Meet Alex
Cancer Survivor and DTA Founder
Alex Massey is the co-founder and host of the podcast, Down There Aware, where along with her mother Mary, they encourage women to be aware of their bodies and become their own best health advocate.
Having haphazardly found her way into nonprofit management and fundraising, Alex has focused her philanthropic energy and industry knowledge into creating Down There Aware, Inc., and has recently been approved for 501(c)(3) tax exemption status to continue the advocacy work she and her mom have become so passionate about.
Alex was born and raised in Florida and currently resides in the capital city, Tallahassee, with her perfect pooch, Sadie Mae. She received a Bachelor of Music Education in Choral Music and Master of Arts in Arts Administration from The Florida State University.
Meet Mary
DTA Founder and Women's Health Advocate
Mary Massey is a retired, career teacher. She began her career as a K-12 public school music teacher and, after earning masters and doctoral degrees, she wrapped up her teaching career as a college professor, training future teachers. She has been married 44 years and is the mother of two adult children, a daughter, Alex, with whom she co-hosts DTA and Will, a son.
Having experienced several serious, and some unusual, medical issues, personally, and through her family members, Mary has developed a keen interest in all things medical, researching and delving deeply into causes, treatments, and outcomes of various health issues. Her incentive to become involved in DTA was to support Alex after her cancer diagnosis and to help inform, educate, and advocate for other young women.
In retirement, Mary has been writing/publishing a children’s book series, sharing with young parents and their children Dr. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, through child-friendly stories and colorful illustrations. Her children’s books fortify the sense of self in children by helping them understand their strengths, value the strengths of others, and learn how to work together to grow and learn. You can find out more about her books at
www.hugthemountian.com and @MaryRMasseyEdD on Instagram and Facebook.