Motivational Mondays: Conversations with Leaders

Beauty should be about highlighting your true self in whatever way works best for you , rather than fulfilling the expectations of paid influencers and trend-followers. Angel Martinez, founder of Angel Aesthetics, Skin Academy by Angel Aesthetics, and the Single Mom Strong Foundation joins Motivational Mondays to share her thoughts about social media filters, beauty trends, and self-discovery. Tun...

Wondering how you can stand out among other leaders? It can be hard to identify what defines great leadership, but Jose R. Costa is here to help! Costa is CEO of Magnolia Wash Holdings and author of “Leading with Edge: Activate Your Competitive Advantage Through Personal Insight,” where he breaks down just what, exactly, makes some leaders so great. With a wide range of experience helping organiza...

As you prep your New Year’s Resolutions for 2024, join us in looking back on the lessons we learned in 2023! Motivational Mondays host Corey Andrew Powell joins us for one last episode: Our year-end wrap-up! He shares some of his favorite moments with amazing podcast guests this year, reminding us of the wisdom they shared in 2023. Get inspired once more with this round-up of 2023 favorites and ge...

Grief can seem all-consuming, but this week’s guest is here to share how she turned her pain into power and found positivity even in the darkness. Victoria Vesce survived a brain tumor that permanently affected her hearing while simultaneously grieving the loss of beloved family members. Ultimately, though, Vesece found her drive again and fulfilled her dreams, modeling for Sports Illustrated and...

Many of us in Western culture “practice yoga,” but do we understand the full meaning of yoga and its various branches? Turns out most of us don’t! Susanna Barkataki, yoga teacher and advocate for the decolonization of yoga, joins Motivational Mondays to share the true meaning of yoga and how we can liberate it and ourselves through our practice.  Barkataki chats with us about yoga’s roots and...

Self-love is often the most difficult kind of love there is, but it’s also the most powerful. If you’re searching for tools to deepen your own sense of self and to love your most authentic self, you can’t miss this week’s episode. Oneika Mays, yoga teacher and facilitator for authentic connection, joins Motivational Mondays to share her wisdom, gleaned from her own transformative yoga practice and...

It’s time to debunk the myth of lazy Gen Zers, and this week’s guest is helping us do just that!  Check out this week’s Motivational Mondays episode to learn about a rad 20-year-old entrepreneur whose dedication and hard work have helped her create success in just a few short years. Kiki Quesada started her cosmetics business, Kikiz Cosmeticz, during the pandemic, building it into a company w...

Authenticity and representation have become common goals in media and business, but sometimes it can seem like organizations are simply “checking the boxes.” How can we make representation truly authentic and meaningful? You won’t want to miss this entertainment-inspired episode with Logan Clark, whose organization, the Casting Collective, has helped cast entertainers in shows like “Dancing with t...

If fear is holding you back from the action that would make your dream a reality, this week’s episode is a must-watch.  Jennifer Dulski, CEO and founder of Rising Team, thought leader, and author of “Purposeful: Are You a Manager or a Movement Starter?” joins Motivational Mondays to share the power of small steps and a community of equally-passionate peers for starting a movement.  Bring...

Empowerment starts with claiming your space, but so many of us are still afraid to take up space around us. Author, survivor, podcaster, and Transformation Teacher Eliza VanCort regularly helps others grow into the most empowered versions of themselves. She does this using lessons learned by facing her own biases and behavior, as well as coaching others through their own. VanCort joins Motivationa...

How can stories help make the world a better place? At Born This Way Foundation, stories pave the way for connection and help build a community-driven to improve mental health among young people.  Shadille Estepan, Senior Manager of Communications for Born This Way Foundation, co-founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Bissett Germanotta, has observed the power of storytelling from her e...

Is student loan anxiety weighing you down? This week’s episode of Motivational Mondays is one you can’t miss.  Zack Geist is the founder and CEO of Student Loan Tutor, the longest-operating student loan repayment management and solutions firm, and an advocate for financial literacy to help people navigate student loan forgiveness and build their future. He has dedicated Student Loan Tutor and...

Looking for inspiration to help give you a push toward your dreams? You’ll certainly find it in the story of this Mexican-born Houston resident who followed his heart to New York City. Hugh Jones seized an opportunity to become an entertainer in the city of his dreams, and now his credits include the film “In the Heights” and the MAX series “The Undoing.” Jones joins Motivational Mondays this week...

A successful journey of 1,000 miles may begin with a single step, but a great mentor can get you there faster. This week on Motivational Mondays, we’re tackling the power of mentorship to build a better future! Blake Johnson has successfully founded and sold several businesses in his career, including his most recent company, Byte, which Forbes Magazine called the fastest-growing company ever —and...

Will you give yourself permission to follow what lights you up? This week’s guest, Victoria Song, is a Leadership Advisor who helps successful CEOs, celebrities, and entrepreneurs find fulfillment and rewarding careers. Song chats with Corey Andrew Powell about the power of learning to view life from an expansive lens and tuning into our natural gifts. Song works with clients to go beneath the sur...

Ever wondered about the truth behind our American myths and history? Looking for the truth behind the stories of American heroes like Christopher Columbus or Pocahontas? Look no further than this week’s Motivational Mondays! Michael Harriot of The Guardian and theGrio.com joins us this week to share what he has learned about American history with his trademark humor! With his expertise as a journa...

Get ready to jump-start your path to freedom! Amy Porterfield, CEO and author of “Two Weeks Notice,” joins Motivational Mondays to teach us about taking control of your own professional journey and creating a career that gives you a sense of freedom. Porterfield chats with Corey Andrew Powell about finding your purpose and what makes you unique — two vital steps in the process to shaping a success...

What does resilience really mean in 2023? For Zani Sunshine, it’s about achieving self-sufficiency and control of personal necessities in an era when society feels increasingly unstable. After over a decade of research into off-grid living during the uncertainty of the pandemic, she and her family packed up their home in Atlanta, Georgia to establish a 25-acre homestead in rural New Mexico — and t...

What does it take to be an entrepreneur? For Paige Dungan, it simply comes down to figuring things out — even when you’re not sure where to start. That’s exactly how Dungan kickstarted a career as a PR mastermind of many successful book launches, including international best sellers, and founded her agency, The Front Porch Collective. In this week’s episode of Motivational Mondays, discover w...

What does it take to live a fulfilling life? For Aneta Ardelian Kuzma, a life coach and best-selling author, it’s about looking within and getting in touch with your values, free from external noise and the rules society creates for us. In this episode of Motivational Mondays, she shares her journey from burnout and depression to thriving as a life coach for high achievers — and what listeners can...

Could skills-based volunteering unlock the next chapter of your career? For Anna Taylor, founder of The Greater Sum Foundation , volunteering with nonprofits proved to be a catalyst for skill development and career advancement. In this episode of Motivational Mondays, she shares her organization’s innovative approach and discusses how community service and opportunity matchmaking can move you forw...

What will it take to heal the rampant divisiveness in our world? For Rose Fass, business transformation expert and founder of fassforward Consulting Group , the difference boils down to perfecting the art of navigating challenging conversations. In this week’s episode of Motivational Mondays, Fass joins Corey Andrew Powell to talk about what’s missing from today’s discourse, how some leaders are s...

Is there such a thing as perfect parenting? According to Michelle Felder, founder and CEO of Parenting Pathfinders and a mother of two herself, the answer is a resounding no — and that’s OK. In this week’s episode of Motivational Mondays, Felder seeks to remind parents what their role is really about: modeling how to live as a healthy adult with compassion, empathy, and accountability. Throughout...

What does innovation mean in 2023? In this week’s episode of Motivational Mondays, you’ll hear what Silicon Valley guru Alex Goryachev thinks technology has to offer us in Industry 4.0, and how that can change not only the way companies operate, but also the nature of work itself. As someone who grew up with the internet, Goryachev is a true digital native, deeply in tune with how technology shape...

Alicia Yoon’s journey began with her determination to heal her skin and led to a booming K-beauty business, Peach & Lily, a skincare company with values of inclusivity and transparency. In this week’s episode of Motivational Mondays, Corey Andrew Powell dives deep into Yoon’s background as a South Korea-trained esthetician, why the U.S. market was so hungry for her products, and what it took f...