Feel like you’re behind in life? Or unsure how to make your first job count?

Jacob Karnes has coached hundreds of young professionals, and in this episode, he reveals exactly what he wishes he knew when he started out and how you can master your mindset, your brand, and your career.

Jacob is the bestselling author of Master Your First Job and the founder of Waves Business Coaching. He spent 10 years climbing the ladder at Chick-fil-A before starting his own company. And now, he’s on a mission to help Gen Z build careers with purpose and authenticity.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

✓ How to stand out from day one in your career

✓ Why you don’t need to wait for permission to pursue big goals

✓ How to build a personal brand (before your first promotion)

✓ A mindset that makes you impossible to ignore

✓ The mistake most people make when asking for a raise

✓ Why your identity isn’t tied to one job

🎯 In this episode, we explore:

– Jacob’s journey from Chick-fil-A employee to business founder

– The #1 thing you must do to be seen as a leader early on

– Why your values matter more than your resume

– His top 2 books that changed how he sees life

– What to tell your younger self (or your future kids)

– Why writing his first book was the breakthrough he needed

📚 Grab Jacob’s book, “Master Your First Job,” on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZW5BZBX

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome & Intro

02:07 3 Life Lessons Jacob Would Tell Every Young Professional

06:27 The 60-Second Pitch: Why You Should Read His Book

08:06 The Turning Point That Sparked His Business

10:51 Building His Dream Job (Without a Job Description)

13:06 How to Ask for a Raise (and Actually Get It)

17:12 What Most People Get Wrong About Promotions

20:43 Branding Yourself as a Teen: What He’d Tell His 17-Year-Old Self

23:17 Building a Reputation That Precedes You

29:19 What Jacob Wants His Daughter to Always Remember

32:17 The Books That Shaped His Life (Atomic Habits & Man’s Search for Meaning)

35:25 The Limiting Belief That Almost Stopped Him

38:30 Final Message: Find Where Your Purpose & Skills Align

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Do you feel overwhelmed by money or unsure where to begin with investing, saving, or building wealth? You’re not alone, and this episode will help you turn confusion into clarity.

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I’m joined by certified money coach, international speaker, and founder of MoneyPal, Luca Caruana, to talk about financial confidence, emotional wealth, and starting small with your finances, even if you’re 17 and just getting started.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✓ How your emotional relationship with money shapes your success

✓ Why starting small is the smartest move you can make

✓ The psychological blocks that hold most people back

✓ How to set goals and define your Happy Money Fund

✓ The biggest budgeting mistakes and how to avoid them

✓ Why your past doesn’t have to define your financial future

📚 Luca’s 2 books that completely transformed his perspective of life: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel & Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers

🎯 In this episode, we talk about:

– The emotional side of money no one teaches us

– Budgeting mistakes that hold people back

– How to set clear, motivating financial goals

– Monetizing your passions and hobbies

– Building your own “Happy Money Fund” guilt-free

– The truth about investing

🧠 Who is Luca Caruana?

Luca is a certified money coach, keynote speaker, and the founder of MoneyPal, with years of experience helping people across Europe achieve financial clarity. Known for his focus on emotional intelligence and financial wellbeing, Luca helps individuals rewrite their financial story, without shame, math phobia, or jargon.

📖 Check out Luca’s upcoming book Unspoken and explore his work: MoneyPal.com

🎬 In this episode:

00:00 Welcome + Luca’s top 3 takeaways

01:45 How to build money habits that last

03:40 Where to start if you’re lost financially

07:00 Luca’s personal wake-up call and financial healing

13:30 Renting vs buying & defining your life goals

18:00 Why you need an emergency fund ASAP

23:00 The Happy Money Fund explained

25:30 Monetizing your passion & purpose

29:20 Why your WHY matters more than your income

31:00 Luca’s top 2 life-changing books

34:10 No-lose decisions and money confidence

36:00 Top mental barriers to financial growth

39:30 Unspoken stories and breaking generational patterns

41:30 Luca’s message to the listener

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📅 New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

📺 YouTube: @soniamartaauthor

🌍 Website: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Instagram: @soniamartaauthor | linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

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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🔔 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

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

AD: Find out how Computer Generated Solutions (CGS) can support your company’s success today by visiting www.romania.cgsinc.com

🔔 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

🌍 Connect with Sonia: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Follow Sonia’s journey: linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

What if the way you show up: your energy, your focus, your choices, was more powerful than your circumstances?

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Brian Biro, America’s #1 Breakthrough Speaker and bestselling author of Beyond Success, to talk about how we can stop striving for approval, start showing up with purpose, and lead with energy and presence — even in moments of fear, doubt, or disconnection.

If you’re ready for clarity, momentum, and more joy, start here.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✓ The mindset shift that changes pressure into momentum

✓ The 3 controllables that shape your leadership & energy

✓ How to focus on what you put in, not just what comes out

✓ How to be more present with the people who matter most

✓ Why the key to breakthrough leadership is belief — in yourself and others

🎯 In this episode, we explore:

– The moment Brian stopped chasing approval and started chasing impact

– How to stop letting others drain your energy

– The true power of being present

– The science behind belief, expectations & breakthroughs

– Why your focus creates your future — and how to reframe it

– A challenge for listeners to become better leaders, friends, and partners

🧠 Brian Biro has delivered nearly 1,900 presentations around the world to over 1 million people. He is the author of 16 books, including Beyond Success and his newest, Lessons from the Legends.

With degrees from Stanford and UCLA, he has appeared on Good Morning America and CNN, and was named one of the Top 10 Interactive Keynote Speakers in North America and among the Top 50 Motivational Speakers in the WORLD.

In this episode:00:00 – Welcome & Introduction to Brian Biro03:42 – What’s the most important mindset for students today?06:52 – What makes a great keynote speaker stand out?09:31 – Why stories are more powerful than facts13:07 – What’s your definition of breakthrough leadership?16:16 – What are the 3 controllables that shape great leaders?20:05 – How to reshape your vision and focus25:36 – What’s the real secret to energy and presence?31:49 – How do you heal past wounds and release “energy vampires”?34:10 – Tell me more about the breakthrough board experience35:09 – What would you tell your 17-year-old self?39:29 – What is the Pygmalion effect and how does it change leadership?44:42 – What does it mean to lead with full presence?46:25 – If your biggest failure held a seminar, what would it teach?50:33 – Final advice: why humility and learning are essential

📚 Grab Brian’s books on Amazon — starting with Beyond Success

🌐 Connect with Brian at: www.brianbiro.com

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🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

📅 New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

📺 YouTube: @soniamartaauthor

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Feeling disconnected from your work? Wondering where your motivation went?

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Joshua M. Evans, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and purpose-driven leadership expert, to talk about how to reignite passion even in the most repetitive, exhausting, or corporate of jobs.

You’ll walk away with tools, mindset shifts, and the surprising truth about enthusiasm that can transform how you show up to work… and life.

🎯 In this episode, we explore:

– How to rediscover meaning in your day-to-day work

– What burnout really is (and what it’s not)

– The #1 mindset shift that brings back energy and clarity

– How to lead with enthusiasm without losing yourself

– Why you don’t have to change your job to feel fulfilled

– The secret to sustaining motivation when no one is cheering you on

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✓ How to shift from exhausted to empowered at work

✓ Why purpose doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic

✓ How to gamify your routine to avoid burnout

✓ The real reason you feel “off” and how to reset

✓ Practical tools to find meaning, even in the mundane

🧠 Joshua M. Evans has trained 1,000+ organizations and speaks worldwide about engagement, leadership, and building culture with intention. His mission: help people love what they do and rediscover the human part of their work.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro: Meet Joshua M. Evans

01:45 What Happens When You Feel Disconnected From Your Work

04:12 The Truth About Burnout (It’s Not Always Exhaustion)

07:09 Why Enthusiasm Is a Career Superpower

10:15 Finding Meaning in Repetitive Work

13:40 How to Rediscover Purpose Without Changing Jobs

17:30 Building Daily Momentum Through Micro-Wins

20:00 Protecting Your Energy in a Negative Work Culture

23:14 Gamification: A Surprising Cure for Low Motivation

26:45 The Role of Gratitude in Sustaining Passion

30:10 Leading with Purpose When You’re Not in Charge

34:18 Final Takeaways: How to Love What You Do Again

Check out Purpose or Perish, The Quest For Meaning in the Future of Work on Amazon here

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🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

🗓️ New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

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What if you didn’t need a rigid life plan to succeed — just the right questions?In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Anne-Laure Le Cunff, neuroscientist, writer, and founder of Ness Labs, to explore how to design a more intentional life using science-backed tools, curiosity, and micro-experiments.Forget hustle culture. Forget 5-year goals. This is the mindset shift you didn’t know you needed.✨ In this conversation, we cover:– The framework Anne-Laure uses to make big (and small) decisions– Why most productivity advice leaves you burned out or bored out– How to embrace uncertainty without losing direction– What it means to live nonlinearly — and why it’s more realistic– How to experiment your way into clarity, purpose, and peace💡 What You’ll Learn:✓ A powerful method for self-reflection & decision-making✓ Why your brain resists change (and how to work with it)✓ How to design a career and life aligned with your values✓ What to do when you feel stuck or lost✓ Why curiosity should come first, not passion — and how to follow it📚 Anne-Laure’s work has been featured in Forbes, WIRED, and the BBC. She’s built a global community of over 500,000 readers learning to think better, live slower, and grow smarter.Check out Tiny Experiments here🔔 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🌍 Connect with Sonia: www.soniamarta.comFollow Sonia’s journey & grow together:

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