The Becoming Podcast

What if the life you built to keep everyone else happy was never truly yours?

Christine Davis Ross shares how questioning faith, surviving grief, confronting cancer, and walking away from a carefully scripted identity helped her discover the courage to live from within.

For anyone afraid of disappointing family, losing community, or stepping outside the expectations that shaped them, this conversation offers an honest look at what it costs to keep hiding—and what becomes possible when you finally trust your own voice.

Christine reflects on growing up determined to be “good,” follow the rules, keep the peace, and maintain a picture-perfect life, even when everything inside her felt out of alignment.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How to recognize when you're living from a story handed to you instead of one you've consciously chosen
• Why questioning your faith and identity can feel like losing your entire community
• What Christine learned from losing her brother to suicide about secrecy, perfectionism, and the healing power of speaking openly
• How grief, family expectations, and childhood wounds can become part of a transformational journey
• Why disappointing others can sometimes be evidence that you're finally making an honest decision for yourself
• What it means to let go of an old identity and make room for the self that has been waiting to emerge

Christine Davis Ross is a speaker, author, and board-certified health and wellness coach. Her memoir, Beautiful Hell, explores the unexpected beauty and growth that can emerge from life’s most painful experiences.

Hosted by Otiri Enathy, this episode is a powerful invitation to pause, listen to your inner voice, and ask the question many of us avoid:

Who would I be if I stopped living for everyone else?

Perfect for anyone navigating a major life transition, questioning inherited beliefs, healing from grief, or longing to live with greater authenticity.

What if the pressure breaking your life is actually revealing the foundation you built on?

Media entrepreneur and faith-driven legacy builder CJ Moneyway shares how adversity, discipline, faith, and spiritual realignment transformed his journey from Gary, Indiana, into a podcasting and publishing empire built “brick by brick.”

CJ Moneyway joins Otiri Enathy for an honest conversation about what happens when faith is tested, purpose feels delayed, and impatience pushes us toward decisions that can undermine our future. He opens up about difficult choices, the family foundation that shaped his faith, and how life’s detours can still lead you toward where you were meant to go.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why even committed believers can question God under pressure—and what those doubts can reveal

• The difference between building your life on sand and building on a solid foundation

• How impatience and comparison can pull you away from your purpose

• Why authentic storytelling goes deeper than achievements, credentials, and social media metrics

• How consistency and discipline turned a podcast recorded in a garage into a platform with millions of downloads

• What “Legacy Over Likes” really means when you’re building for generations you may never meet

• Where to begin when you know you have potential but struggle to show up consistently

CJ also explains why discipline begins with self-examination rather than trying to control others, and why being physically present isn’t the same as being truly present for your family, purpose, and calling.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple but powerful message: stop building for applause. Strengthen your foundation. Become the example others can build upon.

CJ Moneyway is a media entrepreneur, podcast host, best-selling author, AI educator, and legacy builder known for The CJ Moneyway Show and his conversations with entrepreneurs, authors, investors, athletes, and other change-makers.

If you’re navigating adversity, struggling with consistency, questioning your direction, or trying to build something that lasts beyond attention and recognition, this conversation will challenge you to look in the mirror, trust the process, and keep becoming who you were created to be.

What happens when the life you worked so hard to build is no longer the life God is calling you to?

After more than 20 years in corporate America, Bernitha Rena walked away from a successful career without knowing exactly what God wanted her to do next. It was not because she had failed. From the outside, everything looked right. But internally, she was experiencing a deep sense of emptiness and a growing conviction that God was leading her into a new chapter.

In this episode of The Becoming Podcast, Otiri Enathy sits down with Bernitha for an honest conversation about faith, obedience, purpose, identity, and the courage to move when you do not have the whole roadmap.

Together, they explore:

• How to recognize when dissatisfaction is pointing to a deeper purpose or identity crisis

• Why obedience can require you to leave something that is working

• How prayer, Scripture, stillness, and spiritual discernment can help you recognize God’s direction

• How a 12-page self-evaluation led to Bernitha’s largest corporate bonus and helped prepare her financially for the leap

• The remarkable story of reconnecting with a college friend after 15 years following a spiritual prompting

• What it costs to obey when family, friends, or even your spouse do not fully understand

• Why taking the next step can sometimes matter more than having the entire plan

• What happens when you choose God’s purpose over a familiar definition of success

Bernitha’s story challenges us to ask a difficult question: What if the thing that looks like success to everyone else is the very thing God is asking you to release?

If you are successful on paper but feel unfulfilled, sense that God is leading you into a new season, or are afraid to move because you do not know what comes next, this conversation is for you.

Sometimes faith does not give you the entire map. Sometimes it simply gives you enough light to take the next step.

This is The Becoming Podcast—honest conversations about growth, purpose, faith, personal development, and the stories and experiences that shape who we become.

Connect with Bernitha Rena by searching for Bernitha Rena Relates on social media and podcast platforms.

What if the voice you call intuition has been buried beneath fear, conditioning, and other people’s expectations?

Spiritual coach and transformation expert Dr. Toni LaMotta reveals how to recognize your inner guidance and begin trusting yourself again.

After spending 16 years in a convent under a vow of obedience, Dr. LaMotta discovered that certainty imposed from the outside could never replace inner authority. She shares the pivotal moment when hearing a fellow sister cry led her to break the rules, offer comfort, and realize that a deeper voice was calling her to compassion.

In this conversation with host Otiri Enathy, you’ll discover:

• Why fear is not always something to eliminate, but information asking for your attention

• The difference between conditioned trust and “ground trust”

• How childhood messages, social media, and external expectations can disconnect you from your inner compass

• How the Enneagram can reveal the protective patterns that silence your inner knowing

• Why your past can become a “curriculum” rather than a collection of regrets

• A practical way to identify the loud, critical “barking dog” in your mind

• How paying attention to bodily sensations can help you hear your quieter inner voice

• The meaning of Dr. LaMotta’s “three faces of God”: beyond us, beside us, and within us

Dr. LaMotta also explains how seemingly wrong turns—including becoming a mathematics major instead of pursuing journalism—ultimately became gifts that prepared her for the work she does today.

Her perspective offers a powerful shift: life is not simply happening to you; it may be happening for you.

If you’ve been living according to someone else’s definition of success, suppressing what you really want, or struggling to distinguish intuition from fear, this episode offers a compassionate place to begin.

Listen to this powerful conversation and discover a practical first step toward reclaiming your inner authority, listening to your inner compass, and building the courage to trust yourself.

Learn more about Dr. Toni LaMotta’s work, free workshops, books, courses, and coaching at Path to Transformation.

Why do we keep repeating patterns we know are not helping us?

Why do some people remain calm under pressure while others react emotionally? Why do we communicate differently, make different decisions, and respond to life in completely different ways?

In this episode of The Becoming Podcast, I sit down with Arky Jones, creator of PersonalityPeek, to explore the powerful connection between personality, self-awareness, emotional control, personal growth, and self-leadership.

Arky believes that understanding yourself is more than simply discovering your personality type. It is about gaining the language and awareness to recognize your strengths, blind spots, emotional patterns, motivations, and the behaviors that shape your everyday life.

We dive into how personality insights and Stoic wisdom can work together to help us move from simply reacting to life to becoming more intentional about how we live.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

• Why understanding yourself is the foundation for leading yourself well
• How hidden personality patterns can influence your decisions and relationships
• Why personality should be used as a tool for growth rather than a box that limits you
• How self-awareness can help you break repetitive and unhealthy patterns
• The connection between personality, emotional control, and personal growth
• How Stoicism can teach us to respond instead of simply react
• How understanding your personality can improve communication and relationships
• Why insight alone isn't enough to create transformation
• Practical ways to become more self-aware in your everyday life
• The first step toward becoming more intentional about who you are becoming

Arky also shares the story behind PersonalityPeek and why he believes that the better you understand yourself, the better you can lead yourself.

This isn't just a conversation about personality tests.

It's a conversation about identity, self-mastery, personal responsibility, and becoming.

Because you cannot intentionally become someone you have never taken the time to understand.

Know yourself. Master yourself. Become intentional about who you are becoming.

What happens when you stop choosing the easy path and decide to become the man you were created to be?

In this episode of The Becoming Podcast, I sit down with Matthew Wingo, Founder and President of Turn Right Ministries, bestselling author, speaker, worship guitarist, and men's 12-step leader, for a powerful conversation about redemption, healing, faith, character, and becoming a man of conviction.

Matthew's journey is a story of discovery and transformation. After leaving corporate America, he began dedicating his life to helping men find healing, freedom, and a renewed sense of purpose. Through his ministry, storytelling, and book Turn Right: The Pursuit of Noble Things, he challenges men to move beyond comfort and convenience and pursue the things that truly matter.

In this conversation, we explore what it means to turn around when you're heading in the wrong direction—and why sometimes the greatest transformation begins with simply making a different choice.

Matthew shares insights on:

• The turning point that can move a person from shame toward sonship
• Why you cannot perform your way into true identity and freedom
• The hidden cost of choosing comfort over character
• How men can begin the journey toward healing and wholeness
• The role of faith in becoming a person of noble character
• Why the easy path isn't always the free path
• How the choices we make today shape the legacy we leave behind
• What it means to live with conviction in a world that often rewards convenience
• How brokenness can become part of your story of redemption
• Practical steps for anyone who wants to pursue a life of greater character and purpose

We also talk about the importance of living for a legacy—not simply living for yourself, but becoming the kind of person whose life leaves something meaningful for the next generation.

Matthew's message is ultimately a reminder that becoming better isn't about pretending you have everything together. It's about having the courage to acknowledge where you are, receive grace, and choose a better direction.

Sometimes, the most important decision you can make is simply this:

Turn right.

Because the road to becoming who you're meant to be begins with the direction you choose today.

What if the book you've written isn't the destination—but the beginning of something much bigger?

In this episode of The Becoming Podcast, I sit down with Kristen White, former television journalist, filmmaker, three-time author, entrepreneur, and founder of Business Beyond Your Book™, to explore what happens when you stop treating your book as the final product and start seeing it as the foundation for something greater.

Kristen has spent more than two decades in media, interviewing thousands of people, building author platforms, developing TEDx-style talks, and helping experts turn their knowledge and experiences into greater visibility, authority, and opportunity.

But this conversation goes beyond books and business.

We talk about reinvention, personal branding, purpose, finding your unique expertise, building influence, and discovering the deeper story behind your experiences.

Kristen shares how the unusual experiences, career changes, interests, struggles, and lessons in our lives can become the raw material for the next chapter of our journey.

We also explore her powerful idea of Fingerprint Expertise—the unique combination of experiences, knowledge, perspective, and lived wisdom that makes your contribution difficult for anyone else to replicate.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why your book may be the beginning rather than the end of your journey
• How to uncover the bigger idea hidden inside your story and expertise
• Why being specific can make you more valuable and memorable
• How to turn expertise into speaking, media, consulting, and other opportunities
• What it really takes to reinvent yourself when you're ready for something new
• How your unusual experiences and career detours can become an advantage
• Why your personal story can be one of your greatest assets
• How to discover what you should become known for
• The connection between purpose, identity, intuition, and the work you build
• Why the things that make you different may actually be the things that make you valuable

Kristen also shares a fascinating perspective on the idea that your soul may already have a business plan—and that the clues to what you're meant to build may have been present throughout your life.

This is a conversation about becoming more intentional about who you are, what you carry, and what you can build from it.

Because sometimes, the next version of your life isn't about becoming someone completely different.

It's about recognizing the value of who you've already become.

Connect with Kristen and access her free resources at:

https://www.BeyondYourBestseller.com

Leadership is often celebrated for the success, influence, and achievement that come with it. But what about the weight that leaders carry when nobody is watching?

In this episode of The Becoming Podcast, I sit down with James E. Miller II, a three-decade CEO, speaker, and #1 bestselling author of The Silent Summit: Leading When You're Alone at the Top.

James takes us behind the scenes of leadership and exposes a reality that many leaders experience but rarely talk about: loneliness.

We explore what happens when everyone looks to you for answers, but you have very few people you can turn to. James shares lessons from his own experiences with leadership, failure, bankruptcy, divorce, and rebuilding, offering an honest perspective on what it means to carry responsibility without losing yourself in the process.

We also unpack his practical 5R Framework—Reflect, Reconnect, Replenish, Reframe, and Rebuild—and how leaders can use it to find their way back to solid ground.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• The hidden loneliness that comes with leadership
• Why everyone wants something from a leader, but few ask what they can do for one
• The warning signs that a successful leader is quietly running on empty
• What failure, bankruptcy, and difficult seasons can teach us about leadership
• Why the descent from the mountain can be more dangerous than the climb
• How to rest in a way that actually restores you
• The role of faith, purpose, and identity in leadership
• How leaders can reconnect with themselves and the people around them
• The 5R Framework for moving from exhaustion back to solid ground
• What to do when you feel like you're carrying everything alone

Whether you're a CEO, pastor, entrepreneur, parent, manager, or simply someone carrying significant responsibility, this conversation will remind you of something important:

You were never meant to climb alone.

Connect with James and learn more about his work and book:

jamesmiller2.com

What does it really mean to build a good life?

We spend so much of our lives chasing success, money, recognition, and the next big achievement—but what if we're winning at the wrong game?

In this episode of The Becoming Podcast, I sit down with Kirana Sidin, Amazon #1 bestselling author of Cheers for a Good Life and a strategic life coach, to explore one of life's most important questions: What does it actually mean to live a good life?

Kirana shares the personal story behind her journey—from being called “jobless” by her youngest child to discovering a deeper sense of purpose through reading, reflection, writing, and intentional living. What started with one quiet hour of reading each morning eventually became hundreds of reflections, a bestselling book, and a framework for helping people live more intentionally.

In this thoughtful conversation, we explore purpose, success, money, relationships, parenting, personal growth, decision-making, and the ordinary choices that quietly shape who we become.

You'll discover:

• What it truly means to build a good life
• Why modern success doesn't always lead to a meaningful life
• How small everyday choices shape who we eventually become
• How to remain intentional in a world designed to distract us
• What ancient wisdom can teach us about modern living
• The relationship between money, purpose, and fulfillment
• How to make better decisions when life feels uncertain
• Why discovering purpose doesn't always require a dramatic life-changing moment

If you've ever wondered whether you're simply going through life or intentionally building one, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Kirana Sidin:
https://cheersforagoodlife.com/

What happens when you’re genuinely good at what you do—but your business still isn’t giving you the results you expected?

In this episode of The Becoming Podcast, I sit down with Paul Pape, a two-time TEDx speaker, creative entrepreneur, author, and founder of Gamify Business, to explore a problem many talented creatives quietly struggle with: being highly skilled at their craft while still struggling to build a profitable and sustainable business.

Paul spent 20 years designing for major entertainment brands including Disney, Universal, Nickelodeon, Nintendo, and Broadway. But his journey taught him that being great at the creative work is only one part of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

We talk about why traditional business advice often fails creative minds, how ADHD and different ways of thinking can affect the way entrepreneurs approach business, and why some businesses can generate impressive revenue while leaving their owners with surprisingly little to show for it.

Paul also shares how he developed Gamify Business, a unique approach that translates intimidating business concepts into something creative entrepreneurs can understand and actually use.

We explore pricing, profitability, mindset, burnout, creative identity, entrepreneurship, and the difference between building a business that looks successful and building one that actually supports the life you want.

Most importantly, this conversation asks a deeper question:

What if becoming better at your craft isn’t enough—and becoming a successful entrepreneur requires you to become someone who understands business differently?

If you’re a creative entrepreneur, solopreneur, neurodivergent founder, or simply someone who knows you’re talented but hasn’t figured out how to turn that talent into sustainable success, this episode is for you.

Connect with Paul:
Take Paul’s free Creative Class Quiz to discover your creative business archetype and gain insight into how your creative brain approaches business.