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The Tragedy Academy
The Tragedy Academy Podcast is a show that explores the human experience through the lens of tragedy and triumph. Our goal is to help listeners grow and thrive by sharing stories of real people who have experienced adversity and success.
Hosted by Jay Hicks, a veteran, voice artist, music producer, and multimedia artist, 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 think, laugh, and inspire you to be a better person.
The Tragedy Academy Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe now and join us on this journey of humor and enlightenment as we strive to grow the tree of knowledge together.
And remember, be cool and keep learning.
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Recent Episodes
May 27, 2025
The Lens You Didn't Know You Needed
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, an...
May 20, 2025
The Mirror Has an Echo: Reflections shaped in the presence of others.
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 i...
May 13, 2025
Bruce W. Brackett – How to Breathe While Suffocating
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—fro...
May 6, 2025
Creativity, Consciousness & the Breath Between: A Conversation with Leo Marrs
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, Ethe...
April 29, 2025
Better Off Bald: Andrea Wilson Woods on Advocacy, Grief & Healing Through Action
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-openin...
April 22, 2025
“From Wine Culture to Wake-Up Call: Jenn’s Realignment”
🎧 In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, Jay speaks with Jenn Bouler — known on Instagram as “Jenn with two Ns” — about the unseen layers of addiction, the masks we wear to fit in, and what happens when you finally t...
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Recent Blog Posts
April 15, 2025
Tongue Tied Truths: Jason Heffler – Finding Your Voice Through Story,…
Meet Jason Heffler, author, music journalist, and Managing Editor at EDM.com. In this week's episode, "More Than Words: Jason Heffler on Stuttering and Self-Expression," we delve into the layered intersections of stuttering, storytelling, creativity…
Nov. 22, 2024
Bridging Science and Spirituality: My Conversation with Crystal Cassi…
When I think about the divide between science and spirituality, I don’t see conflict—I see a yin-yang. In the same way, the black swirl of the yin carries a dot of white, and the white swirl of the yang carries a dot of black, so science…
Nov. 15, 2024
Transforming Teenage Lives: Building Resilience and Coping Skills for…
Transforming Teenage Lives: Building Resilience and Coping Skills for a Lifetime In this blog post, I want to reflect on my recent conversation with Austin Davis, a leader in teenage behavioral health and addiction recovery, on The Tragedy Academy …
About the Host
Jay Hicks
Host / Creator / Owner
Florida native Jay Hicks is a music producer, podcaster, graphic designer, Voice Over Artist and the owner and creative mind behind The Tragedy Academy Podcast. Jay has held many careers, from digging septic drain fields to being a Financial Services Solution Architect Manager for one of the nation's largest consulting firms. Jay has experience producing and engineering podcasts, voice-overs, promotional videos, and advertisements.
Why?
I lived most of my life imprisoned in my mind, a slave to past experiences and choices and anxiety over the future. Seemingly random memories and worries trapped me: Will I be successful? Am I successful enough? Does she love me? Will people admire me? Do people hate me? Am I the way that I am because someone made me this way? Someone told me I'm no good. Does that mean it is true? I experienced shame over past bad decisions or was overly prideful with no need. The list of mental agonies is endless.
Looking at this box created around my life, I can see that I had succumbed to an onslaught of past and present thoughts. I had forgotten entirely about NOW. I wasn't grateful for today, the moment, family, friends, or existence itself. I will not break down my construct and inner demons, but I want to give some insight and share my thoughts on what I believe is missing from humankind today.
I never learned how to be thankful and present now. I was taught to focus on the perceived problems from my past experiences or my need to prove something to imaginary adversaries. For myself, it has been a journey to this point - not good, not bad, just experiences as they all define who I am today. Without them, I would not see this need to be grateful in my own life. This realization is what drives my work, my creativity, and my mission.