The 10 Ninety Podcast

In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason talks with Brad Coleman and Matt Blanchard—two friends and spinal cord injury survivors—about the life-altering moments that put them in wheelchairs and the long road to acceptance. Brad recounts his motorcycle accident and the search-and-rescue effort that saved his life, while Matt shares how a car crash and, years later, a second accident with a drunk driver changed everything. Together, they open up about the realities of paralysis: learning to walk again, losing and regaining hope, navigating relationships, and the daily frustrations and small victories that come with adapting to a new normal. The conversation digs into what actually helps—like humor, community, and showing up for each other—and what doesn't, from toxic positivity to unhelpful comparisons. Brad and Matt discuss pain management, mental health, and the importance of purpose, as well as the challenges of asking for help and redefining masculinity. Honest, unfiltered, and fiercely human, this episode is a testament to resilience, vulnerability, and the power of connection in the face of life's hardest turns.

In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason sits down with the hosts of The Chronically Unbalanced, Sarah Chippendale and Megan "Peg Leg Meg", for a wide-ranging conversation about living with bodies and lives that don't go according to plan. Sarah shares her experience being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 19, how relapses work, what MS actually does to the nervous system, and how treatment, fear, and uncertainty have shaped her adulthood and parenting. Megan opens up about losing her leg in a lawnmower accident just one week after her wedding, the trauma of the injury, the reality of relearning how to walk with a prosthetic, and the anger, grief, and resilience that followed. Together, they discuss the role of dark humour in surviving hard seasons, how identity shifts after medical trauma, what it means to rebuild a sense of purpose, and why life is never about what happens to you—but how you respond when everything falls apart.

In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason talks with Brit Del Toro about losing her infant son, Zeppelin, the ripple effects of that tragedy on her marriage and mental health, and the support and judgment she faced while navigating postpartum depression and grief. Brit also shares the recent loss of her husband, Troy, who struggled with addiction, bipolar disorder, and chronic pain before taking his own life. Together, they discuss the stigma around suicide, parenting through trauma, and the daily effort it takes to stay present for her children while rebuilding a sense of purpose. Brit's honesty offers insight into the realities of grief and the strength it takes to choose hope one day at a time.

In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason sits down with Dawn Simmons and her daughter, Katie Derouen, from Louisiana. Dawn and Katie lost three members of their family—Lindy Rae Simmons (20), Christopher Simmons (17), and Kamryn "Kam" Simmons (15)—in a 2021 head-on collision caused by a wrong-way drunk driver, John Christopher Lundy. Dawn shares what she remembers from the night of the crash, the extent of her injuries, and what it was like waking up in the hospital and learning her children were gone. Katie walks through the unthinkable reality of identifying each of her siblings at different hospitals, navigating chaos, confusion, police reports, and the long hours of not knowing who survived. Together, they talk about grief timelines, survivor guilt, community support, faith, anger, and the complicated "what if" spiral that follows catastrophic loss. They also discuss the differences between a mother's grief and a sibling's grief, how holidays and birthdays have changed, and how losing three children at once creates a grief experience unlike anything they'd ever imagined. Dawn and Katie now speak across the country—at schools, hospitals, recovery programs, and safety trainings—sharing their story to help prevent impaired driving and to honor the legacy of Lindy, Christopher, and Kamryn. Their work through the Simmons 3 Foundation continues to impact thousands of students and families. It's a heartbreaking conversation and a powerful reminder that life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% what you're going to do about it.

In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason talks with Tara Jackson about losing her brother Robert at a young age and how that loss has shaped her life over the past two decades. Tara opens up about the long-term reality of grief, the impact on family relationships, and the constant balance between remembering and moving forward. Mason and co-host Sarah Chippendale join the discussion as they explore cultural differences in how we support one another through pain, the stigma around mental health, and the importance of getting help when life feels overwhelming.