I sat down with Angel Fernández, also known as Max Lewis, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and the mindset required to grow beyond your environment.

Angel shares what it was like growing up working from a young age. Selling mangoes. Washing cars. Learning responsibility early. Figuring things out without a clear roadmap. He speaks openly about building confidence through action, about stepping into rooms before feeling fully prepared, and about how environment quietly shapes the limits we place on ourselves.

We talk about the weight of other people’s expectations, about choosing whose voice you allow to influence your decisions, and about the discipline required to create opportunities instead of waiting for them. Angel also opens up about a season when he stepped away from his own company and the personal growth that followed. There’s honesty in the way he describes leadership, humility, and the internal work that comes with expansion.

This episode speaks to anyone who feels like they started behind, who is building something without a safety net, or who senses there’s more in them but doesn’t know how to access it yet. It’s about growth in real time. About maturing through experience. About understanding that who you become determines what you can sustain.

If you’re navigating ambition, self-doubt, faith, or leadership, this conversation with Angel Fernández offers perspective that feels lived and earned.

Watch the full episode and tell me which part connected with you.

Please remember to sign up at FaithAndGrowthPodcast.com to receive the weekly episodes in your inbox.

You may connect with Angel Fernández on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoismaxlewis/?hl=en

Grab my book, Hurt 2 Hope: Heal the Pain of Grief, Loss, and Adversity here.

https://a.co/d/awwbAgc

Explore my Faith-Based Coaching Academy and upcoming programs:

https://faithandgrowth.com

Sign up to receive the podcasts every week: faithandgrowthpodcast.com

Are you tired of rushing through life like a "chicken without a head," waiting for the chaos to end before you can finally find peace?In this episode, I dive deep into the transformative power of intention, a divine decision made in union with God that allows you to change your entire experience without needing your external circumstances to shift at all.I share a personal story from November 2022, a day that was "supposed to be a disaster" as my father faced a cancer diagnosis while I managed a grueling work and travel schedule.By choosing to set an intention to be present and slow down, I discovered that you don't have to wait for a goal to be reached to experience the joy and peace you long for right now.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:- Intention vs. Goals: Why intentions are deeper emotional experiences that don't depend on a measurable outcome.- The Power of Deciding: How true "decision" means removing all other possibilities, like choosing happiness over misery.- Connecting to Divine Power: How to turn on your "spiritual GPS" and surrender to God's guidance to find the right path.- Living with Purpose: How to transform everyday chores, like doing dishes or folding laundry, into meaningful acts of love.- Measuring "The Gain": Why you should measure progress by looking backward at how far you've come rather than looking forward at the "gap".- Creating a North Star: How to use a "Word of the Year" and monthly intentions to guide your emotions and decisions.Resources & Links:Step Into Your Purpose: Learn about my programs at FaithAndGrowth.comTake Action: Book a call at TalkToBetsy.comRead the Book: Grab my book, Hurt 2 Hope: Heal the Pain of Grief, Loss, and Adversity https://a.co/d/awwbAgcGet the App: Download the Better with Betsy App and gain 24/7 access to Betsy through her Betsy Bot!Living with intention means you are the producer and director of your life, not your circumstances. Whether you are facing a difficult diagnosis or just a busy Tuesday, you have the power to choose how you show up. If you’re ready to stop mindlessly checking boxes and start living with divine purpose, this episode is for you.Remember to subscribe and share this with someone who needs to hear it!Follow me on social:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterwithbetsy/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Betterwithbetsy/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betterwithbetsy/Visit me at:https://hurt2hope.com/https://betterwithbetsy.com/https://faithbasedcoachingacademy.com/

I am terrified to share this episode.

For the first time, I’m not speaking from a scar, I’m speaking from the wound. In this raw and deeply vulnerable conversation, I open up about what it feels like to be in the messy middle of life: when your business isn’t producing the outcomes you hoped for, when your bank account feels tight, when your marriage feels tender, and when joy feels quieter than usual.

I’ve always declared that I am the happiest woman on earth. And I still believe that. But this week? I’ve been sad. And that doesn’t make me a sad person, it makes me someone walking through the middle of the journey.

In this episode, I share what it really looks like to navigate the tension between success and fulfillment. The difference between checking off boxes and actually feeling aligned. The reality of launching a faith-based business, pouring your heart into serving others, having $34 in your account after a $250 flat tire, and still choosing to praise God. The vulnerability of conflict in marriage. The frustration of effort not matching outcomes. The temptation to quit… and the faith to stay.

This episode is about faith, resilience, surrender, discernment, gratitude, abundance, and trusting God in uncertainty. It’s about staying obedient even when you’re uncomfortable. It’s about choosing fulfillment over metrics. It’s about believing that your story ends in resurrection, even if today feels like Good Friday.

If you’re in the messy middle of your business, your marriage, your finances, your health, or your purpose, this conversation is for you.

Keep on keeping on. Focus on fulfillment. Trust the process. The ending is joy.

Resources & Links:

Ready to step into your purpose and answer God’s calling to do more? Learn about my programs at FaithAndGrowth.com

If you’re ready to take action, book a call at TalkToBetsy.com

Grab my book, Hurt 2 Hope: Heal the Pain of Grief, Loss, and Adversityhttps://a.co/d/awwbAgc

Download the Better with Betsy App and gain 24/7 access to Betsy through her Betsy Bot.

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share it with someone in their messy middle, and leave a review. Your resurrection season is coming.

There comes a moment in life when pushing harder stops working.

When the strategies that once got results start feeling heavy. When decisions that look “right” on paper don’t bring peace. When success exists, but alignment doesn’t.

This conversation with Alex Pardo is for anyone who has ever wondered whether they’re building something with God… or just asking Him to bless what they’ve already decided to do.

Alex Pardo is a self-storage investor, operator, and coach who helps everyday people buy their first cash-flowing self-storage facility within 6–12 months (often without using their own money or prior experience).

After leaving behind a high-stress real estate business, Alex found a simpler path to wealth and freedom through self-storage. Today, he teaches others how to create cash flow, time freedom, and long-term wealth without tenants, toilets, or trading time for money.

He’s the founder of the Storage Wins Coaching Community and host of the Storage Wins Podcast, where faith, family, and principled action are at the center of building a business that supports life—not competes with it.

In this episode, we talk about what happens when peace becomes the strategy, not the reward. About slowing down in a world that celebrates urgency. About learning to tell the difference between ambition and obedience, between ego-driven momentum and Spirit-led direction.

We explore what it really means to invite God into everyday decisions, not just in life and family, but in work, leadership, money, and calling. What it looks like to surrender control without losing drive. To trust guidance without abandoning responsibility. To recognize that feeling resistance doesn’t always mean you should push harder, sometimes it means you should listen.

We talk about business, purpose, stewardship, silence, obedience, identity, and the subtle ways fear can disguise itself as logic. About how slowing down doesn’t make you less effective, it often allows clarity to catch up. And about why the bravest thing you can do sometimes is create space instead of taking action.

If you’re building something. Leading others. Navigating faith and ambition. Questioning whether the path you’re on is still aligned, this episode was made for you.

Sometimes, the shift begins the moment you stop rushing… and start paying attention.

Please remember to sign up at FaithAndGrowthPodcast.com to receive the weekly episodes in your inbox.

Hay historias que no empiezan con privilegios, ni con caminos fáciles. Empiezan con disciplina, con silencio, con carácter… y con una fe que se va formando poco a poco.

En esta conversación conocemos el corazón detrás de Verlaine Gonzalez, más allá del personaje de las redes redes… desde el niño que empezó a entrenar a los ocho años en Cuba, al adolescente que aprendió constancia sin distracciones, al hombre que tuvo que emigrar y empezar de cero en un país donde nadie lo conocía. Un hombre que tuvo que aprender paciencia, dominar su carácter y confiar en los tiempos de Dios cuando la vida no se dio como él la imaginaba.

Este episodio trata sobre mucho más que ejercicio o nutrición. Es una conversación sobre identidad, disciplina, espiritualidad y propósito. Sobre lo que significa cuidar el cuerpo como un templo, pero también cuidar el alma y el carácter. Sobre cómo la verdadera fuerza no siempre es explosiva, sino mansa, firme y constante. Sobre aprender a escuchar las señales, soltar el control, dejar de forzar caminos que no fluyen y confiar cuando Dios dice “por aquí no es”.

Hablamos de emigrar, de reinventarse, de trabajar en lo que no amas mientras no pierdes de vista quién eres. De la gratitud como estilo de vida. De vivir con lo simple sin resentimiento. De elegir lo natural en un mundo que quiere atajos. De la diferencia entre buscar fama y usar un don para servir. De por qué el amor no se persigue, sino que se recibe cuando estás completo contigo mismo.

Si alguna vez te has sentido perdido, impaciente, frustrado porque las cosas no avanzan al ritmo que esperabas, o cansado de compararte con otros, este episodio es para ti. Es un recordatorio de que todo empieza pequeño, de que la disciplina diaria transforma, y de que cuando pones a Dios en el centro, lo ordinario se vuelve extraordinario.

Que esta conversación te inspire a cuidar tu cuerpo, tu fe y tu carácter. A ser constante. A ser agradecido. A confiar. Y a recordar que el verdadero éxito no es lo que acumulas, sino la paz con la que caminas.

Recursos y enlaces:

Puedes encontrar a Verlaine en Instagram y seguirlo en YouTube:https://www.instagram.com/verlainefit/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/@Verlainefit

Consigue mi libro, Del Dolor a la Esperanza aquí:http://deldoloralaesperanza.com/

Explora mi Academia de Coaching Basado en la Fe y los próximos programas:https://faithandgrowth.com

Regístrate para recibir los podcasts cada semana:https://faithandgrowthpodcast.com/

Chapters:

00:00 – Cómo el deporte forma el carácter desde la infancia

01:46 – Quién es Verlaine González y por qué tanta gente lo sigue

03:55 – De entrenador callado a figura viral en redes sociales

07:46 – Crear un gimnasio en casa sin recursos en Cuba

12:54 – Soñar con emigrar a Estados Unidos desde Cuba

19:55 – Cuidar el cuerpo como templo: el punto de inflexión

23:45 – De entrenador privado a presencia global

28:55 – Alcanzar millones de vistas siendo 100% natural

33:20 – Seguir a Jesucristo sin religión impuesta

37:55 – Amor, relaciones y no forzar lo que no fluye

40:10 – La importancia del cuerpo, el ejercicio y la disciplina

42:45 – Cómo manejar el odio y los ataques en redes sociales

Are you constantly reaching for your phone the moment you feel bored, uncomfortable, or overwhelmed?In this episode, I share a powerful conversation about our collective addiction to phones, social media, and constant stimulation and how it’s silently disconnecting us from ourselves, our relationships, and God.We explore the psychology behind dopamine, why scrolling is so addictive, and how stillness, silence, and awareness are essential to hearing God’s voice and living intentionally.If you’ve been craving clarity, deeper connection, and freedom from distraction, this episode is for you.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why we instinctively reach for our phones when emotions ariseHow dopamine really works and why it fuels addictionThe difference between conscious use and compulsive behaviorHow constant stimulation fragments your attention and focusWhy boredom, silence, and stillness are spiritually necessaryHow phone addiction impacts creativity, relationships, and faithThe connection between distraction and difficulty hearing God’s voicePractical ways to use technology intentionally instead of mindlesslyHow awareness helps you co-create a more present life with GodResources & Links:Ready to step into your purpose and answer God’s calling to do more?Learn about my programs at FaithAndGrowth.comIf you’re ready to take action, book a call atTalkToBetsy.comGrab my book, Hurt 2 Hope: Heal the Pain of Grief, Loss, and Adversityhttps://a.co/d/awwbAgcDownload the Better with Betsy App and gain 24/7 access to Betsy through her Betsy Bot!Freedom isn’t about getting rid of your phone , it’s about not letting anything replace God as your guide. When you create space for stillness and silence, clarity returns, creativity flows, and God’s voice becomes easier to hear.If you’re ready to break free from distraction, live with intention, and reconnect with God in a deeper way, this podcast episode is for you.Remember to subscribe for weekly conversations on faith, growth, healing, and intentional living.

Are you trying to manifest the life God placed on your heart, but feeling blocked, frustrated, or unsure why things aren’t moving?

In this episode, I share a faith-based perspective on manifesting that goes beyond visualization and positive thinking. We talk about how true manifestation happens when surrender, obedience, faith, and alignment with God come first.

This conversation will help you understand why forcing outcomes creates resistance and how co-creating with God brings peace, clarity, and results.

If you desire to manifest with purpose, faith, and divine guidance, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why manifestation without God leads to burnout and frustration

• What faith-based manifesting really looks like

• How surrender activates clarity and forward movement

• Why alignment matters more than effort

• How fear and control block manifestation

• The role of obedience in manifesting God’s promises

• How to trust the process when results aren’t immediate

• Why God’s timing protects what you’re building

• How to partner with God instead of striving alone

Resources & Links:

Ready to step into your purpose and answer God’s calling to do more? Learn about my programs at FaithAndGrowth.com

If you’re ready to take action, book a call atTalkToBetsy.com

Grab my book, Hurt 2 Hope: Heal the Pain of Grief, Loss, and Adversityhttps://a.co/d/awwbAgc

Download the Better with Betsy App and gain 24/7 access to Betsy through her Betsy Bot!

Manifesting isn’t about control, it’s about alignment. When you release fear, surrender outcomes, and partner with God, what you’re meant to build flows with peace, purpose, and divine timing.

If you’re ready to manifest with faith, deepen your trust in God, and create a life aligned with His will, this podcast episode is for you.

Remember to subscribe for weekly conversations on faith, manifestation, spiritual growth, and purpose.

There is a kind of exhaustion that doesn’t come from doing the wrong thing, it comes from doing everything right for everyone else. From showing up. From holding it together. From carrying mom guilt, ambition, faith, responsibility, and love all at once.

This conversation is for the woman who has asked herself, Who am I now?After the kids grow. After the career shifts. After the body changes. After the season you thought would last forever quietly ends.

Pam Giganti spent decades building a respected career in television journalism while raising three daughters and holding a family together on very little sleep. From the outside, it looked like success. On the inside, it came with sacrifice, identity loss, and the constant tension between being present at work and present at home. When she finally stepped away from her career to choose her family, she expected peace, but what she found instead was grief. Grief for the version of herself she was leaving behind. Grief for the recognition, the validation, and the role that had defined her for so long.

This episode opens up honest conversations we don’t hear often enough, about mom guilt, identity beyond job titles, empty nesting, menopause, grief, and what it feels like to be needed deeply… and then suddenly not in the same way. Pam shares what it was like to navigate hormonal changes that affected her body, emotions, confidence, and relationships, and how confusing it can be when anxiety, brain fog, exhaustion, and self-doubt arrive without warning.

But this isn’t a story about loss. It’s a story about reinvention.

Together, we talk about what happens when purpose is no longer tied to productivity or titles, and how discovering that your purpose is rooted in who you are, not what you do, can change everything. About learning to give yourself grace in seasons where nothing feels clear. About becoming the light, in motherhood, in faith, in friendship, and in the quiet moments no one applauds.

If you’re a woman navigating transition, questioning your identity, struggling with guilt, feeling unseen, or wondering if this uncomfortable season has meaning, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

Please remember to sign up at FaithAndGrowthPodcast.com to receive the weekly episodes in your inbox.

Resources & Links:

You can find Pam Gigante on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamgiganti/

Grab my book, Hurt 2 Hope: Heal the Pain of Grief, Loss, and Adversity here.

https://a.co/d/awwbAgc

Explore my Faith-Based Coaching Academy and upcoming programs:

https://faithandgrowth.com

Sign up to receive the podcasts every week: faithandgrowthpodcast.com