THE MAKING OF ME

What if the biggest thing holding high performers back isn’t skill, strategy, or opportunity—but fear they never talk about? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Jay Judkins, certified coach and leadership guide, shares his deeply personal journey through disability, abandonment, life-threatening illness, and career collapse. Through these experiences, he uncovers how hidden fear...

What actually happens during your first ayahuasca ceremony—and what do most people get wrong about it? In this deeply honest episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Oliver Glozik, founder of Harmonica Retreat, shares his raw personal experience and insights from guiding hundreds of participants through their first ceremonies. He opens up about the emotional intensity, unexpected challenges, and the...

What if the identity labels we’ve accepted without question are actually built on stories that deserve deeper examination? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Tony El challenges widely accepted narratives around the term “African American,” encouraging listeners to rethink history, identity, and how cultural understanding is shaped. He raises bold questions about origin stories,...

What if the reason you feel stuck isn’t lack of effort—but lack of alignment in how you think, live, and choose your direction? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Ted Kopecko, author of Finding JOY: Journey of You and founder of Finding JOY, breaks down what it really takes to live a fulfilled, intentional life. Drawing from his background as a commercial architect, entrepreneu...

What does it take for a man to break generational patterns, heal from his past, and step fully into the role his children need most? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Tyler McAdams, founder of Inspiring Father , shares his journey through divorce, emotional struggle, and single fatherhood — and how he refused to repeat the cycle of absence he experienced growing up. Instead, h...

What if the stories children hear today could shape the strength, confidence, and mindset they carry for life? In this insightful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Renaye Thornborrow, founder of Adventures in Wisdom, breaks down how storytelling is more than entertainment — it is a powerful tool for building confidence, resilience, and self-belief in children from an early age. 🎯 In this epis...

What does it take to build a meaningful life when your beginning was marked by pain, limitation, and adversity? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Amanda Gordon shares her deeply personal journey of growing up in a high-control religious environment while also navigating the lifelong impact of surviving severe burns as an infant. Rather than being defined by her circumstances,...

What if healing from trauma isn’t about getting rid of your inner struggles—but learning how to live with them differently? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Joe Gonzalez , U.S. Navy veteran, writer, and founder of the Mother Ocean Fund , shares his deeply personal philosophy for transforming trauma into strength and clarity. Drawing from experiences of near-death situations,...

What does it really mean to be a single mother and how much of what we believe comes from stereotypes rather than reality? In this powerful episode of Aro Benaiah: The Making of Me , we sit down with J. Rosemarie Francis , podcaster, author, and founder of SoloMoms! Talk , to challenge the misconceptions surrounding single motherhood and highlight the strength, resilience, and lived reality of mot...

How do you create meaningful, high-quality films when you don’t have big budgets, industry connections, or expensive equipment? In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Derrick Shaw , award-winning writer, director, and founder of Ruby Street Productions , shares his journey from working-class roots in Philadelphia to building a career in independent filmmaking with projects feature...

Have you ever faced a setback so painful it made you question your future, your identity, or even your purpose? In this deeply honest episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Dean Taylor —mentor, coach, and creator of the Diamond Pivot Framework —shares how a major financial loss in a real estate deal became the unexpected turning point in his life. Instead of staying stuck in failure, Dean discovere...

What does it take to turn deep adversity into healing, purpose, and a life of contribution? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Tijana Tucic shares her extraordinary journey of surviving hardship, emotional struggle, and life challenges, and how those experiences shaped her path toward healing, self-discovery, and purpose. Through reflection, mindset shifts, and personal growth...

Feeling overwhelmed, drained, or stuck in a cycle of constant work pressure? In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast , award-winning author and lifestyle coach Rabesh Sukrajh opens up about his personal experience with corporate burnout and the practical steps he used to rebuild balance, energy, and joy in his life. Rather than focusing on drastic career changes, Rabesh shares realis...

Are you feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from the purpose that once drove your work? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Dr. Megan Sweet —educator, leadership coach, and wellbeing advocate—shares her personal and professional journey through workplace trauma, parenting challenges, and the process of rebuilding her identity while leading in high-pressur...

What if talking openly about your struggles isn't "trauma dumping"—but actually one of the most powerful steps toward healing? In this honest and deeply insightful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Amanda Montoni shares her perspective on why society often avoids difficult conversations around trauma, addiction, recovery, mental health, and identity—and how that silence can keep...

Are kids really learning if AI is doing the thinking for them? In this thought-provoking episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Kevin J. Roberts —author, educator, and ADHD expert—shares insights from more than two decades of working with students and families. Together, we explore how tools like ChatGPT and artificial intelligence are transforming education, homework habits, reading skills, and cr...

What if the way we help our children is actually shaping their motivation more than we realize? In this insightful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Melissa Smith , founder of Generational Drive , explores how well-meaning parental support can sometimes unintentionally reduce a child’s confidence, resilience, and independence. Drawing from her work in organizational behavior, leadership, and f...

Are you struggling to express your feelings honestly without creating tension, misunderstandings, or conflict? In this insightful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Sandy Gerber , global communication expert, speaker, and author, shares her powerful "Honest Sandwich" method—a practical framework designed to help people communicate difficult emotions with clarity, honesty, and compassi...

What does it take to rebuild your life after decades of addiction, homelessness, and struggle? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , certified life coach and recovery advocate David Johnson shares his deeply honest journey from 31 years of addiction and homelessness to sobriety, purpose, and helping others transform their lives. He reveals how meditation and mindfulness became the...

What happens when being the “strong one” in your family becomes the very thing that quietly drains you? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Adaku Mbagwu , transformational coach and founder of Healed Hero , shares her deeply personal journey as a firstborn daughter navigating responsibility, pressure, burnout, and the emotional weight of always having to hold everything together...

What does it take to turn pain, limitation, and adversity into a life of impact, achievement, and purpose? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Win Charles , author, motivational speaker, artist, and endurance athlete, shares her extraordinary journey of living with cerebral palsy, surviving emotional and physical abuse, and refusing to let circumstance define her future. Born wi...

What if the biggest reason startups fail isn’t funding, competition, or timing—but building something nobody actually wants? In this insightful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , entrepreneur and executive Dan Beech , founder of Beechwerks , breaks down how successful businesses are built by starting with one core principle: real customer needs first, not assumptions . Dan shares practical fram...

How do you find peace when life feels overwhelming, uncertain, or completely out of your control? In this deeply grounding episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Dr. Katie Eastman , psychologist, master grief coach, and change specialist, shares her personal and professional insights on navigating grief, infertility, loss, and major life transitions. With over 30 years of experience supporting indi...

What if the fastest way to transform your life isn’t choosing between extremes—but learning how to move between them intentionally? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Hossam Salmi , founder of the Pulsia Protocol , shares his extraordinary journey of leaving a structured corporate life to explore deep transformation across 66 countries , combining extreme adventure with deep in...

What does it really take to break free from societal conditioning and rediscover who you truly are beneath expectations, survival patterns, and inherited beliefs? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Lauretta Zucchetti , speaker, author, and revision coach, shares her extraordinary journey of reinvention—from surviving instability and homelessness in Italy, to building a successf...