Whit's Grit

Whit’s Grit is a podcast where real people from every walk of life share raw, honest stories of resilience, unbreakable spirit, and the kind of grit that simply refuses to quit. Hosted by Whitney Lavender — a double above-knee amputee, adaptive jiu-jitsu practitioner, Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee 2026, and author of the children’s book Whit and Wheels — each episode explores how ordinary people faced extraordinary obstacles, refused to let them define their future, and rose anyway. From rock bottom to redemption, trauma to triumph, chronic illness to championship — these are powerful conversations about mindset, perseverance, and the belief that everything is overcomeable.Whether you’re struggling, healing, or simply need a reminder of human strength, Whit’s Grit delivers stories that will move you, motivate you, and prove that no matter what you’re going through… your story isn’t over until you say it is. Where Grit Refuses to Quit. N

Whit's Grit is a society podcast hosted by Whitney Lavender, with 11 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Whitney Lavender hosts Whit's Grit, a society show with 11 episodes published.

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  Episode #10

  Whit's Grit Episode 10: An Ordinary Guy Who Chose Extraordinary Things - Jim Logan

  Sep 16, 202649 minS1

  Doctors gave James Logan months. He gave himself a start line. In April 2024, Jim was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer. Thirty months later he is still here: surgeries, chemo, radiation, an ostomy, a book, and a slot at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona on October 10 with Team IMF.On this episode of Whit’s Grit, Jim talks about the life that looked perfect until it wasn’t, the sentence he still lives by — “I have cancer. Cancer does not have me.” — and why he calls cancer both the worst and the best thing that ever happened to him. We get into Just Keep TRI-ING, the DSSP formula (Discipline, Sacrifice, Suffering, Pain), what Kelly and their son have carried, what the public doesn’t see about racing that body, and what still counts as a finish if the clock or the course says otherwise. His mission is simple and enormous: arrive alive, finish under 17 hours, and turn the miles into impact for the IRONMAN Foundation. Book : Just Keep TRI-ING on Amazon Fundraiser: https://ironmanfoundation.donordrive.com/participants/4148 Instagram: @stage42025 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.logan.462536 If this conversation hits, send it to someone who just got news that knocked the floor out. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:22 Welcome / meet James Logan 1:46 Growing up in New Jersey, high school in Germany, building a life in Atlanta 3:27 The snow globe, stage 4, and “cancer does not have me” 6:45 Writing Just Keep TRI-ING and finding faith in the infusion room 12:25 Book profits, the $100K goal, and racing for more 16:43 Team IMF, a 42-year reunion, and the road to Kona 18:13 Training through treatment, surgeries, and an ostomy 32:01 Why IRONMAN leaves room for stories like this 34:26 What Foundation dollars actually do for kids and race towns 41:41 First advice after a diagnosis that changes everything 46:32 What grit means to Jim 47:45 Book, Instagram, donate, and the October 10 start line #WhitsGrit #JustKeepTRIing #IRONMAN #Kona #TeamIMF #AnythingIsPossible

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  Episode #9

  Whit's Grit Episode 9: Royal Resilience with Carla Sanders - Ms. Wheelchair Arizona 2026

  Sep 9, 202657 minS1

  Welcome back to Whit’s Grit — the podcast dedicated to resilience, heart, unbreakable spirit, and the kind of grit that refuses to quit. This episode opens the "Drama Queen Series" with Whitney’s friend and wheel sister Carla Sanders, Ms. Wheelchair Arizona 2026. Carla is a mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, bilingual real estate professional, and fierce disability advocate. In 2018 a car accident left her a T12 incomplete paraplegic. She rebuilt her career, stayed rooted in family, and turned the experience into a platform. As Ms. Wheelchair Arizona she advocates for three things that actually change lives: accessibility, mental health awareness, and economic empowerment for people with disabilities. She says it plainly: the chair is not her limitation — it is part of her leadership. Timestamps: 0:00 — Show intro 0:22 — Welcome and introduction of Carla 1:49 — Little Carla: energy, violin, mariachi, teen mom, education 5:11 — The 2018 accident 14:00 — “I’m going to walk,” the hospital chair, Panama, and acceptance 16:49 — Finding community and the I Am a Warrior run 20:46 — Family help that became disabling, and the weekend she was left alone 26:00 — Mental health, the unpublished journal, relationships, and family court 31:24 — Real estate from a wheelchair: heat, ramps, and ADA new construction 39:43 — Finding Ms. Wheelchair Arizona at the Abilities Expo 44:56 — Platform: accessibility, mental health, and economic empowerment 53:31 — Advice for someone whose world just flipped 55:02 — What GRIT means to Carla 56:16 — Where to follow Carla and how to get involved 57:10 — Close Follow Carla at @Carla_L_Sanders on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Subscribe so you don’t miss the rest of the "Drama Queen Series". Until next time — keep up the good fight.

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  Episode #8

  Whit's Grit Episode 8: One Arm, Zero Limits - Reggie “KingKnub” Amerson’s Story of Adaptation

  Jul 29, 202640 minS1

  In Episode 8 of Whit’s Grit, host Whitney Lavender sits down with Reggie “KingKnub” Amerson — congenital one-armed MMA fighter, former Team USA Para Taekwondo athlete, coach, husband, and dad of (soon-to-be) four. Born with a complication from his umbilical cord that left him with one hand (his “nub”), Reggie shares how he shimmied free in the womb, the childhood bullying that followed, and the pivotal moment his mom told him God knew he only needed one arm. That message, plus supportive brothers and parents, helped him accept himself early. He adapted to football (starting underage with his older brothers and shocking coaches who assumed he’d be the water boy), earned defensive MVP honors, and later found his true passion in martial arts & combat sports after watching Anderson Silva, Rampage Jackson, and Bruce Lee. Reggie walks through discovering MMA in his early 20s while working an IT job he found unfulfilling, training at Fite Nite MMA in Memphis, competing in Para Taekwondo for Team USA (and the valuable sports science resources that came with it), and the unique challenges of finding opponents and fair rules as a one-armed fighter. He opens up about the frustrating Arkansas Athletic Commission experience — last-minute restrictions, forced covering of his nub that altered his grappling and striking, the mental impact that made him feel like the little kid who was once mocked, and why he refuses to fight there again. He contrasts it with smoother experiences elsewhere (like Tennessee) and advocates for consistent rules that treat fighters equally and better prepare amateurs for pro competition. Now focused on a pro debut before the end of October (ahead of baby #4, William, due October 26), Reggie discusses coaching kickboxing and fundamentals at a local Arkansas gym, plans for Fite Rite MMA in Pocahontas, the unwavering support of his wife JC, and the joy of watching his kids (Tobias, Henry, and Lily) grow and cheer him on. He shares powerful advice for kids with limb differences — don’t accept the limits others place on you; your biggest limit is your own mind — and defines grit as the force that lets you not just survive hard moments but come out on top and keep adapting. This is a raw, motivating conversation about self-acceptance, creative problem-solving in life & sports, fighting for equal treatment, representation in the disability community, and the drive to inspire the next generation (including kids like little Dallas). Follow Reggie: Instagram: @kingknubmma Facebook: Reggie Amerson Email for fight inquiries: kingknubmma@gmail.com Gym: Fite Nite MMA (@fitenite_mma) — Fite Rite MMA coming to Arkansas And remember, everything is OVERCOMABLE. Keep up the good fight.

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  Episode #7

  Whit’s Grit Episode 7: Taking Up Space - Lauren Compere on Disability, Advocacy & Faith

  Jul 8, 202653 minS1

  In Episode 7 of Whit’s Grit, host Whitney Lavender sits down with her dear friend and remarkable disability advocate Lauren Compere. A quadriplegic living with a rare genetic condition (one of only about 22 documented cases), Lauren opens up about her lifelong journey from an early cerebral palsy diagnosis through whole genome sequencing, the Undiagnosed Diseases Network, and a recent consultation with leading specialist Dr. Peter Kang at the University of Minnesota. Lauren shares how symptoms and questions intensified in her late twenties and early thirties, the emotional weight of navigating the unknown, and how her deep faith in Jesus has been her anchor through it all. She discusses growing up feeling different, the challenges of school with changing caregivers, her drive to understand people (leading to a B.S. in Psychology from Mississippi College with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a recent Master of Arts in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary), and her transformative experience as Miss Wheelchair Mississippi 2015 and First Runner-up at Miss Wheelchair America. Her platform — connecting families impacted by disability with the church and vital resources — continues to guide her work today as Secretary on the Ms. Wheelchair Mississippi Board. Lauren also reflects on what “grit” truly means to her: moving beyond white-knuckling through hardship to self-awareness, self-compassion, sustainable boundaries, and relying on God’s strength. She offers heartfelt advice for young girls navigating disability and reminds listeners that everyone is worthy of taking up space. Timestamps: [0:22] Welcome & introduction to Lauren Compere [2:05] Lauren explains her rare genetic condition and lifelong diagnostic journey [7:30] Recent trip to Dr. Peter Kang & insights on EMARDD / MEGF10 mutation [10:40] Faith, suffering, grief, and finding hope in the unknown [14:50] Growing up with disability: school experiences, identity, and healing [21:20] Path to psychology & counseling; college life at Mississippi College [24:30] Miss Wheelchair Mississippi 2015, Miss Wheelchair America experience & platform [33:00] Current advocacy work and board involvement [40:00] Advice for a young girl with a disability [45:10] What “grit” really means to Lauren Compere [50:00] How to connect with Lauren & closing encouragement Lauren’s experience includes over 1,000 hours of clinical counseling (410+ direct service hours), roles as Development Director at One Shred of Hope Nonprofit and Vocational Coordinator at Son Valley, plus disability ministry training with Joni and Friends. She continues volunteering and mentoring while actively recruiting personal care assistants. Follow Lauren on Instagram and Facebook @LaurenCompere Visit her website: teamlc.net (for her story and personal care assistant opportunities) Subscribe to Whit’s Grit on YouTube (@whitscomplex) and never miss an episode. New episodes drop every Wednesday. It’s okay to ask “why.” There is always hope — and grit — on the other side.

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  Episode #6

  Whit's Grit Episode 6: ONE MORE DAY – Mandy Horvath on Crawling Kilimanjaro, Healing Trauma & Grit

  Jul 1, 20261h 4mS1

  In this raw, powerful, and often hilarious episode of Whit’s Grit, host Whitney Lavender sits down with fellow bilateral above-knee amputee Mandy Horvath — the first female bilateral amputee to summit Mount Kilimanjaro without prosthetics, 8-time world record holder, TIME100 Sports 2026 honoree, Naked and Afraid star, and subject of the award-winning documentary The Ascent. Mandy opens up about waking up at 21 in the back of an ambulance with no legs after a suspected date-rape drug incident, the brutal year of debridement surgeries and rare bone regrowth, the exhausting reality of prosthetics for bilateral amputees, and how she turned unimaginable trauma into a life of record-breaking climbs, charity work, and radical self-acceptance. From training for Kilimanjaro (she slimmed down to 70 lbs), a terrifying hyena encounter in the Serengeti, preparing for another Naked and Afraid, writing her memoir, barrel racing with her horse Scooby, training her dog Patsy with buttons, and finding real love — this conversation is unfiltered, funny, deeply honest, and full of the kind of grit that refuses to quit. If you’ve ever felt like life dealt you an impossible hand, this episode will remind you that you can always climb out of it — one more day at a time. Timestamps: [00:00] Podcast Intro [00:22] Welcome & Intro to Mandy Horvath [01:38] Early Life: Graduating High School at 16, Vet Tech to Chef [02:34] The Night Everything Changed: Waking Up Legless at 21 [04:15] Hospital Recovery, Reamputation & Rare Osseoregeneration [06:47] The Brutal Reality of Prosthetics for Bilateral Amputees [12:27] Reconciling Trauma, CPTSD & Reliving It Through The Ascent Documentary [14:23] Training for & Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro (First Female Bilateral Amputee Without Prosthetics) [16:52] Africa Adventures: Serengeti Safari & the Wild Hyena Incident [20:31] More Record-Breaking Climbs: Pikes Peak, Cerro Tusa, Space Needle & Beyond [28:24] Turning Personal Challenges Into Charity & Creating Her Own “Sport” [32:31] Writing Her Memoir: The Emotional Toll of Sharing Her Story [38:00] The Daily Reality: Work Ethic, Finances, Insurance Battles & Job Discrimination [44:31] Preparing for Round Two on Naked and Afraid [46:03] Naked and Afraid Experience, the Community & Why She’s Going Back [48:13] Finding Love, Horses, Dog Patsy & Building a Real Life [50:50] Important Advice for New Amputees: Devotee Community, Sex & Online Safety [58:20] What Grit Really Means to Mandy: “Just One More Day” [1:00:35] Closing & Where to Follow Mandy’s Journey Mandy’s story is living proof that your circumstances don’t define your limits — your grit does.If this episode hit you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps us keep bringing these real stories of resilience to the world. Follow Mandy Horvath: Instagram: @mountaingnome0.5 Facebook: Mandy Horvath Website: mandyhorvath.com Watch for updates on the award-winning documentary The Ascent. #WhitsGrit #MandyHorvath #BilateralAmputee #Kilimanjaro #NakedAndAfraid #TheAscent #Resilience #Grit #TIME100Sports #AmputeeStrong #OneMoreDay

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