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A Father's Journey to Empower Youth Through Purpose and Community with Bivian "Sonny" Lee III | #TheLastZebraPod

Published on: 18th November, 2025

In this powerful episode of The Last Zebra Podcast, Bivian “Sonny” Lee III, Founder & CEO of Son of a Saint, sits down with Dr. Ugo Ezema to share how losing his father at age three shaped his purpose and inspired him to help fatherless boys in New Orleans find guidance, family, and belonging.

What started as a simple mission, to mentor boys growing up without dads, has become one of the city’s most transformative youth programs. For nearly 15 years, Son of a Saint has changed hundreds of lives through mentorship, therapy, education, and unconditional support.


In this heartfelt conversation, Sonny opens up about grief, resilience, fatherhood, and what it means to turn pain into purpose. His story is a testament to how healing one life can ripple through generations.


This is The Last Zebra - real stories, real people, and the courage it takes to care.


💬 Comment ZEBRA if you believe mentorship changes lives. 🦓


🎙️ Listen to the FULL, unfiltered conversation with Bivian “Sonny” Lee III on The Last Zebra Podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS?si=_94N98AiTYGFD02EgHXZtA

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112

Captivate: https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/


▶️ SUBSCRIBE for more stories that challenge the conventions of medicine, leadership, and humanity.


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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores the human stories that connect medicine, mentorship, and meaning — uncovering the extraordinary side of ordinary people who are changing the world through compassion, courage, and purpose.


#TheLastZebra, #TheLastZebraPodcast, #DrUgoEzema, #UgoEzemaMD, #BivianLee, #SonOfASaint, #YouthMentorship, #Fatherhood, #Resilience, #NewOrleans, #CommunityLeadership, #Empathy, #HealingThroughService, #BlackExcellence, #PodcastClips, #Inspiration, #Humanity, #PurposeDriven, #Leadership, #NonprofitImpact, #MenWhoMentor, #SocialImpact, #Storytelling, #BeTheZebra

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About the Podcast

The Last Zebra
Nuanced conversations about different walks of life and those who live them
“The Last Zebra” draws its essence from the timeless medical adage:

“When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.”

Coined by Dr. Theodore Woodward in the 1940s, this maxim reminds us to prioritize common diagnoses over rare and improbable ones.

In a medical world often defined by seeking the most likely causes, “The Last Zebra” podcast takes a different approach. Here we are looking for the common in all of us.

The common focuses on the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. We hope to showcase the stories of these individuals, highlighting how they infuse their backgrounds, beliefs, and characteristics into their medical practice. By doing so, they add an artistic and personal touch that goes beyond the clinical norms and transforms their work into a deeply profound and meaningful endeavor.

Through these stories, “The Last Zebra” aims to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine— "heavy on the ordinary".

The stories that deviate from dogma and delve into the exceptional. It seeks to capture the essence of these medical professionals’ journeys, shedding light on their challenges, triumphs, and the remarkable ways they shape the landscape of healthcare.

In each episode, we delve into the non-clinical nuances that define the day-to-day lives of medical professionals from diverse backgrounds and specialties. This podcast will start and go beyond the clinical, shedding light on the intricate artistry, mosaicism, and diversity in medicine.

We explore how every guest crafts their unique personality and characteristics into the very fabric of their practice.

These stories not only celebrate individuality but also embody the soul of healthcare.

In a world where uniformity is prioritized, “The Last Zebra” podcast honors the rare and unique elements that medical professionals bring to their work. Together, we’ll discover how these exceptional individuals are shaping the future of healthcare, one personalized interaction at a time.

So, come along as we embrace the zebras — the extraordinary stories that make medicine a true art.
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Ugo Ezema