Born or Made

In this inspiring episode of Born or Made, Larry Dix sits down with visionary entrepreneur, creative powerhouse, and philanthropist Dame Sydney Thackray. Known for her opulent interior and set design work, Sydney is now launching one of LA’s most exclusive new ventures: a private social club and wellness spa where charity investors, innovators, and thought leaders can connect, relax, and ignite purpose-driven change.

But Sydney’s journey began with grit, grace, and a relentless dedication to giving back. A former Olympic horse vaulter, Sydney transitioned from elite athletics to full-time philanthropy, dedicating her life to causes that uplift women, children, and underserved communities around the globe. Her charitable work took her across continents—and in a twist that feels pulled from the pages of history, led to a fateful meeting with a descendant of Catherine de Medici.

In June of this year, at just 19 years old, Sydney was officially knighted in Rome—making her the youngest American Dame in history. Unlike many who receive such honors through royal lineage or status, Sydney earned hers through service, action, and impact.

This episode is a masterclass in legacy building, where resilience meets elegance, and where one woman’s commitment to purpose redefines what it means to live a noble life—without needing to be born into one.

Gonzalo Dieguez—founder of Gnapse, a plant-based wellness brand that’s blending ancient ritual with modern science to change how we nourish our minds, bodies, and communities.

Originally from Argentina, Gonzalo’s journey is rooted in deep passion for nutrition, plant medicine, and conscious living. After launching Gnapse and facing the collapse of his dream during the pandemic, he made the courageous decision to rebuild. Today, Gnapse is thriving—with handcrafted, small-batch botanical elixirs like Alma Cacao, a ceremonial-grade, jitter-free coffee alternative, and Kanna Feels, a powerful tincture designed to elevate mood and emotional connection.

But Gnapse is more than a product line—it’s a movement grounded in sustainability, fair trade, and giving back. Every purchase supports global communities through nonprofit partnerships like For the Love of Mateo, and every ceremony hosted or attended carries a mission of shared healing, emotional expansion, and heart-centered connection.

From ethical sourcing at the root to third-party lab testing for purity, Gonzalo breaks down what makes Gnapse different—and why he believes wellness is a ritual of love, contribution, and intention.

Whether you’re building a brand, exploring your own wellness path, or seeking purpose in your next chapter, this episode is a masterclass in mission-driven entrepreneurship.

What happens when you walk away from a lucrative law career, battle cancer without chemo, and come out the other side with a mission to serve your soul?

In this powerful episode of Born or Made, Larry Dix sits down with Jeffrey Segal—former attorney turned spiritual entrepreneur and founder of Mystic Journey, one of LA’s most iconic metaphysical bookstores. Jeffrey opens up about how the “golden handcuffs” of the legal world kept him stuck for years, until a cancer diagnosis became his wake-up call to change everything.

From choosing a natural healing path to building a sanctuary for seekers, Jeffrey shares how he turned adversity into alignment and passion into purpose. Now a respected author and life coach, his story is a living example of what it means to manifest your destiny—one crystal, one decision, one journey at a time.

If you’ve ever questioned your path or felt stuck in success that doesn’t fulfill you, this episode is your sign.

Curtis Kitchen—a proud father of six, successful business owner, and advocate for personal transformation. Once a client at the Rescue Mission of Trenton and a graduate of the Sussex County Drug Court, Curtis has now celebrated 12 years of sobriety, proving that rock bottom can be the foundation for something extraordinary.

Today, Curtis runs his own thriving business and serves as a faculty member in the New Direction Program, mentoring others walking the same road he once did. From coaching youth sports to giving back to the recovery community, Curtis lives his message: you’re never too far gone to start over and thrive.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
* How Curtis overcame addiction and rebuilt his life from scratch
*The grit it took to start a business after recovery
*Why mentorship, service, and fatherhood keep him grounded
*How sports, structure, and self-belief shape young lives

This episode is a testament to the power of second chances, personal ownership, and unshakable faith. If you're ready to hear what real transformation looks like—from the inside out—this one’s for you.

🎧 Tune in and discover why Curtis Kitchen is living proof that success isn’t just Born or Made—sometimes it’s reborn.

What if your image isn’t just how the world sees you—but how you step into your power?

In this elegant and fiercely inspiring episode of Born or Made, Larry sits down with Celeste Moore, Global Certified Master Image Consultant, Celebrity Stylist, and Luxury Personal Branding Expert. Celeste’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radiance—from a 22-year-old newly divorced single mom rebuilding her life, to a sought-after stylist gracing the front rows of New York Fashion Week.

Celeste shares how she went from almost pursuing law to finding her true calling in transformation through image—and why owning your style means owning your story. With a signature approach that goes beyond clothing, she helps executives and entrepreneurs align their outer presence with their inner power.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
✨ How to craft a personal aesthetic that aligns with your ambition
✨ Why confidence is the true currency of leadership
✨ The role of image in commanding the room (and your future)
✨ How Celeste built a global brand while navigating single motherhood and entrepreneurship

Whether you’re preparing for the next level in business or simply ready to show up with more impact, this conversation is your guide to becoming unforgettable by design.

🎧 Tune in and discover how Celeste Moore proves that success isn’t just born or made—it’s styled, shaped, and claimed.

In this powerhouse episode of Born or Made, Larry welcomes John Mendez, AI Content Strategist, Speaker, and Host of the globally ranked podcast Walk 2 Wealth. At just 25 years old, John has delivered over 130 talks in a single year, coached 2,200+ entrepreneurs, and built a media brand that helps business owners generate a year’s worth of content in just one hour using AI.

John doesn’t just talk about success—he builds systems that create it. From founding Stop and Stare Media to mastering the art of repurposing content with artificial intelligence, John is reshaping how entrepreneurs market, scale, and work smarter.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

⚙️ How to leverage AI to create content that converts

🎯 The mindset that fueled John’s rapid rise in business and speaking

🎙️ Why Walk 2 Wealth has resonated with thousands of listeners across 73+ countries

📈 The step-by-step process John teaches to simplify content creation and scale your brand

Whether you’re drowning in marketing tasks or just starting your journey, this episode will equip you with tactical tools, real-life strategy, and a no-BS approach to becoming more visible, more efficient, and more successful.

🎧 Tune in to discover how John Mendez is proving that massive growth can come from smart systems, discipline, and the willingness to walk your own path to wealth.

Larry sits down with Dan Flores, Fitness & Life Coach, Peak Performance Speaker, and Founder of The Warrior Lifestyle, to dive into what it truly takes to master your mind, body, and purpose.

Dan’s journey is rooted in transformation—from personal struggle to building a powerful movement designed to help others cultivate unbreakable discipline, bulletproof confidence, and unstoppable momentum. Through his coaching, speaking, and content, Dan empowers others to rise above excuses, rewrite their identity, and live a life aligned with purpose and peak performance.

In this episode, Dan shares:

🔥 What it means to truly embody The Warrior Lifestyle

💪 How fitness is the gateway to mastering every other area of life

🧠 Daily non-negotiables for discipline and self-mastery

🎯 Why building confidence is a result of showing up for yourself consistently

If you’re ready to elevate your mindset, body, and life, this episode will give you the tools and fire to do it. Dan’s message is clear: you don’t find strength—you forge it.

🎧 Tune in and learn how to unlock your full potential and live like a warrior—because greatness isn’t given, it’s earned.

Founder of The Warrior Lifestyle

https://www.danfloreslifestyle.com

What does it take to align your voice, body, and mind—and live with unstoppable clarity?

In this powerful episode of Born or Made, Larry sits down with Sifu Rafael, master instructor, entrepreneur, and founder of Speaking Prowess, to uncover how mastering your communication starts with mastering yourself. With over 50 years of experience, Sifu Rafael has taught thousands how to elevate their health, mindset, and message through his revolutionary Sifu’s Mind Body Method™—a 90-day blueprint grounded in movement, journaling, hydration, fasting, and mental resilience.

From detoxing your life to reclaiming your inner strength, Sifu Rafael shares the principles that have helped leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs rise stronger—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🧠 How mindset and movement unlock clarity and leadership

🗣️ Why mastering your voice is the key to influence and impact

💪 The power of daily rituals and self-discipline

🌍 How Sifu built a global platform with 7 live shows and a mission-driven brand

Whether you're an entrepreneur, speaker, or someone on a path of transformation, this conversation is your wake-up call to speak with power, lead with heart, and live from your highest self.

Larry sits down with Dr. Julie Siemers, a nationally recognized nurse educator, author, and patient safety consultant with over 40 years of experience in critical care, education, and healthcare leadership. As the founder of Lifebeat Solutions and author of Surviving Your Hospital Stay, Dr. Julie is on a mission to make healthcare safer—for both patients and providers.

From the ICU to the executive suite, Dr. Julie has seen it all. With a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Touro University, her work bridges clinical experience with systemic reform, aiming to empower individuals and transform the way care is delivered. Whether she’s training nurses, consulting hospital leadership, or educating the public, her focus is always the same: protect patients, elevate standards, and improve outcomes.

Episode Highlights:

How decades in critical care shaped her passion for patient safety

What inspired her to write Surviving Your Hospital Stay—and the real stories behind it

The hidden dangers patients face in hospitals—and how to avoid them

Why empowering nurses is key to transforming healthcare

Whether leadership and advocacy are traits you're born with—or develop over time

Dr. Julie’s journey is about more than medicine—it’s about changing systems, saving lives, and helping people find their voice in the chaos of modern healthcare. Tune in as Larry explores whether her calling as a change-maker was in her DNA or developed through experience.

In this fast-paced and flavorful episode of Born or Made, Larry sits down with Ernesto “Glenn” Bocchino—tech pioneer, race car champion, and pizza entrepreneur—to talk about how a love for business, adrenaline, and food shaped one wild and inspiring journey.

Glenn started in hospitality, spent a decade building his skills in the restaurant world, then took a leap into tech with Cybernation, one of the early broadband deployment companies in the U.S. He grew the business from a 3-person internet café to a $25M operation with 400+ employees across 15 states. But that was just the beginning.

He’s also the team owner and driver behind Team i-MOTO Racing, with a major win at Daytona and a long list of podium finishes. And now? He’s back to his roots—launching PIZZA ROX, a modern Neapolitan pizza brand built from scratch with global research and world-class talent like master chef Giulio Adriani.

Episode Highlights:

How Glenn scaled a small internet café into a national tech company

Why racing became more than a hobby—and how it fuels his business mindset

The story behind winning Daytona’s Fresh from Florida 200

What inspired the creation of PIZZA ROX—and why he's betting big on pizza

Whether success in tech, racing, and food is something you're born with—or built over time

This episode is a mix of grit, growth, and gear shifts. Was Glenn born for the fast lane—or did he build himself for it? Tune in to find out.