Speaking Broadly

“I Didn’t Want to Explode”: Zahra Tangorra

Episode Summary

“I don’t want to feel myself explode.” After a bus carrying her and a rap group went off a cliff and crashed 40 feet below, that was Zahra Tangorra’s first thought. Now, thirteen years later, this horrible accident feels “like an opportunity.” Tangorra used her settlement to fund a career change from visual merchandiser in retail to first-time restaurant owner in Brooklyn. Her place, Brucie, was a huge success and got global attention with special events like a wacky Kimye Valentine’s Day themed dinner. After five years, exhausted by the soul-crushing routine, she eventually closed the restaurant and felt not only that she had failed herself, but worse—that she’d failed all women by not being a young, female, chef-owner role model. Listen in to hear how Tangorra recovered her sense of purpose, pivoted her career (again) and launched “Life’s A Banquet," a witty podcast with Bretton Scott on Heritage Radio Network, adding a new title to her impressive list of achievements: radio host.

Episode Notes

“I don’t want to feel myself explode.” After a bus carrying her and a rap group went off a cliff and crashed 40 feet below, that was Zahra Tangorra’s first thought. Now, thirteen years later, this horrible accident feels “like an opportunity.” Tangorra used her settlement to fund a career change from visual merchandiser in retail to first-time restaurant owner in Brooklyn. Her place, Brucie, was a huge success and got global attention with special events like a wacky Kimye Valentine’s Day themed dinner. After five years, exhausted by the soul-crushing routine, she eventually closed the restaurant and felt not only that she had failed herself, but worse—that she’d failed all women by not being a young, female, chef-owner role model. Listen in to hear how Tangorra recovered her sense of purpose, pivoted her career (again) and launched “Life’s A Banquet," a witty podcast with Bretton Scott on Heritage Radio Network, adding a new title to her impressive list of achievements: radio host.

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