Living The Red Life

Born in Brooklyn and raised by a resilient single mother, Melodee Rhodes refuses to let tragedy define her future. In this powerful episode of Living The Red Life, she shares the mindset, discipline, and relentless determination that helped her rise from devastating personal losses to becoming an attorney, entrepreneur, franchise owner, and founder of multiple businesses. Melodee reveals how she built successful ventures through grit, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to growth. From launching a law practice and scaling an Amazon delivery operation to growing Smoothie King locations and developing the MOMMYe brand, she explains the real strategies behind overcoming setbacks and creating opportunities. This conversation explores resilience, entrepreneurship, leadership, personal development, and what it truly means to build success while helping others rise alongside you.

Key Takeaways

• Why resilience is built through adversity, not comfort.
• How to turn setbacks into stepping stones for future success.
• The leadership principles that helped scale teams and businesses.
• Why entrepreneurs must build before everything feels perfect.
• How purpose and service create long-term fulfillment beyond money.

Notable Quotes

• "Your pain doesn't disqualify you. It prepares you for what's next."
• "Everybody underestimates you until you show them what you're capable of."
• "Appreciate where you are, but never lose sight of where you're going."
• "It's not about whether I succeeded. It's about whether I created pathways for others to succeed too."
• "The biggest failure in life is not utilizing your gift."

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

She was told dance wouldn’t last. That it wasn’t a “real career.” But instead of walking away, she rewrote the rules of the industry. In this episode, a former professional dancer turned entrepreneur, Menina Fortunato reveals how she built a global platform and seven-figure business by combining talent with strategy, branding, and bold reinvention. From performing with icons to mentoring the next generation, she breaks down the real business of dance, the mindset required to stay relevant, and how to create opportunities instead of waiting for them. This is a masterclass in turning passion into profit, navigating industry shifts, and building a sustainable creative career in a digital world.

Key Takeaways

• Talent alone isn’t enough. Business skills, branding, and marketing create real career longevity

• The dance industry has shifted from auditions to social media driven opportunities

• Building a sustainable career requires learning how to package and sell your skillset

• Reinvention is essential when industries change or setbacks happen

• Passion becomes powerful when it’s paired with strategy and monetization

Notable Quotes

• “Talent is only a part of the equation.”

• “You have to learn how to package and market yourself.”

• “There’s no other you on the planet.”

• “Life is a dance. When you hit a roadblock, pivot.”

• “You can build a seven-figure business doing what you love.”

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

He starts with nothing but grit, faith, and a vision—and builds something far bigger than a restaurant. Muhieddine El-Hamawi, founder of Big Mo’s Kitchen, shares how he transforms a 400 sq ft gas station concept into a fast-growing restaurant franchise with global reach. Through relentless consistency, system building, and a deep focus on company culture, he reveals the mindset behind scaling a food business in today’s competitive market. This episode dives into entrepreneurship, leadership, and the real strategies behind building a brand that lasts. But the biggest lesson isn’t about food—it’s about purpose, pressure, and the decisions that define your future.

Key Takeaways

• Why starting small creates a stronger business foundation

• The real role of culture in scaling a restaurant franchise

• How consistency and patience outperform talent

• Why most entrepreneurs fail at decision-making and systems

• The strategy behind testing before expanding globally

Notable Quotes

• “Consistency, patience, and a whole lot of faith.”

• “It’s not about the dish—it’s about the purpose.”

• “Entrepreneurship is money managing and decision making.”

• “If you don’t like what you do, stop doing it.”

• “You have to connect to what you’re doing.”

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Most entrepreneurs build businesses that trap them instead of freeing them. In this episode Rocco Cozza, a seasoned business attorney and entrepreneur, reveals how to systematize, scale, and structure companies for high-value exits. Drawing from decades of experience working with companies of all sizes, he breaks down why most founders wait too long to think about selling and how to build a business that runs without you. From SOPs and leadership gaps to mergers and acquisitions strategies, this conversation uncovers the real playbook behind building a sellable company and maximizing valuation.

Key Takeaways

• Build your business to sell from day one, even if you never exit
• Systems and SOPs are the foundation of scalable companies
• Leadership and operational gaps are the biggest value killers
• The best time to plan an exit is 5 to 7 years in advance
• Acquisitions can accelerate growth faster than organic scaling

Notable Quotes

• "Set your business up to sell, even if you never exit."
• "If you fix the people problem, you fix the process problem, profit takes care of itself."
• "Build the company from the start without you."
• "Most people think about selling when it's too late."
• "If it's listed for sale, there's probably a reason why."

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

What does it take to turn trauma into power and build something that disrupts broken systems? In this episode Kendra Van de Water, a youth justice advocate and founder, reveals how authenticity, resilience, and fearless leadership became her edge in navigating racism, systemic injustice, and the realities of working with underserved communities. From early experiences that shaped her mission to building a nonprofit that challenges the legal system, she shares how bold decisions, energy, and conviction create real change. This conversation dives into youth empowerment, social work, and what it really takes to lead when the odds are stacked against you.

Key Takeaways

• Authenticity builds trust, influence, and long-term success
• Turning trauma into purpose creates unstoppable drive
• Real leadership requires setting boundaries and protecting your energy
• Systems don’t change without bold, disruptive action
• Youth empowerment starts with access, tools, and accountability

Notable Quotes

• “Being authentic has opened so many doors for myself.”
• “I’ve taken my story and built something that nobody else has.”
• “I often refer to myself as a storm that gets things done.”
• “This program ain’t going to work for you if you don’t work the program.”
• “People don’t need to be saved, they need tools and opportunities.”

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Timeka Washington goes from food stamps and survival mode to building multiple businesses and becoming the first millionaire in her family. In this episode of Living The Red Life, Timeka Washington shares the mindset, strategy, and emotional resilience behind her rise. From navigating motherhood at 17 to leading an empire through faith, discipline, and vision, she reveals how the “Bossy Blueprint” was born. This conversation dives into women in power, leadership identity, and building legacy-driven businesses while staying true to yourself. It is not just about success. It is about becoming the version of yourself that can hold it.

Key Takeaways

• Success starts with identity before strategy
• Turning pain into purpose creates unstoppable drive
• Building systems is the key to scaling a business
• Women must own their power unapologetically
• Real success is peace, alignment, and legacy

Notable Quotes

• “If I wasn’t much, I wouldn’t have much.”
• “I didn’t just build a business. I built a blueprint.”
• “You have to channel in your inner beast.”
• “Success is peace in my spirit and power in my presence.”
• “I became the blueprint I never had.”

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Haley Jones starts as a high school math teacher questioning the system, then walks away to build something entirely her own. In this episode, a real estate entrepreneur and host of the Big Orange Business podcast reveals how she turned uncertainty into momentum using digital marketing, YouTube, and relentless consistency. From early self-doubt to scaling to 33 transactions in year two, she breaks down the mindset shifts, resilience, and strategy behind her growth. Along the way, she shares how endurance sports, self-talk, and embracing discomfort shaped her ability to win in business and life. This is a raw look at what it actually takes to create your version of the Red Life.

Key Takeaways

• Choose your struggle: staying stuck or finding a way out
• Consistency in digital marketing compounds results over time
• Brutal honesty builds trust and closes more deals
• Resilience is built through repeated personal challenges
• Your self-talk directly impacts performance and outcomes

Notable Quotes

• “Choose the struggle of staying stuck or the struggle of getting out.”
• “You don’t have to accept your current situation.”
• “I am not pushy until it’s time to turn it on.”
• “Let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room and move forward.”
• “What you say to yourself changes your outcome.”

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

After years of narcissistic abuse, trauma bonding, and survival mode, this holistic trauma healer now helps others reclaim their power. In this episode, Sherry Lou Canino breaks down the truth about narcissistic relationships, how childhood trauma shapes partner choices, and why most people unknowingly repeat destructive patterns. Through her journey of arrest, emotional awakening, and rebuilding her life, she reveals the mindset shifts and healing strategies that changed everything. From equine therapy to holistic healing, her unconventional approach challenges traditional methods and offers a new path forward. This is a raw, unfiltered conversation about boundaries, identity, and breaking free.

Key Takeaways:

• Why people unknowingly choose narcissistic partners

• The difference between healthy and malignant narcissism

• How childhood trauma shapes adult relationships

• Why healing requires more than just talk therapy

• The role of boundaries in reclaiming personal power

Notable Quotes:

• "We’re picking them. They’re not picking us."

• "They want you to think you have nothing without them."

• "We all have to have healthy narcissism."

• "Just because someone calls you something doesn’t make it true."

• "Burn the boxes. Nobody puts you in one again."

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Jessica Lynne White didn’t set out to disrupt healthcare—but by reverse engineering a broken system, she built a blueprint others now follow. In this episode, a 26-year physical therapist turned entrepreneur reveals how she transitioned into telemedicine, scaled GLP-1 weight loss brands, and created a model that allows everyday entrepreneurs to launch national health businesses. From influencer marketing to patient acquisition funnels, she breaks down how branding, automation, and strategy intersect in today’s booming telehealth industry. But behind the growth is a deeper story—imposter syndrome, financial risk, and the relentless pursuit of building something bigger than a paycheck.

Key Takeaways

• How telemedicine businesses can be launched without being a doctor
• Why starting with marketing gives you a competitive advantage
• The real reason most telehealth brands fail to scale
• How GLP-1 and wellness trends created a massive opportunity
• Why simplicity and systems outperform complexity in business

Notable Quotes

• "I reverse engineered it and figured out what I needed to do."
• "You don’t have to be a provider to build this kind of business."
• "It’s not just about money—it’s about transforming lives."
• "When you're growing, you realize how much you don’t know."
• "I’ve drained my credit cards just to make payroll."

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Dr. Clara Scott starts with less than $500, no backing, and a vision to redefine veterinary care. Today, she leads a thriving ecosystem built on mindset, resilience, and relentless execution. In this episode, a veterinarian and founder of My Family Vet shares how intuition, leadership, and an unshakable standard for excellence helped her scale through failure, loss, and industry pressure. From building culture-driven teams to mastering energy, communication, and client trust, she reveals the real strategies behind sustainable growth in veterinary business and beyond. This is a raw look at what it takes to win when the odds, the market, and even your own mindset are working against you.

Key Takeaways

• Start before you're ready. Resourcefulness beats capital in early-stage growth

• Failure is feedback. Every setback is a system for improvement

• Culture is your competitive edge. People and energy drive performance

• Eliminate victim mentality. Ownership accelerates results

• Intuition is a business skill. Awareness and presence create better decisions

Notable Quotes

• “Overnight success doesn’t mean you knew what you were doing.”

• “If you don’t learn and get better, you’re an idiot.”

• “Animals don’t play victim. They adapt and move forward.”

• “We built a legacy on treating animals like they deserve.”

• “When you remove the noise, you operate on a different level.”

Connect with Rudy Mawer:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter