#50 | Why Curious People Become More Successful, with Troy Szymanski & Julia Furlipa | Best Life By You Podcast

#50 | Why Curious People Become More Successful, with Troy Szymanski & Julia Furlipa | Best Life By You Podcast

"Jack of all trades, master of none." But what if that's completely wrong? In this episode of Best Life By You, Julia sits down with entrepreneur, athlete, coach, and lifelong learner Troy Szymanski to discuss curiosity, purpose, entrepreneurship, faith, fitness, personal growth, and why the most successful people often build experience across many different areas before discovering their life's work. We discuss: • Why curiosity creates creativity • The danger of choosing one path too early • How to find your purpose • Faith, entrepreneurship, and personal growth • Why motivation isn't enough • The difference between goals and systems • How to build discipline that lasts • The Ask, Seek, Knock framework • Why anything worth doing is worth doing poorly Whether you're building a business, improving your health, exploring your passions, or trying to figure out what's next in life, this conversation will challenge how you think about success. Subscribe for more conversations on health, mindset, faith, entrepreneurship, and building your best life. CHAPTERS 00:00 The River Never Stays The Same 00:43 Welcome To Episode 50 02:27 Meet Troy Szymanski 05:44 Curiosity, Sports & Finding Yourself 09:35 Why Passion Compounds 14:04 When Your Passion Changes 18:33 How To Find Your Purpose 21:46 Why Curiosity Beats Specialization 25:58 Jack Of All Trades vs Master Of One 30:14 Ask, Seek, Knock 37:53 Faith, Growth & Asking For Help 48:10 What Would You Tell Your Younger Self? 52:18 Motivation vs Discipline 54:09 Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Poorly 58:40 Why Most People Quit Too Early 01:02:49 Your Environment Shapes Everything 01:03:49 Final Thoughts On Growth & Success CONNECT WITH JULIA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa [https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa]  Best Life By You App: https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/ [https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/]  Work with Julia: ⁠https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/⁠ [https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/%E2%81%A0]  Book: https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY [https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY]

#49 | He Survived an Overdose, Reversed Diabetes & Lost 150+ Pounds | Adam Sud's Incredible Recovery Story | Best Life By You Podcast with Julia Furlipa

#49 | He Survived an Overdose, Reversed Diabetes & Lost 150+ Pounds | Adam Sud's Incredible Recovery Story | Best Life By You Podcast with Julia Furlipa What happens when someone survives the darkest moment of their life and decides to start over?In this powerful episode of Best Life By You, Julia sits down with Adam Sud, addiction recovery advocate, speaker, researcher, and founder of Plant-Based for Positive Change. Adam shares the raw and emotional story of his battle with addiction, obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, and a life-threatening overdose that became the turning point for everything that followed.After years of struggling with substance abuse, chronic disease, and hopelessness, Adam made a decision that transformed his future. Through recovery, lifestyle change, and a whole-food plant-based approach to nutrition, he reversed type 2 diabetes, lost over 150 pounds, came off multiple medications, and went on to become one of the leading voices in addiction recovery and behavior change.In this conversation, we discuss:✅ Adam's overdose and rock-bottom moment✅ Addiction, shame, and recovery✅ Mental health and resilience✅ Reversing type 2 diabetes naturally✅ The science behind plant-based nutrition✅ Fiber, longevity, and chronic disease prevention✅ Why behavior change is so difficult✅ The "Pleasure Trap" and human psychology✅ Building a meaningful life after addiction✅ Hope for anyone struggling todayThis episode is filled with practical wisdom, emotional honesty, and life-changing insights for anyone facing challenges with health, addiction, mindset, or purpose.🔗 Connect with Adam SudWebsite: https://www.adamsud.com/about [https://www.adamsud.com/about]https://www.plantbasedforpositivechange.org/ [https://www.plantbasedforpositivechange.org/]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedaddict/ [https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedaddict/]🔗 CONNECT WITH JULIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/ ]TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa [ https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa ]Best Life By You App: https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/ [https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/ ]Work with Julia: ⁠https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/⁠ [https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/⁠ ]Book: https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY [https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY ]Chapters00:00 Adam's Suicide Attempt & Overdose Story01:22 Introduction to Adam Sud03:43 The Best Decision of His Life: Marriage04:35 What Adam's Life Looks Like Today11:28 Why Adam Went Plant-Based17:20 The Overdose That Changed Everything19:40 Choosing Life After Rock Bottom21:10 Rehab, Diabetes & Devastating Diagnoses23:43 Discovering Plant-Based Nutrition25:13 The First Days of Recovery30:03 The Pleasure Trap Explained33:18 The Power of Simple Habits34:54 Reversing Type 2 Diabetes Naturally36:00 Nutrition & Addiction Recovery Research39:20 Why Nutrition Science Gets Misunderstood44:00 The Truth About Fiber & Longevity48:12 Plant-Based Nutrition Myths51:00 Groundbreaking Recovery Research Findings58:30 What Living Your Best Life Really Means01:00:20 A Message for Anyone Struggling01:02:15 Final Thoughts & Closing#AdamSud #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #PlantBased#WholeFoodPlantBased #Type2Diabetes #DiabetesReversal #SuicidePrevention #RecoveryJourney #Fiber #Nutrition #HealthPodcast #WellnessPodcast #BehaviorChange #Longevity #BestLifeByYou #PersonalTransformation #Mindset #HealthJourney

#48 | Vegan Bodybuilder Nurse Reveals the Truth About Plant-Based Muscle Building with Henry James Carpenter & Julia Furlipa

Best Life By You Podcast Can you build serious muscle on a plant-based diet — and keep your faith while doing it? Henry Carpenter has been proving the answer is yes for over 14 years. Henry is a pediatric nurse, military veteran (Army + Air Force), vegan bodybuilder, and powerlifter who discovered plant-based living through years of spiritual study, alchemical research, and a deep dive into ancient scripture. In this episode, he and Julia break down identity, energy, discipline, grief, overtraining, and what it actually takes to thrive — not just survive — on a plant-based lifestyle. 🌱 What we cover: • Why Henry went vegan after reading scripture and alchemical texts • How he went from 19–20% body fat to stage-ready in just 90 days — on plants • The cortisol and cardio mistake that was keeping him fat • Losing a patient and how grief completely derailed his health for 3 years • How intermittent fasting done wrong triggered hormonal imbalance • The identity crisis behind every anti-vegan argument • Why compassion — not debate — is the most powerful tool for change • Blue zones, the Daniel fast, and plant-based longevity • "You were born perfect. After that, man put titles on you." CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Intro: Henry's philosophy on thriving as a vegan 1:18 – Welcome & how Julia and Henry connected 3:20 – Henry's background: nursing, military, and healing work 6:39 – Why to keep your goals private (or not) 8:00 – Stop taking advice from people not where you want to be 11:50 – Henry's spiritual journey and why he went vegan 15:23 – Juicing, ditching dairy, and the addiction of cheese 16:30 – Training without anger: how veganism changed his gym mindset 19:00 – The identity behind anti-vegan arguments 22:39 – The fish argument, sea cockroaches, and the Bible debate 25:13 – Identity, dating, and being vegan in a non-vegan world 29:30 – Is your attachment to food really about something deeper? 36:08 – Survival school: skinning a rabbit and going vegan after 38:36 – Bodybuilding as a vegan — his first show prep story 41:30 – Low carb bro science vs. what actually works 42:19 – Losing a patient, grief, and a 3-year health breakdown 44:37 – How over-fasting wrecked his hormones 46:52 – Mental becomes physical: when suppression shows up in the body 49:26 – What does health really mean? Henry's answer 50:31 – The #1 reason to go vegan 55:18 – "You were born perfect. Man gave you the titles." 56:17 – Closing thoughts and Julia's invitation for a round 2 🔗 Connect with Henry Carpenter: https://www.instagram.com/henryjc1984/ [https://www.instagram.com/henryjc1984/ ] 🎙 Subscribe to Best Life By You: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts 📲 CONNECT WITH JULIA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa [https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa]  Best Life By You App: https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/ [https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/]  Work with Julia: ⁠https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/⁠ [https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/%E2%81%A0]  Book: https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY [https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY]  #vegan #veganfitness #plantbased #veganathlete #veganBodybuilder #bestlifebyyou #plantbasednutrition #veganmuscle #mindsetmatters #holistichealth #militaryveteran #spirituality #veganlifestyle #plantbasedliving #danielfast #mentalhealth #bodybuilding

#47 | How to Forgive and Take Back Your Life | Dr. Frederic Luskin, Stanford Forgiveness Project | Best Life By You Podcast with Julia Furlipa

In this episode of Best Life by You, Julia sits down with Dr. Fred Luskin — director of the Stanford Forgiveness Projects, creator of Stanford's happiness class, and bestselling author of Forgive for Good to explore what forgiveness actually is, why it has nothing to do with excusing bad behavior, and how practicing it is one of the most powerful things you can do for your mental and physical health. Dr. Luskin shares his personal journey into forgiveness research, the four universal components of the forgiveness process, why intimate betrayal is the hardest to heal from, and how shifting the story you tell yourself changes everything. 🔗 Learn more about Dr. Luskin: fredluskin.com [fredluskin.com] 📚 Forgive for Good — available wherever books are sold CONNECT WITH JULIA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/ ] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa [https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa ] Best Life By You App: https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/ [https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/ ] Work with Julia: ⁠https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/⁠ [https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/⁠ ] Book: https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY [https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY ] #Forgiveness #FredLuskin #StanfordForgiveness #MentalHealth #SelfForgiveness#ForGiveForGood #LetItGo #HealingJourney #BestLifeByYou #PersonalGrowth#EmotionalWellness #MindsetShift #PositivePsychology #Relationships#InnerPeace #GratitudePractice #SelfHelp #WellnessPodcast #Mindfulness

#46 | The 22-Year-Old Who Created the World’s First Anti-Energy Drink with Jinu Kang | Best Life By You Podcast with Julia Furlipa

What if the future of energy wasn’t more caffeine... but less? In this episode of Best Life By You, I sit down with Jinu Kang, founder of ColdBridge, the world’s first anti-energy drink designed to help people feel calm, focused, and energized without the jitters, crashes, or caffeine dependency. At just 22 years old, Jinu is building a wellness beverage company while finishing college at Michigan State University. We discuss entrepreneurship, caffeine addiction, stress, calm energy, startup life, Shark Tank dreams, wellness trends, and why traditional energy drinks may be doing more harm than good. If you struggle with stress, anxiety, caffeine crashes, burnout, or constantly feeling overstimulated, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we cover: ✔ What an anti-energy drink actually is ✔ Why energy drinks may hurt focus and recovery ✔ How to get calm energy without caffeine crashes ✔ The ingredients behind ColdBridge ✔ Entrepreneurship in your 20s ✔ Startup mindset, manifestation, and building a business young ✔ Why slowing down may be the secret to performing better Follow Jinu & ColdBridge: www.linkedin.com/in/jinu-thepathfinder-kang (LinkedIn) drinkcoldbridge (Instagram) CONNECT WITH JULIA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_bestlifebyyou/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa [https://www.tiktok.com/@juliafurlipa]  Best Life By You App: https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/ [https://bestlifebyyoutracker.replit.app/]  Work with Julia: ⁠https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/⁠ [https://www.bestlifebyyou.com/%E2%81%A0]  Book: https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY [https://amzn.to/4rM6HpY] Subscribe for more conversations around health, wellness, mindset, entrepreneurship, and living your best life. Chapters 00:00 The World’s First “Anti-Energy Drink” 00:53 Meet Jinu Kang & ColdBridge 02:15 Balancing College & Building a Startup 04:14 Growing Up Around the World 05:39 Why He Started an Anti-Energy Drink 08:33 What “Calm Energy” Actually Means 09:44 Inside ColdBridge Ingredients 13:14 The Hot Tea Twist No One Expected 15:49 Family Reactions to the Business 17:07 The Big Vision for ColdBridge 19:48 Graduation, Investors & Startup Life 22:06 Athletes, Performance & Calm Focus 24:27 Top Benefits of ColdBridge 29:15 Sacrifices of Building a Company Young 33:42 Turning Down a Job Offer to Bet on Himself 35:31 The 8-Year Exit Plan 40:18 Why Americans Are So Burned Out 44:58 Shark Tank Dreams & Startup Goals 47:32 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs 50:28 The Power of Speaking Success Into Reality 55:18 Final Thoughts & ColdBridge Future #Wellness #Entrepreneurship #EnergyDrinks #StressRelief #CalmEnergy #HealthPodcast #StartupFounder #CaffeineAddiction #Mindset #BestLifeByYou