Life & Work with Tracy Savage of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Savage.

Hi Tracy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m an Atlanta-based author, entrepreneur, and creative behind both The Body Speaks and Just Plain Savage Teez. My journey really started from a place of expression and resilience. For years, I’ve always been the person who used creativity to connect with people — whether through custom apparel, community events, or now through writing and speaking.

My apparel business, Just Plain Savage Teez, began as a creative outlet and grew into a brand centered around bold self-expression, culture, and storytelling. But life shifted when I began experiencing health issues that eventually led to my diagnosis with an acoustic neuroma, a rare brain tumor that caused hearing loss, imbalance, and completely changed the way I viewed my body and my life.

That experience inspired me to write my memoir, The Body Speaks, which is centered around healing, self-awareness, and learning to listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us before life forces us to slow down.

Today, I’ve combined all of those experiences into a platform that blends storytelling, wellness, creativity, and empowerment. Whether I’m designing apparel, speaking at events, or sharing my journey online, my goal is always the same: to inspire people to heal out loud, protect their peace, and know they’re not alone in their journey.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Over the last several years, I’ve experienced a tremendous amount of loss, grief, personal transition, and health challenges — many of which became the foundation for my memoir, The Body Speaks.

My journey has included grieving the loss of loved ones, navigating friendships and relationships that changed over time, and dealing with depression, anxiety, and the emotional weight that comes with constantly pushing through life while silently struggling. Like many people, I became so focused on surviving that I wasn’t fully listening to what my body was trying to tell me.

Eventually, those health struggles led to the discovery of an acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumor that permanently changed my life. As a result, I am now completely deaf in my left ear and have had to adjust to an entirely new normal that includes imbalance, vertigo, difficulty localizing sound, and increased anxiety in crowded environments. Even something as simple as walking through certain spaces or following conversations can feel different now because my world literally sounds different than it once did.

At first, those experiences felt isolating, but over time they pushed me toward purpose. They inspired me to slow down, heal differently, and speak more openly about mental health, grief, wellness, and self-awareness. What once felt like some of my hardest moments eventually became the inspiration behind my writing, my platform, and the work I do today.

I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that healing is rarely linear, but there is strength in continuing to move forward anyway.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an author, creative entrepreneur, and the founder of Just Plain Savage Teez, a brand that began with custom apparel and personalized gifts and has evolved into something much more purpose-driven over time.

I’m the author of The Body Speaks, a memoir centered around healing, self-awareness, grief, resilience, and learning to listen to your body. I also created a companion healing and reflection journal called Pouring Into Myself, which was inspired by my own experiences with journaling and therapy throughout some of the most challenging seasons of my life.

Creatively, I specialize in message-driven apparel, merchandise, and branded experiences that encourage healing, empowerment, peace, and self-expression. While Just Plain Savage Teez originally became known for custom sports apparel, personalized gifts, and spirit wear — inspired largely by being a sports mom and creating for my community — my work has evolved into creating pieces and experiences that tell a deeper story and connect emotionally with people.

Today, much of my creative work is centered around themes of healing, wellness, peace, resilience, and authenticity. Whether it’s through a book, a journal, apparel, or a speaking engagement, I love creating things that make people feel seen, encouraged, and inspired.

I think what sets me apart is that everything I create comes from a real place. My businesses, my writing, and my creative work are all deeply connected to my personal journey. Nothing is manufactured just for trends — it’s rooted in lived experience, growth, and purpose. I’m most proud of being able to turn some of my hardest life experiences into something that now helps and encourages other people.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I honestly wouldn’t say there was one specific podcast, app, or formula that got me through my journey. For me, healing looked a lot more personal and intentional. Therapy, journaling, prayer, meditation, daily devotion, and having a strong support system played some of the biggest roles in helping me navigate some of the hardest seasons of my life.

One book that really resonated with me during the process of writing The Body Speaks was Set Boundaries, Find Peace. At the time, I was already deep into therapy and personal reflection, and that book helped reinforce the importance of protecting my peace, setting healthy boundaries, and reclaiming myself emotionally and mentally.

During my diagnosis, surgery, and recovery journey with an acoustic neuroma, I also started a vlog series called “The Tea About Me and My Acoustic Neuroma.” Creating that space allowed me to openly share what I was experiencing in real time — the fear, uncertainty, recovery process, hearing loss, and emotional challenges that came along with it. What surprised me most was the outpouring of support and connection that came from people following the journey, including people I had never met before.

I also found community through support groups made up of people navigating similar brain tumor experiences. In some ways, those spaces were both comforting and overwhelming because they exposed me to both hopeful and difficult realities, but they reminded me that I wasn’t alone.

More than anything, I think all of those experiences taught me the importance of slowing down, listening to myself, and prioritizing mental and emotional wellness. My hope now is that through my book, my platform, and my creative work, I can create that same sense of encouragement and connection for other people who may be navigating challenges of their own.

Pricing:

• $19.99 The Body Speaks – Memoir
• $12.99 – Pouring into myself – Journal
• Select apparel, merchandise, and custom creative project pricing varies by project and design needs

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @_TheBodySpeaks