The Tragedy Academy

What happens when creative power, marketing wisdom, and startup energy collide? In this episode, Jay sits down with Julie Matzen to explore the journey from agency leadership to startup empowerment. With honesty, laughter, and depth, they unpack the emotional architecture of business: the fear of becoming irrelevant, the power of validation, and the truth that failure isn’t a wall—it’s a lens.The conversation moves from the dangers of letting AI write your ad copy to the Gen X struggle of feeling unseen, all the way to the radical idea that access to wisdom should be affordable. Through shared metaphors, unapologetic insights, and unexpected childhood stories, Julie and Jay remind us that the real power in business—and in life—comes not from polish, but from presence."Don't let AI be your art. The paintbrush doesn't get the credit."Bio: Julie Matzen is the co-founder of Boarderline and founder of the MayDay Agency. With over 25 years in branding and digital strategy for top-tier brands, Julie now focuses on democratizing access to expert advisors for startups and mid-sized businesses. Through Boarderline, she's building a platform that empowers emerging entrepreneurs to gain real insights from the minds that helped build the world's biggest brands.📌 Key Takeaways✨ [00:14:00] – "AI can automate, but it can't validate."🧘 [00:20:00] – Insight without experience is dangerous—it’s just expensive noise.🔥 [00:36:00] – Gen X has the tools. It's time to show younger generations how to use them.🤖 [00:03:00] – AI is a mirror, not a muse.💭 [00:48:00] – Validation isn’t weakness. It’s water for the seed.📚 Chapter Timestamps🚢 [00:00] – Shifts and Ships in Business🧠 [05:00] – The Wisdom of Gen X and the Value of Lenses🪞 [10:00] – AI as Mirror, Not Muse🎭 [15:00] – The Fear of Aging Out💬 [21:00] – Validation, Vulnerability, and Starting Over📉 [30:00] – Marketing That Misses the Point🎯 [38:00] – Emotional Triggers and Human Branding📚 [48:00] – The Value of Experience🌀 [55:00] – Final Metaphors and MessagesCTA for the ShowIf this episode resonated, subscribe, review, and share it to help grow the Tree of Knowledge 🌳We explore the human experience through tragedy and triumph—with laughter, candor, and depth.🌟 Be cool and keep learning. 🌟CTA for the GuestLearn more about Julie Matzen at:https://theboarderline.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-matzen-1696aa52Support her mission to make expert advice accessible to small businesses and emerging founders.🚀 Welcome to The Tragedy Academy PodcastDiscover stories of resilience, redemption, and the human spirit.🎧 Podcasting Made Easy: https://bit.ly/3LSCBh5📲 Riverside Recording Studio: https://bit.ly/3ImjNWD👕 Grab Jay’s Gear: https://bit.ly/431MLD5📘 Bookshop Picks: https://bit.ly/42pPHcv✅ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEUXqlregig6vcrvuVNGlKg📱 Follow UsInstagram: https://instagram.com/tragedyacademystudios.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/tragedyacademystudiosTwitter: https://twitter.com/TragedyacademystudiosTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tragedyacademystudios💖 Support UsPayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YMU9L4TBWX6AGBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tragedyacademy

Over time, this show has become more than interviews—it’s become a mirror. In this episode, Jay offers a quiet reflection born from years of sitting with brave, vulnerable humans who were willing to speak their truth.There is no guest today, but their presence is felt in every moment. Each clip and insight shared here was evoked through those conversations, shaped by the energy in the room, the story being told, and the resonance that followed. This is not a solo episode in the truest sense — it’s a continuation of the dialogue, spoken in stillness.“I’ve been told there’s wisdom in these words. If that’s true, it came from you all of you. I’m just the one who said it out loud.”Jay ends the episode with quiet gratitude and the promise of more solo episodes to come, not to lecture, but to reflect. Not to lead, but to honor what’s already been offered.Key Takeaways🕰️ 00:00:00 – The Mask & The Material Patch(Wearing identities to cover wounds)🔄 00:01:33 – The Wheel Breaks(Breaking patterns of self-medication and denial)💭 00:02:22 – Thoughts Are Always Floating(The ever-available archive of pain and memory)🫥 00:05:04 – Gynecomastia & Shared Pain(Shame, embodiment, and early self-hatred)🛡️ 00:07:00 – The Mind’s Shield(How the brain protects us from truth — and connection)💸 00:07:40 – Empathy vs Insurance(The absurdity of treating souls like codes)🪞 00:10:34 – Stained Glass & Knotted Rope(Pain as fragmented art, healing through mindful untying)⚖️ 00:13:06 – Perfectly Imperfect: The Now(Accepting the dark to appreciate the light — and staying present)🧩 00:15:42 – Reverse Tetris & American Avoidance(Justifying suffering to maintain comfort zones)🤖 00:17:27 – AI, Knowledge, and Human Systems(Tech as mirror, not monster — and the threat of withheld care)🌅 00:19:53 – Becoming the Lighthouse(Living as a quiet guide for those still in the storm)🧬 00:22:10 – Authenticity as Legacy(Choosing real over perfect — and passing that on)⏳ 00:26:05 – Time Is Illness: Choose Now(Rejecting fictional timelines and reclaiming immediacy)🔁 00:31:08 – Repetition as a Wake-Up Call(When pain loops, it’s asking to be heard)🥃 00:33:44 – Precipice, Vodka, Meditation, Self(Burnout, stillness, and the early cracks of becoming)🌬️ 00:37:59 – If Just One Echo Finds You(Whispered purpose — helping one is enough)🚀 Welcome to The Tragedy Academy PodcastDiscover stories of resilience, redemption, and the human spirit.🎧 Podcasting Made Easy: https://bit.ly/3LSCBh5📲 Riverside Recording Studio: https://bit.ly/3ImjNWD👕 Grab Jay’s Gear: https://bit.ly/431MLD5📘 Bookshop Picks: https://bit.ly/42pPHcv✅ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEUXqlregig6vcrvuVNGlKg📱 Follow UsInstagram: https://instagram.com/tragedyacademystudios.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/tragedyacademystudiosTwitter: https://twitter.com/TragedyacademystudiosTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tragedyacademystudios💖 Support UsPayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YMU9L4TBWX6AGBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tragedyacademy

Sometimes it's too good to hear once. In this emotionally charged flashback episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay Hicks sits down with Bruce W. Brackett to explore one of the most vulnerable journeys ever shared on the show—from addiction and abuse to art, advocacy, and radical self-love.Bruce opens up about the cycles of trauma, the power of the inner ember that never dies, and how one brutal night at rock bottom led to the symbolic burial of his addiction. Through Bruce’s raw storytelling and Jay’s deeply empathetic reflections, this episode becomes a living meditation on survival, transformation, and what it means to shine anyway.Listeners will walk away reminded that we are not the sum of our damage, but the authors of what we do next.And sometimes, the smallest ember becomes the bonfire.🌀 Chapters:[00:00] Opening & Bruce’s Setup[04:00] Childhood Trauma & Foster Care[10:00] Addiction, Shame & Compassion[20:00] Unraveling the Rope: Metaphors of Healing[31:00] Mausoleum Ceremony: The Day Bruce Quit[41:00] The Rain & Release[50:00] Positivity, Merch, and Building a Platform[55:00] Bruce’s “Three Do’s” & Closing ReflectionsBio: Bruce W. Brackett is a motivational speaker, visual artist, author, and social media advocate whose life journey took him from severe childhood trauma and addiction to sobriety and artistic purpose. His upcoming book, How to Breathe While Suffocating, documents that transformation and serves as a guide for others finding light in their own darkness.📢 CTA for the Show:If Bruce’s journey moved you, share it. Help someone find their light. Subscribe, review, and tell a friend that healing doesn’t always come easily, but it always comes from within.🌟 Be cool and keep learning. 🌟🌐 CTA for Bruce:Follow Bruce at @BruceWBrackett on all platforms.Grab his book How to Breathe While Suffocating at howtobreathewhilesuffocating.comExplore his powerful merch line that speaks healing through design.Support his voice, because it’s helping light the way for thousands still stuck in the flames. 🔥🚀 Welcome to The Tragedy Academy PodcastDiscover stories of resilience, redemption, and the human spirit.🎧 Podcasting Made Easy: https://bit.ly/3LSCBh5📲 Riverside Recording Studio: https://bit.ly/3ImjNWD👕 Grab Jay’s Gear: https://bit.ly/431MLD5📘 Bookshop Picks: https://bit.ly/42pPHcv✅ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEUXqlregig6vcrvuVNGlKg📱 Follow UsInstagram: https://instagram.com/tragedyacademystudios.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/tragedyacademystudiosTwitter: https://twitter.com/TragedyacademystudiosTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tragedyacademystudios💖 Support UsPayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YMU9L4TBWX6AGBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tragedyacademy

In this thought-provoking episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay Hicks welcomes Leo Marrs—spiritual technologist, founder of America’s first breathwork studio, and creator of the AI-integrated mindfulness app, Ether. Their powerful conversation dives into the intersection of consciousness, creativity, and technology.From fasting as a path to mental clarity to breathwork as a tool for healing trauma and building resilience, Leo shares how ancient wisdom and modern tools can reconnect us to ourselves. The episode explores Integral Theory, the risks of spiritual bypassing, and how breath, language, and stillness foster self-awareness. Jay and Leo reframe AI not as a threat, but as a reflection of human consciousness.Whether you're seeking healing, inspiration, or a better understanding of the mind-body-tech connection, this episode invites you to breathe deeper and think broader.🔑 Key Takeaways💡 00:03:34 – “Worry serves zero purpose.”🤖 00:05:31 – AI mirrors our internal state.✍️ 00:11:30 – Language shapes consciousness and culture.🔥 00:18:18 – Fasting is empowerment, not deprivation.💨 00:35:00 – Breathwork regulates the nervous system.🧘 00:39:06 – “The breath always comes back.”🧠 00:46:36 – Meditation is possible even with a dysregulated nervous system.🧽 00:47:11 – Yoga helps release emotional residue.🗣️ 00:48:22 – Authenticity is the foundation of real influence.👤 Guest Bio: Leo Marrs Leo is a founder, philosopher, and consciousness explorer helping people bridge ancient wisdom with modern innovation. From Alaska-born wilderness survivor to nightclub impresario and breathwork pioneer, Leo’s work blends spiritual practice with futurist thinking. He is the creator of the Ether app and author of the upcoming book The New Creator, focused on resilience, creativity, and mindful evolution in the Meaning Economy.📢 Support & Connect💬 Love the episode? Subscribe, rate, and share to help grow the Tree of Knowledge. 🌳 🎧 New episodes weekly exploring the human experience through tragedy and triumph. 🌟 Be cool. Keep learning. 🌟🌐 Dive Deeper into Leo’s World: 🔗 Website: leomarrs.com (two R’s!) 📱 Try Ether (7-day free trial): ethr.one 📚 Follow his newsletter and upcoming book The New Creator🎙️ More from The Tragedy Academy:Podcasting Tools: bit.ly/3LSCBh5Jay’s Gear: bit.ly/431MLD5Bookshop Picks: bit.ly/42pPHcvYouTube: Subscribe📲 Follow Us Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok: @tragedyacademystudios💖 Support the ShowPayPalBuy Me a Coffee

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, Jay speaks with Andrea Wilson Woods, author, patient advocate, and founder of Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. Andrea shares the harrowing, heart-opening story of raising her sister from childhood through a terminal liver cancer diagnosis, and how that experience became the catalyst for lifelong advocacy and education. 🎙️Andrea’s story is not just one of loss — it’s one of legacy. At just 22, she became the legal guardian of her 8-year-old sister Adrienne, raising her through the chaos of addiction and dysfunction. When Adrienne was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer and passed away at 15, Andrea didn’t turn away — she turned purpose into motion. From starting a nonprofit in her sister’s name to translating reams of medical data into life-saving layman’s terms, her story is one of fierce love, resilience, and patient-centered revolution. 💛Jay brings his signature blend of compassion, insight, and lived experience to this raw, honest conversation about family roles, medical burnout, and the importance of agency in the healthcare system. Whether you’re navigating grief, caregiving, or simply trying to understand better how to support those who are — this episode will move you.🔑 Key Takeaways:🧬 [00:03:00] Andrea raised her sister after their mother relinquished custody, while still a college student.💔 [00:09:59] Adrienne’s cancer diagnosis came suddenly, changing both their lives in just six hours.📚 [00:22:52] With no existing resources, Andrea taught herself hepatology by reading medical textbooks and dictionaries.🎗 [00:25:28] Fatty liver disease, not just alcohol, is now one of the leading causes of liver cancer in the U.S.🧠 [00:44:42] Andrea shares how AI is beginning to improve cancer diagnostics — but human advocacy is still critical.👤 Guest Bio:Andrea Wilson Woods is a writer, speaker, and health advocate who founded Blue Faery in honor of her sister Adrienne, who passed away from liver cancer at just 15. Andrea’s memoir, Better Off Bald, chronicles their journey with both tenderness and clarity. A relentless advocate for patient education and healthcare equity, Andrea has become a national voice for those navigating complex diagnoses with limited resources.📣 CTA for Show:If this episode resonates with you, or you know someone who’s faced a diagnosis, caregiving, or losing a loved one, please share it. 🙏 Subscribe to The Tragedy Academy Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, and help us amplify stories that matter. Because truth deserves a mic — and healing deserves a stage.🌀 Be cool. And keep learning. 🌱📣 CTA for Guest:To support Andrea’s work or learn more about liver cancer advocacy, visit bluefaery.org. You can also purchase Better Off Bald on Amazon or Audible.Follow her journey and advocacy through Blue Faery on social platforms, because her voice is changing how we care, one patient at a time. 💙🔚 Conclusion:This week’s episode reminds us that tragedy doesn’t just transform lives — it gives rise to missions. Andrea’s path from sister to caregiver to advocate is a masterclass in finding meaning in heartbreak and building something beautiful in its place.🎧 Tune in next week for another powerful episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast.🌟 Be cool and keep learning. 🌟