Ego Was Here

What does a lifetime of climbing mountains teach you about resilience, courage and navigating the unexpected turns of life? Dianette Wells is an elite mountaineer, endurance athlete, author, mother and grandmother who has climbed the Seven Summits, including Mount Everest, and competed in extreme endurance races around the world. In this episode of Ego Was Here, Dianette shares how a difficult chi...

What does more than three decades as an actor teach you about fame, creativity, and what really matters? Jason London is an actor, musician and artist best known for playing Randall “Pink” Floyd in Dazed and Confused. His film career began with The Man in the Moon alongside Reese Witherspoon, followed by roles in The Rage: Carrie 2, Out Cold, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and Ja...

What happens when one moment completely changes what you believe about life and who you are? David Ditchfield is an artist, composer and author whose life took an extraordinary turn after a serious train accident and an experience he says took him beyond his physical body. Before the accident, David had always wanted a creative life but believed it was beyond his reach. Then everything changed. In...

He walked 15,636 kilometers (around 9,700 miles) across 21 countries in 568 days, hoping to inspire greater unity along the way. But when he finally returned home, the journey was far from over. Australian adventurer, author and speaker Sam Clear soon discovered that returning to ordinary life was harder than he expected. In this episode of Ego Was Here, Sam shares why he had to forgive the same p...

What does it take to walk 15,636 kilometers around the world in the hope of bringing people together? Sam Clear is an Australian adventurer, author and speaker who walked 15,636 kilometers (around 9,700 miles) across 21 countries in 568 days, hoping to inspire greater unity along the way. But the journey turned out very differently from what he expected. In this episode of Ego Was Here, Sam shares...

She arrived in Los Angeles chasing a dream and, within 24 hours, found herself trapped in a life she never imagined. Kate Ouimette-Wedell is a survivor, author, speaker, trauma-informed advocate, and founder of CherishedLA, an organization supporting women affected by exploitation and trafficking. Kate had come to Los Angeles hoping to build a career in music. Within a day of arriving, the person...

What happens when you finally speak about what you’ve kept hidden for years? Darlene Lekowski is the author of Shattering Silence: A Story of Survival, Justice, and the Power of Telling the Truth. A survivor and advocate, she has spoken publicly about the sexual abuse she experienced when she was young and the lasting effect it had on her life. In this episode of Ego Was Here, Darlene reflects on...

What happens when the career you dreamed about as a child turns out to be far more complicated than you imagined? In this episode of Ego Was Here, actor, writer, director, producer, and musician Steven Martini reflects on a life shaped by creativity, rejection, self-discovery, family, and the need to tell stories. Known to many as Alex Stone in Major Payne , Steven talks about entering Hollywood a...

What happens when someone finally speaks about the side of the fashion industry most people never see? Chris Ingram is a former international model, business strategist, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach. He spent 12 years building a successful modeling career before speaking publicly about the sexual abuse he experienced during his career. In this episode of Ego Was Here, Chris reflects on what happe...

What does the fashion industry look like through the eyes of a male model? Chris Ingram is a former international model, business strategist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach. During his 12-year modeling career, he travelled the world and built an international career in the fashion industry. Years later, he spoke publicly about the sexual abuse he experienced during that time and why many male surviv...

Why do so many of us feel like we are not enough? In this episode of Ego Was Here, Johnny Crowder , musician, public speaker, and founder of Cope Notes, reflects on the moments that shaped the way he understood himself. What he learned challenged beliefs he had carried for years and changed the way he viewed achievement, self-worth, and the possibility of change. Johnny shares why lasting change r...

What happens when the identity you have spent your life protecting no longer fits the person you are becoming? In this episode of *Ego Was Here*, Mandy Concepcion , Reiki practitioner, energy healer, and wellness guide, shares the experience that transformed the way she understands strength, purpose, and healing. After one of the most challenging periods of her life, Mandy found herself questionin...

What happens when you spend your entire life believing you have to earn love? In this episode of Ego Was Here, Jessica Long , one of the most decorated Paralympians in history, shares the deeply personal story behind her extraordinary journey. Born in Russia, placed in an orphanage, and adopted by an American family, Jessica grew up navigating disability, identity, belonging, and self-worth. From...

What happens when the pain you tried to escape becomes the reason you finally change? In this episode of Ego Was Here, actor, author, and storyteller Milton Schorr shares a deeply honest conversation about resilience, identity, and the lifelong process of rebuilding yourself from the inside out. Known for his work in film and television, as well as his memoir “Addict”, Milton reflects on how early...

What if the stories you've believed about yourself your entire life are no longer true? In this episode of Ego Was Here , bestselling author and memoirist Lidia Yuknavitch reflects on a life shaped by adversity, resilience, and the transformative power of storytelling. Known for her acclaimed memoir The Chronology of Water , Lidia explores how memory, identity, grief, creativity, and personal rein...

Actor William McNamara built a successful Hollywood acting career, working alongside major actors and becoming part of an industry many people dream of joining. In this conversation, he reflects on the experiences that shaped him both on and off the screen. William discusses the real-life inspiration behind *The Trouble with Billy*, the series based on his own experiences, and the challenge of tur...

William McNamara lived the Hollywood life: major films, famous co-stars, and the kind of career most actors dream about. In this episode of Ego Was Here , William reflects on his journey through Hollywood, working with Jodie Foster in Stealing Home , and the experiences that reshaped his idea of success. He shares how animal rescue became a turning point in his life, leading him away from the worl...

What if rejection is not the end of the dream, but the test that proves you want it? In this episode of *Ego Was Here*, voice artist, performer, educator, and SOVAS co-founder Joan Baker shares a deeply personal conversation about rejection, healing, performance, and the strength it takes to keep going. Joan reflects on growing up as the only biracial child in her environment, the loneliness and s...

What happens after your first acting role is in an Oscar-nominated film? In this episode of Ego Was Here, actress Charlotte Stoiber opens up about acting, rejection, identity, mental health, and the reality of building an acting career. Charlotte reflects on growing up between Boston, Munich, and Vienna, discovering acting as a child, and being cast in Downfall, one of Germany’s most acclaimed fil...

What happens when a 90s pop star looks back at the story the spotlight never showed? In this episode of Ego Was Here, British pop star and author Anthony Kavanagh , known to many as Kavana , joins the podcast for an honest conversation about fame, identity, creativity, recovery, and the story behind his memoir Pop Scars . Anthony reflects on growing up in Manchester, his love of music, and the cha...

Why does Blood In Blood Out still mean so much to audiences more than 30 years later? In this episode of Ego Was Here, actor Victor Rivas Rivers returns for a deeper conversation about the making and lasting legacy of the cult classic film Blood In Blood Out. Best known to many fans as Magic Mike, Victor shares behind-the-scenes stories from filming inside San Quentin, reflects on creating one of...

Why are the most recognizable voices in the world almost invisible? In this episode of Ego Was Here , Emmy-winning television producer and director Rudy Gaskins reflects on the idea behind SOVAS (the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences), the organization he co-founded with his wife and business partner Joan Baker. Starting behind the scenes in television, Rudy worked on major projects including Emm...

What happens when you try to protect your mother and she turns against you? In this episode of Ego Was Here, singer-songwriter Tara Beier shares the moments that shaped her relationship with her family. As a teenager, she stepped in during a confrontation at home to protect her mother. Years later, she stood in front of a room full of strangers and spoke about what happened, and it changed how her...

What does working in film actually look like, and how far is it from the dream people imagine? In this episode of Ego Was Here, filmmaker Brandon Slagle shares a grounded perspective on building a career across independent productions and larger studio-backed films, including The Black Dahlia Haunting, The Flood, and Battle for Saipan. His path into filmmaking was not linear. He started in music,...

What happens when a child grows up in a home where survival becomes part of everyday life? Actor Victor Rivas Rivers , known for his iconic role as Magic Mike in Blood In Blood Out and for The Mask of Zorro, shares how he broke a cycle that could have defined his life. In this episode of Ego Was Here, Victor, actor, author, and advocate, opens up about a story that goes far beyond Hollywood. Many...