They Said Her Body Was Wrong. She Became a Legend. Ballerina Misty Copeland on What Comes Next
The Tamsen ShowShow Notes
Ever been told you're too much, too different, or too late? Misty Copeland heard it all and became a legend anyway. In this episode, she shares how to stop shrinking to fit, how to speak up for yourself even when the room isn't built for you, and what she's learned about perimenopause and a body that changes every day.
Sitting down with Tamsen Fadal on The Tamsen Show, Misty looks back on a career built on proving people wrong. She didn't take her first ballet class until 13, was told she was "too athletic," and still became the first Black woman promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. She tells Tamsen how she rehearsed hard conversations before walking into the director's office, danced Firebird at the Met on six stress fractures, and gave her farewell performance with ABT in October 2025. After a full hip replacement in December 2025, she was performing at the Oscars three months later. And when Tamsen asks about perimenopause, Misty admits she was skeptical "until it hit me."
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to stop shrinking yourself to fit someone else's idea of "right"
- How to speak up when the room isn't built for you, and how to prepare for those hard conversations first
- Why a late start doesn't have to hold you back
- How to find a safe place, and the mentors, who help you grow
- What perimenopause can really feel like, and why not all symptoms look the same
- How to be patient with a body that changes every day
- How to take on something new after a setback, one step at a time: "Let's see what happens"
- How to use your seat at the table to open doors for the women coming after you
If you've ever been made to feel like you don't fit, this conversation will remind you that you get to decide what's next.
If you liked this episode, then you'll like: How This Woman Became a Trailblazing Airline Pilot at 50 After Waiting 15 Years and “It Can't Rain Forever”: Kandi Burruss on Reinvention and What Comes Next
If you want a say on our upcoming guests, fill out this form
Stay connected with Tamsen:
Get Tamsen's newsletter filled with free tools to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone
Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, How To Menopause
Free Resources from Tamsen
Watch all the episodes on YouTube
Follow Tamsen on Instagram
The Tamsen Show on Instagram
Follow Tamsen on TikTok
FOLLOW MISTY COPELAND:
- Follow Misty on Instagram
- Follow Misty on TikTok
- Misty’s website
- The Misty Copeland Foundation
- Follow the Misty Copeland Foundation on Instagram
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- American Ballet Theatre
- The Misty Copeland Foundation’s BE BOLD program
Sponsors:
Learn more about your ad choices, click here
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from The Tamsen Show
Bethany Joy Lenz, star of One Tree Hill and author of the new novel The Betrayal of Cora Wexford, spent years on TV every week while secretly living inside a cult.
Most of us have been taught that when something is not working, the answer is more discipline, more willpower, and more effort. Angela Duckworth, the University of Pennsylvania psychologist and bestselling author of Grit, built her career studying that idea. Her new book, Situated, asks us to look at everything surrounding that effort.
Is walking enough? Is Pilates enough? How heavy should you actually be lifting? If you’ve ever wondered which exercise really protects your brain as you age, especially through perimenopause and menopause, this conversation gives you the exact weekly plan.
Menopause and perimenopause can leave you with questions about belly fat, brain fog, sleep problems and whether hormone therapy could help. Your jeans fit differently. You’re losing your train of thought. You’re exhausted, but you can’t sleep. Where do you start when so much feels unfamiliar?
Why do we keep choosing emotionally unavailable partners? And why is it so hard to break unhealthy relationship patterns, even when we know better? In this episode of The Tamsen Show, dating and relationship expert Sabrina Zohar joins Tamsen Fadal to explain anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, relationship anxiety, and how childhood experiences shape the way we love, date, and connect with others.