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A single line of Scripture set Jordan on a path to justice—and years later, a scuffed police break room sent her somewhere entirely new. We sit down to unpack a career that spans federal probation, the secure halls of NSA, and the criminal cases of NCIS, then follow the pivot into a purpose-built coffee company designed to remodel first responder break rooms. It’s a story about calling, craft, and choosing service even when it means starting over.

Jordan explains the lesser-known side of federal probation—pre-sentence investigations, sentencing guidelines, and courtroom advocacy—before taking us inside the high-pressure world of polygraph exams. From the insular culture of a secured compound to the cat-and-mouse of criminal interviews, she shares how examiners balance empathy with rigor and why technique, communication, and composure can change the outcome of a case. One unforgettable week felt like the pinnacle: confessions secured, a complex case unraveled, and a quiet realization that the next chapter was calling.

That call arrived in a small detail: a tired break room where officers grabbed a minute of calm between storms. Jordan mapped a new mission—launch a coffee brand that funds a foundation to remodel police break rooms. We cover how she bootstrapped the business, found aligned roasters, and obsessed over bag designs that honor each community with authentic details. She talks candidly about investor fit, the roadmap to a roastery, their first planned remodel in Chesapeake, and the daily grind of growing a values-led company.

If you’ve ever wondered how law enforcement skills translate to entrepreneurship, or how to turn a spark into a mission with traction, this conversation delivers straight talk and usable insight. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a push toward their next chapter, and leave a review telling us which moment stayed with you.

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A college friendship, a campus tragedy, and a life rebuilt with quiet strength. That’s the arc of Gina’s story—told with candor, heart, and the kind of wisdom you only earn by living through the unthinkable. We start with dorms, sororities, and a house that was memorable for all the wrong reasons, then everything shifts: an off-campus party, strangers with a knife, and the shock that ripples through a community. Gina wasn’t there that night, but she carried the aftermath—answering the phone the next morning, facing the trial, and learning how to keep breathing when justice feels too small.

What comes next is a study in resilience. Gina chooses nursing and finds meaning across cardiac units, the OR, the NICU, oncology, pediatric hospice, and kidney transplant coordination. Along the way she navigates fertility challenges—miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, and finally IVF. She shares what truly helped: prioritizing embryo quality over quantity, leaning on acupuncture and nutrition to feel in control, and letting hope and science meet in the middle. Molly arrives. Then Maggie surprises everyone by arriving naturally. Joy returns, layered with real anxiety, which she manages through early mornings, strength training, weighted walks, and an 80/20 approach to food that values protein and peace of mind.

We also dig into midlife health with practical takes on hormones, cleaner household swaps, and the GLP-1 boom. Gina’s guidance is grounded: if you choose medication, protect your muscle and bones with lifting and protein. Stronger beats smaller when the goal is longevity. Through it all, the thread is community—Brandon’s annual lacrosse game turned scholarship, holiday traditions that never stopped, and a partner who makes space for the past while cheering the future. Press play for an honest, tender conversation about grief, love, IVF, and becoming the person you needed when you were younger. If this moved you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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A routine department physical turned into a life-altering phone call: “Get to the ER now.” Kevin takes us from blue-collar beginnings in Delaware through Army Reserve missteps, into Air Force Fire Crash Rescue on the tarmac with Air Force One, and later to deployments where mortar fire and field training with Kurdish partners rewired his idea of urgency. Years later, as a state trooper and devoted dad, he was told he had T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia—rare in adults, fast, and unforgiving.

What follows is a candid look at survival by discipline. Kevin chose his oncologist like a mission-critical teammate, endured heavy chemo typically reserved for younger patients, and learned to balance drive with reality after pushing too hard too soon. Neuropathy stole his sprint, but not his forward motion. He became “the walker,” circling the hospital at dawn with a drip pole and headphones, collecting small wins and encouraging other patients to get out of bed. Home was tougher—one broken moment over a baby’s onesie forced a new mindset: stop staring at the summit and take the next step. Fitness became medicine; faith became an anchor; fatherhood became purpose.

Now in remission on maintenance chemo—nightly pills, monthly infusions, regular spinal tap chemo—Kevin trains within his limits, favors rucking over running, and rebuilds strength for whatever comes next. He’s back on light duty at work, focused on service and on helping others find resilience under pressure. If you’re facing a diagnosis, his playbook is simple and earned: control what you can, ignore the odds when they cloud your focus, stack small victories, and borrow strength from the people who believe in you.

Listen for real-world lessons on mental toughness, recovery, and the power of doing hard things when you least feel like it. If this story helped you, share it with someone who needs a way forward, and leave a review so more people can find it.

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In this episode of The Change Catalyst, I sit down with Aquiles Demerutis — a man whose story embodies transformation. From growing up in Mexico and overcoming addiction, to building what became known as one of the best taco restaurants in the world, Aquiles’s journey is one of grit, redemption, and relentless drive.After achieving massive success in the restaurant industry, he made the bold decision to sell it all — choosing family, balance, and purpose over business. Today, Aquiles continues to serve others as a volunteer firefighter and living example of what it means to be a true catalyst for change.This episode is about second chances, redefining success, and the power of knowing when to pivot.