The Blue Stiley Podcast

Today’s guest is someone whose story hits just as hard as his roundhouse kick. You may know him as Dennis de Guzman from The Karate Kid Part III and Cobra Kai , but that’s just one chapter of who he is. William Christopher-Ford began training in martial arts at the age of seven and is now a 5th-degree black belt in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate, a lifelong teacher, and the founder of Kaizen Dojo Acad...

This episode of The Blue Stiley Podcast is sponsored by Dubin Law Group—a firm built on gratitude, empathy, and compassion. Founded by Matthew Dubin, Dubin Law Group has been fighting for the rights of injured clients for decades. Learn more at dubinlawoffice.com Today we’re digging into a hard truth: most goals don’t fail because people lack motivation—they fail because the foundation underneath...

Jacey Harder grew up in a small town in Idaho, went on to attend West Point, served in the military, and quietly built a career rooted in leadership, resilience, and high-stakes decision-making.  Along the way, she learned how to operate under pressure, adapt fast, and lead when the rules aren’t always clear—skills you might expect from a spy… and from great leaders. In this episode, we talk about...

Today’s guest is someone who believes laughter is not just entertainment — it’s a leadership strategy. Stefano Iaboni is an international speaker, corporate trainer, and the man behind Smile Solution, where he helps companies turn stress into smiles and create workplaces that are more creative, connected, and joyful. For years, Stefano has been walking into rooms full of adults who are stressed, g...

Welcome back to The Blue Stiley Podcast. Today, I’m sitting down with someone whose voice you’ve probably heard if you’ve ever tuned into ROOT SPORTS Northwest — longtime broadcaster Tom Glasgow.  From the Seahawks to the Mariners, Tom has spent over 40 years behind the mic, bringing some of the biggest sports moments to life. In this conversation, we dive into what that journey has looked like: t...

Welcome to The Blue Stiley Podcast. I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off this new chapter than by sitting down with the person who’s been with me through it all—my wife, Heidi. This episode isn’t just an introduction to the show, it’s a window into the foundation of everything I talk about on this podcast like resilience, trust, vulnerability, and growth.  Heidi and I share the story of ho...

Welcome to The Blue Stiley Podcast — formerly Navigating No. In this kickoff episode, Blue shares the heart behind the rebrand, why it was time for a change, and what you can expect moving forward. Same mission. New name. Bigger impact. Hear the vision, the shift, and the invitation to grow alongside a show dedicated to helping you rise above life’s challenges and live with more confidence, purpos...

What if true growth isn’t about pushing harder—but about finally being honest with yourself? For Cletus Coffey, that moment of honesty came after life had already knocked him down—career setbacks, divorce, and the painful realization that he was the common denominator of it all. That epiphany didn’t end him. It woke him up to do the internal work most people avoid. A former pro athlete turned high...

What if leadership wasn’t about being first—but about lifting others as you rise? For Laura Penney, that’s more than a philosophy—it’s a legacy in motion. Raised on the Coeur d’Alene reservation, her father who served as a lifelong tribal leader, Laura was told from a young age that she was destined to lead.  But destiny doesn’t guarantee a straight path. It took four tries, an MBA, and an unwaver...

What if real transformation doesn’t start in the gym—but in the mind? Sean Ferguson knows what it means to build real strength, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In this episode, Sean opens up about his journey—from uncertainty about becoming a personal trainer to building a powerhouse method rooted in betterment.  He shares how fitness became a gateway to purpose, t...

What if the hardest part of success is letting go of who you thought you had to be? Tanji Johnson was on a steady, structured path—filled with purpose and the kind of direction most people strive for. But life had a different stage in mind. From her roots at the United States Air Force Academy to becoming an IFBB Pro fitness competitor and now a powerhouse motivational speaker, Tanji’s story is on...

What if the storms in your life aren’t there to stop you—but to shape you? Ron Alford thought he had his path mapped out. Raised in a military family, he was set to follow his brothers into the Marine Corps. But a detour into door-to-door book sales led to a decades-long journey in leadership, coaching, and transformation. Now a senior partner at Southwestern Consulting and best-selling author of...

Mary Wharton didn’t plan on becoming a modeling agent. She was headed toward a career in textile marketing—until a chance internship at Elite Model Mgmt, which introduced her to the world of modeling. That unexpected detour led to a meeting with a former super model, and a future at Locke Model Management, where Mary found not just a job, but a calling. Today, she’s more than an agent—she’s a ment...

What if the path to your passion looked nothing like you expected? Michael Determan didn’t go to film school. He went to business school. But somewhere between the numbers and spreadsheets, he discovered a different calling—in visual storytelling. Michael carved his own way into the world of filmmaking. His career didn’t start with red carpets—it started with “no.” No roadmap. No guarantee. No saf...

What if asking for help was the bravest thing you could do? Casey Jacox was a college quarterback chasing dreams of glory—until a devastating injury sidelined everything.  Watching teammates thrive while he sat on the bench, he wrestled with envy, shame, and doubt. But when he finally opened up to his coach, he was met not with judgment—but with a new purpose. That moment changed everything. Today...

What if the “no” you feared was actually a nudge toward something more lasting? Andre Danke was just 17 when a friend opened the door to modeling—a door that led to over three decades as a world-traveling, high-fashion supermodel. But it wasn’t just looks that kept him in the game. It was his discipline. His mindset. His ability to hear “no” and keep showing up with kindness, consistency, and conf...

Sometimes, the best way to lead isn't following someone else's path – but by creating your own. Brooke Baker Spink didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a CEO in construction. But after returning to the family business, she stepped into a male-dominated industry with no playbook—just grit, the ability to be relatable & a willingness to learn from the ground up. She parked her ego at the door, li...

What if the kid who once got bullied—and then became the bully—grew up to break the cycle for everyone else? Tommy Williams grew up on the south side of Chicago, surrounded by gangs, violence, and instability. After years of navigating survival mode, he found refuge—and purpose on the football field. Sports taught him discipline. Community gave him a reason to stay the course. And when life knocke...

What if saying no was the very thing that set you free? Jane Atkinson spent years helping other people shine—from high-profile speaker bureaus to catapulting some of the biggest names on stages around the world. Her personal journey began with rejection, self-doubt, and the silence that follows when you launch a business… and no one shows up. But Jane didn’t give up. She turned that quiet into cla...

What if stepping off an abyss helped thousands find a place to belong? When Phil Champlin moved his family from California to Spokane, he faced uncertainty and the question of whether to return to stability in California or to push forward. Phil chose to stay—and to dig in. That decision led him to a newspaper listing for a struggling community sports facility called The Hub. It wasn’t just a job—...

What if losing your job was the moment you finally found your WHY?Trina Snow shares how a sudden layoff after 32 years in corporate leadership became the unexpected catalyst for transformation. From leading at Nordstrom, Eddie Bauer, REI, and DSW to standing at a professional crossroad, Trina realized she didn’t just need a new job—she needed a new way of living. She breaks down why having a plan...

What if rock bottom was actually your launchpad? In this episode of Navigating No , Stephen Morton—author, actor, entrepreneur, and deep thinker—opens up about hitting some of life’s lowest points and using them as fuel for reinvention. From the shame of bankruptcy to relying on food stamps to feed his family, Stephen shares the raw truth of standing in line, wondering how it all came to this. But...

What if the lowest point in your journey revealed the path to your highest purpose? Dave Warren’s story from aspiring rock star to Emmy-winning animation artist and creative director is anything but ordinary. After chasing music dreams to California in a Monte Carlo packed with guitars, he found himself navigating unexpected detours—from cartooning to animating some of the most iconic shows of the...

How do you believe that every “no” gets you closer to your “yes”?For Ana Mazzeo, that belief isn’t just a mindset—it’s her story. Named one of Forbes Italy’s Top 100 Successful Women and Fortune Italy’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women, Ana now serves as Managing Director of Wobi Italia. But her path wasn’t paved with easy yeses—it was shaped by countless no’s. Born in Argentina and raised with little,...

Sometimes it only takes a moment to knock you flat—and force you to question everything. For Greg Stern, that moment came not with clarity, but with exhaustion and the quiet collapse of a dream he’d chased for years. What followed was a shift sparked by a few powerful words from his father and the support of mentors who reminded him of the gifts he carried. In this episode, I reconnect with my chi...