Twist of Fate Podcast

Carl McDowell never planned on becoming an actor. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, sports were his focus, and football seemed like the path forward. But after an injury changed those plans, Carl found himself searching for what was next. In this episode of Twist of Fate Podcast, Carl joins our Twist of Fate Podcast host Douglas Younger III to share the story behind his acting journey. From...

Markeis Simon always knew she wanted to perform. But before stepping into entertainment full-time, she spent years serving in the Air Force, working on military aircrafts. In this episode of Twist of Fate Podcast, Markeis sits down with our Twist of Fate Podcast host, Douglas Younger III, to talk about balancing military life while chasing a completely different dream on the side. She shares the l...

Amer Tadayon’s path to building Lucihub, an AI-powered video platform, was anything but easy. Amer sat down with our Twist of Fate Podcast host, Douglas Younger III, to discuss the journey of becoming an entrepreneur, the AI industry, and the power of starting a business in Las Vegas. Don't miss out on this all-new episode of Twist of Fate Podcast! Check out Lucihub: https://lucihub.com/about#...

On October 1, 2017, everything changed. In this all-new episode of Twist of Fate Podcast, host Douglas Younger sits down with Las Vegas pickleball instructor and survivor Darla Christensen to share her story of surviving the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting — and how pickleball helped her heal from severe PTSD. In this episode, Darla talks honestly about PTSD, the fight-flight-freeze response, a...

At 9 years old, Connor Fields landed his first sponsorship. As a kid, he wrote on his parents’ wall with a Sharpie that he was going to win the Olympics. Years later, he made that dream a reality. In this episode of Twist of Fate Podcast, Olympic gold medalist Connor Fields sits down with host Douglas Younger III to talk about where his love for BMX began, how a childhood passion turned into a pro...

Step inside the world of organized crime, Las Vegas history, and immersive museum storytelling with Douglas Younger III, host of Twist of Fate Podcast, as he interviews Shakala Alvaranga, Director of Public Programs at The Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas. Shakala shares her journey from Massachusetts to Las Vegas, her transition from local news reporter to public programming leader, and what it’s...

From Production Assistant to Emmy Award–winning Producer, Tommy Caprio has seen it all. We're so grateful he joined us in Las Vegas, Nevada, to discuss his career. In this episode of Twist of Fate Podcast, host Douglas Younger III sits down with Tommy to discuss his career in entertainment, the challenges and rewards of producing, and his work on Vegas All In, the PBS show that highlights the...

We're so thrilled that the incredible Jaclyn Marfuggi Caprio joined us in Las Vegas for this episode of Twist of Fate Podcast!! Jaclyn is a true entertainer — a dancer, actress, comedian, and producer — who has built her career on passion, perseverance, and a whole lot of Jersey grit. In this episode, she shares how growing up on the East Coast shaped her love for the arts, how stand-up gave h...

Blake Lewis has lived a life built on creativity. From falling in love with music as a kid, to becoming obsessed with beatboxing, to navigating the chaos of life in the spotlight as an American Idol finalist—his story is all about turning challenges into art. Our Twist of Fate Podcast host, Douglas Younger III, and Blake dive into his journey of creativity, music, and self-discovery. Blake discuss...

Welome to Las Vegas!!! 🎰 In our first episode of Twist of Fate Podcast in Vegas, we're welcoming Mariah Nieslanik and Ashton Bray (Joseph), from FANTASY at The Luxor Hotel & Casino! Mariah (Producer) and Ashton (Performance Director) are not only dazzling performers on stage — they’re also part of the all-female leadership team keeping this iconic show fresh, fierce, and fan-focused. Mari...

In this inspiring episode of Twist of Fate Podcast, host Douglas Younger III welcomes Dr. Eric Cioe Peña, the visionary behind the Center for Global Health at Northwell Health, New York’s largest health system. Dr. Peña shares his journey from public health activism at NYU to shaping healthcare strategies around the world. With experience working alongside leaders in Guyana, Ecuador, India, and Uk...

From random doodles at age 2 to becoming a professional artist, Sara Rayo’s creative journey is anything but ordinary. In this new episode of Twist of Fate, host Douglas Younger III sits down with the NYC-based Colombian-American artist whose vibrant, geometry-infused work is transforming how we see art, energy, and self-expression. Sara and Doug discuss the inspiration behind her art, pursuing a...

From unhealthy habits to flipping the script and changing his lifestyle, Kenny Santucci turned struggle into strength, building a fitness empire, redefining success on his own terms, and proving that real transformation starts from within. In this inspiring episode of Twist of Fate Podcast, our host, Douglas Younger III, sits down with fitness entrepreneur and TV personality Kenny Santucci for a d...

What if your intuition could be the key to unlocking not just your purpose, but your business? In this inspiring episode of Twist of Fate Podcast, our host, Douglas Younger III, sits down with Astrologist & Psychic, Natija Cave, in New York City. Natija started exploring her spiritual gift while in college through meditation and the utilization of crystals and tarot cards. Since then, she has...

This ALL NEW episode of Twist of Fate Podcast is deeply moving and powerful. Our host, Douglas Younger III, sits down with Grammy-nominated artist, yoga educator, and musician, Daniel McBride, also known as DALIEN and 13Hands, in the heart of New York. Through raw honesty and spiritual insight, Daniel shares his personal story of healing—how yoga, meditation, and music became lifelines during some...

Ready for a laugh?! Our guest Olga Namer is bringing the jokes, the real talk, and the comedy hustle! 🙌 Olga Namer is a New York-based stand-up comedian known for her sharp wit, authentic storytelling, and ability to connect with audiences. Born and raised in Brooklyn in an Orthodox Jewish family, she discovered her love for making people laugh in high school. Despite initial shyness, she pursued...

Hope you're HUNGRY! This all NEW episode of Twist of Fate Podcast brings you an exclusive conversation with Michael and Nick Conforti, the passionate owners of Angeloni's Restaurant & Pizzeria in Caldwell, New Jersey. They share their journey of building a beloved family-run pizzeria, the challenges of owning a restaurant during the pandemic, and they taste-test some of their favorite...

From homelessness to pro boxing to entrepreneur and philanthropist, Claude Staten Jr. has had an incredible journey. We're thrilled that our Twist of Fate Podcast host, Douglas Younger III, had the opportunity to sit down with Claude in New York City! Claude Staten Jr. is an undefeated professional boxer turned entrepreneur and philanthropist, using his platform to give back to his community....

With 15 years of experience as an urban planner and nonprofit leader, Kristin LaBuz knows what it takes to enrich public spaces, lead a mission-driven organization, and balance it all. As the Executive Director of Open House New York, she wears many hats—actively fundraising, managing teams, and driving impact. In this ALL NEW episode of Twist of Fate Podcast, our host, Douglas Younger III, and ou...

From losing his job to launching the fastest-growing coffee company in America, Nikita Cherkassky’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. As the founder of Manna Coffee, he’s redefining how people get their daily caffeine fix with an innovative coffee kiosk model—a tech-driven, fully automated approach that’s shaking up the industry. Nikita founded the most investable business of 2025, Manna Coff...

Find your inspiration from Twist a Fate: A Small Business Podcast! This episode is dedicated to #veterans , #beer , and #hockey . We're celebrating three years of partnership with the San Diego Gulls! In Episode 49 of Twist of Fate: A Small Business Podcast, our host, Douglas Younger III, had the pleasure of sitting down with Cesar Torres & Grant Tondro from Mason Aleworks at professional spor...

In Episode 48 of Twist of Fate: A Small Business Podcast, our host, Douglas Younger III, had the pleasure of sitting down with Steve Ashbaker. Steve is the owner of Outfront Endurance, a local event management company that is focused on promoting health and wellness at all levels, encouraging community involvement, and giving back through partnerships with local charities. He is also a fitness coa...

In Episode 47 of Twist of Fate: A Small Business Podcast, our host, Douglas Younger III, had the pleasure of sitting down with Larry Waters. Larry is the Founder and CEO of Electrify My Home. Electrify My Home is dedicated to helping homeowners reduce their carbon footprint while securing reliable home comfort, health, and safety that is compliant with the energy codes of California’s future. Thro...

In Episode 46 of Twist of Fate: A Small Business Podcast, our host, Douglas Younger III, had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne. Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of NasaClip, a hands-free nosebleed relief in minutes. She created NasaClip to help healthcare professionals reclaim their time and redeploy valuable resources. Dr. Liz is also an ER physician, professor, and mother...

In Episode 45 of Twist of Fate: A Small Business Podcast, our host, Douglas Younger III, had the pleasure of sitting down with Nate Harding. Nate is the CEO and Founder of LUUM Precision Lash. LUUM is introducing automation to the beauty-services market, initially focusing on eyelash extensions, a widely popular and addictive treatment ($20B global market opportunity). Pioneering a patented combin...