THE MAKING OF ME

Are you exhausted by extreme fitness trends, crash diets, and the pressure to completely transform overnight? In this empowering episode of The Making of Me , Mckenzie Jacobs — certified personal trainer and nutrition coach — shares her journey from struggling with body image and unhealthy fitness extremes to discovering confidence through sustainable habits, strength training, and self-respect. S...

What if the hardest moments of your life became the foundation for stories that inspire and heal others? In this heartfelt episode of The Making of Me , Nancy Jasin Ensley — registered nurse, hospice specialist, and accomplished author — shares how decades of caring for people through life’s most difficult moments shaped her approach to storytelling. From family struggles and personal adversity to...

What if a life-threatening diagnosis became the very thing that unlocked your creative purpose? In this deeply moving episode of The Making of Me , Nita Clarke — author and storyteller — shares how surviving stomach cancer completely reshaped her life and inspired her to write her debut novel Mint Julep , which grew into a powerful trilogy. Through faith, resilience, and strong family support, she...

What happens when life changes everything you thought you knew—and forces you to rebuild from scratch? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me , Sara Freeman Smith — recruiting manager, author, disability advocate, and motivational speaker — shares her inspiring journey after losing her vision. Instead of giving up, she leaned into faith, resilience, and purpose, transforming her setback into...

What if the pain that isolated you growing up was actually shaping the story you were meant to tell? In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me , Sophia Veritas — graphic novel author, legal assistant, and creator of Invocada — shares her powerful journey from being bullied and feeling like an outsider to discovering her voice through storytelling, spirituality, and creative expression. Growing...

What do you do when life breaks you in a way you never expected—and how do you begin again? In this deeply moving episode of The Making of Me , Steven Ferrara — spiritual teacher, author, and coach — shares how daily journaling became a lifeline after the devastating loss of his son and wife. Through raw honesty and reflection, he reveals how putting pain on paper helped him process grief, create...

What if the biggest leadership problem isn’t strategy, talent, or effort—but communication? In this insightful episode of The Making of Me , Yosi Kossowsky — executive coach and leadership development expert — breaks down why communication failures are one of the most common challenges in leadership today. He reveals why people often misunderstand each other even when speaking the same language, a...

What if the real secret to building high-performing teams isn’t pressure—but emotional safety and nervous system awareness? In this insightful episode of The Making of Me , Emilia Smith — leadership coach, founder, and CEO of Evolve Ventures Technologies — explores how emotional intelligence and nervous system regulation shape the way teams perform, collaborate, and grow. She breaks down why emoti...

What does healing look like after years of hidden pain, addiction, and unresolved childhood trauma? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me , Donna Donahoe: psychotherapist, author of Witness Awakening , and trauma recovery specialist shares her deeply personal journey of surviving childhood sexual abuse, repressed memories, and addiction, and how she turned that pain into a lifelong mission...

Are your relationships draining your energy because you struggle to say no—or feel guilty when you finally do? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me , Anutza Bellissimo — certified anger management specialist — shares evidence-based strategies for setting healthy boundaries without guilt, emotional shutdowns, or unnecessary conflict. She breaks down how emotional awareness and communication...

What if the biggest barrier to your success is not outside of you—but within you? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me , Steve Barton — executive coach, author, and creator of the Game of 10 — sits down with Benaiah to unpack how overcoming fear, self-doubt, guilt, and shame becomes the foundation for real personal transformation and impactful leadership. From childhood adversity to buildi...

What does it take to turn unimaginable pain into lasting purpose, deep healing, and a completely renewed sense of identity after surviving some of life’s darkest experiences? In this deeply emotional and inspiring episode of The Making of Me , Adriene Caldwell — survivor, author, and advocate — opens up about her journey through foster care, abuse, and trauma, and how she gradually rebuilt her lif...

Have you ever felt dismissed by doctors or struggled to be heard about chronic pain or ongoing symptoms? In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Stefani Sellers shares a deeply personal journey with a rare genetic condition and explores how medical gaslighting can impact both emotional wellbeing and physical health. This conversation focuses on rebuilding trust with your body, learning to li...

Are you stuck in the same cycles, wondering why nothing ever seems to change? In this transformative episode of The Making of Me Podcast , international speaker and transformation coach Nicolas Smith introduces the powerful 12 Journeys Framework — a proven roadmap for breaking free from limiting beliefs, rewriting your personal story, and evolving into the strongest, most resilient version of your...

What do elite athletes and successful entrepreneurs have in common? Discipline, resilience, and the ability to adapt under pressure. In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast on the Aro Benaiah platform, Marnie Wills , former athlete and multi-venture entrepreneur, shares how she translated a high-performance sports mindset into business success—by embracing AI as a powerful growth tool. Marnie...

Can AI really help us grow emotionally—and how do you avoid losing your humanity in the process? In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Jeremy Schneider , therapist, educator, and technology-informed mental health practitioner, explores the balance between using AI for self-reflection while maintaining authentic human connection. Jeremy brings a unique perspective at the intersection of men...

Are your relationships, habits, or financial choices quietly holding you back? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Dwight Heck introduces the 70/30 Principle and explains how it can help you build healthier relationships, set stronger boundaries, and improve both your emotional and financial well-being. This conversation breaks down how the people you surround yourself with—and...

In this inspiring interview on The Making of Me Podcast , Jane Rogers shares her powerful journey of living with epilepsy for over 30 years and how humor, resilience, and honesty helped her navigate the many challenges along the way. She opens up about the emotional and physical realities of living with a long-term condition, the difficult moments that tested her strength, and how choosing honesty...

Are your fears quietly limiting your potential and keeping you from the success you know you’re capable of? In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Chris Woods —certified professional coach, former Google sales leader, and author of Balls and Brains —shares practical strategies to help you uncover and overcome the fears that hold you back. This conversation explores how fear shows up in ever...

Struggling with public speaking, Zoom meetings, or creating engaging presentations? In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast , presentation expert Rick Altman sits down with Benaiah to break down the biggest mistakes people make when presenting—both online and in person—and how to overcome them with confidence and authenticity. With over two decades of experience from the Presentation Summit, R...

What does it take to rebuild your life after everything changes in an instant? In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Dennis Henson shares his remarkable journey of rebuilding his health, business, and identity after surviving a life-altering stroke. Through his “Seven Secrets of Success,” Dennis reveals the principles that guided his recovery and helped him regain purpose, strengt...

What happens when you ask a child, “Do you want to be the hero of your own story?” In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Kate Markland , former physiotherapist turned award-winning literacy innovator, shares how a simple weekly FaceTime question with her son sparked a global movement in children’s storytelling. From that moment, she developed the Story Quest methodology—an approa...

Are you feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or struggling to find purpose despite external success? In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Jody Brooks shares her powerful journey of overcoming childhood trauma, depression, and burnout to build a life of clarity, self-awareness, and authentic happiness. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful practice: learning to stop. Jody explains how...

Ever dreamed of taking your family on a long-term travel adventure but don’t know where to start financially? In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Suzanne Lewis (Suzy May Wander) shares her proven 6-part Wander Financial Framework that helps families gain clarity, track expenses, and build realistic savings plans to make long-term travel possible. This conversation breaks down how familie...

What happens when you take an unconventional path to rebuild your life—and discover your true purpose along the way? In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast , Maria Merloni shares her bold and unexpected journey from psychotherapist to educator—revealing how stepping into unfamiliar territory became a powerful turning point in her healing, identity, and life direction. What began as a practica...