Embrace Your Awesome

What if the biggest thing holding you back… isn’t your ability—but your decision? In this powerful episode of the Embrace Your Awesome Podcast , host John Geyston sits down with actress, creator, and storyteller Maria Libri to explore what it truly means to build a life by design instead of drifting through life by default. From her early days in Springfield, Illinois as a FOX 55 TV host—where Joh...

What do you do… when someone you trusted lets you down? Not just anyone… But someone close. Someone you believed in. Someone you poured into. Betrayal rarely comes from a distance—it comes from proximity. Because betrayal doesn’t just hurt… It shakes your foundation. But what if betrayal isn’t the end of your story…What if it’s actually revealing your strength? Today, we’re talking about betrayal—...

What does it take to perform when the entire world is watching? In this powerful episode of Embrace Your Awesome , John Geyston sits down with Olympic Gold Medalist Herb Perez — a true pioneer who helped put American Taekwondo on the global stage. But this isn’t just a story about winning gold. It’s a masterclass in mindset, pressure, and perseverance. Herb takes us inside the reality of Olympic c...

Welcome to Embrace your Awesome Podcast, I am your host John Geyston, I am going to break down the first three foundational powers that shape a child’s confidence and long-term success: Focus, Self-Discipline, and Respect. Drawing from over four decades of coaching and teaching, I will explain how these principles are not just leadership concepts—but life skills that impact learning, behavior, and...

My guest today is a true pioneer in the martial arts world — Keith Vitali. Keith is a 10th-degree black belt and was ranked the number one karate fighter in the United States for three consecutive years from 1978 to 1980 — undefeated during that time. In 1981, he was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Fighter of the Year and has been recognized as one of the 10 Best Fighters of All Time...

Every parent says they want their child to be confident… but very few are teaching them how to actually become it. Because confidence doesn’t come from encouragement alone— it comes from responsibility, discipline, and doing hard things. In this episode, I’ll give you the blueprint.

In this powerful episode of Embrace Your Awesome , host John Geyston welcomes one of the most respected leaders in the martial arts world — Hanshi Dave Kovar. With a journey that began in 1972 and a teaching career that started at just 15 years old, Kovar has spent over five decades shaping students, instructors, and leaders around the world. Having trained under legendary martial artists such as...

After coaching young athletes for more than 40 years, I’ve seen a pattern that surprises many parents and coaches. Some of the most naturally talented kids quit. Meanwhile, other athletes who start out average go on to become exceptional performers and leaders. The difference is almost never talent. It’s what’s happening inside their mindset, habits, and identity. In this episode of The Embrace Yo...

In this powerful episode of The Embrace Your Awesome Podcast , host John Geyston sits down with a longtime friend and respected martial artist he has known for nearly 28 years — Allie Alberigo. A lifelong martial artist with more than six decades of experience, Allie is the founder of the renowned L.I. Ninjutsu Centers, an accomplished author, entrepreneur, and the dynamic host of the Warrior’s Wa...

What do you do when the job you were hired for… doesn’t exist anymore? You adapt. You serve. You grow. Today’s guest on The Embrace Your Awesome Podcast went from morning radio personality to walking into a dealership on day one only to be told the role he was hired for was already filled. Instead of quitting, he went to the back of the store as a service advisor — and turned that pivot into a pat...

Embrace Your Awesome Lifestyle Podcast, with a very Powerful Guest Antony Graf, (Master Instructor, Business Owner, Author and USA TKD Olympic Team reserve team member.  Antony and I go deep into sharing his practical systems that parents, coaches, and educators can implement immediately… on how to create lasting behavioral change… and how to raise strong, capable humans in a world that desperatel...

Embrace Your Awesome Lifestyle Podcast, with a very Powerful Guest Antony Graf, (Master Instructor, Business Owner, Author and USA TKD Olympic Team reserve team member.  Antony and I go deep into sharing his practical systems that parents, coaches, and educators can implement immediately… on how to create lasting behavioral change… and how to raise strong, capable humans in a world that desperatel...

Today, we’re joined by a truly powerful guest — Dustin Lash . Dustin is a high-level entrepreneur, business coach, and the host of the Fitpreneur Evolution Podcast . He’s built and scaled multiple online businesses, including turning his own fitness company into a seven-figure success. Now, he dedicates his life to helping coaches, trainers, and entrepreneurs create freedom — financial freedom, ti...

We live in a culture that tells us to want more. More success. More passion. More excitement. More fulfillment. And growth is a good thing. But there’s a difference between growing and never being satisfied . Most people don’t lose happiness because life falls apart. They lose it because their focus shifts. From what’s working…to what’s missing. So today, I want to talk about something I call the...

What if your lowest moment wasn’t the end… but the beginning of your comeback? In this powerful episode of The Embrace Your Awesome Podcast , John Geyston sits down with Phil Albenze , a man whose life story reads like a movie script—and proves that transformation is possible no matter how far you’ve fallen. For over 20 years , Phil battled alcohol addiction, declining health, and a life that felt...

Happiness gives you moments. Fulfillment gives you meaning. And confusing the two may be what’s quietly draining your life. In this episode of Embrace Your Awesome Lifestyle , we explore the powerful difference between feeling happy and living fulfilled—and why so many high-functioning, successful people still feel a sense of emptiness despite doing everything “right.” Fulfillment doesn’t come fro...

In this episode of The Embrace Your Awesome Podcast , John Geyston introduces the Emotional Resilience Framework —a simple, practical 3-step system that helps kids build emotional strength from the inside out. This isn’t theory or “just calm down” advice. It’s real-world tools you can use immediately. You’ll learn how to help kids: • Recognize emotions before they escalate • Regulate stress and ov...