Your Daily Retreat
 

Your Daily Retreat

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You can be highly capable and still feel like something isn’t fully clicking.

This podcast explores clarity, alignment, leadership, and intentional growth through thoughtful conversations with founders, operators, creatives, clinicians, and other experts.

Hosted by Jeff and Sam, each episode looks at how ambitious people navigate complexity and make important decisions. We explore how to build a career and life that stays aligned with what matters most.

You’ll also hear Alignment Audits - real conversations where someone brings what feels unclear or stuck. Together we slow it down, clarify what matters, and build a deliberate path forward.

If you're navigating leadership, career growth, or major life decisions, this podcast offers perspective, structure, and space to think clearly.

Less noise. More clarity. Real integration.

A weekly return to yourself.

Episodes

Conscious Branding: How to Build a Brand That Aligns With Who You Are ft. Jackie Minsky

Jul 2, 2026

Jul 2, 2026

52 min

Most people think branding begins with a logo, a website, or the perfect social media strategy.

But long before someone clicks “follow” or becomes a customer, they’ve already experienced someone more powerful: the person behind the brand. 

Because people don’t just connect with what someone creates. 

They connect with what that person carries, their values, their presence, their authenticity, and their alignment. 

In this episode, Sam welcomes branding strategist, executive mentor, and founder of Divine PR, Jackie Minsky, for a conversation that uncovers the foundation behind every meaningful brand. 

Drawing from her expertise in public relations, marketing strategy, and consumer psychology, Jackie reveals why conscious branding begins long before a marketing strategy. It begins with aligning who you are, what you believe in, and how you show up. Because the brands that leave the deepest impact aren’t built by chasing attention, but by living in alignment. 

Together, Sam and Jackie explore what conscious branding really means in a world obsessed with aesthetics and performance, and why branding is ultimately less about perception and more about embodiment. You’ll also hear why understanding your audience at an emotional level matters more than chasing trends, and how your beliefs and internal state quietly shape the success or failure of your brand.

Whether you’re building a business, growing a personal brand, or stepping into a new season of leadership, this episode will challenge you to look beyond your strategy and ask a deeper question:

Does your brand truly reflect the person you’re becoming?

In this episode:

(02:03) - Jackie’s journey to discovering conscious branding
(05:54) - What branding actually means in today’s marketplace
(07:01) - Why product, service, and personal brands require different strategies
(09:04) - What conscious branding actually means and why it changes everything
(12:36) - Why chasing authority without alignment will always feel exhausting
(15:11) - Authenticity vs Aesthetics: what actually builds trust?
(18:25) - Should you build a personal brand or a business brand?
(20:05) - Why every entrepreneur should build a personal brand
(21:30) - How to uncover a brand that genuinely reflects who you are
(25:35) - The difference between creating content and building a business
(29:18) - Why knowing your audience matters more than going viral
(34:19) - Why great marketing starts with great branding
(36:39) - The marketing planning framework behind high-growth brands
(38:42) - How to know when it’s time to pivot your marketing strategy
(41:23) - Why alignment shapes the way people experience your brand
(47:46) - 3 simple shifts to strengthen your brand from the inside out

Connect with Jackie:

Connect with us: 

Produced by Eliza St John | Email info@ydretreat.com
Original Music by Dario Forzato | http://www.darioforzatomusic.com 
This Podcast is Hosted by Podbean.

 

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Jul 2, 2026

52 min

Yes, You Can Be a Present Mom and Build Something Big: Michelle Burr's 90-Day Check-In

Jun 25, 2026

Jun 25, 2026

38 min

Before listening to this episode, we highly recommend going back and listening to Episode 3: “Can you be a present mom and still build something big?” Michelle Burr's Original Alignment Audit. 

An Alignment Audit is a coaching conversation designed to uncover what's keeping someone stuck, create clarity around their next steps, and identify the shifts that will create the greatest impact. Then, 90 days later, we revisit the conversation to see what changed, what breakthroughs occurred, and what became possible.

This episode is Michelle's 90-day follow-up, and hearing where she started will make the transformation you're about to hear even more powerful.

90 days ago, Michelle Burr was carrying a question so many women silently ask themselves:

Can I be fully present for my family and still build something meaningful?

Michelle has a beautiful life, a loving husband, two precious babies, and a thriving online business. But behind the scenes, she felt pulled in a hundred directions, carrying the weight of trying to be everything for everyone while slowly losing sight of herself.

So we slowed everything down.

We stripped away the pressure, the guilt, and the belief that she had to choose. Instead of chasing more, we focused on three simple things: her mindset, her time, and getting clear on what she was truly building in this season of life.

In this episode, Michelle shares the mindset shifts that helped her release the guilt of wanting more, the small changes that transformed her marriage and family rhythms, and why asking for support became the key to creating more freedom, peace, and growth.

Michelle has discovered that being present doesn't mean playing small, and that building something meaningful doesn't have to come at the expense of the people you love.

Because sometimes the biggest transformation doesn't come from changing your life. It comes from changing what you believe is possible within it.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Michelle returns 90 days later: what has changed?
(02:59) - The mindset shift that helped Michelle embrace motherhood and ambition
(08:37) - How clarity changes everything when you feel overwhelmed
(10:20) - How hiring an assistant gave Michelle more time, peace, and presence
(14:40) - The “Who” vs the “How”: Understanding your real hourly value
(18:21) - The simple habit that helped Michelle and Matt plan their week and future together
(21:42) - How deeper communication creates unity in marriage and a shared vision
(24:22) - How Michelle broke free from the belief that wanting more makes you selfish
(31:53) - Why awareness is the first step to breaking cycles of procrastination and overwhelm
(34:24) - The permission you need to stop staying in a season that no longer serves you
(36:06) - Why alignment is not about starting over

Links and Resources:

Connect with Michelle:

Connect with us: 

Produced by Eliza St John | Email info@ydretreat.com
Original Music by Dario Forzato | http://www.darioforzatomusic.com 
This Podcast is Hosted by Podbean.

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Jun 25, 2026

38 min

The Energy Behind Great Leadership ft. Anthony Badalian

Jun 18, 2026

Jun 18, 2026

56 min

Scaling a business is not just about growth.

It is about the energy behind the vision, the people carrying it forward, and the culture that makes others want to be part of it.

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Anthony Badalian, President and COO of STRIDE Fitness, for a conversation about leadership, scaling, fitness, community, and what it takes to build something that lasts.

Anthony has spent nearly two decades in the fitness industry, helping grow some of the most recognized brands in the space, including 24 Hour Fitness, Club Pilates, Rumble Boxing, and now STRIDE Fitness. But his story started in a very different place: an entry-level sales role he almost didn’t realize he was applying for.

From there, Anthony learned how to sell, lead, build teams, take risks, step outside his comfort zone, and grow into executive leadership.

In this conversation, Anthony shares the lessons he has learned from both large corporate environments and fast-moving startups, what separates companies that scale from companies that stall, and why the best brands are not built on product alone.

They are built on people, passion, process, culture, and community.

Jeff and Anthony also talk about the power of energy in leadership, why passion often matters more than credentials, how to create a place where people feel like they belong, and why STRIDE is focused on becoming more than a fitness studio.

Because the businesses that endure are not just selling something.

They are creating something people want to be part of.

In this episode:

(01:35) - Where Anthony’s energy and leadership style come from
(02:34) - How his family, identity, and passion shaped the way he leads
(05:14) - Anthony’s journey from entry-level sales to President and COO
(12:36) - Why taking risks is essential for growth
(15:34) - What corporate environments and startups teach you differently
(20:09) - The difference between building a brand and building a movement
(22:23) - Why the “third place” matters more than ever
(23:07) - How STRIDE Fitness creates community and belonging
(25:55) - People, product, and process: where leaders should focus first
(28:05) - Why passion and drive can matter more than credentials
(29:38) - How great companies develop and retain great talent
(32:24) - The importance of mentorship, coaching, and one-on-one leadership
(39:26) - How to scale without losing the culture
(41:38) - Why time management is critical when building a business
(44:07) - How fitness supports leadership, clarity, and energy
(45:26) - Why testing, refining, and execution matter more than perfection
(46:11) - The value of slowing down before you speed up
(52:24) - What success means to Anthony in this season

Connect with Anthony:

Connect with us: 

Produced by Eliza St John | Email info@ydretreat.com
Original Music by Dario Forzato | http://www.darioforzatomusic.com 
This Podcast is Hosted by Podbean.

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Jun 18, 2026

56 min

Everything’s Going To Be OK (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)

Jun 11, 2026

Jun 11, 2026

18 min

Sometimes life just feels… off.

Something shifts, something ends, or nothing makes sense.

Maybe you lost someone or something. Maybe a door closed.

And no matter how hard you try to move forward, you feel stuck in a place that’s uncomfortable, unclear, and impossible to explain. 

If you’ve ever been in a hard season, the kind where you’re not sure of how you’re going to get through it, or life just doesn’t look the way you thought it would — this is your moment to pause. 

In this raw and deeply moving episode, Samantha gently steps into that space with you to remind you of something simple and true: Everything’s going to be OK, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.

Through her own lived experiences of loss, rebuilding, and starting over, she speaks to the reality of seasons that stretch you beyond what you thought you could. She opens up about relationships that ended, identities that collapsed, and the shock of losing entire chapters of life overnight. From business breakdowns to starting over more than once, she shares what it really looks like to rebuild when nothing feels certain, and the ground beneath you no longer makes sense. 

Because growth doesn’t always feel like progress. Sometimes it feels like grief. Sometimes it feels like loss. Sometimes it feels like showing up one more day without clarity, but choosing to keep going anyway. 

And even in the middle of it all, one truth remains steady: You are still here. You are still becoming. And everything is still unfolding exactly as it’s meant to. 

In this episode:

(00:01) - When life feels off, and nothing makes sense anymore
(01:50) - What happens when your nervous system is stuck in stress mode
(03:11) - How to reframe setbacks, failure, and life transitions with a growth mindset
(06:15) - How losing everything led to finding purpose again and rebuilding from nothing
(08:55) - How to build identity and confidence when you feel like you’re starting over
(11:40) - The power of showing up daily when you feel like giving up
(14:13) - How hard seasons shape growth, resilience, and emotional strength
(15:32) - Why discomfort and grief are necessary parts of becoming who you are
(16:49) - A reminder that you are not alone in what you’re going through

Connect with us: 

Produced by Eliza St John | Email info@ydretreat.com
Original Music by Dario Forzato | http://www.darioforzatomusic.com
This Podcast is Hosted by Podbean.

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Jun 11, 2026

18 min

The Power Couple Conversation: What It Really Takes ft. Micah & Lauren McQueen

Jun 4, 2026

Jun 4, 2026

1 hr 19 min

Everyone loves the idea of a power couple.

The ambition. The success. The travel. The shared vision. Two people building big lives and making it look exciting from the outside.

But behind the scenes, there is a lot more going on.

There are hard conversations. Different schedules. Money decisions. Personal growth seasons. Moments of misalignment. And the real work of learning how to support each other without competing, controlling, or losing yourselves in the process.

In this episode, Jeff and Sam sit down with their close friends Lauren and Micah McQueen for a real conversation about what being a power couple actually means.

Micah shares his journey from sleeping on an air mattress and struggling to make roofing work, to becoming a co-owner of a nationwide company with dozens of branches across the country. Lauren shares how she started building a business at 19, created six-figure success at a young age, and learned how mentorship, personal growth, and leadership shaped the woman she is today.

Together, they talk about marriage, ambition, business, money, support, routines, faith, growth, and what it takes to keep choosing each other when life is full.

This conversation is honest, funny, practical, and deeply encouraging for anyone building something, loving someone who is building something, or trying to grow alongside another strong person without drifting apart.

Because being a power couple is not about looking successful from the outside.

It is about how you communicate, how you make decisions, how you grow, and how you build a life that can actually hold the success you are creating.

In this episode:

(03:11) - What being a “power couple” really means
(05:07) - Why finding your “other half” may be the wrong goal
(10:49) - How Lauren and Micah met in a Facebook group
(17:28) - What early marriage revealed about expectations, communication, and growth
(19:40) - Why marriage is not two single people simply co-existing
(27:51) - How Micah went from an air mattress to co-owning a nationwide company
(37:32) - The moment Micah realized he had to seek mentorship instead of doing it alone
(44:49) - How Lauren started building a business at 19 and made six figures by 21
(48:27) - Why personal growth changes your capacity to lead
(53:34) - How success changes in different seasons of life
(59:22) - How ambitious couples can support each other without competing
(01:01:10) - Why your partner’s priorities should matter to you, even when they are not your own
(01:06:09) - How routines, walks, prayer, gratitude, and honest conversations help keep them grounded
(01:08:44) - What it looks like to intentionally invest in your marriage
(01:11:50) - Why building something meaningful requires both individual growth and shared vision

Connect with Micah:

Connect with Lauren:

Connect with us: 

Produced by Eliza St John | Email info@ydretreat.com
Original Music by Dario Forzato | http://www.darioforzatomusic.com 
This Podcast is Hosted by Podbean.

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Jun 4, 2026

1 hr 19 min

The Overnight Success That Took 13 Years: Part 2

May 28, 2026

May 28, 2026

35 min

People love to celebrate success, but almost nobody talks about the breakdowns that came first.

The moments where your plans fall apart, your identity cracks, your future stops making sense, and you quietly wonder if you completely ruined your life.

Thirteen years ago, Sam was walking away from a career path she spent years building, carrying more than $250,000 in student debt while people around her questioned why she would risk everything for a vision no one else could see.

At the same time, Jeff was at rock bottom, battling addiction, getting arrested, and hiding behind a shrub in a parking lot while facing the reality of who he had become.

That is the part people don’t usually see: the false starts, the failures, the moments where life falls apart, and the choice to rebuild anyway.

In this episode, Sam and Jeff pull back the curtain on the chapters that shaped them individually and eventually together. They talk about rock-bottom moments, identity shifts, rebuilding seasons, and the decisions that changed the trajectory of their lives.

Because becoming who you are meant to be rarely happens in the easy seasons. It happens in the moments that force you to choose differently.

If you feel like your life is messy right now, if you feel behind, or if you are standing in the middle of a setback, this conversation is here to remind you that maybe your life isn’t falling apart. Maybe it is rebuilding you into who you were meant to become.

In this episode:

(03:13) - Why betting on yourself is sometimes the only way forward
(08:39) - How rebuilding proves it was never luck
(14:39) - How  building the right relationships changes everything in your career
(19:22) - How to identify your superpower and what may also be holding you back
(24:17) - Why there is no finish line, only new seasons
(28:16) - Why the first voice in your head is not always the truth
(31:59) - How to recreate yourself in any season

Connect with us: 

Produced by Eliza St John | Email info@ydretreat.com
Original Music by Dario Forzato | http://www.darioforzatomusic.com 
This Podcast is Hosted by Podbean.

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May 28, 2026

35 min

The Overnight Success That Took 13 Years: Part 1

May 21, 2026

May 21, 2026

33 min

People love to celebrate success, but almost nobody talks about the breakdowns that came first.

The moments where your plans fall apart, your identity cracks, your future stops making sense, and you quietly wonder if you completely ruined your life.

Thirteen years ago, Sam was walking away from a career path she spent years building, carrying more than $250,000 in student debt while people around her questioned why she would risk everything for a vision no one else could see.

At the same time, Jeff was at rock bottom, battling addiction, getting arrested, and hiding behind a shrub in a parking lot while facing the reality of who he had become.

That is the part people don’t usually see: the false starts, the failures, the moments where life falls apart, and the choice to rebuild anyway.

In this episode, Sam and Jeff pull back the curtain on the chapters that shaped them individually and eventually together. They talk about rock-bottom moments, identity shifts, rebuilding seasons, and the decisions that changed the trajectory of their lives.

Because becoming who you are meant to be rarely happens in the easy seasons. It happens in the moments that force you to choose differently.

If you feel like your life is messy right now, if you feel behind, or if you are standing in the middle of a setback, this conversation is here to remind you that maybe your life isn’t falling apart. Maybe it is rebuilding you into who you were meant to become.

In this episode:

(01:32) - What people don’t see behind success
(04:48) - Why comparison feels convincing but is often misleading
(06:15) - How success is built in seasons most people never see
(10:01) - Why your definition of success changes as you grow
(12:31) - Sam’s story of debt, burnout, and walking away from the expected path
(17:40) - Jeff’s story of addiction, arrest, and the shrub moment
(23:23) - How a setback can become the moment that changes everything
(24:25) - How to move forward when you feel like there’s no way out

Connect with us: 

Produced by Eliza St John | Email info@ydretreat.com
Original Music by Dario Forzato | http://www.darioforzatomusic.com
This Podcast is Hosted by Podbean.

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May 21, 2026

33 min

The Corporate Game: How to Thrive Without Losing Yourself

May 14, 2026

May 14, 2026

23 min

Corporate life can teach you a lot if you know how to pay attention.

It can teach you how to communicate, lead, follow through, solve problems, build relationships, manage pressure, and understand how organizations really work.

In this solo episode, Jeff shares practical lessons from his own career on how to thrive in the corporate world without losing yourself along the way.

This conversation is for anyone building a career, growing into leadership, navigating a new role, or trying to make the most of the season they’re in.

Jeff breaks down how to become the architect of your own career, how to identify the type of culture where you thrive, and why follow-up, follow-through, emotional awareness, and communication style can separate you faster than talent alone.

This episode is not about chasing titles or proving yourself through work.

It’s about moving through your career with more intention, clarity, and ownership so your work supports the life you actually want to build.

If you’ve been wondering how to grow, stand out, or show up differently in your current role, this episode is your reminder that you have more influence than you think.

You can reset. You can recommit. You can take ownership of your path.

And you can use the environment you’re in to build whatever comes next.

In this episode:

(01:26) - How to become the architect of your own career
(03:34) - Why corporate can be a powerful training ground
(05:07) - How to identify the company culture where you thrive
(08:05) - Questions to ask yourself about career alignment
(10:02) - How to understand your strengths and superpowers
(12:18) - Why follow-up and follow-through create opportunity
(14:21) - How to stop taking workplace feedback personally
(17:19) - Why communication style matters more than people realize
(18:44) - How to flex your style without losing yourself
(20:54) - Why career success is a team sport
(22:03) - How to reset and show up differently in your current role

Connect with us: 

Produced by Eliza St John | Email info@ydretreat.com
Original Music by Dario Forzato | http://www.darioforzatomusic.com 
This Podcast is Hosted by Podbean.

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May 14, 2026

23 min

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