Inspire More Life

Jazmyn Lopez was the first in her immediate family to earn a bachelor's degree. It took 6.5 years for her to work her way through school as an admin, sales clerk, waitress and nanny (sometimes all at once). In the next 6.5 years, she climbed from an entry-level agency role to an enterprise strategist only to be let go under a new leader. She decided then and there, she would be in charge of her ow...

Celebrity photographer, creative director, and DJ Shaun-Andru has built a career capturing some of the biggest names in music and culture. In this conversation, he sits down with Jonathan Wells to unpack the mindset, the craft, and the willingness to bet on himself that carried him from a photo studio in his parents' Chicago garage to touring as Brandy's personal photographer. From binge-watching...

What does it really take to show up for children who need it most? Jonathan sits down with Brandon T. Barney, a licensed and ordained minister, singer, songwriter, aspiring author, and early childhood educator. Born in Gary and raised in East Chicago, Indiana, Brandon has spent 18 years teaching children ages 0 to 13 and now serves as Assistant Director and a member of the Education Team. Brandon...

What does it take to build a career across multiple different lanes successfully? Jeff Beckham Jr. started out coding as a kid on the south side of Chicago, became a pharmaceutical sales rep selling insulin and treatments, threw some of the city's biggest events, built websites for small businesses, and today leads Chicago Scholars, a 30-year-old college access program, while co-leading an AI educ...

“I was a zero star recruit.” No offers. No roadmap. No guarantee it would work. In this episode of Inspire More Life, Walvenski Aimé shares the full story behind his journey from starting football late to becoming one of the top junior college recruits in the country, earning offers from powerhouse programs like Alabama, Auburn, and Florida State. He chose Florida State… became an Orange Bowl cham...

In this episode of the Inspire More Life podcast, Jonathan Wells sits down with Josh Dillingham, host of the Playing Injured podcast, for a powerful conversation about adversity, authenticity, and the mindset required to keep moving forward even when life is difficult. Drawing from their experiences as former athletes, Jonathan and Josh explore the concept of “playing injured” and how the lessons...

In this episode of the Inspire More Life podcast, host Jonathan Wells sits down with Mary Kennedy, immigration attorney, founder of the Law Offices of Mary Kennedy, and co-founder of New Roots EB5, alongside her mentee and business partner, Mathew Kizhakkadathu. Together they unpack Mary’s inspiring journey from Tamil Nadu, India, to the United States, navigating uprooting, balancing family and ca...

In this episode of the Inspire More Life podcast, host Jonathan Wells sits down with two of Chicago’s dynamic leaders: Boye also known as DJ Ferragamo, hospitality professional and entrepreneur, and David Johnson, Founder and CEO of KNDRD and Executive Director of True Chicago. Together they unpack the journey of pursuing multiple passions, finding alignment, and navigating the balance between amb...

In this episode of Inspire More Life, I sit down with Mary Wynn and Jeremy Evans for a powerful conversation about creativity, resilience, and growth. Mary, a seasoned producer, shares how curiosity and persistence helped her carve out a path in the advertising and production world. Jeremy, a model and entrepreneur, opens up about turning challenges into inspiration and creating opportunities thro...

In this episode of Inspire More Life , Jonathan Wells dives into the creative journey of Christopher Gray, a creative leader and entrepreneur whose career spans from freelancing to serving as Senior Director at Nike, and now as the founder of MultiMulti . With a journey rooted in intuition, persistence, and originality, Christopher has built a career shaping global creative work while also carving...

In this episode of Inspire More Life , Jonathan sits down with Chicago-based entrepreneur and wardrobe stylist, Cam Frank . Cam is the founder of The SET Collective , a dynamic creative community featuring a 7,000-square-foot space in River North designed for music, fashion, and content creation. From launching a successful phone accessories business in college to building a hub for creatives, Cam...

In this episode of The Inspire More Life Podcast , Jonathan Wells sits down with Hadassah McGrew , a full-time model taking over New York City—the modeling capital of the world . From landing major campaigns with Target, JCPenney, Kohl’s, and more , to launching her own faith-based streetwear brand, Stoopid Faith , Hadassah’s journey is a testament to resilience, trust, and stepping into the unkno...

In this episode of the Inspire More Life podcast, host Jonathan Wells dives into the power of intentionality in entrepreneurship, personal growth, and leadership. Joined by a group of entrepreneurs and creatives, the conversation explores key themes such as: ✅ The mindset shift from employee to CEO of your own life ✅ Overcoming fear and self-doubt in the face of uncertainty ✅ The importance of...

In this episode of Inspire More Life , Jonathan Wells sits down with the multi-talented Mandy Schendel—former Miss Washington, nonprofit founder, PR agency owner, and now a full-time content creator in pop culture media. Mandy shares her incredible journey of jumping at opportunities, navigating the pageant world, working in the NFL and PR, and ultimately taking the leap into social media storytel...

In this episode of the Inspire More Life podcast, I sit down with my brother and close friend, Mathew Kizhakkadathu , to discuss his incredible journey of career pivots, entrepreneurship, and redefining success. Coming from an Asian immigrant household with traditional expectations, Mathew navigated a path through engineering, software, real estate, and business—taking courageous leaps to align wi...

In this inspiring episode of the Inspire More Life podcast, Jonathan Wells sits down with Jason McCoy, a professional photographer whose impressive work has been featured in Ebony Magazine and Chicago Black Ink. Jason shares his incredible journey from working in corporate sales to becoming a full-time creative entrepreneur. Together, they discuss the lessons learned in navigating the ups and down...

In this exciting first episode of the Inspire More Travel series, Jonathan Wells, host of the Inspire More Life podcast, dives into the transformative power of travel. Jonathan shares his personal journey of stepping out of his comfort zone, embracing uncertainty, and pursuing a life filled with new experiences. From traveling across the U.S. to finally taking the leap to explore Thailand, Jonatha...

In this episode of the Inspire More Life podcast, host Jonathan Wells welcomes Maria and P Yui, two inspiring individuals from Thailand who share their incredible stories of faith, family, and entrepreneurship. From Maria’s journey of running away from Christianity for decades to eventually encountering a life-changing personal experience with God, to P Yui’s perspective on navigating faith and cu...

In this inaugural episode of the Inspire More Life podcast, host Jonathan Wells introduces the mission and vision for the series as we step into 2025. He delves into the meaning behind "Inspire More Life," emphasizing that it's not a one-size-fits-all concept but a flexible framework adaptable to each individual's unique story, situation, and background. Key Highlights: Mission Statement: Through...

Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! In this special solo episode of The Inspire More Life Podcast , host Jonathan Wells dives deep into the concept of change —a word we hear often but rarely dissect fully. Join Jonathan as he explores: What real change looks like and how we measure it. The relationship between comfort zones and the willingness to embrace change. How daily habits and intentional ac...

Join host Jonathan Wells on the Inspire More Life podcast as he sits down with Hal Morris, former MLB player, World Series champion, and current partner at X10 Capital. In this captivating episode, Hal shares his incredible journey: from swinging a bat at age two to a 13-year career in Major League Baseball and beyond. Learn about Hal’s early influences, his time at the University of Michigan, and...

Join host Jonathan Wells on Inspire More Life as he sits down with Adeboye Alade (Boye), aka DJ Ferragamo, for a dynamic conversation about life, creativity, and purpose. Boye’s story spans continents, careers, and passions, weaving a narrative of resilience and innovation that’s as inspiring as it is relatable. Key Highlights: Global Roots, Local Impact: Born in Nigeria, raised in Saudi Arabia, a...

In this transformative episode of Inspire More Life , Jonathan Wells sits down with two remarkable changemakers, Jessica Dahl and Dianna Bautista , to explore their powerful journeys of resilience, healing, and purpose. From starting as hairstylists to becoming global leaders in empowerment and restoration, this conversation delves into the life-changing impact of living intentionally and pursuing...

In this heartfelt episode of the Inspire More Life podcast, host Jonathan Wells sits down with Bradley Meyer to discuss healing, intuition, and navigating the challenges of aligning with one’s true calling. Bradley shares his journey from pursuing traditional career paths to embracing his passions in acting, modeling, and entrepreneurship. They dive into the importance of learning, overcoming self...

In this transformative episode of Inspire More Life , host Jonathan Wells sits down with Michael Stark to explore his extraordinary journey across corporate America, entrepreneurship, charity work, and building impactful cultural and social initiatives. Michael shares invaluable insights on leveraging privilege for good, cultivating deep human connections, embracing creativity, and navigating the...