Born without a choice

What do you do when life knocks you down again and again?

In this inspiring episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with Jay Setchell, a Marine veteran, entrepreneur, author, and living example of resilience. After enduring multiple near-death experiences, 73 surgeries, paralysis, and countless setbacks, Jay has developed a mindset that refuses to surrender.

Through powerful stories of faith, perseverance, personal responsibility, and overcoming adversity, Jay shares the lessons that have carried him through life’s toughest battles. His message is simple but profound: no matter what you’re facing, it’s always too soon to quit.

If you’re struggling with challenges, chasing a dream, rebuilding after loss, or simply looking for motivation to keep moving forward, this conversation will remind you of the strength you already possess.

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Guest Contact Details

Guest: Jay Setchell

Website:

Never Quit Trying⁠

Book & Resources:

Visit Jay’s website to learn more about his story, motivational message, speaking engagements, and the lessons behind his philosophy of perseverance and personal responsibility.

Key Message:

“If it is to be, it is up to me.” — Jay Setchell

Featured Topic:

Faith, resilience, overcoming adversity, personal growth, perseverance, leadership, and never giving up.

What if single motherhood isn’t a story of lack—but a story of strength, resilience, and purpose?

In this inspiring episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with J. Rosemarie Francis, author, mentor, and host of SoloMoms! Talk, to challenge the myths surrounding single motherhood. Drawing from her own journey as a divorced mother of three, Jay-Rosemarie shares how faith, healing, and courage helped her move beyond survival mode and into a life of purpose.

Together, we explore identity, resilience, overcoming trauma, the power of storytelling, and why single mothers deserve to be seen as champions rather than victims of their circumstances. This conversation offers encouragement not only for solo parents, but for anyone navigating life’s unexpected challenges and searching for hope, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose.

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Guest Contact Details

Guest: J. Rosemarie Francis

Website: SoloMoms! Talk⁠

Free Resource: Courage to Believe Gift Pack for Single Moms⁠

Podcast: SoloMoms! Talk Podcast⁠

Books: Courage to Believe: 21-Day Devotional for Single Moms, Healing Hem, and The Solo Mom Manifesto

What if the pain you’ve experienced wasn’t the end of your story?

In this powerful episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with Lisha Antiqua to explore how trauma, adversity, and life’s deepest challenges can shape us—but don’t have to define us. Lisha shares her journey of healing, resilience, and personal transformation, offering insight into what it takes to move beyond survival mode and step into the person you were always meant to become.

This conversation is a reminder that while trauma may leave scars, it does not get the final say. Healing is possible, purpose can emerge from pain, and your past does not determine your future.

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Guest Contact Details

Guest: Lisha Antiqua

Website: https://yourownuniversity.com/sss-purchase-170662

What happens when a father stops trying to be perfect and starts focusing on being present?

In this powerful episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with Tyler McAdams, single father, coach, and founder of Inspiring Father. After navigating divorce, relationship struggles, emotional challenges, and the responsibility of raising four children, Tyler discovered a life-changing truth: children don’t need a perfect father—they need a present, emotionally regulated one.

Tyler shares his personal journey from survival mode to intentional leadership, revealing how emotional regulation, structure, accountability, and self-awareness transformed both his life and his relationship with his children.

We discuss the silent struggles many fathers face, the loneliness that can come with single parenthood, why men often lose themselves after divorce, and how fathers can rebuild their identity while creating stronger connections with their kids.

Through his H.E.R.O. Method—Heal, Establish, Regulate, Own—Tyler is helping fathers around the world become calmer, more confident leaders in their homes and lives.

Whether you’re a father, a parent, or someone working to become the best version of yourself, this conversation is packed with wisdom, hope, and practical tools for lasting transformation.

Because as Tyler believes:

One regulated father can change an entire generation.

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Guest Contact Details

Tyler McAdams

* Founder of Inspiring Father

* Fatherhood Coach

* Creator of the H.E.R.O. Method

* Advocate for emotional regulation and intentional parenting

Website:

Inspiring Father⁠

Areas of Expertise:

* Single fatherhood

* Co-parenting

* Emotional regulation

* Men’s personal growth

* Identity rebuilding after divorce

* Parenting and family leadership

* Mindset, routines, and accountability

Connect with Tyler:

Visit his website to learn more about coaching programs, resources, and tools designed to help fathers lead with confidence, presence, and purpose.

What if the behaviors we label as problems are actually signs of untapped potential?

In this powerful episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with Bonnie Liotta, transformational speaker, bestselling author, and co-founder of Creating Champions For Life. Bonnie has helped hundreds of families navigate challenges associated with labels such as ADHD, ODD, and DMDD, while helping parents see their children through a completely different lens.

Together, we explore why so many parents feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and out of answers, and why traditional approaches often fail to create lasting change. Bonnie shares her belief that children are not broken, that healing must come before strategy, and that every child possesses unique greatness waiting to be discovered.

This conversation challenges common assumptions about parenting, discipline, behavioral diagnoses, and what it truly means to help a child thrive. Whether you’re a parent, educator, caregiver, or someone passionate about helping children reach their full potential, this episode offers hope, perspective, and practical insight.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there is more to your child’s story than the label they’ve been given, this episode is for you.

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Guest Contact Details

Bonnie Liotta

* Co-Founder, Creating Champions For Life

* Transformational Speaker

* Amazon #1 Bestselling Author

* Co-Author of the upcoming book Parent in Love

Website:

The Path to Parenting Paradise⁠

Focus Areas:

* Parenting transformation

* ADHD, ODD, and DMDD support

* Family relationships

* Faith-based parenting

* Child behavior and emotional healing

* Personal development and leadership

Special Resource for Parents:

Visit the website above to learn more about Bonnie and Thomas Liotta’s parenting methodology and resources designed to help families create lasting behavioral transformation.

Grief changes everything—but it doesn’t have to define the rest of your life.

In this deeply honest episode of Born Without a Choice, psychologist and author Amanda Landes shares the personal story behind her book I’m Almost Okay. When her father was diagnosed with glioblastoma, Amanda found herself navigating not only the heartbreak of losing a parent, but also infertility struggles, miscarriage, and the collapse of her marriage—all at the same time.

Drawing from both her professional expertise and lived experience, Amanda opens up about the realities of grief, resilience, healing, and the difficult process of rebuilding a life after loss. Together, we explore why grief isn’t something to “get over,” how gratitude can coexist with sorrow, and what it truly means to keep moving forward when life doesn’t go according to plan.

If you’ve ever lost someone you love, faced a major life transition, or struggled to find hope in the middle of heartbreak, this conversation will remind you that healing is possible—even when you’re only “almost okay.”

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Guest Contact Details

Amanda Landes, Psy.D.

* Psychologist, Author, Speaker

* Book: I’m Almost Okay: Navigating the Grief of Parental Loss, Miscarriage, and Divorce

Book Information: I’m Almost Okay is available through major online booksellers.

Suggested Contact Listing:

* Guest: Amanda Landes, Psy.D.

* Author of I’m Almost Okay: Navigating the Grief of Parental Loss, Miscarriage, and Divorce

* Psychologist, Speaker, and Advocate for Grief Recovery and Emotional Healing.

We live in a world overflowing with information.

Books, podcasts, videos, social media, and now artificial intelligence can give us answers to almost any question in seconds.

So why do so many people still feel stuck?

In this thought-provoking episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with Binyamin Klempner, social worker, NLP Master Practitioner, and founder of InsightBridge, to explore the difference between information and transformation.

Binyamin shares why knowledge alone rarely creates lasting change and how true growth comes through self-awareness, reflection, and insight. We discuss mental health, purpose, emotional growth, the future of AI, and how technology can help us become more thoughtful, self-aware, and deeply human.

If you’ve ever wondered why you understand your problems but still struggle to overcome them, this conversation is for you.

In This Episode:

* Why information doesn’t automatically create change

* The difference between advice and insight

* Why people stay stuck despite understanding their challenges

* Self-awareness and personal transformation

* Mental health in the modern world

* Finding meaning and purpose

* The future of AI and human development

* How technology can support personal growth

This episode will challenge the way you think about growth and help you discover why transformation begins with understanding yourself.

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📣 Connect with Binyamin Klempner

🌐 InsightBridge:

InsightBridge Official Website⁠

💡 Explore InsightBridge and experience a complimentary self-reflection interview designed to help you gain clarity, insight, and a deeper understanding of yourself, your relationships, and your direction in life.

Learn more about how AI-guided reflection combined with human support can help turn information into transformation.

What if you stopped waiting for permission and started creating the life you want today?

In this inspiring episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with teen author, poet, and anti-bullying advocate Shanti Hershenson, who began publishing books at just twelve years old and has since written dozens of novels across multiple genres.

Shanti shares her journey from a young storyteller with a dream to becoming a published author, social media creator, and voice for young people who often feel overlooked or underestimated. We discuss creativity, confidence, bullying, self-expression, and the courage it takes to pursue your passion when others doubt you.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that age does not determine your potential—and that the story you tell yourself can shape your entire future.

In This Episode:

* How Shanti became a published author as a teenager

* The power of creativity and storytelling

* Overcoming self-doubt and criticism

* Using social media to build an audience

* Standing up against bullying

* Why young people shouldn’t wait to chase their dreams

* Writing your own story before someone else writes it for you

Whether you’re a writer, creator, dreamer, or simply trying to find your voice, this episode will leave you inspired to take action.

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📣 Connect with Shanti Hershenson

📚 Amazon Author Page:

Shanti Hershenson Books on Amazon⁠

🌐 Official Website:

Shanti Hershenson Official Website⁠

📖 Explore Shanti’s novels, poetry collections, science fiction stories, anti-bullying work, upcoming events, and more through her website and author page.

What was high school like before smartphones, social media, texting, and even answering machines?

In this fascinating episode of Born Without a Choice, author and storyteller Laura Van Wormer takes us back to the early 1970s—the world that inspired her serialized fiction podcast, The Class of ’74.

Laura shares what teenage life was really like during a time when kids had far more freedom, parents had far less information, and friendships, relationships, and adventures happened entirely offline. We explore how young people navigated identity, peer pressure, family expectations, first loves, and growing up in a rapidly changing America.

Drawing from her own experiences and decades as a bestselling novelist, Laura reflects on the timeless challenges of adolescence and why, despite all the differences between generations, some parts of growing up never change.

Whether you’re nostalgic for the past or curious about a world before the internet, this conversation is a captivating journey through history, storytelling, and the universal experience of being a teenager.

In This Episode:

* What high school was really like in the early 1970s

* Life before smartphones, social media, and the internet

* Why nostalgia resonates across generations

* The inspiration behind The Class of ’74

* Lessons young people can still learn from the past

* How storytelling helps us understand ourselves and each other

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📣 Connect with Laura Van Wormer

🎧 The Class of ’74 Podcast:

The Class of '74 on Apple Podcasts⁠

🌐 Official Website:

Laura Van Wormer Official Website⁠

📚 Books & More Information:

Visit Laura’s website to learn more about her bestselling novels, speaking appearances, and The Class of ’74 podcast.

What if grief isn’t something you “get over”?

What if it’s something you learn to carry?

In this deeply personal episode of Born Without a Choice, Katie Rizzo shares her journey through unimaginable loss after the death of her firstborn son to addiction.

As Katie navigated the painful reality of grief, she discovered that the process felt remarkably similar to pregnancy—moving through different emotional “trimesters” of shock, numbness, sorrow, and eventually acceptance. Her experience became the foundation for her memoir, The Trimesters of Grief, a powerful exploration of love, loss, and learning how to live after heartbreak.

Together, we discuss the stages of grief, the unique challenges of grieving a child, the stigma surrounding addiction-related loss, and how writing became a bridge between Katie and her son after his passing.

This conversation offers comfort, understanding, and hope for anyone walking through grief or supporting someone who is.

📌 In This Episode

• Understanding the different stages of grief
• Losing a child to addiction and navigating stigma
• Why grief looks different for everyone
• The connection between grief and healing
• How poetry became part of Katie’s recovery journey
• Learning to live alongside loss
• Finding meaning after unimaginable heartbreak
• Supporting others through grief

🎧 Connect with Katie Rizzo

🌐 Website:  Katie Rizzo Official Website⁠

Visit Katie’s website to learn more about her upcoming memoir, The Trimesters of Grief, her poetry collection None of Them Are You, upcoming speaking engagements, book signings, and additional resources.

Because grief is not about forgetting.

It’s about learning how to carry love forward.

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