The Tragedy Academy - podcast cover

The Tragedy Academy

Non Purus Scolam, llcwww.thetragedyacademy.com
The Tragedy Academy Podcast is a show that explores the human experience through the lens of tragedy and triumph. We aim to help listeners grow and thrive by sharing stories of real people who have experienced adversity and success. Hosted by Jay Hicks, a veteran, music producer, and multimedia artist, along with co-host Gary DeFranco, an Emmy-nominated executive producer with 20 years of experience producing non-scripted television, The Tragedy Academy Podcast provides a unique perspective on life’s challenges and how to overcome them. Our guests come from all walks of life and share their stories of struggle and triumph. We believe that our past does not define our future and that living authentically and purposefully is the key to a fulfilling life. Through candid and humorous discussions, we explore societal divides and bridge gaps in understanding. We believe that laughter is the best fertilizer for the tree of knowledge, and that’s why we bring you stories that will make you t...

Episodes

Breaking Down the Walls: A Candid Conversation About the Prison System and Medical Negligence

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast🎙️, host Jay Hicks sits down with attorney Parrish, who advocates for prisoners suffering from medical negligence. This candid conversation delves into the prison system's flaws, its impact on inmates and prison staff, and legal advocacy's critical role in addressing medical negligence. Join Jay and his guest, attorney Parrish, as they dive into the world of prison reform and the tragic reality of medical negligence behind bars. Throughout the conve...

Apr 24, 20231 hr 5 min

”Recovered On Purpose: From Addiction to a Life of Purpose” with Adam Gunton

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay sits down with Adam Gunton, founder of "Recovered on Purpose," who shares his story of overcoming addiction and finding a life of purpose. Through candid and humorous discussions, Adam and Jay explore the root causes of addiction and the importance of authenticity and purpose in achieving lasting recovery. This episode is a must-listen for anyone struggling with addiction or seeking a more purposeful life.Key Takeaways:😊 Embrace authentic...

Apr 17, 20231 hr 7 min

Jodie Shihadeh: Empowering Artists and Advocating Change

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay sits down with Jodie Shihadeh, an entertainment attorney who shares her journey in helping artists navigate the music industry. Jodie discusses her passion for working with creators, addressing industry issues, and activism throughout her life. 🎙️Join them as they discuss Jodie Shihadeh's incredible journey from playing drums as a teenager to becoming a powerful advocate for artists in the entertainment industry. In this episode, Jodie ta...

Apr 10, 202353 min

Cam F. Awesome: Embracing Adversity with Humor

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast 🎧, Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco sit down with Cam F. Awesome 😎, a former heavyweight boxing champion 🥊 and comedian 🎤 who shares his story of embracing adversity with humor 😂. In this episode, he shares his unique perspective on life and offers insights into how humor can help us cope with tragedy and overcome adversity.In this episode, we explore the power of humor in overcoming adversity with guest Cam F. Awesome 🌟. From his career as a heavy...

Apr 03, 20231 hr 9 min

From Detainment to Domination: The Incredible Story of Surviving 14 Days in Beijing prison

From Detainment to Domination: The Incredible Story of Surviving 14 Days in Beijing prisonIn this episode, we chat with Chancellor Jackson, an author, coach, and entrepreneur who shares his harrowing experience of being arrested and detained in Beijing for 14 days. Join us as we discuss his journey, his book, and how he found the strength to overcome his adversity.In This Episode, You'll Learn:📌 How Chancellor's traumatic experience in China led him to become an author📌 The importance of being...

Mar 27, 202346 min

The Power of Self-discovery, Authenticity, and Parenting a child with Autism - Interview with Sasha Rogers

The Power of Self-discovery, Authenticity, and Parenting a child with Autism - Interview with Sasha RogersIn this insightful interview, we chat with Sasha Rogers, a fitness counselor, coach, and mother of an autistic child, about self-discovery, the power of authenticity, and her experiences parenting a child with autism. Sasha shares her journey of overcoming personal and cultural barriers and the importance of supporting and connecting with others in similar situations.Key Topics:💪 - Sasha's ...

Mar 20, 202356 min

Inside the Magic Mushroom with Special Guest Rev. Gabriel Castillo

Inside the Magic Mushroom with Rev. Gabriel CastilloIntroduction: In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, hosts Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco sit down with Gabriel Castillo, a spiritual teacher and facilitator of plant medicine ceremonies. Gabriel shares his personal journey of healing from childhood trauma through plant medicine and discusses the benefits and risks of using psychedelics for healing purposes.Engaging and enticing verbiage: Gabriel Castillo's journey to healing trauma is in...

Mar 13, 20231 hr 1 min

”Finding Hope in Tragedy” with Audrey Hope

Finding Hope in Tragedy with Audrey HopeIn this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, hosts Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco sit down with Audrey Hope, a healer and addiction specialist with over 20 years of experience. Together, they explore the power of hope in the face of tragedy and the importance of staying true to oneself in the midst of life's challenges. Through personal anecdotes and insights from years of working with addicts and celebrities, Audrey provides listeners with a roadmap for f...

Mar 06, 202358 min

Exploring Mentalism, Martial Arts, and Self-Discovery with Jon Pritchard

"Exploring Mentalism, Martial Arts, and Self-Discovery with Jon Pritchard"On this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, hosts Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco are joined by special guest Jon Pritchard, a professional mentalist, 🥋martial artist, author, and coach. Jon shares his journey of self-discovery and how he has balanced his stage character with who he is. He discusses the importance of utilizing one's authentic self and the idea of seeing people use their personalities to become their best ...

Feb 27, 20231 hr 9 min

”From Raves to Riches: How Jon Grauman Went from Promoting Raves to Selling Luxury Real Estate”

"From Raves to Riches: How Jon Grauman Went from Promoting Raves to Selling Luxury Real Estate"In this episode 🎙️ of the Tragedy Academy podcast 🎧, listeners are treated to an inspiring conversation with Jon Grauman 🎤, a former rave promoter turned real estate mogul. Jon shares his incredible journey to success, which is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and hard work. 🚀Throughout the episode, Jon offers valuable insights and lessons learned from his unique career path �...

Feb 20, 202351 min

Harmonizing Through Hard Times: Alissa Musto Shares Her Story

Introduction:In this episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay and Gary sit down with Alissa Musto to discuss her life experiences and how she has overcome adversity with candor and humor. 💬 A child of musicians, she could read music before words. A Harvard Grad and former Ms. Massachusetts. She opens up about her journey and shares her insights on resilience and perseverance. 💪 As well as her emotional recollection of leaving her friends on the ship during the pandemic and writing the acclaimed son...

Feb 13, 20231 hr 27 min

The Path to Overcoming Tragedy: Lessons from Joe Legolvan

Welcome to The Tragedy Academy, where our guest Joe Legolvan shares his journey of overcoming personal tragedy and transforming his life into a successful real estate investor, entrepreneur, and mindset and life transformation coach.Introduction:In this episode, we have Joe Legolvan, a father, multimillionaire real estate investor with over 100 doors, owner of four businesses, and a mindset and life transformation coach specializing in depression recovery, goal creation, and personal achievement...

Feb 06, 202358 min

Susan Gold ”Wake Up Little Susie” Trauma through a child’s eyes.

Welcome to episode 78 of the Tragedy Academy, where we explore the stories of those who have overcome great struggles and come out on top. This week, Jay sits down with Susan Gold, a woman who has turned her own personal tragedy into a successful career as a producer and talent broker. Susan shares her inspiring journey of using her ability to discern where people are best applied, honed from her own trauma, to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry while offering actionable advic...

Jan 30, 20231 hr 2 min

Anthony Hyland - ”Clout”

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy podcast, host Jay Hicks interviews Anthony Hyland, the focus of the new docu-series "Clout." The series details Hyland's personal struggle to clear his name after false allegations of sexual assault were made against him. The episodes provide a raw and emotional examination of the impact of these false accusations on Hyland's life and the lives of those around him, as well as an exploration of the motivations behind the person who made the false allegations...

Jan 23, 20231 hr 7 min

Detention Episode: Professional Fighter Pearl Gonzalez - ”The Slappening”

In this special nighttime detention episode of the Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay and co-host Gary welcome special guest Pearl Gonzalez, a professional boxer and MMA fighter known for her power in combat sports. Pearl is a rising star in the fighting world, and she's here to talk about her career, aspirations, and life. Oh yeah, and to slap the hell out of Gary for an opportunity to be in Dana White’s new PowerSlap league. Key Discussion Points:🥊 Introducing special guest Pearl Gonzalez, a p...

Jan 17, 20231 hr 13 min

Marina Hernandez - ”Chicana Pride”

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay, Gary, and guest Marina Hernandez have a thought-provoking and insightful conversation about cultural identity and the challenges and celebrations that come with it. Marina, a Chicana business owner and photographer in East Las Vegas shares her experiences of being told she does not belong in certain environments because of her ethnicity and style. Despite these challenges, Marina persevered and embraces her cultural identity, using it as a source of i...

Jan 16, 20231 hr 8 min

Jay - The Origin Story

Join Jay & Gary on the latest episode of The Tragedy Academy podcast as they explore the journey of finding authenticity and starting a successful podcast. In this candid conversation, Jay reflects on his past as a self-centered and narcissistic person and how he has learned to value different things in life. Gary asks Jay about his decision to leave a successful career in corporate America to pursue podcasting, even though he wasn't sure he would be good at it. Jay credits meditation and self-r...

Jan 09, 20231 hr 16 min

Detention - What does a bear do in a locker room for five days?

SummaryOn this week's "Detention" episode, Jay & Gary, our favorite delinquents, have brought up some seriously "heavy-hitting" topics. They were supposed to have Jay as a guest. Instead, things turned unexpected when Gary told a hilarious story about an attempt to put a bear in the UFC locker room courtesy of Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame. But that's not all! They also dive into the exciting new sport of "PowerSlap," a form of slap fighting that has taken the world by storm. With its intense...

Jan 02, 202346 min

Amrit Singh ”Don’t be an @$$hole”

Living the life we want requires walking on a rocky path. But with different tools, religion, and spirituality, we can make it through and attain an enjoyable life.Tune in as Amrit Singh discusses how he reaches his goal of living his pleasant life with yoga and how spirituality can help us be better people.Summary:Sometimes in our lives, we stumbled and struggled to get back up to continue our journey. Discover how we can reach our goal of a prosperous life and the tools we can use to be better...

Dec 26, 202255 min

Ann Hince - Tap Into Your Trauma

Everyone suffers trauma. But it’s how we choose to deal with it. One perspective is to look at your own trauma as stored energy that needs to be released. You cannot get over your emotional pain without allowing yourself to feel it. Listen here as Ann Hince shares her journey of emotional self-awareness and how something called EFT or “tapping” helped her get over her past. Summary:When we, as humans, experience emotional trauma, we tend to “choose” to forget about it. We tell ourselves that hap...

Dec 19, 20221 hr 3 min

Brandon Puffer - ”Extra Innings”

Meeting and exceeding goals requires effort and perseverance. Obstacles and setbacks are unavoidable, and what counts most is the seriousness with which you resolve to overcome such failures. Listen here as Brandon Puffer shares how he recovered after hitting rock bottom and how he reminds others that redemption is possible.Summary:Failure is unavoidable, and the first step toward preventing failure is recognizing that it is normal. When things don’t go as planned, it’s not the end of the world ...

Dec 12, 202254 min

Birgitta Visser - The Fear Response

We are limited from achieving our highest potential by the fears we have developed due to our past experiences. We're not supposed to judge, and we're not supposed to judge our experiences; instead, we should take what we've learned and move on. Tune in as Birgitta Visser discusses how she managed her life from experiencing traumas to taking responsibility for her actions and healing herself.Summary:A seed needs the ground to grow; we, too, must hit the ground to become our most authentic selves...

Dec 05, 202253 min

Dr. Victor Manzo - Decoding the Matrix

We all carry limiting ideas that prevent us from succeeding in the business and life we want. 95% of our lives are under the control of our subconscious mind, which operates on autopilot. By reshaping your perspective, you can transform into a spiritual alchemist who can use all we go through for our highest good. When you do that, you produce stronger vibrations that enable you to draw in more of the life you want, enabling you to achieve success easily. Summary: There is an energy that pulls h...

Nov 28, 202255 min

Sarah Donna - Like a cold Mcdonald’s Sprite

SummaryThis episode is about kicking back and discussing random things as friends do. Our OG guest this week is episode 4 alumni Sarah Donna, five-time Miss Michigan, circus trapeze artist, actress, influencer, model, and grilled cheese connoisseur. With such incredible accomplishments, you could not ask for a more humble and gracious guest, not to mention hilarious. Random Topic 1:Sarah shares her Sunday recipe for a bloody Mary with grilled cheese. Everyone loves a warm grilled cheese and toma...

Nov 21, 20221 hr 3 min

Deborah Driggs - A Healing Path

Everyone, at some point in life, will be brought down to their knees because of pain and suffering, no matter how much they endure it. But it’s not the end; that moment can be the time for your life to change. Tune in as Deborah Driggs discusses how she overcame her addictions and entered the worlds of real estate, investments, and insurance despite being in her 40s, broke, and having three kids to support.Summary:Facing the time when we lose hope and are brought down to the ground is frightenin...

Nov 14, 20221 hr 7 min

Dr Margit Muller - NLP & Falconry

Obtaining a healthy mentality is challenging as people must fight their fears and trauma, dive deep into their minds to be aware of it and slowly begin to process it. Tune in as Dr. Margit Muller discusses how one can release the anxieties and burdens ingrained in their body and then return to a state of peace and serenity. She will also discuss how animals support people in remaining happy despite adversity.Summary:A healthy mental state is complex, significantly if it has been affected since c...

Nov 07, 202254 min

Juni Bucher ”Tata Cancer”

The journey after cancer, or any disease, is one to be reckoned with, and it is not simple and takes time, patience, and strong support from your loved ones. Tune in as Juni Bucher discusses how she managed life during her cancer journey and how she uses therapy to aid individuals, both survivors and those presently facing this disease.Summary:You feel alone when you know you have cancer and are going through one of the most difficult times of your life. Discover how we can be there for folks wh...

Oct 31, 20221 hr 1 min

Ultimate Fighter Kelvin Gastelum

The Techniques, Experiences, and Stories of Kelvin Gastelum as a Professional in Mixed Martial Arts in the UFC.Are you a fighter? Are you interested in martial arts? In today's episode, Gary and Jay welcome a well-known professional mixed martial arts artist, Kelvin Gastelum. Please tune in to The Tragedy Academy Podcast as Kevin Gastelum shares various stories and experiences he has had in mixed martial arts.Summary:Did you know that MMA is all about deception? How do fighters observe their opp...

Oct 17, 20221 hr 2 min

Mike Talerico - Skydiving

SummaryIn this episode, Jay welcomes Mike Talerico to shed light on what it’s like to be a professional skydiver. Mike is a competitive skydiver who’s done over 2,900 jumps throughout his career. Pretty wild, right?Skydiving is often a life-changing experience for the average person… but how has it changed Mike’s life? What drove him to start skydiving in the first place? Listen in to gain insight into life as a pro skydiver, how competitive skydiving works, and the weirdest/riskiest jumps he’s ...

Oct 10, 20221 hr 1 min

Dan Lambert - American Top Team & AEW

Summary:In this episode of the Tragedy Academy, Jay welcomes Dan Lambert, owner of American Top Team, the legendary MMA gym. Dan grew American Top Team from an amateur MMA gym, doing it only for the love of the game, to one of the country's top professional sports gyms. He unknowingly became a pioneer of the sport and will go down in history as one of the firsts.Key Topics Discussed:🤼 [07:34] Getting into wrestling after MMA❎ [12:50] Intersection between MMA and wrestling🎭 [19:47] Wrestling is...

Oct 03, 202253 min