Have you ever wondered how a Major League Baseball player transitions his life after the game ends? In this gripping episode of "Reforge Your Life," host Joe Rivera invites Daryl Jones to share his incredible journey from the baseball diamond to discovering new passions beyond. Once an MLB player for the Saint Louis Cardinals, Daryl has transformed into a motivational powerhouse, overcoming personal challenges and embracing new roles as a professional speaker, author, and actor.

Discover how growing up in a single-parent home, while facing the trauma of his parents' divorce, shaped Daryl’s life. He delves into overcoming deep-seated emotional wounds, battling depression, and the profound moments of self-discovery that followed his athletic career. Daryl candidly discusses the layers of personal masks he had to strip away and the critical role his faith played in grounding him during turbulent times.

Key highlights of this episode include Daryl’s insights on the importance of aligning with the right people, pulling from the support of mentors, and staying true to core values like discipline and spirituality. He also shares how his mother's affirmations guided and supported him through significant change.

Tune in to hear Daryl Jones recount his life’s transition and gain valuable lessons on how to reforge your life. Whether it’s connecting with your spiritual roots, finding a community, or embracing your vulnerabilities, this episode is a testament to resilience and transformation. Share this episode and let Daryl’s journey inspire someone's comeback today.

00:00 "Unexpected Responsibility Shaped My Path"

05:32 "Sports, Depression, and Life Lessons"

09:04 From Major Leagues to Field Painting

11:29 Confidence: Addressing Core Issues

16:12 Healing Through Honest Reflection

17:10 Skill vs. Talent: Key Differences

20:24 Transitioning from MLB: What's Next?

26:01 Promoting Entrepreneurial Collaboration

27:35 Single Parent Survival Mentality

32:43 Scarcity Mindset Ruins Relationships

35:34 Rejecting Unemployment Benefits

37:33 Active Rest Boosts Performance

42:28 "Playing Myself: A Complex Role"

43:25 "My Number One Fan" Release

48:38 Defining Purpose

49:43 "Seek the Creator for Guidance"

Have you ever wondered how to transform your deepest traumas into the fuel for your most significant triumphs?

In this powerful episode of "Reforge Your Life," host Joe Rivera welcomes the inspiring Elayna Fernandez, a keynote speaker, author, and transformational storyteller, who shares her incredible journey from extreme poverty to becoming a globally recognized speaker. Discover how Elayna overcame unimaginable challenges, including surviving a traumatic assault and a near-fatal accident, to reforge her life with resilience, forgiveness, and love.

Key Highlights:

• Elayna's harrowing childhood story of hope and vision, sparked by a single English magazine found in a landfill, setting off her journey to learning multiple languages and reaching international acclaim.
• A compelling recount of the darkest moments she faced, including the transformative lessons learned during her coma and afterlife experience.
• Understanding the profound difference between motivational shame and the healing power of presence, which Elayna describes as silence, safety, and space to validate and process pain.
• The surprising discovery of forgiving those who inflicted harm and how it became a gateway to her healing and strength.
• Elayna's revolutionary "Date Your Pain" practice—learn how this simple, evidence-based technique can help you process emotions and heal.

Join Elayna and Joe in this transformative episode to learn how transforming trauma and harnessing personal stories can heal, inspire, and empower not only yourself but those around you. Tune in to forge ahead on your path to growth and positivity.

Unlock the full potential within you by listening now!

TIMESTAMPED OVERVIEW

00:00 From Slums to Global Speaker

03:54 Dreams Discovered in a Landfill

08:07 "From Struggles to Success"

13:02 "Supernatural Escape, Justice Pursued"

14:06 "1996: From Agony to Amazement"

17:49 "Journey of Overcoming Trauma"

23:21 Silent Support Empowers Healing

26:45 Finding Strength in Shared Nurturing

29:51 Overcoming Adversity with Resilience Tools

32:08 Two-Minute Emotional Processing

35:21 "Inner Dialogue for Emotional Healing"

39:50 "Afterlife Experience and Revelation"

44:44 The Power of Forgiveness

48:05 Transformative Storytelling to Heal Generations

49:43 Power of Storytelling for Connection

54:30 "Reforging Life: Follow Your Light"

55:56 Finding Light and Growing Relationships

Are you ready to unlock your full potential and transform your challenges into triumphs?

In this episode of Reforge Your Life, host Joe Rivera welcomes the inspiring Hellen Nitschke, an entrepreneur who has journeyed from a fashion expert to a thriving business owner in the marketing space. Hellen shares her story of resilience, determination, and faith that helped her break through language barriers and industry challenges to find her true purpose.

Listen to Hellen recount her early days in the US, where she couldn't even say "hello" in English, to becoming a key player in the fashion industry. Learn how she used persistence and a proactive approach to succeed, despite facing discouragement and negative feedback. Hellen's journey underscores the importance of leaning into faith and trusting a higher power in the face of obstacles.

Key highlights include:

• Hellen's transition from fashion to entrepreneurship, sparked by a newfound passion for marketing and sales.
• The significance of embracing one's unique journey and learning to trust the path laid out by a higher power.
• How to combat inner criticism and flip limited beliefs to continue moving forward.

For more insights and an exclusive gift from Hellen—a book on leveraging AI for your B2B marketing—don't forget to check the show notes. Tune in and discover how you, too, can reforge your life by turning trials into triumphs.

TIMESTAMPED OVERVIEW

00:00 One-Year English Fluency Challenge

06:36 Resilience Against External Doubts

09:18 Overcoming Others' Opinions

13:24 Faith and Overcoming Challenges

15:57 "Pursuing Fashion Dreams in U.S."

17:24 Embracing Risk and Opportunity

23:34 Intense Program Experience and Realizations

26:33 Multichannel Campaign Strategy Blueprint

27:30 Balanced Marketing Approach Yields Results

31:44 Learning, Growth, and Trust in Guidance

33:58 Letting Go and Moving Forward

37:33 Values Over Profit

Are you ready to discover how a series of setbacks can lead to an inspiring entrepreneurial journey and community impact? In this episode of the Reforge Your Life Show, join host Joe Rivera as he chats with the remarkable Gina Schaefer—an accomplished author, keynote speaker, and the force behind several successful hardware stores. delves into Gina's unique story of resilience and determination, highlighting how getting laid off three times propelled her to reforge her life by becoming an entrepreneur.

Gain insights into how Gina turned challenges into opportunities, such as her experience of opening hardware stores in revitalizing neighborhoods and advocating for women's roles in the industry. Learn how community involvement and a supportive team can lead to business success and personal fulfillment. Gina shares how essential core values and hiring with intention played critical roles in her business growth.

Key Highlights:

• Gina's journey from a non-profit worker to tech industry employee to hardware store entrepreneur.
• The importance of recognizing community needs and tapping into them as a business opportunity.
• How Gina overcame the hurdles of being one of the few women in the hardware industry.
• The role of coaches in successfully expanding her business from one store to multiple locations.
• Building a diverse team that reflects the community and embodies core values.
• Transitioning her business to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to give back to her team.

Tune in to uncover how Gina's story exemplifies resilience, community building, and the power of redefining success. Be inspired to reforge your own path and make a meaningful impact in your community.

TIMESTAMPED OVERVIEW

00:00 "Reforge Your Life Show"

06:23 Neighborhood Revival Amidst Decline

09:43 Growing Up in Community Spirit

12:21 Pursuing Cooperative Ownership Path

18:08 Highlighting Women's Roles in Business

21:12 Business Growth and Expansion Success

23:40 Expansion Challenges for Small Business

27:53 Seeking Business Growth and Mentorship

31:09 "Always Grow and Share"

33:33 Hiring the Right Exit Strategy Coach

37:10 Key to Success: Hiring Right

42:47 Selling Business to Diverse Team

46:29 Nonfiction: Memoir & Entrepreneurial Insights

48:27 Filling the Void After Leaving

52:37 Speak, Share, Support

54:12 "Reforge Your Life Podcast"

Are you ready to take ownership of your life and turn your setbacks into comebacks?

In this invigorating episode of the "Reforge Your Life" show, host Joe Rivera welcomes a truly inspiring guest, Sean Martin, who shares his compelling journey from the streets of The Bronx to prison, and ultimately, to redemption and success.

Key Highlights:

1. The Power of Taking Responsibility:

   Sean underscores the transformative power of owning one's actions and decisions, emphasizing the pivotal moment he embraced his responsibility for his actions even in the face of adversity.

2. Emotional Intelligence Learned in Prison:

   Sean recounts how his time in prison became an unexpected opportunity for self-discovery and emotional growth, diving deep into anger management and self-development books.

3. Spiritual Awakening and Sobriety:

   Sean opens up about his path to sobriety, the crucial role of faith, and the profound impact of turning to God during challenging times.

4. Breaking Limiting Beliefs:

   Learn how Sean defied the odds and shattered the limiting beliefs that held him back, stepping into rooms where he felt out of place to grow and push his boundaries.

5. Living with Purpose and Service:

   Sean discusses his current mission of serving others through his REAL Mentors podcast, focusing on uplifting and inspiring underserved communities.

Dive into this episode for a conversation that promises to reshape your perspective on adversity, resilience, and the transformative power of responsibility and service. Join us and start reforging your life today!

Are you ready to discover the power of resilience and transformation in the face of life's greatest challenges?

In this episode of the Reforge Your Life podcast, host Joe Rivera welcomes Andrew Guerrier, an investor, motivational speaker, and a man whose life story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Join us as Andrew shares his incredible journey from hitting rock bottom to bouncing back stronger than ever. Learn how his Haitian-American heritage shaped his early life in Miami, and hear about the challenges he faced growing up in a tumultuous household with his entrepreneurial father. Andrew opens up about his descent into the world of drug trafficking as a teenager and the life-altering moment that led him to turn his life around.

Key highlights of this episode include:

• Andrew’s profound transformation through faith and how it became his guiding force.
• The importance of changing environments to foster growth and positive change.
• The role of mentorship and surrounding oneself with successful individuals to overcome limiting beliefs.
• Core values such as faith, hard work, loyalty, and perseverance that sustained Andrew through tough times.
• Practical advice for listeners seeking to reforge their own lives, including finding purpose and aligning with one's passions.

Listeners can put these lessons into action by reflecting on their own environments and seeking mentors who inspire and challenge them. Embrace the process of continual knocking on doors till they open. Remember, every 'no' is a step closer to a 'yes,' and perseverance is key to overcoming life's hurdles. Most importantly, find real growth in your faith or a higher power and align your daily actions with your passions and gifts.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Haitian-American Life Journey
04:16 From Poverty to Prosperity
07:15 "Image Over Reality: A Personal Struggle"
11:43 East Coast Drug Runner's Tale
14:45 Faith, Law, and Redemption
17:13 Leaning into Faith from Fear
21:41 From Microsoft to Ministry Leadership
23:23 Turning Life Around Through Faith
27:42 "Success Through Upward Circles"
29:39 Core Values for Overcoming Challenges
32:51 Keep Knocking for Opportunities
36:54 Embrace Loss for Growth
40:08 Expressing Gratitude for Sobriety
42:22 "Find Your Higher Power"
45:52 "Reforge Your Life Podcast"

Are you ready to find purpose, reconnect, and transform your life?

In this powerful episode of "Reforge Your Life," host Joe Rivera sits down with his close friend Rick Gabrielly, a CEO, author, devoted husband, father, and an inspiring individual with an extraordinary story of transformation. Rick opens up about losing his father at a young age, facing his darkest times, and ultimately finding his way back through spirituality, self-love, and meaningful connections.

Key Highlights:

• Rick's Journey

  Learn about Rick's emotional story of losing his father and the subsequent years of struggle filled with bad decisions and despair.

• The Turning Point

  Discover how a letter from his high school biology teacher became the catalyst for change, leading Rick from the depths of addiction to a life filled with love and purpose.

• Four S's Formula

  Rick introduces his life-changing Four S’s formula – Source, Self, Spouse, and Special People – which emphasizes the right order of priorities to achieve balance and success.

• Core Values

  Rick speaks about his core values of connection, service, and energy, driving his daily motivation and influencing those around him.

• Power of Community

  Understand the importance of surrounding yourself with the right community and how it can be a pivotal factor in personal transformation and growth.

Tune in to hear more about Rick’s inspirational journey and the practical steps you can take to reforge your life, regain your purpose, and make meaningful connections.

Follow-Up:

• Grab a copy of Rick’s book,

  The Currency of Connection

  available on Amazon.

• Visit Rick Gabrielli’s website at

  rickgabrielly.com

  to learn more about his work and connect directly.

• Join Joe Rivera on his website

  withjorivera.com

  for more resources, guidance, and inspiration on how to reforge your life.

Don’t miss this episode filled with profound insights and actionable advice, designed to help you unlock your full potential and reconnect with your true purpose.

This week, host Joe Rivera is joined by the incredible Lou Diamond—a professional speaker, sales and leadership consultant, award-winning podcaster, and two-time best-selling author. Lou has dedicated his life to helping business leaders and brands thrive through the power of connecting.

In this inspiring conversation, Lou delves into his life's journey, sharing how his obsession with building and maintaining connections has shaped his career and personal life. He emphasizes the importance of having meaningful conversations, explaining his "Speakeasy methodology" for effectively connecting with others. Lou also opens up about overcoming fears and limiting beliefs, offering practical advice on how to flip fear on its head and move through it into courage.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the core values that guide Lou, including his powerful "Connect Your Voice" framework. He explores the importance of spirituality, family, and the positive impact of strong connections in both personal and professional life.

Whether you're looking to enhance your networking skills, learn how to have difficult conversations, or find inspiration to reforge your own life, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom and heartfelt stories.

Tune in to discover how you can unlock your full potential by forging deeper, more meaningful connections. Visit ThriveLoud.com to explore more about Lou Diamond’s work and connect with his invaluable resources.

Episode Highlights:

• Discovering the power of connections:

  Lou Diamond's journey from retail sales to becoming a sought-after speaker and consultant.

• SPEAK EASY Methodology:

  Learn the 6 ways to connect in every conversation.

• Overcoming fears:

  Practical steps to move through fear into courage.

• Connect Your Voice:

  Lou’s powerful framework for meaningful conversations.

• Spirituality and family:

  The core values that shape Lou's life and work.

Be sure to listen in and start reforging your life today!

Joe Rivera sits down with the inspiring Gustavo Piniero, a father, entrepreneur, real estate investor, empowerment coach, and motivational speaker who has overcome incredible odds to reforge his life. Join us as Gustavo shares his powerful story of triumph over cancer and the transformative journey that led him to discover his true purpose.

From growing up in the South Bronx, facing numerous life struggles, to becoming a successful businessman and family man, Gustavo's narrative is filled with resilience and determination. Listen as he recounts the life-changing moment of his cancer diagnosis and how it reshaped his perspectives on health, wealth, and spirituality. Gustavo discusses the profound impact of faith, the importance of aligning with one's purpose, and the necessity of having a supportive community.

Throughout the conversation, Gustavo offers valuable insights into breaking through limiting beliefs and fears, the role of integrity and obedience in achieving one's goals, and the significance of listening to one's inner voice. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone looking to unlock their full potential and live a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Tune in to Episode 3 of "Reforge Your Life" to hear Gustavo’s inspiring journey and learn how you can reforge your own life with intention and dedication.

Key Topics:

• Gustavo’s journey from the South Bronx to a successful career

• Overcoming cancer and the transformative lessons learned

• The role of faith and spirituality in personal growth

• Breaking through limiting beliefs and fears

• The importance of integrity, obedience, and community

• How to align with your true purpose

Don’t miss this episode filled with life-changing insights and motivational stories!

Subscribe now and stay updated with Joe Rivera’s latest episodes of "Reforge Your Life."

Welcome to another inspiring episode of "Reforge Your Life" with your host Joe Rivera. Today, we're joined by Dan Bonner, a seasoned healthcare advocate and keynote speaker who has faced incredible physical health challenges within the cutthroat world of corporate America. Dan shares his journey of unwavering integrity, resilience, and faith as he navigated an often unsympathetic corporate landscape, experiencing numerous layoffs due to his health issues and steadfast values.

In this episode, Dan opens up about his diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) at a young age and the emotional and existential battles that accompanied his deteriorating health. He recounts the transformative power of spiritual moments, including a poignant flight where he felt God's forgiveness and presence, reinvigorating his strength and resolve.

Despite facing significant professional and personal adversities, Dan's story is one of triumph and purpose. He highlights the importance of empathy in corporate America and the need to support marginalized individuals. Through his faith-driven approach to overcoming fear and embracing life's challenges, Dan has become a beacon of hope for many.

Listen in as he discusses the impact of a supportive work environment, the crucial role of faith, and his mission to give back through patient advocacy, simplifying healthcare challenges for others. Dan’s journey is a testament to resilience, the power of gratitude, and the belief that every individual can make a lasting impact.

Join us for a profound conversation with Dan Bonner, and discover how to reforge your life while staying true to your core values, no matter the obstacles. Let's dive in!