From dancing in Missy Elliott's groundbreaking music video "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" to becoming assistant choreographer at Radio City Music Hall at just 22, to choreographing 98 Degrees' tours, and now co-creating the Off-Broadway show label•less, Lea Lachey has built a career defined by reinvention and bold creative choices.

In this episode of The Breakthrough Collective, Lea shares how she transitioned from performer to creative visionary, revealing the breakthroughs, challenges, and lessons that shaped her career—and how she's designed a life without limits.

🎧 What You'll Hear:

✨Behind-the-scenes stories from The Rain music video and early career moments

✨How she moved from the stage to the director's chair

✨The inspiration and mission behind label•less

✨Navigating creative challenges and finding your own leadership style

✨Her biggest "aha" moments and advice for creatives stepping into leadership

Whether you're a dancer, creative entrepreneur, or someone chasing your next chapter, this episode will inspire you to break the mold and make your own rules.

Connect with Lea Lachey:

Instagram: @LeaLachey

TikTok: @labellessmusical | @lacheyarts

🌐 www.LacheyArts.com

🌐 www.LabelLessMusical.com

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.

Mari Koda is best known as Jenny Kido from the Step Up films—but her journey runs much deeper.

Born in Japan and orphaned at 11, Mari came to New York at 17 with nothing but a backpack and a dream. What she built is extraordinary: a career as a dancer, actress, and now global educator who's inspiring the next generation across 20+ countries.

Her story is one of resilience, courage, and creativity—a reminder that breakthroughs happen when you refuse to give up, even when the odds are stacked against you.

In this episode of The Breakthrough Collective, Mari opens up about:

✨ How Madonna's "Express Yourself" sparked her love of dance as a child in Japan
✨ Surviving alone and finding family in Tokyo nightclubs at age 12
✨ Moving to NYC without speaking English and navigating a new world solo
✨ Creating the iconic Jenny Kido character and what it meant to represent Asian    performers in the Step Up franchise
✨ Why she now dedicates her life to teaching orphaned and at-risk youth   worldwide
✨ The powerful lesson Jamie Foxx taught her about making people feel seen

Whether you're an artist, dreamer, or someone searching for your next breakthrough, Mari's journey will remind you that your past doesn't define your future—and that you don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to keep moving forward.

Connect & Subscribe

🔗 Connect with Mari Koda:
Instagram & TikTok: @Mari_Koda

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kodance1

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.

From assisting Mia Michaels at 15 to becoming a Tony Award-winning collaborator, Broadway performer, and multi-faceted director—Ioana Alfonso’s journey is a masterclass in embracing what makes you different, staying in service to the work, and building a career that defies boundaries.

In this episode of The Breakthrough Collective, Io opens up about working with legends like Mia Michaels, Denzel Washington, and Jake Gyllenhaal, originating roles in Wicked and 9 to 5, and how she has become more conscious about leading with her Latina roots. From navigating multiple creative roles to creating inclusive performances for underserved communities, Io shares the mindset, resilience, and inner work that fuel her extraordinary career.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• How Mia Michaels taught Ioana to embrace her big hair and unique name
• Why Ioana only recently began leading with her Latina heritage
• The moment she realized she could shape her impact through intentional choices
• What it's like to work on Othello with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal
• How she balances being a dancer, actor, director, and producer simultaneously
• The magic of performing for audiences with sensory needs
• Why slowing down and naming one obstacle can change everything
• The childhood moment by the ocean that still influences her decisions today

✨Connect with Ioana:

Website: https://www.ioanaalfonso.com

Instagram: @IoanaAlfonso 

Attend her AltaVibra event on November 1, 2025: https://bit.ly/AltaVibraio

Engineer: Wolf Taylor

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.

What happens when the world knows your name… and you refuse to be defined by just one thing?

In this episode, I'm joined by Drew Lachey — singer, Broadway performer, and co-founder of Lachey Arts. From topping charts with 98° to raising a family while running a community arts program, Drew shares the mindset shifts, personal lessons, and surprising pivots that shaped his journey.

👉 What You'll Discover:

• How years of creative collaboration shaped his approach to partnership and success

• Why Cincinnati and family remain his foundation and keep him grounded

• The unexpected joy he discovered in elevating others, from building Lachey Arts to empowering DIYers on HGTV

This isn't just a look back at pop stardom — it's a reminder that true breakthrough is about building something meaningful when you step out of the spotlight.

✨Connect with Drew:

Instagram + Facebook: @TheDrewLachey

TikTok: @DrewLachey

www.LacheyArts.com

www.98Degrees.com

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.

Sometimes the most powerful moments happen when you realize you're exactly where you're meant to be.

In Part 2 of this special conversation, I dive deeper with Andrea Fairweather (mobile beauty pioneer & GMA’s go-to makeup artist), Charles Farruggio (interior designer & marathon runner), and Jennifer DeLuca (second-generation Pilates studio owner) into their individual breakthrough moments — the pivotal decisions, unexpected challenges, and those beautiful realizations when they knew they were exactly where they belonged.

✨ From Jennifer building BodyTonic Pilates into a space where everyone belongs…

✈️ To Charles finding design inspiration in travel, culture, and even the airplane aisle…

💄 To Andrea’s surreal Essence 55th anniversary cover moment — and her reminder that consistency and boundaries sustain a career…

…you’ll hear how passion, pivots, and purpose fuel longevity — and why dance is still the thread connecting it all.

🎁 SPECIAL GIVEAWAYS: 

**Giveaway is ONLY on YouTube**

https://youtu.be/Y2ttumZRbXc

⭐ Jennifer DeLuca is giving away one 45-minute virtual Pilates class! Classes happen Tuesdays 8:00AM, Saturdays 11:00AM, and Sundays 10:00AM 

⭐ Andrea Fairweather is giving away one travel mini makeup brush pack (set of 3) with a face chart (helpful for beginners!)

🎁 GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

How to Enter: Leave a comment on YouTube with at least 5 words about what resonates with you from this episode!

Entry Deadline: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 5:59 PM EST

Winner Selection: Andrea and Jennifer will each randomly select one winner from the comments

Announcement: Winners will be announced within 10 days of the deadline

Contact: Winners will be contacted via reply to their comment and asked to provide contact information

Fulfillment: Prizes will be coordinated and shipped within 2 weeks of announcement

Legal: Open to US residents 18+. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. By entering, you agree to these terms.

💙 SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE: 

⭐ Charles Farruggio invites you to support the American Cancer Society through his Charlie's Angels marathon team: https://bit.ly/CharliesAngelDonation

👉 If you missed Part 1, catch up on how dance became their secret superpower before diving into these individual journeys!

⭐ Connect with Andrea:

www.FairweatherFaces.com 

Instagram: FairweatherFacesTBK

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.

What happens when lifelong friends share how the discipline of dance became the foundation for success in both business and life?

In this special two-part episode, I sit down with Charles Farruggio, Andrea Fairweather, and Jennifer DeLuca to explore how structure, creativity, and lessons from our dance days carried into decades of achievement in completely different industries.

From Jennifer's journey as a second-generation Pilates studio owner who built a thriving community space after leaving corporate life, to Charles transforming marathons into art and service while building his interior design career, to Andrea redefining beauty on her own terms as a mobile beauty pioneer and GMA's go-to makeup artist - you'll discover how the discipline we learned in high school dance studios became our secret superpower.

We dive into overcoming obstacles both personal and beyond our control, the marathon mindset that fuels resilience, and how creativity meets discipline in ways that transform not just careers, but entire lives.

This is Part 1 of our reunion special — tune in next week for Part 2, where we dive deeper into each of their remarkable individual breakthrough stories.

⭐ Connect with Andrea

www.FairweatherFaces.com

Instagram: @FairweatherFacesTBK

⭐ Connect with Charles

www.CharlesFarruggio.com

⭐ Connect with Jennifer

www.Body-Tonic.com

Instagram: @BodyTonicPilates

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.

What happens when you're in a recording studio, the clock is ticking, and your carefully planned lyrics just won't fit?

When I stepped into the studio to record The Breakthrough Collective theme song, I thought it would be simple. Instead, I hit a wall — and discovered the same three blocks that stop so many of us from launching our big ideas.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode::  
🌀 How perfection paralysis almost made me quit before I began  
🌫️Why unclear next steps can trick you into stalling out  
🎭 The sneaky voice of silent sabotage — and how to call it out

Discover how to recognize these sneaky roadblocks in your own projects—and push through them before you feel ready. Plus, get actionable strategies to shift from "perfect but unfinished" to "good enough and done." #StartBeforeReady 

Ready to identify YOUR biggest block? Download the free Breakthrough Block Quiz to discover which of the 3 hidden blocks is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan in just 2 minutes:

https://bit.ly/BreakthroughBlockQuiz

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.

Dr. Bilal Polson is an award-winning principal of Northern Parkway Elementary and a champion for educational equity. His path has taken him from the music industry to the classroom, blending creativity, leadership, and cultural awareness in ways that continue to inspire his students and community.

In this episode of The Breakthrough Collective, we explore the defining moments that shaped his leadership — from figuring out his identity in high school, to receiving the NCTE Advancement of POC Leadership Award, to taking his 5th graders to see Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway, where they met a Tony Award–winning classmate from his own high school.

What you’ll hear:
 🎵 How music industry experience shaped his leadership style
 🔑 The career pivot that transformed his identity
 📚 Why cultural equity in schools drives his mission
 ✨ A powerful story bridging music, mentorship, and student success

Whether you’re an educator, creative, or someone redefining your purpose, Dr. Polson’s journey will remind you that transformation is possible — and leadership can come from the most unexpected places.

✅ Connect with Dr. Bilal:
Instagram, X, and LinkedIn: @BilalPolson
School Instagram: @NorthernParkwaySchool

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.

Is it hormones… or just life?

If you’re feeling off and don’t know why, you’re not alone. In this episode of The Breakthrough Collective, Dr. Razia Jayman-Aristide—Chief Medical Officer at NY Health and triple board-certified in internal medicine, obesity medicine, and menopause health—shares what most doctors miss about women’s wellness in your 30s, 40s, and beyond.

We cover the real midlife health conversation: hormones, burnout, weight gain, stress, sex, identity shifts—and why wellness is never one-size-fits-all. Dr. Razia opens up about the mental load women carry, the invisible symptoms too often dismissed, and the breakthroughs that can bring you back into balance.

What you’ll hear:

• The hidden signs your body’s asking for help
• How to know if it’s hormones or lifestyle stress
• Why burnout recovery starts with your biology
• Practical steps to feel more like yourself again

Whether you’re navigating life after burnout, feeling disconnected from your body, or looking for a fresh start in your health journey—this conversation is your permission slip to take charge of your well-being.

#WomensHealth #HormonalHealth #BurnoutRecovery #TheBreakthroughCollective  #BecomeUnstoppable

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.

From choreographing for Saturday Night Live to producing hit TV shows like Lip Sync Battle, Danielle Flora's creative path is anything but traditional.

In this episode of The Breakthrough Collective, host Traci Swain sits down with Danielle to talk about her evolution from self-taught dancer to trusted creative director — and how staying humble, curious, and ego-free helped her rise.

Danielle also opens up about pivoting during the pandemic, launching two bridal businesses, and her days as a member of the pop group She Moves. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating creative careers, reinvention, or building a life from bold choices.

What You'll Discover:
• The lessons behind choreographing for SNL
• How she became a producer on Lip Sync Battle
• Creativity without ego
• Her surprising career pivots (including pop stardom!)
• What it really means to trust the process

Support the show

Ready for Your Breakthrough?

🧭 Take the Free 3 Hidden Blocks Quiz

Discover which hidden block is holding you back and get your personalized breakthrough action plan.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-breakthrough-Quiz

📖 The Story Reset Method Workbook

Rewrite the stories holding you back and design your next chapter.

👉 https://offers.thisistbc.com/the-story-reset-method

💛 Follow Traci & The Breakthrough Collective:

Instagram + TikTok: @Thisis.TBC

Facebook: https://bit.ly/TraciFacebook

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/TraciLinkedIn

🌐 Website: ThisIsTBC.com

📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 6 PM EST

Subscribe & join The Circle—because when we grow together, we #BecomeUnstoppable.