The episode the community has been waiting for! I had the opportunity to sit down with my dance crew member, former roommate, and longtime friend, Igor Silva. We unpack his journey moving to the US from Brazil and how that took a toll on his life today! Dealing with separation anxiety and attachment issues, Igor is on a journey to work through those two obstacles in his life. We also uncover his true secret to being independent and how not to give a f*ck about no one! Tune into the last episode of 2025!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:36 – Guest Intro
2:25 – Featured Funko Pop
3:35 – Mental Health Status
8:21 – Being Part of Junior Olympic Squad
15:22 – Entire Dance Journey
24:34 – Understanding Attachment Issues and Separation Anxiety
39:24 – Attachment Issues with Friends
54:30 – Getting Over the Fear of Doing Things Alone
1:00:27 – How to Not Give a F*ck
1:10:54 – Flowers to Guest
1:11:59 – Coming Out to His Mom
1:15:21 – Questions from the Audience
1:18:42 – Guest Letter
1:24:55 – Big 3 Questions
 
Igor’s IG: @iggysilvx
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
The Epic Hero – Keys of Moon Music
Joakim Karud – Great Days

I had the great opportunity to sit down with an old friend and Kansas State basketball star, Mike McGuirl, to discuss how he was able to develop his hard work and strong mindset. Mike was an all start recruit in the state of Connecticut and took his talents to Kansas State University where he faced NBA caliber players such as Austin Reaves, SGA, Desmond Bane, and many more! We relived some of his great college memories and even got to unpack another side of Mike that not a lot of people may not know. I have always looked up to him for his grit, hard work, and dedication to what he is passionate about. Tune in to hear his side of moments we only witnessed on the TV screen and the true Mike McGuirl.

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
1:15 – Guest Intro
3:17 – Featured Funko Pop
4:47 – Mental Health Status
6:20 – Getting a Winner’s Mindset
9:57 – Battling with Confidence and Building a Strong Mindset
24:15 – Reliving Great Moments
27:49 – Battling Adversity
30:56 – Playing Overseas
32:41 – Talking about My Roots
39:19 – The Real Mike
42:59 – Fast 5 Questions
43:33 – Entrepreneurship Mike
48:44 – Questions from the Audience
50:52 – Letter to Guest
57:10 – Big 3 Questions
 
Mike’s IG: @getabuck00
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
Joakim Karud – Great Days

I got a chance to sit down with a great friend of mine, Cortney Qiu , who reveals to us the challenges of taking care of a disabled sibling along with handling the pressures of immigrant parents. She has faced a lot of adversity not only in the classroom but in the golf course as well. As Cortney’s life continues to go on, she finds herself on a healing journey and notes what we can learn from the stresses of everyday life. Although the most intense one is feeling like you are enough. Listen in to what we can learn from her journey!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:32 – Guest Intro
1:52 – Featured Funko Pop
3:54 – How is Your Mental Health?
4:54 – Sister’s Impact and How to Deal With It
26:26 – Finding One’s Self
31:53 – Living Life as a Golf Athlete
43:27 – Feeling Like a Burden
49:47 – Feeling Like I am Enough
56:34 – Flowers to Guest
57:32 – Questions from the Audience
59:36 – Letter to Guest
1:03:41 – Big 3 Questions 

Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
Violin Resonance – lumine wave
Paving the Way – Danny Shields

I had the great opportunity to sit down with Ryan Yere, Creative Director of clothing brand, Retour, and Dated and Faded Market. Ryan is a jack of all trades as he is an engineer by day and a brand owner and bodybuilder by night. He has accomplished so much in these areas from having a successful vintage clothing brand and winning medals at body building competitions. You got to listen in on this episode to learn how you can be more confident, how to juggle multiple areas of your life, and just how to be more positive!

Chapters:
0:00 - Quick Announcement!
0:33 – Episode Highlight
1:05 – Guest Intro
2:17 - Mental Health Status
6:20 - Being Shaped by Our Roots
25:25 - The Style of Retour
33:29 - Becoming Mentally Strong
47:24 - Figure Out Your "Golf Balls"
54:33 - Body Building Journey
1:06:07 - Flowers to Guest
1:07:07 - Dated & Faded Market
1:13:32 - Fast Five
1:19:00 - Big 3 Questions

Dated & Faded Market Event November 22nd! 
https://www.instagram.com/p/DP5CuM6D-DU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Ryan’s IG: @ryan_yere
Ryan’s Clothing Brand, Retour: @retourco
Dated & Faded Market: @dnfmarket
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
Violin Resonance – lumine wave
Paving the Way – Danny Shields

This one is a roller coaster of a journey! I sit down with Dr. Connor Bell to hear his story of how he got to where he is today. The lead up to his success has had many relationships including toxic relationships and career pulling him away from his family. But after some thinking, Connor decides to make a significant change to his life he’ll never forget. Make sure to tune into the full episode to hear more! 

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:32 – Guest Intro
1:54 – Featured Funko Pop
3:27 - Mental Health Status
5:39 - Getting to Rock Bottom
10:08 - Choosing the Pathway of a Physician
12:33 - Taking a Detour & Getting Back on Track
23:04 - Why We Are the Way We Are
33:06 - Bouncing Back Pt. 2
40:00 - Making the Hard Decision
50:49 - Healing Journey
1:08:17 - Takeways
1:14:42 - Flowers to Guest
1:15:45 - Letter to Guest
1:21:58 - Big 3 Questions

Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
Violin Resonance – lumine wave
Paving the Way – Danny Shields

I sit down with, Jackson Kupferschmid, a man of faith that has gone through his own trials and tribulations. From losing his mom at an early age to choosing a non-traditional path for his career. In this episode, we learn how not everyone’s path is the same and it doesn’t have to be. We also learn what it’s like to go through grief and loss and how to get yourself back on your feet.

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:32 – Guest Intro
1:54 – Featured Funko Pop
3:55 – Mental Health Status
6:14 – Dropping Out of College
15:18 – Changing Mindset for Success
20:49 – All or Nothing Mindset
24:21 – Losing a Parent
28:30 – Working Through Loss & Grief
36:31 – What It’s Like Working Through OCD & Superstitions
58:28 – Flowers to Guest
59:06 – Questions from the Audience
1:00:40 – Letter to Guest
1:04:49 – Big 3 Questions

Jackon’s IG: @jaxkup
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
Violin Resonance – lumine wave
Paving the Way – Danny Shields

**SUICIDE TRIGGER WARNING**

I got to sit down with the amazing and talented dancer, Yoshi Maysonet, to discuss both of our journeys with anxiety and how we can learn to accept ourselves. Anxiety is something that is hard to maintain a healthy relationship with because we usually let it walk all over us. Now, is the time to better that relationship so that you can live a more free and fulfilled life. In addition, Yoshi talks of their journey to accepting themselves for who they are and what it takes. Another vulnerable episode. Another amazing one to listen to!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:32 – Guest Intro
4:21 – Featured Funko Pop
6:55 – The Impact of Anxiety
12:43 – Anxiety Coping Techniques
20:00 – Bettering that Relationship with Anxiety
25:50 – How We Would Change the End of Inside Out 2
34:33 - Anxiety Coping Techniques (Pt. 2)
37:47 - Journey of Self-Acceptance
49:50 - How Do We Accept Ourselves
56:35 - Questions to Ask Ourselves
59:50 - Flowers to Guest
1:00:39 - Questions from the Audience
1:02:36 - Letter to Guest
1:11:02 - Big 3 Questions

Yoshi’s IG: _y.maysonet
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
Violin Resonance – lumine wave
Paving the Way – Danny Shields

I sit down with aspiring marriage and family therapist, Huy Huynh, to discuss his own family struggles and even some of well-known mental health issues. Huy and I break down our experiences and what we have done to continue growing within ourselves and how to work towards amending our relationships with our parents. This is a vulnerable episode filled with depth and insightfulness on many common mental struggles. 

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:24 – Guest Intro
1:29 – Mental Health Status
3:08 – Featured Funko Pop
9:25 – From Criminal Minds to Psychology
14:45 – Choosing a Concentration
19:14 – Understanding One’s Family Psychologically
28:58 – Family Relationship Struggles
45:00 – Reflecting on the Changes
46:46 – Journey of Weight Loss
55:34 – Extrinsic and Intrinsic Value
1:01:31 – Flowers to Guest
1:02:47 – Questions from the Audience
1:07:50 – Big 3 Questions

Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
Violin Resonance – lumine wave
Paving the Way – Danny Shields

Learning a new language can be difficult. What makes it even more difficult is the pressure of learning it so that you can connect with your parents more. I sit down with content creator, Emily Nguyen, about her Instagram page @emdaylist where she shares her journey of learning Vietnamese for her parents. Her strong desire to connect to her own culture has brought some obstacles in her journey but has presented great achievements as well. From allowing herself to be vulnerable or inspiring others to take on the same journey. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:30 – Guest Intro
1:28 – Mental Health Status
2:51 – Featured Funko Pop
5:00 – Deep Rooted Into Culture
7:00 – Parent Relationships: Language and Healing
20:35 – How Instagram Page Started
26:31 – Struggles of Learning a New Language
31:02 – Struggles of a Creator
33:34 – Living with Guilt
45:51 – Caring About Other People’s Opinion
51:32 – What Makes You Curious?
55:17 – Flowers to Guest
56:39 – Questions from the Audience
1:00:40 – Letter for Guest
1:03:40 – Big 3 Questions

Emily’s IG: @emdaylist
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
Violin Resonance – lumine wave
Paving the Way – Danny Shields

You heard of just keep swimming? I got one even better…KEEP MOVING FORWARD! I had the great opportunity to sit down with one of my great friends, Ryan Li, as he takes us through the journey of how he became so passionate in the weight lifting space. After suffering injury after injury, he found his calling. Ryan continues to take on life’s challenges and works every day to become the Highest Version of himself by using the motto “Keep Moving Forward”. Dive into this conversation as we discuss both the importance of physical and mental wellness. 

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:27 – Guest Intro
2:11 – Featured Funko Pop
4:20 – How is Your Mental Health?
9:34 – Using the Gym to Reflect
15:49 – Falling in Love with the Numbers
20:07 – DO NOT EGO LIFT!
24:44 – The Injury that Started it All 
32:45 – Bouncing Back from Injury
39:45 – Keep Moving Forward
42:59 – Putting Yourself Outside of Your Comfort Zone
44:56 – Not Caring About What Other People Say
52:19 – Trying to Strive for More but Be Content
1:03:09 – Flowers to Guest
1:05:05 – Questions from the Audience
1:09:01 – Letter for Guest
1:15:00 – Big 3 Questions

Ryan’s IG: @ryanliftingthings
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
Violin Resonance – lumine wave
Paving the Way – Danny Shields