On this powerful bonus episode of Behind the Armor, Krista Williams brings heart-centered wisdom to her conversation with Judd, revealing how she balances being a public leader with honoring her own human experience. The episode opens with a grounding breathwork session led by Krista, setting the tone for a vulnerable and insightful dialogue.

Together, Krista and Judd unpack what it means to lead from authenticity—even during personal struggles. Krista shares her journey from burnout and people-pleasing to cultivating self-love and emotional regulation. She also speaks candidly about the pressure to maintain an image online, the challenges of being a coach and healer while still healing herself, and how she navigates sharing publicly while protecting her inner world and the people closest to her.

By the end of the conversation, listeners will be left with a powerful reminder: the bravery to be seen starts in the heart, not from perfection, but from owning who we are—fully, honestly, and with compassion.

5 Lessons from the Episode:

Ground first: Simple grounding breathwork before hard conversations can shift your entire presence.

Share with discernment: Not every part of your life needs to be public to be powerful.

Own your evolution: Cringe at old content? That’s proof of growth, not failure.

Protect your truth: Tell your story, but focus on your role and your processing—not that of others.

Celebrate wholeness: Feeling good and sharing your joy is just as worthy as sharing your pain.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Grounding Meditation with Krista
06:00 Understanding Stress and Nervous System Regulation
08:50 Can You Lead While You’re Struggling?
12:00 Sharing Authentically Without Oversharing
18:00 Dealing with Old Versions of Yourself
20:30 Shame, Storytelling, and Vulnerability
24:00 What to Share and Who It Affects
26:15 Celebrating Joy Without Shame
29:45 Telling Stories That Involve Others
32:00 Speak From Integration, Not Expectation
33:15 Behind the Scenes of the “Almost 30” Book
36:00 From Rock Bottom to Self-Love

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For today’s special bonus episode, Judd welcomes meditation teacher and entrepreneur Jesse Israel to Behind the Armor—discussing the natural cycles behind the beginnings and endings we all walk through. Jesse begins the conversation by leading us through a grounding meditation—drawing attention to the body, breath, and environment—which sets the tone for the conversation.

Together, Judd and Jesse dive into some of the common myths about meditation, but the heart of the episode centers on how to embrace the closing of life chapters well. Judd chooses to share about his impending divorce and the emotional tumult of major life shifts, asking Jesse how to ritualize milestones like letting go of past identities. In turn, Jesse highlights his experience with The Big Quiet and underscores the importance of grieving, crying, and letting go of shame to open space for new energy.

The episode concludes with Jesse encouraging Judd to write his own closure letter and invite others to bear witness—anchoring endings in ceremony and moving into new beginnings with presence, clarity, and energetic readiness.

5 Lessons from the Episode:

Mindfulness myth: Meditation isn’t about emptying the mind—it's about practicing awareness when thoughts arise.

Lead by being: Your transformation is the most effective invitation for others to follow.

Ritual closure: Monumental endings deserve ritual—a letter, a ceremony, public acknowledgment.

Trust cycles: Past experiences show that trust and letting go pave the way for new growth.

Cultivate the soil: In transitions, focus on nourishing yourself—the flower blooms in its season.

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Guided Meditation & Introduction
01:20 Debunking Meditation Myths
04:42 Teaching Meditation & Building Habit
10:00 Recognizing Cycles & Honoring Endings
14:33 How Jesse Closed The Big Quiet
19:25 Ceremony & Grief in Transitions
24:15 Overcoming Attachment & Fear
27:26 Anchoring Intuition & Trust
29:41 Cultivating Soil Between Chapters
32:47 Advice for Crafting Closure & Ceremony

For this seventh and final installment in our addiction series, Rich Soza joins Judd for an unflinching conversation about addiction, redemption, and the role human connection plays in recovery. What begins as a lighthearted reflection on rehab antics quickly gives way to a vulnerable account of relapse, pain, and the moment Rich faked his own death to escape his emotional reality.

The episode explores how Rich and Judd's friendship was forged in the trenches of rehab—but the most powerful part of the story begins when Rich, in the depths of alcoholism and despair, calls Judd pretending he only has four weeks to live. Judd's unwavering presence—flying cross-country to take Rich to Disney World and arranging for his detox—becomes a literal life-saving moment. Rich later opens up about the psychological and emotional pain that brought him there, revealing how shame, loneliness, and fear can drive someone to such lengths. This is more than a story about addiction; it’s a message for anyone who’s ever felt like giving up. It’s about how connection, even at its most fragile, can be the thread that pulls someone back from the edge.

5 Lessons from the Episode

Authentic connection: Real relationships built on honesty and vulnerability can save lives.

Choose daily joy: Happiness isn’t automatic—it’s a conscious decision made each day.

Consistency matters: Small, repeated actions—like affirmations—can rebuild a shattered identity.

There’s always help: Even at your lowest, there are people willing to show up if you reach out.

Purpose heals: Helping others gives our pain meaning and becomes the foundation for lasting recovery.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 The Choice to Be Happy
01:28 First Meeting at Rehab
04:28 Bonding Over Sand and Salsa
07:55 The Ferrari in Rehab
11:31 Living Together Post-Rehab
13:33 Relapse and Reflection
18:13 Faking Death and the Cry for Help
25:16 Facing the Edge
29:10 The Disney World Intervention
36:33 Bacteria, Hospitals, and a Real Brush With Death
43:10 A Year of Silence and the Breaking Point
45:38 The Life-Saving Phone Call
50:04 The Connection Cure Begins
52:24 From Darkness to Daily Light
54:21 Sharing the Message Forward
56:36 Final Words for Those on the Edge

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