THE MAKING OF ME

What if one of the most powerful things you can do to help your child develop stronger language skills is actually to do less?

In this eye-opening episode of The Making of Me Podcast, clinical psychologist and speech-language pathologist Jeaneen Tang reveals her top strategy for encouraging children to communicate — "Play Dumb and Sabotage" — and explains why mindfully under-anticipating your child's needs creates the perfect conditions for language, confidence, and communication to flourish.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• What the "Play Dumb and Sabotage" strategy is — and the surprising science behind why it works
• How doing less for your child can actually accelerate their language development and build confidence
• Why rushing to help before your child has a chance to communicate may be slowing their progress
• Practical, easy-to-use tips for creating natural opportunities for children to speak and gesture
• How this approach works across different settings — for parents, educators, and therapists alike
• The powerful impact these simple mindset shifts can have on early childhood development and communication

Whether you're raising a toddler, working with young learners, or supporting children with speech delays — Jeaneen's game-changing techniques will transform the way you think about helping children find their voice.

🔗 Learn more or connect with Jeaneen Tang: http://www.playdumbandsabotage.com/
🔗 Connect with Jeaneen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeaneen-tang-707a6730/

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#MakingOfMePodcast #JeaneenTang #SpeechTherapy #PlayDumbAndSabotage #Parenting #Podcast #EarlyChildhood #LanguageDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #Inspiration #Mindset #Education #Children #Motivation

What if the most powerful thing you could ever do for another person wasn't grand or complicated — but simply showing up, consistently, over time?

In this deeply moving episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Dennis Quinn shares how one man's decision to get sober became the beginning of a lifetime of mentorship and advocacy — and how his consistent presence in the life of a young person facing serious challenges created a ripple effect that would span generations.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• How a personal decision to get sober opened the door to a lifetime of meaningful mentorship
• Why consistent presence and showing up is more powerful than any advice you could ever give
• The profound impact that simple acts of kindness and support can have on a young person in crisis
• Why mentorship is truly a "gift of presence" — and what that means in practice
• How one committed mentor can change the entire trajectory of a young person's life
• Practical encouragement for anyone considering becoming a mentor and wondering if they have enough to offer

If you've ever wondered whether you have what it takes to make a difference in someone's life — this episode will remind you that you don't need to be perfect. You just need to show up.

🔗 Learn more about Dennis Quinn & his work: https://www.djquinnauthor.com/
🔗 Connect with Dennis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-quinn-978a3347

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#Mentorship #MakingOfMePodcast #DennisQuinn #ShowingUp #Advocacy #Podcast #GiftOfPresence #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #Inspiration #Healing #Mindset #Courage #Community #Motivation

What if every autistic child could experience the joy of dance in a space built specifically for them — by people who truly understand?

In this beautiful and inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Amanda Trisdale and her daughter Leta Rundle share the remarkable story behind Autistic Wings Dance Company — a nonprofit created by and for autistic dancers that is transforming how the dance world sees, includes, and empowers autistic children.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• The powerful story behind how Autistic Wings Dance Company was born out of personal experience and necessity
• How Amanda and Leta overcame bullying and exclusion in traditional dance spaces to build something better
• What makes their approach to dance uniquely effective for autistic students — and why it works
• How personalized classes and dance IEPs are helping autistic children thrive both on and off the dance floor
• Why having autistic leadership at the heart of the organization makes all the difference
• The incredible ways dance is helping autistic kids build confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging

If you believe every child deserves a space where they are celebrated exactly as they are — this episode will move your heart and remind you of what inclusion truly looks like when it's done right.

🔗 Learn more about Leta Tap Styles: https://www.letatapstlyes.com/
🔗 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letatapstyles/
🔗 Learn more about Autistic Wings Dance Company: https://autisticwingsdancecompany.org

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💬 Comment below — What does true inclusion look like to you — and have you ever witnessed it done really well?

#MakingOfMePodcast #AutisticWingsDanceCompany #Autism #Dance #Inclusion #Nonprofit #Podcast #AmandaTrisdale #LetaRundle #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #Inspiration #Community #Courage #Motivation

What if your darkest, most devastating season was actually the very thing being used to build your greatest purpose?

In this profoundly moving episode of The Making of Me Podcast, psychotherapist, bestselling author, and founder of Create for Success Holly Sweat Raper shares how life's most crushing moments — from childhood trauma to losing her husband to cancer — became the stepping stones to a life of deep impact, resilience, and unshakeable hope.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• How Holly navigated childhood trauma and the devastating loss of her husband to cancer — and found purpose on the other side
• Why the mind is the true battlefield — and how winning there changes everything else
• The powerful mindset shifts that helped Holly move from defeat to victory in her darkest seasons
• How to find meaning and purpose in pain — even when the pain feels impossible to bear
• The story behind her bestselling book Living in Victory, Not Defeat and the message she wants every struggling person to hear
• Practical encouragement for anyone currently in their darkest season and wondering if things can ever change

If grief, loss, or trauma has left you feeling defeated and without hope — Holly's story will remind you that pain is never the final chapter, and purpose can rise from even the deepest places of hurt.

🔗 Learn more about Holly, her book & speaking engagements: https://created4success.org/
🔗 Connect with Holly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/created4success/

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#MakingOfMePodcast #HollySweatRaper #Grief #Purpose #Podcast #LivingInVictory #Transformation #Inspiration #Healing #Mindset #Courage #Faith #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #Motivation

What happens when a moment of profound personal tragedy becomes the seed of a lifelong mission to serve others?

In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Lyubim Kogan — Winter Olympian and 9/11 survivor — shares the remarkable journey of how surviving one of the most devastating days in modern history led to the founding of Wings for Heroes — a nonprofit dedicated to supporting combat veterans with life-changing injuries and reminding them that society has not forgotten its promise to them.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• What it was really like to survive 9/11 — and how that experience permanently shifted Lyubim's life direction
• The journey from Winter Olympian to humanitarian leader and what that transition demanded
• How Wings for Heroes was born out of personal tragedy and a deep sense of purpose and obligation
• The life-changing work the nonprofit does for combat veterans with serious injuries
• Powerful lessons on overcoming setbacks, resilience, and finding purpose in the aftermath of trauma
• Why keeping society's promise to its heroes is not just a moral obligation — but a personal mission

If you've ever wondered how to turn your deepest pain into your greatest purpose — Lyubim's story will move you, challenge you, and inspire you to find your own mission in the midst of adversity.

🔗 Learn more & support Wings for Heroes: https://wings4heroes.org/
🔗 Follow Wings for Heroes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wings4heroes

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💬 Comment below — How has a moment of adversity in your life sparked a sense of mission or purpose you never expected?

#MakingOfMePodcast #LyubimKogan #WingsForHeroes #September11 #Veterans #Podcast #Resilience #Purpose #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #Inspiration #Healing #Mindset #Courage #Motivation

What does it take to walk away from your dream job — and build something even better from scratch?

In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Shannon Russell dives deep into her journey of reinventing a career from the ground up — from the fast-paced world of television production to forging a bold new path as a business owner, coach, and team-building innovator.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• How skills built in television production transfer powerfully into entrepreneurship and coaching
• What it really takes to start over — and why the scariest pivots often lead to the most fulfilling chapters
• The mindset shifts required to go from employee to entrepreneur without losing your sense of identity
• How LEGO Serious Play is transforming the way teams collaborate, communicate, and solve problems
• Why hands-on creative methods are becoming essential leadership tools in the digital age
• Practical advice for anyone considering a career pivot or looking to lead teams more effectively

Whether you're dreaming of a career change, navigating a major pivot, or simply looking to lead your team in more innovative ways — Shannon's story will show you that reinvention is not just possible — it's one of the most courageous and rewarding things you'll ever do.

🔗 Connect with Shannon & explore team building resources: https://buildbetterteamsconsulting.com/
🔗 Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcoach/

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💬 Comment below — What's one skill from a previous career or chapter of your life that has unexpectedly served you in a new one?

#MakingOfMePodcast #ShannonRussell #CareerReinvention #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #LEGOSeriousPlay #TeamBuilding #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #Inspiration #Mindset #Courage #CareerPivot #Motivation

What does it take to completely rebuild your life after a doctor tells you your heart is dangerously enlarged — and everything has to change?

In this raw and inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, fitness and mindset coach Hipolito Montero shares his powerful true story of how a terrifying health diagnosis became the wake-up call that forced him to rebuild his life, his mindset, and his body from the ground up — one small daily decision at a time.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• The life-changing moment Hipolito was told his heart was dangerously enlarged — and what he decided to do next
• How he went from eating 10,000 calories a day to making sustainable, life-saving changes
• The first small steps he took toward transformation during lockdown — and why starting small was the key
• How he overcame self-doubt and fear in the gym and kept showing up anyway
• What it felt like to run his first 10K and embrace calisthenics with his daughter at age 50
• Why Hipolito believes that true transformation is always possible — no matter your age, starting point, or past

If you've been waiting for the right moment to take your health seriously — Hipolito's story will remind you that the right moment is always right now.

⏱️ Timestamps:

• 04:39 — Life-changing diagnosis
• 06:18 — First steps toward change during lockdown
• 10:04 — Overcoming self-doubt in the gym
• 13:55 — Achieving new physical feats at age 50

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#MakingOfMePodcast #HipolitoMontero #FitnessTransformation #MindsetCoach #Inspiration #Podcast #HealthScare #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #Resilience #Healing #Mindset #Courage #Fitness #Motivation

What if the secret to navigating life's biggest transitions wasn't about reinventing yourself — but about deeply trusting the person you've always been?

In this grounding and soul-stirring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, shamanic priestess and author Sharon Ann Rose shares powerful wisdom on how surrender, rootedness, and courageous self-trust can become your greatest guides through life's most challenging and uncertain seasons.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why real transformation is not about becoming someone new — but returning to who you've always been
• The true meaning of surrender — and why it's one of the most powerful acts of strength, not weakness
• How to stay rooted and grounded in yourself when life is pulling everything out from under you
• Why discomfort and unknowing are not signs that something is wrong — but fertile ground for growth
• Practical wisdom for navigating major life transitions without losing your center or your sense of self
• How shamanic principles and ancient wisdom can offer modern guidance for everyday transformation

If you're in the middle of a major life change and feeling unmoored, uncertain, or lost — Sharon's wisdom will gently bring you back to the one thing that has always been steady: yourself.

🔗 Connect with Sharon Ann Rose & explore more resources: https://www.sharonannrose.com/
🔗 Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-ann-rose/

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#MakingOfMePodcast #SharonAnnRose #Transformation #PersonalGrowth #Rootedness #LifeTransitions #Podcast #Surrender #Healing #Mindset #Spirituality #Courage #Wellness #Inspiration #Motivation

What if the secret behind Amazon's unstoppable growth wasn't genius alone — but a simple, self-reinforcing cycle that anyone can learn from?

In this fascinating episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Steve Anderson breaks down how Jeff Bezos and his team harnessed the power of the Flywheel — a concept drawn from Jim Collins' Good to Great — and used it to transform a small startup into one of the most dominant business empires the world has ever seen.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• What the Amazon Flywheel is — and why it's one of the most powerful growth strategies ever deployed
• How adding more products, attracting more customers, and leveraging better pricing created a self-sustaining cycle of momentum
• The key insights Steve uncovered from studying Jeff Bezos's shareholder letters over decades
• Why the Flywheel concept from Jim Collins' Good to Great was so perfectly suited to Amazon's vision
• How any business owner can apply flywheel thinking to create their own compounding growth cycle
• What Amazon's story teaches us about long-term thinking, bold bets, and building for momentum

Whether you're a business owner, an entrepreneur, or simply someone who loves innovation and bold thinking — this episode will change the way you think about growth, strategy, and what it takes to build something that lasts.

🔗 Learn more about Steve Anderson & The Bezos Letters: http://www.thebezosletters.com/
🔗 Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevetn/

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#MakingOfMePodcast #SteveAnderson #Amazon #Flywheel #BusinessGrowth #Podcast #JeffBezos #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #Inspiration #Mindset #Leadership #Motivation

What if the anxiety that once kept you from getting out of bed could become the very thing that makes you an extraordinary leader?

In this deeply inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Morgan DeNicola shares her remarkable journey from struggling with depression and anxiety to leading global humanitarian efforts — and how reframing her mental health struggles as superpowers transformed not just her life, but the lives of people around the world.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• What living with anxiety and depression really looks like day to day — and why Morgan chose to stop hiding it
• The powerful turning point that sparked her path into philanthropy and diplomacy
• How empathy born from personal struggle became her greatest leadership tool on a global stage
• Why reframing fear as excitement completely changed her approach to high-stakes leadership
• How Morgan learned to see her mental health challenges as superpowers — not liabilities
• Personal advice for anyone searching for meaning and purpose beyond their mental health struggles

If you've ever felt held back by anxiety, depression, or self-doubt — Morgan's story will show you that your deepest struggles may be quietly preparing you for your greatest impact.

⏱️ Timestamps:

• 01:00 — What anxiety really feels like day to day
• 06:08 — The turning point that sparked her path in philanthropy and diplomacy
• 13:14 — How reframing fear as excitement changed her approach to global leadership

🔗 Learn more about Morgan DeNicola: https://www.morgandenicola.com/
🔗 Learn more about the DeNicola Family Foundation: https://thedenicolafamilyfoundation.org
🔗 Connect with Morgan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-denicola-1a416696

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💬 Comment below — How have you turned a personal struggle into an unexpected strength or superpower?

#MakingOfMePodcast #MorganDeNicola #Resilience #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Podcast #Leadership #Philanthropy #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #Inspiration #Healing #Mindset #Courage #Motivation