Michaella Gallina grew up in a rural town of 4,000 where hard work and grit were ingrained early, riding horses to track practice and dreaming of something more. Determined to create her own path, she earned a full scholarship to the University of Denver, studied finance, and broke into Wall Street, eventually managing multi-billion dollar portfolios, meeting CEOs like Zuckerberg and Cook, and becoming CFO of a $100 million fintech company. After years of relentless pressure, she reached a breaking point, streaming tears on a flight to Toronto, and realized it was time to reclaim her life. Walking away from the corporate world became the most empowering decision she ever made, and it sparked a new mission: helping women master their finances, unlock freedom, and boldly design their second act with purpose and possibility.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠⁠⁠)

Guest:

Michaella Gallina

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellag/

https://www.michaellagallina.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠⁠) (⁠⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠⁠

Socials:

Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠secondactmovement.com

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Collin Strachan began life battling severe autoimmune disorders that nearly left him blind and bedridden, but through resilience, fitness, and mindset, he overcame his health challenges and reclaimed his future. After working in corporate marketing in Dallas, he walked away from the comfort of a steady paycheck in 2017 to pursue a deeper calling for creativity and adventure. With his wife Kendall, he launched Every Mile Creative, a bold move into off-grid living, full-time Airstream travel, and capturing wild, remote landscapes through cinematic storytelling. A few courageous decisions later, including an uncertain drive to Alaska during the pandemic, their niche production company now serves top brands with unforgettable campaigns. Fueled by grit, purpose, and a refusal to settle, Collin’s journey is a testament to betting on yourself, embracing discomfort, and building a life worth remembering.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠⁠@michaelnewborn⁠⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠⁠@john-ballenger53⁠⁠)

Guest:

Collin Strachan

Join Collin's ⁠Become Unforgettable⁠ community!

Find Collin @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/collinstrachan/

Find Collin's company @ https://www.alaskaproductioncompany.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠⁠@seltzerkings⁠⁠) (⁠⁠seltzerkings.com⁠⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠⁠Saint Josh⁠⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠⁠

Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠⁠

Amazon: ⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠⁠

iHeart: ⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠⁠

Socials:

Linktree: ⁠⁠linktr.ee/secondactmovement⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@secondactmovement⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠secondactmovement.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ali Schroer, MSW, LCSW, C-PD grew up in California and Indiana, where early experiences navigating change and hardship sparked her passion for supporting others. Inspired by a deep love for children and a family legacy in mental health, she pursued a career in elementary education, only to realize that her true calling was in helping people with their emotional wellbeing. After witnessing firsthand the profound impact of stress on students and families, she transitioned into clinical social work, earning her master’s degree from the University of Denver and training at top institutions like Children’s Hospital Colorado. Combining over a decade of private practice experience with a bold vision to drive greater change, Ali pivoted once more into corporate mental health. She founded Mental Scope Consulting to bring evidence-based resilience and performance strategies to organizations and leaders. Today, she helps individuals and businesses navigate stress, burnout, and personal growth with a unique blend of compassion, practical tools, and a belief that struggling well is the key to thriving in work and life.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (⁠@michaelnewborn⁠)

John Ballenger (⁠@john-ballenger53⁠)

Guest:

Ali Schroer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-schroer/

http://www.mentalscopeconsulting.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (⁠@seltzerkings⁠) (⁠seltzerkings.com⁠)

Theme Music by ⁠Saint Josh⁠

Listen Here:

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a⁠

Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739⁠

Amazon: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john⁠

iHeart: ⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/⁠

Socials:

Linktree: ⁠linktr.ee/secondactmovement⁠

Instagram: ⁠@secondactmovement⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠@secondactmovement⁠

Facebook: ⁠@secondactmovement⁠

YouTube: ⁠@secondactmovement⁠

Website: ⁠secondactmovement.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a high-powered Wall Street career and a life defined by achievement, Paul Kent’s world was upended by a rare genetic condition that triggered a decade-long health crisis that nearly took his life. Facing relentless infections, 21 surgeries, and the gradual erosion of his wealth and identity, Paul made a radical decision in 2020: to undergo an experimental double amputation that ultimately saved him. Emerging from surgery not with loss, but with clarity and freedom, Paul stepped into a second act defined by purpose. As founder of the disAbled Life Alliance, he now champions accessibility, reframes disability, and inspires others to find meaning and power in life’s most unexpected turns.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (@michaelnewborn)

John Ballenger (@john-ballenger53)

Guest:

Paul Kent

https://disabledlifealliance.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pkpaulkent/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (@seltzerkings) (seltzerkings.com)

Theme Music by Saint Josh

Listen Here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/

Socials:

Linktree: linktr.ee/secondactmovement

Instagram: @secondactmovement

LinkedIn: @secondactmovement

Facebook: @secondactmovement

YouTube: @secondactmovement

Website: secondactmovement.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett Murphy grew up in Colorado, inspired by his grandfather’s small-town five and dime store and his father’s relentless work ethic in real estate. Watching his father pivot from a struggling teacher to a top producing real estate investor instilled in Brett a deep understanding of grit and opportunity. After earning his real estate license in college, he thrived in a booming market, but years of relentless hustle left him burnt out and unfulfilled. A breaking point led him to step back and re-evaluate, ultimately rediscovering his passion for revitalizing spaces. A chance drive through Littleton introduced him to a boarded up 115 year old building, and he saw beyond its worn exterior to a new vision: Murphy’s Variety, a space designed to uplift small businesses and foster community. Through patience, persistence, and embracing the unknown, Brett transformed his own second act while creating opportunities for others to do the same.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (@michaelnewborn)

John Ballenger (@john-ballenger53)

Guest:

Brett Murphy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-murphy-40035068/

https://www.jamespatrickgwv.com/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (@seltzerkings) (seltzerkings.com)

Theme Music by Saint Josh

Listen Here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/

Socials:

Linktree: linktr.ee/secondactmovement

Instagram: @secondactmovement

LinkedIn: @secondactmovement

Facebook: @secondactmovement

YouTube: @secondactmovement

Website: secondactmovement.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jasmine Motupalli's journey is a testament to courage, adaptability, and purpose-driven leadership. Growing up in a supportive, education-focused household, she excelled in academics and athletics before attending West Point as part of the first class to enter after 9/11. Commissioned as a military intelligence officer, she deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, where she led with innovation, turning challenges into strengths despite being the only female commander in her brigade. After suffering a combat injury, she transitioned to teaching at West Point, earned a master’s degree from Georgia Tech, and later worked at Gusto, where she built a groundbreaking customer intelligence team with multiple patents pending. In her latest chapter, Jasmine founded The Data Love Company, leveraging data for social impact, particularly in food security, while pursuing a PhD focused on equity and emerging technology. Through every pivot, her story reinforces the power of curiosity, courage, and embracing one's unique path in creating a meaningful second act.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (@michaelnewborn)

John Ballenger (@john-ballenger53)

Guest:

Jasmine Motupalli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-motupalli/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (@seltzerkings) (seltzerkings.com)

Theme Music by Saint Josh

Listen Here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/

Socials:

Linktree: linktr.ee/secondactmovement

Instagram: @secondactmovement

LinkedIn: @secondactmovement

Facebook: @secondactmovement

YouTube: @secondactmovement

Website: michaelandjohn.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ayush Gharat grew up in Bangalore, India, surrounded by entrepreneurs and innovators, which sparked his early fascination with technology. At just 10 years old, he began teaching himself coding, earning an Android development certification by eighth grade. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he founded Aashwas, a social initiative that provided thousands of healthcare workers with essential protective equipment, leading him to present at the United Nations and receive the Diana Award for humanitarian efforts. His passion for using technology to create impact continued with M-Nutrition, a software solution to combat child malnutrition, and recognition as a Young AI Champion by Meta. Now a junior at Georgia Institute of Technology, Ayush continues building innovative solutions while embracing uncertainty and risk-taking as key drivers of progress in his journey.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (@michaelnewborn)

John Ballenger (@john-ballenger53)

Guest:

Ayush Gharat

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayush-gharat/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (@seltzerkings) (seltzerkings.com)

Theme Music by Saint Josh

Listen Here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/

Socials:

Linktree: linktr.ee/secondactmovement

Instagram: @secondactmovement

LinkedIn: @secondactmovement

Facebook: @secondactmovement

YouTube: @secondactmovement

Website: michaelandjohn.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Born in Orlando and raised in Kissimmee, Joshua Young, known as Saint Josh, wrote his first rap at six years old and, by 11, set a bold goal to pursue music, inspired by artists like Eminem and Lil Wayne. Struggling with shyness, music became his outlet, helping him build confidence and develop his craft—first mastering lyrics, then flow, performance, and storytelling. As he grew, he realized that success in music required not just talent but business acumen, leading him to leverage freelancing platforms to create custom music for brands. Now a thriving artist and entrepreneur, he has collaborated with major brands like the NFL and Auburn University while staying true to his mission of using music to inspire, uplift, and create a lasting impact (and if you were wondering...he wrote and produced the current music for our show!).

Starring:

Michael Newborn (@michaelnewborn)

John Ballenger (@john-ballenger53)

Guest:

Saint Josh

https://www.instagram.com/saintjoshtyg/

https://www.instagram.com/saintjoshmusic/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0RMN8YWshpWT8UoUTczQK2?si=xuAk4xwpQKmjmaU_0D3ayQ

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (@seltzerkings) (seltzerkings.com)

Theme Music by Saint Josh

Listen Here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/

Socials:

Linktree: linktr.ee/secondactmovement

Instagram: @secondactmovement

LinkedIn: @secondactmovement

Facebook: @secondactmovement

YouTube: @secondactmovement

Website: michaelandjohn.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordon Allard grew up in the Midwest, inspired by her hardworking father, who instilled in her the values of balance, perseverance, and family-first priorities. Initially unsure of her exact career path, she explored various healthcare roles before choosing occupational therapy for its deep personal impact. After gaining experience in the field, she unexpectedly found herself with an opportunity to launch her own therapy business during the height of COVID—while six months pregnant. Despite the challenges of entrepreneurship and motherhood happening simultaneously, she took the leap, learning to embrace uncertainty, push past imposter syndrome, and build Aspire Therapy into a thriving company. Along the way, she discovered the power of saying no to protect what truly matters, refined her leadership approach, and proved that success isn’t about perfect timing—it’s about having the courage to start.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (@michaelnewborn)

John Ballenger (@john-ballenger53)

Guest:

Jordon Allard

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jallard-aspire/

https://www.weaspire.net/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (@seltzerkings) (seltzerkings.com)

Theme Music by Saint Josh

Listen Here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/

Socials:

Linktree: linktr.ee/secondactmovement

Instagram: @secondactmovement

LinkedIn: @secondactmovement

Facebook: @secondactmovement

YouTube: @secondactmovement

Website: michaelandjohn.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Henry Oliver’s life journey is a testament to the power of reinvention and embracing one’s unique path. A writer and speaker based in Southeast London, Henry’s early career was shaped by talent attraction marketing and insightful essays on literature and history. However, it was during a challenging period of illness and time away from work that his perspective shifted, sparking the idea for his book, Second Act: What Late Bloomers Can Tell You About Reinventing Your Life. Reflecting on his own life experiences, Henry recognized the profound potential in those who may not yet have achieved greatness but are quietly preparing for their moment. His work blends biography, social science, and thoughtful exploration, celebrating late bloomers like Eisenhower and Katherine Graham while emphasizing the value of persistence, quiet preparation, and the transformative power of failure. Through his book and The Common Reader Substack newsletter, Henry continues to inspire others to see reinvention as an opportunity to write their own remarkable second acts.

Starring:

Michael Newborn (@michaelnewborn)

John Ballenger (@john-ballenger53)

Guest:

Henry Oliver

https://substack.com/@henryoliver

https://www.henry-oliver.co.uk/

Network/Produced by:

Seltzer Kings (@seltzerkings) (seltzerkings.com)

Theme Music by Saint Josh

Listen Here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71Uji4fPLsnGEJjeAqomiJ?si=77e3d7bb636c422a

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john/id1707412739

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6b369bb-36a9-47ab-9f22-1bacfcff6166/the-second-act-with-michael-and-john

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-second-act-with-michae-123242148/

Socials:

Linktree: linktr.ee/secondactmovement

Instagram: @secondactmovement

LinkedIn: @secondactmovement

Facebook: @secondactmovement

YouTube: @secondactmovement

Website: michaelandjohn.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices