Stories that Shaped Me with Avram Gonzales

In this episode, Avram Gonzales looks back to when he was 19 and first introduced to The Secret while home on Christmas break. What started as curiosity about the power of thoughts quickly became something bigger—an early discovery that personal growth happens fastest when shared with others. While most of his peers brushed off the ideas he was excited about, two friends, Phil and Travis, leaned i...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares the story of a last-minute Christmas scramble that accidentally turned into a family tradition. After procrastinating on wrapping gifts, he covered his parents’ presents in towels and blankets—half joking that it was all in the name of “sustainability.” That moment, though humorous, also connected to something real for Avram. Becoming a parent and noticing ho...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares a high-school story that’s equal parts funny and humbling. At 17, he and a friend ditched school to chase down a grilled stuffed chicken burrito from Taco Bell—a mission that ended with Avram unknowingly speeding 95 mph through a 35 zone, a police chase he didn’t even realize was happening, and the loss of his driver’s license on the spot. Avram recounts the...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares a chapter of his life that was both exciting and destructive. At 25, after earning $34,000 in his first business, he stumbled into a network marketing opportunity that seemed like a perfect fit. With an engaged online audience from his earlier “InspirAction” journey, Avram quickly attracted hundreds of people into the program—and those people brought in thous...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares a childhood memory tied to a worn copy of a book from the Redwall series—a book he vividly recalls dropping into the bathtub while his mom read to him. Those early moments of being read to weren’t just routine; they formed Avram’s earliest associations between reading, connection, and love. As he spends time reading to his own son today, Avram recognizes how...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares the story of a decision he made on January 1st, 2010—one he didn’t realize would reshape the entire course of his life. Seeking growth after a period of stagnation, he committed to doing something new every single day for a year and posting each experience on YouTube. But the heart of the story isn’t the daily challenges—it’s what happened when Avram turned t...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares a college memory that changed the way he handled social situations. Back then, parties where he didn’t know anyone made him shrink back—so when a friend called asking for help on a night Avram planned to stay in, he ignored the phone. But after several calls, he finally picked up… and learned the party needed his extra keg tap. Showing up in pajamas, Avram wa...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales reflects on a childhood story that shaped both his creativity and the way he approaches strategy today. As a kid, Avram loved rules, structure, and order. That meant when he built Lego sets, they stayed built—carefully displayed, instruction manuals saved, never taken apart. Everything changed when his best friend, Tim, moved in next door. Tim had a completely diffe...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares a story from the early days of starting his business in 2011—one that frustrated him at the time but ultimately pushed him forward. After creating a video for his coach and mentor, George Carroll, Avram proudly went to deposit his first payment. But there was a problem: the check was written to his business name, and he didn’t have a business account. When th...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales looks back at an early clue that he was wired for entrepreneurship—long before he ever imagined owning a business. As a kid, he was obsessed with the computer game Diablo II , not just for the gameplay but for the trading economy inside it. Avram shares how he spent more time in trade channels than actually fighting monsters, learning how to spot pricing gaps, negot...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares a childhood story that shaped his earliest values around money. As a fourth or fifth grader with a three-dollar weekly allowance, he spent nearly a year saving every dollar—until a Toys “R” Us ad revealed a sale on video games he couldn’t resist. Avram recalls racing with his dad to the store just minutes before closing, circling the games he wanted, and prou...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales reflects on a pivotal moment from second grade, when a teacher named Mrs. Mathieson became the first person to notice he learned differently. While he struggled to keep up with reading, spelling, and math, she didn’t label him or make him feel broken. Instead, she gave him tools to help him focus—long before terms like ADD or ADHD were commonly used. One of those to...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares a lighthearted story that still makes him smile every time he makes a smoothie. Shortly after he and Rachel started dating, she offered to make him a green smoothie before he headed to a meeting. Not realizing a Vitamix can heat things up if left running too long, she blended it a bit too well—handing Avram a warm, steaming cup of what was essentially vegetab...

I was unpacking my office the other day, came across this gem. Thought I'd share you with you, the story about it and my journey becoming a public speaker. I painted this guy at a workshop in late 2011. I had just gotten my first taste of what public speaking looked like with a small room of about 15 people and sharing my journey of transformation at 2010, doing a video every single day of somethi...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales looks back on the summer of 2009, when entering the job market as a new marketing graduate felt impossible. With no experience and few opportunities available, he considered going back to school—an idea sparked by his mom. What followed was a lesson Avram never forgot. After learning he was far past the application deadline for a top MBA program, his mom reminded hi...

In this episode, Avram Gonzales shares a simple but meaningful story about the moment he knew he wanted to spend his life with his wife, Rachel. He reflects on an early camping trip they took together and the small details he noticed—but also the deeper realization that came when Rachel told him she had taught herself how to read as a child. Avram talks about the determination and strength that mo...

In this first episode, Avram Gonzales introduces the vision behind Stories That Shaped Me and shares why he felt called to start the series. He talks about his own journey, the experiences that influenced him, and what he hopes listeners will take away from exploring personal stories in a simple, honest way. It’s a relaxed introduction to Avram’s approach, his intentions for the podcast, and what...