Real with Rocky

Finding Worth Beyond Performance In this episode, Brandon Finnegan—the first and only player to ever compete in both the College World Series and the Major League World Series in the same year—opens up about navigating life beyond the mound. From depression during a forced retirement to discovering purpose through faith, family, and identity outside of baseball, this candid conversation explores l...

What This Episode Is About What if faith isn’t about perfection, but about the willingness to try? In Part 2 of Rocky’s conversation with Mukwenda Kandole, they uncover what it means to redefine faith, embrace “the wrestle,” and lead with genuine vulnerability. This episode challenges our obsession with being right and explores how leaders can show up fully human without losing credibility. Episod...

What This Episode Is About Faith, doubt, and leadership often live side by side—but most leaders don’t talk about it. In this powerful first part of our conversation with Mukwenda Kandole, Rocky explores what it looks like to hold belief and doubt together, why we must add new “wires” to our lives instead of rewiring our past, and how vulnerability is not weakness but a pathway to deeper faith. Ep...

Becoming Your Favorite Version of You What does it take to say, “Today’s me is my favorite me”? In Part 2 of Rocky’s conversation with Gabriella Monte, they explore how forgiveness, boundaries, and redefining success shape the way we lead and live. This episode is a vulnerable look at letting go of old versions of ourselves while embracing who we’re becoming. Episode Highlights . The difference be...

In this episode, I sit down with Gabriella, a dynamic leader who’s been on a journey of transformation in both her personal and professional life. We dive into the lessons she’s learned along the way about vulnerability, leadership, and rediscovering herself after becoming a mother. This episode is all about embracing imperfections and understanding that true leadership is not about presenting a p...

In Part 2 of Show Us Your Human, I sit down with Darren Palmer, a leader, entrepreneur, and someone who is incredibly passionate about connecting with others. We dive into the truths behind leadership that are rarely seen—the struggles, the doubts, and the human side of great leadership. ICYMI: About Darren Palmer Darren M. Palmer is a dynamic Serial Entrepreneur and the co-founder of one of the n...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Darren Palmer, a respected leader and entrepreneur, to discuss the unseen struggles that even the most successful leaders face. While many look up to leaders for their polished accomplishments, the truth is that behind every great leader, there’s something they’re still working through, something unfinished, something real. Darren’s journey is no exception. Abou...

In today’s episode, we dive into part two of the human side of leadership with Angelee, who shares her journey of balancing her leadership role with vulnerability, self-doubt, and authenticity. As a leader in her business, she explores the challenges of showing up fully human, accepting both the strengths and weaknesses that come with it, and how emotional transparency can lead to greater connecti...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by my good friend, Angelee Fortuna, for a real and candid conversation about leadership, emotions, and the power of showing up as your true self. Over the years, Angelee has been an incredible example of leadership, not just through her achievements, but through her willingness to show vulnerability and authenticity. We’re diving into how she balances being emotional...

In today’s episode, I want to talk about one of my favorite concepts around leadership, personal development, and life in general: tension . It’s a concept that I keep coming back to because, for me, it encapsulates so much of what we experience in our personal and professional journeys. I’ve struggled for years with the idea of work-life balance. For some reason, the term “balance” never sat righ...

In this episode, I sit down with Charla Storey, an entrepreneur balancing multiple businesses, motherhood, and self-care. We dive into the raw, unresolved parts of leadership, discussing how to navigate uncertainty and redefine success. If something in this conversation resonates with you, stick around. At the end of the show, I’ll share how you can join our monthly leadership training. Guest Intr...

In today's episode, I want to dive deep into something I find myself talking about with clients almost every week—catastrophizing. As leaders, we often face overwhelming challenges, stress, and uncertainty. And when we’re feeling overwhelmed, our instinct is to catastrophize even the smallest issues. It's natural. It feels like we’re doing everything we can to gain control, but often, we e...

In today’s episode, I sit down with my incredible friend Adriana Martinez—an entrepreneur and a wife who has built and run successful businesses. What makes Adriana’s story so powerful is not just her business acumen, but the deep, personal transformation she’s gone through in her journey as a leader. She’s someone who leads with both heart and mind, and in this episode, we dive deep into the real...

In this solo episode, I dive deep into the powerful and often unnoticed impact of the stories we tell about others—especially as leaders. Over the years, I’ve developed a methodology called the Confidence Method, which helps individuals identify the sources of their fear, doubt, and insecurity, and transform their beliefs into something positive and empowering. But today, I want to explore a new a...

In today's episode, I’m joined by Josh Patten, a seasoned leader with a diverse background, including a long tenure at Aetna and a deep experience in crisis leadership. We dive into the tension that many leaders face—the difference between leading authentically and being influenced by external expectations. Josh shares his struggles with leadership, the pressure to perform, and how he’s naviga...

Welcome to The Rocky Garza Show. Today, I’m exploring a critical difference that often gets blurred: leading with your values versus coaching with someone else’s values. When we confuse the two, we risk building teams that look and act like us–rather than teams made up of individuals who lead authentically as themselves. If you’re already feeling that tension, then you’re in the right place. I’m a...

Every great leader I admire has something they’re still working through—something real, unresolved, and unseen by others. Today, I want to take you beyond the polished public image to explore the struggles, questions, and breakthroughs that happen behind closed doors. This episode is about the leadership you rarely get to see—the parts they don’t always show. If what you hear today resonates with...

Welcome to The Rocky Garza Show ! I’m your host, Rocky Garza, and today, I am diving deep into one of the most meaningful concepts I’ve held close over the last decade: Lead Like You, Not Like Them. This isn’t just a catchy slogan for me. It’s a conviction—a way of thinking about leadership that has shaped how I show up in my work, my life, and with the people I lead. If you've ever felt the p...

In this episode of The Rocky Garza Show , I sit down with my friend Hector Garcia—a service-based entrepreneur and the founder of multiple businesses, including Labor Share, Art of the Raises, and Anchor Accounting Group. Hector has spent the last two decades building systems, empowering teams, and driving impact—but the last 18 months have been about something different: stripping it all back to...

What do we do when we feel stuck? That’s the question I’m unpacking in this solo episode of The Rocky Garza Show . If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, paralyzed by too many decisions, or just caught in your head, then this is for you. I introduce what I call the Four A Framework —a simple and practical model to help you move from stuck to forward motion. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s ab...

In this episode of The Rocky Garza Show , I sit down with my friend Matt Plumer—a financial and business coach who helps real estate professionals create real freedom, build wealth, and design lives they actually want to live. We didn’t just talk strategy—we got honest about what it takes to lead well when you're in the trenches of building something that matters. Matt is a guy who’s created a...

In this episode of The Rocky Garza Show , I explore a tension I know we’ve all felt—choosing between emotion and logic. For years, I’ve heard (and said) that we’re either “feelings people” or “facts people.” But what if that’s a false choice? What if clarity doesn't come from choosing one over the other—but from learning how to hold space for both? Neither Emotion Nor Logic Has the Whole Truth...

In this episode of The Rocky Garza Show , I sat down with my good friend Ruben Alvarez—founder of Marketing Hunters, author of Brand Sharks , and someone I deeply respect for his raw honesty and personal evolution. His mantra is clear: sales bring you money, but brand brings you legacy . But today’s conversation wasn’t about branding. It was about something even deeper—identity, discipline, and wh...

In this solo episode, I’m diving into one of the most consistent frustrations I hear from leaders—especially those managing people. We often confuse someone’s actual capacity with the expectations we place on them, and the only thing that fills the gap between the two is disappointment. Let’s unpack that. Expectations vs. Reality Have you ever felt frustrated that someone on your team just isn’t m...

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime online friend turned real-life connection, Tony Sousa. Tony recently made a bold career move—leaving behind nearly two decades in corporate operations to step into full-time entrepreneurship. We dive into what it really feels like to take a leap like that, how to process fear, and why the stories we tell ourselves—and others—shape the results we get in...