Be Freaking Awesome Podcast

Send us Fan Mail What if the fastest way to dial down drama and crank up joy is as simple as giving everyone around you a permission slip to be themselves—including you? In this episode, Angela and Sami invite well-being therapist Jamie Lerner to spill the secrets of her Art of Allowing, a practice that turns judgment into curiosity and workplace chaos into something you can actually manage. You’l...

Send us Fan Mail Ever had a wild idea you couldn’t shake—even if it sounded totally out of left field? That’s exactly what happened to Deborah Niemann, a suburban mom who packed up her family, moved to the middle of nowhere, and accidentally became a nationally recognized goat expert. In this episode of Be Freaking Awesome, Deborah shares how her journey started with a desire to eat organic and li...

Send us Fan Mail What if joy isn’t random—but a daily quest you can map out? In this uplifting episode, wellness entrepreneur and podcast host Moyra Gorski joins Angela and Sami to reveal how she turned a season of overwhelm into a life anchored in grace-filled, repeatable joy practices. From mirror work to micro-habits and community, Moyra shares simple tools that anyone—no matter how busy—can st...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is Part 2 of our 2-part conversation with writer and coach Omar Ferraira of A Soul’s Quest. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, go back and start there—we explore life transitions, identity, and what it means to go on your own hero’s journey. In this second half, we’re turning toward men’s mental health, emotional resilience, and what it takes to find your footing...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation with writer and coach Omar Ferraira. Both episodes drop this week, so when you’re done here, hop over to Part 2 to continue the conversation. We’re diving into life transitions, inner growth, and the search for purpose when it feels like you’ve checked all the boxes—but still feel like something’s missing. From Carl Jung and Maslow t...

Send us Fan Mail This isn’t just a milestone—it’s a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the practice of showing up. In this episode, Angela and Sami get real about what 175 episodes have taught them: how to let go of the pressure to be perfect, reframe what success looks like, and lean into meaningful, fun, and fulfilling work. They talk about the doubts that almost stopped them early on, the...

Send us Fan Mail What if the colors around you could transform your mood, mindset, and even your life? In this vibrant episode of Be Freaking Awesome, Sami and Angela sit down with brand architect and color psychology expert J. Nichole Smith (Nic) to explore the powerful (and often overlooked) connection between color, psychology, and joy. From navigating burnout to creating joy-centered brands, N...

Send us Fan Mail We’ve all heard “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”—but what if that’s actually true and empowering? In Part 2 of our conversation with Anna Beth Gorman, we shift from financial literacy to the life-changing concept of social capital—and how women can build it with intention. This episode is a masterclass in forming relationships that matter—not just for your career or bus...

Send us Fan Mail Money. Just saying the word can make some of us sweat. And yet—it impacts every corner of our lives. In this episode, we’re starting a deeply honest, sometimes hilarious, and always empowering two-part conversation with Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. In Part 1, we talk about what wealth really looks like for women—not yachts or private jets, but retir...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Angela and Sami are joined by Kathryn Heizer, also known as The Cascade Effect Coach, for a real and powerful conversation about how we influence others — often without even knowing it. From corporate leadership to parenting, from grief to goal-setting, we unpack what it means to live and lead intentionally. Kathryn shares her transition from the corporate world into co...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever feel like you're stuck reacting to problems instead of leading with clarity and vision? In this episode of Be Freaking Awesome , Angela and Sami sit down with business consultant and author Todd Smith for a game-changing conversation that blends football strategy, leadership insight, and real-world wisdom. Drawing from his book First and Ten on the Twenty , Todd u...

Send us Fan Mail In this moving and insightful episode, Angela and Sami speak with Jody LaVoie, founder of Widows in the Workplace and The Grief Company. Following the traumatic loss of her husband, Jody assumed leadership of his company, all while raising three daughters and facing unimaginable grief. Now a grief expert and coach, Jody shares how that experience shaped her purpose—and how she now...

Send us Fan Mail 🔧 What if communication isn’t just a tool—but the tool? In this thought-provoking and hilariously vulnerable conversation, Sami shares the messy middle of writing a book about communication—and Angela digs deep into what it means to clarify not just our words, but our hearts. From exploring the emotional roots of poor communication to dissecting how our inner world struggles to t...

Send us Fan Mail Struggling to lead with confidence? You’re not alone. Whether it shows up as micromanaging, burnout, or saying yes to too much, a lack of confidence can quietly undermine even the most capable leaders. In this episode, Angela and Sami sit down with leadership strategist and speaker Therese Gopaul-Robinson for a powerful conversation about what confidence really is—and why it’s way...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Angela’s back on her soapbox—and we are here for it. She and Sami take us on a deep (and sometimes hilarious) dive into why vision boards, affirmations, and goal-setting strategies work better when you understand the brain behind them. Spoiler: it’s not about manifesting magic. It’s about your Reticular Activating System—the part of your brain that filters what you noti...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt and insight-packed conversation, Angela and Sami sit down with longtime client, coaching partner, and friend Jonathan Janacek. Jonathan opens up about the journey from sweeping job sites as a kid to purchasing and running the family remodeling business. This episode is a goldmine for second-generation business owners, parents preparing for leadership transitions,...

Send us Fan Mail In part two of our conversation with psychologist and author Dr. Adam Dorsay, we’re diving into how to build connection—not just feel it. This episode is all about friendship, chosen family, and why adult connection often needs more intention (and less perfection) than we think. Angela, Sami, and Adam explore the vulnerability of reaching out, the reality of feeling lonely in a bu...

Send us Fan Mail What if the most important connections in your life didn’t happen by chance—but by choice? In this episode, Angela and Sami chat with psychologist and author Dr. Adam Dorsay about the four types of connection outlined in his book Super Psyched: connection to self, others, the world, and something greater. It’s a real, reflective conversation about how intentional connection shapes...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like politics is just too messy, too partisan, or too overwhelming to even try to get involved? We get it. But what if there was a way to protect democracy, empower voters, and make a real impact—without the drama? This week on Be Freaking Awesome, we’re joining the global Podcasthon Movement to highlight an organization that’s been fighting for democracy since 1920—the...

Send us Fan Mail Are you waking up exhausted even after getting a full night’s sleep? You’re not alone. The problem isn’t just how much sleep you’re getting—it’s how well you’re sleeping.  In this episode, Angela and Sami sit down with sleep strategist Tara Clancy to uncover the truth about sleep performance and why most of us are unknowingly sabotaging our own rest. Tara explains why 8 hours of s...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to be freaking awesome? It’s a question we’ve explored since Episode 1, revisited in Episode 70, and now—we’re back with Be Freaking Awesome 3.0. In this episode, Angela and Sami take a deep dive into the origins of Be Freaking Awesome, how it evolved from a speech to a book to a movement, and why defining YOUR version of an awesome life is more important...

Send us Fan Mail 👉 Have you ever been given an opportunity that felt bigger than you? 👉 Do you feel like you need more experience, more confidence, or more skills before you can lead? 👉 What if stepping up before you're "ready" is actually the secret to success? In this episode of Be Freaking Awesome , we sit down with Kash Rocheleau, CEO of Icon Foods , who went from Executive A...

Send us Fan Mail ❓ Ever felt stuck because you think your purpose has to be BIG, life-altering, and crystal clear? What if we told you that’s a total myth? In this episode of Be Freaking Awesome , we’re talking all things purpose with Amy Zastrow , business impact strategist and speaker. And spoiler alert: your purpose doesn’t have to be grand, world-changing, or set in stone forever. Instead, we...

Send us Fan Mail 💡 Did you know that your emotions around money are deeply tied to your past experiences? In this episode of Be Freaking Awesome, Sami Kinnison and Angela Belford sit down with financial coach and behavioral specialist DonJay Rice to explore the unexpected ways grief and trauma shape your financial habits. Whether it’s avoiding money conversations, feeling guilt around inheritance...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of Be Freaking Awesome, we dive into one of the most challenging topics of our time—political conversations. Whether at work, with family, or on social media, it’s easy to feel stuck between avoiding tough conversations or getting into heated debates. But what if there was a better way? Join Angela Belford as she interviews Sami Kinnison, a communication expert,...