Whit's Grit Episode 2: Learning to Pirouette - Kathryn Morgan's Comeback Story

Whit’s Grit Episode 3: Breaking the Cycle - How Chase Mann Went from Courtrooms to the Cage

In this powerful episode of Whit's Grit, Arkansas native and rising MMA fighter Chase Mann shares his raw, unfiltered journey from a childhood defined by parental addiction, constant court dates, and chaos… to becoming a powerlifting champion and professional MMA contender. By age eight, Chase was already in and out of the legal system. Sports became his lifeline—football gave him discipline, structure, and a reason to keep his grades up. But it wasn’t until he became a father at nineteen that everything changed. Holding his daughter for the first time ignited a fierce determination to break the generational cycle and become the man his children could be proud of. Faith, a supportive partner, and an unrelenting drive helped him overcome substance abuse after personal tragedy and redirected his path toward combat sports. Chase opens up about the pull between good and evil, the transformative power of fatherhood, and why he believes sports quite literally saved him from prison. Now focused on his MMA career while raising his family, Chase is proof that resilience, faith, and purpose can turn even the most troubled beginnings into a story of triumph. Tune in to hear how one man is fighting for more—not just in the cage, but for his legacy. Breaking the Cycle. Building a Champion. This is Whit’s Grit.

Whit's Grit Episode 2: Learning to Pirouette - Kathryn Morgan's Comeback Story

From New York City Ballet apprentice at 17 to Soloist by 21,  Kathryn Morgan [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCJ7v_GfFQaVoaPak9_SwR5A] danced iconic roles like Juliet, Aurora, and Sugar Plum Fairy. But a serious chronic illness forced her to step away from the dream she’d worked so hard for. After a powerful comeback and leaving traditional company life behind, she built something even greater: KM & Friends — a joyful, inclusive online ballet community making high-level training accessible to dancers of all ages, sizes, and levels. A true story of resilience, reinvention, and unbreakable grit.

Whit’s Grit Episode 1: From Double Amputee to Purpose – My Story, My Why & Dedications

Welcome to the first episode of Whit’s Grit. In this deeply personal launch, double above-knee amputee, Whitney Lavender shares her unfiltered journey from a busy life to an uncertain one in a split second. She also shares the real reasons she started this podcast, and the heartfelt dedications that motivate & keep her going. If you’ve ever faced life-altering challenges and still chosen resilience, this one’s for you. New episodes drop weekly. Join us as we discover that everything is OVERCOMABLE!