In this powerful episode of Tray of Truths, I sit down with author and school counselor Teresa Davis Lewis for a heartfelt conversation on fear, faith, identity, and personal growth. Teresa shares her journey from dedicating her life to family and career to rediscovering her purpose through writing and spiritual reflection. Her story highlights how life experiences, perspective shifts, and intentional inner work can lead to lasting peace.

Throughout the conversation, the discussion explores the difference between being temporarily scared and living with long-term fear, how faith can serve as a foundation during uncertain seasons, and why perspective is one of the most powerful tools for personal transformation. Teresa also opens up about the inspiration behind her book, the silent ways fear can show up in our lives, and the practical mindset shifts that help individuals move forward with confidence.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to navigate self-doubt, embrace their personal journey, and recognize that growth often begins with a single courageous step. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking motivation, spiritual encouragement, and real-life wisdom on overcoming fear and stepping fully into purpose.
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00:00 — Opening & Guest Introduction
05:00 — Mental Check-In & What Peace Really Means
10:30 — Early Life & Identity Formation
16:30 — The Calling to Serve Through Counseling
23:00 — Writing the Book & Confronting Fear
30:00 — Fear vs. Being Scared
36:00 — Faith, Spirituality & Inner Confidence
43:00 — Perspective Shifts & Life Lessons
49:00 — Practical Steps to Move Forward
55:00 — Final Truths & Closing Reflections

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In this episode of Tray of Truths, we focus on the foundation of personal growth and success self encouragement. This 15 Minutes of Truth conversation is a direct reminder that no one is coming to save you and real change begins when you choose to lead yourself.

This episode explores self love discipline consistency and the importance of doing things for yourself rather than seeking validation from others. We discuss why loving what you build matters how failure shapes resilience and why thinking about what comes next is essential for long term growth.

If you are struggling with motivation self doubt or a lack of support this episode will help you shift your mindset build inner confidence and take ownership of your journey.

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0:00 Introduction to 15 Minutes of Truth
1:05 Why self encouragement matters
2:30 Letting go of external validation
4:00 Doing it for yourself
6:10 Learning from failure
7:45 Why loving what you build matters
9:30 Why most people quit too soon
10:40 Understanding what comes next
12:15 Stop treating purpose like an activity
13:30 Becoming the hero of your own story
14:30 Final thoughts on self encouragement

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In this episode of Tray of Truths, the focus is on acceptance as a discipline rooted in self respect, awareness, and discernment. This conversation explores how many people unknowingly accept the bare minimum in life, relationships, work, and personal standards, not because they deserve it, but because they have grown comfortable with it.

The episode challenges the belief that constant grinding means you are not allowed to celebrate progress. For goal driven individuals, receiving love, recognition, or reward can feel like slowing down or cutting the journey short. This mindset often leads to self denial, burnout, and an inability to appreciate achievements while chasing the next milestone.

Through real life experiences and honest reflection, this episode explains how your opinion of yourself becomes your ceiling, why people meet you at the level you present yourself, and how being overly humble can quietly block your blessings. It highlights the difference between accepting what you cannot control and rejecting standards that diminish your mental health, confidence, and growth.

00:00 Why your self opinion determines your life trajectory
01:45 What acceptance really means
03:40 Why goal driven people struggle to receive
05:55 The danger of the job is not finished mindset
08:10 Never celebrating wins and emotional burnout
10:20 Bare minimum acceptance and false comfort
12:40 Self respect, boundaries, and knowing what you deserve
15:05 Nobody is coming to save you
17:10 Accepting what is out of your control
18:45 Final challenge redefining acceptance and self worth

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In this powerful solo episode of Trail Truth, I follow up on the conversation around identity and purpose by addressing one of the biggest silent killers of growth: excuses.

We live in a generation where comfort feels safer than responsibility, where fear disguises itself as logic, and where potential dies quietly behind “I’ll do it later.” In this episode, I break down the difference between excuses and accountability, why discipline starts in the mind, and how responsibility is the true gateway to growth.

From gym excuses to career stagnation, from fear of failure to fear of success, this episode challenges you to confront the habits, thoughts, and comforts that are holding you back. I speak candidly about my own journey, the responsibility I carry with this platform, and why nobody is coming to save us.

If you’re in your 20s or 30s, feeling stuck, hesitant, or waiting for the “right time,” this episode is your reminder that growth requires pressure, and comfort costs more than you think.

This isn’t motivation.
This is responsibility.

---------------------------------------------------------------
00:00 – Introduction & gratitude for the Tray of Truths journey
02:30 – Identity crisis follow-up & why this episode matters
05:10 – Excuses vs responsibility explained
08:20 – Gym excuses & the discipline mindset
11:00 – Why comfort feels safer than growth
14:10 – Fear grows every time you choose an excuse
17:00 – Your 20s are for mistakes, not perfection
20:10 – One failure won’t ruin your life
23:00 – Readjusting instead of quitting
25:20 – God’s roadmap, reroutes & responsibility
28:00 – When excuses finally run out
30:10 – Final challenge: choose responsibility
32:30 – Closing message

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In this powerful and transparent episode of Tray of Truth Podcast, we sit down with Karina Ramos for a conversation about independence, discipline, faith, and the reality of building something when support isn’t guaranteed.

Karina opens up about losing her job, navigating mental health shifts, and how gratitude, balance, and faith helped her rebuild from the inside out. She shares the truth about entrepreneurship, the emotional cost of being the “strong one,” and why support is free but rarely given by the people closest to you.

Together, we dive into boundaries, losing friendships, building real community, and the discipline required to stay consistent when results don’t come overnight. From gym culture and body confidence to business growth and patience, this episode is a reminder that your why has to be deeper than validation.

This conversation is raw, motivating, and necessary for anyone building quietly, showing up consistently, and learning to move differently when the energy isn’t reciprocated.

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Guest social media links: 
https://www.instagram.com/karinaa.juliettee?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

https://www.instagram.com/nvrlzy.official?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
---------------------------------------------------------------
00:00 – Intro + First Solo Female Interview (Setting a New Tone)
03:20 – Mental Check-In: “I’m in the Best Place I’ve Been”
07:45 – Job Loss, Independence, and Rebuilding From Scratch
13:40 – Gratitude, Faith, and Not Letting Setbacks Define You
19:10 – Where Her Independence Comes From (Family + Hustle)
26:00 – Being the Positive Outlet and Avoiding Burnout
32:15 – “Support Is Free” and Why People Watch Instead of Help
39:40 – Boundaries, Reciprocity, and Moving Accordingly
46:10 – Losing Friends, Accountability, and Protecting Your Character
52:20 – Building a Brand Without Overnight Results
57:30 – Discipline, Fitness, Confidence, and Finding Your ‘Why’
1:02:30 – Final Advice: Consistency, Patience, and Self-Belief

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In Part Two of the Tray of Truths Women’s Episode, the conversation deepens into what real growth actually looks like. This episode explores mental health check-ins, end-of-year reflection, faith, discipline, and the quiet character development that often comes through loss.

The women speak honestly about personal wins, health journeys, layoffs, losing friendships, and learning the difference between praying for change and putting in the work. From recognizing answered prayers to setting boundaries with unintentional people, this conversation challenges the idea of “new year, new me” and replaces it with accountability, obedience, and self-awareness.

This episode is for anyone entering a new chapter, navigating uncertainty, or learning how to stop carrying relationships, friendships, and expectations alone.

Guest social media links: 
Charity G: https://www.instagram.com/theecharityg?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Ruthy C: https://www.instagram.com/asvpk__?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Keyona H: https://www.instagram.com/keyonamaliyah?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

01:20 — Mental health check-in and end-of-year emotions
05:30 — How each woman is really entering the new year
10:45 — Is a new year actually a fresh start or just another day?
16:30 — Wins, discipline, and personal growth this year
22:45 — Character development, loss, and letting people go
29:30 — Layoffs, uncertainty, faith, and resilience
36:15 — Faith without work is dead (discipline vs prayer)
43:40 — Doing the work without knowing the outcome
49:30 — Gratitude, small wins, and missed blessings
55:45 — Weeding out unintentional people
1:02:30 — Boundaries, reciprocity, and standards in relationships
1:08:45 — What “the table” really represents
1:15:30 — Support, loyalty, and showing love without keeping score
1:22:45 — Becoming who you prayed for
1:27:30 — Final reflections and closing words

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In this raw and vulnerable episode of the Tray of Truths Podcast, Marco Presuma, a firefighter paramedic opens up about faith, trauma, responsibility and the unseen mental weight of saving lives. From growing up as a Haitian immigrant to leaving his hometown to grow, this conversation dives into discipline, purpose and what it truly means to become a man under pressure.

We unpack the emotional toll of witnessing death, the dangers of comfort and unhealthy coping, and how faith, fitness and accountability became tools for survival. This episode is about legacy not motivation, choosing responsibility over excuses, and trusting God when life feels overwhelming.

If you are navigating pressure, purpose, mental battles or the weight of being relied on, this episode will speak directly to you.

Marco Presuma media links: 
https://www.instagram.com/marcosuaave_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
https://www.instagram.com/eliteswingbaseball?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

-  Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and reconnecting after high school
03:00 – Mental check in and leaning on faith
08:30 – Immigration story pressure to succeed and gratitude
14:30 – High school ignorance wasted potential and growth
21:30 – Leaving home financial struggle and being humbled
28:30 – Comfort fear and why most people stay stuck
34:30 – Finding purpose through firefighting and EMT work
41:30 – Facing death trauma and emotional suppression
49:30 – Coping mechanisms fitness discipline and mental survival
56:30 – Responsibility manhood faith and choosing purpose
1:02:00 – Final reflections legacy and closing

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In this raw and vulnerable sit down, Tray of Truth welcomes entrepreneur, creative director, and founder of Epiphany Studios, Gabriel Sierra, for a conversation that opens the door on mental health, scarcity trauma, purpose, and what it truly means to build something from nothing.

We peel back the layers from spiritual warfare and therapy to building a brand with zero profit for two years, chasing goals that feel bigger than you, and carrying the weight of family expectations. They talk fear, failure, faith, comparison culture, and the pressure men feel to keep going even when the world gets heavy.

This is the episode for anyone grinding silently, the people who hustle with no applause, the ones fighting battles no one sees. If you have ever felt behind, overlooked, drained, or lost, this conversation is your reminder that your story still matters, your purpose evolves, and your patience is building something bigger than you can see.

  Episode Timestamps
0:00 Intro to the episode
0:40 Introducing Gabriel Sierra and Epiphany
2:20 How they met and the meaning of giving people their flowers
3:45 Mental health check in “This year has been tough”
5:10 Spiritual warfare and feeling not enough for God
6:30 Trey reveals starting therapy
8:10 The stigma of therapy in minority communities
9:45 The pressure of social media and comparison
11:30 The real grind behind entrepreneurship
13:00 Instant gratification vs the long game
14:40 Scarcity trauma and how it shapes decision making
16:30 Growing up with a single mother and generational hustle
18:10 The weight of being the oldest and leading by example
20:00 Purpose, faith, and letting God steer the journey
22:00 Two years with zero profit and still pushing
24:10 “What else would I do” the mindset that keeps them moving
25:45 Consistency, sacrifice, and showing up when empty
27:20 The influence of friends and avoiding envy
29:00 Feeding your mind and consuming better content
30:30 Seeing your life reflected in the Bible
33:00 Working two jobs while building a brand
34:30 The importance of staying positive and living through integrity
36:10 The three truths Gabriel lives by
37:25 Future goals: real estate, owning property, and building a production empire
39:00 Closing remarks and gratitude

Gabriel Sierra  Instagram(s): 

https://www.instagram.com/ayo_gab?igsh=cGk2OHNxZjdydzMx

https://www.instagram.com/epiphany.online?igsh=cHZ3ZHc5MWduNWFy

https://www.instagram.com/whoshotit.stu?igsh=MTdxMmNvMGx1OWJ5aw==

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In this short but powerful solo episode of Tray of Truths, Tray opens up about the quiet internal battles that come with growth, self-worth, and stepping into a new season of life. After launching a successful clothing line, returning from a much-needed break, and navigating major transitions, Tray reflects on an uncomfortable truth: sometimes the hardest thing to accept is that you deserve joy.

In just 15 minutes, Tray explores the emotional impact of scarcity, childhood experiences, and survival mode, and how these forces shape the way we receive love, rest, gifts, opportunities, and support. With raw honesty, he reveals why comfort can feel dangerous, why joy can feel unfamiliar, and how past instability can make even the good moments feel temporary.

This episode is a reminder that receiving is not weakness. It is healing. If you have ever struggled to feel deserving, to celebrate yourself, or to accept good things without guilt, this 15-minute truth will speak directly to your heart.

Time Stamps 
0:00 Opening gratitude and life updates
0:45 Why this season feels different
1:30 Going through major transitions
2:20 What scarcity does to the mind
3:40 The struggle to feel deserving
5:05 Happiness vs. real joy
6:10 Childhood experiences that shaped receiving
7:30 Survival mode and the fear of comfort
9:00 Feeling unqualified even while growing
10:15 Rejecting gifts, help, and celebration
12:00 How financial trauma shows up in adulthood
13:10 Learning to receive without guilt
15:30 Why joy feels unfamiliar
17:10 Final message on deserving more than survival
18:00 Outro

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Join the Lounge Family (Free Guides, Merch, & More):

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This episode of Tray of Truths Podcast offers a powerful and inspiring look into the life of an athlete who built his success through struggle, sacrifice and an unwavering belief in himself. Tray sits down with Robin “RP” Perry as he shares his journey from growing up in the toughest parts of Orlando to becoming a Division One and overseas basketball player.

Rob speaks honestly about the emotional weight of being overlooked the long hours spent working while chasing his dream and the reality of navigating a world where nothing was ever handed to him. Every setback became a lesson in patience resilience and trusting the timing of his life.

His story reveals what happens when a young man refuses to let his environment define him and instead transforms hardship into personal growth purpose and inner strength.

This episode serves as a reminder that the underdog can rise that faith can guide you through the darkest seasons and that every struggle is shaping you for the place you are meant to reach.

Robin Perry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rperryy2?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Time Stamps:
0:00 Episode intro
1:20 Robin introduction
5:10 Growing up in Orlando
10:40 Being overlooked as an athlete
16:00 Sacrifices struggles and early responsibilities
22:30 Winning a state championship and feeling unseen
30:10 Financial hardship and hitting rock bottom
36:45 Prep school and rebuilding the dream
42:30 College journey and adversity
48:20 Overseas basketball challenges
53:00 Lessons in faith patience and purpose
56:00 Final message to the listeners

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APPLE PODCAST | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tray-of-truths/id1794656555

Join the Lounge Family (Free Guides, Merch, & More):

Website | www.trayoftruths.com
Extras | https://linktr.ee/TrayofTruths