Brandon Baptiste grew up in a Haitian home where every guest “crossed the threshold into Haiti,” greeted parents first, and learned that community and respect come before everything. In this episode, Brandon, now an Assistant Director of Training and Program Development, traces his path from the only Haitian family on the block in New Hampshire, with parents commuting daily to Boston, to leading 100+ peer-mediation trainings across NYC schools. He shares how Haitian values of faith, service, and “How can I help?” shaped his trauma-informed approach to conflict resolution, and why immigrant grit prepared him to start his role on the very day the city shut down and still build programs that last.

A self-described “learned leader,” Brandon opens up about choosing discomfort to grow, the difference between being good at something and being good at the process to get there, and how unmet needs and miscommunication sit at the heart of most conflicts. He honors the siblings and mentors who sharpened his competitive drive, explains why he left security work to help kids before harm happens, and offers practical tools any student, educator, or child of immigrants can use to turn tension into understanding.

When Veronica Moya arrived in the U.S. from Buenos Aires at just 19, she spoke little English but carried something far greater, an unshakable belief in the power of the mind and spirit. From her early days learning the language through total immersion to building multiple businesses, including her children’s mindfulness company Mindful V, Veronica has turned her immigrant story into a movement that’s changing lives.

In this heartfelt episode, Veronica shares how she redefined meditation as a playful, soul-awakening experience for kids helping them manage anxiety, silence negative self-talk, and grow into confident, self-loving individuals. She opens up about overcoming language barriers, discrimination, and reinvention, rising from waitress to general manager, from wedding officiant to Telemundo’s metaphysical expert, and from a dreamer to a thought leader featured in The New York Times.

Through affirmation, meditation, and gratitude, Veronica teaches what she calls “mental hygiene”, a daily ritual to prevent the emotional struggles many adults face today. She built a movement rooted in empathy, resilience, and belief that every child, no matter where they come from, carries infinite brilliance

From child refugee to chart-topping pop star, and now a mentor to thousands, Christian Ray Flores’ journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and unshakable hope.

Born in Moscow to a Chilean father and Russian mother, his earliest memories were shaped by displacement after a brutal coup left his father imprisoned in a concentration camp. By the age of seven, Christian had lived in four countries, speaking four languages while navigating war, exile, and cultural upheaval.

Out of that adversity, he rose to global stages, with his music once becoming the anthem of freedom during Russia’s pivotal presidential campaign. Today, Christian channels that same passion into mentoring high-achievers, leading nonprofits in Mozambique and Ukraine, and equipping leaders to build personal brands that multiply both income and impact through his company, Xponential Life.