Are you a parent? This episode is for you! Tune in as Jay welcomes Heather Jess to talk about post-partum depression, the challenges of being a parent, and the power of community support in raising children. Heather Jess is the creator of MommaSquad, a blog about motherhood, being a military wife, and so much more.Listen in as Heather shares her thoughts on overcoming post-partum depression, teaching empathy and compassion to your kids, and the benefits of having a community to rely on throughou...
Sep 26, 2022•1 hr 1 min
In this episode, Jay and Gary welcome Kerri McKinney to talk about the highs and lows of being an alcoholic and getting sober. Kerri is an empowerment coach, energy healer, and speaker who is also a recovering alcoholic who started drinking when she was at an astonishing 12 years old. She used to be ashamed of her past, but everything changed when she started embracing it. Now, Kerri is helping others do the same.Listen in to hear how Kerri overcame her alcoholism and depression, what life is li...
Sep 19, 2022•56 min
Summary*TW: This episode contains discussions of suicide; please listen with caution.*This week on the podcast, Jay welcomes Iden Crockett. Iden is a true Renaissance woman: artist, writer, photographer, musician, and so much more, but this has been her second lease on life. Iden was a paramedic and firefighter for 25 years before being forced out of her job after she came out as trans. Her art has since been a vehicle for discussing her experience with PTSD, gender dysphoria, self-injury, and e...
Sep 12, 2022•1 hr 10 min
SummaryThis week Jay welcomes actress Olivia Blair to the podcast. Today, Olivia pursues her passions of acting and film, however she hasn't always been able to live as her authentic self. Olivia first began to struggle with body dysmorphia in high school, when the pressures of media encouraged her to form a distorted body image. Jay reveals that he can relate to Olivia's struggle because he also suffered from body dysmorphia growing up. Both Jay and Olivia agree that the pressures young people ...
Sep 05, 2022•41 min
Summary*TW* - This episode discusses experiences with death and violence that may be upsetting for some listeners. Please listen with caution.This week The Tragedy Academy is honored to have Deandre "Sip the Kid" Smith on the show. These days Deandre is an actor and motivational speaker, but in 2018 he was handed one crushing blow after another with the deaths of his brother, mother, and grandmother in a matter of months. Rather than give in to street mentality, the love of his children and fami...
Aug 29, 2022•56 min
SummaryThis week's episode of The Tragedy Academy features speaker, model, and wellness advocate, Jetty Nieuwenhuis. Despite having the following of an influencer, Jetty rejects the perfect curated image of the influencer and instead uses her platform to inspire others to pursue their dreams unapologetically. The guys and Jetty discuss the difficulties they've encountered building the lives they want, but they wouldn't have it any other way. Whatever the topic, Jetty emphasizes the importance of...
Aug 22, 2022•56 min
SummaryThe Tragedy Academy is excited to present a new regular feature for the show: TA Library. In this episode, TA librarian Jennifer steps out from behind the curtain to talk about what academics can expect from these after-school study sessions. There will be some history, some mystery, and as always we'll be bridging social divides. This time, the guys discuss the last time they were in a public library, and the role of libraries in the digital age. The main thing to take away: libraries ar...
Aug 15, 2022•1 hr 27 min
SummaryGary brings another inspiring guest to the show: Artem Lobov. A former MMA fighter and boxer, Artem is taking the opportunity of an early retirement to not only protect his health, but explore who he is outside of the sport. This includes writing a book about his life, starting a clothing brand, and getting into the whiskey business - which he sees as a way of giving back to Ireland, his home since he was a teenager. Gary and Jay also talk with Artem about the misconceptions and extremes ...
Aug 08, 2022•57 min
Class is out, and mischief reigns in this inaugural detention episode of The Tragedy Academy, where no hall passes are required. Join Jay and Gary, the show’s self-proclaimed favorite delinquents, as they dish out a wild recess filled with tales ranging from Teddy Ruxpin rocking out to Wu-Tang Clan in unexpected places to the chaotic adrenaline of ER mishaps. They don’t stop there—Florida Man headlines, rental car debacles, and the kind of safety tips you won’t find in your conventional class sy...
Aug 01, 2022•40 min
Step into the studio with The Tragedy Academy as we delve into the vibrant and visceral world of tattoos with the illustrious Sam Suarez, better known as High Noon, famed tattoo artist and star of ’Tattoo Nightmares Miami.’ This week’s episode isn’t just skin deep; High Noon sketches out his journey from inking to acting, sharing stories of the most regrettable tattoos, while drawing parallels to life’s broader strokes of transparency and personal transformation. Whether it’s moving cross-countr...
Jul 25, 2022•1 hr 9 min
SummaryThis 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.Injuries dogged his career.A car accident came out of nowhere.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 alter...
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 4 min
🚀 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. Be...
Jul 11, 2022•1 hr 5 min
SummaryThis 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👣...
Jul 04, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Dive into the rhythmic world where faith meets verse in this compelling session of The Tragedy Academy. Join hosts Jay and Gary as they sit down with musician and rapper Matthew Scheall, a late bloomer in the music scene whose collegiate epiphany sparked a passionate pursuit in the hip-hop realm. Delve into a narrative that celebrates the courage to embrace one’s true self, the transformative power of a supportive community, and the relentless spirit required to carve out authenticity in the cac...
Jun 27, 2022•1 hr 28 min
SummaryTo 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 ...
Jun 19, 2022•42 min
SummaryWelcome 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 t...
Jun 19, 2022•48 min
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 al...
Feb 07, 2022•1 hr 7 min
SummaryThis 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 forg...
Jan 31, 2022•1 hr 1 min
SummaryThis 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 Metave...
Jan 24, 2022•42 min
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 brigh...
Jan 17, 2022•48 min
SummaryIn 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 o...
Jan 10, 2022•47 min
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 spaceEpisode Hig...
Jan 03, 2022•53 min
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 Point...
Dec 27, 2021•1 hr 12 min
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🦇 BatsEpisode Highli...
Dec 20, 2021•2 hr 40 min
thetragedyacademy.comSummary: 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 re...
Dec 13, 2021•1 hr 2 min
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...
Dec 06, 2021•59 min
The Tragedy AcademySummary: 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 ...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 6 min
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...
Nov 22, 2021•35 min
Summary: On The Tragedy Academy; this week, we welcome Rachel McDonald to discuss her experience living with Endometriosis, a rarely diagnosed disorder targeting only women. Rachel walks us through her painstaking journey of getting diagnosed, the battle to get a prescription, and the hurdles she had to jump through to get a Hysterectomy. Key Points: ⚕️ Endometriosis🏃♀️ Getting through everyday life🤛 Battle to get a prescription 😰 Fear of missing out👩❤️💋👨 Sex life having Endometriosis�...
Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Ep 102: Edison Jakupi - Questionable BehaviorSummary: On this installment of The Tragedy Academy, Jay is joined by actor, model, and podcaster Edison Jakupi. Edison is the host of Questionable Behavior, a podcast committed to helping creators elevate their careers and sharing their journey. In this episode, Edison invites us into his world of warfare and diligence. As a Kosovo refugee, Edison details a life of struggle. Now being on the other side of it, he's learned gratitude and developed a de...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 6 min
