The best problem I ever had

Growing up in the tribal areas of Pakistan, Maria Toorpakai Wazir aspired to live life on her own terms. With the support of her family, she burned her clothes and began dressing as a boy in pursuit of freedom—and ultimately human rights.

While her journey has been fraught with obstacles, she is now among the top female squash players in the world and advocates for women’s rights through the Maria Toorpakai Foundation. Tune in for her story of perseverance and the power of acceptance.

Bullied for her weight, Cassandra Hili began to believe the number on a scale defined her worth. One day, she found the courage to take control of her life—to make a change. Now, Cassandra is using her experiences—and her strength—to change the narrative around empowerment and self-acceptance.

Tune in to hear Cassandra’s inspiring story of her decades long battle—and a chance moment to emulate her favorite pop star—and how it inspired others struggling with obesity and depression.

As a Peloton instructor, Alex Toussaint makes high-intensity climbs look easy—but his rise to the top wasn’t always a “ride” in the park. The son of hardworking immigrants, Alex was raised to “chase the American dream.” Yet, he struggled in his journey.

“For…somebody who had a mop in their hand ask for a position to teach…and her to be like, ‘you got it’—that’s where ‘every day as an audition to be great’ comes from.”

Tune in to learn the life-altering experiences of Alex’s life.

Susannah Cahalan’s lifelong dream of being a reporter was put on hold after a series of hallucinations and seizures landed her in the hospital. After many misdiagnoses, a—seemingly simple—test revealed a rare autoimmune disease that explained her presumed psychosis.

“The question of where I was on the continuum of recovery was very painful… I didn't know if I'd ever be myself again.”

Tune in to hear Susannah’s relentless race against the clock in our latest episode.

What started out as back pain quickly changed Dana’s life. Before ten-year-old Dana could make it to the hospital, she was paralyzed from the waist down due to an auto-immune disease. Despite her reluctance to accept her “new normal,” Dana attended a tennis camp that opened her eyes to disability sports. Tennis made her stronger than she ever thought possible, making her the confident woman she is today. Tune in to hear US Paralympian Dana Mathewson’s story of turning tragedy into triumph.

When Darius Ballinger was growing up on the south side of Chicago, he believed in himself but lacked the resources to turn his passions into something concrete. Despite immeasurable loss and a system that often limits black men, Darius persevered and is now creating opportunities for youth who have so much to offer. Tune in to hear Darius’ story and how his organization—Chasing23—is supporting and amplifying young black men.

“Benjamin [service dog] spiritually and physically pulled me out of the wheelchair… [now] I don’t have to feel guilty about asking for help.”

In part two of our premier episode, veteran Joe Worley shares the physical and mental struggle of recovery. From learning to live without the use of his leg to the feeling of being a burden, Joe, for the first time in his life, had to learn how to accept help. Little did he know the impact a four-legged friend would have.

Retired US Navy Corpsman Joe Worley was convinced he was dead. Full of heroism, humility and humor, this two-part premier episode shares Joe’s harrowing tale of being wounded in Iraq.

"I remember going up in the air, hitting the ground, and not being able to hear anything. I was completely convinced that I was dead or dying.”

Stay tuned for part two, where Joe’s resilience is again tested. Hear how he struggles with the mental and physical aftermath of war.

Problems. Trials. Tribulations. They can push us to our limits. It’s what we make of them and how we handle them that define us as individuals. In the best problem I ever had, host Deb Golden celebrates people who transformed adversity into advantage. Faced with unimaginable obstacles, Deb’s guests reveal the reservoirs of inner strength that sit inside all of us, guide us through life’s toughest lessons, and define the determination of the human spirit. Listen to the best problem I ever had for inspiring stories of transformation and resilience.