Survival Mode + Resiliency with Tash Doherty (Part 1)
Manage episode 479562872 series 3526517
"You can make different decisions from now on as you move forward. The most important thing is to not lose your sense of self in all of that."
What happens when your business school education unexpectedly saves your life? For Tash Doherty—writer, author, and creator of Miseducated—a seemingly ordinary morning run in Oaxaca, Mexico transformed into a life-threatening encounter that would test everything she knew about negotiation, personal agency, and survival.
In this powerful conversation, Tash takes us through her remarkable journey from being a 14-year-old aspiring novelist in London to studying at the prestigious Wharton School, where societal expectations temporarily diverted her from her creative dreams. But when faced with a traumatic confrontation in Mexico, it was precisely these business negotiation skills that provided her with the tools to protect herself when it mattered most.
Beyond the harrowing details of her experience, Tash offers a refreshingly nuanced perspective on trauma and healing. She challenges the often-celebrated narrative of "post-traumatic growth" with raw honesty: "Just surviving and carrying on, working on yourself, doing yoga to feel safe in your body again—those are all wins." Her story reminds us that there's no prescribed path for processing difficult experiences; some people become advocates or speakers after trauma, while others focus simply on rebuilding safety in their lives—and both approaches deserve equal respect.
"You can make different decisions from now on as you move forward. The most important thing is to not lose your sense of self in all of that."
Join us for this deeply moving episode that explores the complex reality of surviving trauma, reclaiming creative passion, and finding your way back to yourself—even when the path forward isn't clearly marked.
About Tash Doherty
I'm the author of a spicy, coming-of-age novel, These Perfectly Careless Things, and the Substack, Misseducated, where I'm on a mission to help the world be shamelessly sexy.
[email protected]
https://misseducated.substack.com/
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The co-hosts of this podcast are not medical professionals. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided by the podcast hosts or guests is solely at your own risk.
Pamela Cass is a licensed broker with Kentwood Real Estate
Natalie Davis is a licensed broker with Keller Williams Realty Downtown, LLC
Chapters
1. Content Warning and Introduction (00:00:00)
2. Meet Author Tash Doherty (00:01:12)
3. From Teenage Writer to Business Professional (00:04:26)
4. Life-Threatening Encounter in Oaxaca (00:07:52)
5. Living with PTSD and Triggers (00:17:29)
6. Challenging Post-Traumatic Growth Narratives (00:22:31)
7. Closing Thoughts on Agency and Power (00:28:09)
198 episodes