What do you do when life backs you into a corner and there seems to be no way out? In this episode of Notable Peeps, Steph sits down with Ty Gipson, entrepreneur, speaker, transplant survivor, and creator of the "No Options Mindset," to talk about overcoming impossible circumstances. After being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at eight years old and later facing kidney failure, three transplants, and countless setbacks, Ty chose hope over despair and learned how small daily choices can carry us through life's hardest seasons. Together, they discuss gratitude, marriage, purpose, organ donation, the power of perspective, and why every day is a bonus day. Whether you're facing health challenges, grief, burnout, or simply feeling stuck, Ty's story is a reminder that your greatest blessings may be waiting on the other side of adversity. Connect With Ty

Website: https://tygipson.com

Instagram: @tygipson1

Email: ty@tygipson.com

What happens when you spend 10 years chasing a dream, reach the biggest moment of your career, and then watch it disappear overnight? After nearly a decade of building Prospect Hill, Mark Roberge and his band seemed to be on the verge of everything they had worked for. They had growing radio momentum, and a record deal backing their next big single. Then, without warning, the support behind the project vanished, leaving the band scrambling to recover from a devastating setback. In this episode, Mark shares what it was like to go from the highest highs to the lowest lows, how he navigated losing the identity he had built around music, and the lessons he learned about resilience, mindset, creativity, and success. His story is a powerful reminder that failure isn't the opposite of success it's often part of the path that leads you there.

Connect with Mark Roberge

Mark's Company -Make Our Music
https://www.makeourmusic.com

Mark's Band - Prospect Hill
https://www.prospecthillmusic.com

Mark's Podcast - The Make Our Music Podcast
https://www.makeourmusic.com/podcast

Mark's Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/mark_bamo

In this short and honest episode, Steph shares her decision to step away from podcasting and social media for 65 days a move that feels both scary and exciting after consistently showing up and pushing toward big milestones like reaching 1,000 episodes. After a challenging start to the year with canceled guests, illness, and being spread across five different shows, she’s choosing to reset and refocus her energy on a bigger goal: creating courses to help women learn how to DIY their podcasts and use ads to grow them. Inspired by the idea that you have to “raise your floor” to reach higher goals, this break is about saying no to certain things so she can go all in on what matters most. Steph shares that she’s already booking guests for her return and will be back on May 31st with renewed creativity and excitement, and in the meantime, encourages listeners to check out her other shows while continuing to put on their shoes, do their best, and believe in the impossible.

What would you do if everything changed in an instant your memory, your health, your future? In this powerful episode of Notable Peeps, Dr. Deitra C. Payne shares how the loss of her father, followed by a sudden hospitalization that left her without speech or memory, completely shifted her perspective on life. Faced with uncertainty, she chose to stop putting off her “big bold dreams” and began a new path of inspiring others to do the same. From academia to entrepreneurship, from grief to gratitude, her story is a reminder that tomorrow isn’t promised and the dreams you’re waiting on might be the very ones you’re meant to chase right now.

Contact Info for Dr. Deitra C. Payne

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-deitra-c-payne

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ignite_fabulous

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/deitra.payne.1

What if the life that looks perfect on the outside is hiding a battle no one can see? Julie Miller shares how a quiet struggle with alcohol led her to a breaking point and ultimately to a 200-mile solo hike through the Colorado wilderness. What she discovered along the way wasn’t just strength, it was the realization that discomfort won’t break you, honesty creates connection, and honoring yourself can completely change your life. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re the only one carrying something heavy, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone and that a different path is possible.

Connect with Julie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/create.a.life.so.full/

Podcast: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cfac2381-ef6c-42a3-94ea-49668f271d59

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline, a rulebook, or a finish line. In this deeply moving episode of Notable Peeps, Jason Tuttle of Atlanta, Georgia, is honest about loss, healing, and learning how to live alongside grief. Jason is the founder of Letters to Zachary, a grief-support platform that began after the loss of his son, Zachary. Through raw storytelling and lived experience, Jason shares how writing became a way to survive the hardest days, why grief is often misunderstood, and how small, intentional steps can help people move forward even when life feels impossible.Learn more and connect with Jason here:
Website: https://letterstozachary.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tuttlepatriarch/

What happens when life forces you to slow down? In this episode of Notable Peeps, Thomas “Tommy” Carchidi shares what life has looked like after being diagnosed with stage four lymphoma cancer. He opens up about the years of unexplained pain that led to his diagnosis, the realities of treatment, and what it truly means to be in remission while still carrying lingering physical and emotional effects. While undergoing treatment, Tommy was already attending law school, continuing his studies alongside hospital stays and recovery, after years working in law enforcement in places like Baltimore, Brooklyn, and Montgomery County. He also reflects on faith, identity, and why he chose to write and self-publish his memoir, A Life in Law Enforcement: A Police Memoir, The Good, The Bad, The Corrupt, as he continues moving forward with discipline, faith, and purpose.Buy Tommy's Book: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52044525.Thomas_Carchidi

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-carchidi-653345331

Email: tcarchidi@hotmail.com

If life is starting to feel a little too predictable, Melissa Rodway is your reminder that you can choose a new challenge on purpose. In this episode, Melissa shares why she signed up for a stand-up comedy class just for fun (and how much work it really takes to earn a laugh), plus what it was like to self-publish her travel memoir built from the weekly emails she wrote during a four-month trip through Southeast Asia. She also talks about why the best part of doing hard things is the people you meet along the way, and what she’s going after in 2026.