Today we’d like to introduce you to Logan Massengale.
Hi Logan, 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?
The story of Logan Massengale is a wild one. It is filled with Mount Everest like highs but also dark traumatic lows.
I was born in a small town in East Tennessee in October of 1990. My family and I moved to Mount Juliet when I was in middle school where basketball was my main sport. Being 6’4 in the 8th grade and “decently athletic” definitely worked to my advantage, ha. As I entered into high school, we moved to Brentwood, where I transferred to Ravenwood High School. By my sophomore year, I began to really fill into my then 6’7″ frame and switched to football being my sport. I was blessed to excel and went on to play in college at WKU until I sustained a career ending injury going into my freshman season.
It was just a few weeks before our season opener against my favorite team, the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!). I took a hit to the head during practice, resulting in a severe concussion and my C3 and C4 vertebrae herniating, leading to me being paralyzed from the neck down. Over the next 6-8 months, the swelling on my spine went down, and I regained the full use of my body. I then went on to try and play again at Carson Newman University (Talons Up!), but I just wasn’t the same player I once was. So, I retired from the game of football and joined the Army to try and find my new purpose and to serve my country. I was blessed to join the sniper teams and loved my job and some of the guys I served with.
After 5 years, I got out and dove into the Nashville real estate scene where I also dabbled in social media influencing and modeling. But after leaving football and sustaining so many concussions, I was lost inside and didn’t truly know who I was. Mental health was a topic at that time you didn’t talk about, and you were viewed as weak if you admitted you were depressed or drowning inside. So, I buried it by self medicating with partying and living a wild life. But you can only bury your pain for so long until it will overtake you in some way. In 2021, on paper, I was at my peak, I had achieved great success leading to a level of fame, money and was even married. But, I was still battling so much pain inside that none of it mattered.
I hit rock bottom in October of that year and chose to attempt suicide. Miraculously, however, I survived! But, due to making that choice, it led to me battling through worst-case scenarios I never dreamt were even possible.
After surviving my suicide attempt, I made the decision to get sober and dive into therapy to discover who I was and what I could accomplish being sober and healthy. Through this, doctors discovered that I potentially have CTE. I was absolutely terrified hearing this because the world had just seen what it did to Aaron Hernandez and others. But, instead of giving into the fear, I met with these panels of doctors and got aggressive with a treatment strategy. They confirmed that with the experimental treatment plan, continued sobriety and a healthy lifestyle, my chances of living a good life and getting the full function of my brain back (as much as possible) were high.
Progressing into 2024, I decided to move to Knoxville to be closer to my family and rebuild myself. After moving, I dove heavily into the community and got plugged in as much as possible. Which led to me meeting a fellow veteran by the name of Jim Johnson. Jim and I met at a veterans group ran by a great Marine and brother. Jim and I had a good chat and connected on my new social media. But we didn’t see each other or get to speak again until the following year when he reached out on Facebook. He messaged me about a hallmark style Christmas movie he was in that was being filmed in downtown Knoxville. He asked if I wanted to help out and be in a scene. I hesitantly said yes. I show up and do the scene and meet some amazing people. But, the pivotal moment was when Jim pulled me aside after we wrapped up filming the scene that day.
Jim asked me if I had ever considered acting/modeling full time. I laughed and said no way. He then looked at me and said something I’ll never forget. “Logan you are part of the 1% of the world that can make it in this industry and go as big as you want to, and I’ll help you get there if you choose.”
I felt something shift in my core when he said this and I knew I had to step out of my comfort zone and take the risk. I said “I’m all in, let’s do it”.
Flash forward just a few months later. I’m now 4 years sober, a mental health advocate and counselor, a non-profit ambassador, acting/modeling full time resulting in being a part of 16 film projects and signed by an amazing talent agent.
If you take anything away from my story, please take this:
Your life matters.
Who you surround yourself with matters.
Things do eventually get better, and the pain will end and serve a beautiful purpose.
The best is yet to come, everyone!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh definitely not! Overcoming slander, defamation, hate, setback after setback, self doubt, anxiety, betrayal, abandonment, etc. every time I tried to rise from the ashes. I’ve been blessed to have some amazing people in my corner who speak life into me in some of my darkest moments. Through all this I have developed a mentality of ‘if I still have a pulse then I still have a purpose” so I force myself to keep on going no matter how I feel inside. I am living proof that miracles happen and that if you just keep going and don’t give up, eventually you will fulfill your dreams and show everyone who you really are and what you are capable of.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actor and model! I am best known for my big personality and positive vibes. I love to play and laugh but at my core I am also very deep and enjoy sitting down whether over coffee or a good cigar and diving deep into who people are and what they want to do with their lives. I was given a second chance at life when the gun didn’t go off in October of 2021 so I live each day with that in mind and look for opportunities to help and positively impact as many lives as I can.
When it comes to my career, the big thing with me that has enabled my success is my obsession mindset. Acting and modeling isn’t my job. It’s my life. So I spend every moment possible trying to improve and perfect my craft and work to be the best there’s ever been. I typically get between 3-4 hours of sleep a night and spend the time I’m awake applying for roles/ gigs and studying ways to improve in every area. Whether thats my posing, acting techniques, stage presence, mannerisms, etc.
I would say the thing I take most pride in with my career so far, is when I leave a project and my fellow cast, the crew or the directors/producers talk about the positive impact I had while I was there and the level of professionalism I brought to fulfilling the role. I want everyone around me to feel loved and appreciated regardless of their title or job. When it comes to me doing the job itself, I give it all Ive got and leave nothing in the tank. I want to be the best they’ve ever worked with in every way possible.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Scott Wirtley
Rikki Wirtley
Michael Baer
Eddie
Nick Lee
Beth Hughes
Josh Hughes
James Mayberry and family
Gregg Johnson
Julie Sundem
Dr. Peter Camiolo
Family
Keith Kregel
Chris Bryant
Susan Hicks
Siaka Massaquoi
Dellana L.
Matthew A.
Andre Charitat
Bryson W.
Brandon Clark
Sherry RP
Wyman
Janette and Frank Saroka
Matt and Jordon Adams
Riley Rollins
Jamie Covell
Each of these individuals showed up for me in a time when I needed it most. They walked with me through things most can’t begin to imagine. They helped me find myself again and helped me fight the good fight when it counted. I’ll never be able to thank them enough.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/massengale.logan?igsh=N21zbzc4b3BzMDNw&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BEq1dSkTd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
