What happens when your identity is shattered on national television? When strength fails you at the moment you need it most? For Angela Gargano, six-time American Ninja Warrior competitor, Miss Fitness America, and founder of the Pull-Up Revolution, that moment became the catalyst for her most meaningful work.

Angela's path from biochemist to fitness icon wasn't linear or predictable. After college gymnastics, she found herself in a lab coat working on prostate cancer research, yet feeling lost without the structure and purpose sports had given her. That search for identity led her to fitness competitions, where persistence through countless failures eventually earned her the Miss Fitness America title.

But it was her devastating ACL tear on American Ninja Warrior—a moment of public failure when she was at peak strength—that forced her to completely reimagine what resilience looks like. "I was flying through the course. I'm looking at the sidelines, seeing people who are OG Ninja Warriors being like 'who is this girl?'" Angela recalls. "And then I just remember completely blacking out." That rock-bottom moment became the foundation for what she now calls the RIGHT framework for navigating life's most challenging setbacks.

The framework begins with giving yourself permission to feel pain rather than masking it. "Strong leaders and strong women, we mask. We don't want people to see that we're in pain," Angela shares. "But if you keep resisting feeling those things, you're going to get stuck." This vulnerability, combined with identifying what you can control and asking "what if it all goes right?" transformed her recovery and eventually became her message.

Today, Angela's Pull-Up Revolution has helped thousands of women achieve what they once thought impossible, and her keynote speaking brings these lessons to audiences worldwide. Her story isn't just about physical comeback—it's about discovering that our deepest vulnerabilities often become our greatest platforms for impact. As she puts it, "It's so much less about actually making it to that destination... it's so much more about who you're becoming on that journey."

Ready to redefine what's possible in your life or business? Join us at the Warsaw Growth Summit on November 6th where Angela will share her full framework for turning setbacks into comebacks.

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What happens when artistry meets community service in a small Midwestern town? The story of Kira Lace Hawkins and the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts reveals the extraordinary magic that unfolds when creativity takes root.

Kira describes theater as "mental floss" that helps us see the world with fresh eyes—a perfect metaphor for the transformative work happening at this unique theater-in-the-round in Warsaw, Indiana. As the Outreach and Education Director, Kira nurtures both emerging talent and seasoned performers while building bridges throughout the community. From her conservatory classes that welcome everyone from second-graders to adults to professional summer productions that rival Broadway quality, her work epitomizes how the arts can become the heartbeat of a community.

The Wagon Wheel's seemingly modest venue belies its outsized impact. With 836 seats circling performers in an intimate arena, productions require innovative staging solutions—actors crawl through underground tunnels nicknamed "Shawshank" and elaborate sets emerge from beneath the stage floor. But what truly distinguishes this organization is its legacy of launching careers. Alumni have gone on to perform on Broadway stages (including a current Eliza in Hamilton), creating a remarkable artistic pipeline between rural Indiana and the nation's theater capital.

Kira's own journey weaves together unexpected threads. Growing up in a musical Minnesota family (the "Von Laces"), she found her way to Indiana after meeting her husband, whose fourth-generation family farm now operates alongside her theater career. This intersection of sustainable agriculture and performing arts creates a unique perspective on creativity—as her husband says, "the farm has truly become his symphony."

With an exciting season ahead featuring Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, South Pacific, Sister Act, Steel Magnolias, and Grease, now is the perfect time to experience the Wagon Wheel's community-centered magic. Subscribe to their newsletter or visit wagonwheelcenter.org to discover how this nearly 70-year institution continues to prove that the arts aren't just entertainment—they're essential to helping us connect with our shared humanity.

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In this conversation, Jesse Cody shares his journey from a successful athlete to founding Hike the Good Hike, an organization dedicated to promoting mental health through nature. He discusses his personal struggles with mental health, the impact of nature on well-being, and the importance of storytelling in inspiring others. A pivotal moment during his 40th birthday party led him to seek help and commit to change, emphasizing the power of community and love in the healing process. In this conversation, Jesse Cody shares his transformative journey from the restaurant industry to hiking the Appalachian Trail, highlighting the importance of self-discovery, mental health awareness, and the healing power of nature. He discusses the challenges of opening up about his struggles, the impact of childhood trauma, and the significance of taking small steps towards personal growth. Jesse emphasizes the need for community support and encourages others to share their stories as a means of healing.

Keywords:

mental health, hiking, storytelling, Jesse Cody, Hike the Good Hike, nature therapy, personal journey, mental health awareness, self-discovery, resilience, mental health, self-discovery, hiking, Appalachian Trail, personal growth, trauma, inspiration, nature, resilience, storytelling, Appalachian Trail, mental health, hiking, community, personal growth, nature, Hike the Good Hike, documentary, Jesse Cody, transformation

https://www.hikethegoodhike.org/

@hikethegoodhike

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