It is so important to celebrate other people's success. When others around you achieve success, it is very easy for us to sometimes put them down or give credit to outside factors. However this is not an attractive quality and one that will not help you grow as a person. Instead celebrate other people's success as it will only help you grow as a person in many ways. In this episode, Java talks about how we grow when we celebrate other people's successes. To learn more about character b...

Sportsmanship cannot be underestimated. Sportsmanship will help you grow as a person way more than winning any game or championship. Competitiveness is good, there is nothing wrong with it. In fact it can help you in many ways. But the two are not mutually exclusive. In this episode Java tells the story of the Ultimate Act of Sportsmanship and relates this to life. You can read more about that story here: https://www.espn.com/college-sports/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=33...

Technology is amazing. We have improved our lives so much. Cell phones are something that literally everyone has now and they are awesome. Social is great as we can access news and information within seconds. However they can also lead to negativity in our lives as well if we do not use them in a positive way. In this episode, Java dives into how these two aspects have made our lives better in so many ways. But they can also lead to negativity in our lives in certain ways and it is all ...

I am 46 years old. During my time, I have experienced a lot of things. But I have come across some things that really stand out to me. In this episode, I talk about several things that older people (35 and older) have started to realize about their lives. I couldn't agree more with some of them! I take you through these and we have a good time talking about them! To learn more about character building qualities to become your true self, visit our website here! Head to Apple Podcasts to hear ...

Knowing your limitations, a key ingredient in a successful and happy life. By being self-aware of what you do best and what you do not do best, knowing your limitations will help you achieve success. Know what you need to be successful and what you need to get away from. Know what you need to be healthy and what you cannot do. Yes, it is important to push yourself and learn in areas you are weak in, for sure. But be humble about it and know that this is a limitation of yours. In the end, you ...

Can you make everyone happy? This is a question that we all wrestle with. Of course we can't, but a lot of us try to and struggle with this. Sometimes, in an effort to make others happy, we make ourselves not happy. It is important to balance your prioritizes with making others happy. In this episode, Java tells stories about his journey into realizing what is important to him and how he has to balance that with making others in his like happy. To learn more about character building qu...

YOU BE YOU! Genuineness, the importance of being yourself, that is what we talk about this episode. Java tells stories about his life and how he learned at a young age to accept and embrace himself for all that he is and all that he is not. Through this journey, he has learned that surrounding yourself with people that love who you are is vitally important. You should not have to change who you are to "fit" into a group or be accepted. Through this process, you will gain more respect and trus...

Change? Something we talk a lot about in life. The question that always comes up is do people change? That is a complicated answer. In this episode, Java looks at two main themes to this. What if you want to change, what process do you go through. The second is what if you want others to change. That can get very complicated and there can be a lot of negative results. In this episode, we talk all about where people can change. To learn more about character building qualities to become your t...

We all have insecurities! Every one of us. We could have insecurities about anything. What some of us do is that we put down others to make ourselves feel about ourself. However this shows terrible character. What we should do instead is be more self-aware of our weaknesses, our insecurities, embrace them and work on them. We should build people up instead of knocking people down. In this episode, we talk all about insecurities and how to handle them. To learn more about character build...

Are you open or close-minded? Stubborn or compliant? Empathetic or apathetic? Many of us think we know who we are, but when we see ourselves, it’s usually through the lens of who we want to be and not how we actually are. This is called self-awareness: knowing which actions, thoughts or emotions do/do not align with your internal standards. In this episode, Java discusses why self-awareness is important for being a great leader, effectively communicating, and personal relationships. He shares...

Maybe you’re struggling with a mental disorder or can’t find a solution to a problem at work. In either case, reaching out to someone, anyone, for help is just one easy decision. Or is it? Paris Prynkiewicz, podcast host and author of Crooked Illness: Lessons From Inside & Outside Hospital Walls, joins Java to discuss why asking for help can be so hard. She also shares her personal journey of being hospitalized, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and finally asking for help. Asking for help...

There is so much wisdom that comes with age, from life experiences to understanding the world on a higher level that only time can teach you. So why don’t we leverage the elderly more? There is so much to learn and understand from older generations, but so many of us have written them off. We want to change that perspective because we want you to get the most juice out of life, and that starts with knowing where to go for the best guidance. We’ve invited Larry Merino on our podcast toda...

No matter how many parenting books you read or advice you receive, does anything REALLY prepare you for becoming a parent? If you ask a first time parent with a newborn, their answer will most likely be a big fat NO. Parenting can be the most exhilarating, amazing, scary, and life changing experience you will ever go through. The entire experience from start to finish is so important for our own personal growth as parents and spouses, because it teaches us so much about ourselves and e...

For so many of us, we feel like our life’s purpose is to make others happy. As we all know, this is an impossible task. Now, that isn’t to say that spreading joy is a bad thing, but rather that eventually, you’ll have to accept that it just isn’t possible. It also shouldn’t be at the expense of your own happiness. Often, the need to please other people stems directly from what you experienced growing up. In today’s episode, life coach, author, and podcast co-host, Sarah Evangelin...

Everybody is born to be a leader in their own right. It’s not about what you do, but about who you are and it’s a full-time job. It all comes down to how you show up in the world and if you get it right in one part of your life, that can have a directly positive (or negative) impact on other parts. For many, a truly authentic leader is someone who knows who they are, someone who can define themself, has a clear understanding of their identity in the world and knows what their values are...

Productivity is considered a positive aspect in our society, but it’s also often the thing that we struggle with the most, and the pursuit of productivity can get in the way of being present and enjoying life. We’re constantly thinking about how to get as much done as possible and ticking tasks off a never-ending to-do list. There’s a complexity to productivity that not many have mastered. In today’s episode, sports physician and podcaster, Dr Jeremy Alland, takes us through his journey...

Mental health is such an important aspect of our daily lives and can determine how we show up in the world and for ourselves. This topic is so important to us that we wanted to bring in a budding expert in the mental health field, Sarah Asif. Sarah is 22 years old and a former student of Java’s who has accomplished so much in as little as four years. She holds a bachelors and masters degree and is working toward her doctorate with one goal in mind, and that is, to help prevent and aid i...

“We have to accept reality, take responsibility for our emotions, and you will suffer way less when you stop blaming everybody else for everything, and you'll understand the power of your mind.” - Maureen Kafkis What if we told you we have the solution to all your pain and suffering? Your first thought may be, there is no one solution to ALL suffering, or that this is impossible. However, the solution is quite simple, but without awareness, we create blind spots for ourselves, which is ...

One of the greatest compliments you can receive is that you are a great listener. This is because in a society where we are constantly distracted with technology and a fast paced life, taking the time to give someone undivided attention can feel like a gift. There are so many benefits in cultivating this character quality. It can help create better connections and relationships in your personal and professional life, as well as give you a magnetism where others will be naturally drawn t...

There are so many different ways to communicate. Speak, write, actions, body language, the list goes on. Then, how come we as humans haven’t mastered this skill when literally every facet of our being is a type of communication? It could be because we may not understand when and how we are communicating. Like showing up to an interview dressed appropriately or being on time when meeting someone. When we change our perspective and understand when we are communicating, we can change the way we ...