Summary:In today's episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes actor, author, and former attorney Kirk Nurmi. Kirk has written numerous books on topics from the famous trial of Jodi Arias To pursuing a purposeful and fulfilled life by defending your greatness. Learn how he has taken on this treacherous journey of unfulfillment and feeling strayed from his Passion. Join us as he shares his moment of enlightenment and the transition of finally deciding to be happy!Key Points:🤩 Finding your great...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Summary:In this episode of the Tragedy Academy, we welcome Mirko Castagna to the show. Mirko is a recovering nicotine addict; he was a smoker for over 20 years, starting at 14. He shares his battle with addiction and details the most challenging parts of his journey and how that affected his mental health. With a new perspective, Mirko shares what it looks like for a person who restarts their lives at 33.Key Points:🧠 Reeducating the brain🚬 Discovering why you started smoking🧘🏿♀️ Experiencin...
Oct 18, 2021•48 min
Summary:On this installment of the Tragedy Academy, writer, actor, and speaker Janet Conroy Quirk is in the studio. Janet is an advocate for the plus-sized community and is co-founder of National Plus Size, a directory that connects people with plus-friendly businesses. In this episode, we dig into the stereotypes surrounding plus-sized people and break antiquated ideology by providing real-world experiences, perspectives, and solutions! Key Points:🍎 Diet culture🧐 Believing the stereotypes✊🏼 ...
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr 13 min
In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay Hicks sits down with entrepreneur and author Ryan Cooper as he shares his inspiring story of overcoming adversity. Despite growing up with a bipolar mother and later being diagnosed with the same mental illness, Ryan persevered to become the successful entrepreneur and author he is today. He talks about his book, "Fuck It: Why Not Me," and the legacy he's striving to leave behind. Listeners will be moved by Ryan's resilience and perseveran...
Oct 04, 2021•36 min
Summary:In today's episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay speaks to Jaymes, The Face Anthony. Jaymes hosts the YouTube show Jaymes Kickback, where he interviews celebrities, influencers, and artists to showcase their art and get to know them personally. Jaymes brings us on his self-discovery path and how he went from a sheltered child to living his most authentic life.Key Points:🎬 Origins of Jaymes kickback🧐 Discovering yourself through the pandemic🌪 Pivotal moments that led to Jaymes Kickback🎩...
Sep 27, 2021•58 min
In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay Hicks sits down with Kent Lawlor, an author, schoolteacher, and single father of three children. Kent shares his journey of parenting, mental health struggles, and self-discovery, highlighting the importance of challenging yourself and wearing your scars with pride. Listeners will gain insights on how to approach parenting in the internet age, the significance of tone in communication, and how to overcome obstacles and reach your full pote...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Summary:In today's episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Zain of Aftersound. Zain gives us a peek into the mind of a musician and shares his perspective behind the music he creates. We learn of the possibilities that lie behind your hesitation and the rewards that come with it. Key Points:🎙Podcast: Coffee with Aftersound🎵 What is music?📱 Good vs. bad parts of social media😔 Why do sad songs resonate with you?😎 Summer Nights🎤 Discovering sing...
Sep 13, 2021•54 min
Summary: In today's episodes of The Tragedy Academy, Jay invites the host of the podcast I Am Just Gaying, Hernando Del Castillo. Hernando brings us along to his journey of reflection, awareness, and metamorphosis. We learn of the societal pressure he experienced as a gay Columbian man and the hurdles he jumped through to become his whole authentic self finally.Key Points:📢 Coming to a point in life where you become unfiltered😞 Dealing with unsupportive family and friends👩👦👦 Begins raised...
Sep 06, 2021•1 hr 14 min
SummaryThis week's episode is part 2 of 2 that features a conversation between host Jay and special guest Gary DeFranco. Gary is the executive producer of The Ultimate Fighter and the creative behind Max Glow MMA and the developing concept of Not Uranus. He and Jay talk about creative ventures, COVID-19, Diversity, and much more!Key Points:🌎 Diversity🤕 Mental Health🥋 TUF, the pandemic, and training🤼♀️ MAX Glow MMA👽 Not Uranus💪🏽 Worklife balance👩🏻💻 Collaboration & Innovation👨🎨 Crea...
Aug 30, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Summary: Today’s episode is part 1 of 2 that features a conversation between host Jay and special guest Gary DeFranco. Gary is the executive producer of The Ultimate Fighter and the creative behind Max Glow MMA and the developing concept of Not Uranus. He and Jay talk about creative ventures, COVID-19, Diversity, and much more!Key Points:🌎 Diversity🤕 Mental Health🥋 TUF, the pandemic, and training🤼♀️ MAX Glow MMA👽 Not Uranus💪🏽 Worklife balance👩🏻💻 Collaboration & Innovation👨🎨 Creati...
Aug 23, 2021•52 min
Summary: In today’s episodes of The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes Freda Jing, or as she has coined herself, a Hexagon threat. Freda courageously takes us on her journey of overcoming seven years of clinical depression and how she could heal from that through discovering self-acceptance.Key Points:😔 Conquering seven years of depression🩺 Getting diagnosed❤️ Finding self-acceptance🎓 The broken education system😥 Body Dysmorphia🙅🏻♀️ Rejection from universities💊 Pharmaceuticals Episode Highlig...
Aug 16, 2021•55 min
Summary:In this installment of The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes long-time friend Jennifer Menendez. Jennifer wears her heart on her sleeve and lets us in on the journey of her mother's cancer diagnosis. She illustrates to us the incredible life lessons learned through the lens of a grieving daughter.Key Points: 🎀 Breast cancer diagnosis🚶🏾♀️ Stepping away from the victim mentality👏🏼 Helping others💐 The Yellow rose📝 Writing as an escape✊🏼 Survivor of abuse🤝 Finding help🧏🏽♂️ Advice fo...
Aug 09, 2021•52 min
Summary:On this episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes documentary filmmaker Andrew Nethery. His new documentary, Bury Us! A Punk Rock Uprising is a film about the Basque punk rock scene. Andrew discusses the harrowing parts of the film shedding light on a sliver of what Basque people have endured since the 70s.Key Points:🎸 Bury Us! A Punk Rock Uprising🗺 Where is Basque, and what does it mean?😳 Moments that stuck out in the documentary😱 The lousy side of freedom of speech🎭 Fans of com...
Aug 02, 2021•51 min
Summary:On this installment of The Tragedy Academy, Jay is joined by two good friends, Andre and his makeup artist wife, Niki. Together, they break down the barrier of race, stereotypes, and social conditioning and bring about a fresh, realistic perspective.Key Points:👰♀️ The Marriage Club 🤵♂️👨👩👧👦 The perception of the black family📝. The ten steps on How to make a marriage work💇🏾♀️ Black women’s hair, presenting self in white culture🪐 Intent and universal law😵💫 Social conditio...
Jul 26, 2021•1 hr 20 min
🎙Summary:In today’s episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes Lucas Hill, personal trainer, and seeker of insight and wisdom. Lucas takes us on a wild journey of revelation, enlightenment, and self-discovery, all consequences of his illuminating experience of 5-MeO-DMT.🎙Key Points:🤔 Losing childlike wonder😷 Pandemic fear🧘 Opening the mind🔄 5-MeO-DMT the process💗 The experience✊🏼 Finding worth within yourself🎙Episode Highlights:[01:11] Lucas describes his experience during the pandemi...
Jul 19, 2021•55 min
🎙Ep 85: Theoni Bekiari - "I am here."🎙 Summary:In today's episodes of The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes Greek actress Theoni Bekiari. Theoni was born in Greece but now resides in Los Angeles to pursue acting. She majored in Dramatology in Greece and is getting ready to graduate from the acting academy in July. Theoni opens up to us about coming out as pansexual and the hurdles she overcame to accept who she was, all achieved by love.🎙 Key Points: 🎥 Making art during a pandemic💬 Connecting w...
Jul 12, 2021•48 min
Summary:In today’s episodes of The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes singer, songwriter, and soon-to-be actress Amy Lerie. Amy shares with us her story that began with tradition and conformity, but that ended with fulfillment and purpose, all because she decided to follow her dreams.Key Points: 🎙Being your most authentic self🎙Pivotal moment🎙How has the pandemic affected you?🎙Finding empathy🎙Living in the Present moment🎙The latest release, and what’s next?🎙Inspiration meditationEpisode Highlig...
Jul 05, 2021•58 min
Summary: In today's episodes of The Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes actress and director Christine Twyman. Chrissy breaks down the concept of trauma and presents a method of healing by art. Christine advocates that through art, we can create a space for trauma intervention.Key Points: Advocating for trauma intervention via artWorking with people who are only interested in the monetaryUnderstanding traumaIntegrating with your traumaRecognizing that it's not our parent's faultMen are oppressing them...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr 8 min
In today’s episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay is joined by Jordan Delagrange, a martial artist, stunt-man, and healer. Jordan enlightens us with his perspective on how mind and body are equally connected and how we can all achieve mindfulness through meditation and martial arts.Key Points: Becoming a stunt manA student of the artsSanctuary of Art and HealingThai chi and mindfulnessYin and Yang and space betweenMediating and AcupunctureObtaining the observer positionEpisode Highlights:[00:40] In...
Jun 14, 2021•53 min
Summary:In today’s episodes of The Tragedy Academy, Jay is joined by Brazilian actor and dancer Glauco Araujo. Glauco walks us through his life growing up in remote farmland in Brazil and how he turned his internal struggles into beautiful art for all to consume.Key Points: Glauco tells his backstory growing up in a remote farm area in BrazilTransitioning from a field outside of Rio to an accomplished dancer and actorGlauco’s first contact with balletFavorite ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev and re...
Jun 07, 2021•59 min
In today’s episode, Jay interviews Demi Ramos; model, artist, and co-host of the podcast “It’s Real” with Jordan & Demi. Demi shares with us a few anecdotes about living in NYC and we dive into her music inspirations and aspirations. Key Points: Demi admits to having an awkward phase while Jay reassures that it's necessary as an artistAuthenticity cultivates an organic fanbaseDemi walks us through her modeling careerBeing an artist and hustling is difficult in the digital age, going digital,Jay ...
May 31, 2021•54 min
In today’s episode, Jay talks to Sharon Green, a Reiki Master. She talks about her awakening and passion. Episode Highlights:3:30: Sharon talks about her interest in Astrology and how she started exploring horoscopes, sun, moon, and rising science.4:20: Jay points out that even though we have been studying astrology longer than other strings in religions, there is still a grouping in which society tags people who pursue astrology.5:40: Sharon shares that a group of people believes that there is ...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 2 min
In today’s episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, Jay Hicks speaks with Niloo, a Los Angeles-based actor, vocalist, and comic, discussing her artistic journey, Persian influences, and advocacy for animal rights, followed by an exclusive preview of her new collaboration track with Shahya. The conversation dives into life’s complexities, the importance of emotional expression, and the transformative power of art and humor.
May 17, 2021•52 min
In the latest episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay Hicks and entertainment expert Mike Barker delve into the significance of personal branding and life’s purpose, discussing Mike’s journey through adversity to success in the entertainment industry and emphasizing the importance of gratitude, empathy, and emotional discipline.
May 10, 2021•48 min
”Join host Jay Hicks and the multifaceted Sarah Donna as they delve into the importance of embracing life’s awkward phases, authenticity, and personal growth in a journey filled with humor, honesty, and unique insights.”
May 03, 2021•47 min
Join host Jay Hicks and the remarkable Jazmine Brown in a profound journey of resilience and empowerment, as they explore the transformative power of adversity and authenticity in shaping one’s life. Discover how overcoming challenges and embracing individuality can lead to empowerment and inspiration.
Apr 26, 2021•57 min
In this compelling episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, Jay Hicks opens the show with a powerful message about the podcast’s mission to bridge social divides and create a judgment-free zone through candor and humor. Special guest Tapanga Lee, celebrated as the first fan of the show and noted for her open-mindedness, joins Jay. Together, they embark on a journey down memory lane in an unscripted and genuine conversation that resonates with listeners from all walks of life.
Apr 12, 2021•55 min
Join music producer and podcast host Jay Hicks along with co-host Gary DeFranco on The Tragedy Academy Podcast, a unique and insightful show delving into the human experience through the dual lens of tragedy and triumph. Each episode is a journey through inspiring stories from individuals who have faced adversity and emerged stronger, offering listeners a guide to finding purpose and meaning in their own lives.
Apr 02, 2021•1 min
