Leadership isn’t glamorous. It’s not about applause, validation, or popularity. More often than not, it’s about carrying weight, facing criticism, and being misunderstood by the very people you’re trying to help.

In this solo episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, Theo shares a raw reflection on the true challenge of leadership: the loneliness, the opposition, and the rejection that can come when you choose to stand firm in your values.

☕ Why being liked isn’t the job of a leader
☕ How to anchor yourself in your core values when criticism comes
☕ The importance of having a circle who reminds you who you are
☕ Why leadership is about alignment, not ego

If you’ve ever felt the weight of choosing integrity over approval, this conversation is for you.

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and follow so you never miss out on one of our coffee break sessions!

Now that we are a listener supported show, you can buy me a coffee and join the Café Crew at buymeacoffee.com/theoscoffeebreak for $5/mon.

Every donation will directly impact our coffee table and our goal here is to build this coffee table together with you.

Do you want to join the coffee table, or know someone who would be a great guest? Send me an email to theoscoffeebreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your voice, input, and curiosity is what shapes this table, and I’m here ready to listen with an open mind. Feel free to reach out via email or find me on Instagram at @theoscoffeebreakpodcast

And if you ever need some background music or ambience, tap into the exclusive Theo’s Coffee Break Table playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23li5Nn6IxBGv3pdoOojzY?si=5fec0a83ba9b4d22

Thank you for being here with me at our coffee table today. I’m so excited to keep growing this podcast with you: one story, one conversation, and one sip at a time.

Last thing, check out our official Shin Hoo Yong Music Enterprise website and learn more about this podcast there: www.shinhooyongmusicenterprise.com

Until next time, take good care of yourself and remember: the coffee’s always on and ready to pour here at Theo’s Coffee Break. But most importantly...

You are always welcome at our coffee table.

What happens when passion feels more like a wildfire than a warm nurturing light?

In this deeply personal episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, I share my own journey with passion and how it once consumed me, left me burned out, and why I chose to lock it away. But lately, something has shifted. Passion wants to return but not as chaotic force, it wants to return as a youthful spark.

This conversation is about learning to hold passion differently: not as an enemy to fear, but as a companion that can walk beside us. Together, we’ll reflect on how to invite passion back into our lives with balance, grace, and heart.

So take a sip, settle in, and join me at the coffee table as we explore how to feel alive again without burning out.

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and follow so you never miss out on one of our coffee break sessions!

Now that we are a listener supported show, you can buy me a coffee and join the Café Crew at buymeacoffee.com/theoscoffeebreak for $5/mon.

Every donation will directly impact our coffee table and our goal here is to build this coffee table together with you.

Do you want to join the coffee table, or know someone who would be a great guest? Send me an email to theoscoffeebreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your voice, input, and curiosity is what shapes this table, and I’m here ready to listen with an open mind. Feel free to reach out via email or find me on Instagram at @theoscoffeebreakpodcast

And if you ever need some background music or ambience, tap into the exclusive Theo’s Coffee Break Table playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23li5Nn6IxBGv3pdoOojzY?si=5fec0a83ba9b4d22

Thank you for being here with me at our coffee table today. I’m so excited to keep growing this podcast with you: one story, one conversation, and one sip at a time.

Last thing, check out our official Shin Hoo Yong Music Enterprise website and learn more about this podcast there: www.shinhooyongmusicenterprise.com

Until next time, take good care of yourself and remember: the coffee’s always on and ready to pour here at Theo’s Coffee Break. But most importantly...

You are always welcome at our coffee table.

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, we welcome Tim Harris who is a nonprofit leader, youth mentor, music coach, and freestyle artist whose passion sits right at the intersection of community and creativity.

Tim works with Escape Ministries in Holland, Michigan, where he helps suspended students reintegrate into public schools. His mission is to ensure that youth who often fall through the cracks of society encounter support, opportunity, and belonging.

At the same time, Tim is an artist and music coach who believes deeply in the power of words and rhythm to shape young lives. From freestyle sessions that unlock self-expression, to workshops that inspire confidence, Tim is using music as a tool for transformation.

Together, we talk about:
☕ His personal journey into nonprofit work and music
☕ The overlooked challenges (and potential) of suspended students
☕ Why music — especially freestyle — can be a bridge for healing and growth
☕ His past projects in schools, churches, and community events
☕ His upcoming live album recording and what listeners can expect

This conversation is equal parts inspiration and empowerment, reminding us that when we invest in youth and creativity, we invest in the future.

🎶 Connect with Tim on Instagram: @tim_harris05
🌐 Learn more about Escape Ministries: escapeministriesgr.com

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and follow so you never miss out on one of our coffee break sessions!

Now that we are a listener supported show, you can buy me a coffee and join the Café Crew at buymeacoffee.com/theoscoffeebreak for $5/mon.

Every donation will directly impact our coffee table and our goal here is to build this coffee table together with you.

Do you want to join the coffee table, or know someone who would be a great guest? Send me an email to theoscoffeebreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your voice, input, and curiosity is what shapes this table, and I’m here ready to listen with an open mind. Feel free to reach out via email or find me on Instagram at @theoscoffeebreakpodcast

And if you ever need some background music or ambience, tap into the exclusive Theo’s Coffee Break Table playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23li5Nn6IxBGv3pdoOojzY?si=5fec0a83ba9b4d22

Thank you for being here with me at our coffee table today. I’m so excited to keep growing this podcast with you: one story, one conversation, and one sip at a time.

Last thing, check out our official Shin Hoo Yong Music Enterprise website and learn more about this podcast there: www.shinhooyongmusicenterprise.com

Until next time, take good care of yourself and remember: the coffee’s always on and ready to pour here at Theo’s Coffee Break. But most importantly...

You are always welcome at our coffee table.

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break podcast we sit down with Alberto Garza, an established business owner, community builder, and co-owner of both General Woodshop and The Factory in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Alberto shares the story behind co-owning General Woodshop and The Factory, reflecting on his journey from banking outreach to building, the resilience it took to relocate and establish a new brand, and his vision for creating spaces that are rooted in retaining talent, collaboration, and inclusivity.

Together, we explore the mess, the grace, and the in between of creating something successful from the ground up, the daily practices that helped keep Alberto grounded, and what it means to nurture community through intentional space-making.

So whether you’re an entrepreneur, a business owner, a leader, or a listener who simply loves supporting local businesses, this conversation will leave you inspired to build with heart, and to create spaces where everyone feels like they do truly belong.

- General Woodshop: generalwoodshop.com

- The Factory GR: workthefactory.com

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and follow so you never miss out on one of our coffee break sessions!

Now that we are a listener supported show, you can buy me a coffee and join the Café Crew at buymeacoffee.com/theoscoffeebreak for $5/mon.

Every donation will directly impact our coffee table and our goal here is to build this coffee table together with you.

Do you want to join the coffee table, or know someone who would be a great guest? Send me an email to theoscoffeebreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your voice, input, and curiosity is what shapes this table, and I’m here ready to listen with an open mind. Feel free to reach out via email or find me on Instagram at @theoscoffeebreakpodcast

And if you ever need some background music or ambience, tap into the exclusive Theo’s Coffee Break Table playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23li5Nn6IxBGv3pdoOojzY?si=5fec0a83ba9b4d22

Thank you for being here with me at our coffee table today. I’m so excited to keep growing this podcast with you: one story, one conversation, and one sip at a time.

Last thing, check out our official Shin Hoo Yong Music Enterprise website and learn more about this podcast there: www.shinhooyongmusicenterprise.com

Until next time, take good care of yourself and remember: the coffee’s always on and ready to pour here at Theo’s Coffee Break. But most importantly...

You are always welcome at our coffee table.

In this solo episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, I open up about something we’ve all faced: false narratives.

When people are hurt, the healthy response is to seek distance and protect themselves. But when ego takes over, stories get twisted into weapons and then gossip, grudges, and smear campaigns that have nothing to do with healing or justice get out of control!!

In this coffee break session we breakdown:

• The difference between healthy boundaries and ego-driven punishment
• Why gossip and rumors should never be mistaken for justice
• How truth stands on its own without spin or mobs
• What it means to trust that real justice is already moving on your behalf

If you’ve ever been weighed down by someone else’s false story and projected resentment, this conversation is for you. Let it remind you that your growth, your peace, and your happy ending cannot be stolen by lies or by corrupt people.

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and follow so you never miss out on one of our coffee break sessions!

Now that we are a listener supported show, you can buy me a coffee and join the Café Crew at buymeacoffee.com/theoscoffeebreak for $5/mon.

Every donation will directly impact our coffee table and our goal here is to build this coffee table together with you.

Do you want to join the coffee table, or know someone who would be a great guest? Send me an email to theoscoffeebreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your voice, input, and curiosity is what shapes this table, and I’m here ready to listen with an open mind. Feel free to reach out via email or find me on Instagram at @theoscoffeebreakpodcast

And if you ever need some background music or ambience, tap into the exclusive Theo’s Coffee Break Table playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23li5Nn6IxBGv3pdoOojzY?si=5fec0a83ba9b4d22

Thank you for being here with me at our coffee table today. I’m so excited to keep growing this podcast with you: one story, one conversation, and one sip at a time.

Last thing, check out our official Shin Hoo Yong Music Enterprise website and learn more about this podcast there: www.shinhooyongmusicenterprise.com

Until next time, take good care of yourself and remember: the coffee’s always on and ready to pour here at Theo’s Coffee Break. But most importantly...

You are always welcome at our coffee table.

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, I sit down with thee Shayna “Akanke” Marie who is a poet, art activist, creative entrepreneur, and quiet force behind so many of Grand Rapids’ truth-telling spaces.

As the founder of Akanke’s Room, narrative strategist at The Diatribe, and collaborator on projects like A City Within A City, GRMiFi (Media Initiative & Film Incubator), and Reaching Beyond Bias; Shayna has built rooms where art and activism meet healing and transformation.

In this coffee break session we talk about:

• When poetry first became her language
• Building Akanke’s Room as a sanctuary for truth-telling
• Balancing art and entrepreneurship as a creative woman of color
• Her role as an “accidental historian” in Grand Rapids’ collective memory
• What she’s learned from years of working with youth
• And how she sustains hope while carrying the weight of community work

This conversation is as much about wisdom as it is about witness. I hope it reminds you of the power of words and the rooms we choose to build for one another.

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and follow so you never miss out on one of our coffee break sessions!

Now that we are a listener supported show, you can buy me a coffee and join the Café Crew at buymeacoffee.com/theoscoffeebreak for $5/mon.

Every donation will directly impact our coffee table and our goal here is to build this coffee table together with you.

Do you want to join the coffee table, or know someone who would be a great guest? Send me an email to theoscoffeebreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your voice, input, and curiosity is what shapes this table, and I’m here ready to listen with an open mind. Feel free to reach out via email or find me on Instagram at @theoscoffeebreakpodcast

And if you ever need some background music or ambience, tap into the exclusive Theo’s Coffee Break Table playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23li5Nn6IxBGv3pdoOojzY?si=5fec0a83ba9b4d22

Thank you for being here with me at our coffee table today. I’m so excited to keep growing this podcast with you: one story, one conversation, and one sip at a time.

Last thing, check out our official Shin Hoo Yong Music Enterprise website and learn more about this podcast there: www.shinhooyongmusicenterprise.com

Until next time, take good care of yourself and remember: the coffee’s always on and ready to pour here at Theo’s Coffee Break. But most importantly...

You are always welcome at our coffee table.

For me, a coffee break has never been just about coffee...

I've always seen it as another way to connect with family, catch up with friends, or even connect within the community, workplace, or even with myself.

In this reflective solo episode, I have decided to share how my earliest memories of coffee at my grandparents’ kitchen table and childhood home shaped my understanding of love, care, and presence with those around me and myself.

In remembering my Grandma VanderVeen’s playful tease about red hair and freckles, my Grandpa’s quiet moments reading the newspaper while I read the comic section, and those special morning routines with my dad before he headed off to work became more than habits, they became memories of how I see love in action.

This episode is shared in memory of my beloved Grandma and Grandpa VanderVeen, whose presence and coffee table taught me that even the smallest coffee cup could carry the greatest meaning in my now every day life.

Take a deep breath, pour yourself a cup (or whatever centers you), and let’s sit together at the coffee table.

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and follow so you never miss out on one of our coffee break sessions!

Now that we are a listener supported show, you can buy me a coffee and join the Café Crew at buymeacoffee.com/theoscoffeebreak for $5/mon.

Every donation will directly impact our coffee table and our goal here is to build this coffee table together with you.

Do you want to join the coffee table, or know someone who would be a great guest? Send me an email to theoscoffeebreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your voice, input, and curiosity is what shapes this table, and I’m here ready to listen with an open mind. Feel free to reach out via email or find me on Instagram at @theoscoffeebreakpodcast

And if you ever need some background music or ambience, tap into the exclusive Theo’s Coffee Break Table playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23li5Nn6IxBGv3pdoOojzY?si=5fec0a83ba9b4d22

Thank you for being here with me at our coffee table today. I’m so excited to keep growing this podcast with you: one story, one conversation, and one sip at a time.

Last thing, check out our official Shin Hoo Yong Music Enterprise website and learn more about this podcast there: www.shinhooyongmusicenterprise.com

Until next time, take good care of yourself and remember: the coffee’s always on and ready to pour here at Theo’s Coffee Break. But most importantly...

You are always welcome at our coffee table.

Have you ever felt like you couldn’t do anything right like no matter how hard you tried you were made to feel like you are never enough?

This episode was created for the ones who’ve been micromanaged in love, guilted by those they trusted, and told that keeping score was the only way to protect yourself.

Today, we lay it all out on the coffee table for us to discuss:

• The quiet damage of over-correction disguised as love
• Why “keeping score” only drains your joy
• How real love creates space and trust, not checkboxes intended to cultivate fear

Because love isn’t about tallying wins and losses, it’s about freedom to be yourself.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
☕ Look up Theo’s Coffee Break podcast to learn more .

Support the show

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and follow so you never miss out on one of our coffee break sessions!

Now that we are a listener supported show, you can buy me a coffee and join the Café Crew at buymeacoffee.com/theoscoffeebreak for $5/mon.

Every donation will directly impact our coffee table and our goal here is to build this coffee table together with you.

Do you want to join the coffee table, or know someone who would be a great guest? Send me an email to theoscoffeebreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your voice, input, and curiosity is what shapes this table, and I’m here ready to listen with an open mind. Feel free to reach out via email or find me on Instagram at @theoscoffeebreakpodcast

And if you ever need some background music or ambience, tap into the exclusive Theo’s Coffee Break Table playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23li5Nn6IxBGv3pdoOojzY?si=5fec0a83ba9b4d22

Thank you for being here with me at our coffee table today. I’m so excited to keep growing this podcast with you: one story, one conversation, and one sip at a time.

Last thing, check out our official Shin Hoo Yong Music Enterprise website and learn more about this podcast there: www.shinhooyongmusicenterprise.com

Until next time, take good care of yourself and remember: the coffee’s always on and ready to pour here at Theo’s Coffee Break. But most importantly...

You are always welcome at our coffee table.