In this powerful and deeply personal episode, I sit down with my dear friend, Derek Warburton, for an intimate conversation about identity, community, healing, and light. Derek—an acclaimed media personality, fashion icon, and founder of Gurus Magazine—opens up about his journey from childhood adversity to building a life rooted in compassion, authenticity, and purpose. We talk about what it means to lead with heart, cultivate true friendships, and create lasting impact through service and connection. Derek shares raw insights on overcoming pain, embracing self-love, and finding strength in vulnerability. He also opens up about his friendship with Anne Heche, what her legacy taught him about grace and courage, and why being “the only,” not the best, is the key to true influence. This episode is a testament to the power of light—how it can emerge from even the darkest moments—and a reminder that community, authenticity, and love are what truly sustain us. Liked this episode? Make sure to subscribe to our podcast and leave a review with your takeaways, this helps us create the exact content you want!  KEY POINTS:  01:48 Introducing Derek Warburton 02:54 Derek's Journey: Overcoming Adversity 07:13 The Power of Femininity and Community 12:18 The Importance of Self-Love and Healing 20:19 Building Lasting Relationships 26:18 The Importance of Showing Up for Friends 27:14 Building a Community as a CEO 28:32 Carving Out Time for Community Development 29:15 The Power of Offering Help 29:55 Navigating Hollywood and Having an Offer 30:43 The Value of Honest Friendships 32:58 Surrounding Yourself with Diverse People 33:51 Self-Reflection and Personal Growth 37:07 The Legacy of Anne Heche 47:59 The Importance of Community and Self-Worth QUOTABLES: “  I was never like anyone else. And every time I tried, I just epicly failed. Just Epically failed. I just never fit in. And then I made a discovery.  I don't want to, I don't wanna be like them.” - Derek Warburton  “ When I went to therapy, they said to me, how is it that you're dealing with, there's a lot here. How do you unpack this? And I said. One box at a time because when you are trying to deal with every single thing that's wrong in your life, it's so overwhelming and that's why half this country's on medication. You can't possibly do that. That's impossible. It's overwhelming.” - Derek Warburton GUEST RESOURCES: Derek Warburton RESOURCES: 💡Just Launched: The Growth Collective: Monthly Coaching With Me—for just $1 Your content deserves to convert, not just be seen. Inside The Growth Collective, you get: Monthly live coaching from me to sharpen your message and content strategy Access to my Content Catalyst custom-built AI tool that help you write content that actually sells. A behind-the-scenes look at how I create content that leads to real revenue And you can try it today—for just $1. [ORDER] my book or Audible, Get What You Want: How to Go From Unseen to Unstoppable so you can leverage the power of your own influence. Follow Julie on Instagram! MUST HAVES THIS MONTH: [ELEVATE YOUR EVERYDAY] Your new favorite bras and underwear are here. Discover the Fits Everybody collection. [GAIN A NEW PERSPECTIVE] Learn life-changing insights you won’t find anywhere else. Get 15% off.   [EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE] Design, market, and sell with Shopify’s all-in-one platform. Get started now for just $1/month.