Real Talk with Tina and Ann

Ann Kagarise
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Tina and Ann met as journalists covering a capital murder trial, 15 years ago. Tina has been a tv and radio personality and has three children. Ann has a master's in counseling and has worked in the jail system, was a director of a battered woman's shelter/rape crisis center, worked as an assistant director at a school for children with autism, worked with abused kids and is currently raising her three children who have autism. She also is autistic and was told would not graduate high school, but as you can see, she has accomplished so much more. The duo share their stories of overcoming and interview people who are making it, despite what has happened. This is more than just two moms sharing their lives. This is two women who have overcome some of life's hardest obstacles. Join us every Wednesday as we go through life's journey together. There is purpose in the pain and hope in the journey. 

  1. One of the Greatest Tragedies in Life Is Not Failure. It's Quitting Before We Get to the Other Side.

    6d ago

    One of the Greatest Tragedies in Life Is Not Failure. It's Quitting Before We Get to the Other Side.

    Send us Fan Mail What if the hard isn't a sign to quit? What if the resistance, the setbacks, the waiting, and the closed doors are actually preparing you for the very thing you've been praying for? After reading Adassa's memoir, Love Keeps Showing Up, and hearing her incredible story of perseverance, Ann couldn't stop thinking about one powerful truth: Don't let the hard stop what God started in you. In this solo episode, Ann shares how important it is to not quit before the dream is reached. This short episode is inspired by Adassa's journey to becoming the voice of Dolores in Disney's Encanto, a dream she pursued for more than 20 years. Together, we'll explore why waiting seasons often shape us more than success, why growth rarely feels comfortable, and why one of the greatest tragedies in life isn't failure. It's quitting before we get to the other side. Ann also opens up about her own journey of writing a memoir through chaos, parenting children with autism and FASD, navigating adoption, advocating through systems that said "no," and learning that just because you don't know what to do doesn't mean you can't do it. If you're feeling discouraged, exhausted, stuck, or wondering if your dream is still worth pursuing, this episode is for you. Your breakthrough may be closer than you think. 🎙️ Listen now and take the next step.  Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the part that hit you hardest. Support the show

    25 min
  2. Adassa the Voice of Encanto: What if the Detour is the Path

    Jun 3

    Adassa the Voice of Encanto: What if the Detour is the Path

    Send us Fan Mail Disney magic rarely shows you the part where the dream takes an unplanned detour. Our guest, Adassa, the Golden Globe, Oscar, and Grammy-winning artist who voiced Dolores in Disney’s Encanto, tells the full behind-the-scenes story: the 20-plus years of sacrifice, the moves and setbacks, and the mindset that kept her working like the promise was still real even when life said otherwise.   We talk about what it felt like to watch The Little Mermaid and suddenly see a future, how generational dreams shaped her own drive, and why representation matters when kids are trying to name their gifts. Then the Encanto moment hits with a twist: a YouTube video with roughly 300 views sparks Disney’s interest, her audition lands in spam, and one bold phone call keeps the opportunity alive. If you’ve ever wondered how casting, timing, and preparation really collide, you’ll love this part.   The heart of the conversation is far deeper than fame. Adassa opens up about battling paralysis during COVID, confronting the terrifying loss of her voice and mobility, and relearning a core truth: our value is not our output. We also get into faith and grace, protecting your principles when the industry offers money and visibility, “stepping into purpose” when the future feels like a blind box, and why being willing matters more than being perfect.   Love Keeps Showing Up and her album, Drink It Up are a must. Listen to her music while reading her memoir and be inspired.  Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s in a hard season, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What detour are you trying to make sense of right now? Support the show

    1h 9m
  3. When Systems Fail

    May 27

    When Systems Fail

    Send us Fan Mail A Mother’s Day drive turns into a hit-and-run with a drunk driver, and we walk through the shock of trying to keep our kids calm while the help we expect never arrives. We connect that crash to a separate crisis where mental health funding collapses without warning, and we ask what families are supposed to do when broken systems hold the power. • a rear-end collision that flips a normal day into survival mode • the trauma of being dismissed by 911 and left waiting with injured kids • documenting evidence and pushing a police department to take action • the emotional whiplash of gratitude alongside anger and heartbreak • a mental health safety issue triggered by sudden funding cuts • special needs services and why families keep getting denied support • insurance fights, medication delays, and the cost of healthcare barriers • accountability, advocacy, and staying functional when you are depleted • kindness from strangers and why compassion changes outcomes Feel free to send us your stories Support the show

    58 min
  4. The Strong Still Need Holding

    May 20

    The Strong Still Need Holding

    Send us Fan Mail Love that Stays: A Light That Remains. Not walking through the hardest of times alone. Listen to Tina share how her friend’s calling hours changed her. Listen to Ann share how a stranger at a Neurodivergent Conference reached out to be an external brain. She did not want it, but by the end of the conference, she was thankful. Help may never look how we expect it to. Don’t walk through these hard times alone. Grab on and allow help to change and become what it needs to be in order for you to become. We juggle so much in life, and so many times we are doing it alone. We look fine. We say we are fine, but clearly we are not. We can be strong and still need to be held at the same time. Let’s look into this more on Real Talk with Tina and Ann. Support the show

    53 min
  5. Stop Shrinking Before Growth: it is Ok to be Seen

    May 16

    Stop Shrinking Before Growth: it is Ok to be Seen

    Send us Fan Mail We talk honestly about why success can feel scarier than failure. We name the pattern of shrinking right before growth and remind ourselves that being seen is not selfish.  • struggling with visibility even while hosting a growing podcast  • feeling safest as the sidekick and behind-the-scenes supporter  • linking success with danger and learning that early association  • noticing how people pleasing, masking, and overfunctioning keep us small  • the difference between being needed and being seen  • learning to take up space without apologizing  • using awareness to break the pattern of self-sabotage  • choosing to turn pain into purpose through faith and grit  I would like to hear from you. Support the show

    18 min
  6. Sextortion And Kids: A Calm Parent Response Can Save A Life

    May 13

    Sextortion And Kids: A Calm Parent Response Can Save A Life

    Send us Fan Mail We talk honestly about sextortion, how quickly it escalates, and why shame keeps kids silent when they need support the most. We share practical, step-by-step guidance for parents who want awareness without panic and a home where kids come to us first.  • defining sextortion and how fast the trap closes  • why boys ages 11 to 17 are heavily targeted  • how fake accounts and urgency pull kids in  • why shame spirals make kids hide and delete evidence  • what to do right away: don’t pay, stop contact, preserve everything, report  • how a calm response keeps kids talking and safer  • phrases to say before anything happens so kids tell the truth  • prevention without surveillance: open-ended questions, shared spaces, no secrets  • tech tools and school alerts as support, not a replacement for connection  Share the episode, go to our YouTube channel.  Support the show

    51 min
  7. Finishing A Memoir And Finding Healing

    May 8

    Finishing A Memoir And Finding Healing

    Send us Fan Mail We celebrate a personal milestone as Ann finishes her memoir and turns the writing process into hard-won lessons about trauma, neurodivergence, and self-compassion. We unpack how survival skills can masquerade as personality, and how healing starts when we stop shaming the parts of us that kept us alive.  • finishing a 70,000-plus-word memoir and entering the submission process  • adapting versus surviving and why the difference matters  • hypervigilance, shutdown, over-apologizing, and making yourself smaller  • neurodivergence, masking, and functioning through exhaustion  • using alcohol to take the edge off social anxiety  • replacing “what’s wrong with me” with “what happened to me”  • respecting the younger self and honoring survival without staying trapped  • when childhood protection becomes adult anxiety, isolation, and burnout  • choosing honesty, rest, safety, and connection over perfection  Support the show

    10 min
  8. You don't have to be the Trauma that Raised You: An Interview with Author Lena Fein

    May 6

    You don't have to be the Trauma that Raised You: An Interview with Author Lena Fein

    Send us Fan Mail A spotless house. A raging mother. A silent father. And a child who learns to survive by shutting down her own heart. We’re joined by Lena Fine, author of *Shattering the Mirror: One Woman’s Journey of Healing*, for a raw conversation about childhood emotional abuse, shame, and the kind of “good family” image that can hide deep disconnection.  We talk about what it does to you when the person who should protect you is the one who hurts you, and what it’s like to grow up with constant criticism about your body, your worth, and your voice. Lena walks us through how overachieving can become armor, how an inner critic can keep a parent’s words alive for decades, and why adult relationships can replay old wounds even when you don’t see the pattern yet. If you’ve ever felt numb, alone in a crowded room, or drawn to love that feels familiar but not safe, you’ll hear yourself in this.  Lena also shares what actually helps: therapy that names reality, somatic healing, supportive friendships, and reclaiming joy through dance, singing, music, and art. We explore boundaries that protect your kids and break generational trauma, plus the surprising moment that cracked her world open: looking into her mother’s eyes near the end of her life and sensing something shift.  If this conversation hits home, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find Real Talk With Tina And Ann. Support the show

    1h 11m
See All (184)

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Tina and Ann met as journalists covering a capital murder trial, 15 years ago. Tina has been a tv and radio personality and has three children. Ann has a master's in counseling and has worked in the jail system, was a director of a battered woman's shelter/rape crisis center, worked as an assistant director at a school for children with autism, worked with abused kids and is currently raising her three children who have autism. She also is autistic and was told would not graduate high school, but as you can see, she has accomplished so much more. The duo share their stories of overcoming and interview people who are making it, despite what has happened. This is more than just two moms sharing their lives. This is two women who have overcome some of life's hardest obstacles. Join us every Wednesday as we go through life's journey together. There is purpose in the pain and hope in the journey. 

Information

  • Creator
    Ann Kagarise
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    184
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Real Talk with Tina and Ann
  • Show Website
    Real Talk with Tina and Ann

You Might Also Like