The Moxie Podcast

When Jesse Iwuji has a dream, he already knows it’s guaranteed for the future - he just has to get there. Two-deployment Navy veteran, multiple-business-owner, and rising NASCAR driver, he has so much to share about determination and success. Join me this week to hear his advice and journey.

As impressive as his story is, Jesse is already working toward the next big thing. From reaching the top level of NASCAR racing to joining Hollywood’s elite, he is a man with a plan. Our conversation explores his motivations and unique mindset, giving you a glimpse of the person behind the brand he’s built.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. How his parents used a foundation of personal responsibility to empower their kids to do great things.
2. The secret to building a circle of influence that propels you to the dream you’re pursuing.
3. Why believing that your vision is already accomplished in the future is key to achieving your goals.
4. How to tell when you’ve outgrown your circle of influence and the best ways to move on without destroying relationships.
5. Why staying humble and teachable can lead you to the knowledge and mentors you need to move ahead.
6. What it means to be First, Only Different and how it has affected Jesse’s career.
7. About the ways setbacks prepare you for success and set the stage for amazing comebacks.
8. Why you should always be prepared for the next bout of adversity in your journey.
9. The reasons Jesse doesn’t talk much about his many businesses and what other business owners can learn from it.
10. Why problem solving is your first and only job as a freelancer or entrepreneur.

You may have never heard a kid say they want to be a salesperson when they grow up, but my guest this week is determined to change that. Brandon Fluharty dropped in to share his secrets to becoming a sales guru - and it all starts with becoming a good, grounded person.

Once an aspiring World Cup soccer player, he uses what he learned as an athlete to develop a healthier approach to work and sales. This discussion will transform the way you tackle sales and help you feel better while you do it.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why Brandon is so passionate about sales and changing the negativity that surrounds it.
2. No sales techniques and tactics. It’s about building connections, not a persona.
3. His journey to killing it as a salesperson, even if he still sometimes struggles with imposter syndrome.
4. What he learned from his time as a professional soccer player in Romania and how he applies it to his life now.
5. A sneak peek of Be Focused, Live Great, Brandon and his wife’s upcoming project.
6. How hustle culture caused a personal health crisis in 2011 and how this crisis prompted a critical change in his approach to life.
7. About the importance of resting and conditioning as a professional.
8. The benefits of having “flexipline” in your life and schedule.
9. How following a Plan, Rest, Effort, and Reform structure can empower your best work.
10. Why you should always pay yourself first both financially and with your time.

From the moment Jacqueline Corley’s parents brought home their first computer, she was hooked. Join us this week to hear about her experiences as a woman in tech, tips for finding the vision you were born with, and advice for finding the ways you can stand out in your field.

As a published author, speaker, professor, coder, and podcast host, Jackie has so much to share as my guest this week.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Her journey from a child intrigued by her first computer to a professor who helps others discover the magic of technology.
2. Why it’s important to have more women in coding (it’s probably not what you think).
3. About the power of perspective - and why your impact might be the missing piece to 
4. something great.
5. How to know when you should look inward rather than search for the ideal mentor.
6. Jackie’s attempts to run kicking and screaming from her inner vision.
7. ...and why she never gave up on it.
8. How you can differentiate yourself from other freelancers in your field.
9. Why Jackie considers herself a 4x minority in her work and what that has taught her.
10. Why her husband Travis is her biggest inspiration.
11. Tips for focusing on the value, not cost, of your work.

My guest this week is Tennielle Clark, podcast host, life coach, mom, and gardener extraordinaire. In our raw conversation, she shares how she turned a period of deep tragedy into a starting point for success. And why it was only possible with the help of *gulp* therapy.

Yep, we’re destroying that stigma too.

Join us as we explore the importance of partnering with mental health professionals to move from just surviving to finding happiness in all areas of life. You’ll learn how you can grow and bloom in your space, wherever you want that to be.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. What Tennielle has learned from gardening and connecting with the earth.
2. Why you should learn to stop, breathe, and put everything weighing on your mind onto a shelf for mental clarity and meaningful interactions.
3. Her journey through hardship, loss, and growth, and how it led her to hosting a podcast that creates a safe space for other black women.
4. How being uncomfortable, looking foolish, and sitting in the hard stuff can change your life.
5. About the potential healing and opportunities, you can find through a therapist that just wants to see you thrive.
6. The permission you need to find what you want in life.
7. How The Plant with No Name helped her survive a horrible job experience.
8. Why you should fail and fail hard.
9. The difference between finding support that will hold you back and the yes people that will get you where you want to be.
10. Why Tennielle would shout from pulpits and rooftops to tell you: “Please go to therapy!”

My guest this week is driven by passion - but not in the way you might think. A senior executive and lifestyle influencer, Ryan Swanger uses his personal passions and positivity to bring purpose to everything he does and everyone he works with. Today, you’ll learn how you can do the same.

From learning how to stand out among your competitors to making every minute you work count, you will fill a notebook with the advice Ryan offers in this jam-packed conversation. If you’re ready to better yourself, work, and worldview, you don’t want to miss this.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why you can do your best work and find the right opportunities when you’re leaning into discomfort.
2. How giving into negativity bias limits your potential for leadership, success, and happiness.
3. About bringing your passions into your work to build connections and inspire engagement.
4. Ryan’s SEAL-based leadership approach and how it’s helped shape his career.
5. How you can take the lead in your work, even within client-led projects.
6. What brevity, a personal point of view, Game of Thrones, and MadLibs have to do with refining your professional communication.
7. Why believing in his own limitless potential has driven him to do great things.
8. The difference between hours worked and hard work.
9. Why you should always try to find and fix the no in business.
10. How Ryan’s passion for sneakers ties into it all.

Being a holistic aesthetician and makeup artist that specializes in clean beauty was never my guest’s plan. It wasn’t (and still isn’t) even her passion. But it is the path that built the incredible career and life that Beth Walker loves. Today, you’ll hear how she got here and what she does to keep moving onward and upward.

And did I mention that Beth is Irish? Don’t miss out on this chance to hear her journey and wisdom in the most soothing accent you’ll ever encounter.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. What having a healthy detachment to your work looks like and how it can help.
2. Why Beth’s line of work is a bit of a family business.
3. How she went from anxiety about every next gig to going with the flow with confidence.
4. Why spending money to make money is the best way to attract the clients and jobs that will advance your career.
5. The recent investment that has boosted her work (and how you can get in touch with the small business that helped).
6. How Beth went from handing deposits back to most clients at the start of the pandemic to charging higher rates today.
7. Her love of clean beauty and how she integrates it with health and makeup.
8. The trick to building rapport with clients and collaborators, plus how it can lead to more work.
9. Why clients aren’t the only ones you should be meeting with for a cup of coffee.
10. And what unique hobby Beth hopes to explore more in the future.

My guest today is Nicole Swartz, cryptocurrency guru turned skincare purveyor turned trademark law pro. She uses her personal experience with copyright troubles to help other small businesses guard their brands and avoid similar woes. Join us today to learn how you can protect your own work and business.

Early in her career, Nicole went from having products in the Golden Globes gift bags to receiving a cease and desist letter that stopped her brand in its tracks. Today, she has turned that obstacle into an opportunity to help other creators and entrepreneurs thrive where she initially failed.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. How Nicole went from working as a corporate lawyer to selling homemade skincare products that ended up in the hands of celebrities.
2. Why her incredible success turned into a passion-killing nightmare.
3. The reasons she started Sprout Law, a business that focuses on trademark and copyright law for entrepreneurs just like you.
4. What four things every business owner should consider when starting a brand.
5. Why a statistic about clients who don’t pay blew my mind.
6. Plus the ways you can protect yourself from these bad players.
7. Tips on creating recurring, passive revenue streams.
8. How and why she niched down to primarily focus on women-owned businesses.
9. And how you can sharpen your own audience for greater success.
10. Why you should direct difficult clients to a rude assistant...who doesn’t actually exist.

Go behind the scenes as I check in with founder Geoff Mina for an update on all things Hectic. Everyone loved our last conversation and I’m thrilled to have him on again. Join us to hear more about everything from herding cats (it’s back!) to the exciting platform news you won’t want to miss.

A lot goes into building a company and product, especially when customer involvement is a cornerstone of the process. We had a blast discussing the many things we learned, experienced, and built over the last four months.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. What we have loved about these first few months of working with actual users.
2. Just why operating a start-up has so much in common with herding cats.
3. How giving users ownership of Hectic has made it both a better product and an amazing place to work.
4. The ways I have grown, in confidence and personality, through hosting this podcast.
5. My top tips for running a successful podcast, as learned over the last 14 episodes.
6. Our plans for upcoming guests and episodes, along with a sneak peek at the vision behind the podcast as a whole.
7. Why Hectic will never require an annual subscription and why this is an essential part of the mindset behind the brand.
8. About the “10x value” philosophy and the way, it drives our every action.
9. What exciting new updates are coming soon for Hecticapp.com.
10. Our immense gratitude for you and everyone who has joined us on this wild journey. Thank you!

After losing his father at a young age, Keshawn Liggins committed to building a life that benefits those around him and makes his parents proud. Over the past year, he’s helped athletes of all ages find confidence and achieve epic goals. And he believes that you can do the same.

Though you may find it hard to believe after listening to this week’s episode, Keshawn isn’t a public speaker. His insights and advice come straight from the heart, gifting us with a look into his passions and his own experiences with adversity. No matter your craft, this is one discussion you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. How Keshawn turned COVID shutdowns into an opportunity to realize his childhood dream.
2. Where his passion comes from and why it keeps him up at night.
3. All about his kids and the incredible difference he’s making with Adversity Athletes.
4. The dangers of being patient for the wrong things in your life and career.
5. And why commitment is essential to achieving the right things.
6. His struggles with low self-confidence and how it can lead to a devastating spiral of negativity.
7. About the worst word, he’s ever heard and why he doesn’t like it.
8. Why you should look in the mirror every morning and think, “I look good!”
9. How the illusions of doubt and fear can become self-fulfilling prophecies.
10. The exciting project Keshawn is working on now and what you can look forward to.

When this week’s guest is talking about the projects he’s accomplished, you’ll never hear “I.” Alexander Diner, brand designer and founder of Shapemaker, is a true team player, giving credit to everyone involved in his impressive projects. This humility, plus his dedication to positivity and gratitude, makes every interaction an absolute joy.

We connected this week to talk about life and work, the realities of having bad days and the passion that keeps him going. Alexander’s been a key part of some of my favorite projects and I can’t wait for you to hear why.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear:

1. About Alexander’s personal struggles to bring peace and productivity to his life and work.
2. What he loves about chaotic projects and the challenges they present.
3. His love for passionate collaboration and the thrill of collective work.
4. The reasons you should always be a strong advocate for your ideas, projects, and decisions.
5. Why the discovery process is “Phase Zero,” the most important part of every project.
6. ...and why it’s critical to get your clients on board with extensive research efforts.
7. About “prayerful thought” and why it’s an essential part of Alexander’s daily routine.
8. How gratitude goes hand-in-hand with confidence when a client puts their company in his hands.
9. Ways you can use day-to-day conversations to get clients involved in the work you’re doing for them.
10. Why Alexander really effing loves his job.