We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lady Madelyn Patterson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lady Madelyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

GoneMad Productions emerged from my darkest moments as a beacon of hope and purpose. When domestic violence trauma resulted in my trach then followed up with a breast cancer diagnosis with extremely complications in my treatment plans, numerous surgeries, I found myself unable to continue working in the same manner ad capacity. I ended up having to take a disability retirement after 34 years. As you can imagine, that was a shock and I honestly felt very inadequate. I wasn’t ready to retire. I was at the top of my career and I had plans. I went through a period of feeling inadequate, unworthy, useless and didn’t know what to do with myself. I think I may have even dipped into depression.

My faith in God was truly tested. I had to stand on what I believed. So I prayed and God reminded me that “all things work together for good”. So I know that it was a calling. I was purposed to do this. And then it began… discovering that sometimes you must go through madness to find meaning oftentimes feeling invisible. I created this platform with the conviction that healing happens when our stories are witnessed.

Our mission is deeply personal—we create media that matters by amplifying silenced voices, creating space for those who feel invisible, and proving it’s never too late to dream. Through authentic storytelling, we honor the extraordinary capacity of ordinary individuals, transforming personal trauma into collective strength and celebrating the resilience of the human spirit. At GoneMad Productions, we don’t just tell stories—we illuminate journeys that society often overlooks, because I know firsthand that in sharing our truths, we find not just healing but purpose.

Lady Madelyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As a child, I grew up in a military household. I had the opportunity to live overseas and in several states. That afforded me opportunities and experiences which expanded my curiosity and fueled my love for knowledge. I also believe that made me very adaptable and open to possibilities and new experiences. My Dad always taught me, to whom much is given, much is required. I kept that with me. Ive always wanted to bring people along the journey and more importantly , learn and hear their story. Fast forward to the creation of GoneMad Productions. Taken from my name, Madelyn, I must have lost my mind and gone crazy, to start again and dream, pivot into a whole new medium with no formal experience or training. Just my love for people and believing that everyone has a story and they deserve to be seen and heard.

Since starting GoneMad, it has been a calling. My motto is that I am faith-led, purpose driven and voice empowered. Faith led because I believe that every human was created by God and and all have a unique, beautiful, complicated story that deserves to be told, heard and seen. Purpose driven to find stories about real life, resilience and common threads that unite all as human beings. Stories that may bring us closer to understanding, compassion and authentic story telling. Voice empowered – as I lost ability to sing, sometimes to speak due to my tracheotomy, this has been a cathartic and healing process. Although my natural “voice” is no longer the same, I have found my voice through film production, writing books, and producing content bringing stories to life. My prayer is that others will see my life and my story, be inspired and know that they too can achieve this.

The same time I started GoneMad Productions, I also went back to school to obtain my undergraduate degree. I started this process 30 years ago and felt is necessary to complete. it’s never too late. That is one of the themes of GoneMad, it is never too late. As long as there is breath in your body, you still have time.

At GoneMad we also produce podcasts and streaming services to individuals, small businesses and non-profits. We want to reduce the digital divide and make space for those who didn’t think it was possible to dream again or even start to dream.

As a breast cancer survivor, I partnered with the Pink Serenity Circle group. These women are all cancer survivors. We curate an annual photoshoot of breast cancer survivors, telling their stories, providing connections to resources, being a sister in the time of need and sharing their testimonies with all who will hear. This photoshoot has been a blessing in that we have been able to provide the women a full day of pampering. We get to love on them. Sometimes we cry, reminisce and other times we laugh. Since 2021, we have grown from 7 women 25 women. The photoshoot also captured women we have lost to cancer and the pictures were a beautiful memory keepsake. This is what we are about.

Another part of GoneMad is reaching out to our youth and our seniors. We provide computer training to our seniors. We have partnered with a local church and host workshops and sessions helping seniors navigate the internet, setup email, help them create login accounts for their medical purposes and provide educational training. This is also paired with our youth program where we are bringing young people and introducing them to this trade.

It’s funny, but I didn’t realize that me starting this business in the manner that I did, after the serious life issues was something that others found inspirational. One 88 year old woman recently mentioned to me that since I went back to school (after 30 years) she was planning on going back to school to finish her degree. Another gentleman, who was the first Black to receive an athletic scholarship at Texas A&M was grateful that we are telling his story. it is these small but powerful comments that propel to continue. Shedding light, Sharing love. Sharing stories. That is what we are about.

I am relentless. I don’t believe that any problem is too hard or too challenging. How do you eat an elephant.. one bite at a time. As a matter of fact, my first official project was a short documentary called Four Blocks: The Last Black Pearl. At a women’s networking session, a participant said she wanted to make a film about her hometown which was the last Black owned beach in the US, I jumped up and said… I have a production company. I want to produce that film.

Now mind you… it had not officially started yet… I was “thinking” about it.. But the next day, I began to complete the paperwork and within two months we were out on location filming. If there is a will, there is a way.. We made it work with little budget and lots of passion. I pulled together an great team and we completed the project. As a result, we have won 5 awards on the Film Festival circuit. I love what I do and our team is passionate, purposeful, driven and talented.

Working with the youth and seniors has been phenomenal. I love it when the light comes on and their faces show expressions of gratitude and unbelief. As if, they didn’t realize that they could do that. Helping others fulfill dreams and bringing stories to life brings us joy.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My life pivoted dramatically when cancer treatment damaged my trachea, forcing me to abandon my trajectory as an Assistant Director in Federal IT after 35 years of service. Throughout 18 months of chemotherapy, radiation, and monthly surgeries, I maintained appearances—dressing up, applying makeup, blogging—convinced I’d return to my career. When disability retirement became inevitable, depression followed as I questioned my identity and relevance.

The turning point came when I embraced rather than hid from my cancer journey. I became Executive Director of Pink Serenity Circle and established an annual photoshoot for cancer survivors—starting with seven women and growing to twenty-five by the third year. These events created a community where survivors were pampered, photographed, and celebrated at a gala revealing their portraits. When questioned about the purpose, I explained these photos create lasting memories—a truth painfully validated when two participants received their wings shortly after being photographed.

Founding GoneMad Productions allowed me to transform my challenges into purpose. Despite constant pain and a changed voice due to my tracheostomy, I refused to be silenced. In perhaps the most ironic twist, I launched a cable network talk show called “Can You Hear Me Now?”—now in its fourth season. This weekly program addresses cultural issues, wellness, faith, family, and showcases local artists, entrepreneurs, and community heroes.

I even wrote a children’s book, “It’s Okay to Ask, What’s That Sticking Out Of Your Neck?” after noticing parents discouraging their curious children from asking about my tracheostomy. The book creates space for curiosity and understanding, much like my pivot created space for a new purpose.

This journey taught me that God’s grace is sufficient, that being bold in faith means using your story to amplify others’ voices, and that purpose often reveals itself through our greatest challenges. My pivot wasn’t just from government executive to media producer—it was from defining myself by what I did to embracing who I am and the unique perspective my journey provides. When life throws a curveball, sometimes it’s redirecting you to the work you were truly meant to do all along.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

At the heart of my creative journey is storytelling—not just as an art form, but as a sacred act of connection. Growing up feeling different and often asking, “Is there anyone else like me?”, I discovered the profound power of shared narratives to bridge divides and illuminate our common humanity.

My mission is to create platforms where voices—especially those historically marginalized or silenced—can be authentically heard and celebrated. Whether through GoneMad Productions documentaries, my “Can You Hear Me Now?” talk show, survivor photoshoots, or children’s literature, I’m driven to ignite the light that shines within people and share it with the world.

For those who feel their light has diminished or disappeared altogether, I strive to create spaces where they can look deeper, beyond what the world has placed upon them, to rediscover their inherent worth and unique story. There’s nothing more fulfilling than witnessing someone recognize their own value and voice, often for the first time.

Growing up, I was taught “to whom much is given, much is required.” Though we weren’t wealthy, I was rich in experiences—living overseas, traveling extensively, and being exposed to diverse communities and perspectives. These opportunities weren’t meant to be hoarded but shared, creating ripples of understanding that strengthen relationships and build bridges between communities.

Ultimately, my creative mission is to help us all see each other as human beings with stories worth telling and hearing. In a world that often divides us, I believe authentic storytelling is a revolutionary act that can transform how we perceive ourselves and one another—reminding us that we’re never truly alone in our experiences, our struggles, or our triumphs.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ladymadelyn.com and www.gonemadproductions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladymadelynpatterson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madelyn.walker.31 and https://www.facebook.com/gonemadproduction
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/gonemadproductions

Image Credits

credits: Lady Madelyn Patterson and GoneMad Productions