The GRITT of the Matter

Have you ever gone through a season of life where you look back and realize you don’t feel like yourself anymore?In this episode, Hero Haji shares her journey through grief, change, and rebuilding after losing pieces of the life she knew.After losing several of her beloved dogs, including the one who helped her through some of her hardest moments, Hero realized she had slowly slipped into a place where she no longer recognized herself.That realization became the beginning of a new journey.She packed up, started traveling across the country with her dogs, began reconnecting with who she was, and started rebuilding physically, mentally, and emotionally one step at a time.In this conversation:🐾 Losing the companions that helped her through difficult seasons💚 Recognizing when she no longer felt like herself🌎 Leaving a place that no longer felt healthy and starting again💪 Rebuilding strength, confidence, and trust in her body🐺 Traveling with a wolf dog and the lessons learned along the way✨ Learning that sometimes moving forward means finding your way back to yourselfHero’s story is a reminder that starting over doesn’t mean you failed. Sometimes it means you finally listened to what you needed.Connect with Hero:Facebook: Achilles Haji🎙 New episodes every SaturdayAvailable on Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio • Pocket Casts🎵 Music credit: Treaty of Tripoli#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #FindingYourself #HealingJourney #StartingOver #Resilience

Bodies change. Routines change. Energy changes. And after a while, it can quietly make people feel like something about them is “broken".In this solo episode, Denice talks honestly about adapting through physical struggles, burnout, identity shifts, aging, changing expectations, and learning how to stop fighting yourself through every season of life.This conversation is about redefining strength, rebuilding trust with yourself, and understanding that different does not mean broken.#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #BodiesByDezine#MindsetShift #Resilience#RealLifeStrength #PersonalGrowth🎙 The GRITT of the MatterGrace • Resilience • Intentional Living • Trust • Thrive🎵 Music Credit: Treaty of Tripoli If this episode resonates with you, follow on your favorite podcast platform and share it with someone who may need the reminder today.

Sometimes the body whispers before it starts screaming.In this episode, Paul Timmis shares his journey through cardiomyopathy, heart failure, emergency hospitalization, and eventually receiving a pacemaker/defibrillator after his heart function dropped to dangerous levels.What began as swelling, exhaustion, and shortness of breath quickly became a life-changing medical emergency. Paul shares how his weight suddenly increased from 18 stone (252 lbs) to 24 stone (336 lbs) in less than a week due to severe fluid retention caused by heart failure.Throughout this conversation, we talk about:Cardiomyopathy and heart failureRecognizing warning signsLifestyle and health changesRecovery and living with a pacemakerMental shifts after a major diagnosisWhy listening to your body mattersPaul also shares how social media friendships, family support, humor, and mindset helped him continue moving forward through fear and uncertainty.🔗 Connect with PaulClapper: FearTheReaper75TikTok: uk_reaper_1975Facebook: Paul Reeper🎙 Episodes air SaturdaysAvailable on Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio • Pocket Casts#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #HeartFailure #Cardiomyopathy #HeartHealth #HealingJourney #KeepGoing🎵 Music credit: Treaty of Tripoli

Sometimes thriving looks a lot different than we expected it would.In this solo episode, I talk about comparison, slowing down, changing priorities, and learning that thriving does not have to look perfect to be real.This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt behind, overwhelmed, inconsistent, or like their life no longer matches the version they imagined for themselves.We talk about:Comparison and social mediaSlowing down without guiltRedefining successQuiet progress and healingLearning what actually works for your lifeWhy thriving looks different for everyoneIf life has shifted for you lately, this episode is your reminder that different does not mean failing.🎙 Episodes air SaturdaysAvailable on Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio • Pocket Casts🎵 Music credit: Treaty of Tripoli#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #PersonalGrowth #Healing #Resilience #Mindset

Sometimes life changes in a single moment.In this episode, Stephen “Big Tank” Cook shares his journey through military service, multiple heart attacks, a stroke, and surviving a widowmaker heart attack in December 2025.From open-heart surgery and recovery to lifestyle changes, resilience, music, community, and learning to keep moving forward, this conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply human.This episode touches on:Surviving a widowmaker heart attackRecovery after open-heart surgeryHeart health and lifestyle changesMilitary life and resilienceThe power of community and kindnessFinding motivation to keep goingConnect with Big TankClapper: big.tankYouTube: Big Tank TalkFacebook: Stephen J Cook🎙 Episodes air SaturdaysAvailable on Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio • Pocket Casts🎵 Music credit: Treaty of Tripoli#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #HeartHealth #Widowmaker #Resilience #VeteranStories🔗 Connect with Big Tank

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is admit your tank is running low.In this solo episode, I talk about burnout, capacity, slowing down, and learning to stop expecting ourselves to perform at the same level every single day.This conversation is a reminder that strength is not just about pushing harder — sometimes it’s about learning to respect where you are today so you can keep moving forward tomorrow.🎙 Episodes air SaturdaysSpotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon • iHeartRadio🎵 Music credit: Treaty of Tripoli#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #Burnout #Mindset #MentalWellness

Some conversations remind you just how powerful simply showing up can be.In this episode, Tim Lazenby shares his journey through addiction, mental health struggles, and what led him to use his voice to encourage others. From surviving difficult seasons to building real connection online, Tim’s message is simple but powerful… you are not alone.This conversation touches on:Mental health and breaking the stigmaAddiction and recoveryThe impact of small moments of connectionWhy showing up still mattersIf you’ve ever felt like no one understands what you’re going through, this episode will meet you right where you are.🔗 Connect with Tim:Clapper, YouTube, Twitch: NHLPhD🎙 Episodes air SaturdaysSpotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon • iHeartRadio🎵 Music credit: Treaty of Tripoli#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #MentalHealthAwareness #YouAreNotAlone #Resilience

Showing up doesn’t always look strong.Sometimes it looks like slowing down… adjusting… or simply doing what you can with what you have that day.In this episode, we’re redefining what consistency and strength really mean—especially on the days that feel harder than the rest.Because real progress isn’t built on perfect moments… it’s built on the quiet ones.If you’ve ever felt like what you’re doing isn’t enough, this conversation is for you.🎧 Available on: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon • iHeartRadio#TheGRITToftheMatter #BodiesbyDezine #MindsetShift #KeepShowingUp🎵 Music created by Treaty of Tripoli — streaming on Spotify

In this episode of The GRITT of the Matter, I sit down with Dana Truitt — colorful content creator, entrepreneur, and storyteller — to talk about resilience, rebuilding confidence, and learning how to move forward after life takes an unexpected turn.Dana shares her journey after a life-altering accident, navigating anxiety, rebuilding her confidence, and finding purpose through creativity, blogging, and business ownership. From the healing impact of a service dog to the realities of entrepreneurship, this conversation is filled with real, honest moments about what it actually looks like to keep going.We also talk about:• navigating anxiety and loss of control• rebuilding confidence after trauma• the truth about content creation and consistency• overcoming imposter syndrome• managing life changes and health challenges• finding purpose through creativity and self-expressionIf you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward — this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone.📍 Connect with Dana:Instagram, TikTok, Clapper: Dana Stargazer Truitt

There are moments when something just doesn’t feel right — but you can’t quite explain why.In this episode of The GRITT of the Matter, Denice talks about what it really means to trust yourself, especially when life feels confusing and outside voices start to take over.Through real-life reflection and experience, this conversation explores what happens when we stop listening to ourselves — and how to slowly rebuild that trust again.This episode is a reminder that you don’t need all the answers to start paying attention to what you feel.If something feels off, it’s okay to pause, listen, and trust yourself a little more.🎙 Episodes air SaturdaysAvailable on Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon • iHeartRadio#TheGrittOfTheMatter#TrustYourself #BodiesbyDezine #TrustYourself #RealLifeTalk🎵 Music credit: Treaty of Tripoli

In this episode of The GRITT of the Matter, I sit down with Elijah for a powerful conversation about military service, personal growth, health challenges, fatherhood, resilience, and songwriting as a form of healing.Elijah shares his story of growing up in Tennessee after being born in Germany, pursuing his dream of joining the Army, navigating the mental and physical impact of service, and learning how hardship can shape identity, perspective, and strength. He also opens up about fatherhood, choosing integrity, adapting through health changes, and using songwriting to process emotion and connect with others.This episode explores:military service and personal transformationhealing through difficult life experiencesfatherhood and integrityadapting through health challengesresilience in everyday lifesongwriting as emotional release and purposeThis is a conversation about continuing forward, even when life changes the path.Connect with Elijah: Treaty of Tripoli on all social media and you can also check him out on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/3fn5GH54hriMWLUVmsgGcC?si=A6CFMdFmTZarMf_Qhdr9xA#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #PodcastEpisode #MilitaryStory #Resilience #Songwriting

In this solo episode of The GRITT of the Matter, we’re talking about something that many people don’t realize until life forces a shift — what strength really looks like.Strength isn’t always pushing harder, doing more, or never slowing down. Sometimes, it’s adapting. It’s listening. It’s learning how to move differently when your body or life changes.In this episode, we explore:• redefining strength through real-life experiences• how the body changes through injury, stress, or life stages• why slowing down is not failure• the emotional side of adapting• learning to work with your body instead of against itIf you’ve ever felt like you’re not who you used to be, this episode is your reminder — you are not weak, you are evolving.#TheGrittoftheMatter #BodiesByDezine #RedefineStrength #PersonalGrowth #ChronicIllnessSupport🎵 Music created by Treaty of Tripoli — streaming on Spotify

In this episode of The GRITT of the Matter, I welcome entrepreneur, creative mentor, and coach Ianthe Mauro for a real conversation about resilience, reinvention, creativity, and building through life’s hardest seasons.Together, we talk about navigating personal setbacks, creating purpose from pain, trusting your creative wiring, entrepreneurship behind the scenes, and learning how to keep moving forward when life shifts unexpectedly.This episode is a reminder that setbacks do not have to be the end of the story. They can become the opening to something new.Connect with Ianthe Mauro:Instagram and socials: @ianthemauroWebsite: ianthemauro.comGanaden Farms: ganadenfarms.coSkool: Becoming a Candle Brand#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #IantheMauro #EntrepreneurPodcast #Resilience #WomenInBusiness #PersonalGrowth

In this solo episode of The GRITT of the Matter, Denice shares a real moment from her own week — navigating pain, lack of sleep, and the frustration of feeling behind.Rather than pushing through or pretending everything is fine, she reflects on the importance of giving yourself grace when life slows you down.This episode explores:• why resilience sometimes means slowing down• listening to your body during difficult seasons• mindset shifts when things don’t go as planned• why showing up differently is still progressA reminder that healing and strength don’t always move in a straight line.

In Episode 2 of The GRITT of the Matter, Denice explores the quiet reality of feeling alone — even when life appears normal on the outside.Many people navigate struggles that others cannot see: rare disease, invisible illness, emotional exhaustion, grief, and moments of doubt when answers are hard to find.In this episode, Denice shares how dismissal, uncertainty, and isolation can affect our mindset — and how faith, resilience, family support, and intentional strength can help us move forward.This conversation offers perspective for anyone who has ever been told “it’s in your head,” felt misunderstood, or carried something silently while trying to stay strong for others.You’ll hear reflections on:• navigating invisible illness and rare disease• learning to trust your own body and experiences• the difference between resilience and emotional hardening• finding strength through faith, family, and community• practical ways to move forward when answers aren’t clearIf you’re facing something difficult right now, this episode is a reminder that your experience matters and your strength can grow in ways you may not expect.You are not in this alone.#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #InvisibleIllness #RareDiseaseAwareness #Resilience #YouAreNotAloneMusic created to Treaty of Tripoli  — streaming on Spotify

Welcome to the launch of The GRITT of the Matter.In this first episode, Denice shares the real-life experiences that shaped her philosophy of GRITT — Grace, Resilience, Intentional, Trust, and Thrive.This episode honors Rare Disease Day (February 28) and the 300 million people worldwide living with rare disease, including those still searching for diagnosis.But this conversation goes beyond diagnosis.It’s about identity.It’s about strength built differently.It’s about choosing growth in the middle of uncertainty.If you are navigating something in your body or your life that feels limiting, this episode is a reminder:Strength isn’t about being untouched. It’s about choosing who you become in the process.You are not in this alone.Follow the show and share with someone who needs steady encouragement.#TheGRITTOfTheMatter #RareDiseaseDay #RareDiseaseAwareness #Resilience🎵 Original podcast music by Treaty of Tripoli Listen on Spotify: HERE.

This podcast is intended for general education and encouragement and may not be suitable for younger listeners without parental guidance.On Rare Disease Day, the first episode of The GRITT of the Matter begins with honesty.Millions of people live in bodies that don’t always cooperate — navigating physical limitations, uncertainty, and the emotional weight that can come with it.This episode introduces a space for body trust, resilience, and adapting with intention instead of pushing through.Because this is your personal journey — but you do not have to do it alone.#BodyTrust#MoveWithIntention#LivingWithGritt#BodiesByDezine