What's in a Name?

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...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I get a chance to sit down with Joy again to explore other names in the Bible, as well as talk about how the podcast has impacted her life. This episode made my heart smile.... I hope you will check it out. Support the show Connect with me on Instagram… https://www.instagram.com/whats_in_a_name_podcast?igsh=N3F0NjQ3bnduc292&utm_source=qr Refine your purpose an...

Send us Fan Mail I had the pleasure of talking with Ferris about her name—whose name means “Iron Worker” and "swift". During our conversation, Ferris shared not only the story behind her name but also the strength she embodies every day. Her conviction, boldness, and dynamic personality truly brought our discussion to life. Ferris made me laugh, inspired me, and challenged my perspective...

Send us Fan Mail I’m excited to announce the latest episode of my podcast, featuring a dynamic conversation with Eric! This was my second time interviewing someone with this name. The name “Eric” means “eternal ruler” or “ever powerful”—a fitting description, as Eric shared his admiration for powerful figures like Rocky Balboa and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Both are celebrated for their resilience...

Send us Fan Mail As 2025 comes to a close, I’m taking this episode to pause and reflect on the journey I’ve experienced—both as a podcast host and as an individual. Looking back over the past year, I’ve realized just how important self-reflection has been in my life. By taking the time to understand my past experiences, I’ve been able to grow in meaningful ways. Throughout this year, hosting the p...

Send us Fan Mail This episode was an inspiring conversation with Grace, whose thoughtful and eloquent responses truly embody the beauty and elegance her name suggests. In this episode, Grace shares her unique perspectives with warmth and clarity, offering insights that are as graceful as they are impactful.  Support the show Connect with me on Instagram… https://www.instagram.com/whats_in_a_name_p...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Vince—a man whose very name means “conqueror,” and who has truly embodied that spirit throughout his life. From the moment our conversation began, Vince’s warmth and openness made it easy to dive deep into his remarkable journey of overcoming adversity. His candid stories of resilience, growth, and triumph are not only engaging but also p...

Send us Fan Mail I am beyond grateful and excited for this to be my 100th episode of my podcast. This milestone is not just a number—it’s a testament to the incredible stories, laughter, and meaningful conversations I’ve had with guests from ten different countries around the world. Each episode has been a unique journey into the power and influence that names hold, and I am honored to have connec...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know that “Dean” means “leader”? After our discussion, I can confidently say he truly embodies the spirit of leadership—through his actions, insights, and the way he uplifts those around him. We also discovered a fun coincidence: both of us received our names in the same way! This sparked a fascinating exchange about the meaning and significance of names, and I loved heari...