Living Your Legacy
Rudy Mawer
library_music 218 Episodes Available
Recent Episodes
How She’s Rebuilding the Village for Working Parents
Renee Everett is on a mission to bring back something many families have lost: the village. As the founder of Everbrite Academy and the Renee Everett Collective, she is building a childcare model that goes beyond supervision by focusing on emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and family empowerment. In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Renee shares how her experiences growing up in Miami shaped her vision for helping children thrive in a rapidly changing world. She discusses the growing need for 24-hour childcare, why emotional regulation should be taught early, and how technology can become a powerful educational tool when used intentionally. Through practical lessons and real-world examples, she reveals her approach to developing confident, resilient children who can solve problems, express themselves, and navigate life's challenges. Whether you're a parent, educator, entrepreneur, or community leader, this conversation offers valuable insights into building stronger families and creating a lasting impact through service, leadership, and child development. Key Takeaways • Why 24-hour childcare is becoming essential for modern working families • How emotional intelligence can be taught through everyday challenges • Why critical thinking and problem-solving are skills children must develop early • How technology can enhance learning when properly guided and monitored • The importance of creating safe spaces where children feel heard and understood Notable Quotes • "I'm bridging the gap between a 24-hour childcare with our community." • "It could be a problem, but let's be solution based." • "Kids absorb, and that's very, very important." • "If you just have one person to understand you, you got it." • "I always give kids the space to express themselves."
How a Ukrainian Refugee Built a Luxury Design Empire
Helena Khomkalova went from building a successful career in Ukraine to rebuilding her entire life and business from scratch in Miami after war forced her family to leave everything behind. In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Helena shares how she trusted her instincts, walked away from a legal career, embraced entrepreneurship, and transformed adversity into opportunity. She reveals the mindset, planning, and relentless focus that helped FKTR Group become one of South Florida's fastest-growing luxury interior design and architectural finishes companies. From leadership and manifestation to building a world-class team and creating unforgettable client experiences, Helena offers a powerful lesson in resilience, vision, and refusing to waste time on a life that doesn't align with your purpose. Key Takeaways • Why Helena left a promising legal career to pursue marketing and entrepreneurship • How fleeing Ukraine during the war became the catalyst for building a new life in Miami • Why creating premium experiences is the foundation of luxury business growth • How building a company like a family accelerates team performance and long-term success • Why successful entrepreneurs plan years ahead and refuse to waste time waiting for opportunity Notable Quotes • "Life is going too fast. We can't waste any minutes, any second." • "When you see someone else succeeding, you realize it's time to start immediately." • "If you don't have a clear plan in your mind, how can you do this?" • "We are the best one. We are representative of a high-end brand." • "When you inspire people, you will have a great team that supports you everywhere."
How a Mom Turned Heartbreak Into a Movement
Kristin Merwin, founder of Magic Inside, shares the deeply personal journey behind building a movement dedicated to helping women, children, and families reconnect with their authentic selves. Raised in a small Montana town and inspired by her grandmother’s Magic Mountain stories, Kristin reflects on the experiences that shaped her purpose, the challenges that nearly caused her to quit, and the powerful lessons she learned through motherhood, entrepreneurship, and healing. From launching a business during a global shutdown to creating the Seven Magic Mindsets curriculum, she reveals how resilience, intentional parenting, emotional growth, and self-discovery became the foundation of her legacy. This conversation explores what it means to break generational patterns, trust your inner compass, and build a life rooted in connection, courage, and purpose. Key Takeaways The magic we search for is often already within us.Intentional parenting creates lasting generational impact.Resilience is built by moving through challenges, not avoiding them.True wealth comes from connection, purpose, and meaningful relationships.One healed heart can influence generations to come. Notable Quotes "Don't give up on this. Do not give up on this.""The magic you seek is already inside you.""Sometimes the magic doesn't show up before the hard things. It shows up because we walk through them.""Success isn't about how much you earn. It's about how much you live.""I believe one healed heart can heal generations."
How a Childhood Trauma Survivor Found His Purpose
What happens when the darkest experience of your life becomes the foundation for your life's work? In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Army veteran, entrepreneur, and NeoMasculinity.Solutions founder John T. Krotec shares the deeply personal journey that transformed him from a survivor of childhood trauma into a leader focused on helping others reclaim authenticity, critical thinking, and self-leadership. John opens up about the challenges that shaped him, including childhood sexual assault, a traumatic brain injury, struggles within his marriage, and years spent searching for healing and purpose. Through military service, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and relentless resilience, he discovered a mission far greater than himself. This conversation explores masculinity, healing, emotional resilience, family, human intuition, leadership, and the importance of finding truth in a world flooded with noise. More importantly, it reveals how legacy is built not through perfection, but through courage, authenticity, and service to others. Whether you're searching for purpose, rebuilding after adversity, or striving to create a meaningful impact, John's story offers powerful lessons on what it truly means to leave a legacy. Key Takeaways • Childhood trauma does not have to define the rest of your life. • Authenticity creates trust, connection, and lasting impact. • Leadership begins with protecting and serving the people you love. • Critical thinking and human intuition are skills that must be intentionally developed. • A meaningful legacy is built through courage, resilience, and helping others become their best selves. Notable Quotes • "The legacies that get left are the ones that actually have value and meaning." • "If you be you and you be authentic, people will gravitate towards that energy." • "Find the courage to change. Find the courage to be yourself." • "You have to find the love inside yourself first." • "Be your person. That's what this journey is all about."
How a College Student Built the Disney FastPass for Bars
At just 23 years old, Ethan Karian is already chasing a vision he’s had since childhood: building a company that disrupts an entire industry. Raised by two entrepreneurs and inspired by the lessons of Think and Grow Rich, Ethan shares how years of self-education, early business failures, and relentless ambition led him to create SipSkip, a hospitality technology platform transforming the way people order drinks at bars, festivals, and stadiums. In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Ethan reveals the moment the idea struck him at a crowded LSU bar, why he abandoned another business to go all-in on SipSkip, and how he approaches entrepreneurship with a fail fast mindset. Along the way, he shares powerful lessons about belief, resilience, team building, innovation, and creating something so simple that competitors struggle to improve upon it. Key Takeaways • Why failing fast gives entrepreneurs a competitive advantage • How childhood exposure to entrepreneurship shaped his mindset • Why self-education can accelerate success beyond traditional learning • The importance of pivoting when a bigger opportunity appears • How simplicity can become a company's greatest competitive advantage Notable Quotes • “I knew since I was a young kid that I wanted to found a company that was going to disrupt an industry and change the world.” • “When I came up with SipSkip, I was doing another company at the time. I said, this one's it.” • “The idea was create something so simple, so seamless that there would be no better way.” • “Fail quick and fail fast.” • “Anything is possible as long as you want it bad enough and are willing to work for it.”
How a College Student Bought His Professor’s Business
Andrew Oleson never planned to become the owner of the company he admired most. While still in college, he took a chance, walked into his professor’s office, and made a bold offer that would change the course of his life. Today, as CEO of PDG+Creative, Andrew helps businesses build stronger brands, clearer marketing strategies, and deeper customer connections. In this episode, he shares why business is ultimately about people, not numbers, how company culture became his greatest competitive advantage, and the lessons he carried from military service into entrepreneurship. Through stories of leadership, branding, hiring, and business growth, Andrew reveals what it takes to build a company designed for long-term impact and lasting legacy. Key Takeaways Why Andrew bought a business from his college professor at just 24 years oldThe surprising lesson that shifted his focus from numbers to peopleHow a 90 to 120-day hiring process helps create a high-performance cultureWhat military service taught him about leadership, teamwork, and accountabilityWhy successful branding starts with strategy, storytelling, and understanding people Notable Quotes "About six months into this business, I realized it had absolutely nothing to do with numbers. It was all people.""I don't just get to go to work, I get to run to work.""Ideas only get stronger when they're challenged.""If a picture is worth a thousand words, what's it saying and to who?""Every entrepreneur wakes up and the world spins because we get up and push it with our feet."
How She Left Success to Build Her Dream Farm
For years, Tara Luckie did everything society told her would lead to success. She earned multiple degrees, led thriving nonprofits, climbed the professional ladder, and built a respected career. Yet behind the accomplishments, she felt disconnected from the life she truly wanted. In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Tara shares the turning points that forced her to confront her limiting beliefs, listen to her intuition, and pursue the childhood dream she had buried for decades. From health challenges and burnout to buying a fixer-upper farm during COVID, she reveals how embracing authenticity transformed not only her life, but an entire community. Today, Luckie Farms welcomes thousands of visitors, offers immersive farm experiences, and has become a model for agricultural innovation, agritourism, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Key Takeaways • Why success without fulfillment eventually catches up with you • How limiting beliefs quietly shape your life and business decisions • The surprising connection between childhood passions and purpose • Why intuition is often a better guide than external validation • How taking imperfect action created opportunities she never imagined Notable Quotes • “If we can change our inner beliefs, our outside automatically changes.” • “Your body always shows you what’s wrong.” • “We are only capable of what we believe we are capable of.” • “You just have to go for it and believe everything will work out.” • “Success isn’t a finish line. It’s a feeling.”
From Small-Town Brazil to Martial Arts Pioneer
What does it take to become the first woman to achieve what no one thought possible? In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Christianny Paiva Lima shares her remarkable journey from a small town in Brazil to becoming a pioneering force in martial arts, entrepreneurship, and women's empowerment. Facing discrimination, cultural barriers, and relentless challenges in the male-dominated worlds of Taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, she discovers that true strength is built through discipline, resilience, and purpose. Through stories of sacrifice, leadership, and personal growth, Christianny reveals how martial arts became the foundation for building confidence, creating opportunities for women, and leaving a lasting legacy that extends far beyond the mat. Key Takeaways Why discipline becomes a lifelong advantage in business, leadership, and personal growth.How overcoming discrimination helped shape her mission to empower women.The mindset required to succeed as a pioneer in a male-dominated industry.Why confidence is built through consistent action, not natural talent.How martial arts can create lasting impact through leadership, mentorship, and service. Notable Quotes "I have to train way more than everybody else.""You can be strong and everything and you can still be feminine.""The goal is not really to use it.""The body is your temple and your mind controls your body.""Everything you do in life somehow you're going to use."
From Shy Teen Mom to New York Fashion Week
Fashion was never just about clothing for Mia Evans. Long before she launched Mia Maree, she was a shy little girl growing up in San Francisco, captivated by her mother’s style and inspired by the confidence fashion could create. In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Mia shares the deeply personal journey behind building a fashion brand rooted in confidence, culture, and legacy. From becoming a teenage mom and teaching herself fashion design to winning her first runway competition and reaching New York Fashion Week, her path was anything but easy. She opens up about loss, resilience, entrepreneurship, rebuilding after setbacks, and the promise she made to keep pursuing her dream no matter what. This is a story about purpose, perseverance, and creating a legacy that outlives you. Key Takeaways Your story and struggles can become your greatest source of strength.Confidence is built through action, not something you're born with.Success requires resilience through personal and professional setbacks.Not everyone is meant to stay on your journey, and that's okay.Legacy is about creating something meaningful that impacts future generations. Notable Quotes "Fashion became my voice before I found the courage to speak up.""Your story is your power.""Not everyone is meant to go where you're going.""Never stop doing what you love.""You can come from anywhere and still create something extraordinary."
From Police Chief to Mental Health Reformer
For more than four decades, Roy Taylor has served on the front lines of law enforcement, military service, and leadership. But after witnessing a troubling pattern in police encounters involving mental health crises, he begins asking a difficult question: can policing be done differently? In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Roy shares the experiences that shaped his commitment to service, the lessons learned from 45 years in law enforcement, and the mission that drives his work today through Taylor Law Enforcement Consulting Group. From serving as a police chief and military officer to becoming an expert witness in civil rights cases, he reveals what leadership, accountability, and integrity truly look like under pressure. Discover how purpose-driven leadership, police reform, mental health crisis intervention, and public trust intersect in one man's lifelong pursuit of justice and service. Key Takeaways • Why leadership through service creates lasting impact • How resilience helped him overcome challenges throughout his career • The importance of de-escalation during mental health crises • Why integrity matters more than popularity in leadership • How small changes in police training can save lives Notable Quotes • "Protecting people should never come at the cost of dignity." • "The need to use force should be the last resort." • "Real leadership means making the hard calls and owning the outcome." • "I want to figure out a way that I could help reduce those deaths." • "You don't have to wear a badge to live with honor. You just have to do what's right, especially when it's hard."
From Pizza Shop Owner to Saving Mothers
What happens when unimaginable loss becomes a lifelong mission? In this powerful episode of Living Your Legacy, Steven D'Achille shares how the devastating loss of his wife to postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis transformed him from a successful Pennsylvania restaurant owner into one of the nation's most passionate maternal mental health advocates. Steven reveals the moment that changed everything, the promise he made in a hospital bathroom, and how that promise led to a groundbreaking mother-baby care program that has served more than 32,000 women. Through stories of grief, resilience, purpose, and healing, he explains why advocacy, storytelling, and community support are saving lives every day. Key Takeaways • How personal tragedy can reveal a deeper life purpose • Why postpartum depression is a family health issue, not just a women's health issue • The importance of fathers being actively involved throughout pregnancy and postpartum care • How storytelling creates awareness, drives change, and saves lives • Why serving others can become a powerful pathway to healing and recovery Notable Quotes • "When you figure out your calling, it's more fulfilling than a paycheck or a job." • "Love makes you do things you never thought you were capable of." • "Nothing changes the world quicker than storytelling." • "When you learn how to deal with adversity in a healthy way, it unlocks your superpowers." • "You never feel bad doing something good for someone else."
From Corporate Executive to Healing Through Poetry
For more than 25 years, Tina Sanchez lived between two worlds. By day, she built a successful career in corporate leadership. Behind the scenes, she explored healing arts, energy work, poetry, and personal transformation. In this powerful episode of Living Your Legacy, Tina shares the moments that forced her to stop hiding who she truly was and step fully into her purpose. From surviving life-altering health challenges to embracing spoken word poetry, stone medicine, and emotional healing, she reveals the lessons that shaped her journey. Through vulnerability, resilience, and self-discovery, Tina demonstrates how healing can become a legacy. Key Takeaways • Why a major health crisis became the catalyst for reinventing her life • How poetry became both a healing tool and a successful professional path • The challenge of leaving a comfortable corporate career to follow purpose • Why vulnerability became one of her greatest strengths • How embracing authenticity transformed her relationships, business, and mission Notable Quotes • "I am super excited to fully expose myself." • "It got so loud through my art and healing that I couldn't do that other stuff anymore." • "I know what I know, yet I embrace the 'I don't know.'" • "My words are medicine." • "I am not afraid to be seen trying."
How a Midwife Transformed Maternal Wellness Worldwide
Corina Fitch, a midwife and founder of Motherfly, shares the personal journey that reshaped maternal wellness. From growing up on a hippie commune and deciding at 12 to become a midwife, to experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety after her third child, Corina reveals the pivotal moments that led her to redefine motherhood. She introduces the concept of “matressence,” explains the importance of building a container of self-care and self-compassion, and challenges the myth of the perfect mother. Listeners gain practical insights into supporting maternal mental health and creating a legacy of wellness for future generations. Key Takeaways Postpartum depression, anxiety, and maternal mental health challenges shape both personal and professional journeys.Traditional notions of motherhood often lead to burnout and require a redefinition for modern women.“Matressence” describes the neuroplastic and transformative phase of motherhood.Building a container of self-care, self-compassion, and relational support is essential for wellness.Transformation and empowerment can turn personal struggle into impactful advocacy and community building. Notable Quotes “Ultimately, if moms aren't well, nobody's well.”“We need to let go of this perfect mother myth where mothers are held to superhuman standards.”“The motherfly has learned to include herself in her circle of care.”“You are enough… Your wellness matters. It is your birthright.”“This whole supermom thing is very 1940s; it's killing us.”
From NASA Engineer to Dog Park Visionary
What happens when a NASA engineer and serial entrepreneur discovers that the greatest lessons about leadership, community, and legacy come from a dog? In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Ramy Saleh shares the unexpected journey that led him from engineering, innovation, and global leadership roles to creating Zoomies Dog Park, Houston’s first members-only dog social club. Inspired by the unconditional love of his own dog, Ramy reveals how a simple observation became a mission to build experiences that bring people together. Along the way, he explores responsible pet ownership, community building, resilience, and why the most meaningful businesses solve emotional needs, not just practical ones. Through powerful stories about dogs, loss, purpose, and connection, Ramy offers a fresh perspective on what it truly means to leave a lasting legacy. Key Takeaways • Why unconditional love can become a powerful leadership lesson • How a personal frustration inspired a first-of-its-kind business concept • The importance of building community in an increasingly disconnected world • What dogs can teach us about living fully in the present moment • Why meaningful legacy comes from creating experiences people never forget Notable Quotes • "Once you learn unconditional love, you learn how to love yourself even better." • "That's a relationship that's been in development for 50,000 years." • "The dogs are great. The challenges are the humans." • "Let's make it beautiful. This journey is what counts." • "Be the best version that your dog thinks that you are."
From Argumentative Kid to Justice Fighter
Kendall Ali never planned on blending in. Long before becoming a respected criminal defense attorney and managing partner of a growing law firm, he was the kid constantly questioning authority, challenging opinions, and refusing to back down from a fight. In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Kendall shares how that same competitive drive carried him through law school, the courtroom, and the challenges of building a client-focused legal practice. From earning respect in an industry dominated by seasoned veterans to defending individuals facing life-changing legal battles, Kendall reveals the mindset, discipline, and relentless pursuit of excellence that define his approach. He discusses criminal defense, leadership, company culture, reputation, and what it truly means to fight for people when they need it most. This conversation explores the responsibility that comes with advocacy, the importance of earning trust, and the legacy he hopes to leave through his family, team, and clients. Key Takeaways • Success is earned through consistent effort, preparation, and persistence. • Reputation becomes a business owner's most valuable asset. • Great leaders build cultures centered around serving people. • Continuous self-improvement is essential to competing at the highest level. • Legacy is created by fighting for others, not just personal achievement. Notable Quotes • "I've always argued with my parents, argued with my teachers." • "I like to win." • "However good you are, you can always be better." • "We're going to find a way to win this." • "We are going to fight for our clients until there is nothing left to fight for."