What's in a Name?

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jayma welcomes Sean back for a part 2 conversation, revisiting the meaning behind his name (Sean, "God is gracious," and Conrad, "brave counsel") and how it continues to shape his life and work as an executive coach.  Sean opens up about his roots as a fourth-generation pastor, his transition into leadership development, and how grace and bold...

Send us Fan Mail In this milestone episode of What's in a Name? , host Jayma sits down with her very first guest who shares her name, a fellow Jayma podcasting from Northwest Ohio.  A real estate agent, wife, mom, grandmother, and two-time cancer survivor, this Jayma opens up about her journey from disliking her name to embracing its meaning. Together they explore the name's biblical roo...

Send us Fan Mail Bonnie: Beauty, Words, and the Stories Names Carry What happens when you interview a fellow name lover who has built an entire aesthetic around the beauty of words? In this episode, Jayma sits down with Bonnie, a guest from Australia whose name means "beautiful" and "good," and whose passion for onomatology runs as deep as her own. A freelance copywriter for hi...

Send us Fan Mail This episode of What's in a Name? features a first for the show: a father-daughter duo, Shirah and Paul, joining me together from Wisconsin. Shirah unpacks how her Hebrew name means "poetic song", while Paul reveals the surprising tension between his first name Paul, meaning "small and humble," and his middle name Lothar, meaning "boastful warrior,&qu...

Send us Fan Mail What does your name say about who you are? In this episode, host Jayma sits down with Todd, an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and mental fitness coach from Akron, Ohio, to explore the meaning behind his name. Derived from Middle English, Todd means "fox" and carries qualities like intelligence, wit, adaptability, and curiosity. The two dig into how those traits show up i...

Send us Fan Mail What does your name actually mean, and does it fit who you are?  In this episode, Jayma sits down with her friend and colleague Cheridan to find out! Cheridan had no idea what her name meant before this conversation, and let's just say the reveal did not disappoint. A seeker. Bright. Untamed. Sound like anyone you know? Plus, Cheridan shares the wildly romantic story of how s...

Send us Fan Mail Your name is the first piece of your identity. And most of us have never thought twice about it. I sat down with Daithan — life coach, photographer, and founder of Future in Focus Coaching — for a conversation that honestly surprised me. Daithan's name means "fountain" in Hebrew. It can also mean life, purity, renewal, divine abundance. And when you look at the work...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jayma sits down with Rebecca , an HR consultant and career strategist, to explore the powerful meaning behind the name Rebecca —and how it beautifully mirrors her life and career as a connector. Together, they unpack the Hebrew roots of the name, uncovering themes of connection, strength, binding relationships, and leadership. Rebecca shares how discovering her na...

Send us Fan Mail ✨ The Power of a Name — and Why It Matters More Than We Think ✨ In this episode of my podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Mita Malik —a marketing and HR executive, author, and powerful storyteller—for an incredibly meaningful conversation about names, identity, and leadership. Mita shared the origin of her name and how her journey with her name has shaped her perso...

Send us Fan Mail In this special Part 2 episode, I’m joined once again by Steve , one of my earliest podcast guests, for a deeper and more reflective conversation on the meaning of names and the role they play in identity, respect, and connection. We explore why getting someone’s name right is far more than a courtesy—it’s a signal of care. Steve shares personal stories from both his professional...

Send us Fan Mail What’s in a name—and how much power does it really carry? In this episode, host Jayma dives into the fascinating world of onomatology —the study of names—with a deeply reflective and inspiring conversation featuring Tiffany , an award‑winning HR executive, leader, and creative visionary. Together, they explore the meaning, history, and lived experience behind the name Tiffany , wh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sat down with Amber to explore the meaning behind her name — and what started as a conversation about a name that is a "color" turned into something so much deeper. The name Amber traces back to Arabic origins, signifying warmth, natural beauty, and even fierceness. In certain Indian languages, it means the sky. What really stuck with me was her reflec...

Send us Fan Mail What if you've been carrying the meaning of your name your whole life — and didn't even know it? In my latest episode of the podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Francois — a musician, software professional, and free man in every sense of the word. His name, rooted in French and Latin, means "Frenchman" or "free man" — and honestl...

Send us Fan Mail What if your name was more than just a name — what if it was your life's calling? In our latest podcast episode, I had the joy of sitting down with my lovely colleague, Leticia — and let me tell you, her name says it all. Rooted in Latin origins, Leticia literally means "Joy" and "Happiness" — and after working alongside her, I can say with complete confid...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ New Podcast Episode | Thought Leadership, Identity & the Future of Work I’m excited to share my latest podcast conversation with Jennifer McClure —globally recognized keynote speaker, executive advisor, and Founder & Chief Excitement Officer of DisruptHR. Jennifer is known for challenging leaders to move beyond operational excellence and step into transformational impac...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with John , a nonprofit leader and mentor based in Columbus, Ohio. This is the second John I have interviewed. We explored the meaning behind his name— John , which translates to “God is gracious” —and reflected on how names, identity, and purpose intersect in meaningful ways. This conversation dives into onomatology (the study...

Send us Fan Mail I’m excited to share my latest podcast episode featuring Christie Engler , an HR leader with over 20 years of experience and a deep passion for making the world of work better. In this conversation, we explore the meaning behind Christie’s name and how identity, purpose, and faith can influence leadership, communication, and the way we show up for others at work. It’s a thoughtful...

Send us Fan Mail In this special Part Two episode, I’m joined once again by Ileana, joining me from Venezuela, to continue our conversation on names and identity. This time, we go deeper—reflecting on how our first episode impacted her personally. We explore the parts of the conversation we didn’t quite get to the first time: the emotional weight names can carry, how they shape our sense of self a...

Send us Fan Mail I’m excited to share my latest podcast episode featuring George —a guest whose insights into Greek culture and naming traditions truly captivated me. In our conversation, George revealed the fascinating meaning behind his name, “farmer” or “earth-worker,” and how he learned its significance from a young age. We explored the rich history of Greek naming customs, including the tradi...

Send us Fan Mail Excited to share the latest episode of my podcast, featuring Alyssa—a remarkable Life Coach whose name has Greek origins meaning “Rational” and “Noble.” Alyssa truly embodies these qualities, both in her approach and her presence. Our conversation flowed effortlessly, making it one of the most enjoyable and natural interviews I’ve had. Beyond the episode, I had the privilege of ex...

Send us Fan Mail I’m thrilled to announce the latest episode of my podcast, featuring Osazee Thompson. Currently based in Texas, Osazee is a proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran, accomplished author, and respected leadership consultant and speaker. Recently, I had the pleasure of reading his book, Precision Purpose , and it truly resonated with me. Osazee’s insights inspired me to reflect more deeply o...

Send us Fan Mail I recently had the pleasure of connecting with Jeff Fallick, President of OneDigital’s West Region in California. True to the meaning of his name—“Peace”—Jeff brings a calming presence and a genuine sense of ease to every conversation. His approachable nature made our discussion both insightful and enjoyable. What stands out most is Jeff’s unwavering commitment to a people-first l...

Send us Fan Mail I’m thrilled to share this latest episode, where I had the pleasure of sitting down with the remarkable Julie Doyle—a distinguished HR leader and consultant whose career has been defined by her passion for people and organizational growth. In this episode, Julie shares the unique meaning behind her own name: “youthful, downy, soft-haired, beautiful.” But our conversation goes far...

Send us Fan Mail Excited to share my latest podcast interview with Chris McAlister, Founder of SightShift! What does it mean to lead from your true identity? In my latest podcast episode, I sit down with Chris, whose mission is to help leaders overcome insecurity by aligning with who they truly are. We also explore the power of names and their impact on our sense of purpose. If you’re passionate a...

Send us Fan Mail Excited to share the latest episode of my podcast, where I had the pleasure of interviewing Kristen Mboijana —a colleague I recently met at my company! During our conversation, I was truly inspired by Kristen’s open-minded approach to life and work. Her passion for traveling and genuine curiosity about people’s backgrounds stood out, as did her thoughtful reflections on the ways w...