Ego Was Here

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...

Actress, model, and painter Paz de la Huerta continues her conversation about her time in Hollywood, sharing why she has chosen to keep speaking about the experiences she says shaped her life and career. In this part of the discussion, she reflects on what it has been like to revisit that period over time, the challenges she describes in being understood, and how those moments have continued to af...

Ngozi Onwuchekwa joins Ego Was Here to share the story of a health crisis that changed the direction of her life. What began as the feeling that something was seriously wrong soon became a long and difficult journey through uncertainty, treatment, and recovery. For months, Ngozi sought medical help while doctors struggled to identify the cause of her symptoms. The turning point came during what wa...

British supermodel Sophie Anderton rose to fame in the 1990s almost overnight, becoming one of the most recognizable faces of the era. In this episode of Ego Was Here , she speaks about the reality behind fame, the modeling industry, and the life that unfolded beyond the headlines. Sophie first gained international attention in 1996 as the face of the iconic “Girl in the Grass” campaign for the li...

Actress, model, and painter Paz de la Huerta speaks about Epstein, Weinstein, and the celebrities she says shaped what happened to her behind closed doors in Hollywood. In this episode of Ego Was Here, she names people, reflects on how certain figures are rarely questioned publicly, and shares how speaking out changed her life. Paz talks about her current situation, the strain that followed after...

Actress, model, and painter Paz de la Huerta speaks about Epstein, Weinstein, and why she decided to come forward publicly. She describes abuse she says she experienced in her family and how exploitation by powerful figures shaped her life. In this episode of Ego Was Here , Paz says she was sexually abused by members of her family and grew up under extreme control. She talks about her father’s bac...

What do you do when choosing your own life puts you in danger? Born in Jordan, Dima Ghawi grew up in a culture where women were discouraged from pursuing education or independence. After escaping an arranged marriage, her father believed she brought shame on the family and has sought revenge ever since. For nearly twenty five years, the consequences of that choice have followed her. In this episod...

What if midlife is not a crisis or something to fix, but a powerful point of change? This episode explores what women often face in midlife: shifting roles, changing bodies, and the pressure to keep going even when everything inside says to slow down. Heike Yates shares insights from over 40 years of experience in fitness and coaching, reflecting on how this stage affects identity, confidence, and...

What does leadership feel like when responsibility comes first and there are no perfect answers? In this episode of Ego Was Here, Janice Kovach , Mayor of Clinton, New Jersey, reflects on leadership as lived experience rather than theory. Drawing from years in public service, she talks about what it means to serve an entire community while navigating disagreement, pressure, and accountability. Jan...

What happens when your life doesn’t unfold in the order you expected? In this episode of Ego Was Here , Laura Behnke shares her experience of building a successful career while quietly questioning her timing in life. Laura spent 16 years as a TV sports anchor and reporter, reaching professional milestones many people aspire to. And yet, at 35, she had never been in a relationship and often felt ou...

What if the reason some parts of your life feel hard to change has nothing to do with motivation or effort, but with beliefs that were formed long before you were aware of them? In this episode of Ego Was Here, Karen Leigh , NLP Master Practitioner and hypnotherapist, explores how limiting beliefs take shape early in life and continue to influence how we grow, decide, and move forward as adults. T...

What if the reason you feel stuck in your head, exhausted, and disconnected from your own life isn’t because something is wrong with you, but because overthinking has quietly taken over? Psychotherapist Mary Starks joins to explore why authenticity can feel dangerous, how old patterns and survival strategies keep us locked in our own minds, and what it actually takes to feel like yourself again. F...

What actually happens when you grow up faster than everyone else? In this episode, filmmaker, actor, and producer Elinor Keyes shares what it was really like to start college at 13 through an exceptionally gifted program, and why being academically ahead didn’t make growing up any simpler. She reflects on skipping high school, entering adult environments as a child, and how early achievement quiet...