Grateful Living

Had the pleasure to speak with Frances Frei, Harvard Business School Professor and former SVP of Leadership and Strategy at Uber, and Anne Morriss, Executive Founder of The Leadership Consortium and Principal at The Morriss Group. The two co-authored the book Unleashed, the unapologetic leader’s guide to empowering everyone around you. In this interview, Anne and Frances talk about: * Anne’s child...

My friends, John and Asia, from Tofu Talk Podcast, had me on their show to talk about how I started the Grateful Living podcast and also thoughts on various topics related to friendship: - my thoughts on men’s mental health, - the effect of drinking culture on society - difference in psychology of men and women in dating - having more open and authentic conversations in our personal lives with fri...

Ben Leavitt is a Social Media Expert, a YouTuber with 84K subscribers, the host of the podcast Social Media University and the founder of the Bunny Media marketing agency. In this interview, Ben talks about: - Gowing up with divorced parents - How he started his YouTube channel and grew his channel to become a full-time YouTuber - Starting a social media agency to help people and businesses with t...

Hey guys, for this week’s vlog, I talk about my advice to anyone feeling survivor’s guilt from losing a friend or loved one to suicide from my own perspective of having been close to committing suicide. This has been one of the toughest videos I’ve made to date because it’s the first time I acknowledge that I was close to committing suicide to the general public (prior to this, only some of my clo...

Art Beatz is a Massachusetts based DJ, remix artist, and producer. His most notable collaborations include co-producing the hit song "Goodbye" by Jason Derulo & David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj and Willy William and "Cobra Dance" ft. Fatman Scoop. In this interview, Art talk about: - Being born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq until the age of 12 - Moving to the US at 13 and his story adjusting - His a...

In 2021, David Simpson and Orlando Perdomo started “Read And Retire”, a platform dedicated to providing minorities with the financial knowledge needed to achieve generational wealth and financial freedom in America. In this interview, Dave and Lando talk about: - How they hope to use their weekly financial education classes and podcast to help others achieve financial freedom and generational weal...

In this vlog, I talk about the importance of understanding the perspective of the person giving you advice. I give the example of my friend who brings up the idea to her parents of starting her own business. Her parents were shocked and immediately told her it was a bad idea, and she didn't know anything about running a business. I talk about how the advice she received from her parents is really...

Derrick Boateng is a former D1 soccer player for Boston College. He grew up in Ghana, moved to the US at 14, and was adopted at 15. He excelled at soccer enough to earn a scholarship to Boston College where he played 3 years before going to Europe to pursue professional soccer. He played in Portugal, Romania, Germany before getting injured and returning to the US to pursue his Masters in Pharmacy....

Hey guys, in this vlog I talk about 5 things I wish I knew before college.   1) Have a group of real friends   2) Join Clubs  3) Try to be intentional with your academic choices  4) Be open to new experiences, but also be yourself  5) Date

In 2016, Earvin had a lot going on his life and started having suicidal ideations. In this interview, he recounts that experience and what he hopes others can learn from his life. Earvin Casciano is a Crisis Text Counselor at the Crisis Text Line and will be starting his Masters in Social Work at Monmouth University in the fall of 2021. The Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text mes...

In this vlog, I talk about 3 pieces of advice I have for someone whose in a situation where their family doesn’t approve of the relationship they are in.   1)First thing, remember and realize it's your life.  2) Have empathy for your parents thought process  3) Be strong, surround yourself with support and understand the effects of this tension   Me:  Insta: https://www.in...

Shawn Heshmatopour, under the username Sheshn94, has built over 11k following on Twitch. In 2015, he went through a major trauma in his life. In this interview, we talk about that major trauma and how he rebuilt his life from it. In this interview, we talk about: - Shawn's first-generation background - Shawn's high school experience and the importance of finding true friends - Shawn's college expe...

In this vlog, I talk about my advice if you’ve recently been rejected. I talk about 3 situations 1. Dating situation and asking someone out and getting rejected 2. Job rejection 3. School rejection My advice: I think it’s important to feel the emotion of sadness. Understand grieving is part of the moving on process. Not grieving may actually hurt you more in trying to move forward. . . . #vlog #li...

Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Clinical Attending at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She has more than 15 years of experience as a board-certified pediatrician and health research, and currently serves as the director of the Science and Outcomes of Allergy + Asthma Research Program. With the help of...

New vlog! In this vlog I talk about the importance of honest feedback. I give 3 examples where it's useful: 1) Relationships 2) Friendships and when you feel like friends are doing things that aren't the most productive 3) Work - When a supervisor is evaluating an employee Often we try to avoid confrontation to avoid hurting people or we’re afraid it'll have a negative effect on the relationship,...

M. Quentin Williams is an attorney, author, and founder and CEO of Dedication to Community, a non-profit that works with private sector and government agencies to provide diversity, law enforcement and equity training. Q is a former FBI agent, former federal prosecutor, held senior positions at the NFL, NBA and Jacksonville Jaguars, and now is the CEO of D2C, a non-profit Quentin's book, A Surviva...

In this vlog, I talk about why being desperate to be a in a relationship is a bad mindset to have when looking for a partner.    Let me know what you think!

Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator who believes that students should not have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. An internationally acclaimed award-winning educator, Stephen is the author of the best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant, and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Stephen was a Top Ten Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize, named Global Humanitarian, Food...

In this vlog, I talk about how we need to look at failure differently and how I think failure is a necessary part to getting better. In essence, failure provides us feedback in ways we can improve and become a better version of ourselves. My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?... To Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttt... To Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcast...

Had the pleasure to speak with Emily Neale on becoming a professional ballet dancer! In this interview, we talk about: - Emily’s 5 year journey with Ballet West from trainee in 2016 to demo-soloist in 2018 to soloist in 2020 - Being Pointe Magazine's 2019 Summer Issue cover - Her advice to young ballet dancers trying to become a professional - Her advice to dancers on mental health and recove...

In 2018, at age 23, Marguerite Rix was diagnosed with Stage 1 Ovarian Cancer. In 2019, at age 27, her sister Mikaela Rix was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Now cancer-free, the two sisters along with their other sister Morgayne, started the non-profit We Fight Like Girls where they raise money for cancer research mostly through their "We Fight Like Girls" runs/walks and WFLG bracelets. Through thei...

In this vlog, I give the situation of a friend of mine whose ex blocked them on a social media platform and how I think it’s time for him to really realize putting energy into relationships that are not serving him positively is not a great idea.   Let me know what you think! My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?... To Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttt......

Hanson Grant is the founder and CEO of Think Board, a company that creates dry erase films which can turn any surface into a whiteboard. In this interview, we talk about: * Hanson’s background to developing a love for entrepreneurship in his teen years * Creating a sustainable business * Working as a retailer on Amazon * Lessons on how to decide whether to turn your side hustle into a full-time bu...

In this vlog, I talk about how unless you know what's going on in someone's life, I would refrain from judging them. I give them example of a story with me and one of my eighth grade classmates that changed my life forever and brought me to this conclusion. My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?... To Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttt... To Listen on Apple Podca...

Antonio Valverde is the owner of Athlete Perform, where he provides athletic training services to clients. He is a certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist with over 10 years experience as a professional trainer. Antonio works with elite clients from professional athletes to entertainment icons and corporate executives. Top players from The NBA, NFL, NHL, and Olympic sports teams train per...