What if the worst thing that ever happened to you became the reason you succeed?

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with speaker, storytelling coach, and emotional clarity guide Brian Drury to talk about how your biggest pain can shape your greatest platform. From the power of emotional shifts on stage to building a life that feels as good as it looks, Brian shares the exact mindset, habits, and healing practices that helped him turn rock bottom into the foundation for an intentional, fulfilling life.

Whether you’re an aspiring speaker, a high achiever chasing meaning, or someone ready to slow down and reconnect with your truth, this conversation will ground, challenge, and uplift you.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✓ What separates a great speaker from a good one

✓ How to use your rock bottom as a catalyst for finding your purpose

✓ The difference between overdelivering and resonating

✓ Why storytelling isn’t about you, it’s about service

✓ Why your intuition is important, and why you should stop ignoring it.

📌 In this episode, we talk about:

– Brian’s 3 top lessons for graduates starting out

– His raw story of hitting emotional, physical, and professional burnout

– The one mentor who changed everything for him

– The difference between information and emotional connection

– How grief shaped his ability to lead with clarity and compassion

– Why slowing down is the secret to true success

🧠 Who is Brian Drury?

Brian is a globally respected speaker, emotional clarity coach, and founder of the Speaker’s Lab. He’s trained 1,000+ people to tell transformational stories and believes the most powerful message you can deliver is the one rooted in truth and service. His viral speech “The First Time I Saw My Dad Cry” touched over 20 million hearts on Facebook alone. Brian’s journey is one of depth, resilience, and leading with heart.

📚 Check out The First Step by Brian Drury https://a.co/d/gJl6ZVe

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome Brian Drury to The SMARTA Podcast

00:45 Top 3 lessons for graduates starting out today

06:30 How to know when you’re truly listening to your intuition

11:00 Why you can’t logic your way to fulfillment

17:40 What separates people who thrive from those who plateau?

25:30 How to create emotional connection as a speaker

33:30 How his lowest point became his turning point

40:00 Meeting his mentor and what it changed in him

46:00 What makes a good speaker vs. a great speaker

51:00 Why emotional shifts matter more than information

54:45 What changed between his first and most recent speech

01:02:00 Tips to slow down and stop overdelivering

01:06:50 Advice 17-year-old Brian wished he had

01:12:20 Why holistic success matters more than external success

01:17:20 The importance of rest, presence, and perspective

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📅 New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

📺 YouTube: @soniamartaauthor

🌍 Website: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Instagram: @soniamartaauthor | linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

Ever felt like you were falling behind — in school, in life, or just in general?

In this powerful episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Jordan Toma, motivational speaker, special education advocate, and author of I’m Just a Kid With an IEP, to talk about what it means to believe in yourself when no one else seems to.

Jordan went from a 1.7 GPA to delivering life-changing talks across the country. His message is clear: you’re not “not good enough” - you’re becoming.

🎯 In this episode, we explore:

– How to turn struggle into confidence

– What students with IEPs (and their parents) need to hear

– Why one person believing in you can change your life

– How to rewrite the labels you’ve been given

– What it actually takes to start believing in yourself

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✓ Why your biggest struggle is your strength

✓ The real way confidence is built

✓ How to show up when you feel invisible

✓ How to turn past pain into purpose

✓ The mindset shift that helps you finally say, “I’m worth it.”

🧠 Who is Jordan Toma?

Jordan is a nationally recognized motivational speaker, author, and advocate for students with learning differences. Known for his viral “Back of the Room” speech, his story has inspired thousands of students, parents, and educators to never give up on themselves or each other. He is featured on NBC today show, CBS news and more.

📚 Check out I’m Just a Kid With an IEP by Jordan Toma

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome

01:40 Why Jordan writes for the “invisible” kids

03:47 Can you take us to the moment in the mirror where everything shifted for you?

07:20 What would you say now to your younger self, knowing what you do today?

14:01 What resonates most with students during your talks, and what do you want them to remember?

21:19 What habits and tools helped you build yourself brick by brick?

24:13 What is your new book about and why is it so important to you?

28:20 Final message to students feeling behind

AD: Learn how CGS can support your company at www.romania.cgsinc.com

🔔 Subscribe for more weekly episodes that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out.

📅 New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

📺 YouTube: @soniamartaauthor

🌍 Website: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Instagram: @soniamartaauthor | linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

“Being apathetic is a choice.”

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with John R. Miles, founder of the Passion Struck podcast and a former U.S. Navy officer turned intentional living strategist, to explore how to break free from autopilot and design a life that truly matters.

John shares how to reconnect with your purpose, reclaim your identity, and challenge the habits that keep you stuck, starting with one powerful decision at a time.

🎯 In this episode, we explore:

– What it means to live with intention

– Why distraction is the greatest threat to your future

– How to build daily momentum through meaningful action

– The psychology of your “reverse bucket list”

– How to stop reacting and start designing your life

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✓ How to shift from passive to passionate living

✓ Tools to become an “action creator” instead of a bystander

✓ The power of making aligned micro-choices

✓ Why it’s never too late to start again

✓ How to stop micromanaging others and yourself

🧠 Who is John R. Miles?

John is the host of the Passion Struck Podcast (ranked Top 10 globally), a keynote speaker, veteran, and personal transformation expert. With millions of downloads and high-profile guests like Jamie Kern Lima and Gary Vee, his work empowers individuals to bridge the gap between intention and action.

📚 Explore his brand-new book Passion Struck on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Struck-Powerful-Principles-Intentional/dp/B0C8G5R5FZ

In this episode:

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction to John R. Miles

02:34 – What it really means to live with intention

06:47 – Why most people live on autopilot (and how to break free)

09:55 – The role of self-awareness in designing your life

12:48 – What is a reverse bucket list — and why it matters

15:33 – How to stop micromanaging yourself and others

18:02 – Becoming an “action creator” and building momentum

22:21 – Letting go of the need to prove yourself

25:10 – Creating habits that support identity shifts

28:44 – John’s message to his younger self

31:10 – Final challenge: Start living like you matter

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🔔 Subscribe for more weekly episodes that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership, from the inside out.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

🗓️ New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: @soniamartaauthor

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