Episode 58: Mesh Banga

01/16/17 • 45 min

MeshBanga grew up in Richmond, California - a dangerous neighborhood plagued with drugs and violence. She had loving parents who kept her as safe as possible, often keeping her inside when they knew it would be unsafe outside. Her extended family was not as lucky. She had cousins turn to prostitution and drugs early in life.

Despite the struggles of the area, MeshBanga found music. Her purpose is trying to help the younger generation - especially young females - realize they aren't destined to the life they're born into. She boldly declares it's your choice to stay, so choose to be better.

Previous Episode

Episode 56: Larry Hagner

Larry Hagner was adopted by his step-father when he was a young boy. Everyone who knew Larry's father knew he was a good man, but he had a drinking problem that turned him from Bruce Banner into the Hulk. Larry's mother, also a heavy drinker, divorced this man when Larry was 10. At age 12 he met his biological father, but that relationship didn't continue. Every father figure from that point was just as toxic. When Larry became a father at age 30, he didn't know what to do. He struggled with being a dad until his wife called him out on it about 5 years later.

From this "Jerry McGuire" moment, The Good Dad Project was born.

In this episode, Larry and Mark talk about why men have a hard time letting others in, the importance of communication, and how a strong woman can be a man's biggest support. Larry now runs a Facebook group, podcast, mastermind, and website supporting dads around the world.

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Episode 59: Filip Valica

Filip Valica was born in communist Czechoslovakia. When he was 5, his mother decided it would be better to leave the country than stay in communist circumstances. Their family was granted a temporary, "health-related" leave on the condition that a family member was left behind. Filip's parents were on the brink of divorce as it was, so he and his mother left his father behind as they fled to Greece. They were in Greece for two years while awaiting paperwork to come to America.

While in Greece, he and his mother shared a one bedroom apartment with 2 other families. He had always been filled with a sense of wonder. Filip found an old toy missing an axle in the trash can. He fixed it with an oversized screw to create a new (to him) toy that came with him everywhere. This moment was formative in Filip's life.

Filip and his mother first landed in Goshen, Indiana, where they were sponsored by a farming family. His mother then found work in Houston, where they still live today. Filip went to college and studied mechanical engineering. He found a great job, but was recently laid off. When his daughter was born he was hit with the realization that he had been focusing on the wrong things. Filip's wife had some complications during post pregnancy, so while he was tending to his daughter at night he wrote content for his site and launched a podcast. He's been able to put all his creative focus on what's within him. Filip now works on building his own business.

Filip's take away is this: you create your own opportunity if you put in the work.