young daughter during this fight, and the heartbreak of watching her first love endure such a rare condition.

This episode is raw, emotional, and deeply human—a story of love, resilience, and advocacy!
 You can support Ashley and her family during this difficult time here:

Content Warning: This episode discusses sexual assault.


Hannah opens up about how her entire high school career was shaped by years of sexual assault from a teacher — which later turned into a full-blown inappropriate relationship. She shares how she survived, found justice, and now maintains a powerful outlook on life. Hannah also offers advice for anyone currently going through something similar, and explains why she’s breaking her silence and sharing her story today.

Emily joins us with a story that starts with something unexpected: strange nipple changes that turned out to be cancer. She opens up about the fear, the fight, and the strength it took to survive — and why paying attention to your body could save your life.

We also talk about what it means to live after cancer, how to stay empowered through the hardest battles, and what to say to your kids when you’re facing the unthinkable. I open up about my own experience with almost dying, and the years I spent living with a terminally ill mother battling cancer — and how it left a mark that still shapes me today.

This conversation is raw, powerful, and filled with takeaways for anyone navigating illness — or supporting someone who is.