Misty Diaz has completed more than 200 obstacle and endurance races – but when she was born, doctors never thought she’d walk. Diaz has a severe form of spina bifida, a birth defect that kept her spine from developing properly. By her mid-20s, the pain and exhaustion of 28 surgeries left her depressed and addicted to opioids.

In this episode Misty shares the journey from not being able to look in the mirror, to running over 200 races, to starring in a lipstick campaign with billboards in Time Square, to finally finding self-love and acceptance.

How one small action can save you and change your life.

The coach who changed her life by taking her crutches and telling her, “Life is not always going to be adaptable. You’ve got to figure it out.”

How not once in the 28 surgeries or rounds with depression did a doctor ever say to exercise or go out with friends. They just kept giving her more morphine until she got addicted.

The steps to regain your joy.

How to focus on what you can control and why that makes such a huge difference

The journey from not being able to look in the mirror, to running over 200 races, to starring in a lipstick campaign with billboards in Time Square, to finally finding self-love and acceptance.

The story of how Misty’s drive and relentlessness helped her meet Gary Vaynerchuck and eventually share the stage with him.

Misty’s latest venture to create her own line of crutches.

Links from the Show

Misty on Instagram

ABC News - Athlete living with spina bifida shows nothing holds her back

Misty's Website