Podcast Summary: Beyond Blind Blaming

Episode: Redefining Dreams From Hearing Loss to Hope with Mandy Harvey

Host: Kevin D St.Clergy
Guest: Mandy Harvey (singer, songwriter, motivational speaker)
Release Date: January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores the theme of separating one’s identity from their dreams, and how to find hope, community, and renewed purpose in the face of massive, life-altering adversity. Mandy Harvey shares her journey as a musician who lost her hearing at 18 and rebuilt both her career and sense of self, ultimately becoming an international inspiration. The conversation focuses on resilience, redefining success, confronting “dream thieves,” self-advocacy, and the practical steps to move forward when it feels impossible.

Key Discussion Points

1. Identity, Dreams, and Loss

• Constructing Identity Around a Dream:
  • Mandy explains how her sense of self was “kind of wrapped up in this idea of, I'm a musician, I want to be a music teacher. ...I wrapped my dream and my identity together, which I think is a very dangerous thing to do.” (00:00, 03:15)
• The Shock of Hearing Loss & Its Impact:
  • Recalls going from “slightly hard of hearing, to profoundly deaf in a very foul swoop.” (06:08)
  • Describes total loss: “I didn't just lose my dream. I lost all sense of purpose, all sense of self, and had to find a way to rebuild myself from the ground up.” (06:20)
• Learning to Separate Dream and Identity:
  • Mandy wishes someone had told her: “You have a lot more value and a lot more worth than just one dream the way that you thought it was going to go.” (06:35)

2. Perseverance, Adaptation, and Hope

• Climbing Out of Despair:
  • Mandy attributes her comeback to stubbornness and learning to “embrace the fluidity of my life.” (00:50, 08:46)
  • Quote: “Falling down all the way down and having to climb back up tiny bits at a time is kind of what I really needed... find beauty in what I have at the moment…” (08:49)
• The Power of Support Networks:
  • “I was surrounded by really amazing people who lent me hope when I didn’t have any. And even though I wasn’t ready to hold on to their hands, they constantly reached out for mine.” (10:57)
• The Importance of Small Victories:
  • “I remember when [breathing on my own] was the only thing I could think of that was a positive for my day. But I held on to the small things and then with time, became really infatuated with how beautiful those small things... actually are.” (09:34)

3. Overcoming Blind Blaming and Dream Thieves

• Misplaced Blame and Self-Compassion:
  • Responding to others who said to “buck up”:
    • “There wasn’t anybody to blame... The only thing I can be mad at is just me. Like, my body detached itself.” (08:46)
• Dealing with Dream Thieves:
  • “If it’s truly important to you… all of the rest of that stuff isn’t going to matter. People can try to steal your dream... but you’re the difference of whether or not you stay on the floor or get back up.” (12:24)
  • Quote: “Send a small thanks to the dream thieves because they’re making you stronger if you let them.” (14:13)
• On Playing It Safe:
  • “Playing it safe is the biggest risk of all.” (14:31)
  • “If it’s worth it to you to put yourself out there in order to accomplish those things, then going slowly, you know, isn’t necessarily the way to go.” (15:14)

4. Mindset, Self-Belief, and Pity Parties

• Challenging Self-Doubt:
  • “I’ve had my share of pity parties… It’s all crap, you know, and it’s not beneficial in my viewpoint.” (16:28)
  • Advocates for recognizing loss but moving on: “Your moment can only last so long before it becomes detrimental to your health.” (17:14)
• The Real Obstacle Is Often Yourself:
  • Reflecting on writing her song “Try”:
    • “As I was thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that it’s me. It’s always me. ...I’m holding myself back. It’s not the dream thieves. It’s not the other people… It’s me.” (28:40)
• Advice for Those Feeling Blocked:
  • “Challenge you to maybe look at what your dream is and boil it down to its core. What about your dream is what inspires you?” (30:46)
  • Encourages building a “rope team” for support:
    • “These people who can celebrate with you as well as cry with you when you fail, and that you can give back to them the same that they’re giving…” (33:12)

5. Belonging, Barriers, and Community

• Feeling Between Worlds:
  • Mandy recounts her initial rejection by segments of both the Deaf and hearing communities:
    • “I was just kind of on an island alone. ...With time, I found that so many people in the deaf community felt like they were on an island by themselves.” (17:54)
  • Emphasizes: “There's no perfect ideal when it comes to having a difference or a disability... we're all having a very individualized experience.” (19:09)
• Navigating Misconceptions and Criticism:
  • Mandy faced claims of “using your disability for pity so that you can make money off of being broken.” She responds:
    • “I have pity parties of the sadness of how my life didn’t work out. But I’ve never looked at myself and said, I’m going to use my brokenness for monetary gain.” (21:06)

6. Creativity, Masterminds, and Self-Investment

• Creativity as Survival:
  • “I truly adore being creative and I think that when I’m not creative, I can feel a difference of my personality.” (38:35)
  • Describes music co-writing as a kind of “music mastermind.”
• Dealing with Criticism & Online Trolls:
  • Mandy on cyberbullying: “This person has brokenness that they are struggling to deal with... They’re hurting and they need to make you hurt or they’re going to try to.” (21:54)

7. Her Song “Try” and What It Represents

• Origin & Inspiration:
  • Inspired by a conversation with blind mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer, who asked, “Why aren’t you writing your own music?” (25:57)
  • Mandy realized, “It’s me. I’m holding myself back because I’m afraid to fail, so I don’t try. ...If I could just get up and get out of my way, I think I could actually do something.” (28:40)
  • Song became her anthem for perseverance; premiered unexpectedly, became pivotal to her rise.

8. Practical Tools and Final Takeaways

• On Building Community and Support:
  • Rope team analogy (from mountaineering): tie yourself to people who can guide, challenge, and uplift you (33:12)
• On Showing Up:
  • Even if afraid or imperfect, “I showed up. Most people just don’t even show up. And I showed up.” (35:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Identity and Dreams:
  • “I wrapped my dream and my identity together, which I think is a very dangerous thing to do.” — Mandy Harvey (00:00, 03:15)
• On Resilience:
  • “Falling down all the way down and having to climb back up… is what I really needed to learn how to truly embrace the fluidity of my life.” — Mandy Harvey (00:50)
• On “Dream Thieves”:
  • “People can try to steal your dream... but you’re the difference of whether or not you stay on the floor or get back up.” — Mandy Harvey (12:24)
  • “Send a small thanks to the dream thieves because they’re making you stronger if you let them.” — Mandy Harvey (14:13)
• On Playing It Safe:
  • “Playing it safe is the biggest risk of all.” — Mandy Harvey (14:31)
• On Pity Parties:
  • “I’ve had my share of pity parties… It’s all crap… and it’s not beneficial.” — Mandy Harvey (16:28)
• On Self-Obstacles:
  • “I came to the conclusion that it’s me. It’s always me… I’m holding myself back... I’m afraid to fail, so I don't try.” — Mandy Harvey (28:40)
• On Showing Up:
  • “If you don’t like it, if I sing the wrong note, if I mess up… It doesn't matter. I showed up. Most people just don’t even show up. And I showed up.” — Mandy Harvey (35:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• (00:00) — Mandy on wrapping identity in a dream
• (03:15) — Early signs of hearing loss and forming her dream
• (06:08) — Losing hearing in college; identity crisis
• (08:46) — Adapting, blind blaming, and being surrounded by hope
• (12:24) — Advice on “dream thieves”
• (14:31) — “Playing it safe is the biggest risk”
• (16:28) — The limits of mourning/pity parties
• (17:54) — Barriers within the Deaf and hearing communities
• (21:54) — Dealing with cyberbullying and projection
• (25:57) — The story behind “Try” and facing fear
• (28:40) — Self-limits as the true barrier
• (30:46) — Advice for those doubting self-worth
• (33:59) — First motivational speaking experience
• (38:35) — Writing, creativity, and self-investment

Tone & Language

The conversation is direct, deeply personal, and reflective, combining honesty with humor and hope. Mandy’s responses are candid, infused with realism and resilience. Both host and guest approach the topic with empathy and a shared intent to encourage listeners to challenge their self-limiting beliefs and take practical steps forward, no matter their setback.

Resources & Contact

• Mandy Harvey
  • Email: mandyharvey.mhemail.com
  • Instagram/Facebook: @mandyharvey / @mandyharveymusic
  • New Album Project Kickstarter (upcoming)
  • Book available—offers to gift a copy to listeners needing support (43:03)
• Host: Kevin D St.Clergy
  • Podcast continues to provide insights on overcoming hidden obstacles and living with purpose

For anyone struggling with setbacks, the episode offers compassionate, actionable wisdom: separate your self-worth from your setbacks, build a strong community, show up even when afraid, and always—try.