13: Amy Morin: The Therapist Who Wrote the List That Helped 50 Million People

13: Amy Morin: The Therapist Who Wrote the List That Helped 50 Million People

For deeper reflections on work, resilience, and redefining the way we live, subscribe [https://successrewrittenshow.com] to the Success, Rewritten newsletter. Mental health and mental strength are not the same thing. Amy is a psychotherapist, host of the Mentally Stronger podcast, and the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Her TEDx Talk has been viewed over 24 million times. But the part of her story most people skip is where that list actually came from. She wrote it after losing both her mother and her husband by age 26. The viral article started as a letter to herself on one of her worst days. “I didn’t write this from the top of the mountain,” she told me. “I wrote it from the bottom of the valley”. What struck me most was that she almost let the world believe she had mastered the list. Instead, she decided to tell the truth about struggling with every single thing she wrote. We talked about why mental health and mental strength are not the same thing, why emotions aren’t positive or negative, and how your brain consistently underestimates what you can handle. This episode felt like an honest conversation about what helps when life breaks your heart. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [05:59] Only three days of bereavement leave, and America wonders why we can't grieve [10:08] What Amy’s coworkers did right when she came back to work as a widow [14:25] The absence of tears is not a sign of strength [17:05] The physical toll of grief that nobody warns you about [21:46] From a $15 internet article to seven books: how the mental strength franchise was built [29:58] Why mindfulness alone isn't enough, and what to do instead [35:15] Name it to tame it, the labels keeping you stuck [37:52] The two-minute gratitude flash that can turn your entire day around [41:46] Most executives can only name five feeling words, and that's a problem [46:09] Mental health and mental strength are not the same thing Check out Amy's books here [https://amymorinlcsw.com/books/]. Find more from Amy: Amy Morin, LCSW | Website [https://amymorinlcsw.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymorinlcsw/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amymorinauthor/] Mentally Stronger Podcast | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@MentallyStrongerPodcast] Find more from Emily: Success, Rewritten | Website [http://successrewrittenshow.com] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/successrewritten/] Emily LoMenzo Washcovick | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-washcovick/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lomenzowashcovick/] Bipolar Brought Balance | Website [http://bipolarbroughtbalance.com] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bipolarbroughtbalance/]

12: Alex P. Taylor Shares What He Learned About Media & Entrepreneurship

Pre-Order Totally Nachrageous here [https://www.quarto.com/campaign/totally-nachrageous-preorder]. If you're sitting on a creative idea waiting for permission, this episode is about the person who stopped waiting. Today’s guest, Alex P. Taylor, sent his cookbook proposal to ten publishers on April 2nd, 2025. Typically, it would have taken 6 months to 2 years to receive a response from publishing companies. He heard back in a week, and by Easter, he had a signed deal with Quarto Books US. Alex is the self-proclaimed Nacho King of Connecticut, a media personality, and the author of Totally Nachrageous, a cookbook releasing August 25th, 2026. His path runs through nonprofit youth work, a Yelp community manager role during COVID, local TV segments on Great Day Connecticut, and reality TV appearances on Below Deck and Hell's Kitchen. We discuss what he calls "mandatory pivoting", why he sent his proposal directly to publishers instead of waiting for an agent, and the mantra that's shaped his decisions: success is struggle adjacent. He also tells me why pre-orders make or break a book launch and what most creators get wrong about social media engagement in the first 30 minutes after posting. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [02:58] How a pizza kitchen job shaped Alex’s approach to flavor [03:56] What leading forums for 350 students at a time taught him [08:08] The mandatory pivot that ended a 10-year nonprofit career [12:37] Why his first Zoom nacho tutorial changed everything [30:45] What being on Below Deck taught him about reality TV agendas [37:11] Meeting Gordon Ramsay the night before filming Hell's Kitchen [40:12] The 80-page proposal that landed a publishing deal in a week [45:28] Why pre-orders decide whether a book becomes a bestseller or not Resources Mentioned: Quarto Publishing | Website [https://www.quarto.com/] Desperately Seeking Susan (Movie) | IMDb [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089017] Find more from Alex: Alex P. Taylor | Website [https://alexptaylor.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alexptaylor1] | TikTok [http://www.tiktok.com/@alexptaylor1] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexptaylor/] Find more from Emily: Success, Rewritten | Website [http://successrewrittenshow.com] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/successrewritten/] Emily LoMenzo Washcovick | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-washcovick/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lomenzowashcovick/] Bipolar Brought Balance | Website [http://bipolarbroughtbalance.com] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bipolarbroughtbalance/]

11: Ramon Ray on Getting Fired, Selling Businesses & The Celebrity CEO Framework

If this conversation gave you a clearer way to think about your next move, you’ll find more episodes and insights at Success, Rewritten [https://www.successrewrittenshow.com/]. It’s all there to help you keep moving forward and build something that actually works for your life. What happens when getting fired forces you to figure it out fast with no backup plan? Getting fired forced Ramon Ray to make things work. Ramon is a serial entrepreneur who worked at the United Nations before starting multiple businesses and selling several of them. In this episode, we get into how he started building on the side while working a full-time job, installing modems and learning technology, and how that drive came with real pressure to keep providing… especially after having a child young and needing stability before he felt ready. When his contract ended, he leaned on his network and existing relationships to rebuild income from scratch. He shares how he navigated those early financial decisions, what he learned in hindsight after selling his businesses, and why he believes smaller, more intentional rooms create deeper connection than chasing big stages. Ramon is also the author of Celebrity CEO, and we talk through his personal branding framework for entrepreneurs who want to build a recognizable, trusted name in their space. This is an honest look at building out of necessity, working through entrepreneurial depression, and learning to keep moving without losing yourself. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [04:24] The UN years and the side hustle that got Ramon fired [13:16] Rebuilding income without a safety net [19:04] What Ramon learned from selling three companies [23:48] Why 20 people in a room beats 300 [25:40] How to recover when you fail a client [28:11] Experimentation as a strategy, and its limits [30:33] Genius Talks, Bitdefender, and the Celebrity CEO framework [34:16] How Ramon works on entrepreneurial depression Resources Mentioned: The Celebrity CEO [https://www.amazon.com/Celebrity-CEO-Entrepreneurs-Building-Community/dp/1948080850] (Ramon Ray’s book)  Bitdefender | Website [https://www.bitdefender.com/en-ca/] If you want practical ideas and resources built for entrepreneurs in the middle of figuring things out, head over to Zone of Genius [https://zoneofgenius.com/]. It’s a place to learn, stay informed, and find support as you grow your business. Find more from Ramon: Ramon Ray | Website [https://www.ramonray.com/] Ramon Ray | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonraysmallbiz/] Ramon Ray | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ramonraysmarthustle/] Zone of Genius | Website [https://zoneofgenius.com/] Zone of Genius | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@zoneofgeniusyes] Find more from Emily: Success, Rewritten | Website [http://successrewrittenshow.com] Success, Rewritten | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/successrewritten/] Emily LoMenzo Washcovick | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-washcovick/] Emily LoMenzo Washcovick | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lomenzowashcovick/] Bipolar Brought Balance | Website [http://bipolarbroughtbalance.com] Bipolar Brought Balance | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bipolarbroughtbalance/]

10: The Phone Call That Made Jay Baer Quit His Job The Next Day

Explore SuccessRewrittenShow.com [http://successrewrittenshow.com] and Jay's top locations: tequilareport.com [http://tequilareport.com] and jaybaer.com [http://jaybaer.com] When Jay Baer was 30, his best friend called to say he had brain cancer. Jay quit his job the next day. That call, and the list he made afterward of what he was actually afraid of, set off a 28-year career of building, selling, writing, and starting again. Jay is a sixth-generation entrepreneur, a seven-time author, and one of the most recognizable names in customer experience. He's also taking a sabbatical from speaking after 18 years on the road to focus on his newest venture, Tequila Report. This conversation moves through parts of his story he doesn't usually tell. He explains why he sells his companies and what he chooses to build next. He breaks down why his books are built from audience stories rather than the usual Starbucks-style case studies, and why he continues to choose collaboration in industries built on competition. He also explains why responsiveness is finally a competitive advantage, a decade after he predicted it would be. It's a conversation about timing, decisions, and what actually holds up over the long run. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [02:03] Selling Budweiser.com for 50 cases of beer [04:05] The phone call that made him quit the next day [07:37] Why doing it all yourself is the trap [14:35] Where the stories in his books actually come from [18:29] The idea he was a decade early on [22:33] Selling a company is like giving it up for adoption [29:41] How a tequila hobby became Tequila Report [36:53] Walking away from 60 keynotes a year (for now) [44:37] Which parent the kids call, and why it matters Resources Mentioned: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber | Book [https://www.amazon.ca/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.T37sO5kYmz4RdCO2gPZsFgEflx9U6q_yJ8bWG84fjvIYXBPAfCaMVzt_GdRUHcAP4GA4YxNn9ZQcXEVeQZ7X7lI58c_WciV90tWAb-8u01MkxYclfPi8W2sygutuQhO1VQkMDGvlrUPGobHfKDcRBNlNCeMch2mTn8V_ar8hLH059bmRmb4jOytkiLPCRd-7sr219kBQ9mlH848FajT67clxEsgFvZVzwu_GIXnVq1K9wDQRvq6d7XJINccvL2drcFybCgsZQWS7K4kqLZX1Sn6PeA_8l-8ZisuriaJPi68.wQEmx7f22aN7EXuyZP0ASSv39U6zAyVettvy_87x3ZM&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=325003319739&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9001471&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=17244678680118419361--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17244678680118419361&hvtargid=kwd-425370242569&hydadcr=16963_9583685&keywords=the+e-myth+by+michael+gerber&mcid=089410ab5ab6366f854b96da8ace4bfb&qid=1777586899&sr=8-1] or Audiobook [https://www.amazon.ca/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/B0722TXBCD/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.T37sO5kYmz4RdCO2gPZsFgEflx9U6q_yJ8bWG84fjvIYXBPAfCaMVzt_GdRUHcAP4GA4YxNn9ZQcXEVeQZ7X7lI58c_WciV90tWAb-8u01MkxYclfPi8W2sygutuQhO1VQkMDGvlrUPGobHfKDcRBNlNCeMch2mTn8V_ar8hLH059bmRmb4jOytkiLPCRd-7sr219kBQ9mlH848FajT67clxEsgFvZVzwu_GIXnVq1K9wDQRvq6d7XJINccvL2drcFybCgsZQWS7K4kqLZX1Sn6PeA_8l-8ZisuriaJPi68.wQEmx7f22aN7EXuyZP0ASSv39U6zAyVettvy_87x3ZM&qid=1777586899&sr=8-1] Behind the Review episode on Jay Baer’s Playbook for Customer Loyalty | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYs6BNdHuZg] Find more from Jay: Jay Baer | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaybaer/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JayBaer] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jaybaer/] Jay Baer’s Books | Website [https://www.jaybaer.com/books] The Tequila Report | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8SF0JayS3bwhAcNX7VtIZA] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thetequilareport/] Find more from Emily: Success, Rewritten | Website [http://successrewrittenshow.com] Success, Rewritten | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/successrewritten/] Emily LoMenzo Washcovick | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-washcovick/] Emily LoMenzo Washcovick | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lomenzowashcovick/] Bipolar Brought Balance | Website [http://bipolarbroughtbalance.com] Bipolar Brought Balance | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bipolarbroughtbalance/]

09: Marketing Mistakes, Customer Avatars & Hustle Culture | Zanade Mann

If this helped you think more clearly about what you’re building and who it’s for, there’s more waiting for you at Success, Rewritten [https://www.successrewrittenshow.com/]. The same drive that made her successful is the thing she had to unlearn to protect her health. Zanade Mann is the founder of Zanade Enterprises, a full-service marketing and communications agency she built from a single client into a collaborative team of strategists and creatives. Her work focuses on helping brands, nonprofits, and public figures connect with their audiences through clarity and storytelling rather than hype. A former New York City public school teacher and single mom, Zanade later earned Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 100 Women of Impact recognition… but the hustle that got her there came with a real impact on her mental and physical well-being.  She talks honestly about what it took to slow down without losing momentum, and the intentional wellness practices that helped her rebuild her nervous system, from yoga and hiking to learning how to truly rest and reset.  She also shares practical insights on small business marketing, including how to define your target customer, why your origin story matters, and a simple AI exercise you can try today. Zanade then introduces what she’s building next: a creator ecosystem for experienced professionals, ready to step into influencer marketing with real expertise. Whether you’re building, pivoting, or starting fresh, this episode offers both practical tools and a more sustainable way to think about success. You’ll Learn:  [00:00] Introduction [02:20] How to tell your brand story and stop marketing to the wrong people [04:02] The unexpected moment that sparked Zanade’s career shift into marketing [07:02] Why not knowing your ideal customer creates unnecessary stress and wasted effort [09:30] Zanade’s simple AI exercise to pressure-test your target audience [14:55] What a seventh-grade teacher's pay stub did to her childhood dream [26:37] What it actually took to defy every stereotype working against her [37:58] How the constant hustle took a toll on her mental and physical health [44:18] The small shifts that helped her regulate, rest, and rebuild her energy [01:00:48] Creating new opportunities that align with your life, not just your ambition Subscribe to Zanade's mailing list for the Millennial Creator Economy Movement [https://millennialcreatoreconomy.myflodesk.com/millennialcreator]. Subscribers will receive a free guide with insights on the creator economy and how they can leverage their professional and lived experience to participate in this $500B industry. Resources Mentioned: Blue Cross Blue Shield | Website [https://www.bcbs.com/] NYC Teaching Fellows | Website [https://teachnyc.net/pathways-to-teaching/nyc-teaching-fellows] The Rise of the Corporate Influencer by Zanade Mann | Article [https://shortyawards.com/shorttake/corporate-influencer-business-success/] Find more from Zanade: Zanade Mann | Website [https://zanademann.com/] Zanade Mann | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanade/] Zanade Mann | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zanade/] Find more from Emily: Success, Rewritten | Website [http://successrewrittenshow.com] Success, Rewritten | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/successrewritten/] Emily LoMenzo Washcovick | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-washcovick/] Emily LoMenzo Washcovick | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lomenzowashcovick/] Bipolar Brought Balance | Website [http://bipolarbroughtbalance.com] Bipolar Brought Balance | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bipolarbroughtbalance/]