Awaken The Awesome

Every time I hit 'Publish' and an episode gets released into The Universe, I often take pause - and realize that it's still there. I'm talking about that wonderful sense of excitement, gratitude, and respect that has always characterized every one of these amazing interviews. It's a humbling thing to realize that, behind the achievements, the celebrity, the notoriety, the expertise, if one is willing to humble yourself and listen, you have the opportunity to get to know an incredible human being. Today's guest is no different. I had been a big fan of my next guest for a really long time as I greatly admired this warrior's journey. As a back-to-back CrossFit Games World Cup Champion(2012, 2013) Michael Cazayoux is no stranger to the importance of one's mindset when overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As a Coach, being well-accustomed to the unique process of self-examination, he specializes in helping clients “get out...

I was pretty much convinced that this conversation was going to be about Fitness, Nutrition, Breath Work and healthy habits. Seeing as how my next guest's expertise revolves around these topics, you'd be forgiven for assuming that it'd be an easy fit for a conversation. However, as these things do, 5mn into it...those assumptions took a Swan Dive out the window. This is why I'm always honest when I tell people I never really know where these conversations are gonna go even when I hit Record. And today's exchange can serve as yet another example as to why that's actually a good thing. As High Performance, Breath & Strength Coach, Cam MacDougall and I had never actually met or exchanged before this call. But as soon as we got into it, I was introduced to a guy with a troubled past, a colourful journey, some pretty liberating truths as well as a sense of purpose I had never experienced before. Filled with an honest, vulnerable account of hi...

One thing about success that we can all surely agree on is that despite the fact that you can go at it alone, it sure helps if you can rely on someone with the knowledge and experience to guide you and make your journey a bit smoother along the way. As my next guest will tell you, this is especially relevant in the realm of professional sports where so many of our youths too often find themselves blindsided by the allure of fame and glory without factoring in some other aspects that come into play such as character and accountability. Coach Raymond Ndjonok Tonye has a comprehensive and unique personal as well as professional background. From being an elite Canadian student-athlete who earned a full athletic scholarship to attend the University of Northern Colorado and play NCAA Division I Football, he knows firsthand how the power of sports can influence a person's life when approached with the right plan, structure and mindset. A captivating public speaker, stu...

One of the recurring themes that has come out of this time off that the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed on us is that a lot of people have used this newfound free time to explore facets of their creative impulses that they otherwise wouldn't have. It's no secret that the those in the Creative Arts have been severely affected by current events. However, as my next guest has demonstrated, one cannot restrain the creative urge, pandemic be damned. Isaac Alvarez is a commercial photographer, director, and artist based in Los Angeles, California. His immense love of photographing people has lead him to work with some of the top public relations firms in Beverly Hills. Well known for his dramatic portraits that resonate emotions, his images offers viewers a powerful insight into the lives of his subjects. While his images are often on the edge of any situation, photographing the situation is not nearly as interesting as photographing the edges of human emotions. Isa...

© Richard Lecoin (IG : @richardlecoin_photography) - All Rights Reserved How far can your journey take you when you make no apologies for what you want, own up to who you are and lean into to your own sense of purpose? Turns out today's guest just might be able to shed some light on the topic. Jonathan Perry - aka J.Perry - is all about that and then some. With a love for music birthed from a very young age, growing up in his native Port-au-Prince, Haiti, J's passion and exploration of various musical styles were just of a series of incredible stepping stones towards some pretty awesome heights. With the help and support of his family as well as a host of various collaborators, from talented producers to a skillful management team, J rapidly made his mark onto the music scene not just in Haiti but abroad. Indeed, when your song, namely " Dekole ", gets chosen as the theme song for your country's National Carnival while subsequently ending up a...

"Grind while they sleep" "Don't stay in bed unless you can make money in bed" "Sleep when you're dead" How many of these memes, quotes or photos have you seen lately glorifying the almighty "Hustle"? I sure have. I've even shared a couple myself. You guys know I never set aside the importance of having to put in the work and sacrifice to achieve your intended success. Today's conversation however, gave me pause as it left me full of respect, humility and hope. Thing is, my next guest, Ian Farrar , had experienced the ups and downs of an incredible career in a way that very few people can truly understand. As a sales professional, entrepreneur and founder of Far North Ltd and Carpeway Ltd , Ian has over 20 years in global business development roles.  With a strong, global network of influential contacts to call on, Ian has founded, scaled and exited companies in his native North East.  Ian also has impressive e...

I believe there's a huge difference between collaborating with your significant other as spouses as opposed to running a business together. Some things just do not mix. Those are my own personal reservations and I'm sure I'm not the only one in that regard. But, there are those who subscribe to the other school of thought: with the emphasis that building and running a business with your spouse can be a welcome opportunity for creativity, team-building, resourcefulness and yes, even strengthened intimacy. I never shy away from the opportunity to admit what I don't know and to learn a thing or two. Which is what got me pretty excited when I linked up and invited my next guests, Liz & Philippe, to be on the program.  As the founders and owners of the amazingly inspiring and aptly-named Dueling Cups Coffee & Tea , this husband & wife dynamic duo were a gem to sit down and talk to. Indeed, getting the perspective from two people who took a dre...

Today's episode is a rather heartwarming one. Thing is, when this podcast started, I didn't know what I was getting into. I just simply ran with what I had and made the best of it. Along the journey however, of the many incredible experiences that have come forth, one that has always humbled me is the genuine friendships I've managed to build. Indeed, people who initially started out as perfect strangers, eventually, through the random yet fortunate blessings of The Universe, have become some of the most vocal supporters of this podcast. Which is why I'm particularly thrilled to welcome back my friend, Naike Saint-Pierre , to the podcast. Naike has always stood out to me as a person of amazing energy and wisdom. As a Health Coach, Entrepreneur and Mother, she has always been an example of the many possibilities that are available to us when we align our energy with our purpose. Her passion for smoothies, vegan recipes, crystals and the wonderful gift...

  Today's episode is another one of those exceptional conversations where the guest and their amazing insight force me to sit down and take notes. Samantha Kris is an international success coach, as well as a successful author and speaker. By her own account, she thrives in helping others take action. It’s what has powered her business, her book , her incredible TEDx talk , her proprietary goal setting methodology, and every opportunity that followed. Indeed, her REAL Goals™ method of goal setting earned her five promotions in five years, enabled her to double her income in that time, and propelled her into the life of an entrepreneur. With so many achievements, one can certainly agree that her approach and ability to help people and projects realize their full potential has shaped her into a true agent for change. Samantha is also the founder of the Bossing Up movement , a community that empowers each other to harness their hunger for more and create opportunities for themselves ...

Do you truly know the price of Success?  I want you to take a second to ponder on that one...You don't have to give me an answer...but I do expect you to at the very least think about it as we welcome my next guest who, as you'll soon get to hear, has in more ways than one not only paid the price but eventually, after some soul-searching and eventual clarity, decided to say "Enough" and call it a day. As a producer, songwriter, keyboard virtuoso and well-rounded musical talent, Karlo Vieux is a founding member of the iconic, chart-topping Haitian Kompa band CARIMI who, along with fellow founders & bandmates Richard Cavé and Michael Guirand, burst onto the scene with a fresh, innovative sound that shook the airwaves to their core. Whether you were a seasoned or passive Kompa listener back in the day, you had to admit it: there was a new player in town. With Karlo having penned and produced...

It was only going to be a matter of time before I would have him back on the program. From our first recording together, which you most definitely should check out(Ep. 125) , Max De La Cruz and I have certainly aligned on many levels. From the warrior's mindset, to childishly getting a laugh out of the little whimsical things that occur in our everyday lives, to the undeniable demands of fatherhood, to furthering the necessary conversations about mental health among men...I can quite honestly admit I've made a new friend. This next recording is very much the product of this mutual energy and respect. As we were candidly exchanging back and forth over DM, we eventually got to bounce off different observations in regards to another topic we were both quite versed in : Marriage & Long-Term relationships.  We realized that a lot of the stuff we were discussing could be useful to people and, as these thi...

On this Solo episode, a call to action dedicated all of you in need of that 'nudge' towards your Next Level. #StayAwesome You can download the MP3 for this episode by  right-clicking here   and choosing "Save As" Stay up to date - Subscribe to the podcast and get the latest episodes as soon they're published. ( RSS ) ( Apple Podcasts ) ( Google Podcasts )  ( Spotify )   ( T uneIn )   ( Stitcher ) Remember to leave a comment and let us know how we're doing. Either on our official website of via email : awakentheawesome@gmail.com #StayAwesome

The entrepreneurial mindset is made up of a diverse array of essential aspects. We can talk about the patience and resilience that are necessary in order to overcome the unavoidable roadblocks that will surely arise when one chooses to go after their dream. Or the importance of never losing sight of one’s vision while toiling away and trying to fit the right pieces together in order to make said dream a reality. These details certainly did not escape my next guest, Jeff Policard, whose story I'm thrilled to share with you on the program.  Born and raised in Haiti, Jeff grew up in a traditional household with the added blessing of an emphasis on music, given that Jeff's father is an iconic Jazz pianist and composer. With a definite passion to create, Jeff eventually emigrated to US to further his education and earn his degree. By the merit of his own incredible efforts and despite some difficult circumsta...