Hear Where You Belong

In Episode 51 of Hear Where You Belong , host Dea Irby welcomes Jeff Fisher , a man on a mission to make everyone feel seen, heard, and connected. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Ride the Wave Foundation , Jeff is no stranger to service. From leading mentorship programs and community initiatives to running NCK Equipment and hosting the Ride the Wave Podcast , his life is a living test...

Hello awesome belongers… Welcome home to the Hear Where You Belong podcast! I’m Dea, your host, and today we celebrate Episode 50 with a guest whose life work proves stories are not just entertainment — they’re the blueprint for becoming who we are meant to be. Wendy Folsom is a national award-winning playwright, senior producer at BYUradio , and a storytelling powerhouse who has spent more than 2...

What if your family legacy was built on survival, escape, and the relentless pursuit of freedom? In Episode 49 of Hear Where You Belong , host Dea Irby sits down with Dr. Robert Wolf , recently retired radiologist and award-winning author of Not a Real Enemy: The True Story of a Hungarian Jewish Man’s Fight for Freedom . This gripping memoir honors his father—an extraordinary man who escaped Nazi...

 In Episode 48 of Hear Where You Belong , I sit down with Gina Economopoulos—a powerful voice of resilience and faith. Born into a vibrant Greek-Italian family, Gina’s life has been a winding path through pain, purpose, and profound transformation. From tending bar to becoming a Franciscan sister, from grieving her mother’s death to facing rejection within her community, Gina's story is layere...

What if the path to joy, confidence, and belonging began not with fitting in—but with fully showing up? In this transformative episode of Hear Where You Belong , host Dea Irby welcomes award-winning improviser, speaker, and founder of Wild Mind Improv, Anoo Tree Brod . Together, they explore what it really means to belong to yourself —especially when your name, your background, or your sensitivity...

 In Episode 46 of Hear Where You Belong , join Dea for an insightful conversation with Gabriel Kaam, a French entrepreneur and co-founder of the award-winning KNR Agency. Gabriel opens up about the importance of creating a positive and inclusive work culture—and how a sense of belonging leads to happier teams and better business outcomes. Drawing on his journey from IT consultant to agency founder...

In this captivating episode of Hear Where You Belong , Dea sits down with actor and storyteller Matt Drago for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about the art of acting—and the deeper meaning behind it all. Known for his role as Fabian in Somewhere in Montana , Matt shares how personal connection fuels his performances, why one-take storytelling can be the most powerful, and how prioritizing pe...

What happens when a healer becomes the one who needs healing? In Episode 44 of Hear Where You Belong , host Dea Irby welcomes Dr. Michael J. Hession—physician, survivor, and author—for a compelling conversation on recovery and resilience. After surviving two near-death experiences, Michael shares his practical and profound three-word mantra: Acknowledge. Accept. Adapt. Drawing wisdom from Viktor F...

What happens when your world changes with one phone call? In this deeply moving episode of Hear Where You Belong , host Dea Irby sits down with Deb McNinch—wife, mother, speaker, and founder of the Battle Cry Prayer Movement —as she shares her powerful story of receiving news that shook her foundation and propelled her into an unexpected calling. From grief to grace, Deb turned pain into purpose b...

In this deeply moving episode of Hear Where You Belong , host Dea Irby sits down with Juan Espinoza —veteran, speaker, and author of Unbroken: Turning Pain Into Purpose —to uncover the extraordinary journey of a man who has faced life’s darkest valleys and come out shining with resilience, hope, and purpose. From a childhood shaped by abandonment and struggle to the front lines of Afghanistan, and...

What if fear isn’t the enemy but a misunderstood guide? In this powerful episode of Hear Where You Belong , host Dia Irby sits down with Emmy Award-winning life coach, bestselling author, and founder of the Fearless Living Institute, Rhonda Britten , to uncover the truth about fear, belonging, and resilience. Rhonda’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. At just 14 years old, she witnessed a...

In this compelling episode of Hear Where You Belong , I sit down with David Libby—author, theologian, and seasoned Christian apologist—who has spent over 30 years as a self-employed logger in central Maine. A true pioneer in both his faith and lifestyle, David has hunted, foraged, and farmed while also diving deep into theology, philosophy, and Christian apologetics. But through personal battles w...

What does it truly mean to belong? In this episode of Hear Where You Belong , I sit down with Kevin Palmieri , the CFO, Founder, and Co-Host of Next Level University , a global top 100 self-improvement podcast. Kevin's journey is one of resilience, transformation, and discovering the power of internal belonging before external success. In his mid-20s, Kevin seemed to have it all—financial success,...

Welcome to Episode 38 of Hear Where You Belong , where I have the honor of speaking with Dennis Henson—a renowned educator, author, and leader in both real estate and personal growth. Dennis has dedicated over 30 years to curating empowering stories, quotes, and lessons that inspire individuals to unlock their full potential. As the Founder and President of Vanguard Marketing and Investments, Inc....

Welcome to Episode 37 of Hear Where You Belong ! In this transformative episode, I sit down with Mario Wissa, a seasoned social communication expert with over 17 years of experience in intrapersonal, interpersonal, and group communication. Mario’s passion for enhancing communication skills has driven him to author three influential books— Empowering Communication Unleashed , 180 Degree You in 180...

Welcome to Episode 36 of Hear Where You Belong , where I sit down with the incomparable Chris Trew—a seasoned comedian, award-winning author, and improv pioneer whose journey spans over 100 comedy festivals across North America. With three acclaimed books under his belt— Improv Wins , Behind The Bench , and How to Build a Comedy Scene From Scratch —and a career that includes creating over 50 origi...

Welcome to Episode 35 of Hear Where You Belong , where I have the pleasure of hosting Alan Lazaros—a coach, trainer, podcaster, and the heart-driven, no BS force behind Next Level University. Alan’s journey is as inspiring as it is transformative. From a tender age, Alan experienced profound loss: his father passed away in a car accident when he was just 2, and at 26, he narrowly escaped death in...

Welcome to Episode 34 of Hear Where You Belong , where I have the distinct pleasure of hosting Roni Robbins—an award-winning author and seasoned journalist with 36 years of experience. Roni’s illustrious career spans roles as a freelance reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Medscape/WebMD, and as an editor for prestigious publications like the Atlanta Jewish Times and The Times of Isr...

Welcome to Episode 33 of Hear Where You Belong , where I have the honor of hosting the multifaceted Brenda Seefeldt—a pastor, author, speaker, wife, mom, and Oma—whose life and ministry are all about authentic connection and transformational conversation. In this inspiring episode, Brenda shares her journey as the pastor of Larger Story Church, a dynamic hybrid church that meets over Zoom and make...

In Episode 32 of Hear Where You Belong , join us for an electrifying conversation with Rob Rene—a former high-level athlete and near-death survivor whose life was radically transformed after a near-fatal accident. Rob has turned his profound personal journey into a mission for empowering others, emerging as an inspiring keynote speaker, herbalist, and molecular hydrogen researcher with a deep pass...

In Episode 31 of Hear Where You Belong , we sit down with Ian Chamandy—a purpose architect who has empowered over 400 organizations to distill their mission into a potent seven-word statement. With two decades of experience and a unique proprietary blueprint process, Ian reveals how each word in your purpose statement holds immense power, stripping away the excess until only what truly matters rem...

In Episode 30 of Hear Where You Belong, we welcome the extraordinary Aisha Makara—a world traveler, artist, and visionary whose incredible life journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the search for belonging. Born in Mongolia and orphaned at just two years old, Aisha’s life has been anything but ordinary. With over 60 countries stamped in her passport and accomplishments that span m...

What does it mean to truly belong? In Episode 29 of Hear Where You Belong, Dr. Deborah Heiser, an applied developmental psychologist and founder of The Mentor Project, invites us into her world—a world where connection is the cornerstone of growth and mentorship is the bridge to transformation. Dr. Heiser’s story is one of discovery and purpose. As a shy, introverted child, she learned early on th...

In Episode 28 of Hear Where You Belong, we dive into the inspiring story of Diana Graham, MPA, MBA—a visionary leader dedicated to creating extraordinary opportunities for individuals and organizations across the globe. Diana’s journey is a testament to resilience, leadership, and the power of purpose. Her story begins in the military, where she served as a Battalion-level Patient Administrator du...

In Episode 27 of Hear Where You Belong, we’re joined by the extraordinary Cupid Hayes—a SAG-AFTRA actress, award-winning casting director, and a master of helping others discover their unique place in the world. Raised by her Great Grandmother and Great Great Grandfather, Cupid’s life has been a rich tapestry of belonging, identity, and creativity. Drawing parallels to the timeless story of Benjam...