From Soldier to Coach: Laison Dunnavant on Family, Resilience & Reinvention

From Soldier to Coach: Laison Dunnavant on Family, Resilience & Reinvention

Laison Dunnavant shares his inspiring story from growing up in Brooklyn to becoming a young father determined to provide for his family. His path led him to serve in the U.S. Army, where he dedicated himself to serving his country. After his military career, he found a new mission, helping civilians improve their health and well being through fitness and wellness. Throughout every chapter of his life, Laison has remained committed to serving others while providing for and supporting his growing family. In this episode, Laison helps us to understand the importance of understanding and accepting one's purpose, never losing site of that purpose and continuing to evolve to fulfill one's purpose. Listen and learn..Laison has a lot of wisdom to share with us all. Chapters 00:00 Morning Hustle: A Day in the Life 02:03 From Soldier to Fitness Coach: A Journey of Transformation 03:59 Childhood Influences: The Roots of Service 10:01 Joining the Army: A Life-Changing Decision 16:59 Deployment and Family: The Struggles of Separation 22:58 Life in Virginia: Building a Family and Career 32:31 Transitioning from Military Life to Deployment 36:21 The Emotional Toll of Deployment 42:51 Returning Home: A Defining Moment 47:07 Life After the Military: New Beginnings 51:07 Finding Stability and Purpose in Fitness 51:29 Navigating Life Changes and Career Transitions 57:08 Discovering Passion in Fitness 01:02:50 Overcoming Challenges During the Pandemic 01:09:38 Finding Balance in Family and Career 01:20:24 Defining Success and Resilience Connect with Laison: Instagram: @LD_NYC_

Why Jenna Arndt Left Corporate Law to Follow Her Passion for Fitness

Jenna Arndt is kind of a wolf in sheep's clothing. Upon meeting her she appears to be a bit quiet, shy and reserved. Within five minutes of knowing her, one comes to realize she is fiercely competitive, the loudest supporter on the field and extremely passionate about helping people discover their fittest selves. Oh and she loves to be in front of a camera ;) Jenna's story is one of curiosity, bravery, resilience and perseverance. This is not a tale of easy answers, quick fixes and over night success (is there even such a thing?). This is a story of being patient with oneself while truly answering to a burning passion, no matter how difficult the path to success may be. As Jenna shares in this special episode, the path to success is certainly not linear and as long as you remain open minded, creative and true to yourself, the path you end up on is exactly where you belong. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 03:00 Jenna's Journey to New York City 06:03 From Law School to Fitness Passion 09:05 The Transition from Lawyer to Fitness Instructor 11:52 The Soul Cycle Experience and Audition Process 14:52 Overcoming Challenges and Pursuing Dreams 25:01 Taking the Leap: Balancing Dreams and Responsibilities 26:01 Facing Rejection: The Journey to Finding a Fit 27:10 Exploring the Fitness Scene: From Manager to Instructor 28:34 The Rise of Boutique Fitness: Rate Your Burn and Beyond 30:04 Finding My Niche: The Path to Becoming an Instructor 32:56 The Fitting Room Experience: A New Approach to Fitness 34:39 Swerve: A Competitive and Team-Based Cycling Experience 36:35 Transitioning to Crunch: Expanding My Teaching Horizons 39:13 Embracing Diversity: Teaching Beyond the Bike 43:06 Building Confidence: The Crunch Experience 46:04 Creating Inclusive Workouts: A Philosophy in Action 48:06 Innovative Fitness: The Switch Playground Experience 50:13 Becoming a Leader: Full-Time at Swerve 52:53 Navigating COVID: Challenges and Opportunities in Fitness 53:46 Reinventing Swerve: A Journey of Transformation 56:51 Creative Programming in Fitness: The Art of Class Design 01:03:39 Navigating Change: From Swerve to Chelsea Piers 01:10:27 Project Sweat: Building a Community Through Running 01:15:24 Reflections on Success: Embracing Wins and Growth Follow Jenna : @jenna_arndt @projectsweatrunclub

To Protect, Serve and Bring Joy : Roland Walker Shares His Story

In some circles, he is known as The King of Indoor Cycling. His class has been referred to as "the Candy Shop". In East Hampton, at ZoneHampton, we called him the "Spin Preacher". For thirty years Roland Walker has been devoted to teaching fitness classes throughout the East End of Long Island, New York. We learn in this episode how Roland found his way to teaching fitness, that it all started with roller skating ?!! and that as a New York State Park Ranger his favorite place to be stationed was Montauk. To those of us who know and love Roland, this episode is a special treat and for those who have not had the grace of meeting Roland in person, get ready to take in his infectious positivity. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:00 Early Life and Roller Skating Adventures 06:00 Transition to Law Enforcement 08:56 Career in State Park Police 11:58 Journey into Fitness and Aerobics 14:58 Becoming a Spinning Instructor 17:56 Building a Following in Fitness 21:01 Program Development and Success Stories 25:15 The Journey of ClassPass and Building a Following 27:00 Essential Tips for New Instructors 28:50 The Art of Music Selection and Presentation 29:41 Mixing Music: A Game Changer in Classes 36:03 Retirement and Transitioning to a New Phase 41:50 Building a Following: The Importance of Consistency 43:06 Choreography in Indoor Cycling: Finding Balance The Power of Saying Yes and Knowing Your Limits Embracing Failure and Learning from Experience Defining Success: A Personal Journey Connecting Through Passion and Community Follow Roland Walker: IG: Roland.cycle.artist TT: Rolandw376 FB: Roland Walker

From Peloton Producer to Breakfast Disruptor : Nick Lagonia

In this episode of Defining Success, Marion Roaman sits down with Nick Lagonia, former Peloton producer and co-founder of Dawn Breaker Oats, to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship from the ups, downs, wins and losses and how to stay centered through it all. Nick shares his journey from Peloton to launching a protein-forward food brand, the lessons he learned about funding, branding, sourcing, and why having the right co-founder(s) makes all the difference. He also reveals how his team completely rebranded the company from Misery & Mayhem to Dawn Breaker Oats, in just seven weeks (!!!), transforming customer perception and accelerating the brand's momentum. The conversation explores the challenges of building a consumer food business, balancing startup life with family, hiring experts in areas outside your expertise, and why celebrating small wins is essential for long-term success. Whether you're an entrepreneur, startup founder, business leader, or simply curious about what it takes to build a meaningful brand, this episode is filled with practical insights and inspiration. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Nick Lagonia and Dawn Breaker Oats 02:53 Nick's Journey from Peloton to Entrepreneurship 05:59 Lessons from Early Stage Startups 08:59 Building a Strong Founding Team 12:06 The Story Behind Dawn Breaker Oats 15:09 Funding the Early Days of Dawn Breaker Oats 18:14 Maintaining Momentum and Positivity 20:58 The Importance of Co-Founders 23:58 Rebranding from Misery and Mayhem to Dawn Breaker Oats 26:01 The Burden of Branding and Rebranding 30:52 Navigating Sourcing Challenges 38:30 Vision for the Future of Dawnbreaker Oats 42:40 Balancing Work and Family Life 48:53 Defining Success Order Dawnbreaker Oats : https://dawnbreakeroats.com/ [https://dawnbreakeroats.com/] Follow Dawnbreaker Oats: IG: @dawnbreakeroats

The Courage to Evolve: Amber Rees on Growth, Change and Success

Amber Rees story is a woman who is not afraid to go for it. In this awesome episode of Defining Success with Marion Roaman, Amber shares her story from growing up in a musical, loving and supportive family in Indiana to pursuing her dream of performing on stage in New York City. Along the way, she navigated the highs and lows of the theater world, including the breakthrough moment of landing her first major role in the national tour of "Hairspray". She also met someone super special on this tour. (spoiler alert, sort of) But Amber's path took an unexpected turn when she discovered Barry's Bootcamp. What began as a workout quickly became a life-changing experience, introducing her to a community that reignited her passion for movement, connection, and personal growth. She shares how she transitioned from waiting tables and auditioning to building a successful career in fitness leadership, mentorship, and talent development. Amber also opens up about her personal journey, including her relationship with her wife, Lindsey, the role of honesty and vulnerability in building meaningful connections, and the inspiration behind creating the Brave Body Project—a movement dedicated to making fitness more inclusive and empowering for everyone. Together, Marion and Amber explore leadership, authenticity, community building, and what it takes to create unforgettable experiences that positively impact others. They discuss the elusive "it factor" in fitness instruction, the importance of embracing change, and why success isn't a destination—it's the willingness to keep moving forward. Whether you're navigating a career transition, seeking deeper connection, building a community, or redefining what success means to you, Amber's story offers valuable lessons in courage, adaptability, and purpose. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:05 Amber's Early Life and Passion for Performance 06:07 Transition to New York City and Early Career 11:56 The Journey in Theater and First Major Role 18:14 Discovering Fitness and Barry's Bootcamp 24:03 Building a Career in Fitness and Personal Growth 29:59 Personal Life and Relationship with Lindsay 31:10 The Birth of Brave Body Project 34:54 Evolving Community and Connection 38:54 Leadership and Growth in Fitness 42:42 The It Factor in Talent Development 54:36 Defining Success and Personal Growth Connect with Amber: https://www.bravebodyproject.com/ [https://www.bravebodyproject.com/] IG: @amber_rees