EP 101: Overcoming Past Trauma | Lou Samara

EP 104: Find The Support | Josh and John

In this episode of The Take A Step Podcast, Josh Johnston and John Szarszewski continue the 8-Step Journey by exploring Step 6: Find the Support. They discuss how the people around you influence your mindset, shape your expectations, and ultimately determine your ceiling. From entrepreneurship and marriage to faith and personal growth, Josh and John share why intentional relationships are essential for becoming the person you’re called to be. They unpack the dangers of isolation, the power of accountability, and why surrounding yourself with people who share your future is more important than sharing a common past. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsupported, or limited by your environment, this conversation will challenge you to evaluate your circle and take ownership of the relationships that are shaping your life. Your circle determines your ceiling. Choose wisely.

EP 103: From Homeless To Limitless | Shane Wahner

What happens when a child raised in an abusive household, left homeless at 21, sleeping in bushes on a college campus, refuses to give up? Shane Wahner story is one of the most extraordinary you'll hear. In this episode, Shane opens up about surviving a brutal childhood, building a thriving business from nothing, losing it all, and finding his way back — through faith, fatherhood, and an unwavering belief that every hardship exists to make you stronger. Now the founder of the Becoming Limitless movement, Shane is on a mission to equip the next generation with the mindset and practical tools they need to build lives of purpose and impact. Don't miss this one.

EP 102: Are You Worth Following | Jeff Levitan

In this episode of the Take a Step Podcast, Josh Johnston sits down with Jeff Levitan — entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of Vantage — for a wide-ranging conversation on what it truly takes to build a meaningful life. Jeff shares his journey from running a college painting franchise at 19 to mentoring thousands of entrepreneurs. Together, they dig into ownership culture, emotional intelligence, the relationship between money and fulfillment, and why taking action matters more than consuming content. If you're ready to live with more purpose and intention, this one's for you. Links: * Take A Step [https://www.letstakeastep.com] * Vantage [https://vantagefinancialalliance.com/] * Jeff's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jeff.levitan/]

EP 101: Overcoming Past Trauma | Lou Samara

Lou Samara has lived many lives — Italian kid from Jersey, SWAT officer, corporate manager, entrepreneur, author. But behind the résumé was a story he hadn't told anyone, one buried so deep his own mind hid it for decades. In this raw and powerful episode, Lou opens up about the sequence of loss that cracked him open: his father's sudden death, a stillborn child on 9/11, and a career collapse — all within 18 months. What followed was a 20-year journey of therapy, faith, forgiveness, and rebuilding. Lou shares how confronting childhood sexual abuse, breaking generational patterns, and learning to truly forgive transformed not just his inner world, but his business and marriage. His book, The Forgiveness Effect, is the result — and this conversation is a compelling preview of why. Buy The Forgiveness Effect here: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Effect-Journey-Courage-Healing/dp/1732936412 [https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Effect-Journey-Courage-Healing/dp/1732936412] Follow Lou on Instagram here: @lousamara

EP 100: Parenting Wisdom (and failures) | Josh and John

What does it really look like to be a driven professional and a present, intentional father? In this episode, Josh and John get real about the messy, rewarding journey of fatherhood — from the nine-month head start moms have on connection, to why your marriage has to come before your kids. They break down practical strategies like the weekly husband-wife meeting, building family core values, and teaching kids ownership through an entrepreneurial "gigs" system. They also get vulnerable sharing their own parenting fails. At the heart of it all is a simple truth: the same intentionality you bring to building a business needs to come home with you. Because your kids aren't just listening — they're watching.