THE ED MYLETT SHOW

WWE’s Two-Time Women’s World Champion: Nattie Neidhart on Life, Loss, and Legacy

Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Ed Mylett
Guest: Nattie Neidhart

Overview

In this episode, Ed Mylett welcomes WWE legend Nattie Neidhart, the most tenured female wrestler in WWE history and six-time Guinness World Record holder. The conversation revolves around Nattie’s new book, The Last Heart Beating, and dives deep into themes of family legacy, overcoming dysfunction, self-worth, resilience, and gratitude. Far beyond wrestling, this is a candid, emotional, and inspiring discussion about finding your voice and healing from personal and generational trauma.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wrestling with Legacy and Becoming Your Own Person

• Growing Up Among Giants

  • Nattie shares what it was like growing up in the legendary Hart wrestling family as the first female competitor.
  • She opens up about feeling like "the least likely to survive" in a male-dominated, legacy-heavy environment.

  "For me, growing up in this family, I was the first female to actually compete in the ring. I was probably the least likely to make it, the least likely to survive." (03:20, Nattie)

• Battling the Urge to Play Small

  • Nattie examines the psychological struggle between staying small to fit in versus standing out to find her voice.
  • Her journey becomes a masterclass in confidence and identity.

2. Early Hardships and Finding Security

• Falling on Hard Times
  • After her father lost his job, Nattie’s family faced near-homelessness, relying on her grandfather’s kindness.
  • The wrestling ring outside their window became her symbol of hope and salvation.
  • Early work experience gave her a sense of independence ("I could rescue me").

  "Outside the window...you could see the wrestling ring. It was our North Star, our anchor." (08:00, Nattie)

3. Family Dysfunction and Compassion

• On Her Father’s Struggles

  • Nattie dedicates her book to her dad, describing his brain injury, substance abuse, job instability, and emotional impact.
  • The revelation of her father's injury and its legacy altered her perspective from hurt to compassion.

  "He loved me, but he also hurt me. It wasn't because my dad didn't love me. He was dealing with something so much deeper." (11:17, Nattie)

• The Importance of Compassion

  • Empathy came from seeing her father's struggle and her family's public/private battles.

4. Reframing Trauma and Achieving Success

• Reframing Your Story

  • Ed and Nattie discuss the critical importance of the story you tell yourself about traumatic events.

  "It's not the event, it's the story we tell ourselves about it...You reframed your dad's dysfunction in a way that's more beautiful, that does serve you." (18:52, Ed)

• Imposter Syndrome and “Why Not Me?”

  • Years of self-doubt gave way to embracing her own deservedness of success, spurred on by her husband’s encouragement.

  "Why can’t you do everything that you want to do, Natty? Why not you?" (22:35, Nattie quoting husband TJ)

5. Longevity and People Skills

• Kindness as a Career Strategy
  • Nattie credits her grandfather for teaching her that "Grease goes further than gravel”—meaning kindness paves the way.
  • Empathy and helping others achieve their dreams became her survival and her legacy in WWE.

  "You get so much further in life on grease than gravel." (24:47, Nattie quoting her grandfather Stu Hart)

  • Notable John Cena Story: John Cena reaching out to volunteer at her training facility, The Dungeon, exemplifies humility and gratitude even at the highest levels.

  "I’m so grateful for this opportunity that you're going to let me come to the Dungeon." (28:16, John Cena via Nattie)

6. Resilience, Self-Worth, and Creating Your Own Table

• Building Your Own Table

  • Rather than waiting for permission or opportunity, Nattie emphasizes self-initiative—building tables, not waiting for seats.
  • Her recent character work and book writing were done proactively, even during difficult personal times.

  "You shouldn't be afraid to build your own table, build your own seat at the table. Don't wait for anybody to wake you up and go, 'Hey, here's success.' You gotta chase success." (31:06, Nattie)

• Chasing Dreams Amidst Adversity

  • Nattie candidly discusses continuing to create and achieve while navigating multiple personal crises and family challenges.
  • Example: Wrestling at 'Bloodsport' during WrestleMania weekend, building her own moment.

  "If I'm not going to be on WrestleMania, I'm not going to have a pity party. I'm going to do something else and I'm going to soar with it." (36:17, Nattie)

7. Spirituality and Faith

• Faith in Hard Times
  • TJ’s (her husband) potentially life-altering injury and risky surgery tested and strengthened Nattie’s faith.
  • The role of prayer and recognizing miracles in their resilience as a couple.

  "Our relationship with God was strengthened because of those hard times." (44:00, Nattie)

8. Reflection: What Would Her Younger Self Think?

• Message to Her Younger Self
  • Nattie recognizes the power of gratitude for both the joy and pain of her past, now understanding the necessity of struggle in achieving resilience and success.

  "If I had not gone through that, I would not have the work ethic I have today...You gotta go through the hard times in order to be where I'm at now." (47:30, Nattie)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You get so much further in life on grease than gravel." (24:47, Nattie quoting her grandfather)
• "Why not you? Why can’t you do everything you want to do, Natty?" (22:35, TJ, Nattie’s husband)
• "Outside the window...you could see the wrestling ring. It was our North Star, our anchor." (08:00, Nattie)
• "I loved him. He loved me, but he also hurt me." (11:17, Nattie about her father)
• "You shouldn't be afraid to build your own table... Don’t wait for anyone to hand you anything." (31:06, Nattie)
• "You cannot have stars without darkness." (39:27, Nattie)
• "I'm just a regular person... We’re all just human." (30:43, Nattie)
• "I want people to heal... I want them to read it and feel like, 'Wow, this healed something in me.'" (20:10, Nattie)
• "Part of life is figuring it out." (39:36, Nattie)
• "I'm so grateful for all those experiences because it truly made me stronger." (47:25, Nattie)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – Ed’s introduction and the importance of Nattie’s story beyond wrestling
• 02:49 – Nattie on living in the shadow of a famous family
• 06:39 – Family hardship and the symbolism of the wrestling ring
• 11:05 – Nattie’s father: love, hurt, and compassion
• 19:49 – Achieving excellence: hard work, self-doubt, and “why not me?”
• 24:24 – Empathy, locker room culture, and John Cena story
• 30:43 – Self-worth and building your own table
• 36:00 – Creating opportunities during adversity (Bloodsport anecdote)
• 42:37 – How faith and prayer helped during TJ’s injury
• 46:59 – Reflections for her younger self and the meaning of the journey

Tone & Style

• Conversational, honest, warm, and deeply empathetic
• Nattie oscillates between vulnerability and hard-won wisdom
• Ed is insightful, affirming, and weaves listeners’ perspectives into the discussion

For Listeners

If you’re facing adversity, family dysfunction, or self-doubt—or if you need inspiration on creating your own destiny—this episode is full of actionable wisdom and comfort. Nattie’s journey is proof that legacy does not define you and that grit, empathy, and gratitude carve out greatness.

Find Nattie’s book, The Last Heart Beating, wherever books are sold, and follow her on social media for more inspiration.