What if the thing you’re missing right now isn’t motivation — but a village?

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Jonathan Conyers, author of I Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here, campaign feature on Humans of New York, and a voice recognised by The Washington Post, to talk about resilience, community, forgiveness, and how to keep going when life stacks the odds against you.

This conversation is raw, honest, and deeply human. Jonathan shares how belief carried him through hardship, why every moment is bittersweet, and how finding mentors, in unexpected places, changed the trajectory of his life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why community is non negotiable for growth

• What Jonathan means by everything being bittersweet

• How forgiveness frees you more than anyone else

• How to find mentors even when no one looks like you

• Why confidence starts with understanding your own story

• How using your voice can change your future

• Why taking life one day at a time is sometimes the bravest strategy

Jonathan Conyers is an author speaker and founder working at the intersection of storytelling education and community building. His memoir I Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here gained national attention through a viral Humans of New York campaign and has been featured by The Washington Post. He is also the co founder of the Brooklyn Debate League empowering young people to claim their voice and rewrite their futures.

📍 Follow Jonathan on Instagram and LinkedIn

📘 Read I Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here

🎧 Listen to the Professional Winner Podcast

This episode is a reminder that you are not behind. You are becoming.

In this episode:

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 3 of the Year

02:15 – The three lessons that shaped Jonathan’s life

05:20 – Why community matters more than talent

09:30 – Growing up with belief when the odds are against you

14:30 – Finding mentors in unexpected places

19:00 – The Humans of New York moment and what it changed

24:00 – Becoming a father and finding a reason to keep going

28:05 – Staying focused when life feels unstable

32:00 – Helping young people claim their voice

36:50 – Passion as the through line of every career

40:30 – Advice Jonathan would give his 17 year old self

43:00 – Books that changed his perspective

45:30 – Final message for anyone who feels they are not enough

If this episode resonated with you: do me a huge favor: double-check that you’re subscribed, follow the show, and rate this episode 5 stars.

It’s the single best way to help us bring you more amazing guests and tools to help you live your best life ever.

Now, go out there and make this your best year yet!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

📖 See Sonia’s books: www.soniamarta.com/books.

📲 Follow Sonia’s Journey linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

Music by epic_musictracks on Pixabay

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Your story is not over. It’s still being written.

Do you feel stuck not because you’re behind, but because you’re waiting to feel ready?

In today’s episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Musonda Veronica, Insider LA’s Person of the Year 2026, TEDx speaker, leadership coach, and keynote speaker, to break down how to step into this year with courage, clarity, and momentum even when your path doesn’t make sense yet.

This conversation is about choosing movement over perfection, courage over readiness, and trusting that you already have more value than you think.

What you’ll walk away with:

• Why your career path doesn’t need to make sense right now

• Why courage always beats readiness

• How to name fear so it stops controlling you

• How to build confidence through competence and familiarity

• How Gen Z mindset can reshape leadership at any age

• How to network, find mentors, and build opportunities from where you are

• Why your differences are not disadvantages, they’re your edge

Musonda Veronica’s work focuses on confidence, career transitions, leadership identity, and helping people step into opportunities before they feel ready.

This is your reminder that your dreams don’t need to make sense to anyone else. They just need movement from you.

In this episode:

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 2 of the Year

02:10 – Why you don’t need to be Gen Z to think like one

05:15 – The 3 truths that change how you approach your career

08:45 – Why courage beats readiness every time

12:40 – Saying yes before you’re ready changed everything

18:10 – How to name fear and turn it into a plan

22:30 – Confidence comes from familiarity

26:00 – Networking without fear or awkwardness

31:40 – Transferable skills when you have no experience

36:50 – Finding mentors when you think no one will say yes

40:10 – Books that changed Musonda’s life

45:45 – Final message you need to hear this year

If you learned something new from this episode, do me a huge favor: double-check that you’re subscribed, follow the show, and rate this episode 5 stars. It’s the single best way to help us bring you more amazing guests and tools to help you live your best life ever. Now, go out there and make this your best year yet!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

📖 See Sonia’s books: www.soniamarta.com/books.

📲 Follow Sonia’s Journey linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

Music by epic_musictracks on Pixabay

https://pixabay.com/music/main-title-epic-drama-113886/

You don’t have to try harder and post more. You have to get more clarity on what you do. Find your ‘why’. Your purpose.

As a new year begins, most people set goals. Very few build the discipline, clarity, and mindset required to actually follow through.

In today’s episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with one of the most direct, no-nonsense voices in business to talk about productivity with purpose, cutting through distractions, and doing the work that actually moves the needle.

This conversation is for anyone who’s tired of talking about change, and ready to commit to it.

What we cover in today’s episode:

• Why productivity without purpose leads to burnout

• How to stop overthinking and start executing

• The difference between being busy and being effective

• Why clarity beats motivation every single time

• How to build habits that actually stick in the new year

• What most people get wrong about success and discipline

• How to make 2026 the year you finally take ownership of your life and career

Brad Burton is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and author, best known as the founder of 4Networking, one of the UK’s largest and most successful business networking organisations.

With decades of experience building communities, businesses, and people, Brad is known for his straight-talking, action-first approach to success. He challenges excuses, calls out comfort zones, and helps individuals and leaders reconnect with purpose, accountability, and momentum.

You can find Brad on LinkedIn, YouTube, and through his books and speaking work, where he continues to push people to stop waiting and start doing.

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome

02:00 Why most New Year goals fail

04:05 Top 3 takeaways you’ll gain from this episode

06:10 Productivity vs purpose — why both matter

09:22 The danger of being “busy”

12:01 Clarity as the real productivity hack

15:45 Breaking the cycle of procrastination

19:20 Discipline over motivation

22:58 Habits that create long-term results

27:10 How to reset your mindset for 2026

31:40 Advice Brad would give his younger self

35:15 Final message: ownership, action, and execution

If you learned something new from this episode, do me a huge favor: double-check that you’re subscribed, follow the show, and rate this episode 5 stars. It’s the single best way to help us bring you more amazing guests and tools to help you live your best life ever. Now, go out there and make this your best year yet!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

📖 See Sonia’s books: www.soniamarta.com/books.

📲 Follow Sonia’s Journey linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

Music by epic_musictracks on Pixabay

https://pixabay.com/music/main-title-epic-drama-113886/