Grow There With Cheria

Dana Gaydon —brand and lifestyle photographer and founder of Modern Joy Studio—takes a seat with Cheria for a conversation about confidence, identity, and the stories we carry about ourselves. Dana shares how dealing with a lifelong struggle of “not good enough” quietly shaped both her personal life and her 20-year photography career. She looks back on an experience that forever helped her challen...

Special guest and friend of Cheria's, Taylor Hughes , shares his story of walking away from an organization and identity he had so deeply tied himself to after realizing its values no longer aligned with him. The loss of stability and certainty forced him to ask a difficult question: What do I actually want? With his creativity and a restart, Taylor rebuilt his relationship with storytelling,...

Jesus Chavez spent years building a career focused on performance, discipline, and ambition which was shaped by an immigrant-family work ethic and a deep drive to succeed. But as his leadership responsibilities grew, so did his awareness that achievement alone doesn’t really teach you how to lead people. Jesus reflects on how feedback from trusted teammates, parenting his daughter, and leading you...

Cheria and amazing guest, Piera Gelardi , delve into a perspective we don’t often prioritize in the workplace: play. While many of us associate growth with pressure, performance, and constant output, Piera challenges that assumption by inviting us to consider what becomes possible when we reintroduce curiosity, creativity, and lightness into how we lead and live. ----- Piera Gelardi is a creative...

What began as a personal interest in functional movement unexpectedly led Kim Nicol into teaching, facilitation, and eventually leadership coaching. Through experiences studying anatomy, massage therapy, and Reiki, she discovered her real gift. That gift is helping people shift how they relate to themselves with greater compassion and awareness. Cheria and Kim have a conversation discussing the va...

Cheria sits down with her aunt, Mary Brown , President and CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation, for a conversation about legacy, advocacy, and what it truly means to serve a community over time. For Mary, the journey began decades earlier at just six years old when the death of a neighborhood child with a blood disorder left a lasting impression. Years later, a simple encyclopedia search led...

Grow There With Cheria is back! Cheria is joined by Juliana Arthuso , Senior Art Director at Ollie, for a thoughtful conversation about the intersection of work, health, and identity. Juliana shares about a time when a concussion forced her to slow down which had disrupted her relationship with productivity and challenging long-held beliefs about performance, self-worth, and success. Some topics C...

Jeff Gelfuso , SVP & Chief Design Officer at Qualtrics, opens up and gives us a candid look at how sudden personal loss shifted his perspective on life and leadership. From stepping into new family responsibilities to rethinking the things that really matter at work, Jeff shares the lessons that helped him grow during one of the most challenging seasons of his life. Some topics Cheria and Jeff...

Cheria sits down with one of her favorite former bosses and dear friend, Rachel Russell , to take an adventure through how creativity, community, and grief can shape the way we grow. Rachel opens up about her transition from working with children and families at Camp Laurel to launching her own business, Stitch and Flourish, a creative venture born from resilience and her own self-discovery. Toget...

Cheria sits down with Evan Shapiro , the self-proclaimed “cartographer of the media universe”, for a candid conversation on growth, creativity, and reinvention. Together, they unpack how the archetype of the “villain” can actually be a force for transformation, what it means to continually shed your skin to evolve, and why knowing your superpower is essential to leading with authenticity. Evan sha...

Welcome to Season 3 of Grow There with Cheria! This episode opens with reflection, renewal, and a powerful reminder that growth is never linear. Cheria kicks things off by sharing her September reflections and the idea of “Monday energy”, those moments in life that feel like both an ending and a new beginning. Joining her is Mita Mallick, bestselling author and corporate changemaker, who shares he...

Welcome Virginia Suliman , EVP and Chief Information & Digital Officer at Invitation Homes, for a raw conversation about what it means to lead with both humanity and heart. Together, they explore the crossroads of professional leadership and personal transformation—Cheria reflecting on her journey from singer to speaker, and Virginia sharing her experience navigating grief, caregiving, menopau...

In this episode, we sit down with Puja Vohra—EVP of Ad Sales and CMO at Fox Corporation—for a conversation rooted in grit, growth, and the kind of wisdom only life experience can teach. Puja opens up about starting over in a new country, building a career from the ground up, and holding onto her belief in herself—even when things felt uncertain. From navigating cultural shifts to leading high-stak...

In this episode, we sit down with Kass and Mike Lazerow —serial entrepreneurs and investors—who take us through the real, raw, and sometimes messy journey of building and selling companies like Golf.com and Buddy Media. From childhood stories to hard-won business truths, this conversation explores what it means to grow something real—in business, in partnership, and in life. Kass and Mike talk abo...

We sit down with Stanley Lumax —a dynamic force in culture-driven marketing whose career spans from Nike to Complex to JP Morgan Chase . But his story is more than titles. Stanley shares how a moment of deep pause during the pandemic helped him realign not only with his passion but with his purpose. From building brands to building community—through ventures like African Chophouse and Teranga —he...

Cheria sits down with Rob Symes —serial entrepreneur, visionary, and proud dad. Rob opens up about the highs and lows of building and selling his first company, using AI for global good, and how his son’s autism diagnosis shifted everything. Together, they talk about the loneliness that can come with growth, the courage it takes to keep innovating, and what it really means to lead with heart. This...

In this episode of Grow There with Cheria , Cheria sits down with the radiant Rha Goddess —entrepreneurial soul coach, changemaker, and author of Intentional Ambition . Together, they explore how growth in work and life are inseparable, and how true leadership starts from within. Rha shares the deeply personal story of how the passing of her father reshaped her relationship with work, and why rene...

In this episode, Cheria sits down with the brilliant Dr. Natalie Nixon—creativity strategist, global keynote speaker, and author—for a rich conversation on what it really means to grow. Natalie shares how ballroom dancing taught her the art of follow-through and how being a "clumsy student" can be a superpower in both life and leadership. Together, they explore how slowing down, embracing vulnerab...

This episode is extra special. Meet the Mercado family - Marcie, Jeremy, and their incredible kids, Benjamin and Saige. Their journey to parenthood was anything but linear, leading them to foster-to-adopt Benjamin, who instantly filled their home with love. Then, just weeks later, Marcie found out she was pregnant with Saige. What makes this family even more remarkable? Their deep-rooted commitmen...

In this episode, Cheria sits down with Brigid Walsh—a powerhouse whose career spans entertainment, PR, and TV production, now leading the charge in environmental innovation. From working with Vogue and top-tier clients to founding 100 Miles North, Brigid’s journey is all about transformation, sustainability, and designing for a better future. She breaks down how permaculture—rooted in age-old agri...

Join Cheria as she kicks off Season 2 of 'Grow There with Cheria' with an enlightening and authentic conversation with Nick Tran, former global head of marketing at TikTok. In this episode, Cheria discusses her journey from turning workplaces into growth spaces to reflecting on the success of Season 1. Nick Tran shares his unique story of personal and professional growth following his unexpected e...

In this heartfelt episode, host Cheria invites her mother, Dr. Josette Brown, to share her inspiring life story. From her dream of being a wife and a mom to her tenacity in navigating divorce and financial struggles, Dr. Brown opens up about her persistent pursuit of education and growth. This candid conversation highlights the importance of lifelong learning, resilience, and the impact of persona...

In this heartfelt episode, Cheria takes a journey through a deep conversation with her best friend, Karen. The duo shares their unique retreat practice, the intersection of work and life, and how grief profoundly shapes growth. Karen’s path led her to become a death doula, where she helps people navigate the end of life with dignity, reflecting on her own experiences and the deep connection betwee...

In episode 7 of Grow There with Cheria, Cheria invites her friend Monique Cadle, founding partner of GoodWorks Consulting, to discuss their personal and professional growth journeys. Monique shares powerful insights on blending career objectives with personal joy and authenticity. They discuss the importance of self-love, community, and making space for creativity and self-discovery. This candid c...

In episode 6 of 'Grow There with Cheria,' Cheria introduces her guest, Laura Brunow. Laura, a multi-talented Reiki practitioner, brand designer, and community builder, shares her journey of navigating personal grief and health challenges, including a recent diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer. Laura discusses the intersections of her personal and professional life, her efforts to create accessi...