The Journey Told

Peter Meyer is the writer and director of The Boy From The Wild. The Boy from the Wild is a documentary and novel that tells the story of my unconventional upbringing in a hidden wilderness gem situated in the hilly countryside of Kwa-Zulu Natal: The Karkloof Valley Nature Reserve.

The documentary focuses on conservation, family, the relationship between animals & humans and tells the story of Peter who grew up in this fun/unconventional environment. Part wilderness program, part family drama, this film seeks to answer the unknown for many.

The documentary is based on a book written by Peter Meyer himself and International Bestselling Author of The Elephant Whisperer, Graham Spence, and was written from the encouragement of award-winning actor Liam Neeson. Later the head of Disney and National Geographic for India and the Far East suggested that the book would be a huge success as a documentary and now comes the release.

Peter joins the podcast from across the world as he dives into a tribute to his father, the lessons he was able to learn from his mentorship and leadership, his life in the wild on a safari, and his upbringing of love between a marriage of animals and humans. Peter dives into the battles of grief, the roller coaster of life, and the power of filmmaking. Come on this wild ride of the life journey in the words of Peter Meyer. Stay Tuned!

Show Highlights:

• (1:35) How you learned how to move on through the grief
• (5:35) Time Becomes Incredibly Precious
• (5:55) Time is Unknown That Clock Can Stop Tomorrow
• (6:24) Head of Disney Suggested You Will Become A Huge Success to Make In a Documentary
• (12:02) Don't Be Afraid To Make Some Mistakes Along The Way
• (16:08) I Have Always Had The Big Goals
• (20:08) My Dad Died In My Arms
• (22:49) Time Makes You Stronger To Handle People and Put Your Game Face On
• (27:56) I Have Done The Groundwork on The Book and The Documentary

Connect with Peter Meyer on Social Media: 

Instagram - @petermeyeractor

Website - www.petermeyer.com

Follow Shawn at http://www.thejourneytold.com 

Connect with Shawn on Social Media: Instagram - @publicistshawn 

Facebook - @shawnzanotti 

Podcast Instagram - @thejourneytoldshow 

Facebook - @thejourneytold 

Twitter - @thejourneytold

In this episode, Shaun tackles the mental strain which comes after leaving the NFL, dives into life now as a real estate investor, entrepreneur wins and losses, and his relationship as his wife tells how they soared together during the Covid lockdown. 

Shaun Draughn is a retired NFL running back. He played college football at the University of North Carolina. He signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2011. In his seven-year career, Shaun Draughn played for seven different teams and spent a preseason with two others, which is a total of nine teams.

Outside of his football career, he is a loving and dedicated husband, father of two amazing children, and Founder of a nonprofit, Draughn Family Foundation. After retirement, his journey transitioned to a Real Estate Investor/Developer and partnering with his wife with not only Real Estate deals together but also in the carpool line transporting his kids to various team sports and school activities. He loves being Dad and Hubby more than anything. He recently has started a food & cook-off challenge with his NFL friends where they compete with cooking various recipes and is hoping to get a cooking show soon.

Show Highlights: 

(2:36 - 3:47) It's tough mentally shifting from NFL 

(3:39 - 4:10) Bumpy road transitioning from NFL to life ahead 

(5:28 - 6:29) I dream at night of football 

(8:10 - 9:17) Is it meaning behind dreams 

(11:44 - 12:09) It's about preparation for the next 

(14:54 - 16:02) Real estate is the key to wealth 

(16:11 - 17:15) It's sellers and investors time in real estate 

(24:59 - 25:12) How to bounce back from bad business experiences

(36:58 - 37:59) The summer NFL player cookoff challenge  

(40:45 - 41:53) My drive is my wife 

(47:00 - 48:27) How I knew she was the one 

(49:52 - 50:16) Compromising to make it work 

Tell and Tell Secrets: 

Make time for devotion in the morning

Having a 20-day challenge for a healthy lifestyle  

Connect with Shaun Draughn on Social Media:

Instagram - @shaun_draughn

Twitter - @2ShaunDraughn0

Follow Shawn at www.thejourneytold.com or www.exactpublicity.com

Connect with Shawn on Social Media:

Instagram - @publicistshawn

Facebook - @shawnzanotti

Podcast Instagram - @thejourneytoldshow

Facebook - @thejourneytold

Twitter - @thejourneytold

Jarvis Rivers, who is better known by his stage name as Mr. Organik is a rapper, basketball player, YouTuber, author, and Entrepreneur. He is best known for his social media content which features his lavish lifestyle and auto vlogs. He has his own merchandise brand.

In this episode, Organik shares how he manifests millions gives tools to trend on YouTube dives into the power of social media, and shares how he soared from a career-ending basketball injury to a shift to YouTubing. From showcasing his lavish cars to homes to clothing ...is it more to the YouTube success game? Watch to find out!!

Show Highlights:

• (00:59) How did the name Mr. Organic Come about 

• (02:33) How the flow comes naturally

• (03:00) How basketball life saved a life

• (10:15) How to manifest a million 

• (13:17) The YouTube Grind

• (14:38) Cars, Homes, and the Lavish Lifestyle

• (16:12) Taking a leap of faith will change your life

• (17:35) Accepting fear

• (18:46) Taking care of your circle is important 

• (21:31) Acting like yourself will set you up for success 

• (22:30) Holding grudges will do nothing for you in life

• (24:28) Day to day life as an entrepreneur 

• (26:00) The transition from athlete to YouTuber

• (29:18) The key to trending on social media

• (30:03) 3 tips for success 

Tell and Tell Secrets: 

Don’t dwell on things. 

The impact of not having a parent around. 

Be yourself and everything else will follow 

Connect with Mr. Organik on Social Media:

Instagram - @mrorganik

YouTube - Mr_Organik 

Facebook - biggbone3

Website -

https://organiklyfestyle.com/

Follow Shawn at www.thejourneytold.com

Connect with Shawn on Social Media:

Instagram - @publicistshawn

Facebook - @shawnzanotti

Podcast Instagram - @thejourneytoldshow

Facebook - @thejourneytold

Twitter - @thejourneytold

Bobby Huntley is a director, producer, writer, and editor who began his journey as a filmmaker at the age of ten years old. Upon seeing his knack for storytelling, his teachers began to encourage him to submit short films and mini-docs instead of written assignments. Since completing film school, Bobby has continued to study his craft and hone his voice as a filmmaker. His intense passion for the arts and creativity has captured viewers with each new film. He specializes in striking visuals, provocative characters, effective music placement, and period pieces done within a wide range of budgets and resources. His previous background as a professional editor allows him to know exactly what’s needed to effectively save time and resources.

He continues to build his brand and growing numbers of supporters by independently touring the country with his award-winning projects. Throughout his travels, he makes a point to speak at high schools and universities to give students a real in-depth look at indie filmmaking. He strongly stresses the importance of community and collaboration to effectively get stories told. Bobby strives to create compelling stories and classic films for years and generations to come. His goal is to continue to inspire all creatives to go after their dreams and complete their projects without fear and lack of resources.

Show Highlights:

● (01:37) Growing up as the oddball in the family

● (04:00) Starting all over again after graduating

● (05:30) Support comes from the people you would never see it coming from

● (07:00) How to show you can do, how you do, and how many times you can do it

● (09:14) Praise from the outside world helps you succeed

● (10:38) Being honest with what you are growing through will help you grow

● (18:37) How to keep yourself motivated and moving forward

● (27:30) Your tribe is important

Tell and Tell Secrets:

Follow with the greats to become greater. 

Pay attention to everything in your craft. 

If you don’t have your people you’re not doing it right. 

You have to protect your house, your craft, and yourself. 

Connect with Bobby Huntley on Social Media:

Instagram - @bhuntleyfilms

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhHC_bULX8f3N8VT2_YhjA

Facebook - Bobbyhuntleyfilms

Twitter - @bhuntleyfilms

Website -

https://www.bobbyhuntleyfilms.com/

Follow Shawn at www.thejourneytold.com

Connect with Shawn on Social Media:

Instagram - @publicistshawn

Facebook - @shawnzanotti

Podcast Instagram - @thejourneytoldshow

Facebook - @thejourneytold

Twitter - @thejourneytold

With the global pandemic affecting the normalcy of things and major sporting activities across the board, there’s this Olympic gold medalist who’s remained resilient through all this Covid life. She has adapted to the new way of doing things and wholly embraced the internet. Things got busy for her and her Motivational speaking has picked up tremendously, She’s using her social media as a way to make her impact and be an inspiration to many others.

Meet Michelle Denee Carter, an American shot putter, and the current Olympic women's champion. She holds the American record in the event, a record that she set at the 2016 Rio Olympic games when she won gold and in the process, she became the first American to do so. Michelle followed in her father’s footsteps (Michael Carter) who is also a former Olympian and shot putter having won a silver medal for Team USA at Los Angeles 1984. She has participated in 3 consecutive Olympics since Beijing 2008. Michelle Carter is a graduate of Red Oak High school where she was a four-time state champion in the shot put. In college, she was a seven-time All-American, and also won the Big 12 conference title five times. In 2018 Michelle was inducted into the Texas Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Michelle is a passionate advocate for body positivity and empowerment, she has spearheaded campaigns such as the ‘You Throw Girl Sports Confidence Camp’ that is aimed at encouraging young girls to love their bodies no matter the size. Aside from that her love for beauty and fashion has led her to become a certified professional make-up artist and has even set up her own line of makeup, Shot Diva. Michelle is focused on building a business brand that encourages others to be their best. Michelle’s Olympic journey is far from done as she aims to add another gold medal to her collection at the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics. There is so much more to come from the founder of You Throw Girl. Stay Tuned.

Show Highlights:

● (01:43) Adapting to the changes that came about with the Covid 19 pandemic and finding new and creative ways to invest time in.

● (03:04) Finding different ways of staying strong during these difficult times.

● (04:54) Adopting a new workout and training strategy to cope with the current conditions and stay mentally aligned while maintaining rhythm.

● (06:37) Giving yourself grace and providing it to others no matter the challenges you’re going through.

● (08:56) How to handle pressure and not succumb to it.

● (11:46) Making a positive impact on the world and leaving a legacy as a dynamic dad-daughter duo.

● (13:08) The importance of creating an all-round empowerment program for young girls and young athletes

● (14:32) How to keep yourself motivated and moving forward.

● (15:28) How the name Shot Diva came about.

● (16:48) The media coverage made Michelle realize how successful she had become as an athlete.

● (19:10) Being an inspiration to people who don’t have what's considered the typical body of an athlete.

● (23:40) Speaking God’s word and positivity into yourself.

Tell and Tell Secrets:

To keep a strong mindset, prove the naysayers wrong, and excel beyond means, Michelle shares how her faith, learning, and trusting in God’s word have kept her going through difficult moments.

She believes that we are all beautifully and fearfully made with God bestowing each one of us with special gifts and we should all do the most to ensure that we utilize these gifts to the best of our abilities. No one should shake your identity and the standards you live by.

Words of advice:

● Life is about the journey, not the destination.

● I will extend the same grace that I want someone to extend to me.

● It doesn’t matter what size you are, what color you are, or where you’re from, and what you look like as long as you believe in yourself and you’re willing to put the work in.

● If I feel like I can do better then I'm going to do better

● I hope people realize that fathers have an impact on their daughter's lives, not just the father-son, there is a father-daughter thing that goes on out there.

Connect with Michelle Carter on Social Media:

Instagram - @shotdiva

Twitter - @ShotDiva

Facebook - ShotPutDiva

Website -

https://www.shotdiva.com/you-throw-girl/

Follow Shawn at www.thejourneytold.com

Connect with Shawn on Social Media:

Instagram - @publicistshawn

Facebook - @shawnzanotti

Podcast Instagram - @thejourneytoldshow

Facebook - @thejourneytold

Twitter - @thejourneytold

When you think about all of the big problems that some of the countries’ biggest cities have to solve, you probably think they would turn to corporations and government agencies for solutions. It would probably shock you to learn that fixing these big problems is at the center of everything that today’s guest is working for.

Garry Gilliam didn’t have the easiest start in life. At a young age, he was sent to a very strict boarding school, which had a focus on academic excellence. Garry ended up turning to athletics to escape and it paid off for him.

Although the path wasn’t always easy, Garry eventually found himself drafted into the NFL. His time spent in the NFL was cut short due to injuries. Garry had bigger plans after football than just traveling around putting on football camps.

He’s a big thinker and not afraid to tackle the biggest problems America’s cities are facing. Affordable housing, infrastructure, food deserts, and more are on his radar! He’s the Founder of The Bridge Eco Village, a for-purpose property development company.

Show Highlights:

5:04 - Garry shares how his preparation for being an athlete and an entrepreneur were the same.

11:16 - The Bridge is a for purpose property development company located in Harrisburg, PA. Their focus is on sustainable living in the inner city.

15:30 - The Master planning stages for The Bridge locations rolling out all across the country. 

22:00 - Garry shares his personal development habits for becoming the best he can be and influencing others along with him.

Tell and Tell:

Garry is a muscled 300-pound vegan! As a young man he had chronically high cholesterol and a girlfriend that was vegan, so he changed his diet. The result was less inflammation, better focus, and healing of old injuries.

Resources:

The Bridge - https://thebridge.com

Instagram - - https://instagram.com/thebridge_ecovillage

Connect with Shawn on Social Media:

Instagram @publicistshawn

Facebook @shawnzanotti

Podcast Instagram @thejourneytoldshow

Facebook @thejourneytold

Twitter @thejourneytold

Like the rest of the world during Covid, sports has had its own lessons to learn from the global pandemic. No one knows the sports world better than today’s guests.

Brandon Steiner is a world-renowned sports marketer. He’s an author, an entrepreneur, and an incredible motivator. The best news is that even though sports have had some setbacks due to Covid, Brandon is still as optimistic as ever about the possibilities that exist for entrepreneurs, athletes, and fans. Brandon is also one of the most prolific collectors of sports memorabilia! 

Join Shawn Zanotti for this inspiring interview - you will get more life lessons out of the next 30 minutes than you ever thought you could pack into an interview! Brandon is generous in sharing the lessons learned in life and business over the decades, and he’s not done yet!

Show Highlights:

 5:04 - A quick summary of the books Brandon has written

14:00 - Entrepreneurship is one of the greatest gifts because you can impact the world and change lives.

22:24 - Brandon shares his concerns about the Olympics in light of where the rest of the world is with Covid.

24:00 - Brandon has a special talent for picking talent and he points out his secret sauce that has actually become a lost art.

Tell and Tell:

Brandon loves Oprah Winfrey. He says he should be put in jail for everything he has stolen from her. He loves the 

Brandon is a huge fan of Imagine Dragons! 

Family is the most important to Brandon - especially his wife!

Motivation:

Take action over anxiety! Start off with the small stuff. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they did work on it every day!

Execution eats strategy for breakfast. Brandon gives the same advice his Mother gave him. Don’t go and start a business on your own until you have worked for a world-class company and learned everything you can about business on someone else’s dime!

Resources:

The Collectible Exchange - https://collectiblexchange.com

Athlete Direct - https://www.athletedirect.com

Brandon Steiner’s Website - https://brandonsteiner.com

Follow Shawn at www.thejourneytold.com 

Connect with Shawn on Social Media:

Instagram @publicistshawn

Facebook @shawnzanotti

Podcast Instagram @thejourneytoldshow

Facebook @thejourneytold

Twitter @thejourneytold

Not motivated at all since the COVID-19 pandemic started? You’re not alone! Most of us are having trouble staying motivated and many of us have been facing additional stress and anxiety due to social isolation, financial worries, or family/personal health concerns. The pandemic has forced everyone to make changes, like it or not. And no one knows this better than our guest today, Sheléa Frazier. Sheléa is a singer, songwriter, and pianist who has been mentored by Stevie Wonder and is a protégée of Quincy Jones. She has garnered co-signs from the likes of Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot, David Foster, Queen Latifah, Jamie Fox, and Jennifer Hudson. Many compare her voice to the legendary Whitney Houston and her piano talent to that of Alicia Keys.

Sheléa comes on to talk about her successful career, how the pandemic affected her, and the valuable lessons she has learned and used to implement positive changes in both her personal and professional life. The tips she shares are not rocket science, but they serve as a great reminder of how to cope and thrive during challenging times. You can definitely make it easier for yourself to stay motivated at all times by having the same mindset as Sheléa. Though this pandemic feels endless, it will eventually come to an end, and if you adopt the motivation tips you get from this episode now, they will lead to positive change for the rest of your life! Tune in to the episode for more!

Show Highlights:

(02:16) Covid Love Story: Getting married to the love of her life on New Year’s eve.

(07:49) How she sailed through the effects Covid had on her professional career.

(10:16) Being more appreciative of the different roles played by other people in their industry.

(11:10) Staying focused and positive even in difficult times.

(18:28) Pivoting into Gospel and what it was like playing the role of Dorinda Clark-Cole in The Clark Sisters.

(23:37) Learning to maintain motivation while doing more with less

Tell and Tell Secrets:

Sheléa highlights the fact that, if anything, the Covid-19 pandemic has taught her that she can do more with less and still be impactful. While it may be quite true that you lack certain resources that could accelerate your success, you have the power to choose your thoughts, swapping out negative, “victim-like” ones that don’t serve a great purpose for positive, helpful ones that do. So if you’re thinking or speaking some version of “I can’t do it because…”, note it, but then ask: “What can I do to control my situation?” That has served Sheléa well and it’s something that she’s carrying with her into the future. Will you?

Words of advice:

You either have to evolve, adapt, or die.

You need grace for when you don’t always hit the mark.

Hold on and stay strong.

Connect with Sheléa Frazier:

Instagram @sheleamusic

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sheleamusic?_rdc=1&_rdr

Web https://sheleamusic.com/

Follow Shawn at www.thejourneytold.com

Connect with Shawn on Social Media:

Instagram @publicistshawn

Facebook @shawnzanotti

Podcast Instagram @thejourneytoldshow

Facebook @thejourneytold

Twitter @thejourneytold

Why do so many people seem to love to tear down celebrities on social media and delight in their failures? No matter how much good celebrities do and how much they accomplish career-wise, these facts do not usually show up on social media. Instead, some people will speculate that singers are lip-synching, entering rehab, or speak ill of the so-called monstrosities celebrities are wearing.

Our guest today, Krystina Arielle, has had her fair share of social media bashing. And despite having to face great challenges especially during the Covid-19 pandemic (Like losing her dad to Covid), she still had to deal with the threats and insults she has been getting from a section of social media users for tweets that she shared from a point of passion about fighting racism. Krystina is an accomplished actress, currently the host of Star Wars: The High Republic Show which was her first big gig working with Lucasfilm. She previously worked with another major franchise: Dungeons and Dragons and appeared as herself in Dungeons & Dragons Live 2019: The Descent and also as Haven Aireel Gudtyme in Fungeons and Flagons.

She’s known for her vibrant characters on the popular series Critical Role, Sirens of the Realm, Six in One, Denver By Night, Ex RoomMate, among others. Her backstory, insights on criticism on social media, and the wisdom and strength she has gained over the years will make a very inspirational hour or so for you to enjoy and learn from. See you on the inside!

Show Highlights:

(01:19) Fandom Glory: From just a Star Wars fan to the host of a major Star Wars show.

(05:00) Diving into the world of cosplay, her first time on a green screen stage, and the impact Nichelle Nichols had on her career.

(09:07) How she used to skip class with a friend to watch Star Wars.

(13:16) Dealing with being trolled for her resurfaced tweets about the role that white people play in upholding racism.

(19:30) Using her platform to fight for what is right in society especially for minorities and the challenges she has endured over it.

(29:03) Holding a different view of being critical of others without being hurtful or malicious.

(33:42) The value of the immense support she got from the entertainment industry.

(37:26) Fighting not to completely internalize and believe the hateful things that she receives online.

(43:13) Helping other people cope with being bashed online.

(48:16) What it’s been like to get immense support through #iStandWithKrystina.

(50:11) Requesting big corporations to offer more support and protection to the minorities who work for them.

(54:10) The Wall of Representation, what her vision board looks like and her vision board creation process.

Tell and Tell Secrets:

Krystina shares that one of her biggest secretive desires has been to make her sister proud. She highlights the fact that when her sister acknowledged what she does for a living made her want to keep doing it.

Words of advice:

Know that you have to be very mindful of how you categorize because it can be extremely hurtful to people and it can be misconstrued in a way that your entire point is lost because people aren't paying attention after that first sentence.

Constructive criticism is great but you can criticize without threatening, being hurtful or malicious.

Know who you are and think about how you can be better.

Find your peace and protect your peace.

No matter how public your job is, you do not owe yourself to everyone.

Connect with Krystina Arielle:

Instagram @krystinaarielle

Twitter - @KrystinaArielle

Star Wars: The High Republic Show On YouTube

Web

Follow Shawn at www.thejourneytold.com

Connect with Shawn on Social Media:

Instagram @publicistshawn

Facebook @shawnzanotti

Podcast Instagram @thejourneytoldshow

Facebook @thejourneytold

Twitter @thejourneytold

Is there a woman in your community who has overcome great challenges in their professional and personal lives during the pandemic? During these uncertain and difficult times, we turn to such women for inspiration. They have found light in their darkest hour, driven innovation despite all odds, persisted in the face of challenges, and insisted on building a better future.

One such woman, Samantha Gibson, will be joining us on the show today. Samantha is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a minor in Women’s Studies, and a Masters in Clinical Social Work. She has worked in her community on different projects including mentorship and projects related to sex trafficking and domestic violence. Samantha gained public recognition for marrying actor/singer Tyrese Gibson. She’s a mother, a fitness influencer, and a Christian who hosts a popular weekly bible study.

Samantha will be gracious enough to share her experiences all through the Covid-19 pandemic, how it has changed her life and how she has managed to adapt for the better. She will also talk about her recent divorce from Tyrese and how she’s been pushing through it to build herself up as a mother and as a woman. If you’re looking for real inspiration, this is one episode you won’t wanna miss.

Show Highlights:

(01:25) Getting used to the changes that came with the Covid-19 pandemic and how it prompted her to understand her spirituality and faith more.

(03:00) Instagram Bible Study: How she started Miracle Monday to inspire people

(04:52) Dealing with her very public divorce from Tyrese.

(07:46) How we get caught up on how we expect things to be instead of trusting God.

(09:02) Why therapy is important for helping people pull through different challenges in life.

(11:10) Samantha’s secret to staying lifted and positive.

(15:10) Empowering women by being purely honest about different areas of life.

Tell and Tell Secrets:

She buys into the law of attraction, speaking things into existence, and coaching herself through things. She always focuses on visualizing her desired outcomes even when she’s in situations that are the opposite of what she desires. She directs all her energy towards things that she can control like making sure she eats right, works out, and is always present as a parent.

Samantha’s Morning Routine

Starts the day by meditating and then does priming.

Prays for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Does her devotional.

Words of advice:

You really have to lean on God, your family, and friends so you can get poured into

It’s okay to be weak. It's okay to be sad. It’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to try to figure things out. We don’t always have to have it together

We put so much pressure on ourselves to make the right decision. You just gotta make a decision.

Connect with Samantha:

Instagram @lovesamanthalee

YouTube - Samantha Lee Gibson

Follow Shawn at www.thejourneytold.com

Connect with Shawn on Social Media:

Instagram @publicistshawn

Facebook @shawnzanotti

Podcast Instagram @thejourneytoldshow

Facebook @thejourneytold

Twitter @thejourneytold