Comfort To Courage

What if the safest move in your career is the riskiest one? Kristie Nystedt spent more than two decades climbing the corporate finance ladder with zero plans to leave. Then a fourth company merger and her husband's airline filing for bankruptcy hit within two months of each other, and suddenly staying put looked like the bigger gamble. So she walked away from corporate America in 2012 and built Raleigh Brewing Company and ABS Commercial from the ground up, in an industry she had never worked in before.

In this conversation, Kristie shares how a basement homebrew hobby and a business plan written for a friend turned into an award-winning North Carolina craft beer brand and a brewing equipment company serving breweries across the United States and overseas. She opens up about building both businesses without investors or borrowed money, learning international trade from scratch, becoming the first female brewer in North Carolina, and helping push the self-distribution bill that was signed right on her bar. She also gets real about the hard seasons: COVID, supply chain disruptions, closing a business, and the tariff hit that forced her to cut her ABS Commercial staff down to about 20 percent. That painful pivot into used and refurbished equipment is now the reason the business is thriving today. And yes, you'll hear the story behind Hell Yes Ma'am, the Belgian Golden born from one non-negotiable request.

If you're a woman thinking about starting a business, feeling stuck in a corporate job that no longer feels secure, or worried you've waited too long to start your next chapter, this episode is your permission slip. Kristie proves there's no single timeline for becoming an entrepreneur, and that sometimes the most exciting chapter of your career is the one you decide to create for yourself.

5 Powerful Takeaways

• Staying isn't always the safe choice. Learn how Kristie weighed the risk of a fourth corporate merger against the risk of building her own businesses, and why she decided to bet on herself.
• Build the plan before you jump. Kristie developed Raleigh Brewing and ABS Commercial on the side for about two years, running the numbers until she knew she could leave without going bankrupt.
• Owning your business means owning your numbers. Discover why Kristie refused outside investors, borrowed no money, and believes cash flow, payroll, and branding matter just as much as the product.
• A painful pivot can save your business. Hear how cutting staff to about 20 percent during the tariff crisis led ABS Commercial into refurbished equipment and a thriving 2026.
• Confidence and competence are not the same thing. Kristie explains why "fake it till you make it" works, why she doesn't believe in dipping your toes in, and why going all in beats having a plan B.

00:00 Podcast Cold Open 01:23 Badassery Bestowment Consistency 04:15 Meet Kristie Nystedt 07:49 What She's Building Now 09:38 Community Events Taproom Culture 12:11 Study Space Work From Home 14:19 ABS Commercial Global Equipment 16:13 Corporate Finance Life At Allscripts 19:43 Turning Point Toward Brewing 24:44 Launching ABS Commercial Imports 27:41 When Quitting Became Real 28:09 Betting On Ourselves 29:43 Leaving Corporate Behind 30:28 Sabbatical To Startup Mode 31:13 Building Brewery Infrastructure 34:03 Hell Yes Ma'am Origin Story 36:42 Beer Variations And Community 37:34 First Female Brewer And Law 39:42 Surviving COVID And Chaos 42:03 Tariffs Pivot And Layoffs 45:48 Entrepreneur Mindset Advice 47:11 Badass Rapid Fire 51:27 Defining Success And Farewell

About the Guest

Kristie Nystedt is the founder of Raleigh Brewing Company and the owner and president of ABS Commercial, a brewery and beverage equipment company serving breweries across the United States and internationally. She spent more than two decades in corporate finance, including her final 10 years at healthcare IT company Allscripts, before leaving in 2012 to become a full-time entrepreneur. A year later she opened Raleigh Brewing Company, which has grown into an award-winning North Carolina craft beer brand with taprooms in Raleigh and Johnston County and wholesale distribution. As the first female brewer in North Carolina, Kristie helped pave the way for the self-distribution legislation that lets brewers own their brands longer. Her community leadership has earned her a Lifetime Achievement Award and Businesswoman of the Year honors, and she proves every day that a small-town girl from Marshall, Michigan can build a nationally recognized business.

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• Raleigh Brewing Company (taprooms in Raleigh near NC State and Meredith College, and in Johnston County)
• ABS Commercial
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
• House of Swank, custom shirts by John Pugh

Connect With Jen Josey

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/

If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/

New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

What if everything you were told about midlife intimacy was wrong? Most of us were taught that once we hit our 40s and 50s, our sex life quietly fades and that's just the way it goes. Clinical sexologist Dr. Stacy Friedman says the real culprit isn't age at all. It's shame, and it has been running the show in far too many bedrooms for far too long.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Stacy, my very first expert guest on Comfort to Courage, to unpack where that shame comes from and how to break free of it. She explains why shame triggers a physical threat response that shuts arousal down, the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, and why painful sex and erectile changes are among the most fixable issues she sees. You'll hear the story of a woman whose husband asked "where have you been these 30 years?" after she took one small, brave step, plus the simple opening line that gets the intimacy conversation started without pressure or blame.

If you're in midlife, in a long-term relationship, or quietly wondering whether the spark is gone for good, this conversation is for you. Dr. Stacy brings clinical expertise, humor, and heart to a topic most people are too embarrassed to raise with their own doctor. You'll walk away with practical strategies to rebuild connection, reignite desire, and have better intimacy now than you did at 25.

5 Powerful Takeaways

• Shame is a physical threat response. Your cortisol rises and arousal shuts down because your body can't tell the difference between real danger and fear of being judged by the person you love.
• Low drive doesn't mean no desire. Understanding responsive desire lets you give arousal space to build instead of waiting to feel the way you did at 20.
• Break out of the "lips, nips, below the hips" routine. Exploring the whole body, touch, and a daily juicy kiss brings back the connection that intercourse alone never will.
• Open the conversation with connection, not complaints. "I miss feeling close to you" builds intimacy, while "why don't we have sex anymore?" shuts your partner down immediately.
• Painful sex and erectile changes are not a life sentence. They can point to hormone, heart, or thyroid issues, and they are some of the most fixable concerns when you stop staying silent and get support.

00:00 Courage Is Contagious Intro 01:30 Imposter Syndrome Reset 04:04 Meet Dr Stacey Friedman 07:21 Origins Of Purple Passion 10:04 Midlife Sex Myths 11:57 How Shame Shuts Desire 15:34 Hormones Pain And ED 18:13 Bedroom Strategies That Work 20:17 What Changes On The Other Side 23:33 How To Start The Talk 27:09 Courage Challenge 28:19 Badass Rapid Fire 34:48 Where To Find Dr Stacey 37:13 Final Takeaway And Outro

About the Guest

Dr. Stacy Friedman is a clinical sexologist, private intimacy advisor, and sex and intimacy coach with more than 26 years in the medical field and over 20 years focused specifically on sexuality. She helps men and women navigate the intimacy challenges that show up in midlife, including hormonal shifts, erectile changes, mismatched sex drives, painful sex, alternative lifestyles, and the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Nicknamed "Dr. Ruth" by her friends in high school, she has built a career on saying what most people are too embarrassed to say out loud. Dr. Stacy is the host of The Purple Passion Project podcast and the author of Confessions and Lessons of a Sexpert. She works with clients around the world online and sees clients in person in Boca Raton, blending medical knowledge with humor and heart to prove that midlife can be the most confident, connected chapter yet.

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• Website: drstacyfriedman.com
• Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok: @DrStacyFriedman
• The Purple Passion Project podcast (Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms)
• Book: Confessions and Lessons of a Sexpert, available on Amazon
• Free Sex Tips download (16 free guides) at drstacyfriedman.com
• Vibe Tribe midlife intimacy community at drstacyfriedman.com
• Free 30-minute discovery call, bookable at drstacyfriedman.com

Connect With Jen Josey

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/

If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/

New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

320 - He Nearly Lost His Legs on a Zoom Call: Scott Hanis on Rebuilding After Rock Bottom

What do you do when the body you've been ignoring finally forces the conversation? For Scott Hanis, it happened mid-Zoom call: his legs turned black and blue, swelled up like tree trunks, and within hours he was in the ICU fighting blood clots that ran from his toes all the way to his inferior vena cava. Doctors told him he was fortunate to keep his legs, let alone his life. That single afternoon became the line between the version of Scott who was quietly carrying years of abuse, depression, and a drinking habit behind a successful HR career, and the version who decided to finally do something about it.

In this episode, Scott, co-founder of Fortitude HR Solutions, opens up about the long road that followed: the year it took before he actually started walking, the 105 pounds he lost, the relapse that came when his mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and the exact date, May 11th, 2024, he put alcohol down for good. He also gets honest about the courage it took to walk away from a secure corporate paycheck and large stock payout to build Fortitude with his wife Laura, and how a single conversation with mentor Tim Bratz changed the direction of his career. This isn't a polished success story. It's a real look at what rebuilding actually costs, and what it gives back.

This episode is for anyone who has built a life that looks fine from the outside while something underneath keeps getting ignored: the health scare you're overdue for, the habit you keep promising to quit, the job that's safe but not yours. If you've ever needed proof that you can fall off the wagon and still get back on it for good, Scott's story is that proof. Press play before you find another reason to put yourself last.

00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:18 Badassery Bestowment Boundaries 03:53 Meet Scott Hanis 06:53 Fortitude HR Solutions Explained 12:11 Mergers And Change Management 14:40 Life Before The Wake Up Call 21:30 Near Death Medical Crisis 24:00 Recovery Starts With Steps 25:22 Tracking And Discipline 25:54 Relapse And Mom's Cancer 26:40 Quitting Alcohol Reset 28:21 Turning Point With Wife 30:14 Leaving Corporate Impact 32:00 Wake Up Call Advice 33:19 Courage Challenge Action 35:29 Badass Framework Q And A 41:54 Success Legacy And Outro

5 Powerful Takeaways

• Why a near-death experience doesn't automatically change your habits, and what it actually took Scott a full year later to start walking to the mailbox and back
• The exact turning point that broke a cycle of relapse: one honest conversation with his wife that did more than the ICU stay ever did
• How to protect your mental health by auditing the five people you spend the most time with, and when to walk away without guilt
• The leadership advice from two different mentors that Scott still uses today to make faster, clearer decisions under pressure
• Why "helping one person a day" became Scott's daily practice for rebuilding purpose after losing his sense of why he was still here

About the Guest

Scott Hanis is co-founder of Fortitude HR Solutions, where he and his wife Laura have spent seven years helping small and mid-sized businesses build the people, culture, and leadership systems behind sustainable growth, including guiding one client from $4 million to $50 million in annual revenue. Before starting Fortitude, Scott spent his career in private equity, overseeing HR for more than 1,200 employees across multiple countries and leading complex mergers and acquisitions. He now leads weekly HR and leadership calls for the Legacy Family Mastermind and has volunteered in youth ministry for 21 years. In June 2021, a sudden medical crisis involving blood clots and double COVID pneumonia nearly cost him his legs and his life, setting off a multi-year health and sobriety journey that included a 105-pound weight loss, a public relapse, and sobriety since May 11th, 2024. Grounded in faith and shaped by his own history with abuse and depression, Scott now brings that same fortitude to the leaders and companies he coaches.

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• Website: fortitudehrsolutions.com
• Facebook: Scott Hanis
• Instagram: @scottrHanis
• LinkedIn: Scott Hanis

Connect With Jen Josey

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/

If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/

New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

What happens when the identity you built for two decades stops fitting the life you actually want? Nicole Fiorella spent over 20 years climbing the corporate ladder in pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical talent acquisition, building the kind of career most people would call secure. Then a divorce, a career change, and a location change hit her all at once, not once, but twice in her life, and she chose to rebuild from scratch instead of staying comfortable.

In this episode, Nicole breaks down exactly how she turned two decades of corporate systems thinking into a business that now reaches more than 90,000 entrepreneurs and professionals across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She shares the skill-stacking strategy that gave her an edge as an early adopter of every major platform since 2004, the real financial and emotional cost of walking away from a stable paycheck, and a practical framework for using AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini to find your business's immediate constraint instead of drowning in a to-do list. She also gets candid about the $1,200 lesson that taught her to never post content she doesn't own, and the mindset shift that lets her stay grounded through repeated life upheaval.

This episode is for the service-based entrepreneur who feels chained to social media, the corporate professional wondering if there's more, and anyone rebuilding an identity after a major life change. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by AI, unsure how to grow an audience without burning out, or afraid to bet on a new version of yourself, Nicole's story and strategy are exactly what you need to hear right now.

5 Powerful Takeaways

• Skill stacking, not starting over, is what turns a corporate background into a unique competitive edge in a new industry.
• Naming your business's single immediate constraint (not trying to fix everything at once) is the fastest path to real progress.
• Using AI "projects" or custom knowledge bases, instead of one long ongoing chat, keeps your results sharper and your usage costs down.
• Growing a real audience isn't about chasing virality. It's about consistently solving one specific problem at a time.
• Protecting your reputation legally and financially before you need to is cheaper than learning the hard way.

00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:22 Badassery Bestowment 04:30 Meet Nicole Fiorella 06:35 Breaking Social Media Chains 08:57 AI Tools And Invisible List 14:01 Leaving Corporate Comfort 19:38 Costs Of Going Solo 21:35 Growing A Following 27:55 AI Automation Workflow 33:49 Courage Challenge 35:05 Badass Rapid Fire 41:31 Where To Find Nicole 42:25 Final Sendoff

About the Guest

Nicole Fiorella is a business strategist and AI-driven marketing expert who helps service-based entrepreneurs simplify, scale, and reclaim their time through proven ad frameworks and automation systems. Before launching her own business, she spent more than 20 years in corporate strategy, operations, and talent acquisition within the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical industries. Today she mentors service providers, from med spas to creative agencies, on using AI and marketing to generate consistent, high-quality leads without relying on social media around the clock. Her community has grown to more than 90,000 entrepreneurs and professionals across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, with her content regularly reaching tens of thousands of viewers each month.

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• Website: nicolefiorella.com
• Instagram: @thenicolefiorella
• YouTube: @nicolefiorella
• Book: The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher
• App mentioned: Granola (AI note-taking app)

Connect With Jen Josey

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/

If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/

New episodes drop every Monday at 6am EST. See you next time.

318 - From Corporate SVP to Spiritual Practitioner: Dr. Brandon Croud's Courage to Answer a Deeper Calling

What happens when you spend 20 years climbing the corporate ladder, checking every box the world told you to check, and then one night a TikTok rabbit hole cracks your entire identity open? Dr. Brandon Croud knows exactly what that feels like. After building a two-decade career in mortgage underwriting and rising to Senior Vice President, while simultaneously becoming a nationally recognized podcast host interviewing NASCAR legends, Brandon walked away from all of it. Not because he failed. Because something deeper finally refused to be ignored.

In this episode of Comfort to Courage, Dr. Brandon Croud breaks down what a spiritual awakening actually looks like from the inside, including the moment his young son's fascination with the moon cracked open abilities Brandon had suppressed since childhood. He shares what it really means to reset your nervous system, why inner child healing is the real work beneath every surface-level habit change, and how releasing guilt and regret is the first step toward true abundance. Brandon also unpacks why the five people closest to you are already shaping your ambition, your standards, and your ceiling, whether you've noticed it or not, and what it took to trade a guaranteed paycheck for a life built entirely on purpose.

If you're sitting in a job that pays the bills but costs you your soul, this episode is for you. Whether you've been too afraid to follow a calling that doesn't fit neatly on a resume, or you're already deep in a life pivot and need proof that it's possible, Dr. Brandon Croud's story is both permission and evidence. He went from SVP to spiritual practitioner, from corporate certainty to real freedom, and he's here to tell you exactly how he made the leap and what was waiting on the other side.

00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:25 Support System Audit 04:45 Meet Dr Brandon Croud 06:52 Awakened Croud Origins 09:12 Tarot Coaching Offerings 12:32 Alden And The Moon 15:51 Corporate Success Inside 18:41 TikTok To Awakening 21:38 Layoff And Reinvention 24:33 Nervous System Healing 25:34 Resetting Your Nervous System 27:00 Peeling Back Reactions 28:22 Awakening and Inner Child 30:12 Lion's Gate Portal 34:16 Forgiveness and Abundance 36:17 Trust Your True Self 39:24 Courage Challenge Journaling 42:02 Badass Book and Formula 44:05 Advice Doubt and Goals 46:14 Strength Success and Wrap

5 Powerful Takeaways

• The five people you spend the most time with are already normalizing your standards, your fears, and your comfort zone. Auditing your circle might matter more than auditing your habits.
• Resetting your nervous system isn't about willpower. It starts with paying attention to how your body reacts to everyday triggers and tracing those reactions back to their origin.
• Inner child healing is the layer underneath every pattern you can't seem to break. Telling your younger self they're safe is some of the most powerful and underrated work you'll ever do.
• Releasing guilt and regret isn't about excusing the past. It's the prerequisite to attracting abundance, because the energy you project outward is exactly what gets reflected back to you.
• Journaling, or speaking out loud if writing isn't your thing, is the fastest way to start hearing your true self clearly instead of all the external noise that's been making your decisions for you.

About the Guest

Dr. Brandon Croud is an author, speaker, podcast host, business consultant, and metaphysical practitioner who helps people bridge the gap between practical success and authentic living. He spent over two decades leading corporate underwriting teams, rising to Senior Vice President of Credit Underwriting, and simultaneously built a nationally recognized podcast interviewing NASCAR legends and championship crew chiefs. After a profound spiritual awakening, Brandon earned his PhD in Metaphysics and founded The Awakened Croud, a practice offering spiritual coaching, tarot readings, chakra alignment, inner child healing, and immersive local experiences like his signature card charcuterie and champagne nights. He is also the author of the children's book Alden and the Light That Blinked Back, a tool for parents who want to nurture curiosity, wonder, and spiritual awareness in young children. Based in Metro Detroit, Brandon brings a rare combination of corporate credibility, metaphysical depth, and genuine warmth to every conversation.

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• The Awakened Croud: https://www.theawakenedcroud.com
• Alden and the Light That Blinked Back by Dr. Brandon Croud: available on Amazon
• The Formula by Bashar/Darryl Anka (book recommendation from the BADASS segment)

Connect With Jen Josey

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/

If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/

New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time!

After 25 years of biopsies, scans, and being told to just "keep monitoring it," Robin Reed-Hicks finally asked the question most women are too afraid to ask their doctors: why am I waiting for cancer to show up before I'm allowed to do something about it? In this episode, Robin shares the decision that turned her into a previvor: someone who takes proactive action before a diagnosis ever arrives, not after.

Robin walks through the entire arc of her 25 year medical journey, from her first surgical breast biopsy in her early twenties to the moment a doctor told her that a benign diagnosis still carried a 43 percent chance of developing into breast cancer within a decade. She unpacks what it actually took to push past a system that kept telling her to wait and watch, how she advocated for the surgery she wanted instead of the one she was offered, and what nobody tells you about drains, tissue expanders, and rebuilding your body from the inside out. Her story is a masterclass in self-advocacy inside a medical system that isn't always built to move as fast as your instincts.

This episode is for anyone who has ever been told to "just keep an eye on it," anyone managing a health scare that keeps circling back, and anyone who has ever doubted their own read on their own body. If you have ever felt dismissed by a doctor or unsure whether your concern was "enough" to push for answers, Robin's story is proof that trusting yourself is not overreacting. It's survival.

5 Powerful Takeaways

• Why "benign" doesn't always mean safe, and how a specific diagnosis can still carry a double-digit cancer risk
• How to push back when a provider offers you a smaller solution than the one your situation actually calls for
• What a preventative double mastectomy really involves, from tissue expanders to nerve-sparing reconstruction
• How to turn 25 years of medical anxiety into an advocacy platform instead of letting it stay private
• Why becoming a "previvor" is its own category of courage, separate from a cancer diagnosis or survivorship

00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:25 Badassery Bestowment 02:21 Five Confidence Moves 05:20 Meet Robin Reed Hicks 07:39 Friends And Flashbacks 09:58 Robin Life And Career 13:23 Gluten Free And Hashimotos 15:31 Lets Talk Boobies 16:53 25 Years Of Surveillance 22:01 The Turning Point Biopsy 26:15 Oncologist And Previvor 28:36 Fighting For Approval 30:03 Surgeon Options Decision 30:48 Mastectomy Types Explained 32:08 Nipple Sparing Risks 34:00 MRI Changes Surgery Plan 35:00 Stage One Lumpectomy Lift 36:51 Double Mastectomy Expanders 37:31 Drains Sensation Recovery 39:32 Exchange Surgery Complications 40:42 Relief Life After Surgery 41:38 Portraits Of Hope Advocacy 45:13 Advice Self Advocacy 47:42 Badass Rapid Fire 55:07 Success Contentment Closing

About the Guest Robin Reed-Hicks is a communicator, executive and life coach, real estate professional, voice actor, actress, spokesperson, MC, and content creator who has spent more than 25 years helping people move forward with confidence, clarity, and purpose. She is an ICF associate certified coach who works with executives and individuals through her coaching practice, and she is coming up on 25 years as a working real estate professional. She also hosts the YouTube channel Cook With Me Gluten Free, built around accessible, joyful gluten-free living. After more than two decades of breast biopsies, surgeries, and scans, Robin chose a preventative double mastectomy and reconstruction, becoming a previvor, and was selected as one of only 12 Portraits of Hope ambassadors through the American Cancer Society.

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• https://bookcoachrobin.com
• YouTube channel: Cook With Me Gluten Free
• https://knowyourlemons.com

Connect With Jen Josey

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/

If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/

New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

From Burnout to Betting on Herself: Kim Kelly on Leading Under Pressure

What happens when the version of you that looks the most successful on paper is actually the most unwell you've ever been? Kim Kelly spent two decades advising Fortune 500 companies, leading global teams, and making decisions with hundreds of millions of dollars riding on the outcome. From the outside, it looked like she had it all figured out. On the inside, she wasn't sleeping, wasn't eating, and was waking up at 2am in a full-blown panic, until her body forced her to stop.

In this episode, Kim opens up about the medical leave that became the turning point of her life and the four-pillar Lead Under Pressure Framework she built out of it: seeing clearly, owning your state, aligning to what matters, and executing with discipline. She shares what it actually looked like to rebuild trust with herself, why she believes endurance is built alone but resilience is built with others, and the exact moment she decided to leave a stable, high-paying career to launch her own consulting practice, AVENNI, named after her two children. Jen also delivers a bonus Badassery Bestowment on making faster decisions, a skill Kim herself puts directly into practice.

This episode is for the high-achiever who is quietly running on fumes and calling it dedication, the leader who has confused pushing through with actually being okay, and anyone standing at the edge of a career pivot they haven't given themselves permission to make yet. If you've ever needed someone to tell you that slowing down is not the same as falling behind, this conversation is your permission slip.

5 Powerful Takeaways

• Why "endurance built alone" and "resilience built with others" are two completely different things, and which one is actually sustainable long-term
• The four-pillar Lead Under Pressure Framework Kim uses to help leaders make clear-headed decisions without burning out
• How Kim went from a private medical leave to launching her own company in a single week, and what finally made the leap feel possible
• A simple gratitude-based practice for the exact moment you wake up at 2am spiraling about everything you have to do
• Why treating every decision like it's permanent is quietly draining your confidence, and how to tell which ones you can actually reverse

00:00 Courage Is Contagious Intro 01:27 Badassery Bestowment Decisions 02:32 Five Ways to Decide Faster 05:30 Meet Kim Kelly 07:54 AVENNI Mission And Name 09:41 Corporate Success Burnout 13:22 Medical Leave Turning Point 15:43 Building Resilience With Others 20:26 Leaving Corporate, Starting AVENNI 23:43 Lead Under Pressure Pillars 29:38 Advice For Running On Fumes 32:15 Badass Segment Rapid Fire 37:39 Success Definition And Wrap 40:24 Final Sendoff Courage Challenge

About the Guest

Kim Kelly is a leadership consultant, keynote speaker, and founder of AVENNI, a consulting practice built around her Lead Under Pressure Framework. She spent two decades building and leading global teams inside the workforce solutions industry, advising Fortune 500 organizations on decisions carrying hundreds of millions of dollars in outcomes. After a medical leave forced her to confront how unsustainable her pace had become, Kim combined her background in theater performance with two decades of boardroom experience to build a system for staying clear-headed under pressure. She now works with organizations and leaders, with a particular focus on women and up-and-coming leaders, who are ready to stop white-knuckling their way through stress and start leading through it on purpose.

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• Website: avenniconsulting.com
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: Kim Kelly AVENNI
• Instagram: @AVENNI_KimKelly

Connect With Jen Josey

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/

If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/

New episodes drop every Monday at 6am EST. See you next time!

315 - She Was Internally Decapitated. 98% Don't Survive. Here's How Angie Breaux Rebuilt Her Real Estate Empire From a Hospital Bed

In April 2022, real estate investor Angie Breaux was on the verge of closing a 120-home rental portfolio, sitting on a $200,000 stake in a cannabis facility, and building toward becoming the first millionaire in her family. Then a single car accident internally decapitated her, a survivable event in only two percent of cases. Most people who live through it never walk again. Angie not only walked again, but she also picked up her phone from a hospital bed, still wheelchair bound, and closed a real estate deal.

This episode is the full story behind that moment. Angie walks through what it actually felt like to lose everything she had built while she was in a medically induced coma, the four-year recovery that included multiple surgeries on both arms and her eye, and the mindset shift that let her start over completely from zero. She gets specific about the financial reality no one warns you about after a catastrophic injury, what it took to trust her business partners after they closed the 120-door deal without her, and the exact moment she decided to get back into real estate investing after four years away from it. This is a conversation about identity, loss, and what it really means to rebuild.

If you have ever lost something you spent years building, whether it was a business, your health, or your sense of who you are, this episode is for you. Angie's story proves that starting over is not the same as starting from nothing, and that the comeback can be even bigger than the version of success you originally planned. Anyone facing a setback that feels too big to come back from needs to hear this one.

5 Powerful Takeaways

• How Angie closed a real estate deal from a hospital bed while still wheelchair bound, and what that moment taught her about momentum
• Why she refuses to blame her former business partners for closing their 120-unit deal without her, and the mindset behind that decision
• The financial reality of surviving a catastrophic injury that no one prepares you for, from medical costs to four years without income
• What actually pushed her back into real estate investing after a four-year gap, and why March 2026 became her turning point
• Her simple daily gratitude practice for anyone rebuilding after a major loss, and why she still uses it even on the hardest days

00:00 Warning And Welcome 01:20 Badassery Bestowment Rejection 04:54 Meet Angie Breaux 07:06 Rebuilding Real Estate Again 09:28 Cancun Origin Story 11:23 Life Before The Crash 14:38 The April 2022 Accident 16:46 Internal Decapitation Explained 17:59 Coma Surgeries And Recovery 20:06 Losing The 120 Doors 21:06 Closing A Deal From Hospital 22:27 Dealmaker Turning Point 24:46 Goals Speaking And Support 27:29 Courage Challenge Gratitude 29:47 Badass Q And A 39:54 Redefining Success And Farewell About the Guest

Angie Breaux is a real estate investor who built her business from scratch in Mississippi starting in 2019, expanding into two states and closing in on a 120-home rental portfolio with two business partners by 2022. In April of that year, a car accident left her internally decapitated, a survivable injury for only two percent of the people it happens to. She spent four to five weeks in a coma, endured multiple complex surgeries on both arms and her right eye, and was told she would never drive again. Two months before this recording, she passed her driver's test. Angie is now rebuilding her real estate investment business, pursuing flips and rentals, and working toward public speaking so she can share her story with others navigating catastrophic loss.

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• Mic Drop Club (women's speaking and workshop community)
• Dealmaker conference

Connect With Jen Josey

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/

If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/

New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

314 - Rock Bottom, Recovery, and the Red Hat: Larry Roberts on Losing Everything and Choosing Courage

He had 12 years of sobriety, a thriving podcast production company, a recognizable personal brand, and a speaking career that put him on stages across the country. And then, quietly and completely, he lost all of it. In this episode of Comfort to Courage, Larry Roberts, founder of Red Hat Media and one of the most recognized voices in the podcasting world, pulls back the curtain on his very public and brutally honest battle with alcoholism, including multiple rehab stints, a DUI, a dissolved business partnership, near-death, and the moment a phone call he almost didn't answer saved his life.

Larry doesn't sugarcoat a single chapter of this story. He walks through how 12 years of sobriety left him dangerously overconfident, how his drinking exploded from a couple of shots before a speaking engagement to a seven-week stretch where he ate just five cups of noodles, and how he ended up in a San Diego recovery facility on day 51 with no income, a dissolved business, and a marriage hanging by a thread. What makes Larry uniquely worth listening to is not just how far he fell, but what he's choosing to do next. He talks candidly about rebuilding Red Hat Media, an upcoming AI-powered podcast production tool he's developing, and the mindset shifts that are making this recovery attempt different from the ones that came before.

This episode is for anyone who has ever hit a wall and wondered if there's a way back. It's for entrepreneurs who have watched a business they built from scratch fall apart. It's for anyone who has been touched by addiction, in their own life or someone else's, and needed proof that asking for help is not weakness. It is the bravest thing you can do. If you're standing at the base of a steep hill and you're not sure you have what it takes to climb it, Larry Roberts just spent the better part of an hour showing you it's possible.

5 Powerful Takeaways

• Isolation makes recovery impossible: Larry explains why going dark and cutting off his entire network was the single most destructive decision he made, and how one vulnerable phone call set everything in motion toward healing.
• Twelve years of sobriety can become a trap: Larry reveals how his previous success staying sober created a dangerous arrogance that left him completely unprepared when alcohol came back into his life.
• Brand damage is survivable: After going silent on social media for nearly 10 months and burning real professional bridges, Larry lays out the exact mindset he's using to rebuild Red Hat Media from scratch.
• The "God smack" moment is real: Larry shares the story of a phone call from a recovery facility that came in the exact window when he had stopped answering his phone and had quietly accepted he might not survive the week.
• Affirmations aren't soft, they're strategic: Inspired by David Goggins, Larry explains why writing and repeating daily affirmations is one of the highest-leverage tools available to anyone trying to rewire their mindset from a place of rock bottom.

About the Guest

Larry Roberts is the founder of Red Hat Media, a podcast production, branding, and AI solutions company he built into a nationally recognized platform. Known across the industry as the Red Hat Guy, Larry has spoken on major stages including PodFest, consulted with brands on positioning and content strategy, and amassed a loyal following under the handle @TheLarryRoberts across social media. He authored the book Under the Red Hat, exploring how personal identity shapes brand power. He is currently in recovery in San Diego and is developing an AI-powered podcast production tool with a projected launch at PodFest, aiming to remove up to 90 percent of manual production from the podcasting workflow.

00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:17 Badassery Bestowment 02:12 Five Courage Reps 04:48 Meet Larry Roberts 06:22 Red Hat Media Origin 09:50 Branding And AI Expansion 11:29 Red Hat Pushback 13:31 Relapse And Rock Bottom 19:08 Rehab Spiral And DUI 25:14 Rebuilding The Red Hat 27:34 Jen Reacts And Support 29:02 Why This Time Sticks 31:10 Hitting Rock Bottom 32:56 Sober Living Reality Check 34:12 First Steps to Sobriety 35:30 Finding Rehab Options 38:20 Mindset and Affirmations 40:15 Badass Rapid Fire 43:16 AI Podcast Production Dream 46:16 Strength and Success Redefined 48:34 Where to Find Larry 49:33 Final Send Off

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• Larry Roberts website: https://www.larryroberts.com
• Larry Roberts on social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn): @TheLarryRoberts
• Book by Larry Roberts: Under the Red Hat
• Book recommended by Larry: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink

Connect With Jen Josey

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New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

You found the deal. You ran the numbers. And then you lost it to another investor because your lender couldn't get you a proof of funds letter over the weekend. If that scenario makes your stomach drop, this episode is about to change how you fund every deal from here on out.

Jen sits down with her husband and business partner Vance Josey, real estate broker, general contractor, and hard money lending expert with Alpha Funding, to pull back the curtain on how investors actually get deals financed. Vance breaks down the difference between prequalification and underwriting, why speed matters more than the lowest rate, and exactly what loan-to-value percentages look like for brand new investors versus those with six or more deals under their belt. He also reveals how to fund a deal with none of your own cash using unsecured lines of credit, what red flags make an underwriter nervous, and the exact habits that make you a borrower lenders want to keep working with.

Whether you're brand new to fix and flip investing or you've been doing this for years and want faster, more reliable funding, this conversation gives you the insider playbook most investors never get. If you've ever been outbid because your financing was too slow, or you're wondering how to scale without draining your own bank account, you need to hear this one.

5 Powerful Takeaways

• How to get an instant proof of funds letter so you can compete and win in multiple-offer situations, without waiting on your lender
• The exact loan-to-value percentages for new versus experienced investors, and how completing just six deals unlocks significantly better terms
• How to fund a deal with none of your own cash using unsecured lines of credit through Alpha Funding's partner MB Alpha
• What underwriters actually look for behind the scenes, and how to avoid the kind of last-minute closing disaster that can cost you a deal
• The simple communication habits that make you a "good borrower" lenders want to keep funding, especially when a project runs long or over budget

00:00 Welcome to REIGN 01:03 Build Your Power Team 03:16 Meet Vance Josey 04:29 Alpha Funding Overview 06:05 Prequalification and Proof Funds 07:59 Lending for New Investors 08:58 Loan Products Explained 09:39 Fix and Flip Numbers 11:10 DSCR Refinance Basics 12:09 No Money Down Strategies 13:31 Underwriting Behind Scenes 15:06 Be a Great Borrower 17:24 Where They Lend and Next Steps 20:00 Badass Acronym Rapid Fire 25:53 Podcast Rebrand Announcement 27:59 Final Thanks and Sign Off

About the Guest

Vance Josey spent nearly 30 years climbing the ranks in corporate manufacturing before stepping into real estate full time. A graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in accounting, Vance co-founded Jolific Homes with his wife Jen Josey in 2017, renovating homes throughout the Raleigh, North Carolina area. That hands-on experience led him to earn both his real estate broker's license and his general contractor's license, giving him a rare, ground-level understanding of a deal from acquisition through renovation to resale. Today, Vance brings that background to Alpha Funding, a boutique hard money lender based in New Jersey, where he helps investors across 43 states get fix and flip, new construction, DSCR, and bridge loans funded quickly. He and Jen are now also exploring manufactured home development as a path to more affordable housing.

Resources & Websites Mentioned

• alphafunding.com
• [email protected]

Call to Action

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ To join REIGN, visit https://www.reignmastermind.com/ Stuff Jen Josey Loves: https://www.reignmastermind.com/resources Buy Jen Josey's Book: From Beginner to Badass: https://a.co/d/bstKlby