Highest Version

Three months into the New Year! Can you believe it! Neither can I because I feel like as we get older, time gets a lot faster *shaking*. Q1 of this year was filled with great wins and life experiences, but in this episode I wanted to focus solely on what happened in March. There were wins, but downfalls that made me take a step back and that was a huge wake up call. From the stomach bug to straining my neck, I was immobile and allowed these negative thoughts to creep into my head yet again. Making me realize that I haven’t healed yet and that’s a journey I need to get into quickly! Listen in on this episode to hear what I learned from this past month and how I continue to become the highest version of myself!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:22 – Episode intro
2:39 – Fitness Pillar
10:14 – Mental Health Pillar
16:19 – Good Things that Happened and Reflection Forward
18:11 – Questions from the Audience
24:03 – Wins of the Month!
 
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

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

We welcome back the legendary guest of this podcast, Vattana Thach! He opens up about how is able to operate in discomfort and stresses the importance of asking yourself “Why?” Why do you react to a situation like this? Why do you do this thing in a certain way? What do you allow these mental blocks to get in the way of your growth? In addition, Vattana breaks down the foundation of what skills you need to accomplish your goals and develop that growth mindset! This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode intro
0:46 – Guest Introduction
2:43 – Operating in Discomfort
13:48 – Unapologetically Yourself
22:15 – Unlearning Being Honest Means Bad Outcome
37:47 – Developing the Necessary Skills
52:38 – Flowers to Guest
53:15 – Questions from the Audience
56:24 – Big 3 Questions
 
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Book 1 Recommendation: https://a.co/d/04AQbeKC
Book 2 Recommendation: https://a.co/d/0dpXzycK
Book 3 Recommendation: https://a.co/d/0haV1ycw

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

And with that…two months down into 2026! Already, lots of lessons learned on how I can become the highest version of myself! From understanding how to avoid burnout to understanding where my tendencies come from, there was so much to take from this past month! Even though, I feel like I am not on track towards my goals, I can reset and figure out to continue moving forward!

Chapters:

0:00 – Episode intro

0:31 – Solo Podcast Topic Introduction

1:32 – Lesson #1: Taking Intentional Breaks

7:46 – Lesson #2: It’s Okay to Start Over

10:27 – Lesson #3: Understand Your Parent’s Tendencies

18:07 – How to Break Bad Habits

20:17 – Bucket of Wins             

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

Intro Music:

The Epic Hero – Keys of Moon Music

First episode into 2026! LFG! We start off the year with an upcoming author, Lucas Van DeVenter, who I grew up with in high school. Through his own trials and tribulations, Lucas wants to take what he learned on his healing journey and help others who went through similar struggles. He is conveying his message through his own book, My World, and we get a sneak peek of the details within that book. Make sure you click on the link below to purchase the book! Let’s get to our highest version in 2026!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Highlight
0:32 – Guest Intro
5:29 – How is Your Mental Health?
7:29 – Importance of Mental Health
13:08 – Dealing with Negative Thoughts
20:37 – Healing Journey
25:22 – Power of Being an Introvert
37:31 – Helping our Mental Health
56:11 – Big 3 Questions

Lucas’s IG: @lucasvdauthor
Link to Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GN58N9S4?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_62J6X584CFPE97V59VF6&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_62J6X584CFPE97V59VF6&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_62J6X584CFPE97V59VF6&bestFormat=true
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

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

Welcoming the first guest of the new year with a deep and insightful conversation! We welcome back Amanda Ngo to discuss navigating changes in your 20s. From living away from home to coming back home and then again living on our own and the growth pains to learn from that. The main topic of this episode was about how your self worth should not be reliant on your productivity. Sometimes you just need a break from the grind and I didn't believe this until I burned myself out over and over again. Other topics included confronting failure and the pain of letting go but is necessary. Dive into this episode now!

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Intro
0:24 – Guest Introduction
3:14 – Mental Health Status
4:43 – Navigating Changes in Your 20s
9:13 -  Everything is Productive When You’re Taking Care of Yourself
29:42 -  Confronting Failure
41:50 - The Art of Letting Go
50:20 - Flowers to Guest
52:30 - Big 3 Questions

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

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

We are one month down into the new year and so much has already happened! First is...WINNING THE BTS PRE-SALE TICKETING PERIOD!!! I finally get to fulfill a bucket list item of mine and grateful I get the opportunity to. January was very much a time of reflection and the beginnings to what I want to accomplish this new year. I also got to answer your questions for me! In this episode we talk about the following lessons:

-Experiencing life's greatest opportunities and never let yourself wonder about the "what-ifs"
-Building your "village". In other words, build that small group of people that you trust and also want to be better every single day to help you grow and keep you accountable
-The only bet you can control in your life life is the one you have with yourself

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode Intro
0:41 – What I Learned
5:59 – Wins for January!
10:53 – Questions from the Audience
 
Highest Version Social: https://linkin.bio/highestversion

Intro Music:
The Epic Hero – Keys of Moon Music

Solo podcasts are back! Which means you guys get a whole of me yapping! In this episode, I talk about the major life moments that happened to me in 2025. From proposing to my partner of 7 years to finally "graduating" from therapy. I dive deep about the following:

• The first time feeling like "I am enough"
• Starting my fitness journey and what I learned so far
• Testing myself against Yosemite Half Dome
• Taking a chance on a dream of living in Hawaii for a period of my life

These events have life lessons that I can hope you can learn from and carry into 2026!

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

1:06 - "Graduating" Therapy

6:41 - Starting My Fitness Journey Seriously

14:46 - Pros and Cons of Being a Content Creator

19:24 - National Park Trip

23:56 - Living in Hawaii

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

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