What happens when the identity you've built your life around suddenly disappears?

For Malique Micenheimer, football was the plan from the time he was seven. When the game ended, he had to figure out who he was without it - and what came next.

That journey led him to wealth management and another defining decision: walking away from a successful career to start his own firm. There was no book of business waiting for him. No clients ready to follow. As Malique puts it, there was "100 percent no plan B."

In this episode, Malique joins Deanna and Jeffery to talk about identity, faith, entrepreneurship, and building something from zero. He shares the pressure of those first months and how his years as an athlete taught him to reset, show up, and keep doing the work.

The conversation also explores his work with athletes and entertainers and the realities facing a new generation earning money through NIL deals and sponsorships. His message to young athletes is simple: you are a business. Your agent, advisor, and accountant work for you - and you are ultimately the CEO.

Malique also shares what to look for in a financial advisor and how family communication can help wealth last beyond one generation.

In this episode:

• Losing an identity when the game ends
• Starting a firm with zero clients
• Taking the leap with no Plan B
• How athletics builds resilience
• What athletes need to know about NIL
• Building trust with a financial advisor
• Family, faith, wealth, and legacy

Connect with Malique

Win Private Wealth:
winprivatewealth.com ↗

LinkedIn:
Malique Micenheimer ↗

🎧 Thank you for joining us for this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths.

Hosted by Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis, this podcast explores the stories behind success - the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

💬 Enjoyed the conversation?

Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.

Connect with Deanna

Instagram:
Deanna Brown ↗

LinkedIn:
Deanna Brown ↗

Connect with Jeffery

Instagram:
Jeffery Davis ↗

LinkedIn:
Jeffery Davis ↗

🎙️ Credits
Hosts: Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis
Editor: Krissi Burdette
"Halo Balance" Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: Z8T86FDLMUKGKBNT

⚖️ Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.

What if being high-performing does not mean you are performing at your best?

In this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths., Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis sit down with Kelly Roman, co-founder and CEO of Fisher Wallace Labs, to explore the intersection of mental health, human performance, and brain stimulation technology.

Kelly shares his unconventional path from studying English literature at Harvard to leading a medical device company focused on depression, anxiety, and insomnia. He talks about his own experience with depression, the hidden impact mood and sleep issues can have on even highly productive people, and why someone can appear to be functioning well while still carrying a significant burden.

The conversation also explores the stigma surrounding mental health treatment, particularly among generations and professions where asking for help can be viewed as weakness. Kelly discusses how his father's experience influenced his perspective and why accessible, non-drug approaches may help some people overcome barriers to seeking care.

Kelly also takes Deanna and Jeffery inside the unusual journey of building Fisher Wallace Labs, from navigating changing FDA regulations and funding research through early product sales to the company's broader vision for mental health treatment, prevention, and human performance.

Connect with Kelly Roman

Fisher Wallace Labs:
fisherwallace.com

LinkedIn:
Kelly Roman

🎧 Thank you for joining us for this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths.

Hosted by Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis, this podcast explores the stories behind success - the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

💬 Enjoyed the conversation?
Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.

💌 Connect with Deanna
Instagram: @deannabrowntoday
LinkedIn: Deanna Brown

💌 Connect with Jeffery
Instagram: @jefferyddavis
LinkedIn: Jeffery Davis

🎙️ Credits
Hosts: Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis
Editor: Krissi Burdette
"Halo Balance" Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: FDMKMRW0NYPIF1A9

⚖️ Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.

What happens when financial advice becomes more about gathering assets than understanding the person behind them?

Brian Vendig, President and Chief Investment Officer of MJP Wealth Advisors, joins Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis for a conversation about entrepreneurship, independence, trust, and the changing financial advisory industry.

Brian's path into wealth management was anything but direct. After working in public accounting, venture capital, and corporate finance at Xerox, he made the leap into the independent advisory firm founded by his father-in-law. Eventually, Brian and his wife became business partners and purchased the firm, navigating the complexities of family, succession, and ownership along the way.

Today, MJP Wealth Advisors manages nearly $2 billion in assets while remaining independently owned.

Brian shares why he believes growth is necessary to remain competitive, but also why scale should not come at the expense of relationships. He discusses the consolidation happening across wealth management, the potential conflicts created by corporate ownership, and why clients should understand who their advisor ultimately answers to.

The conversation also explores AI and technology. Brian sees technology as an important tool for improving productivity, research, and service, but believes advisors cannot hide behind screens. Trust still requires communication, collaboration, and a real understanding of the person sitting on the other side of the table.

At the center of Brian's approach is a simple goal: help people make better choices.

Connect with Brian Vendig

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianvendig/

MJP Wealth Advisors:
https://www.mjpwealthadvisors.com/

Thank you for joining us for this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths.

Hosted by Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis, this podcast explores the stories behind success - the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

Enjoyed the conversation?

Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.

Connect with Deanna

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannabrowntoday
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannachristinebrown/

Connect with Jeffery

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferyddavis/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffery-continuumpro/

Credits

Hosts: Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis
Editor: Krissi Burdette
"Halo Balance" Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: FDMKMRW0NYPIF1A9

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.

What happens when a financial advisor leaves the security of an established firm to build a practice around his own vision?

In this episode, Deanna and Jeffery sit down with financial advisor Mike Finn to talk about the decision to bet on himself, why he chose to focus on business owners in construction, HVAC, and electrical trades, and what he’s learning as he builds a firm from the ground up.

Mike also pulls back the curtain on an industry that can be difficult for consumers to navigate. Not all financial advisors work the same way, offer the same services, or even get paid the same way, and that lack of transparency can make it difficult to know exactly what you’re getting.

The conversation also turns to AI and the future of financial advice. Could financial advisors eventually become obsolete? Mike believes technology will continue to change the industry, but there’s still something important about having a human on the other side of the conversation, especially one willing to challenge your thinking instead of simply reinforcing it.

And for anyone considering making a leap of their own, Mike offers a lesson he learned personally: you’re probably never going to feel 100% ready.

In this episode:
• Why Mike left an established career path to build his own practice
• The realities of betting on yourself as a business owner
• Why specialization matters in financial planning
• What consumers may not realize about financial advisors and compensation
• How AI is already changing financial services
• The risk of false confidence when AI doesn’t challenge your assumptions
• Why Mike believes the human side of financial advice still matters
• Getting comfortable being uncomfortable when building something new

Connect with Mike Finn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfinncfp/

https://www.neponsetriverwealth.com/

🎧 Thank you for joining us for this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths.

Hosted by Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis, this podcast explores the stories behind success- the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

💬 Enjoyed the conversation?
Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.

💌 Connect with Deanna
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannabrowntoday
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannachristinebrown/

💌 Connect with Jeffery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferyddavis/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffery-continuumpro/

🎙️ Credits
Hosts: Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis
Editor: Krissi Burdette
“Halo Balance” Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: SIS9RNTFYTH5E3KF

⚖️ Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.

What if we taught people how to understand their mental health before they reached a crisis?

Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis sit down with Dr. Shivam Dubey, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and founder of Mighty Champions, to challenge a mental healthcare model that too often begins after someone is already struggling.

Drawing from his experience treating patients, Shivam shares why he believes self-awareness and mental health education should begin much earlier. From patients arriving in emergency rooms believing they’re having heart attacks only to discover they’re experiencing panic attacks, to the core beliefs we develop throughout our lives, he asks: What could we be teaching people before they reach a breaking point?

The conversation explores stress and the body, the beliefs and identities we carry, physician burnout and moral injury, and Shivam’s vision for bringing preventive mental health education into communities around the world.

• Moving mental healthcare from treatment toward prevention
• How stress can manifest physically
• Self-awareness as a foundational mental health skill
• How core beliefs shape the way we see ourselves
• Why our thoughts and experiences are not our identity
• Moral injury and physician burnout
• Shivam’s vision for preventive mental health education

Mighty Champions Program:
https://www.mightychampions.org/#team

Know Thyself Assessment:
https://knowthyself-test.vercel.app/

Fellowship in Preventive Mental Health Education - Application Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQ-cxNOmPD98Vkpd9FDmY9PsgEBUdZZa47TAhLkFou94L4Kg/viewform

🎧 Thank you for joining us for this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real
Stories. Hidden Truths.
Hosted by Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis, this podcast explores the stories
behind success- the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and
defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.
🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.
💬 Enjoyed the conversation?
Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would
appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.
💌 Connect with Deanna
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannabrowntoday
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannachristinebrown/
💌 Connect with Jeffery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferyddavis/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffery-continuumpro/
🎙️ Credits
Hosts: Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis
Editor: Krissi Burdette
“Halo Balance” Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: ZMYZZ0ZYVA5QJIKN
⚖️ Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily
reflect those of the host or production team. This podcast is intended for
informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal,
financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.

Han Cao arrived in the United States for graduate school with $50 in his pocket and little experience speaking conversational English. He learned by immersion, watching CNN during the day and Johnny Carson at night, teaching biology labs, and eventually stepping far outside his own discipline.

That willingness to enter unfamiliar rooms became a defining part of his career.

A molecular biologist by training, Han found himself working alongside electrical engineers, physicists, computer scientists, and other disciplines at Princeton. At those intersections, new ideas emerged. He went on to found Bionano Genomics and develop technology that allowed researchers to map the genome in ways that previously weren't possible.

Today, Han is Co-Founder, President and CEO of Dimension Genomics, where he is taking on another challenge: understanding changes within individual cells, including extrachromosomal circular DNA (ecDNA) associated with aggressive cancers, cancer relapse, and drug resistance.

In this episode:

• How Han learned English through immersion
• Why crossing disciplines can lead to unexpected breakthroughs
• The technology behind mapping the human genome
• Why ecDNA matters in cancer research
• Starting over after building and losing control of a company
• Why “junk in, junk out” takes on new meaning when AI enters medicine
• The role immigrants play in science, entrepreneurship, and innovation

About Han Cao, Ph.D.

Han Cao, Ph.D. is Co-Founder, President and CEO of Dimension Genomics Inc., where he is developing technology to better understand somatic genomic changes and their role in disease. He previously founded Bionano Genomics and helped pioneer genome-mapping technology using nanofluidics.

Connect with Han / Dimension Genomics
https://dimensiongen.com/

🎧 Thank you for joining us for this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths.

Hosted by Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis, this podcast explores the stories behind success - the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

💬 Enjoyed the conversation?
Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.

💌 Connect with Deanna
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannabrowntoday
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannachristinebrown/

💌 Connect with Jeffery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferyddavis/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffery-continuumpro/

🎙️ Credits
Hosts: Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis
Editor: Krissi Burdette
“Halo Balance” Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: CV4ZSVSKTX55EDDE

⚖️ Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.

What does it take to bet everything on an idea no one can prove will work?

In this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths., Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis sit down with scientist and entrepreneur Andrew Bradbury.

Andrew shares what it was like studying under Nobel Laureate César Milstein, launching Specifica, surviving seven months without a paycheck, trusting instinct when the data wasn't yet available, and challenging the biotech industry's assumptions about artificial intelligence.

From scientific breakthroughs to startup leadership, this conversation explores the resilience, curiosity, and calculated risks behind meaningful innovation.

• Building a biotech startup from the ground up
• Betting an entire company on an unproven idea
• Surviving seven months without a paycheck
• Challenging the AI hype in biotech
• The leadership lesson that came after selling his company

Andrew Bradbury is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Specifica. A Cambridge-trained scientist who studied under Nobel Laureate César Milstein, he has spent more than 30 years advancing antibody discovery technologies and has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed publications.

Specifica: https://www.specifica.bio/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew--bradbury/

🎧 Thank you for joining us for this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths.

Hosted by Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis, this podcast explores the stories behind success—the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.

💌 Connect with Deanna
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannabrowntoday
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannachristinebrown/

💌 Connect with Jeffery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferyddavis/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffery-continuumpro/

🎙️ Credits
Hosts: Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis
Guest: Andrew Bradbury
Editor: Krissi Burdette
"Halo Balance" Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: SIS9RNTFYTH5E3KF

⚖️ Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts or production team. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.

What if the root cause isn't what you think it is?

In this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths., Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis sit down with Brian Burzynski, founder of Intelligent Threads and the Synergy Release Method (SRM).

What began with a high school basketball injury turned into a 25-year journey studying body structure, movement, and recovery. Brian shares how that path led him to spend more than 15 years developing wearable technology designed to support structural alignment - and why curiosity has been the driving force behind everything he's built.

Along the way, the conversation explores challenging assumptions, looking beyond symptoms, the role of structure, environment, and emotions in recovery, and why Brian believes asking better questions often lead to better outcomes.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, healthcare practitioner, or simply curious about the human body, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on looking beyond the obvious.

• Why he spent 15 years developing Intelligent Threads
• The story behind the Synergy Release Method (SRM)
• The lesson that changed how he viewed other healthcare practitioners
• Why he believes healing often requires asking better questions
• The business philosophy behind helping people not need to come back

Brian Burzynski, DPSc., SRM, is the founder of Intelligent Threads and the Synergy Release Method (SRM). Since 2000, he has helped clients improve body structure and function through SRM while developing wearable technology designed to support structural alignment. His philosophy is simple: help people recover, give them the tools to stay well, and empower them to rely less on ongoing treatment.

Connect with Brian

🌐 Website: https://www.intelligentthreads.com/

Hosted by Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis, this podcast explores the stories behind success—the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

💬 Enjoyed the conversation?
Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannabrowntoday

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannachristinebrown/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferyddavis/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffery-continuumpro/

Hosts: Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis

Editor: Krissi Burdette

"Halo Balance" music licensed through Soundstripe.

The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.

What if wellness isn't about chasing symptoms, but helping your body return to balance?

In this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths., Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis sit down with entrepreneur and The One Device CEO Dmitri Leonov to explore a different perspective on health, healing, and human potential.

From the realities of building a hardware startup to the ideas of resonance, frequency, and alignment, Dimitri shares the philosophy that drives both his business and his life. Together, they discuss what it means to live in balance, why founders need resilience, and how curiosity can open the door to new ways of thinking.

Whether you agree with every idea or simply enjoy exploring new perspectives, this conversation invites you to think differently about wellness and the future of human performance.

• Dmitri's entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned building The One Device
• Why "hardware is hard" and what it took to bring the product to market
• The concepts of resonance, frequency, and balance
• Finding alignment with your higher self
• Why a holistic approach to wellness matters
• The future of frequency-based technologies

Dmitri Leonov is the CEO of The One Device and a serial entrepreneur focused on wellness technology and human potential. His mission is to help people achieve greater balance through frequency-based technologies, and his work has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, TechCrunch, Mashable, and VentureBeat.

Hosted by Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis, this podcast explores the stories behind success- the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

💬 Enjoyed the conversation?

Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.

💌 Connect with Deanna

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannabrowntoday

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannachristinebrown/
💌 Connect with Jeffery

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferyddavis/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffery-continuumpro/

🎙️ Credits

Hosts: Deanna Brown and Jeffery Davis
Editor: Krissi Burdette

“Halo Balance” Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: 4RKYC6TEZTPEDSBO

⚖️ Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.

What does it really mean to be authentic - and how do you find your voice in a world that's constantly telling you who to be?

In this episode of Authentic Conversations, Deanna Brown sits down with Cheldin Barlatt Rumer, CEO and Executive Producer of THIS IS IT NETWORK™, to explore the power of storytelling, personal branding, and the courage to stop whispering your wishes.

Cheldin shares the philosophy behind her signature movement, SCREAM YOUR DREAM™, why authenticity begins with knowing who you are, and the three questions everyone should be able to answer:

• Who are you?
• What do you want?
• Why do you deserve it?

Together, Deanna and Cheldin discuss building your own stage instead of waiting for permission, using your voice with intention, the future of media and AI, and why genuine human connection will always matter.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, creator, leader, or simply navigating your next chapter, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about authenticity - and inspire you to show up more boldly.

Cheldin is the CEO and Executive Producer of THIS IS IT NETWORK™, a global female and minority-owned digital streaming platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of remarkable women through educational entertainment. She is also the creator of the SCREAM YOUR DREAM™ movement, helping entrepreneurs, professionals, and students strengthen their personal brands, communicate with confidence, and share their stories with purpose.

An immigrant from Sierra Leone, West Africa, former Division I athlete, adjunct professor, author, mother, and personal branding expert, Cheldin has dedicated her career to empowering women to stop whispering their wishes and boldly scream their dreams.

Learn more about Cheldin and THIS IS IT NETWORK™:
https://thisisittv.com/cheldin/

🎧 Thank you for joining us for this episode of Authentic Conversations: Real Stories. Hidden Truths.

Hosted by Deanna Brown, this podcast explores the stories behind success- the pivots, setbacks, reinventions, leadership lessons, and defining moments that rarely make the highlight reel.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

💬 Enjoyed the conversation?

Leave a rating or review and share the episode with someone who would appreciate it. Your support helps more listeners discover these stories.

💌 Connect with Deanna

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannabrowntoday

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannachristinebrown/

🎙️ Credits

Host: Deanna Brown
Producer & Editor: Krissi Burdette
Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: Q190WWWNTXUIA9JR

⚖️ Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional advice.