Rebuilding The Beast

Today’s guest is Alexis Lete, Miss Indiana 2020, who shares her journey from D1 athlete to becoming a pageant contestant and embracing her authentic self. The now actress, model and aspiring game show host aims to use her voice for good.

With her "Break the Mold Tour," she gives talks inspiring others to chase their dreams and break through societal pressures by celebrating their individuality and being unapologetically themselves. 

Alexis also touches on the topics of how she learned to appreciate the simple things and what keeps her humble after briefly having a big head when she was younger. 

You can follow Alexis on Instagram to stay up to date with her journey.

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!

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Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

Today Festus speaks with Ashleigh who is the creator of Bio Emotional Healing. It is a process based in neuroscience that wants to rewire the brain. The concept aims to help with mental issues such as anxiety, depression and past traumas but also with physical pain or health issues. Ashleigh had her own fair share of challenges: She was told at a young age that she wouldn’t live past her teenage years but refused to give up. She then struggled with chronic pain and a failed hip surgery that ended her career as a professional dancer. 

Ashleigh now helps others on their path to healing and recovery. 

You can follow Ashleigh on her Instagram or find out more about her healing techniques here.

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Or check out our YouTube & website!

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

Avery talks to Festus about being diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. For her it meant having to deal with a slow running thyroid, which led to a slow metabolism, hormones being off, feeling tired and gaining weight rapidly. Avery had to learn her body all over again, find out what really works for her and go through drastic diet and exercise changes. Through that she was able to overcome her body image issues and learnt that actual success meant being able to help others who struggle with the same issues. 

As you know on Rebuilding the Beast we like to go through all emotions from serious talks to humorous conversations. Therefore, Festus also asked about her previous experiences on being on a reality tv show and what it was like growing up with a famous football player as her dad. 

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Or check out our YouTube & website!

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

Stephanie Drenka is a Korean adoptee who shares her journey from growing up in a white family in Texas, feeling like she does not fit in, to searching for her birth family and after years reuniting with them. Her story is filled with many ups and downs from internal racism, going on a Korean TV show, meeting her birth mother for the first time and creating a strong bond with her middle sister. 

Stephanie also sheds a light on adoption as a whole, from unresolved trauma and loss from the separation, abandonment issues in later relationships and being told to feel grateful for being saved. 

Lastly the episode touches on the very important topic of Asian Hate Crimes and Stephanies on experiences with being sexualised as an Asian women from a very young age. We are planning a second episode focusing solely on this topic as well, as Stephanie who is a writer and studied Asian American and Women’s Studies has done extensive research on it. 

Follow Stephanie on Instagram, read her blog and check out her amazing articles. 

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Or check out our YouTube & website!

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

TW: Addiction & Suicide. 

Abi Feltham says it how it is and is very open about her journey from being addicted to alcohol, using drugs, getting sober and dealing with her Borderline Personality Disorder. Her mix of bluntness, humor and vulnerability really shows in this great conversation with Festus. Abi shares her low points from going on alcoholic fulled binges, using crack, being in a toxic relationship and trying to commit suicide. She also dives into her recovery explaining how tough her withdrawal was and how she found a way to finally love herself. You will also learn what it’s like to have a Borderline Personality and ways to ease it through therapy and forming positive habits. 

Oh and don’t miss her story about being a groupie back in the day! We should all be more honest like Abi, it’s so refreshing and proofs it destroys the shame that many of us carry. 

You can follow Abi on Instagram and TikTok. Don’t miss her reels and confessions on Friday.

You can watch the full episode on our YouTube channel!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Or check out our YouTube & website!

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

Imagine becoming a widow at 31-years-old. Today we are talking about a topic that unfortunately far too many people have experienced. May it be themselves, a friend or family member - cancer is far too common. Rachel talks to Festus about losing her husband to leukemi. From the diagnosis, the fight that followed, to chemotherapy and having to take her late husband off of life support - Rachel explains what the tough journey was like. After many challenges and having to say goodbye she decided to write a book called “Wife, Widow, Now What?” that aims to help navigate these difficult times dealing with cancer. Rachel also shares about her (dating) life now and how she was able to heal. 

You can purchase her book on Amazon or get in touch via Facebook.

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Or check out our YouTube & website!

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

TW: Sexual Abuse 

Today we are diving straight into a very important but also sensitive topic: Aleesha talks about being a survivor of child sexual abuse. After years of being molested by her grandad and being told by her mother to keep it quiet, she was finally able to speak up about her traumatic experiences. Aleesha has since written two best selling books. She aims to sweep the secrets from under the rug, urging children and adults to “tell somebody today” as silence and shame are big contributors to this widely spread issue. Aleesha has been able to break her generational curse, as she reveals that her grandfather was himself molested. She has been able to work on her trauma, find peace and forgive her grandfather and mother. Aleesha urges child molesters to seek help and wants parents to teach their children to recognise and speak up about wrongful and inappropriate behaviour through her book “Tell Somebody”

Follow Aleesha on her personal Instagram or her foundation Tell Somebody Movement.

Watch the full conversation on our Youtube Channel!

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

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In this solo episode Festus takes a moment to reflect on his past weeks. On the podcast’s first two episodes Festus told his story and wants to continue being open and transparent about his own Rebuilding the Beast journey. On a quest to not only share his triumphs but also his tough days, he talks about not making the cut for the Nigerian Olympic team and having his car broken into just a week after. He opens up about days where he doesn’t want to get out of bed, days where he feels sad or disappointed or days where things just don’t go as planned. But most importantly Festus also speaks about how he deals with those days, finds ways to trust in his path and embraces life with all its ups and downs.

He also reflects on the podcast and how the amazing conversations have impacted him and people who listened. 

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

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Today we are telling a beautiful love story. It’s one with many obstacles but of two people who never gave up and are continuing to show tremendous strength. Hear about how Leilanie and Michael met and the moment Michael found out he had Multiple Sclerosis. Leilanie never left his side and is currently a caretaker for her husband. 

Leilanie explains what exactly Multiple Sclerosis is and how it affects Michael’s body and their daily life. The conversation with Festus also touches on the subject of caregiving, its mental and physical challenge and how faith, as well as hope, continues to guide them through challenges. There are many touching moments like when Leilanie explains how Michael is an incredible dad and what makes their marriage so fulfilled. 

Both Michael and Leilanie are true sources of inspiration. You also can not miss their tiktok and reels, as they try to find what Leilanie calls little pockets of joy everyday. 

Follow Leilani’s and Michaels journey together on Instagram.

You can watch the full episode on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram

Festus sits down with NFL player Todd Gurley. Todd talks about his journey so far, from his high school playing days in North Carolina then moving to Georgia and finally being drafted to the NFL. You can instantly tell that Todd is someone who always keeps a positive outlook and prides himself on living life to the fullest. At the same time he learned to cope with setbacks such as injuries, losing the Super Bowl or being let go by the LA Rams. 

The conversation also touches on how to deal with negative comments online, why it is important to stay true to yourself and learning to handle money as a first generation millionaire. 

Todd founded the MADE (Make a Difference Everyday) Foundation, which provides mental health services and strives to guide the younger generation. 

Stay up to date with Todd on his Instagram. 

You can watch the full episode on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram