”Returning to Innocence” Interview with Ryan Deitsch

After your life becomes tied to a public tragedy, how do you make room for the parts of yourself that existed before it?

Ryan Deitsch joins Jay to talk about surviving the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and organizing with fellow students through March For Our Lives. He reflects on broken trust, the demands of advocacy, and the patience required when change moves slowly.

The conversation also turns toward art, comedy, and the wish to feel ordinary joy again. Ryan discusses moving toward creative work after years in organizing, while he and Jay explore empathy, personal identity, and the moments of beauty that remain available even after something terrible has happened.

What We Explore

• The aftermath of the Parkland school shooting
• Student organizing and March For Our Lives
• Trust, responsibility, and being heard by adults
• The emotional demands of advocacy
• Making room for art, performance, and comedy
• Finding wonder in ordinary experiences
• Being known as a whole person beyond a public story

About Ryan Deitsch

Ryan Deitsch is a survivor of the Parkland school shooting, a human rights organizer, and an advocate for gun violence prevention and youth empowerment. This conversation also explores his interests in screen, stage, and comedy.

This episode includes discussion of a school shooting, loss, and trauma.

The Tragedy Academy

Candid conversations exploring the human experience through tragedy and triumph.

Hosted by Jay Hicks.

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The Tragedy Academy is a show created to bridge societal divides in a judgment-free zone using candor and humor. 

Be cool. Keep Learning.