Not Your Average GOAT

In this interview, Emmy Award-winner Dan Watt joins Teisha for an exciting and heartfelt conversation about his journey from dancer to director, producer, and documentary filmmaker–and all the pivots and setbacks in between. We begin by exploring Dan’s love for performance, recalling childhood memories of putting on neighborhood shows, learning ballroom dance in his parents’ basement, and having h...

From his roots in the Longsdale housing projects of Knoxville, TN to obtaining his Ph. D and championing educational equity, Dr. Bryan Samuel's journey is a testament to the transformative power of perseverance.  Bryan and I dive into his childhood and the experiences he had growing up in poverty, his health challenges including prone-belly syndrome,  an incarcerated father, and the numerous r...

“I lost my sight, but I gained vision.” This week, I sat down with Lonnie Bedwell to explore his extraordinary journey from military veteran to motivational speaker–with a life-changing accident sandwiched in between. We dive into Lonnie’s free-spirited childhood and experiences as a Navy Petty Officer; recount the tragic hunting accident that led to his sudden loss of sight in 1997, an experience...

This week, Teisha sits down with Elle Billing, a chronically ill artist and former educator, to illuminate all the invisible disabilities and health conditions through a witty and gritty conversation. We dive into Elle’s childhood, including her experiences with hyperlexia, anxiety, and vivid nightmares; highlight the medical misogyny she faced over the years, recount her experiences with Alice in...

Megan Devito is not just a former educator and host of the More Than Anxiety podcast; she’s a badass woman whose overcome hypervigilance and is now empowering others to become the master of their own minds. In this episode, Megan opens up about her lifelong struggle with anxiety, which started when she was just eight years old. She shares how this challenge shaped her decisions and kept her close...

In this intimate conversation, Teisha sits down with Kaesevyn, a multi-talented rapper, songwriter, and producer, to dive into his extraordinary musical journey. Kaesevyn candidly shares the challenges he faced growing up, the loss of loved ones, and the battles with depression and addiction that shaped his artistry; Opens up about his father’s passing and how it ignited his passion for music, tra...

In part two of this episode, Tricia opens up about the joys and challenges of raising her son, Robert, who manages multiple conditions and disabilities, including dyslexia, tourrettes, bipolar disorder and more; shares the emotional rollercoaster of his medical journey, from misdiagnoses to breakthroughs; and discusses how his experiences have shaped their family. Then, we dive into Tricia’s own e...

Tricia Waechter is not just the CEO of a fashion design company, she is also a woman of many passions and unwavering resilience. In part one of this episode, Teisha explores  the boundless creative that was young Tricia, from her early days crafting plays for her five siblings to the unique adventures she experienced moving all over the mid-west; dive into the tragic turn when she lost her beloved...

In this compelling episode, Teisha sits down with Cait West, author of the powerful new memoir, Rift, which details her experiences growing up among religious trauma and Christian patriarchy. We dive into her childhood, including the impact of intentional isolation, frequent relocations and a homeschooling lifestyle; her authoritarian upbringing and the stringent rules that guided her every move;...

The season three line-up of stories feature a slew of incredible personal journeys showcasing resilience, inspiration and stigma fighting at their best. Check out this preview and get ready to tune into the full episodes this June.

Our season three stories showcase a wide range of personal adversities. Check out this preview and get ready to tune in to the full episodes this summer.

We're gearing up for an exciting season 3, but we still have so many incredible stories from last season to celebrate! Check out 8 of Teisha's favorite moments from season 2, and if you haven't already, be sure to tune into the full episodes. Please consider supporting us by subscribing to the show, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and becoming a patron on Patreon by visiting https:...

In the second half of this conversation, we explore the challenges couples face trying to merge "baggage," including what it's like learning to fight and the stigma that still encases couple's therapy, and dive into the accident that left Wallace with a spinal cord injury (SCI) at 19 as well as that helped him discover an undiagnosed learning disability and veer him away from a d...

Melanie and Wallace Earle are making an incredible splash with their initiative  T6Talk , but they’re making even more incredible waives with their vulnerable straight talk about everything from sexuality to mental health, and fearlessly challenging stigma and dispelling myths. In part 1 of this episode, we dive into childhoods, including Melanie’s journey figuring out what it meant to be feminine...

In the second half of this conversation, Leeann opens up about her 10-year journey managing postpartum depression, including her struggle with suicidal thoughts, the impact the pandemic had on her mental health, and the myths and misconceptions that exist around mothers experiencing postpartum depression. Then, we dive into her healing journey and explore what motivated her to take the first step,...

A genuine empath by nature, it’s no wonder that once  Leeann Romig  found her own glimmer of hope, she immediately sought to become that glimmer for others. In part 1 of this conversation, Leeann opens up about her life-long struggle with weight, including bullying attention she received from other children as a result of her early on-set puberty and inherited metabolic disorder; talks about the d...

We’re back with part 2 of Chad’s incredible story. If you haven’t listened to the first half yet, head over to  part 1. In the second half of this conversation, Chad and I dive into the deep depression that sent him into a suicidal state, explore his healing journey, and talk about how he made it to positively “going all in on his disability”; discuss the challenges he faced trying to obtain his f...

Once naive to the true impact of his incurable, regressive disability, Chad Bouton would end up facing a turbulent storm of self-hatred before eventually finding calm and unwavering pride in himself. In part 1 of this conversation, Chad and I talk about what it was like growing up in a military family, the impact legacy medical technology had on his  misdiagnoses, and the devastating day his mothe...

Since she was a child, Shilpi Kapoor has always been an independent spirit that has defied conformity and taking paths of least resistance. This plus her equally altruistic spirit and drive for universal accessibility, has led her to break barriers of incredible impact. In this conversation, Shilpi talks about what it was like growing up in Mumbai in the 1980's, her struggles with school, and...

In spite of an unpromising upbringing, three divorces and a bankruptcy, Lisa Curtin’s journey proves that not only is there always a story behind the story, but that reinventing your story along the way is never impossible. In this conversation, Lisa opens up about her childhood, including the role her Lithuanian roots played, a house-wifery grooming, and growing up amongst alcoholism and a lack o...

Emmanual (Manny) Perez learned early on that zagging vs zigging was the only way to defy the incredible environmental, cultural and neurotypical odds placed against him in order to manifest a journey of happiness and success. In this conversation, Manny and I talk about what it was like growing up in New York in an intensely dangerous neighborhood, watching his older brothers get sucked into crime...

“Who doesn’t care about human rights? We’re all human, right?” – Katrina Dale, MSW This week I sit down with Katrina, a strong Black woman on a mission to positively impact humankind, while continuously working to intentionally grow her awareness and approach to managing autism. In this conversation, Katrina and I dive into what it was like growing up in Michigan, including the militant structure...

“it’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to just do nothing about it, because that’s when you’re going to get yourself into trouble.” – Zach Tidwell In part two of this conversation, Zach and I dive head-first into the traumatic day he attempted to commit suicide; explore what it was like learning about, and adjusting to, his permanent blindness and partial deafness and the unorthodox rehab pr...

Zach Tidwell is many incredible things–from a former Marines machine gunner to an extreme sports athlete to now a published game developer–but not least incredible is his drive, resilience and ability to embrace being uncomfortable head on. In part one of this conversation, Zach and I explore what it was like growing up as a nomadic military brat, the impact of having a younger sister with Down sy...

Season two officially launches on Aug. 7, and we can't wait for you to experience all the incredible stories we have lined up! This year is especially special because not only do we explore critical topics around suicide, mental health, the "Black Experience," and trauma, but the representation of people living with both visible and invisible disabilities and the advocates who suppor...