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Last Cut Conversations with Samantha Paige

Ever felt like a stranger in your own life? Artist Samantha Paige, the creator of Last Cut, did for far too long. It wasn't until she began deep, vulnerable self-inquiry and actively listened to the answers that her life began to change. A young adult cancer survivor and BRCA previvor, who suffered from PTSD and debilitating panic attacks, she finally started making the significant decisions, or last cuts, that made her feel as if her life were her own again. With this new way of being, she began to experience more wellness, happiness and freedom than ever before. Last cut conversations is a series of real talk with others about what they believe in most and how they too have created a life that feels like their own. Freedom, as a word and concept, is still very much on the table for so many and the question of what it means to each of us is the theme of Season 2. This season features engaging dialogue with artists, activists, nature lovers, survivors, change makers and other brave and bold human beings, sharing the ways we each create a life that feels like our own (what we move towards and what we let go of in the process) and the (inner/outer) freedom found along the way. Every Monday, Samantha will share a new episode with an inspirational guest, bravely sharing their last cut stories.
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Last Cut Conversations with Samantha Paige
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Now displaying: 2016
S01.5: Stephanie Ramirez: Electing a flat-chest at 23 0
Dec 26, 2016

What’s most true to you? How are you living it?

 "I was struggling so much with my self-identity as a woman, seeing myself in the mirror without makeup and wondering, “I don’t know if I am a woman or not.” So for the podcast that I am doing, when I got the answers about “what makes a woman a woman,” I was told “beautiful,” “strong,” “resilient,” nothing about big boobs and makeup. I had my mind opened to the fact that there is more. I am a woman!” ~Stephanie Ramirez

A few months after my explant surgery, I received a direct message on Instagram from Stephanie Ramirez. She wrote, “I’m 23 years old and I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I underwent a double mastectomy. I’m comfortable with the way I am and did not undergo reconstruction or plastic surgery. Your pictures help me a lot and just thank you so, so much.” I was touched and wanted to meet this young survivor. She finished her chemo in July and soon after we shared a Last Cut Conversation in her home.

Stephanie is such a bright light. Within two minutes in her presence, it was clear why my daughter said, “She is my favorite role model” after seeing one of her photos. Her battle to love herself, inside and out, is a universal one. The way in which she landed in her power through her bout with breast cancer holds lessons for us all. She also reflected back to me that, even in those moments when I think that having my chest photographed and sharing on Last Cut is utterly self-indulgent and unnecessary, I should keep going. I made a difference in someone’s life. We all can. We all do when we show up, open up and connect in whatever way we can.

S01.4: Talila Gafter: Does Truth exist? 0
Dec 19, 2016

What is most true to you? How are you living it?

"One of the greatest liberations, perhaps, is actually recognizing for real what feels right and recognizing that what is negative is probably not right.” ~Talila Gafter, Philosopher, Pianist, Business Woman & Friend

With her background in philosophy, my guest, Talila Gafter, breaks down the fundamental meaning of the words truth and cut while discussing a pivotal last cut moment in her life, the suicide of her father. Talila earned a PhD in philosophy and wrote a dissertation on German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. She shared Nietzsche’s sentiment, “The truth is there is no truth,” and from there, our conversation examined what it is to know one’s truth and how one finds greater freedom through the pursuits of holding up those ideals.. Talila is undoubtedly one of the smartest people I have ever met. She speaks 7 languages and is constantly seeking to study and learn more, be it classical piano or philosophy. She is as kind as she is intelligent. I admire her and always learn from her way of approaching things. This Last Cut Conversation was no different. Talila challenged me to go deeper and even further refine and elevate the dialogue of the project.

Visit http://www.thelastcut.net/last-cut-conversations/2016/8/10/talila-gafter for the full transcript and photos of Talila Gafter’s Last Cut Conversation.

For more about Ellagem, the beautiful jewelry business that Talila runs with her mother, visit their website, ellagem.com, or ellagemny on Instagram.

S01.3: Josette Tkacik: Healing with Dance, not Drugs 0
Dec 9, 2016

What is most true to you? How are you living it?

"Love. Easy. Love. It’s the only thing that is, that we are, that everybody is. Simple.” ~Josette Tkacik, International Zumba Instructor & Inspiration

My guest, Josette Tkacik, shares her story about overcoming debilitating disease in her own way. Diagnosed about five years ago with mobility threatening rheumatoid arthritis, a dancer for life, Josette opted not for a hefty pharmaceutical regime, but her own recipe for healing. Instead of leading Zumba class with a mic from a wheelchair, six days a week, Josette pulls hundreds (yes, hundreds) of people onto her dance floor and leads them through an hour plus of pure joy and complete celebration of life.

What happens in that room is nothing short of magic, but is also purely the result of what Josette has cultivated in her own life. Her story is testimony to the power of love, positivity and knowing what you believe in, and taking action to uphold those beliefs.
 

Visit http://www.thelastcut.net/last-cut-conversations/josette-tkacik for the full transcript and photos of Josette Tkacik’s Last Cut Conversation.

For more about Josette Tkacik’s story and Zumba class offerings, visit her website, josettetkacik.com. She is on Facebook and Instagram as Josette Tkacik.

S01.2: Sasha Markova: Cutting the Old Story 0
Dec 9, 2016

What is most true to you? How are you living it?

“I believe in creativity. Absolutely that is what I believe in and what I believe can fix the world. Creativity can shift consciousness.” ~Sasha Markova, Creative Mind, Advertising Visionary & Author

My guest, Sasha Markova, shares about her most recent last cut, a move from her hometown of London to Los Angeles in order to pursue creative projects in line with her values and global vision. Sasha, a creative genius, author and activist, outlines the reasons behind her transatlantic move and the inner truths that drove her decision. She also brilliantly describes the concepts behind Last Cut in her own words. She is here to do incredible things, and in very Sasha fashion, is able to express it all beautifully.

Visit http://www.thelastcut.net/last-cut-conversations/sasha-markova for the full transcript and photos of Sasha Markova’s Last Cut Conversation.

Sasha Markova has been behind many incredible campaigns with the Mother Advertising Agency, and also writes and designs projects for her own website, iloveboxie.com.

S01.1: What is a Last Cut? 0
Dec 9, 2016

In the introductory Last Cut Conversations episode, Last Cut creator, artist Samantha Paige, tells her personal story and discusses how the Last Cut project was born. Samantha talks vulnerably and candidly about her cancer diagnosis at age 21 and the debilitating effects of unaddressed trauma, anxiety and depression over the following decades.

After years of suffering from PTSD and undergoing additional major surgeries, Samantha finally began to ask herself some powerful questions that led to greater freedom, wellness and peace within and around her body.

Last Cut is a photo-documentary and book project about those big life decisions {last cuts} made to bring us closer to living truth and more freedom. The project was born in January 2016, when Samantha opted to remove silicone implants she had elected 8 years ago when she had a preventive double mastectomy.

Her explant surgery became the metaphor for the many ways in which we are faced with choices that ask us to address big questions within ourselves, commit to our truth and own our scars. Her explant inspired the launch of the

Last Cut project with photographer Lisa Field with the intention to capture these moments of truth and bold ownership of self.  The basis of the Last Cut way of living is asking questions, such as “What is most true to you?” and “How are you living it?” These questions provide the foundation for the Last Cut Conversations.
 
Samantha is currently finishing her memoir, Last Cut, and working with Lisa Field on the Last Cut photo-documentary and Last Cut Conversations, where bold individuals are interviewed and photographed.
 

To read further about the Last Cut project, visit thelastcut.net.  Last Cut is on Instagram (@lastcut) and Facebook (@lastcutproject).

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