Blaze Your Own Trail
Real stories. Raw conversations. And actionable strategies from Host Jordan Mendoza and other 100's of entrepreneurs and trailblazers who turned adversity into advantage. Are you ready to blaze your own trail? Then you have come to the right place! Learn more here: https://byotpod.com/ We hope each episode adds value to you in some way. Make sure to follow & subscribe so you don't miss any content & updates!
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Why Your Network Score Matters More Than Your Credit Score with Eddie Konialian
<p>Jordan Mendoza sits down with Eddie Konialian, co-founder of Netwrk.VIP, for a conversation about resilience, leadership, and why networking should be measured by generosity, not extraction. Eddie shares how growing up in Beirut during the civil war, immigrating to Los Angeles, and building his career in finance shaped his belief that real success comes from helping other people win. They discuss Eddie’s path from sports and early jobs into banking leadership, the lessons he learned from managing teams, and why he built a platform focused on ownership, trust, and relationship quality. The episode centers on one big id...
From Burned Out Chef to Global Movement Helping Chef's Thrive with Andres Hinojosa
<p>In this episode, Chef Andres Hinojosa shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a successful chef and mentor. Discover how adversity shaped his life, his passion for food, and his mission to empower other chefs to succeed.</p><p> </p><p>Key topics</p><p>Chef Andres' childhood and early influences<br>Overcoming adversity and personal challenges<br>The founding of Dinner with a Chef and Chefpreneur University<br>The importance of excellence and service in the culinary arts<br>Strategies for aspiring chefs to succeed and monetize their passion<br>The role of faith and p...
They Live On a Cruise Ship with Jeff and Debb Knapp
<p>Jeff and Debb share their inspiring journey from hardship to living full-time on a cruise ship, emphasizing the power of resilience, faith, and community impact. Their story highlights overcoming adversity and building a life of purpose and impact.</p><p>Key Topics</p><p>Jeff and Debb's background and childhood stories<br>The decision to live full-time on a cruise ship<br>The role of faith and community in overcoming adversity<br>The journey of building a social media presence and brand<br>The importance of authenticity and impact in content creation<br>Strategies for overcoming personal struggles and...
From Stuttering to Strength with Marcy Axelrod
<p>In this episode of the Blaze Your Own Trail podcast, host Jordan Mendoza speaks with Marcy Axelrod, who shares her journey of overcoming stuttering and how it shaped her understanding of human connection and compassion. Marcy discusses the importance of showing up authentically in life, the continuum of presence, and how art serves as a powerful medium for expression and community engagement. She emphasizes the role of adversity in personal growth and the necessity of being present and compassionate towards others.</p><p>Takeaways</p><p>Marcy emphasizes that what we do is not who we are.<br>Her...
Life After the Gridiron, Podcasting for Business Growth, and Building Through Adversity with Marques Ogden
<p>Jordan Mendoza sits down with Marques Ogden for a wide-ranging conversation about reinvention, podcasting, business development, and resilience. Marques shares how he went from NFL player to entrepreneur, then rebuilt his career through speaking, coaching, consulting, and his podcast Get Authentic with Marques Ogden. They also dig into how podcasting can create real business opportunities, why consistency matters before monetization, and how AI is changing content creation and operational systems. The conversation closes with a practical message for anyone in a hard season: focus on the light, keep moving, and never quit.</p><p>Key topics</p>Marques Ogden’s...
People Plus Process Equals Profit with Lee Walker
<p>Jordan Mendoza sits down with Lee Walker, founder of Daily Driver Consulting, to unpack how psychology, sports, international experience, and hands-on accounting work shaped his approach to helping small businesses improve profit. Lee shares how he went from Maryland to Maastricht, learned to see business through a people first lens, and built a model centered on finding leaks, improving systems, and turning teams into profit drivers.In this episode, Lee explains why business is really psychology at scale, how his sports background shaped discipline and mindset, and why his time in the Netherlands changed the way he thinks about...
How Dani Lynn Robison Built 8 Businesses and Scaled Big
<p>Join Jordan Mendoza as he interviews Dani Lynn Robison, a successful entrepreneur who shares her inspiring journey from music to real estate and business. Discover valuable insights on building wealth, overcoming challenges, and scaling multiple companies.</p> <p> Key Topics</p> <p>Journey from music to real estate</p> <p>Building multiple businesses</p> <p>Importance of mentorship and coaching</p> <p>Scaling through strategic investments</p> <p>Lessons from failures and setbacks</p> <p> Sound Bites</p> <p>"Mentors help me fast track results"</p> <p>"Actions speak louder than words"</p> <p>"Add value before asking for he...
From Introvert to Influencer with René Remsik
<p>In this episode of the Blaze Your Own Trail podcast, host Jordan Mendoza interviews René Remsik, a content creator and entrepreneur from Slovakia. René shares his journey from an introverted child to a successful content creator with millions of followers. He discusses the importance of competitiveness learned from sports, the value of networking, and how to navigate social media for content creation. René also delves into his experience building SaaS products and offers advice for aspiring creators and business owners.</p> <p>Takeaways</p> <p>René is a full-time content creator with a focus on AI.</p> <p>He has...
From New Orleans to Broadway: Alan Seales' Journey of Creativity and Tech
<p>Join us as Alan Seales shares his extraordinary journey from childhood in New Orleans to a diverse career spanning theater, technology, and Broadway production. Discover lessons on teamwork, resilience, and the power of creativity in navigating career shifts and building impactful projects.</p> <p>Key topics</p> <p>Career transitions from sports to tech to theater</p> <p>The importance of teamwork and trust</p> <p>Leveraging creativity and technology in career growth</p> <p>Sound bites</p> <p>"Be the best you you can be."</p> <p>"Think big, think outside the box."</p> <p>"Find what you r...
How Risk and Faith Shaped a Film Producer's Path with Sharon Oliphant
<p>Sharon Oliphant shares her inspiring journey from a large homeschooling family to becoming a faith-based film producer and actress. Discover how she overcame fears, took risks, and stayed true to her calling in the competitive film industry, all while balancing family and faith.</p> <p>Key topics</p> <p>Journey from homeschooling to acting and filmmaking</p> <p>The importance of faith and risk-taking in career decisions</p> <p>Balancing family life with a passion for film</p> <p>The process of producing faith-based movies</p> <p>Lessons learned from entrepreneurial parents</p> <p>Sound bites</p> <p>"Admit wh...
