Liftoff Journeys
Her daughter wanted to bathe people for money. His parents sent him to study volcanoes.
That’s Liftoff Journeys.
It’s me sitting down with really interesting people and letting the conversation go where it actually goes. Not the résumé stuff. Not the polished story. The parts you only get when people stop editing themselves.
The conversations always drift into the stuff that usually gets skipped; the wrong turns, the awkward pauses, the decisions that felt risky but were really ultimately smart. People talk the way they talk when they’re being honest with a friend.
As you’re listening, you’re not sitting there thinking about them, you’re thinking about you. You realize the choice you’ve been putting off and the part of your life that feels like it’s waiting for a move is ready to be unleashed.
This is the podcast for people who don’t need context. People who don’t need to “learn” anything. People like you, who just listen, and somehow things start clicking.
Put this podcast on while you’re doing literally ...anything... and end up more invested than you meant to be, because the conversations are that good.
If you like stories that unfold in real time, without a script or a clean ending, Liftoff Journeys will pull you in.
Episodes
50 episodes
James Mazzuto Was Six Months Away From Law School Until Working At A Restaurant Made Him Completely Pivot
This conversation made me hungry AND inspired, which honestly is the best combination. James Mazzuto spent 20 years in the corporate world, earned an MBA from Tulane, lectured at universities, ran a nonprofit, launched a solar startup, and was ...
A Country Boy From Ohio Who Became an Award-Winning Architect: Paul Kozlowski's Journey
I have been looking for someone who lives at the intersection of creativity and business strategy and Paul Koslowski is exactly that person. He's an award-winning architect and co-founder of Dunn Koslowski, a firm that's spent nearly 24 years c...
The Self-Described Introvert Nobody Thought Would Last 3 Months in Sales Built A 550 Person Empire: Stan Rosenberg’s Journey
This one is personal for me. Over 10 years ago, Stan Rosenberg was my intern, and watching where his career has gone since then honestly makes me so proud. While he was still in HIGH SCHOOL, this guy started a nonprofit called Trip of a Lifetim...
He Started Writing About Video Games in His Parents' Basement. Now Ross Simmonds Scales Global Brands By Telling Them To Stop Creating and Start Distributing.
So I've been a little obsessed with Ross Simmonds ever since I came across one of his presentations and this conversation did NOT disappoint. Ross is a global thought leader and entrepreneur who helps brands scale through content, but the wa...
A Divorce, a Dead-End Job Market, and a Book About Pirates: The Journey of A Bartending Author
Alex Bennett started washing dishes at his parents' restaurant at 16, and by 25, he was running the whole place. But then life threw him some curveballs: a divorce, a master's degree he couldn't use at the worst possible time, and a career pivo...
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They Blamed Her Parenting. Karen Spent a Decade Proving Them All Wrong
Imagine taking your child to a therapist for help with their behavior, only for the therapist to basically call you a bad parent and tell you it’s your fault they act the way they do? I sat down with Karen Thomas, the founder and CEO of Natural...
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The Biggest Gang in New York City Saved His Life (And It's Not What You Think) - Sergio’s Shocking Journey
Sergio has one of those journeys that sounds almost unbelievable. He came to the US as a refugee, grew up in real poverty in Brooklyn, got into some serious trouble as a kid, and somehow turned it all around to become a vice president at a mult...
I Dropped Big News In This Episode with The Snarketing Podcast
Trust is the invisible line between momentum and stagnation. Cross it, and teams move faster. Miss it, and nothing works the way it should.In this episode of the Snarketing Podcast, hosts Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa welcome back their f...
We Just Vibe-Authored A Book! Blank Page to Author with Keith & Vanessa Bell
Hopefully you know by now that I didn’t just wrote a book (The Trust Threshold) - but this took me on a journey I never expected. I didnt just write it - I “vibe-Authored” it. And during that process I realized I created the way I lead when I w...
Letao Wang Was Supposed to Be a Banker…Then Astrology Intervened
I don't know about you, but 2025 wasn't the best year for me. I lost my mom, my former company liquidated in bankruptcy and most people I know lost their jobs. That had to be more than a coincidence, and after chatting with Letao Wang, now I kn...
The Weird Childhood Dream That Built Gareth Russell's Writing Career
Famous author and great guy, Gareth Russell Dreamt about being the Czar of Russia when he was little. WHAT?!? I wasn’t expecting this conversation to go where it did, and honestly, that’s my favorite kind.In this episode of Liftof...
Why Studying Volcanoes Changed How Stephen Gee Thinks About Leadership, and What Most Executives Get Wrong
I’m sitting down with Stephen Gee, CEO and co-founder of Blend, expecting him to give me a common story of his background, and at some point he casually says, “I actually went to college to become a volcanologist.”Volcanoes.Lava....
Bullied Into Silence, Scilla Andreen's Journey to Unlock Her Voice
Some kids learn how to speak up early.Others learn how to disappear.Scilla Andreen learned how to disappear.Bullied as a child and conditioned to keep her voice small, Scilla grew up believing that staying invisible was...
From Bubble Bathers to Big Dreams: The Moment That Started Liftoff Journeys
“When I grow up, I want to be a bubble bather.” At three years old, my daughter didn’t know what a career was, but she knew exactly what mattered to her: helping people, having fun, and creating happiness. That moment stayed ...
From Careers to Calling: Keith and Vanessa's Entrepreneurial Leap
Join us on this episode of Liftoff Journeys as we dive into the inspiring story of Keith and Vanessa Bell, a dynamic couple who transitioned from traditional careers to successful entrepreneurs. Discover how they turned their passio...
From Dropped Teethers to Global Success: How Cheeky Chompers Redefined Parenting Essentials
Two new moms turned a teether mishap into Cheeky Chompers—a global brand reshaping parenting essentials. Hear their journey.On Liftoff Journeys, we go deeper than the headlines—you’ll hear the real, behind-the-scenes stories tha...
Rockstar Insights with Marc Roberge - How Authenticity Drove His Success
SummaryIn this engaging conversation, Marc Roberge of O.A.R. discusses the importance of authenticity in music, the joy of living a work-life blend, and the deep connections formed with fans over decades. He shares insights on th...
Hero's of Happiness featuring michelin star chef Joey Sergentakis, Maureen Brody and Christopher Radko
In this heartwarming episode of Liftoff Journeys with Jeanniey Walden, we bring you full-length, unfiltered discussions from the live TV set of the nationally broadcast show Liftoff with Jeanniey Walden. These conversations—fe...
Be Your Own Boss: Amy Porterfield Makes It Simple on Liftoff with Jeanniey Walden
Amy Porterfield is a renowned business coach, online marketer, and podcast host, who has gained a loyal following for her expert advice and guidance on building successful online businesses. People love Amy Porterfield's advice for several reas...
The Future of Publishing: Gareth Russell's Take on History's Role and AI's Influence
Description:Today’s guest is Gareth Russell, historian, and broadcaster, educated at Oxford University and Queen’s University, Belfast. He is the author of nine books, including Young and Damned and Fair, The Ship of Dreams (A Dai...
Ep 31: Branding Brilliance: Doug Zarkin’s Keys to Personal Branding and a Career In Marketing
Today’s guest is Doug Zarkin, Chief Brand Officer at Good Feet Worldwide and Author of Moving Your Brand out of The Friend Zone. Prior to his exceptional achievements on the brand side, Doug co-founded G-WHiZ!, Grey Advertising's division speci...
Ep 30: Ink and Insight: Crafting Stories from Life's Unique Experiences with Alex Bennett
Today’s guest is Alex Bennet, Bartender and Author of “A Shot of Oakies”. For most of his Alex has been working in restaurants in some capacity or another. As a teen he began washing dishes in his family’s place and over time, he filled every r...
Ep 28: The Business of Overcoming: Bita Safari’s Journey to Success
Today’s guest is Bita Safari, CEO at GiGO Clean Technology INC and President at Simply Crystal Clean. In this episode you’ll hear about Bita’s unwavering resilience amidst multiple failures and her motivation, fueled by...
Ep 27: Embracing Transformation and Activating Your Potential with Gazelle Steenkamp
Today’s guest is Gazelle Steenkamp, Life Design and Legacy Coach at Soul Spa Selah. She welcomes Christian women into a Soul Spa Experience where you gain clarity on your life purpose and are equipped to do life well! Gazelle can help you simpl...
Ep 26: Family, Fearlessness & Finding Your Way: Steve Davis’s Entrepreneurial Journey
Today’s guest is Steve Davis, Founder & CEO of GenTech Creative Concepts, a marketing agency engaged in helping small businesses, and small to medium enterprises, develop and grow across the digital space.What started as an entrepren...