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What happens when the identity you’ve built your entire life suddenly disappears?

In this episode of The Open Exchange, Paul sits down with Mike Loudon, a former college baseball player and teammate who opens up about identity loss, body dysmorphia, alcohol, career uncertainty, and the long road to rebuilding himself.

Mike shares:

What it felt like when baseball ended

How weight gain, drinking, and depression crept in after college

The moment he realized something had to change

How nightclub promoting unexpectedly launched his career

The discipline required to lose 100+ pounds

Why people misunderstand who he really is

How he rose to become a Senior Video Marketing Manager at Rémy Cointreau

This is an honest conversation about masculinity, ambition, self-worth, and learning to peel back the layers of who you think you are.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Reunion, nicknames, and college memories
02:10 – Why this show focuses on people’s real stories
04:15 – How Mike ended up at Mitchell College unexpectedly
06:30 – Coaches, mental toughness, and being pushed hard
09:20 – Identity, popularity, and coping in college
10:55 – Body dysmorphia and insecurity behind the scenes
12:30 – Growing up with a single mother in Fairfield County
15:00 – “The obstacle is the way” and avoiding discomfort
18:35 – The final college baseball game and identity loss
20:15 – Post-college weight gain, drinking, and depression
21:55 – The stairway moment that forced a lifestyle change
24:00 – Losing 100+ pounds and rebuilding discipline
26:00 – Working in sports vs. the reality of low pay
28:30 – Nightlife promotion as an unexpected career pivot
31:00 – Entrepreneurship, flipping sneakers, and hustle
33:30 – Finding confidence and direction in his career
36:00 – Working with global brands and creative fulfillment
38:30 – Fashion Week, NBA players, and feeling “in the room”
41:00 – Misconceptions people have about Mike
44:00 – Depth, loneliness, and surface-level friendships
47:00 – Masculinity, fatherhood, and relationships
50:00 – Creativity, content, and staying connected to youth
53:00 – Why identity must evolve after sports
56:30 – Final reflections on growth and self-acceptance

🎙️ Follow Me:
TikTok: @paullymtv @theopenexchangepodcast
Instagram: @paullyym @theopenexchangepodcast
Email: Theopenexchangepodcast@gmail.com
Subscribe: / @paullyymm

Follow Mike:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twentydeucect/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Twentydeuceclothing/


🎙️ Other ways to listen:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-open-exchange-with-paul-martinez/id1733876904

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qh1HPG7IF9vlI1Sy21gST


Podcast

#Conversations #PersonalDevelopment #Faith #Inspiration #StoryTelling #Podcast

Support the show

'Virtual Tip Jar' - Donate to my show to keep me going! Thank you!

Paypal: https://paypal.me/PaulMartinez89?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US (PaulMartinez89)
Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Paullyymm (Paullyymm)

Send a text to suggest topics you’d like to hear!

Joe Logudice’s story is a raw, honest journey through the depths of addiction and the climb back to faith, purpose, and gratitude. Between ages 19 and 22, Joe’s life unraveled through cocaine and opioid addiction despite a loving upbringing. In this emotional exchange, Paul and Joe explore what truly causes addiction when “everything seemed fine,” the pivotal moment at his grandmother’s wake that changed everything, and the divine phone call that saved his life.

Joe opens up about shame, humility, faith, and rebuilding a new identity—one rooted in service, real estate, and storytelling. He reveals what recovery looks like 12 years clean, why gratitude keeps him grounded, and how his past became a tool to help others heal.

If you’ve ever struggled with purpose, identity, or finding peace after failure, this conversation will hit home. It’s not just about addiction—it’s about redemption and the power of grace.

Watch, share, and subscribe for more open, real conversations that remind us how fragile and powerful the human spirit can be.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro” — Setting the stage
00:35 – Joe’s childhood and family foundation
02:00 – The origins of addiction: when life “should’ve been perfect”
04:01 – Losing his grandmother & discovering cocaine
06:30 – Understanding addiction as a disease
08:00 – Core memories, shame, and self-worth
09:00 – The beginning of a downward spiral
13:00 – Functioning while addicted
18:00 – Escalation from cocaine to opiates
20:00 – Arrest, denial, and false control
22:00 – “Rock bottom” and the trap door
25:00 – Pain, trauma, and perspective
28:00 – “College” and the turning point
30:00 – Lessons from confinement and self-reflection
33:00 – Hearing a message of hope
36:00 – Humility and acceptance
41:00 – The Serenity Prayer and surrender
43:00 – Faith and the divine intervention that saved his life
47:00 – Gratitude as a daily practice
50:00 – Life after addiction: real estate, purpose, and giving back
53:00 – Finding God and a new way to live
55:00 – Paul’s reflections on identity and renewal
1:00:00 – Closing thoughts: gratitude, peace, and grace

🎙️ Follow Me:
TikTok: @paullymtv @theopenexchangepodcast
Instagram: @paullyym @theopenexchangepodcast
Email: Theopenexchangepodcast@gmail.com
Subscribe: / @paullyymm

🎙️ Other ways to listen:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-open-exchange-with-paul-martinez/id1733876904

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qh1HPG7IF9vlI1Sy21gST


Podcast

#Conversations #PersonalDevelopment #Faith #Inspiration #StoryTelling #Podcast

Support the show

'Virtual Tip Jar' - Donate to my show to keep me going! Thank you!

Paypal: https://paypal.me/PaulMartinez89?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US (PaulMartinez89)
Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Paullyymm (Paullyymm)

Send a text to suggest topics you’d like to hear!

Maxi Blanco’s story is unforgettable — from facing a potential prison sentence to receiving a full pardon and rebuilding his life from the ground up.

He shares the night everything changed — when a split-second decision nearly cost him everything — and the path that led him toward redemption, peace, and purpose.

The conversation goes deep into anger, forgiveness, and how he turned a life of chaos into one of discipline and purpose.

If you’ve ever questioned whether people can truly change — this episode will answer it.

00:00 – Intro: Meeting Maxi Blanco
02:00 – Childhood across London, Spain & Connecticut
05:00 – The roots of anger and identity
13:00 – Life alone at 18 and chasing independence
16:00 – The hustle begins: street life and drugs
20:00 – The night of the shooting
27:00 – Facing the police and a life-changing case
36:00 – Isolation, reflection, and awakening
45:00 – Becoming a barber & building a new future
53:00 – Faith, forgiveness, and a full pardon
1:00:00 – Lessons, purpose, and second chances

✂️ Connect with Maxi Blanco:

💈 Instagram: @maxi_the_barber

📅 Book a haircut: Book with Maxi at I Got You Next Barbershop (Groton, CT)

🧴 Beard Products: BeardOctane.com
— Use code MAXB10 for 10% off

🎙 About The Open Exchange Podcast:

Real people. Real stories. Real change.

Hosted by Paul Martinez, The Open Exchange shares authentic conversations that remind us that no matter where you’ve been, there’s always a path forward.

💼 Need Insurance Help?

Home • Auto • Life — protect what matters most.
👉 Connect with Paul Martinez at Comparion Insurance

Support the show

'Virtual Tip Jar' - Donate to my show to keep me going! Thank you!

Paypal: https://paypal.me/PaulMartinez89?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US (PaulMartinez89)
Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Paullyymm (Paullyymm)