Katie Shannon is a leadership coach and founder of Katie Shannon Co., where she helps leaders and teams unlock their authentic power. In this episode, Katie gets real about choosing her own path over family expectations, navigating recovery, and reshaping leadership through vulnerability and “soft power.” She digs into the messy truth of putting yourself first, why tough conversations are essential, and how investing in yourself can spark more impactful leadership. If you’ve ever battled people-pleasing, perfectionism, or the fear of trusting your gut, this one’s for you.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(04:57) Active listening for real understanding

(09:24) Empowering humble leaders

(12:37) Emotional struggles of wealthy leaders

(16:38) The path to self-discovery and healing

(20:17) Building wealth through passion

(27:17) Balancing motherhood and business

(28:37) Helping men feel confident through style

(31:40) Breaking the cycle of distrust and crime

(34:28) Choosing yourself over family expectations

(38:41) Lessons in clear communication

(41:35) How to approach conversations with care

(46:39) Back your ideas with confidence

(48:08) Practising triple gratitude

Links mentioned in this episode:

Katie Shannon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatieshannon

Katie Shannon’s Website: https://www.katieshannon.co/

Katie Shannon’s Substack: https://substack.com/@katieshannon

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Men https://a.co/d/fGwcbBT

Dr. Payal Beri is an organizational psychologist, speaker, and host of the podcast ‘Reframing Perspectives’. With a deep commitment to empathy, social impact, and helping others shift their mindsets, Dr. Beri explores what it truly means to "live well" and how curiosity can change our lives and our relationships. In this insightful episode, she unpacks the power of pausing, the role of privilege and culture, and why asking better questions leads to more connected and meaningful lives.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(03:08) Understanding through shared experiences

(07:31) Feeling grateful, not spoiled

(10:17) Empathy and open-minded dialogue

(15:40) Generational perspectives on marriage

(16:52) Supportive parenting concerns

(21:18) Rethinking life goals in mid-30s

(24:37) Heartfelt gratitude from children

(29:16) Defining “living well”

(33:42) Honoring legacy through naming the company

(39:42) Smart street survival to success

(44:37) Embrace kindness and celebrate others

Links mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Payal Beri on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.payalberi

Dr. Payal Beri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberi/

Dr. Payal Beri’s Website: https://www.payalberi.com/

Reframing Perspectives Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZAMlLXhuyTb1bX8IbOYIr?si=e4ccf1c460a149ce

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Menhttps://a.co/d/fGwcbBT

Zeara Jea is a reentry specialist, mentor, and community healer. Having spent nearly a decade at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), Zeara’s life mission is to support people impacted by incarceration and violent street environments. In this powerful conversation, Zeara opens up about her childhood in Northeast LA during the 90s, being surrounded by gang culture, teen motherhood, and the raw journey of walking away from it all to build a new life for herself and her daughters.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(00:00) Journey to community transformation

(08:17) Growing up in gang culture

(16:08) Enemies became friends in prison

(17:42) Unexpected reunion in Lincoln Heights

(23:56) Secret return and disconnection

(30:08) Absent mother due to alcoholism

(35:43) Finding mentors in my journey

(41:24) Witnessing death's lasting impact

(44:25) Documenting a healing journey

(50:59) Healing through community connection

(57:20) Returning to community support

(01:01:51) Embrace healing and perseverance

Links mentioned in this episode:

Zeara Jea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeara_jea/

Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC): https://antirecidivism.org/

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Men https://a.co/d/fGwcbBT

Bruce Bryan is an advocate, speaker, and Justice Defenders program leader who spent nearly three decades wrongfully incarcerated. In this powerful episode, Bruce shares his incredible journey of surviving the U.S. prison system, transforming pain into purpose, and building a new life after release. Host Carlos Vasquez and Bruce dive into the mental strategies, soul-searching, and community support that made resilience possible—even in the darkest moments.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(05:50) Visionary daily growth plan

(09:19) Turning pain into purpose

(12:07) Making higher education cool

(14:43) Foster kids and daily gratitude

(18:46) Journey of self-reflection

(21:29) Reading as escape and growth

(23:03) Becoming a vessel of honor

(27:14) Navigating modern social dynamics

(32:22) Treated differently in Ugandan prisons

(34:49) Choosing human dignity over comfort

(37:54) Resilience during COVID hardship

(42:52) Unexpected changes during COVID

(46:26) Family support and gratitude

(46:59) Reflective gratitude and self-improvement

(50:47) Education’s role in inmate rehabilitation

Links mentioned in this episode:

Bruce Bryan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bruce.bryan24/

Bruce Bryan’s Website: https://brucebryanfree.com/

Justice Defenders: https://www.justice-defenders.org/

TED Talk by Bruce Bryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLhypJwZjxM

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Menhttps://a.co/d/fGwcbBT

Joe White, Recovery Pastor and Program Leader at the Los Angeles Mission, joins Carlos Vasquez for an extraordinary conversation about overcoming addiction, recidivism, and hopelessness. After spending over a decade behind bars and battling a 17-year addiction, Joe found hope and lasting freedom through faith, community, and service. Now, as a recovery advocate and spiritual leader in Skid Row, Joe inspires others to rewrite their stories, no matter how dark their past. Together, Carlos and Joe dive into the realities of institutionalization, the barriers men face in seeking help, and the power of restored relationships.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(05:12) Gender dynamics in church attendance

(07:21) Breaking barriers with love

(10:32) Parental struggles and child impact

(13:29) Divine intervention in jail

(16:53) Transformative worship experience

(21:47) Journey to sobriety and acceptance

(24:45) Rediscovering faith journey

(28:08) Skid Row rehabilitation insights

(29:39) Remember consequences of substance abuse

(34:41) Surrender and identity transformation

(38:15) Pastor encourages unexpected connection

(40:45) First date success

(44:40) Faithful service and ministry goals

(46:43) Embracing simplicity amidst change

Links mentioned in this episode:

Joe White on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe.white.la/

Our Sponsor: Tatt2Away – check them out at https://tatt2away.com/

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Men https://a.co/d/fGwcbBT

This week, Carlos Vasquez sits down with Ernesto Sanchez, a man who’s walked through fire and lived to rebuild from the ashes. After spending years inside some of California’s most brutal prisons, Ernesto isn’t just surviving – he’s redefining what life after prison can look like.

In this candid conversation, Ernesto opens up about breaking generational cycles, confronting the trauma that led him down the wrong path, and what it really takes to start over. From therapy behind bars to becoming a mentor on the outside, he lays bare the mindset shifts, habits, and inner work that turned his sentence into a second chance.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(04:20) Reintegrating after prison

(06:31) Struggles with identity and responsibility

(11:16) Embracing therapy despite cultural pressure

(13:54) Failure's not an option

(17:44) Pelican Bay: from youth to infamy

(20:01) Transformed by hardship and resilience

(25:16) Mentorship and long-term impact

(27:26) From despair to mentorship

(30:32) Choosing a prison cellmate

(33:44) Spirituality and the search for freedom

(36:57) Embracing imperfection in relationships

(39:30) Looking back on a reckless youth

(43:53) Adversity shapes the journey

(46:13) Mentorship as a way forward

Links mentioned in this episode:

Our Sponsor: Tatt2Away – check them out at https://tatt2away.com/

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Men https://a.co/d/fGwcbBT

Peter Meyerhoff is an author, speaker, and host of the ‘Roll Call with Chappie’ podcast. Once a shot caller for the Aryan Brotherhood in Arizona’s toughest prisons, Peter’s journey spiralled through heroin addiction and violence, ultimately leading to 12 years behind bars.

In this powerful conversation, Peter opens up about the crushing realities of prison life, breaking free from generational cycles, and the work he does now to inspire both currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. Tune in as he dives into building a new identity as a devoted dad and husband, the challenge of impulse control, and why redemption is always possible.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(05:12) Redemption and transformation journey

(07:02) Reflective prison visit rejuvenation

(12:17) Reflective drive: gratitude through music

(14:14) Survivor's advantage and mindset

(18:15) Empowering prisoner transition plans

(20:47) Survival in a violent prison

(24:51) Toughness isn't acting tough

(25:42) Embracing resilience and surprise

(33:13) Prison life and gangster code

(38:03) Impulse control saves lives

(40:42) The power of pausing

(42:33) Prioritizing wife's well-being

(50:41) Transforming prisons, reducing recidivism

(52:08) Overcoming prison stigma

Links mentioned in this episode:

Peter Meyerhoff’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peter_meyerhoff

Our Sponsor: Tatt2Away – check them out at https://tatt2away.com/

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Men https://a.co/d/fGwcbBT

Kyle Walker is a professional skateboarder, Vans shoe designer, and passionate youth mentor. With over two decades of experience in the skateboarding world, Kyle has not only achieved the heights of professional success – designing signature shoes and competing on global stages – but has also dedicated himself to lifting up the next generation.

In this episode, Carlos Vasquez sits down with Kyle to explore how skateboarding became an outlet for emotional healing, the power of community, and the journey from personal battles to purposeful living. Kyle shares deeply personal stories of early family struggles, the pivotal role of his mother and mentors, and how acts of service anchor his life and career.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(00:00) Finding confidence beyond comparison

(09:10) Inspired philanthropy journey

(11:53) Make-A-Wish skateboard memories

(21:38) Skateboarding's dual nature: beauty and challenges

(25:25) Skating under the influence myths

(37:52) Precision in creative filmmaking

(51:49) Writing our own life stories

(59:13) Manifestation through penny tosses

(01:02:19) Child's ambition, parent's dilemma

(01:10:06) Embracing routine variety and avoiding rigidity

(01:21:42) Surround yourself with support

Links mentioned in this episode:

Kyle Walker’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwalks/

Our Sponsor: Tatt2Away – check them out at https://tatt2away.com/

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Menhttps://a.co/d/fGwcbBT

Jules Horn went from a small village in Germany to the global stage as a model, but behind the polished images was a deeper journey of burnout, self-worth, and healing.

In this powerful conversation, Jules opens up about the cost of chasing external validation, the trauma that shaped him, and the path he found back to himself. From redefining masculinity to the power of breath, movement, and presence, this episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to reconnect with who they really are.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(04:07) From humble beginnings to ambition

(09:02) Burnout, image, and self-discovery

(11:41) Realizing the prison we build ourselves

(15:04) Finding faith and a sense of unity

(20:00) Eating intuitively and reconnecting

(25:30) Rethinking masculinity and well-being

(29:05) Why adaptability matters

(32:49) Moving with purpose, not pressure

(35:59) Do we need supplements now?

(39:11) Intermittent fasting and energy

(41:09) No one-size-fits-all approach to food

(48:06) Shaping future generations

(50:43) Movement as a tool for change

Links mentioned in this episode:

Jules Horn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jules_horn

Our Sponsor: Tatt2Away – check them out at https://tatt2away.com/

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Men https://a.co/d/fGwcbBT

What does it take to rebuild your life after 14 years in prison?

Jabarri Pangelinan joins Carlos Vasquez just weeks after his release. He spent fourteen and a half years incarcerated, emerged not broken, but transformed.

A devoted father and advocate for second chances, Jabarri shares the mental and emotional toll of incarceration, the pain of being separated from his children, and the strength it took to persevere. Now, he is reentering society with a mindset shaped by discipline, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose.

This episode is about more than redemption. It explores identity, growth, and what it truly means to start over.

Expect a deep, eye-opening conversation as we explore:

(03:32) Transitioning to adulthood

(06:50) The mental challenge of isolation

(09:47) Two perspectives on time

(14:30) Travel confusions and urban change

(18:29) Seize opportunities, find your passion

(21:27) Support that drives change

(22:50) Entrepreneurship through learning and experience

(26:57) Mothers' struggles during incarceration

(29:46) Growing pains and envy

(33:52) From follower to leader

(35:21) Actions speak louder than words

(38:34) A powerful reunion story

(42:14) Gratitude and wise choices

Links mentioned in this episode:

Jabarri Pangelinan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4getsdoe

Our Sponsor: Tatt2Away – check them out at https://tatt2away.com/

Get my latest book: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Men https://a.co/d/fGwcbBT