Transformation Code with Sam Church

When fear shows up, what helps you move through it most?

In this episode of The Transformation Code, host Sam Church sits down with Carina Bruwer, record-breaking ocean swimmer, motivational speaker, and musician from Cape Town, South Africa.

Carina has swum through shark-filled waters, freezing temperatures, and some of life’s toughest moments, and she’s learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to keep moving through it.

She opens up about how perfectionism nearly held her back, how motherhood reshaped her definition of strength, and how stillness became her greatest teacher. Her story reminds us that growth often comes in motion, and peace can be found in persistence.

This conversation dives into:

• How to face fear with calm and curiosity

• The mindset that helps you stay grounded under pressure

• The truth about perfection and progress

• Lessons from swimming in extreme conditions

• Finding freedom in simplicity, service, and flow

If you’ve ever felt like you’re swimming against the current, this episode will remind you that the water isn’t your enemy, it’s your teacher.

Listen, reflect, and share your takeaway below.

00:00 Intro

00:32 Facing Fear and Finding Courage

01:13 How Fear Shapes Our Inner World

02:10 How Breaking Huge Challenges Into Small Steps Builds Confidence

03:20 Using Logic To Shrink Fear and Take Back Control

04:58 The Pursuit of Perfection

06:06 Where Perfectionism Begins

08:13 Finding Balance Between Drive and Peace

10:09 The Moment Her Swimming Journey Started

10:40 How She Became a World-Record Ocean Swimmer

11:55 Facing Sharks, Harsh Conditions and the Fear of the Unknown

12:05 Discovering Flow and Facing the Ocean

13:40 The One More Stroke Method. How She Handles Pressure and Overwhelm

14:48 Lessons From Swimming Through Fear

17:03 How to Talk Back to Your Fear

20:28 Turning Big Goals Into Small Wins

22:19 Using the Same Mindset in Business and Life

25:00 The Truth About Fearlessness

28:29 Pushing Your Limits Without Breaking

31:12 One More Stroke, A Life Lesson

33:32 Why Failure Matters More Than Success

36:11 What Real Transformation Looks Like

39:00 How Emotion Drives Action

41:21 Learning to Embrace Stillness

45:27 Meeting Your Inner Voices With Compassion

48:50 The Power of Reframing Your Story

51:49 Standing on a Grave and Choosing Gratitude

53:54 Why It’s Easier to Play the Victim And How to Stop

55:31 What’s Next for Carina Bruwer

57:45 Listening to Your Inner Voice

1:00:10 The Healing Power of Water

1:04:00 Final Reflections Authenticity Over Perfection

With gratitude,

Sam Church

Host, The Transformation Code Podcast

Listen now and share your biggest takeaway in the comments.

Learn more about Carina at carina.co.za

Follow Carina on Instagram @carinabruwer

Follow Sam Church

YouTube: @SamChurchOfficial

Instagram: @transformationcodepodcast

Facebook: facebook.com/samchurchuk

Trigger Warning: Suicide & Self-Harm If you or someone you know is in crisis, reach out for help.

What does it really take to win, not just in sport, but in life?

In this deeply moving episode of The Transformation Code, I sit down with Steve Mesler, Olympic Gold Medalist, Hall of Fame athlete, and founder of Classroom Champions, to explore the mindset behind true success, and the hidden battles that come with it.

Steve opens up about his journey from being told he was “a waste of time” to standing at the top of the Olympic podium. But behind the medals was a man wrestling with failure, identity, and mental health.

He shares how years of injuries and disappointment nearly broke him, and the night he stood just five steps away from the C-Train tracks in Calgary, asking himself a question that would change everything:

Do I want to live today?

From that moment came a radical shift. A new understanding of what excellence truly means, and the realization that greatness isn’t about winning; it’s about trust, connection, and purpose.

We dive into how champions handle pressure, how to build teams that win through trust (not talent), and how to move through identity shifts when the spotlight fades. Steve also reveals how he turned his pain into purpose by creating Classroom Champions, a global nonprofit helping millions of students and teachers build resilience, emotional intelligence, and wellbeing.

If you’ve ever battled burnout, questioned your purpose, or felt like you’ve lost your edge, this conversation will remind you that success means nothing without self-trust, and that even at your lowest point, you can rewrite your story.

In this episode, you’ll learn: • The mindset behind Olympic-level excellence • How to move through failure without losing yourself • Why trust and transparency create winning teams • The truth about mental health after success • How to turn pain into purpose

Each week, Sam sits down with world-class thinkers, athletes, and leaders to uncover what real transformation looks like, in business, relationships, and life.

With gratitude,

Sam

00:00  Intro

00:25  Meet Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Mesler: The Mindset of a Champion

01:00  How to Build a Gold-Winning Team and the Psychology Behind Success

02:20  Overcoming Failure: From College Setback to Olympic Comeback Story

03:45  The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

05:15  High Performance Habits: What It Really Takes to Win

06:40 Why “Not Feeling Good Enough” Can Drive Success (and Burnout)

09:00  Mental Health and Loss: The Hidden Cost of High Achievement

12:00  When Depression Hits After Success: The Moment That Changed His Life

14:00  Identity Shift After the Olympics: Finding Purpose Beyond the Podium

17:00  How to Rebuild Purpose and Motivation After Major Change

20:00  From Gold Medal to CEO: Bringing Olympic Mindset to Business Leadership

22:30 Motivating the Next Generation: Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs

25:00  The Real Meaning of Excellence and Fulfilment

30:00  Olympic Visualisation Routine: How to Train Your Mind Like an Athlete

37:00  Why Trust Is the Secret Ingredient of Championship Teams

47:00 How to Build Trust, Connection and Calm Under Pressure

55:00  From Athlete to Leader: Translating Sport Psychology Into Life

1:00:00  Purpose and Legacy: Building Classroom Champions for the Next Generation

1:04:00  Rapid Fire “Vault” Question: Where Are You Not Fully Free?

1:06:30  Final Reflections: Freedom, Family and the True Meaning of Success

Support Steve & Classroom Champions: Transform student wellbeing with Classroom Champions.

Your support equips teachers with the tools to nurture resilience, confidence, and connection in every child. Learn more or donate: ⁠https://www.classroomchampions.org/donate⁠

Listen & Subscribe: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SamChurchOfficial⁠

Follow Sam Church: @transformationcodepodcast

Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/samchurchuk

Follow Steve: @steve.mesler

Website: https://www.stevemesler.net/mpg/

What do you do when life breaks your heart?

In this powerful episode of The Transformation Code, I sit down with Jessica Janzen, motivational speaker, author, and founder of the Love For Lewiston Foundation, to explore how loss can become a catalyst for healing, joy, and purpose.

Jessica opens up about the day everything changed, losing her six-month-old son, Lewiston, to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). What followed could have destroyed her. Instead, she made a choice that few ever make: to keep moving, to keep loving, and to live for something bigger than herself.

She shares how grief taught her to slow down, how joy became a daily discipline, and how her son’s short life inspired a movement that has raised millions to support children and families across Canada. The Love For Lewiston Foundation continues to spread awareness for SMA and fund critical medical care while bringing light and laughter to those who need it most.

We dive into what it means to find faith when everything falls apart, why service heals the soul, and how small acts of love can create ripples of change far beyond what we can see. Jessica’s story is raw, honest, and deeply human, a reminder that even when life doesn’t go to plan, we still have the power to choose hope over despair.

If you’ve ever faced loss, burnout, or the pressure to keep it all together, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are, and help you remember that joy is not something we find when life is easy; it’s something we build when life gets hard.

00:00 Intro

02:10 The moment that unlocked a new way to live

04:30 How losing Lewiston gave me permission to go all in

07:05 The diagnosis that changed everything

10:15 The day everything fell apart

14:40 Making a vow that saved our marriage

16:00 “We will bring the joy”, the decision that changed everything

18:45 Dance parties in hospice: choosing joy in the darkest place

21:10 How grief became the start of purpose

22:55 Transforming pain into service

25:40 Why asking for help builds strength, not weakness

27:50 How community helps us carry the weight of grief

31:30 Finding light again through gratitude and faith

33:00 How to create joy when life feels too heavy

35:20 Small acts of kindness that heal the heart

37:10 What it means to work hard for joy

39:00 Turning pain into rocket fuel for purpose

41:10 How perspective shifts everything

43:00 Life on the other side of loss, refusing to quit

45:00 The power of relentless belief and action

46:30 Creating a life of meaning after tragedy

48:10 The heart behind the Love For Lewiston Foundation

49:50 Following the nudges that lead to joy

51:00 How helping others helps you heal

52:10 Hope, purpose, and joy after loss

53:30 Jessica’s final message: Go bring the joy

About Jessica Janzen:

Jessica Janzen is a motivational speaker, author, coach, and philanthropist who embodies what it means to turn pain into purpose. After losing her six-month-old son Lewiston to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Jessica made a life-changing decision, to live with radical joy.

She and her husband founded the Love For Lewiston Foundation, a Canadian non-profit that has raised over $3 million to fund medical research, support families, and bring moments of joy to children facing critical illnesses.

Through her keynotes, book, and advocacy, Jessica shares a message of hope and resilience reminding people that even in heartbreak, there is still light to be found. Her energy, authenticity, and humour inspire audiences to move from problem mindset to possibility mindset and to live “wide awake,” grateful for every breath.

Jessica’s mission is simple but powerful:

Choose movement. Bring joy. Spread love.

Tune in and let ‘The Connection Code’ activate something deep within.

With love and abundance,

Sam

----------------------------------------

Follow Sam: @samchurchofficial

Follow Jessica: @thejessicajanzen

Website: www.jessicajanzen.ca

Love For Lewiston Foundation: www.loveforlewiston.com

Can curiosity change your life?

In this episode of The Transformation Code Podcast, Sam Church and James Xander explore manifestation, God Mode, psychedelics, and altered states of consciousness to unlock deeper transformation and awareness.

James Xander, creator of God Mode, shares his journey through LSD, mushrooms, DMT, and ayahuasca, revealing how curiosity, not fear, expands our perception of life, abundance, and purpose. This conversation dives into the link between frequency, energy, and creation, helping you access the mindset shift that changes everything.

Watch if you’re ready to:

• Understand how psychedelics expand awareness

• Learn the science and spirituality of altered states

• Discover what “God Mode” really means

• Explore how Neville Goddard connects to manifestation and energy

• Apply spiritual lessons to business and mindset

• Turn fear into curiosity and unlock your potential

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

00:12 – The Knowing Beyond the 3D

00:23 – Curiosity Dissolves Fear

00:41 – Redefining Abundance and Trust

02:04 – The Shift from Knowing to Feeling

03:38 – How Psychedelics Found James

05:12 – LSD and Seeing Life Differently

06:23 – The Slug Lesson on Presence

07:29 – Integrating Psychedelic Wisdom

09:10 – What Mushrooms Teach About Money

10:55 – Downloads from the Higher Mind

12:16 – Seeing the Source Code of Reality

14:04 – The Earth Game and Growth

17:05 – Aligning to the Frequency of Your Goals

18:35 – Feeling Is the Secret (Neville Goddard)

20:51 – How Psychedelics Break Limiting Beliefs

23:10 – Using Plant Medicine for Growth

25:13 – How to Prepare for a Transformative Trip

28:48 – The Role of Ego in Transformation

32:10 – Unlocking God Mode and Oneness

With gratitude,

Sam Church

Host, The Transformation Code Podcast

Follow Sam:

YouTube: @SamChurchOfficial

Instagram: @transformationcodepodcast

Facebook: facebook.com/samchurchuk

Follow James Xander:

Instagram: @emperorjames

Podcast: The James Xander Trip

If you’re ready to see the world differently, to shift from knowing to being, this conversation will open the door.

Subscribe for more episodes that decode mindset, manifestation, and human transformation.

What do you do when life doesn’t look anything like the picture you planned, when the dream you built suddenly collapses, and the only thing left to hold onto is faith?

In today’s episode of The Transformation Code, we sit down with Savannah Van Der Walt, a Cape Town mother whose journey of faith, resilience, and motherhood will redefine what true strength means.

When Savannah’s daughter Luna was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic disease, doctors said she might never walk. What followed was a powerful story of heartbreak, perseverance, and unconditional love that pushed Savannah far beyond her limits.

This episode explores what it means to find peace when life doesn’t look the way you planned. You’ll hear how one mother turned pain into purpose, how faith carried her through nights in the NICU, and how emotional regulation became her anchor through chaos and uncertainty.

If you’re a parent, caregiver, or anyone navigating adversity, this conversation will help you rediscover hope, healing, and the courage to keep going when life feels impossible.

This episode dives deep into:

• What happens when life doesn’t look the way you planned

• The hidden strength of mothers raising children with special needs

• How trauma, faith, and resilience can exist in the same story

• The power of emotional regulation during crisis

• What it means to rebuild your identity when your dreams change

Watch this if you want to learn:

• How to find peace when life doesn’t match your expectations

• Tools for emotional regulation and mindset resilience

• The strength behind every mother’s invisible battles

• How faith and perspective can turn pain into purpose

• What true transformation looks like when love leads the way

00:00 Intro

00:42 The Call That Changed Everything

01:30 When Life Doesn’t Go the Way You Planned

02:18 The Diagnosis That Shattered a Dream

03:45 Surviving 31 Days in the NICU

05:12 The Moment Everything Fell Apart

06:30 When You Lose the Life You Imagined

08:02 “The Dream Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Changed”

09:44 Learning to Live in Survival Mode

11:16 The Hidden Grief of Motherhood

12:40 When Trauma From Your Past Reappears

14:03 How to Stay Grounded Through Chaos

15:25 Rebuilding Purpose After Pain

17:10 Why Perspective Changes Everything

18:36 The Power of Faith When Nothing Makes Sense

20:02 Emotional Regulation in Real Life

21:34 Finding Strength When You Have No Control

23:06 From Grief to Gratitude, The Turning Point

24:44 The Gift Hidden Inside Pain

26:18 What True Resilience Looks Like

27:59 Infinite Versions of You, The Courage to Begin Again

With gratitude,

Sam Church

Host, The Transformation Code Podcast

Support Luna’s Journey

If this story moved you, you can be part of Luna’s journey too.

Luna Rose was born with a rare genetic condition called Prader-Willi Syndrome, and her fight has inspired thousands across South Africa.

Her family continues to raise funds for her ongoing medical care, therapy, and support through “Luna Rose’s Fight to Inspire”, a verified campaign on BackaBuddy.

Donate here: https://backabuddy.co.za/campaign/luna-roses-fight-to-inspire~10

Every contribution, share, or prayer helps give Luna the care and opportunities she deserves.

Follow Savannah Van Der Walt

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ourloveatfirstlight/

Follow Sam Church

YouTube: @SamChurchOfficial

Instagram: @transformationcodepodcast

Facebook: facebook.com/samchurchuk

Trigger Warning: Suicide & Self-Harm If you or someone you know is in crisis, reach out for help.

What does it really take to win, not just in sport, but in life?

In this deeply moving episode of The Transformation Code, I sit down with Steve Mesler, Olympic Gold Medalist, Hall of Fame athlete, and founder of Classroom Champions, to explore the mindset behind true success, and the hidden battles that come with it.

Steve opens up about his journey from being told he was “a waste of time” to standing at the top of the Olympic podium. But behind the medals was a man wrestling with failure, identity, and mental health.

He shares how years of injuries and disappointment nearly broke him, and the night he stood just five steps away from the C-Train tracks in Calgary, asking himself a question that would change everything:

Do I want to live today?

From that moment came a radical shift. A new understanding of what excellence truly means, and the realization that greatness isn’t about winning; it’s about trust, connection, and purpose.

We dive into how champions handle pressure, how to build teams that win through trust (not talent), and how to move through identity shifts when the spotlight fades. Steve also reveals how he turned his pain into purpose by creating Classroom Champions, a global nonprofit helping millions of students and teachers build resilience, emotional intelligence, and wellbeing.

If you’ve ever battled burnout, questioned your purpose, or felt like you’ve lost your edge, this conversation will remind you that success means nothing without self-trust, and that even at your lowest point, you can rewrite your story.

In this episode, you’ll learn: • The mindset behind Olympic-level excellence • How to move through failure without losing yourself • Why trust and transparency create winning teams • The truth about mental health after success • How to turn pain into purpose

Each week, Sam sits down with world-class thinkers, athletes, and leaders to uncover what real transformation looks like, in business, relationships, and life.

With gratitude,

Sam

00:00  Intro

00:25  Meet Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Mesler: The Mindset of a Champion

01:00  How to Build a Gold-Winning Team and the Psychology Behind Success

02:20  Overcoming Failure: From College Setback to Olympic Comeback Story

03:45  The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

05:15  High Performance Habits: What It Really Takes to Win

06:40 Why “Not Feeling Good Enough” Can Drive Success (and Burnout)

09:00  Mental Health and Loss: The Hidden Cost of High Achievement

12:00  When Depression Hits After Success: The Moment That Changed His Life

14:00  Identity Shift After the Olympics: Finding Purpose Beyond the Podium

17:00  How to Rebuild Purpose and Motivation After Major Change

20:00  From Gold Medal to CEO: Bringing Olympic Mindset to Business Leadership

22:30 Motivating the Next Generation: Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs

25:00  The Real Meaning of Excellence and Fulfilment

30:00  Olympic Visualisation Routine: How to Train Your Mind Like an Athlete

37:00  Why Trust Is the Secret Ingredient of Championship Teams

47:00 How to Build Trust, Connection and Calm Under Pressure

55:00  From Athlete to Leader: Translating Sport Psychology Into Life

1:00:00  Purpose and Legacy: Building Classroom Champions for the Next Generation

1:04:00  Rapid Fire “Vault” Question: Where Are You Not Fully Free?

1:06:30  Final Reflections: Freedom, Family and the True Meaning of Success

Support Steve & Classroom Champions: Transform student wellbeing with Classroom Champions.

Your support equips teachers with the tools to nurture resilience, confidence, and connection in every child. Learn more or donate:⁠ ⁠https://www.classroomchampions.org/donate⁠⁠

Website: https://www.stevemesler.net/mpg/

Follow Sam Church:Instagram: @transformationcodepodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformationcodepodcast

What do you do when life breaks your heart?

In this powerful episode of The Transformation Code, I sit down with Jessica Janzen, motivational speaker, author, and founder of the Love For Lewiston Foundation, to explore how loss can become a catalyst for healing, joy, and purpose.

Jessica opens up about the day everything changed, losing her six-month-old son, Lewiston, to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). What followed could have destroyed her. Instead, she made a choice that few ever make: to keep moving, to keep loving, and to live for something bigger than herself.

She shares how grief taught her to slow down, how joy became a daily discipline, and how her son’s short life inspired a movement that has raised millions to support children and families across Canada. The Love For Lewiston Foundation continues to spread awareness for SMA and fund critical medical care while bringing light and laughter to those who need it most.

We dive into what it means to find faith when everything falls apart, why service heals the soul, and how small acts of love can create ripples of change far beyond what we can see. Jessica’s story is raw, honest, and deeply human, a reminder that even when life doesn’t go to plan, we still have the power to choose hope over despair.

If you’ve ever faced loss, burnout, or the pressure to keep it all together, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are, and help you remember that joy is not something we find when life is easy; it’s something we build when life gets hard.

00:00 Intro

02:10 The moment that unlocked a new way to live

04:30 How losing Lewiston gave me permission to go all in

07:05 The diagnosis that changed everything

10:15 The day everything fell apart

14:40 Making a vow that saved our marriage

16:00 “We will bring the joy”, the decision that changed everything

18:45 Dance parties in hospice: choosing joy in the darkest place

21:10 How grief became the start of purpose

22:55 Transforming pain into service

25:40 Why asking for help builds strength, not weakness

27:50 How community helps us carry the weight of grief

31:30 Finding light again through gratitude and faith

33:00 How to create joy when life feels too heavy

35:20 Small acts of kindness that heal the heart

37:10 What it means to work hard for joy

39:00 Turning pain into rocket fuel for purpose

41:10 How perspective shifts everything

43:00 Life on the other side of loss, refusing to quit

45:00 The power of relentless belief and action

46:30 Creating a life of meaning after tragedy

48:10 The heart behind the Love For Lewiston Foundation

49:50 Following the nudges that lead to joy

51:00 How helping others helps you heal

52:10 Hope, purpose, and joy after loss

53:30 Jessica’s final message: Go bring the joy

About Jessica Janzen:

Jessica Janzen is a motivational speaker, author, coach, and philanthropist who embodies what it means to turn pain into purpose. After losing her six-month-old son Lewiston to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Jessica made a life-changing decision, to live with radical joy.

She and her husband founded the Love For Lewiston Foundation, a Canadian non-profit that has raised over $3 million to fund medical research, support families, and bring moments of joy to children facing critical illnesses.

Through her keynotes, book, and advocacy, Jessica shares a message of hope and resilience reminding people that even in heartbreak, there is still light to be found. Her energy, authenticity, and humour inspire audiences to move from problem mindset to possibility mindset and to live “wide awake,” grateful for every breath.

Jessica’s mission is simple but powerful:

Choose movement. Bring joy. Spread love.

Tune in and let ‘The Connection Code’ activate something deep within.

With love and abundance,

Sam

----------------------------------------

Follow Sam: @samchurchofficial

Follow Jessica: @thejessicajanzen

Website: www.jessicajanzen.ca

Love For Lewiston Foundation: www.loveforlewiston.com

Trigger Warning: Suicide & Self-Harm
If you or someone you know is in crisis, reach out for help.

What does it really take to win, not just in sport, but in life?

In this deeply moving episode of The Transformation Code, I sit down with Steve Mesler, Olympic Gold Medalist, Hall of Fame athlete, and founder of Classroom Champions, to explore the mindset behind true success, and the hidden battles that come with it.

Steve opens up about his journey from being told he was “a waste of time” to standing at the top of the Olympic podium. But behind the medals was a man wrestling with failure, identity, and mental health.

He shares how years of injuries and disappointment nearly broke him, and the night he stood just five steps away from the C-Train tracks in Calgary, asking himself a question that would change everything:

Do I want to live today?

From that moment came a radical shift. A new understanding of what excellence truly means, and the realization that greatness isn’t about winning; it’s about trust, connection, and purpose.

We dive into how champions handle pressure, how to build teams that win through trust (not talent), and how to move through identity shifts when the spotlight fades. Steve also reveals how he turned his pain into purpose by creating Classroom Champions, a global nonprofit helping millions of students and teachers build resilience, emotional intelligence, and wellbeing.

If you’ve ever battled burnout, questioned your purpose, or felt like you’ve lost your edge, this conversation will remind you that success means nothing without self-trust, and that even at your lowest point, you can rewrite your story.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• The mindset behind Olympic-level excellence
• How to move through failure without losing yourself
• Why trust and transparency create winning teams
• The truth about mental health after success
• How to turn pain into purpose

Each week, Sam sits down with world-class thinkers, athletes, and leaders to uncover what real transformation looks like, in business, relationships, and life.

With gratitude,
Sam Church
Host, The Transformation Code Podcast

00:00 Intro
00:25 Meet Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Mesler: The Mindset of a Champion
01:00 How to Build a Gold-Winning Team and the Psychology Behind Success
02:20 Overcoming Failure: From College Setback to Olympic Comeback Story
03:45 The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything
05:15 High Performance Habits: What It Really Takes to Win
06:40 Why “Not Feeling Good Enough” Can Drive Success (and Burnout)
09:00 Mental Health and Loss: The Hidden Cost of High Achievement
12:00 When Depression Hits After Success: The Moment That Changed His Life
14:00 Identity Shift After the Olympics: Finding Purpose Beyond the Podium
17:00 How to Rebuild Purpose and Motivation After Major Change
20:00 From Gold Medal to CEO: Bringing Olympic Mindset to Business Leadership
22:30 Motivating the Next Generation: Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs
25:00 The Real Meaning of Excellence and Fulfilment
30:00 Olympic Visualisation Routine: How to Train Your Mind Like an Athlete
37:00 Why Trust Is the Secret Ingredient of Championship Teams
47:00 How to Build Trust, Connection and Calm Under Pressure
55:00 From Athlete to Leader: Translating Sport Psychology Into Life
1:00:00 Purpose and Legacy: Building Classroom Champions for the Next Generation
1:04:00 Rapid Fire “Vault” Question: Where Are You Not Fully Free?
1:06:30 Final Reflections: Freedom, Family and the True Meaning of Success

Support Steve & Classroom Champions:
Transform student wellbeing with Classroom Champions.

Your support equips teachers with the tools to nurture resilience, confidence, and connection in every child.
Learn more or donate: https://www.classroomchampions.org/donate

Listen & Subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/@SamChurchOfficial

Follow Sam Church:
Instagram: @transformationcodepodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/samchurchuk

What do you do when life breaks your heart?

In this powerful episode of The Transformation Code, I sit down with Jessica Janzen, motivational speaker, author, and founder of the Love For Lewiston Foundation, to explore how loss can become a catalyst for healing, joy, and purpose.

Jessica opens up about the day everything changed, losing her six-month-old son, Lewiston, to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). What followed could have destroyed her. Instead, she made a choice that few ever make: to keep moving, to keep loving, and to live for something bigger than herself.

She shares how grief taught her to slow down, how joy became a daily discipline, and how her son’s short life inspired a movement that has raised millions to support children and families across Canada. The Love For Lewiston Foundation continues to spread awareness for SMA and fund critical medical care while bringing light and laughter to those who need it most.

We dive into what it means to find faith when everything falls apart, why service heals the soul, and how small acts of love can create ripples of change far beyond what we can see. Jessica’s story is raw, honest, and deeply human, a reminder that even when life doesn’t go to plan, we still have the power to choose hope over despair.

If you’ve ever faced loss, burnout, or the pressure to keep it all together, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are, and help you remember that joy is not something we find when life is easy; it’s something we build when life gets hard.

00:00 Intro

02:10 The moment that unlocked a new way to live

04:30 How losing Lewiston gave me permission to go all in

07:05 The diagnosis that changed everything

10:15 The day everything fell apart

14:40 Making a vow that saved our marriage

16:00 “We will bring the joy”, the decision that changed everything

18:45 Dance parties in hospice: choosing joy in the darkest place

21:10 How grief became the start of purpose

22:55 Transforming pain into service

25:40 Why asking for help builds strength, not weakness

27:50 How community helps us carry the weight of grief

31:30 Finding light again through gratitude and faith

33:00 How to create joy when life feels too heavy

35:20 Small acts of kindness that heal the heart

37:10 What it means to work hard for joy

39:00 Turning pain into rocket fuel for purpose

41:10 How perspective shifts everything

43:00 Life on the other side of loss, refusing to quit

45:00 The power of relentless belief and action

46:30 Creating a life of meaning after tragedy

48:10 The heart behind the Love For Lewiston Foundation

49:50 Following the nudges that lead to joy

51:00 How helping others helps you heal

52:10 Hope, purpose, and joy after loss

53:30 Jessica’s final message: Go bring the joy

About Jessica Janzen:

Jessica Janzen is a motivational speaker, author, coach, and philanthropist who embodies what it means to turn pain into purpose. After losing her six-month-old son Lewiston to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Jessica made a life-changing decision, to live with radical joy.

She and her husband founded the Love For Lewiston Foundation, a Canadian non-profit that has raised over $3 million to fund medical research, support families, and bring moments of joy to children facing critical illnesses.

Through her keynotes, book, and advocacy, Jessica shares a message of hope and resilience reminding people that even in heartbreak, there is still light to be found. Her energy, authenticity, and humour inspire audiences to move from problem mindset to possibility mindset and to live “wide awake,” grateful for every breath.

Jessica’s mission is simple but powerful:

Choose movement. Bring joy. Spread love.

Tune in and let ‘The Connection Code’ activate something deep within.

With love and abundance,

Sam

----------------------------------------

Follow Sam: @samchurchofficial

Follow Jessica: @thejessicajanzen

Website: www.jessicajanzen.ca

Love For Lewiston Foundation: www.loveforlewiston.com

In this episode, Sam Church sits down with Jayson Gaddis, Master Relationship Coach, author, and founder of The Relationship School, to uncover why so many high achievers succeed in business but struggle in love.

Jayson reveals the hidden patterns that cause entrepreneurs and leaders to shut down emotionally, sabotage intimacy, and repeat cycles of disconnection. He shares the exact 4-step process anyone can use to repair conflict and go deeper in their most important relationships, along with why emotional intelligence, not financial success, is the true marker of fulfillment.

From exploring why we can’t delegate our feelings the way we delegate in business, to the dangers of becoming emotionally numb, Jayson’s wisdom shows how to build safe, lasting connections at home and in the workplace.

00:00 Intro

02:25 Why High Achievers Struggle in Love

06:15 When Success Creates Disconnection

10:40 How Childhood Shapes the Way You Love

14:22 Why We Shut Down Emotionally

18:05 The Step-by-Step Process to Repair Conflict

22:34 Learning to Feel Again (Even When It Hurts)

25:30 People Over Profit – The Leadership Shift

28:40 How Emotional Awareness Builds Better Teams

32:15 Why You Can’t Lead Others Until You’ve Led Yourself

36:45 The Real Cost of Avoiding Hard Conversations

39:20 How Triggers Help You Grow as a Leader

43:50 Facing Fear and Having Courageous Conversations

47:10 The Link Between Love, Leadership & Business

50:55 How to Create a Safe Culture in Your Team

52:30 The ONE Skill That Can Save Your Relationship

54:10 Building Success That Actually Feels Peaceful

56:15 Jayson Gaddis’ Final Message: Learn to Repair

About Jason Gaddis:

Jayson is a Master Relationship Coach, author, speaker, and founder of The Relationship School. With over two decades of experience in psychology, coaching, and human behavior, Jayson has worked with everyone from victims of trauma to high-powered CEOs, and has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading voices on intimacy and relational intelligence.

Known for his raw honesty and depth, Jayson helps high-achieving men, and the people who love them, face the parts of themselves they’ve buried, break free from emotional numbness, and create the kind of connections that truly matter. From his early years as a crisis worker in psychiatric care to now leading a global school devoted to relationships, Jayson has turned his pain into his purpose, guiding thousands to transform their relational lives.

As host of The Relationship School Podcast and a trained facilitator in multiple therapeutic modalities, Jayson brings together science, soul, and lived experience to teach the skills most of us were never taught in school: how to love, lead, and connect.

‘The key to successful long term relationships, like intimate relationships, is the skill and ability and willingness to repair.’

So if you’ve ever wondered why success isn’t enough, and how to finally break free of the patterns that hurt your relationships…

Tune in and let ‘The Connection Code’ activate something deep within.

With love and abundance,

Sam

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Connect with Jayson Gaddis: @jaysongaddis

Follow Sam: @samchurchofficial