From the Ground Up with Esther

What does it take to build a life and business from the ground up? Solana Lewis is a World Champion powerlifter, TEDx speaker, author of Why Women Should Powerlift , coach, and entrepreneur. But her journey didn't start with confidence or knowing exactly where she was going. In this conversation, Solana opens up about struggling with confidence and communication growing up, discovering powerli...

What if your story doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth sharing? In this episode of From the Ground Up with Esther , I sit down with Carl Michel, founder of Young Exekutive, to talk about finding your voice, embracing your story, and becoming the person God has called you to be. Carl shares openly about insecurity, trying to fit in, learning to become comfortable in his own skin, and realizing t...

Esther welcomes Ashley, a digital creator and community-builder, who shares her authentic path from marketing professional to influential content creator. You’ll discover how Ashley transformed her Sunday musings into engaging content that encourages exploration and supports local businesses. She reveals the challenges she faced as a single homeowner in a society often expecting couples to share t...

En esta conversación me siento con el Dr. Daniel Manrique, médico colombiano especialista en Otorrinolaringología, Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello y Cirugía Plástica Facial, Estética y Reconstructiva. Hablamos de su historia desde Bogotá hasta Connecticut, los retos de construir una carrera en otro país, la importancia de la disciplina y la perseverancia, y su deseo de servir a la comunidad hispana. Ta...

What happens when the noise around you becomes louder than your own voice? In this special episode, Esther sits down with Brittany Balise, founder of Above the Noise, to talk about anxiety, confidence, identity, faith, purpose, and the experiences that shape how we see ourselves. Brittany shares her personal journey with anxiety from childhood, how dance became an important outlet for her, and how...

What is your money story? In this episode of From the Ground Up with Esther , Esther sits down with financial planner and financial coach Genesis Garcia , also known as I Am Reign Garcia , for an honest conversation about money, mindset, faith, and financial freedom. Genesis shares how growing up in an immigrant family shaped the way she viewed money and how her journey led her to become passionat...

What happens when a family decides to combine their skills, experiences, and passion for community to build something that can help local businesses? In this episode of From the Ground Up with Esther , I sit down with Jordan Dudley, his father Chuck Dudley, and his cousin Tyler Knight, the family behind Follow Out. We talk about the journey that led them to create Follow Out, a platform designed t...

¿Nuestra relación con el dinero comienza mucho antes de nuestro primer sueldo? En este episodio de From the Ground Up with Esther , converso con Genesis Reign Garcia , coach financiera y creadora de Reign Haus de Abundancia , sobre dinero, familia, cultura, mentalidad y legado. Genesis comparte una experiencia de su adolescencia que cambió para siempre su relación con el dinero y la llevó a cuesti...

In this inspiring conversation, Esther sits down with author, speaker, and entrepreneur Guelory Brutus , founder of Build Your Own Narrative , to explore how our greatest challenges can become the foundation of our purpose. After surviving the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake and immigrating to the United States, Guelory began asking a powerful question: "Why am I here?" That journey le...

What if the challenge you've been carrying your entire life is actually your greatest strength? In this episode of From the Ground Up with Esther , I sit down with Dylan Smith —author of D Is for Dyslexia , speaker, and dyslexia advocate—to talk about his incredible journey from struggling in school and being misdiagnosed for years to finding purpose in helping others. Dylan shares what it was lik...

¿Qué pasaría si el verdadero éxito no estuviera en llegar rápido, sino en aprender a disfrutar el proceso? En este episodio de Desde la Raíz , Danellys Pirela comparte cómo la fe, la comunidad y el networking transformaron su vida como inmigrante y emprendedora. Una conversación sobre liderazgo, propósito, servicio, crecimiento personal y las conexiones que realmente cambian tu futuro. En este epi...

Starting a business takes more than passion—it takes the right foundation. In this episode of From the Ground Up with Esther , Esther sits down with entrepreneur and bookkeeping expert Monika P. to discuss the financial side of entrepreneurship that many business owners overlook. Monika shares her inspiring journey from struggling financially and starting over to building a successful bookkeeping...

Larry G. Dix II is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, podcast host, and business owner who has spent decades building businesses, leading teams, and inspiring others through his story. In this episode, Larry shares how he overcame more than $2.2 million in debt during the 2008 housing crisis, the lessons he learned about leadership and resilience, and why faith and consistency continue to guide...

¿Qué significa realmente empezar de cero? En este episodio de From the Ground Up with Esther, conversamos con Nathaly Camargo sobre lo que implica reconstruirse por dentro antes de poder construir una vida profesional, una carrera y una marca personal con propósito. Desde su llegada a Estados Unidos como inmigrante, hasta su proceso de duelo, reinvención académica, preparación para estudios de pos...

In this episode of From the Ground Up with Esther , I sit down with Impact Artist, TEDx speaker, and community builder Marco Santini to explore how creativity, purpose, and human connection can transform a life and a career. Marco shares his journey from growing up in a creative household to building a global art career centered on bringing people together through interactive and collaborative art...

What does faith have to do with entrepreneurship, business, and purpose? In this episode of From the Ground Up, Esther sits down with Pastor Andy Havel for a deep conversation about God, entrepreneurship, kindness, purpose, church culture, and how faith can show up in everyday work and business.

En este episodio de From The Ground Up with Esther, converso con Pedro Falcón, músico, educador y líder comunitario venezolano que llegó a Estados Unidos hablando solo cinco frases en inglés y hoy está transformando la vida de niños a través de la música. Pedro comparte su historia de inmigración, cómo la música le abrió puertas académicas y profesionales, y el impacto que tiene Project Music en l...

In this powerful episode of From the Ground Up with Esther , Esther sits down with Nick Sarraco , a nonverbal motivational speaker whose life challenges everything we think we know about limitations. At just two months old, Nick was diagnosed with a rare brain injury that took away his ability to speak and caused nerve damage in his hand. Despite this, he refused to let his circumstances define hi...

25-year-old entrepreneur Anthony Ramo shares how he went from a difficult past to building multiple six-figure businesses through faith, discipline, and resilience. A real conversation about breaking cycles, finding purpose, and building a life from the ground up. Connect with Anthony https://www.instagram.com/anthony.raimo/ Connect with Esther & Follow the podcast 💗 https://www.instagram.com...

En este episodio, Esther tiene una conversación profunda con Ana Cristina Gordillo sobre el crecimiento personal, el emprendimiento y la importancia de la educación emocional en los niños. Exploran cómo las experiencias de la infancia moldean nuestra identidad y creencias, los desafíos de construir un negocio y la importancia de estar presentes en nuestras interacciones con los demás. Ana comparte...

In this episode of 'From the Ground Up,' Esther interviews Monika Ruiz, the owner of Allora Coffee Shop. They discuss Monica's journey from Colombia to the U.S., her entrepreneurial spirit, and the importance of service in the coffee industry. Monika shares personal stories about her experiences with customers, the challenges of running a business, and the inspiration she draws from he...

In this episode of From the Ground Up with Esther , Esther sits down with Luis Omar Figueroa for an honest conversation about family, entrepreneurship, work ethic, faith, and what it really takes to build from the ground up. Luis shares how growing up in the Bronx, watching his mother’s work ethic, and taking on responsibility early shaped the man, entrepreneur, husband, and father he is today. To...

En este episodio, Juan Pablo comparte su historia de superación como inmigrante venezolano en Estados Unidos. Habla sobre dejar atrás su vida en Venezuela, empezar desde cero, aprender inglés, trabajar en limpieza y construcción, y cómo con fe, disciplina y educación logró crecer profesionalmente y emprender. Una conversación llena de inspiración, realidad y consejos para quienes están construyend...

In this episode Esther interviews Jillian Gagnon, founder of Haus of Harmony, who shares her journey from struggling with chronic illness to becoming a successful home organizer. Jillian discusses the emotional aspects of organizing, the importance of letting go, and practical steps for decluttering. She emphasizes the personal nature of her work and how it transforms her clients' lives. The c...

In this episode of From the Ground Up with Esther , I sit down with John and Cecilia , the couple behind On The Brew Coffee Company , a Guatemalan-rooted brand built on family legacy, resilience, and intention. We talk about how Cecilia’s curiosity uncovered John’s family coffee history (including generations of farmers and a Q grader), and how that discovery sparked a mission: honor microlot farm...