Unfiltered Conversations

Willie Blake: Stop Hiding What Makes You Different

In this episode of Unfiltered Conversations, Michael Yearby sits down with Willie Blake, a dyslexic coach who helps adults stop hiding what makes them different and start building real clarity, confidence, and momentum.This conversation is raw, practical, and deeply human. Willie opens up about being diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, feeling like “the broken kid,” losing his voice in classrooms, watching people misunderstand him, and carrying the weight of shame into adulthood. But this is not a pity-party episode. This is about what happens when pain becomes purpose.Willie breaks down why adults with dyslexia, ADHD, neurodivergence, and hidden struggles often feel forced to mask themselves in professional spaces. He explains why support without pity matters, why people need to be heard before they are coached, and why the real work begins when someone finally asks, “What do you want to do now?”We also talk about books, business, faith, action, self-belief, coaching, and Willie’s short ebook Break Free, which focuses on the 12 chains that hold people back and how to start breaking them.This episode is for anyone who has ever felt different, behind, misunderstood, ashamed, or stuck in the dark. Willie’s message is simple but powerful: you are not broken, you are not your thoughts, and the moment you choose action, you start taking your life out of park.Watch the full conversation and ask yourself: what part of you have you been hiding that might actually be your strongest gift?#UnfilteredConversations #WillieBlake #DyslexiaAwareness #Neurodiversity #PersonalDevelopment #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Coaching #Mindset #Authenticity #SelfBelief #HumanConnection #AdultDyslexia #BreakFree #MichaelYearby

Aaron Ryan Says AI Took His Voice, So He Wrote 45 Books

Aaron Ryan is a bestselling, award-winning author, voice actor, speaker, and lifelong storyteller who has built a creative career across books, audiobooks, screen adaptations, and self-publishing.In this episode of Unfiltered Conversations, Aaron opens up about why writing became his truest form of storytelling, how AI has damaged the voiceover industry, why he refuses to use generative AI to write his books, and what it really feels like to publish work you poured your heart into only to hear silence.We also talk about his sci-fi series Dissonance, the deeper human conflict behind alien invasion stories, his book You Are My Whole Earth, fatherhood, faith, creative discipline, and why someone’s endorsement, or lack of it, does not determine your trajectory.This conversation is for authors, creatives, entrepreneurs, voice actors, leaders, and anyone trying to keep building when the industry changes underneath their feet.Watch the full conversation and hear Aaron Ryan’s raw perspective on storytelling, resilience, AI, authorship, and protecting the human side of creativity.#UnfilteredConversations #AaronRyan #AuthorInterview #AIAndCreativity #Voiceover #SelfPublishing #CreativeResilience #Storytelling #Dissonance #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife #PodcastInterview #Entrepreneurship #HumanCreativity #Fatherhood

Bart Merrell Says Your Side Hustle Is Hiding in Your Pain

Bart Merrell, also known as the Side Hustle Samurai, joins Michael Yearby on Unfiltered Conversations for a raw, funny, and brutally practical conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, AI, risk, and learning how to see income where most people only see problems.Bart is an international entrepreneur and the author of Monetize Your Mindset. His story starts on a pig farm, moves through a teenage DJ business, a dream of joining the FBI that fell apart, commercial bungee jumping in Japan, near-bankruptcy, AI-powered business tools, and even an amputation that he turned into a way to help others.This episode is not your typical “start a side hustle” conversation.This is about learning how to see opportunity inside your real life. The skills you already have. The pain you survived. The work you already do. The thing you keep overlooking because it looks too normal, too ugly, too inconvenient, or too small.Bart breaks down how ordinary people can identify their ideal side hustle by looking at what they like to do, what they need to do, and what they are already doing. He also talks about the power of AI, the importance of calculated risk, and why some people are sitting on “acres of diamonds” but missing them because the opportunity does not look glamorous.If you have ever felt like your story, struggle, job, hobby, or experience could become something bigger, this conversation is for you.Watch the full episode and ask yourself the real question:What money are you walking past because it does not look like opportunity yet?Connect with Bart through youridealsidehustle.com, the 1K Blind Spot Assessment, The Side Hustle Dojo, and The Side Hustle Samurai.#UnfilteredConversations #BartMerrell #SideHustleSamurai #MonetizeYourMindset #SideHustle #Entrepreneurship #BusinessMindset #PersonalBranding #AIForBusiness #Leadership #Resilience #CalculatedRisk #SelfEmployment #OpportunityMindset #MichaelYearby

Kelly Schuknecht Says Stop Being the Best-Kept Secret in Your Industry

Kelly Schuknecht joins Unfiltered Conversations for a real, raw, and practical conversation about personal branding, thought leadership, entrepreneurship, AI, and what it really takes to become the trusted authority in your space.Kelly is the founder and CEO of Two Mile High Marketing, a personal brand agency that helps experts move from being the best-kept secret to becoming recognized, credible, and visible leaders. With more than 20 years of experience in publishing and marketing, Kelly has spent much of her career helping CEOs, founders, authors, and business leaders step into the spotlight. Now, she is doing that same work through her own company, her book Unlocking Your Authority X Factor, her Visibility, Credibility, and Consistency framework, and her work helping entrepreneurs build stronger speaking platforms, LinkedIn presence, and personal brands.In this episode, we talk about why authenticity matters more than ever, especially in a world where AI can generate content faster than people can read it. Kelly breaks down why human connection, real stories, speaking opportunities, books, podcasts, and consistent visibility are becoming major differentiators for business owners and experts.We also get into the emotional side of entrepreneurship: losing a job, stepping out from behind the scenes, becoming the face of your own company, dealing with imposter syndrome, growing too fast, hiring challenges, and learning how to keep showing up even when business gets uncomfortable.This conversation is for entrepreneurs, coaches, speakers, consultants, authors, leaders, and professionals who know they have value but have been hiding in plain sight.Watch the full conversation and ask yourself the uncomfortable question: are you building authority, or are you still waiting for people to discover you?#UnfilteredConversations #KellySchuknecht #PersonalBranding #ThoughtLeadership #AuthorityXFactor #TwoMileHighMarketing #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #LinkedInMarketing #AIAndBusiness #HumanConnection #ProfessionalBranding #SpeakerBranding #AuthenticLeadership

You Are Not Your Job Title: Larry Keslin on Ego, Joy, Purpose, and Real Connection

In this episode of Unfiltered Conversations, Michael Yearby sits down with Larry Kesslin, entrepreneur, community builder, speaker, coach, and author of The Joy Molecule.Larry brings a powerful message for anyone who has ever achieved success on paper but still felt something missing inside. This conversation breaks open the difference between identity and self, achievement and alignment, and status and real joy.Larry shares how a life-changing trip to rural Uganda in 2012 helped reshape his understanding of joy, purpose, service, and human connection. He also explains the core idea behind The Joy Molecule: conscious connection plus purpose equals joy.This episode goes deep into ego, childhood programming, negative self-talk, success addiction, service, identity, inner work, and the question too many people avoid asking:What are you, who are you, and why are you here?If you are a leader, entrepreneur, creator, coach, author, or professional who has been chasing success but questioning whether it is actually bringing peace, this conversation will hit differently.Watch the full episode, sit with the questions, and ask yourself whether your true self is actually driving your life or just locked in the trunk while your identity performs for the world.Like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who looks successful but may need to reconnect with joy, purpose, and real human connection.#UnfilteredConversations #MichaelYearby #LarryKeslin #TheJoyMolecule #JoyMolecule #PurposeDrivenLife #ConsciousConnection #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipMindset #Entrepreneurship #InnerWork #AuthenticSuccess #ServiceLeadership #MindsetShift #HumanConnection