Conversations with Sekani

You read the books, journal, understand your patterns… but still can’t change? Cecilia Baum Mandryk — former geologist turned coach specializing in nervous system regulation and habit change — explains the “Post-Insight Plateau”: that frustrating gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. In this episode, she shares how she went from checking all the “right” boxes in her 20s (great job...

Your small daily actions can create ripples that last generations. US Navy submariner, pastor, businessman, and author David Petrash shares powerful lessons from serving on nuclear submarines for months underwater with no outside contact. Learn how high-stakes leadership in extreme environments built his resilience, why the decisions you make in your 20s matter so much, and how faith, character, a...

Struggling with self-doubt, comparison, or finding your authentic voice in your 20s? Ana Denis — communications trainer, TEDx organizer, author of *Reinvento*, and former Google/YouTube marketing professional — shares her journey from a lonely introverted bookworm in Russia to building a global career across cultures. Learn why human connection beats algorithms, the danger of social media comparis...

Decisions you make in your 20s can shape the rest of your life. Carl Grant — Army veteran, Christian business leader, author, and founder of Bridges of Faith — shares his powerful story of going from atheist chasing success to a radical conversion at age 24 that changed everything. From military service and graduate school to integrating faith into business, family, and cross-cultural dialogue, Ca...

Diagnosed with epilepsy at 13 and facing uncontrollable seizures, shoulder dislocations, and medical dismissal in her 20s — Jane Rogers refused to let it define her in silence. In this honest and often humorous episode, the author of *Laughing Through the Storm* shares how she built mental and physical strength, navigated stigma and uncertainty, and found the courage to speak openly. Learn powerfu...

Feeling like you’re living a version of yourself shaped by conditioning, trauma, or expectations in your 20s? Lauretta Zucchetti — transformational life coach, speaker, and author with a background in transpersonal psychology and international sales leadership — shares her powerful journey from childhood abuse and survival mode to corporate success and deep personal reinvention. Learn how to ident...

Feeling pressure to perform, questioning your creativity, or struggling with body image and identity in your 20s? Joanne Stewart — experienced yoga teacher, founder of Garden of Yoga, and co-host of the Flow Artist podcast — shares her journey from art school burnout and harsh criticism to discovering yoga as a tool for self-acceptance and calm. Learn how she makes yoga truly accessible for all bo...

Feeling lost in your identity, carrying childhood trauma, or struggling to rewrite your story in your 20s? Licensed therapist, storyteller, and author Johnzelle (Jonzelle Anderson) shares his raw journey through mental health challenges, race, relationships, and finding himself. In this powerful episode, he explains how storytelling (including his music-structured memoir *Mixtape*) became a tool f...

Struggling with consistency, motivation, or building sustainable fitness habits in your 20s? Tai Erasmus — elite fitness and nutrition coach with over 30 years of experience training athletes, Hollywood actors, and everyday people — shares his journey from Olympic-level target shooting to transforming clients worldwide. Learn why discipline beats motivation, how to get crystal clear on your goals,...

From the streets of East Los Angeles, raised by a single mother as a first-generation American, to becoming a Flight Planning Engineer supporting NASA’s International Space Station and Moon to Mars programs — Irene Chan’s story is proof that your background doesn’t define your ceiling. With over 20 years in aerospace, Irene shares her powerful non-traditional path: falling in love with flight, fac...

Trapped in the Las Vegas party scene and slowly losing control for over a decade? Ryan Penley hit rock bottom, lost everything, and fought his way to 6 years of sobriety. In this raw and honest episode, he breaks down the “frog in boiling water” effect of gradual addiction, the moment everything changed, and the small daily habits, accountability, and faith that saved his life. Perfect for young a...

Constantly exhausted, people-pleasing, and feeling lost in your 20s? Jody Brooks — coach, workplace well-being consultant, and burnout survivor — shares her powerful story of severe mental health struggles, suicidal thoughts, and a full breakdown in her 20s. She reveals how trying to fit in and please everyone nearly destroyed her, and how discovering her core values, setting boundaries, and choos...

High-achieving but constantly exhausted in your 20s? Lakisha Mosley, founder of Soft Simple CEO, reveals why strategy alone fails and how **capacity** is the real problem for driven women. Learn how to regulate your nervous system, protect your energy, schedule rest as a strategy, and build profitable businesses without sacrificing your peace. This episode delivers practical mindset shifts and too...

Feeling voiceless, unworthy, or stuck in toxic patterns from childhood wounds in your 20s? Aggie Park shares her powerful journey from abandonment, bullying, toxic relationships, and feeling like a mistake — to becoming Miss California Royal United Universe and host of *Unspoken with Aggie Park*. Discover how God redeems pain, the power of faith in turning brokenness into purpose, and practical le...

Feeling silenced at work, scared to share ideas, or stuck in environments that kill creativity in your 20s? Vanya Boardman — leadership expert, co-founder of Play Inova, and co-author of *The Innovation Imperative* — reveals why even brilliant people disengage and withhold their best ideas. Learn how psychological safety (or the lack of it) stifles innovation, why play is a powerful tool for probl...

Struggling with self-doubt, emotional control, or figuring out how to lead in life and career in your 20s? US Marine officer, award-winning author, and leadership mentor Olaolu Ogunyemi shares powerful lessons on knowing yourself deeply, building emotional intelligence, and leading with authenticity — both at work and at home. Learn why presence beats perfection in parenting/mentorship, how to cre...

Navigating cultural identity, leadership, and finding your place in the world in your 20s can feel overwhelming. Misun Oh — international speaker, leadership coach, and founder of Global Gumption — shares her powerful journey from South Korea to building a global movement that empowers women and leaders worldwide. Learn how she overcame cultural expectations, language barriers, and imposter syndro...

Carrying hidden trauma, people-pleasing, anxiety, or repeating unhealthy patterns in your 20s? Psychotherapist and author Phyllis Leavitt (30+ years experience) reveals how childhood wounds shape identity, create negative beliefs ("I'm unlovable," "I have no power"), and lead to maladaptive coping like self-sabotage or isolation. Learn why symptoms are calls for help—not personal flaws—and practic...

Feeling stuck, overlooked, or unsure how to advance in your career in your 20s? Former Fortune 100 executive and founder of Real Work Ready™️, Laura Massetti reveals the hidden “unwritten rules” of the workplace that no one teaches — yet everyone is judged by. Learn why smart, capable professionals often stall, how to build real workplace trust, navigate office politics, and own your career growth...

Overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected in your 20s? Opera singer and sound healing practitioner Greg Palma shares how his “celestial singing” — blending trained classical voice with higher spiritual frequencies — calms the nervous system, releases deep stress, and restores inner peace in minutes. From classical opera stages to healing sessions that activate the pineal gland and awaken cellular memo...

Feeling stuck, people-pleasing, or carrying invisible trauma even when life looks fine on the outside? Trauma psychotherapist Maggie McCane (LCSW) breaks down how early experiences shape your self-view and worldview, why traditional talk therapy often falls short, and powerful tools like EMDR to rewire subconscious patterns. Learn to spot trauma responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn), challenge l...

What does it take to rebuild your life after everything has been broken down? In this episode of Conversations with Sekani, I’m joined by Amanda J Scott—an author and advocate focused on helping people heal from domestic, emotional, and financial abuse. This conversation goes beyond surface-level awareness. It’s about identity. Self-worth. And what it actually takes to start again. We explore: The...

In this powerful conversation, licensed psychotherapist and resilience coach Michael Ostrolenk shares how to build true emotional strength and conscious relationships — especially if you're in your 20s trying to figure life out. Michael opens up about his own journey: surviving childhood illness and learning disabilities, a “dark night of the soul” during his MBA, and how it led him to drop everyt...

Rich Aston is a true serial entrepreneur with over 45 years of experience acquiring, turning around, and scaling businesses across real estate, construction, rentals, and HVAC. In this raw and practical conversation, Rich shares his remarkable journey — buying a nearly bankrupt HVAC company 38 years ago and growing it into a thriving business while owning and operating eight companies total. He re...

In this inspiring conversation, Ryan Ross — marketing agency owner, health benefits expert, author, and 16-time triathlete — shares how the same principles that fuel endurance sports also drive business success. Ryan opens up about: ​His journey from ad sales in New York and London to building his own marketing agency ​Entering the complex world of U.S. health benefits and writing a book to help b...