I Am Refocused Radio

What does Christianity actually look like in Türkiye, and how can authentic stories challenge generations of misunderstanding? In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed sits down with John Cerniglia, President of SAT-7 USA, to discuss faith, media, Christian identity in the Middle East and North Africa, and how SAT-7 is using television and digital platforms to reach people in places where traditional ministry can be difficult. John brings 32 years of global missions leadership across 45 countries to his role at SAT-7 USA. His experience spans Christian missions, humanitarian aid, children’s welfare, philanthropy, and international ministry development. A major part of the conversation explores Türkiye, where Christians represent a small minority and can face misunderstanding, isolation, and stereotypes. SAT-7 TÜRK’s program Believe if You Can takes a different approach by combining candid interviews, music, humor, personal testimony, and conversations about everyday life to present Christian faith in a relatable way. Rather than presenting faith as something distant from everyday life, the program introduces viewers to Turkish Christians working as educators, musicians, scientists, journalists, pastors, technology professionals, and more. Its goal is to create understanding by allowing people to encounter Christians through their real experiences and stories. John also shares the larger mission behind SAT-7, which uses satellite television and digital media to provide Christian programming across the Middle East and North Africa. SAT-7 currently produces programming in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish and uses media to provide biblical teaching, encouragement, discipleship, and community to viewers throughout the region. The impact is reaching beyond television. SAT-7 reports that episodes of the Turkish program have generated hundreds of thousands of online views, creating conversations among people curious about Christianity and the lives of Turkish believers. This conversation is about faith beyond stereotypes, the power of authentic storytelling, Christians living as minorities, and how modern media can create connection where physical barriers remain. Topics include: Christianity in Türkiye, SAT-7 USA, Christian media, global missions, religious stereotypes, Turkish Christians, digital ministry, satellite television, faith and culture, discipleship, storytelling, and the Middle East and North Africa. https://www.sat7usa.org/

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What if our emotions are doing far more than simply making us feel happy, angry, afraid, or sad?In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed sits down with Doug Johnston, author of Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart, for a fascinating conversation about emotional literacy, human behavior, and the hidden emotional sfile:///Users/shemaiahreed/Music/doug%20headshot.jpgtates that influence how we think, communicate, work, lead, and live.Drawing from more than 3,000 years of recorded thought, Johnston’s research examines 272 emotional states across psychology, philosophy, science, linguistics, art, spirituality, and more than 30 faith and philosophical traditions.Johnston explains why our traditional vocabulary around emotion may be far too limited and explores several major ideas from the book, including emotions as an internal “Operating System,” the “Gears of Life” that translate feelings into behavior, and a kind of emotional “Rosetta Stone” that can help bridge cultures, disciplines, and human experiences.The conversation also explores why emotions such as admiration, confidence, procrastination, and zeal deserve closer examination, how language shapes our understanding of what we feel, and whether becoming more emotionally literate can help us make better choices instead of simply reacting.Choosing Emotions has ranked among Amazon’s Top 10 titles in categories including Positive Psychology, Emotions & Mental Health, and Adult & Continuing Education.If you have ever wondered why you feel what you feel, how emotions influence your decisions, or whether we can become more intentional about the emotional states guiding our lives, this conversation opens a much bigger door.Topics include: emotional intelligence, emotional literacy, psychology, human behavior, decision-making, philosophy, mental health, leadership, communication, self-awareness, and the science of emotion.
https://choosingemotions.com/

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What happens when two people can come from the same environment, face many of the same hardships, and still end up on completely different paths? In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed sits down with Donald Williams, educator, author, and co-author of Born of Nothing: From White Trash and Lintheads to Purpose Across Generations, for a powerful conversation about poverty, identity, faith, discipline, education, and the choices that can change a family’s future. Donald grew up in a South Carolina mill village surrounded by generations of cotton mill workers known locally as “lintheads.” His family did not have much financially, but faith, family, and hard work shaped the foundation of his life. He would go on to become the first person in his family to graduate from college, earn a Doctor of Education, teach thousands of students, and work in education across the United States, South Korea, and Japan. But Donald’s story is also one of sharp contrast. He grew up alongside people he loved whose lives eventually led to prison and even death row. Those experiences gave him a firsthand view of how decisions, opportunity, discipline, education, faith, and environment can shape lives across generations. Through Born of Nothing, Donald examines what it takes for families to move beyond poverty and inherited circumstances while remaining honest about where they came from. In this conversation, Donald shares why where you begin does not have to determine where you finish, how education became a turning point in his life, the role faith played in shaping his direction, and what it really means to build a legacy that future generations can stand on. This is a conversation about more than escaping poverty. It is about changing the trajectory of a family. Topics include: generational poverty, breaking cycles, faith, education, discipline, family legacy, personal responsibility, identity, perseverance, purpose, opportunity, and the choices that shape our future. 
http://www.iamdonaldwilliams.com/

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What happens when the business is winning, but your life is paying the price?
George Rivera, founder of the Buy Back Time Formula, joins I Am Refocused Radio to unpack the hidden cost of being the founder who is always available. After helping generate hundreds of millions in online sales, including scaling a brand from zero to more than $200 million, George realized that success on paper did not automatically create freedom at home.
In this conversation, George shares how he moved from being a constantly-on founder to becoming a Father-First Owner, redesigning his leadership through stronger operators, simpler systems, and clearer decision-making. Today, his work helps 7- and 8-figure founders escape “founder prison,” reclaim 10–20 hours each week, and build companies that can grow without sacrificing family, health, or faith.
We also explore the Two-Week Vacation Test, why constantly being available can weaken both leadership and family relationships, what your children will ultimately remember, and how entrepreneurs can buy back their time without shrinking their ambition.
This conversation challenges one of entrepreneurship’s biggest myths: success isn’t just about building a business that needs you. It may be about building one that can thrive without you.
https://buybacktimeformula.com

Leo's Interviews: https://leointerviews.com/


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British independent filmmaker Gregory Mallard joins I Am Refocused Radio to discuss the story behind his feature film Masters and Vices (2025), a project that explores porn addiction and the impact it can have on motivation, anxiety, reputation, relationships, and a person’s sense of self. Gregory shares why he chose to tackle such a difficult and often uncomfortable subject, what he learned while writing, directing, and producing the film, and the challenges that come with bringing an independent feature from an idea to the screen. We also explore the responsibility filmmakers carry when addressing sensitive topics, the realities of producing outside the traditional studio system, and Gregory’s interest in self-improvement and using storytelling to start conversations people may otherwise avoid. This is a conversation about filmmaking, addiction, consequences, personal growth, and having the courage to tell stories that challenge the audience.

Watch Masters and Vices (2025) | Full Movie | HD | Gregory Mallard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxq6v-3PcTY

Subscribe to Gregory's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Gregory_Mallard

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What happens when leaders stop performing, take the mask off, and start doing the deeper work? On this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, we sit down with Trevor Bryce Stevenson, Human Dynamics & Experience Specialist, executive coach, retreat facilitator, adventure guide, and founder of FUNdaMENtal Leadership. Trevor’s background is anything but conventional. Before spending more than two decades coaching leaders, he guided expeditions across four continents, including wilderness adventures, paddling experiences, overland journeys, and ocean crossings. Those experiences taught him how to read people under pressure, build trust, balance challenge with play, and create environments where people can move beyond what they thought was possible. For the past 21 years, Trevor has coached executives and teams in emotional intelligence, nervous system regulation, conscious leadership, and human dynamics across public service, healthcare, education, and the private sector. Today, he combines that leadership work with adventure and experiential learning to help people become healthier, more connected, and more effective leaders. Through his work, Trevor designs and facilitates leadership retreats for EO, YPO, TEC, MacKay CEO Forums, leadership teams, and independent peer groups, blending deep conversations, leadership development, adventure, connection, laughter, and reflection into experiences built to create lasting change. Trevor is also the founder of FUNdaMENtal, a brotherhood for men who are ready to stop performing, connect more honestly, carry less, and create healthier impact in their lives, families, relationships, and work. The community includes regular conversations, outdoor experiences, retreats, and opportunities for deeper personal growth. In this conversation, we explore authentic leadership, emotional intelligence, vulnerability, brotherhood, nervous system regulation, leadership under pressure, adventure, joy, relationships, burnout, personal freedom, and why some of the most powerful breakthroughs happen when people finally feel safe enough to be themselves.

https://fundamentalleadership.ca/home

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What does leadership look like when the pressure is real, people are depending on you, and there’s no room for empty words?On this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, we sit down with Jay Jacobson, LUTCF, CPC, CFSP, founder of Jacobson Professional Staffing, author, educator, entrepreneur, consultant, and longtime leader in the funeral service profession.With more than four decades of experience, Jay has built a career around serving people during some of life’s most difficult moments while helping organizations strengthen their teams, culture, customer service, and leadership.His journey includes serving as President of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, holding a position on the Executive Board of the National Funeral Directors Association, responding in the aftermath of United Airlines Flight 232, and even providing testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Aging.Today, through Jacobson Professional Staffing, Jay provides staffing, consulting, leadership development, professional training, and practical AI education to funeral homes and businesses across the country. He is also the author of Never Stop Dreaming and Lead by Legendary Example, a book centered on integrity, presence, vision, servant leadership, adaptability, and mentorship.Jay also brings an entrepreneurial spirit to his work as the founder of Jay’s Cookies, proving that leadership can show up in the boardroom, the classroom, the community, and even around the kitchen table.In this conversation, we explore leadership under pressure, the lessons learned from decades of serving families, building strong workplace cultures, mentorship, entrepreneurship, navigating change, responsible uses of AI, and why the example we set may become the greatest legacy we leave behind.

https://www.jacobsonprostaff.com/

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What happens when success on paper is no longer enough, and you realize you’ve been playing it safe? On this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed sits down with Dianna Fioravanti, an executive leader, keynote speaker, leadership mentor, TEDx speaker, and author of Flip the Switch: From Playing It Safe… to Crushing It! With more than 25 years of executive experience, Dianna built a successful career in insurance before taking a major leap into the logistics industry and becoming the first female President of Kuehne+Nagel Canada. Today, she leads thousands of logistics professionals while championing a leadership philosophy centered on authenticity, courage, resilience, empathy, and creating opportunities for others. Under her leadership, female executive representation increased from 15% to 50%, while the organization earned recognition for workplace culture, trusted leadership, and women-led workplaces. Dianna shares the personal moment that forced her to question whether she was dreaming big enough, why leaders sometimes become trapped by their own success, and what it means to truly “flip the switch” from cautious thinking to courageous action. We explore finding your authentic leadership style, navigating fear and uncertainty, building high-performing teams through trust, creating inclusive cultures, and making decisions before you feel completely ready. This conversation is about more than climbing the corporate ladder. It’s about becoming the leader you were meant to be, owning your voice, challenging the limits you’ve accepted, and creating a legacy defined by both results and the people you impact along the way.

https://diannafioravanti.com/home

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What happens when the biggest threat to a business, family, or leadership team isn’t strategy, money, or intelligence, but the things nobody is willing to say?
On this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed sits down with René Sonneveld, a former Fortune 500 executive turned ICF Master Certified Coach, author, and trusted advisor to executives, enterprise families, boards, and high performers around the world. René’s career has taken him from international tax law and global banking to senior leadership roles with organizations including UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Citibank, where he worked at the intersection of family business, governance, wealth, and generational legacy.
René shares what years inside boardrooms and family enterprises taught him about the human side of leadership: unspoken tension, trust, succession, identity, emotional dynamics, difficult conversations, and the decisions that determine whether a legacy grows or fractures.
We also explore ideas from his book The Elephant in the Family Room, which examines the emotional forces operating beneath the surface of family businesses, along with his forthcoming book Invisible Capital: Building the Family Enterprise of Tomorrow, scheduled for October 2026.
This conversation goes beyond business strategy. It’s about developing the courage to address what everyone sees but no one wants to discuss, becoming a stronger leader, and building something that can outlive you.
Because sometimes the most important conversation in the room is the one nobody is having.
https://www.renesonneveld.com/


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What happens when success looks great on paper, but the person carrying it feels exhausted, stuck, or disconnected?On this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, host Shemaiah Reed sits down with Annie Yatch, founder of Reinvention, XO, a former counterterrorism analyst turned leadership reinvention strategist and performance coach. Annie works with founders, CEOs, investors, and high-capacity leaders to identify the hidden patterns influencing how they lead, make decisions, build relationships, and respond under pressure.Drawing from a background that includes counterterrorism analysis, entrepreneurship, behavioral strategy, emotional intelligence, and leadership performance, Annie explains why reaching the next level isn’t always about working harder or finding another business strategy. Sometimes the operating system underneath the success needs to change.Shemaiah and Annie explore burnout, over-functioning, identity, leadership under pressure, subconscious patterns, nervous system regulation, relationships, delegation, and the courage required to reinvent yourself when the life that once worked no longer fits.This conversation is for the entrepreneur, executive, creator, or high achiever who has accomplished a lot but knows there is another way to lead, live, and grow.Can you keep your ambition without allowing success to consume you? Can you remain powerful without carrying everything yourself? And what happens when reinvention becomes less about becoming someone new and more about finally leading from who you truly are?Learn more about Annie Yatch and Reinvention, XO at ReinventionXO.com

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