Awaken The Awesome

One of the things I really feel a lot of us are really struggling with these past few years is the fact that we do not take the necessary time to really - and I mean REALLY - get to know and appreciate ourselves. ‘Self-Love’ has really become a buzzword as of late and in the grand scheme of things, as is often the case, I realize that a lot of people simply toss it around cause it sounds nice. That’s unfortunate. If people truly realized how much power lies in harnessing the beauties as well as imperfections that make up the sum of their wonderful being, they would probably spend a bit more time catering to that.  I say this wholeheartedly because I am witnessing a lot of people I care about sluggishly dragging their feet in the sand when it comes to their journey simply because they’re being admittedly weighed down by other people’s opinions of them. I call Foul. Fortunately, today’s guest is a person whom I’ve long admired for her deep-rooted sense of self-wor...

Working with family can be a shot in the dark sometimes as even the closest relatives can become damaging business partners. Fortunately, that was not the case for Dave & Dillon Mysliwiec , respectively CEO of The Upstate Sound & President of Upstate Management. From what I've learned, if want to build a successful business, be it an impressive record label carving its own path in the industry or a growing music management empire, will most certainly take time, patience, sacrifice and a solid sense of dedication. But if you're lucky enough to count on your family as part of your close circle of collaborators - that's a precious bonus. The palpable synergy and mutual respect that these two brothers shared during our exchange was surely only a glimpse of the tremendous bond between them: Dave being the infectiously energetic and fearless creative, and Dillon being the savvy & tactical Marketing expert, they're quite the dynamic duo. One o...

I cannot tell a lie. Today's guest really intimidated me at first. Thing is, having been a sub-par student in a past life, I often find myself dealing with a bit of insecurity when I realize the level of accomplishment, both academic as well as professional, that many of my guests have under their belts.  Call me foolish but it's still something I find myself struggling with at times. I've done a reasonably good job of keeping this subtle Impostor Syndrome at bay. But sometimes, you get to exchange with someone who is so accomplished and a literal force to be reckoned with, you have an urge to sit up straight because you know there's going to be some serious knowledge coming your way. In that regard, I can tell you that  Eloïse Gagnon  did NOT disappoint. An entrepreneur for over 20 years and an international corporate lawyer for more than 15, Eloïse has worked alongside business leaders from around the world, leading her own 7 and 8 figure businesse...

It's always refreshing to walk into an interview and not really know what will come out the other end. This was another one of those opportunities where the individual definitely lived up to the hype. Jamal Henry is a man of many talents - whether through his dynamic football career, his obvious dedication to his family as a husband and father, or as a published author , one could agree there are a few reasons why our conversation was such a thrill. But what mostly stood for me was the genuine intensity and wisdom that Jamal brought to our conversation. Indeed, I got to sit down with a man driven by a palpable sense of clarity and commitment to his goals that I believe we can all take notes from. On this episode, Jamal and I have an amazing exchange as we discuss the importance self-awareness, creating boundaries, setting a clear path for one's vision and so much more. You can connect with Jamal via Instagram & Facebook . Be sure to grab a copy o...

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...

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...

I have always been quite outspoken about my dedication to encourage a better conversation among Men in regards to their identity and purpose as I believe there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of both communication and mental health.  So when I got acquainted with my next guest and his similar efforts, it was only natural to extend an invitation to be a guest on the podcast. Coach Michael Taylor is an entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker and radio and TV  show host who has dedicated his life to empowering men and women to reach their full potential by transforming their lives from the inside out. He knows first hand how to overcome adversity and build a rewarding and fulfilling life and he is sharing his knowledge and wisdom with others to support them in creating the life of their dreams.   He is the President & CEO of Creation Publishing Group - a company that specializes in ...

Some people cross your path in Life, you don't ask yourself why - you just open up your mind and heart and you just run with it. If there's one thing I've learned from these amazing exchanges, it's the fact that there's something to be said for humility and personal truth. My next guest and I haven't known each other that long but from the very first interaction and throughout  the wonderful opportunities since, I've gotten to know a truly radiating soul. The calm yet profound sense of presence and mindfulness that Sarah Rose brings into a space is something that cannot be overlooked. Talking with her is both a privilege and experience. You get this sense of intentional clarity and generosity of time and self that encourages you to do the same and reciprocate. Come to think it, this shouldn't really come as a surprise given her background as both a Certified Life Coach, Mindfulne...

To say that my next guest, Max De La Cruz , and I hit it off from Day 1 is an understatement. You guys know this: save for the initial introduction and booking process leading to recording day, the conversations I have the honour of sharing on this podcast are oftentimes the first interaction I have with the guest, .  While I will admit there is some level of risk involved in such a process, I can tell you for a fact that there's a huge and resounding takeaway when you get to connect with someone who, in all honesty, truly happens to be on the same wavelength as you on so many levels. To keep things simple, let's draw up a checklist so you can see what I mean... Dedicated Father - check Loving Husband - check Fun-loving playfulness - check Content creator & vlogger - check Ferocious Entrepreneur - check Author - well, that's still an item I need to knock off my personal bucket list but you guys ...

Solo Episode. Reaching out to everyone who's dealing with all the stress, anxiety and uncertainty that the past week has brought as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its course. We're all in this together. We're gonna get though this. #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 the blog of via email : awakentheawesome@gmail.com #StayAwesome

Solo Episode. There's a virus out there. It's name is COVID-19. It's making a lot of people uncomfortable. My personal take on this very real concern. #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 the blog of via email : awakentheawesome@gmail.com #StayAwesome

The world is a lot smaller than you think and the connections we have the opportunity to make with the vast array of people that make it so amazing in the first place turns out to be something one should take notice of. If I had simply brushed off our first interaction as one of those random 'Likes' or comments you get and not even consider it as a second thought, chances are pretty high that I would have surely missed out on a truly special kind of friendship. With all the proverbial 'noise' going around Social Media, it's easy to overlook that fact that there are actual people on the other end. People, just like you, with a sense of curiosity, dreams, ambitions, motivations, opinions and personal perspectives that are quite the discovery if you take the time to get curious and just listen. To say that Alain Guillot wears many hats is an understatement - case in point...