Authority is Built, Not Given — Here’s How to Start

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I’m joined by global brand strategist and creator Dain Walker to talk about building an authentic brand that actually connects — and why clarity, obsession, and personal responsibility are the real game-changers.

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn:

– Why “attention is currency” in today’s world

– The #1 mindset shift that unlocked Dain’s success

– How to grow without waiting for the perfect moment

– Tactical advice for finding your niche + standing out

– What it really means to take full agency over your life

💡 This episode will help you:

✓ Get clear on your message

✓ Build credibility without faking it

✓ Create content that feels real

✓ Turn your obsession into opportunity

✓ Stop waiting — and start leading

📚 Check out Dain's book The 90 Brand Plan on Amazon.

In this episode:

00:00 – Welcome

02:01 – How Dain Started His Brand Strategy Journey

04:45 – “Attention Is Currency” – Why Content Isn’t Enough

07:32 – Taking Full Agency Over Your Life and Success

11:09 – The Moment Dain Knew He Was Meant for More

13:20 – How to Turn Your Obsession Into a Scalable Brand

16:44 – Common Mistakes People Make With Their Brand

20:12 – The Power of Consistency and Repetition in Messaging

24:35 – Clarity Over Aesthetics: What Branding Really Means

28:10 – Why Confidence Comes from Reps, Not Followers

31:58 – Building a Personal Brand That Doesn’t Feel Fake

35:40 – The Myth of the “Right Time” to Start

38:23 – Tactical Advice: Find Your Niche and Solve a Problem

41:05 – The Brand-Builder’s Mindset: Focus, Value, Authenticity

44:18 – Final Thoughts: Creating a Brand That Reflects You

🔔 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 & grow together:

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• ⁠⁠Links⁠

What if the life you’re meant to live starts with being real?

Too many of us are stuck chasing perfection, people-pleasing, or performing our way through life. But what if the key to real resilience is… authenticity?

🎙️ In this empowering conversation, I sit down with Nathan Andres — globally recognized coach, LGBTQ+ advocate, and author of Your REAL Life — to talk about what it truly means to get real, resilient, and aligned with your purpose.

✨ In this episode, we explore:

– The REAL Life framework for authenticity and personal growth

– How to turn adversity into “advertenity”

– The connection between energy, identity, and fulfillment

– How to manage burnout while staying in your power

– Why the relationship you have with yourself is everything

– Creating boundaries without guilt

– The importance of being radically honest about your needs

💡 What you’ll learn:

✓ How to reconnect with your REAL self

✓ Practical tools to manage your energy and avoid burnout

✓ How to shift from adversity to opportunity

✓ Why resilience starts with self-awareness, not hustle

✓ The difference between surviving and truly thriving

✓ How to lead with your values in work and life

Nathan’s lived across continents, coached thousands, and finished four marathons 🏃‍♂️— but his biggest lesson? Authenticity is your greatest asset.

📚 Check out Nathan’s book Your REAL Life now available on Amazon.

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome

07:42 Introduction to Resilience and Well-Being

10:27 The Blueprint of Your Real Life

12:56 Understanding Reality and Acceptance

16:51 Harnessing Energy for Resilience

18:19 Authenticity: The Core of Self-Discovery

19:15 The Power of Love in Resilience

22:02 Facing Adversity: A Mindset Shift

27:18 Building Awareness and Self-Understanding

28:48 Advertenity: Finding Opportunity in Adversity

37:03 Types of Adversity and Their Impact

42:08 Taking Control of Financial Adversity

43:06 Understanding Personal Values and Identity

45:18 Regulating and Recovering Energy

55:07 Practical Tips for Energy Management

01:02:42 The Impact of Vulnerability on Leadership

01:09:50 Leading with Love and Self-Care

01:12:48 Transformative Reads for Personal Growth

SPONSOR: To grow your career and explore opportunities at Computer Generated Solutions (CGS) today, find out more details at 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 & grow together:

• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠⁠Links⁠

What if the purpose of life is… to change your mind?

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Case Kenny — bestselling author of ‘That’s Bold of You’ and host of the top 25 podcast New Mindset, Who Dis? — to talk about self-love, internal dialogue, and the real meaning of settling up vs. settling down.

→ This conversation will challenge you to rethink your relationships, rewrite your labels, and remind you that you’re allowed to define your own path.

→ It’s honest. It’s hopeful. It’s the reminder you didn’t know you needed.

💬 What We Talk About:

– The true definition of optimism

– Why labels limit your growth

– How vulnerability filters in the right people

– Visualizing vs Vocalizing to yourself: the mindfulness gap

– Visualizing success without bypassing your truth

– Breaking free from people breadcrumbing you + relationship imbalances

– Self-love before love: how to build your life first

– Creating your own version of success and joy

✨ What You’ll Learn:

✓ How to build confidence by pushing your comfort zone

✓ Why your internal dialogue shapes your emotional reality

✓ The difference between settling up and settling down for someone

✓ How to support others through trauma with compassion

✓ Why resistance is often a sign of progress

✓ How to stop rushing — and start trusting your pace

Case’s message is clear: the more honest you are with yourself, the less regret you’ll carry. And that’s where the real peace begins.

📚 Pre-order Case’s upcoming book The Opposite of Settling

📖 Get your copy of ‘That’s Bold of You’ here.

🖍️ & follow his signature red-pen reflections on Instagram at @case.kenny.

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome

03:33 Introduction to Case Kenny's Journey

05:42 Embracing Change and Optimism

10:00 The Power of Labels and Reinvention

14:05 Challenging Societal Norms

18:33 The Importance of Honesty and Vulnerability

23:47 Mindfulness and Visualization Techniques

26:03 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

30:18 Understanding Breadcrumbing in Relationships

34:11 The Importance of Choosing Yourself

40:18 Promoting Self-Love and Building a Life You Love

44:36 Cultivating a Trauma-Informed Mindset

46:44 Defining Your Own Path to Happiness

SPONSOR: To grow your career and explore opportunities at Computer Generated Solutions (CGS) today, find out more details at 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 & grow together:

• ⁠Instagram⁠
• Links⁠