FailCraft

In this episode of FailCraft , Melina Mattos joins Ezekiel to share how anunexpected crisis forced her to abandon executive security in Brazil and builda luxury spirits brand from the ground up in the United States. In 2019, whiletaking a vacation in America, the global pandemic and currency collapsedecimated her language school in Brazil, leaving her stranded and starting overas a novice in New Y...

In this episode of FailCraft , art historian, actor, and founder ofWonderfeast, Giulia Bernardini, joins Ezekiel to explore why modern travelerstreat vacations like frantic checklists to consume rather than transformativeexperiences to savor. Born and raised across Western Europe and the UnitedStates, and fluent in five languages, Giulia shares how our hyper-connected,anxious culture turns travel...

In this episode of FailCraft , high-performance mentor, entrepreneur, andresilient survivor Tiffanie Janowitz joins Ezekiel to discuss why settling fora life that is merely "fine" is the quietest trap high achievers fallinto. Having rebuilt her life multiple times—walking away from misalignedrelationships, abandoning a rigid belief system that defined her identity, andaggressively advoca...

In this episode of FailCraft , former pastor, recovery mentor, and host of The Sacred Grit Podcast , Jason Lyle, joins Ezekiel toshare his deeply vulnerable journey from public pastoral collapse to embodiedrecovery. For 13 years, Jason successfully articulated complex Christian theologywhile quietly enduring chronic internal agitation and nervous systemdysregulation—a gap between mind and body tha...

In this episode of FailCraft , executive coach, personal developmentexpert, and creator of Brain Athletes, Arnold Beekes, joins Ezekiel to uncoverhow subtle societal conditioning traps high performers in lives that aren'ttheir own. Raised by an intensely authoritarian military father and spendingdecades inside corporate multinationals, Arnold experienced the ultimate rockbottom in his early 40...

In this episode of FailCraft , Stephen Box joins Ezekiel to dismantle whyconventional self-improvement advice leaves ambitious Christian men exhausted,isolated, and burned out. Back in 2010, Stephen was 80 pounds overweight,trapped in a job he despised, and had not stepped foot inside a church innearly three decades. After losing the weight and building a fitness andcoaching business, an unexpecte...

In this episode of FailCraft , environmental writer, audio producer, andfounder of Global Warming Is Real , Thomas Schueneman, joinsEzekiel to break down how to look catastrophic ecological news directly in theface without succumbing to doom or paralysis. Born with severe nearsightednessand zero peripheral vision, Tom spent his youth navigating isolation andself-doubt before turning that sensory s...

In this episode of FailCraft , Reeya joins Ezekiel to explore what happenswhen you refuse to force your identity into a single sensible box. With aVassar film degree, a career as a freelance accountant and bookkeeper, and anacclaimed catalog as an independent power-pop songwriter and Pushcart Prizenominee, she explains how she reconciled the spreadsheet with the stage. Sheshares her personal journ...

In this episode of FailCraft , Trevor joins Ezekiel to unpack why thetraditional stoic "tough guy" model is actively sabotaging modernorganizations, family systems, and male mental health. With over 21 years ofexperience as an executive coach, global adventure guide, and co-founder ofConsciousLead and FUNdaMENtal, he shares the personal wake-up call that forcedhim to retire his rugged &q...

In this episode of FailCraft , James Porfido joins Ezekiel to reveal thestark realities of the American criminal justice system from both sides of theaisle. Drawing from 35 years of courtroom experience as a former prosecutor,certified criminal defense trial attorney, law professor, and television legalanalyst covering trials like O.J. Simpson, Scott Peterson, and the Menendezbrothers, he explains...

In this episode of FailCraft , Alex joins Ezekiel to explore what happenswhen business optimization collides with systemic societal failure. Afterfounding internet service providers, building software companies, and winningthe Samsung Innovation Award, he realized that streamlining corporate processeswas hollow while fundamental systems like education, wealth distribution, andsocial equity were le...

In this episode of FailCraft , Walter joins Ezekiel to examine whyambitious managers hit career plateaus by constantly firefighting from theirprimitive lower brain instead of executing from their executive center. Drawingfrom his background as an airplane and helicopter pilot, a seasoned paramedic,and the founder of The Dutch Mentor, he explains why instinctive, knee-jerkreactions worsen corporate...

In this episode of FailCraft , Rachel joins Ezekiel to debunk themisleading formulas that saturate modern marketing advice. Stranded nearly 20years ago in Hong Kong with just $200 and no work visa, she took a desperategamble on a $3.25 writing gig that evolved into a 17-year global copywritingand consulting business across 21 countries. She breaks down the fourunyielding rules of conversion, expla...

In this episode of FailCraft , Carla joins Ezekiel to pull back the curtainon quiet executive burnout and explain why professional achievements do notguarantee personal fulfillment. Drawing from decades of managing high-profileteams across the U.S. East Coast, she reveals what happens when a leaderoperates strictly on autopilot, prioritizing metrics over people and personalboundaries. She breaks d...

In this episode of FailCraft , Samantha joins Ezekiel to break down whywomen entrepreneurs burn out trying to "do all the things" on socialmedia and how to build a repeatable marketing system that actually converts. Drawing from her background building a thriving brand photography business onpurely organic connections, she explains why aggressive selling repels modernbuyers, how uncoordi...

In this episode of FailCraft , Darlene joins Ezekiel to unpack why treatingthe human body with endless pharmaceuticals fails to solve chronic pain andburnout. As a retired U.S. Navy Commander who led over 1,200 personnel andfounded the nationwide Returning Warrior Workshop, and a former VP at McAfee,she shares her deeply moving personal journey navigating abusive relationships,severe autoimmune di...

In this episode of FailCraft , Linda joins Ezekiel to explain why money isnever just a rigid math equation, but a deeply emotional and behavioralreality. Drawing from her journey as a teenage mother, navigating divorce, andpivoting into financial planning later in life to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIALPLANNER®, she breaks down why restrictive budgeting methods fail over time. Sheintroduces her propr...

In this episode of FailCraft , Mark joins Ezekiel to break down whathappens when you abandon corporate prestige to navigate the chaotic realitiesof entrepreneurship. With a Duke MBA and a fast-track consulting career atDeloitte, he walked away from a junior partnership after a wake-up call on theroad threatened his physical health. He explains why corporate experience islike checkers compared to t...

In this episode of FailCraft , Katherine joins Ezekiel to examine why thetraditional "because I said so" authoritarian model fails to buildlasting respect in families and organizations. As a three-time TEDx speaker andfounder of the Conscious Parenting Revolution, she exposes how control rootedin fear and dependency creates short-term compliance at the cost of long-termtrust. She unpacks...

In this episode of FailCraft , Marcia joins Ezekiel to discuss howsurviving a frightening wake-up call of temporary global amnesia in her early60s forced her to confront decades of corporate burnout. As a former Manhattanexecutive book editor and marketing VP, she shares how a trip to Aruba and aconversation under a mango tree introduced her to two Gen-X entrepreneurs whosetiny surf shop embodied...

In this episode of FailCraft , David joins Ezekiel to share the raw,incredible story of how getting fired after 18 years at age 63 forced him toconfront the terrifying reality that he would run out of money in two years. After decades of corporate work that left him walking in financial circles, hetook a commission-only sales role, devoured dozens of finance books, anddistilled everything into a s...

In this episode of FailCraft , Lisa joins Ezekiel to debunk the restrictivedogmas of modern diet culture and explain why over 90% of people who loseweight end up gaining it all back. Holding a Master’s degree in ExerciseScience and Nutrition, and coaching over 350 clients while traveling across 56countries as a digital nomad, she shares how she broke free from chronic yo-yodieting and weekend bing...

In this episode of FailCraft , Scarlett joins Ezekiel to demystify energywork and break down why traditional proximity-based healing models fall shortin a remote world. As the creator of Astral Reiki, a Reiki Master, and a HumanDesign reader, she shares how working directly through the astral/light bodydelivers precision energetic shifts without physical contact. She unpacks thefailure of performa...

In this episode of FailCraft , Stan joins Ezekiel to break down why thegreatest prison holding professionals and executives back is mental captivity. Drawing from over 15 years as an OSHA supervisory federal investigatoroverseeing intense whistleblower cases and successfully mediating nearly 700disputes, he exposes how baked-in doubt sabotages progress before parties evenenter a room. He shares hi...

In this episode of FailCraft , Bianca joins Ezekiel to pull back thecurtain on "facade failure"—the exhausting trap of appearingintimidatingly confident while quietly battling severe insecurity, shame, andself-harm. Drawing from her personal rock-bottom moment of nearly losing herbusiness and over 7,000 clinical therapy sessions, she explains why highachievers cannot outrun unresolved tr...