What Bravery Actually Means

Bravery doesn’t mean you aren’t scared. It means believing you can get through what’s in front of you. In this solo episode, Erika shares the work she is doing with TinySuperheroes and what meeting hundreds of children navigating serious medical journeys has taught her about what bravery actually means. She explains how a simple cape and a collection of patches can transform MRIs, chemo, surgeries, and other difficult experiences into superhero missions, giving kids a new language for talking about the things they have been through. She also opens up about the Angel Squad, the families who have changed her perspective on grief and making memories, and one tiny superhero who responded to a potentially embarrassing moment by simply saying, “That’s where I get my superpowers.” It is a story about the power of identity, play, and belonging, and how reminding someone that they are strong and brave can change the story they tell themselves about what they have survived. Follow Erika on Instagram:   / erika_sinner   Check out her website: https://erikasinner.org/ Buy her book, Pets Are Family: https://erikasinner.org/book Check out TinySuperheroes: https://tinysuperheroes.com/ 01:00 – What do you say to a child facing a difficult medical journey? 02:18 – The moment a child becomes a TinySuperhero 05:08 – How Erika first discovered TinySuperheroes 06:07 – Capes, patches, monthly missions, and sidekicks 07:18 – The Angel Squad and the hardest part of the mission 08:18 – Bringing TinySuperheroes into hospitals 10:38 – What Angel Squad families taught Erika about grief and making memories 14:17 – How superhero culture changes difficult conversations 16:56 – “That’s where I get my superpowers” 21:50 – What bravery actually means