Posts tagged mental health
#303 – Living with MS: Personal Stories and Insights for World MS Day
#303 – Living with MS: Personal Stories and Insights for World MS Day

Welcome to Episode 303 of the Spun Today Podcast—your home for honest conversations about writing, creativity, and the journeys that shape us. I’m your host, Tony Ortiz, and today we’re releasing a truly special episode to honor World MS Day.

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with my wife, Zoila Ortiz, to share her powerful story of living with multiple sclerosis. We dive deep into her first symptoms, the uncertainty of diagnosis, and the emotional and physical challenges that come with MS. Zoila walks us through her search for information, the importance—and dangers—of online self-diagnosis, and the strength found in community.

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Tony Ortizmultiple sclerosis, MS awareness, autoimmune disease, writing and creativity, motivation, inspiration, chronic illness, creativity and adversity, podcasting, personal story, diagnosis journey, symptom management, medication trials, creative resilience, health challenges, relationships and illness, energy management, disability, self-advocacy, neurological symptoms, mental health, awareness month, medical support, community support, creative storytelling, living with MS, overcoming obstacles, treatment evolution, accessibility, creative adaptation, perseveranceComment
#293 – Writing Lessons from Off-Broadway: The Other Americans, NYC Mayoral General Election Pick and GOATs Doing GOAT $hit
#293 – Writing Lessons from Off-Broadway: The Other Americans, NYC Mayoral General Election Pick and GOATs Doing GOAT $hit

Welcome to episode 293 of the Spun Today Podcast, hosted by Tony Ortiz—the show where writing is the anchor, but the content knows no bounds. In this episode, Tony dives into the creative heart of John Leguizamo’s latest Off-Broadway ensemble play, "The Other Americans," unpacking the storytelling, set design, and family dynamics that make the work both culturally specific and emotionally universal. Through the lens of writing, he explores how ambition and repressed trauma can become the real antagonists in a story, and shares actionable takeaways for fellow writers inspired to infuse their own work with personal and generational struggles.

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Tony Ortizambition as antagonist, self-sabotage, writing takeaways, John Leguizamo, The Other Americans, Off Broadway play, family dynamics, creative process, set design, cultural identity, Latino family, universal storytelling, mental health, repressed trauma, generational struggle, laundromat metaphor, New York City mayoral election, Zoran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, political debates, character and politics, campaign strategy, education policy, affordable housing, small landlords, homelessness in NYC schools, creative inspiration, podcast support, newsletter, merch, motivational contentComment
#227 – Growing up Dominican
#227 – Growing up Dominican

In this episode I sit down to chop it up with four of my oldest friends.  We share stories about growing up Dominican!  Join us for discussions on having immigrant parents, mental health, raising children, gender roles within our culture, favorite Dominican foods, traditions and much more!

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Tony OrtizDominican, Dominican Republic, Growing Up Dominican, Dominican Stories, Dominican Tradition, Dominican Foods, Dominican Dulce, Dominican American, mental healthComment