Awaken The Awesome

A third appearance on the show is certainly something to acknowledge and celebrate. When certain guests have been such a profound source of support and collaboration, you let them know.  It's a true honour to welcome back today's guest on the program.  Dionne Nicholls is a professional coach trained through Accomplishment Coaching. From being estranged from her father for years as he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, to giving birth to a son with a rare heart condition, to feeling stuck in a 20-year career and having her 17-year relationship end in betrayal, Dionne knows very well that she does not look like what she's been through. And, that's the point. After an extensive journey of self-reflection and seeking the meaning of why she was put on this planet starting in 2014, she came to the realization that the gift she had to bring to the party of life was JOY. Following a successful 20-year career in the fashion industry, co-founding...

When I was a kid, we watched this wonderful, iconic movie titled "Le Grand Bleu"(or "The Big Blue" in English) starring Jean Reno and Jean-Marc Barr. It's the beautiful, poetic and tragic story of the rivalry and what some would call a bond between two individuals who, through their chosen passion for free-diving, were not just competitors but also friends. I'm not gonna give you a long synopsis : if you care to see what happens when talent meets obsession, while also fuelled by the thirst to always push past your limits...just watch it. I bring this up because, for some reason, in trying to find the right words to properly introduce today's guest, I struggled. Not because the words wouldn't come, but more because of this weird comparison that I could not shake off as I truly thought this was an appropriate visual for today's particular exchange. I came across Xavier De Le Rue 's truthfully incredible career as I was rando...

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...

The story I thought I'd never get the courage to tell on this platform.  Everything happens in due time. With the hopes that my journey helps someone who needs to hear it. Enjoy. #ATATribe 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

What defines a Champion? Medals? Trophies? The Scoreboard? The endless training and practice sessions? The high-level expectations we put on ourselves? The ferocious dedication to our craft bred from a very early age through our family legacy? The clear sense of direction we've sharpened over the years? ...or is it something else? I don't have the answers. But fortunately, through a journey marked by ambition, resilience, discipline and personal struggles, my next guest, Neyssa Etienne, is firmly suited to provide a few. Having accomplished so much as trailblazer for Women's Tennis in her native Haiti, as a local Champion, as well as on the International circuit, all the way the Sydney Olympics, a tip of the hat is certainly due. One could also say that old habits are hard to kill, as we were graced with Neyssa's dominating presence on the court as the only female player at the recent 2020 Edition of the Profin Open Tennis Championship that took plac...

  Just taking the time to show gratitude and celebrate that journey for how far it's come and how far it will go. "It's not over until I win." - Les Brown Enjoy. #ATATribe 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

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...

© 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...

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...

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...

There are no words to faithfully pinpoint the sense of appreciation I have for my next guest. A connection that happened purely by coincidence has since evolved into a wonderful and growing friendship. Through various exchanges, I got to know an individual whose colourful sense of vulnerability and personal truth, topped off with a personality that some might consider somewhat brash, revealed to be just some of his many endearing qualities. But don't let the foul-mouthed, tattooed, gray-haired, unapologetic persona fool you. Dennis Gable is certainly one of the hardest workers out there. Brand Producer & Consultant, Self-Worth Strategist, Podcaster...just to name a few of his many talents. But to me, it's even more personal - Dennis is a truly courageous and heartwarming individual. The kind whose brutal honesty is a gift rather than a nuisance. You need more people like that in...

I admire people who make no apologies for who they are and what their core values represent. These people, in my opinion, are the ones who are vulnerable enough to sing their own song to their own tune yet have the patience and empathy to stop, look and listen to what the world has to say. Mo'Lanee Sibyl and I got connected via a mutual acquaintance over WhatsApp. From the very start, there was a special sense of connection and mutual respect that went beyond the texts and quips and bubbly quirks that made her stand out. For me at least - there was more to it. Over the course of our many conversations, I got to meet and engage with a person who, from humble, challenging and yet defining beginnings set a course from her native Nigeria to continuing her Higher Education in the US that would align with her sense of commitment, resilience, and growth. As an accomplished scholar, she holds a PhD as ...

© HAM (IG : @hamshoot ) - All Rights Reserved From my hotel room, on a short holiday with the family, I turned on the TV and caught a rebroadcast of the 39th edition of the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain , a yearly extravaganza which I would later discover to be a reference, listed on the agendas of all those who love Circus including artists, agents, producers and fans of the circus arts. There were a few acts before the one that led the following conversation, but there was something about this one in particular that stopped me in my tracks and caught my attention. I'm not sure if it was the performer's young age, his emotional performance, the incredible sense of concentration and skill displayed, or how my impression of what the human body was capable of was utterly thrown for a loop... As a seasoned Aerial Straps and Handbalancing artist, Tim Kriegler showed...