We love the wins. The milestones. The Instagram moments.
But here’s what we don’t talk about enough: what it costs to get there.
Behind every big move, every promotion, every “you made it” — there’s a bill. And it’s not just money. It’s sleepless nights. Anxiety. Burnout. Strained relationships. Sometimes, it’s your mental health on the line.
Success is Expensive is an unapologetically honest conversation about the toll ambition takes on our minds, our bodies, and our relationships — and what it really takes to survive it without losing yourself.
Hosted at Anesis, Madison’s hub for culturally specific mental health care, this event brings together:
April Kigeya, social media influencer and author of Couch Confessions
Sagashus Levingston, author of A Pot to Piss In and founder of Infamous Mothers
Moderator Myra McNair, therapist, podcaster and owner of Anesis Therapy
We’re not here to romanticize the grind. We’re here to name it, unpack it, and find a better way forward.
The Experience
Live Readings – April and Sagashus share excerpts from Couch Confessions and A Pot to Piss In (Tight in a Bud, The Orgasm Project trauma lens, Books, Bullets and Babies), highlighting the mental and emotional price tags on success.
Real Conversation – Moderated by Myra, this dialogue gets under the skin of what it means to “make it” while carrying trauma, anxiety, and unrealistic expectations.
Audience Q&A – Your chance to ask live or anonymously.
Closing Ritual – Mindfulness and affirmations to leave grounded, not heavy.
Who This Is For
Leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who’ve felt the pressure to keep it all together while building.
Anyone curious about the unseen emotional costs of success.
People ready for an honest, culturally rooted conversation about ambition and mental health.
Join Us
This isn’t about polishing your brand.
It’s about telling the truth, taking care of your mind, and remembering:
You can have the success — but you shouldn’t have to lose yourself to keep it.