Wake Up The Sun

I met Rich around 2015 when I left coaching group fitness and moved my book of business to Impact Sports Performance in Central Boca. At the time, he was the head of the facility and coach to many up-and-coming tennis superstars. Early on, we butted heads a bit as we were both early risers, and he was used to being one of the only people in the gym at that hour. What started as tension eventually...

I met Juliet years ago in the sober community. She’s always been a mix of sweet, feisty, and unapologetically blunt. We shared a lot of the same circles: mutual friends, events, weddings, fellowship halls, even the gym. Life kept unfolding, and over the years we’d cross paths here and there. Like many relationships, ours had its ups and downs. Misunderstandings eventually led to a break in communi...

I met Dan at one of the community workouts down here in South Florida, and it didn’t take long to realize he’s an absolute fitness machine. We’d chatted a bit here and there, but after seeing the way he shares his content and shows up for the fitness community, it felt like the perfect time to bring him on the show. During our conversation, we unexpectedly connected over time spent in the Northeas...

I met Duke earlier this year after a buddy introduced us at a 5:15am workout. What started as me challenging him to actually show up turned into meeting one of the most viral, in-your-face personalities on social media. At first, it was all brutal ball-busting with nonstop jokes and getting roasted, but as I got to know him, I saw the guy behind the camera. He’s someone who speaks his mind without...

I met Peter in 2013 playing poker at a mutual friends house in sobriety. It's funny when you meet people at one point in their life and then watch as everything unfold for the better. What started out as a craigslist opportunity in the boating world sparked a greater dream of working and building "quite literally" a massive marine and seaside construction business. Peter, got sober...

I met Matt last year through a mutual friend and sober brother in NYC. We had crossed paths in the community but never formally sat down or conversed until we met up for coffee and connected on sobriety, life and all things health and wellness. We know a lot of the same people, attend similar fellowships and connected on our intensity and love of living a sober lifestyle. I learned that Matt is an...

I met Brooke several years ago when we were performing on stage at an event. She was outgoing, all smiles and very engaging. We happened to see her daughter Ava perform as well with her band. What began as a fun night continued into a working relationship of playing music, training in the summer for overall health and wellness and supporting each other in business endeavors. Brooke Boles is a Boca...

I first heard of Dr. Sam during my years in education, but it wasn’t until recently at a Christmas party that we had the opportunity to truly connect. As we talked, it quickly became clear how many parallels existed between her work and my own journey from teaching into coaching. Dr. Sam is a double board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist practicing in South Florida. She also ser...

I met Matt years ago when Ideal Nutrition was just getting started. At the time, they had a single location in West Palm Beach offering healthy, grab-and-go meal packages designed to make eating well easier. We talked about potential partnerships between FROPRO and Ideal Nutrition and I was grateful for the opportunity to have our products sold and shared with the West Palm community. What began a...

I first met Bri back in 2013 when she was working part-time at the front desk at Slash Fitness while finishing school. From day one, she had a rare ability to make everyone feel welcome, always greeting people with a genuine smile and an upbeat, positive attitude. It didn’t take long before she began taking classes herself, and soon after, she decided to pursue a path as a personal trainer and coa...

I had the pleasure of connecting with Kevin on his podcast, RISE ABOVE WITH KEVIN LANNING earlier in the year. We discussed all things sobriety, recovery and my experience strength and hope over the years as a sober man. While I was on the side of getting interviewed, I asked him to be on my show so I could flip the script and find out more about his story and how he became one of the top sober po...

I first met the Rev back in 2009 when I moved to South Florida and started teaching at St Andrews in Boca. We worked in different grade levels but clicked instantly. Even after I left the school he stayed in my life and supported me through one of the hardest seasons I have ever faced. Years passed and when his name came up again I knew I had to bring him on the show. Rev has been teaching for mor...

I met Jillian years ago through the fitness scene after she won a FROPRO giveaway. We stayed in touch, and more recently my wife and I took her workout class. We had an incredible time sweating, laughing, and connecting with the community. I later joined her for a Wake Up the Sun workout at another gym where she trains, and after finally sitting down to talk, I was blown away by her story and the...

Paula is a new connection I made through social media. She stopped by FROPRO HQ to pick up some bars, and I missed the chance to talk with her. When I later took a closer look at her coaching program and the work she is doing in the community, I asked her to join me on the mic and share the story behind her life changes and why she is now committed to helping others. Paula was once a hairdresser a...

I first met Doug in 2010, when I quietly slipped into his office fresh off a DUI in Palm Beach. It was my last drink, and I desperately needed help and guidance. He welcomed me with care, brutal honesty, and direction, three things I had been missing. Doug took the time to walk me through my best options, drawing from years of experience serving the community. It was a pivotal moment in my life, a...

I was connected with Adam via a mutual friend in the entrepreneurial space. He was visiting Florida on podcast circuit and dropped by HQ to share his story and what changed for the better in his life. Adam, is a nationally recognized entrepreneur, recovery advocate, and the CEO and co-founder of GITT Apparel—short for “Get In The Truck”—which he launched alongside his sister, Jeannette. Born from...

I met Dr Vermani minutes before our podcast as a referral from a dear friend and former guest on this show. She was in town on a PR tour and joined me on The Wake Up the Sun show.  Dr. Vermani is a clinical psychologist, public speaker, teacher and author in the field of mental health and wellness, and a registered member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. In her private practice, Dr. Ver...

I met Craig seven years ago through mutual friends. As a new transplant down in the South Florida, he quickly became involved in the recovery community to better his own life. What started as a couple month journey has now reached multiple years of sobriety, a new life and family and the opening of a law office. Craig opened up about his past and what led him down a dark path of abusing alcohol an...

Social media has an interesting way of connecting people. I had never actually met Christina in person. I knew a little about her but was intrigued by her profession and what led to her changing her own life in order to assist others.  We dove right into the coaching aspect and why she chose to work with others. She experience a tragic loss in her family and it changed the course of who she was an...

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Justin Weidenfeld for nearly fifteen years. I first met him as his baseball coach and trainer when he was in middle and high school, and through that time I also grew close with his family. His father, Don, was someone who showed me incredible kindness during one of the hardest seasons of my life. He treated me like family, and that generosity left an impression n...

I had the pleasure of sitting down with someone who truly embodies heart, hustle, and community spirit, Michelle Hagerty. We’d crossed paths at local events and through mutual friends, but it wasn’t until a run with the Deerfield Beach Run Club that I really got to connect with her and I’m glad I did. Michelle's story is one of evolution.  Raised up north, she stepped straight into the family...

I first met Josey years ago, in one of the most emotionally charged environments you can imagine, a recovery group setting where we were supporting a close family friend in early sobriety. I had been invited to show up as part of their support system, and I ended up sitting in on a group session that Josey was leading. What I witnessed left a lasting impression. Her presence, professionalism, and...

I met Keesha years ago. Surrounded by people, full of energy, and deeply rooted in the recovery community. Over the years, we’d cross paths at local gyms, events, and business functions. Each time, her presence stood out. Recently, I had the honor of speaking at her adolescent treatment center. Sharing my story with her clients and reconnecting with her reminded me just how far we've both com...

I met Megan years ago in a group fitness class in Delray Beach Florida. After not seeing her for years, while walking through my neighborhood as she had recently moved in. We got to chatting and catching up and would pass each other randomly over the next several months. I started noticing her posting about a new local business and she happened to be the  founder/owner and operator. As someone tha...

I met Brandon several years ago when he attended a mutual friends charity workout for people in sobriety. I watched him speak to anyone that came up to him and even took photos with a smile and a thank you. Not a common thing for anyone who that had been in the public eye for as many years as he has. He was warm, engaging and interested. Over the years we trained several times, participated in wor...