Carlos Mendiola

The Art of Authenticity podcast with Laura Coe

Marcus Aurelius Anderson: Gift of Adversity

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, we had an inspirational conversation with, Marcus Anderson. 

On today’s show we welcome Marcus Aurelius Anderson, Coach, Speaker, and Author of his new book, 

The Gift of Adversity

. While preparing to deploy with the U.S. Army, Marcus suffered a severe spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. His life was turned upside down, and after dying twice on the operating table, he was told he would never be able to walk or use his hands again. Days quickly turned into months, and he was forced into life-changing soul searching. He discovered he was left with two choices, he could either be a victim, or he could change his mindset. Having no other option, he began looking for any lessons to be learned from his injury and soon discovered that his adversity was a gift.Marcus now speaks, teaches, and writes to inspire others to actualize their full potential and achieve their goals and aspirations. this man has a remarkable story and believe me it’s one you want to hear, keep listening to hear more as we talk about the gift of adversity and staying true to who you are.Keep listening!

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • What led Marcus to making a life changing decision. [4:19]

  • Marcus’s path to joining the military. [12:22]

  • Military training versus military combat. [17:40]

  • Why adversity is relative to everybody. [19:31]

  • Understand how Marcus’s injury occurred. [22:45]

  • Listen as Marcus tells about his near death experiences. [28:21]

  • Being a victim or changing your mentality. [33:25]

  • Pain and discomfort being the best teachers. [37:13]

  • Adversity as the ultimate form of accountability. [42:29]

  • If everything is a priority then nothing is a priority. [47:10]

  • Living for the moment and minimizing distractions. [48:53]

  • Being true to yourself and allowing your actions to reflect your truth. [50:49]

  • And much more!

More About Marcus

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by Carlos Mendiola

The Art of Authenticity podcast with Laura Coe

Kute Blackson: Step into Your Authentic Self with Joy and Self Love

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, we had a favorite interviewee back on, Kute Blackson, transformational coach and author.  

On today’s show we welcome Kute Blackson, Transformational Life Coach and author of the book

You A

re

The One

.

This guy just brings it. I really encourage you to check out this episode if you're looking for a spiritual guided message, deeply engaged in this idea of authenticity. We discussed everything from why it is that multimillionaires, billionaires don’t feel happy, the wounds that need to heal before you can find what you love, what you need to be to be loved and what gets in the way. I mean, we just hit on all sorts of amazing topics and Kute speaks to each and every one of them, from a heartfelt, vulnerable and deeply passionate place. Keep listening!

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • Reclaiming your power and taking responsibility. [2:53]

  • Why the wealthiest people aren’t always the happiest people. [8:37]

  • Living an authentic life and being in alignment with your core truth. [10:03]

  • The importance of knowing who you really are. [12:42]

  • Disconnecting from pain and forming masks & personas to feel validated and loved. [16:30]

  • Building your life and relationships on a foundation of truth and authenticity. [19:33]

  • Going through the process in order to be able to be yourself and feel alive. [22:23]

  • Following your heart even if you don’t know where you’re going. [25:20]

  • Joy: being in touch with the true spirit, the true essence, not based on external stuff. [28:19]

  • Kute’s humbling journey of writing his book. [31:20]

  • And much more!

More About Kute

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by Carlos Mendiola

The Art of Authenticity podcast with Laura Coe

Daniel Jordi: Dreams Manifest Through Having Trust in Yourself

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a deeply honest conversation with Daniel Jordi, entrepreneur and Managing Director of Leadership Bridge.

Today on the show we welcome Daniel Jordi. Daniel is the Managing Director of leadersbridge.org, which is a company that connects leaders, CEO’s, entrepreneurs, organizations, and partners to come together so that they can build and create new things.  It took Daniel many years to realize that he was much more than a networker – that he was a connector. Based on trust, intuition, and leading an authentic life – Daniel has developed a unique and creative business model that builds meaningful relationships. In today’s episode, Daniel shares, in the most honest way possible, his personal journey. One where he started as a real estate agent, then became a recruiter, until he eventually realized that his purpose was to be a connector. Despite having virtually no friends in school, Daniel became a person who brought others together through a deep understanding of himself. He began creating intimate meet up events that people wanted fly across the world to attend, which eventually led to his business model today. But underneath all of his accomplishments, was a yearning for self-knowledge, to trust his gut, to trust who he is and to really dial in to that inner intuition and let that be a guiding force in life. Great conversation about finding your purpose and fierce faith – take a listen!

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • How Daniel got business people flying in from around the world for a drink at a bar. [4:40]

  • When Daniel started realizing that he was a connector. [9:30]

  • The difference between a networker and a connector. [12:23]

  • Building trust and an alignment of values as a connector. [16:30]

  • Trusting your gut and intuition above all else. [17:31]

  • Finding your purpose through nothing but fierce faith. [22:18]

  • The back story behind Daniel’s innovative business model. [28:40]

  • Realigning what you do with who you are, to live an authentic life. [33:27]

  • How two worlds need to come together for happiness and success. [35:40]

  • And much more!

More About Daniel

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by Carlos Mendiola

Laura Coe and Tara Mohr — The Art of Authenticity podcast

Tara Mohr: Play Big

In this episode of The Art of Authenticity, Laura Coe talks with Tara Mohr, an expert on women’s leadership and wellbeing and author of Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create and Lead.

Practical ways to play big

Tara’s book is full of practical advice you can apply today. In this episode they walk through hands-on things you can do to play big, how to speak up, and why we don’t lead and speak up from a big place within ourselves.

Who this episode is for

Tara brings her ideas right down to everyday life, particularly for women, and for coaches, therapists and managers who want to grow.

Show Notes

  • Why frustration with the lack of women’s leadership in our world inspired Tara’s book. [2:49]

  • The responsibility of a leader to give practical, actionable advice. [3:52]

  • Learning to distinguish between the voice of the inner critic and realistic thinking. [5:27]

  • Recognizing the vicious cycle of being fueled by your inner critic. [9:50]

  • Moving away from the inner critic fueled motivation towards motivation from a positive place. [11:32]

  • Chronic health problems associated with working from a fear-fueled state. [13:15]

  • The limitations of being motivated by your inner critic; what it cannot help you do. [14:20]

  • Visualizing your future self and the inner-mentor visualization technique. [17:32]

  • The inner mentor as a power tool for stepping into the life and work you feel called toward. [26:49]

  • Understanding speech habits and how they affect the expression of our communication. [31:14]

  • The overvaluing of expertise that women in particular have been tricked into. [38:58]

  • Taking a stance of listening to your dreams and giving yourself permission to pursue them. [42:11]

  • And much more!

More About Tara

Frequently asked questions

How do you tell your inner critic from realistic thinking?

Tara addresses exactly this in the episode (around 5:27).

What is the inner mentor?

A visualization of your future self that Tara describes as a power tool for stepping into the life and work you feel called toward.

Related episodes

by Carlos Mendiola

The Art of Authenticity podcast with Laura Coe

Mark Aramli: Shark Tank Fail to Success

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had an enjoyable conversation with Mark Aramlli, entrepreneur

On today’s episode, we welcome Mark Aramli. Mark is the CEO and the founder of BedJet, a climate control device he engineered for beds. Have you heard of Shark Tank? If you are not familiar with it, Shark Tank is a popular TV show where entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their products or services to multi-millionaires and an audience of over seven million viewers. No pressure right? After months of preparation, Mark walks us through his experience going on the show and being one of the biggest failures that Shark Tank has ever seen and despite the absolutely brutal reply from the billionaires, despite all the negative feedback, Mark got up, mortgaged his house (twice) and still made it happen. Today BedJet is the #1 customer rated product in the mattress category on Amazon and has received hundreds of, almost all, five-star reviews. Take a listen to this great story about how to turn failure into success and how to not fall prey to the talk and approvals of others. An inspiring story, take a listen!

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • How Mark was unexpectedly invited to apply to Shark Tank. [03:49]

  • How the Shark Tank process helped mark refine his product pitch. [06:58]

  • The challenges in creating a product that’s inventing a new product category. [08:54]

  • Exposing BedJet to seven million plus viewers. [09:55]

  • Mark describes the moments before walking out on stage. [12:05]

  • The one thing Mark didn’t prepare for was for them to hate him and his product. [13:44]

  • The process of recovery after a crushing show. [14:51]

  • When Mark realized that smart, wealthy people aren’t right all the time. [16:44]

  • The only people whose opinions matter are? [20:30]

  • What is the BedJet and why Mark invented the product. [23:34]

  • The correlation and causality of temperature and quality of sleep. [27:15]

  • Why Mark drained his life savings to get his product launched. [34:18]

  • And much more!

More About Mark

Episode Resources

by Carlos Mendiola

Laura Coe and Karen Rinaldi — The Art of Authenticity podcast

Karen Rinaldi: The End of Men

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a thoughtful conversation with Karen Rinaldi, writer, editor, and publisher.

Today we welcome publisher, writer, editor and author, Karen Rinaldi. Karen is the publisher of Harper Wave, an imprint she founded in 2012, and a senior vice president at Harper Collins Publishers.  While Karen has worked in the publishing industry for over two decades, this is her first time in the role of novelist. Her book, 

The End of Men,

is something she worked on for over four years and inspired the story for the 2016 commercial film,

Maggie’

s Plan

. Karen is one of those women who might appear to “have it all“ but is not afraid to tell you when she sucks at something. In fact, she encourages sucking at something. So much so, that The New York Times even published her article on why sucking at something is so great. Today we talk about Karen’s journey – learning to surf at 40, what it means to “have it all,“ the role of men, authenticity, agency, and the liberation of what we have come to know today, as failure. Take a listen!

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • Why Karen started surfing at 40. [2:43]

  • Why you should always love sucking at something. [8:18]

  • Humbling versus humiliating; why the difference is so crucial to understand. [13:55]

  • Accepting imperfection and creating more opportunities to be vulnerable. [19:37]

  • End of Men: Delving into Karen’s book title and why she chose it. [21:54]

  • My choices, not yours; understanding agency and having it all. [26:07]

  • Why women have to step off the tightrope and take the extra leeway even when there is no applaus. [34:00]

  • Why Karen’s book came out after the movie. [36:44]

  • Learning to Keep your expectations grounded: Is there a time to give up? [42:36]

  • Surrender control, control surrender; are you controlling your surrender or are you surrendering control? [46:27]

  • And much more!

More About Karen

Episode Resources

by Carlos Mendiola

Elizabeth DiAlto: Wild Soul Movement

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a thoughtful conversation with Elizabeth DiAlto, writer, coach, and podcaster.

On the show today we welcome Elizabeth DiAlto. Known for her raw and honest approach to body love and self-acceptance, Liz is a speaker, writer, coach and the creator of Wild Soul Movement, a sensual practice in self-discovery that combines movement, mantra, and meditation. Her mission is to get women out of their heads and into their bodies to connect with and balance their powerful energy and trust their intuition. Liz works with large groups of women virtually through her 16-week Wild Soul Movement experience, and more intimately through one-on-one coaching, live training intensives and retreats. She also runs the 3500+ strong Soul Movement Salon, a private Facebook group for professional women, moms, entrepreneurs, and singles to reclaim and redefine womanhood.

In today’s episode Elizabeth delivers the same level of real grounded, honest, raw, connected advice and thoughts about her own experiences and what she understands about how to un-tame yourself, how to bring yourself forward and really lead from that deeper self. We also hear all about her book, Untame Yourself. Keep listening to hear more!

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • Elizabeth’s nine-minute ritual to start your day. [2:50]

  • The importance of connecting and honoring your body. [9:19]

  • How to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on yourself. [12:13]

  • Why people access their intuition differently. [13:55]

  • Transitioning from physical to the emotional and spiritual side. [17:22]

  • Losing connection to your body and the value of tuning back in. [19:35]

  • Understand how we are all intuitive both scientifically and spiritually. [22:33]

  • Differences between judgment and discernment. [25:44]

  • Identify the differences between feelings and emotions. [27:28]

  • Elizabeth defines breaking free and being untamed and what it means to her. [30:46]

  • The four topics of the Wild Soul Movement and how it applies to all of us. [35:49]

  • Learning to align logic with your belief system. [40:53]

  • Creating from love and not from a fear. [43:23]

  • Being authentic by being true to yourself in any moment. [43:30]

  • Elizabeth’s every day “must-do's.” [47:00]

  • And much more!

More About Elizabeth

Episode Resources

by Carlos Mendiola

The Art of Authenticity podcast with Laura Coe

Are You Afraid that You Will Be Self Absorbed If You Tell The Truth

Where is the line between self-indulgent, self-absorbed and authentic?

Self-absorbed or a martyr?

If we cater to our own self-interest, we are self-absorbed and self-serving. If we deny our needs, we are martyrs who can become resentful.

Balancing your needs and others’

How do we balance the needs of others with the need to take care of ourselves? The line between helping a friend and taking care of our own needs is not obvious. In this episode, Laura dives into that conversation.

Why authenticity?

Laura also shares why authenticity is at the heart of the show. When she walked away from an executive role, she had one word in mind: she wanted to find something more authentic, where the part of her that feels most herself was being expressed in what she was doing.

Frequently asked questions

Is being authentic selfish?

Not necessarily. This episode explores the line between self-absorption and authenticity, and how to balance your needs with the needs of others.

What happens if you always deny your own needs?

You can become a martyr, and martyrs can become resentful.

Related episodes

by Carlos Mendiola

Laura Coe and Teju Owoye — The Art of Authenticity podcast

Teju Owoye: A Serial Entrepreneur Share All

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a thoughtful conversation with Teju Owoye, founder of Sulte Group, Blis Brands, and Growth Marketer. 

Today on the show we have serial entrepreneur and woman-on-the-move, Teju Owoye. Teju is the founder of Sulte Group, Blis Brands and resident Growth Marketer at CoFoundersLab. Prior to starting the Sulte Group, Teju designed incentive and engagement programs for Fortune 500 companies and top universities. Teju is also a media professional with a ton of hosting and journalism experience. She is the founder and editor of Tusodo Magazine, a travel and lifestyle publication for the modern traveler. On today’s episode, we hear Teju’s story: how she moved from the corporate world to starting several businesses, how she tackled issues, her business mindset and all the things that have created so much success in her life. For anyone who is thinking about starting a business or who already has their own business, this woman has so many great lessons and really knows what she’s talking about! Take a listen to this inspiring conversation with Teju Owoye.

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • Teju takes us through the benefit of starting her career in corporate. [3:33]

  • The importance of having confidence in the face of uncertainty. [7:28]

  • Why you need systems in place if your goal is to build a big business. [9:12]

  • Control issues: How Teju learned to loosen the grip and delegate out. [11:56]

  • Why you need to fire yourself from tasks and start outsourcing. [13:54]

  • Understanding that passing on tasks does not make you weak. [17:18]

  • The impact of the ego, and why you should be aware of your own. [22:13]

  • Sales is your oxygen mask. Learn why this is the key to the survival of every business [25:16]

  • The power of asking for help and why you should seek it out, not shy away from it. [27:38]

  • Why entrepreneurs are not supposed to do it all and how you can avoid that path. [31:56]

  • Why Teju’s first business went broke and the mistakes you can learn from. [33:43]

  • Hear more about Teju’s latest system. [35:50]

More About Teju

Episode Resources

by Carlos Mendiola

The Art of Authenticity podcast with Laura Coe

Can We Really Live in the Present?

Most of us, if we’ve spent any time in any modern city, have heard about mindfulness: about being present, and how important it is to live our life in the moment.

What we’ve been told about being present

We’ve heard how important it is not to miss the moments, not to be distracted by our devices, the endless news cycle and the stimulation that is everywhere. We want to be present when we’re having a conversation with our friends. We even talk about mindful eating and mindful walking.

Why most of us aren’t achieving it

But the reality is that most of us are not achieving that goal. Most of us are anxious, and many of us are medicating.

The question this episode asks

We’ve accepted that a meaningful life, a life filled with happiness, requires presence, stillness, and being calm and focused on the moment at hand. So why haven’t we found it? Why is it that so many of us are experiencing the opposite?

Frequently asked questions

Why is it so hard to live in the present moment?

Constant stimulation, devices and the news cycle pull us away, and despite all the talk of mindfulness, most of us remain anxious. This episode explores why.

Why does presence matter?

A meaningful life, filled with happiness, requires presence, stillness and being focused on the moment at hand.

Related episodes

by Carlos Mendiola