Awaken The Awesome

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...

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 ...

Growing up in a Third World country but having had the privilege to make a life abroad has taught me a lot about gratitude and resilience. Two very useful tools I believe are essential in anyone's arsenal along their journey. Having also been raised by a pair of solid overachievers who did not shy away from instilling a sense of duty and strive for excellence in their children was something I also benefited from. These are but a few of the elements that resonated with me as I took the time to read up on my next guest and her many incredible achievements. While it is true that circumstances such as financial resources, cultural background, family upbringing all play a significant part in one's journey, I truly believe that the power of the the mind and the choice to elevate one's self beyond these challenges remains the deciding factor between Success and Complacency. From the slums of Lagos, Nigeria,...

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...

When you have the opportunity to come across someone who knows more than you do and who's willing to share their knowledge with you, take my advice and just remember to do these two very simple things : Shut Up & Listen. Otherwise, you will most likely miss out on some pretty amazing piece of truth and valuable information which, in all honesty, could definitely change your life.  This next conversation was no different. Benoit Chalifoux is a highly sought-after international speaker with well over 500 conferences(and counting) given to various companies of all sizes spread across North America, Africa and Europe.     He serves as Deputy Director of International Affairs at the School of Management of the University of Quebec in Montreal(ESG UQAM). As a seasoned Lecturer, his expertise covers a vast array of noteworthy topics ranging from Entrepreneurship, to Business Development and Cros...

The most honest thing one can do in terms of catering to your personal growth is admitting what you don't know. Having the vulnerability to approach things with both humility as well as curiosity is a big step. I did not know about ADHD. I'd heard about the condition and like everyone else, had my own pre-conceived notion of what it was. Parenting is about trial and error. When our daughter started displaying some particular character traits and noticeable signs such as absent-mindedness, hyperactivity, fidgeting...I can't say I picked up on it at first glance. My wife had her concerns but I was the one to brush things off as benign childish behaviour.  I had to admit there was more to it. I felt I had a responsibility to put in the time, patience and empathy not to judge, or throw my hands up in resignation but actually shift my perspective and hopefully give myself, and my daughter the necessary...

Solo Episode. Your dreams better find you working. Less dreaming, more doing. #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...

A lot of people have pushed me to reach out and have this next guest on the program. If there's one thing I've learned over the course of these exchanges and amazing opportunities, it's that you do not force The Universe...you have to trust it. As long as your intentions remain true, you realize that everything eventually does happen in due time. This next conversation was a perfect example of this very simple fact. Ama Makeda is one of those incredibly genuine individuals that you'd be wise not to try to define. Instead, you're better off doing the natural, human thing and just take in the fact that, even though you might not know much about each other, these "differences" are exactly where the beauty and innocence of the Human Spirit lie. As a Certified Yoga Teacher, Poet, Artist and Mother, Ama is definitely the right person to speak to as we're all getting cau...

There was something special about my next guest that I couldn't put my finger on when we first connected. Was it his infectiously genuine energy that transpired through our initial call as we got to know each other better? Was it his generosity and courteous demeanor as he graciously welcomed me in his home as he'd previously had me on his own podcast? Was it his perceptive ability to reach out to me, out of nowhere, when I wasn't really in the best of moods or mindset? Was it his joyous celebration of the daily little wins in life? In hindsight, as I write this intro, I'm pretty sure it was all of the above. As you'll soon find out, Sean Chris Lewis , isn't just a Certified Personal Trainer, host of the wonderful Forked podcast , loving husband and father, but also a tremendous source of kindness and warmth. In this conversation, we cover Sean's mindset hacks, his p...

A really sincere smile and a particular kind of positive energy. That was my first impression of my next guest, Pablo J. Rosario . Pablo is an active professional speaker and relationship coach specializing in helping single men all over the world overcome their individual roadblocks and improve their interpersonal connections, not just with women, but throughout all the various facets of their lives. I especially appreciated our exchange for its candor as Pablo shared his origin story, so to speak, as, like most of the amazing people we've had on this podcast, one can and should make the effort to look to his/her earliest and decisive moments in order to better understand particular patterns. I always enjoy linking up with the kind of individual who makes no apologies for putting his passion and mission at the forefront as he or she aims to serve a genuine sense of purpose. You can't give what...

Before we get things going and and tune in to another incredible exchange...I thought it'd be useful to remind you guys of a couple of things... Along your journey...you will most certainly... - find reasons to question why you're doing what you're doing - encounter numerous situations where things will get rather confusing - deal with naysayers - spend many hours...days...months...where the only thing getting you through and on to the next level is your own unshakable resilience ... remember one thing: You are not alone. You are not crazy. I honestly met my next guest  Naga Subramanya  only a couple of weeks ago. As curator and host of the The  Passion People Podcast , Naga focuses on the stories of people who follow their dream to make their passions manifest in tangible ways. Naga is also Finance Professional and works on his podcast as he is passionate about meeting new people a...