In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Wes Towers, a business and digital marketing expert with more than 20 years of experience building Uplift 360.

We talk about what it really takes to build and grow a business, including the mistakes, lessons, tough seasons, and moments that shape you along the way.

Wes shares practical insights on standing out in a crowded online world, getting found by the right people, building trust with customers, and making smarter decisions about marketing. We also dive into how AI is changing the way businesses operate and what it means to stay authentic and human in a rapidly changing digital world.

From business growth and resilience to websites, SEO, AI, and the importance of human connection, this conversation is full of honest lessons and practical takeaways for business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating change.

Tune in for a real conversation about building, adapting, learning from mistakes, and figuring out what actually works.

What happens when control looks like love, criticism sounds like concern, and you slowly begin to lose yourself without even realizing it?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Eva Levina, author of the two-part memoir Death Is No Reason to Stop Living, for an honest conversation about covert emotional abuse, gaslighting, and the difficult journey of finding yourself again.

Eva shares what it was like to spend years in a relationship she believed was loving, why intelligent and capable people can find themselves staying in unhealthy relationships, and what it takes to rebuild your confidence and learn to trust yourself again.

We also talk about the messy and sometimes surprisingly funny, parts of rebuilding your life, how writing her memoir became part of her healing journey, and what she hopes others recognize in their own relationships.

If you've ever questioned your own judgment, struggled to understand why someone stays, or simply want to better understand emotional abuse, this conversation is worth listening to.

Connect with Eva and learn more about her books: EvaLevinaBooks.com

If it’s part of life, it’s part of the conversation.

What happens when the experiences we thought we had moved past are still shaping the way we think, love, and live?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Susan Eileen for an honest conversation about trauma, self-sabotage, unhealthy relationship patterns, and what it really means to heal.

Susan shares insights from her own journey and explains how unresolved experiences from our past can continue showing up in our everyday lives, even when we don’t realize where those patterns are coming from. We talk about why we sometimes repeat unhealthy relationships, how unresolved trauma can lead to self-sabotaging behaviors, and what a deeper, more holistic healing journey can look like.

We also explore the role of spirituality, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and the difficult parts of healing that people don't always talk about.

If you've ever wondered why you keep repeating certain patterns, struggled to understand your reactions, or felt like you're ready to break free from something that has been holding you back, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Olaolu Ogunyemi for an honest and meaningful conversation about purpose, leadership, fatherhood, resilience, and the experiences that shape who we become.

Olaolu opens up about his personal journey and the moments that could have taken his life in a very different direction. He shares the people and experiences that helped change his path and how those moments shaped the leader, father, and mentor he is today.

We talk about what it really means to lead by serving others, how his experience as a U.S. Marine officer has influenced the way he leads, and the importance of raising resilient children. Olaolu also shares his perspective on fatherhood, leadership, and being intentional about the impact we have on the people around us.

It’s a conversation filled with personal stories, energy, laughter, and practical wisdom about choosing purpose and making a difference in the lives of others.

What does it really take to play the long game?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I sit down with Ed Franklin, who has spent more than 33 years in the sports information industry, to talk about consistency, discipline, decision making, risk, and what it takes to build lasting results.

Ed shares what decades of experience have taught him about trusting the process, learning from setbacks, managing emotions, and staying disciplined when the results don't come as quickly as we want.

This conversation goes beyond sports. It’s about the choices we make, the risks we take, and why consistency can matter more than one big win.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated because you’re not where you want to be yet, this conversation is a reminder that real success often comes from staying in the game long enough to see what consistency can create

What if some of the things you believe about yourself were never really yours to begin with?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I sit down with author and philosopher One Iam for a thought provoking conversation about identity, relationships, the patterns we repeat, and the stories we carry about ourselves.

We explore how family, culture, experiences, expectations, and relationships can shape the way we see ourselves and why sometimes changing our circumstances isn't enough to create real change.

We also talk about what happens when you outgrow the person others expect you to be, how to question the stories you've believed about yourself, and whether we can consciously participate in who we become.

At the heart of our conversation is one question:

How much of “you” did you actually choose?

One Iam is the author of The Architecture of Identity: How Mind Constructs the Human Self.

Press play and join us for some real talk about identity, growth, and becoming more conscious of the person you're becoming.

What happens when life takes a turn you never saw coming?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Caron Grossman, author of Listen to Your Heart Song: Navigating the Unexpected, for an honest conversation about grief, addiction, recovery, resilience, and learning to listen to yourself.

Caron shares her powerful journey of losing her mother at 13, surviving her own heart attack at 58, and finding a way forward through life’s unexpected turns.

A heartfelt conversation about healing, intuition, and finding strength when life doesn’t go according to plan.

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, Dr. Zafra Lerman joins us for a conversation about science, humanity, courage, and the difference one person can make.

A distinguished scientist and educator, Dr. Zafra shares how her work in science has taken her far beyond the classroom and laboratory. We talk about teaching chemistry to underserved students through music, dance, and visual art, and her efforts to bring scientists from countries in conflict together to collaborate and build understanding.

She also opens up about her work advocating for persecuted scientists and students and the risks she took along the way. The conversation explores what gives someone the courage to stand up for others, how science can create connections across deep divisions, and why education has such an important role in creating change.

Dr. Zafra also shares stories and reflections from her memoir, Human Rights and Peace: A Personal Odyssey, offering a glimpse into the experiences that shaped her commitment to science, peace, and human rights.

A conversation about using knowledge to connect, having the courage to act, and believing that meaningful change is possible.

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by author and speaker Eli Brackenbury for a heartfelt conversation about faith, healing, and finding a real relationship with God.

Eli shares his personal journey of finding God during one of the most difficult seasons of his life and how he came to understand that God’s timing is not always our timing. He opens up about his struggles, the experiences that brought him closer to God, and the unexpected way his story unfolded.

We talk about moving beyond simply knowing about God to truly developing a relationship with Him, drawing closer to God, and finding hope through difficult seasons. Eli also shares his thoughts on being hurt by traditional religion and the importance of knowing that you are worthy of God’s love.

It’s an honest, encouraging conversation about faith, healing, personal transformation, and trusting the journey even when life doesn’t go according to our plans.

What makes a promise different from a goal? And why do we sometimes struggle to follow through on the goals we set for ourselves?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Matthew Cossolotto, The Empowerment Pro, for a conversation about the power of making a promise from the heart. Matthew shares how a personal promise to his mother became a turning point that led him into writing self help books and a life dedicated to personal empowerment.

We talk about why a promise can carry a deeper sense of commitment than a goal, how promises can help us heal and grow, what happens when we break promises to ourselves, and what it really takes to move from wanting change to actually creating it.

We also explore personal growth, failure, finding your voice, and how to take that first step when you've been saying “one day” for far too long.

Maybe the question isn't just, “What is my goal?”
Maybe it's, “What am I willing to promise myself?”