000: Introduction to The Inspire Cafe Podcast

Hello and welcome to The Inspire Cafe podcast!  This is your host, Kathy De La Torre….. Let me ask you a question… Have you ever heard incredible stories of extraordinary people who’ve overcome serious adversities yet they somehow today are living happy, successful lives?  They’re not disgruntled–quite the opposite. They’re positive, enlightened people who somehow …

093: TShane Johnson: From Almost Having Died 3 Times to Running Across America for the Fourth Time

You could say 39-year-old TShane Johnson is a living miracle.  You see, when he was in the Marine Corps, he died 3 times. While out riding his motorcycle, he was t-boned by another car. Upon impact, his body flew at 45 miles per hour and he hit a brick house, breaking his chest plate in …

092: Dartanyon Crockett: An Underdog From Inner-city Cleveland Turned Bronze Medalist and Destined for Greatness

Dartanyon Crockett, 28, calls himself an underdog. He says he had three strikes against him growing up in the inner-city of Cleveland, Ohio:  he was black, poor and physically limited. Having been severely near-sighted all his life, his mother died when he was 8, his father battled drug and alcohol addiction, and he grew up …

091: Eli Brown: Entrepreneur Shines the Light On Mental Illness with his Inspirational Clothing Brand

Founder and CEO of the inspirational fashion brand ShineThe Light On, 25-year-old Eli Brown knows first-hand what it’s like to struggle with mental illness. An avid tennis player since the age of four he was so good that he later received a tennis scholarship to attend a prestigious university and compete with Team Canada.  But …

089: Jessica Key: Why This U.S. National Dragon Boat Team Racer Says to Be The Champion of Your Own Life

Jess Key is a remarkable woman who says she’s a major underdog story. She’s a 41-year-old mother of three and she’s a dragon boat racer on the U.S. National Dragon Boat Team. You’d never know it today, but Jess has overcome multiple adversities. Both of her parents were drug addicts, she grew up with physical …

088: Briar Harvey: “I expected to come home with a baby and I came home with nothing.”

Five years ago and 36 weeks into her pregnancy, Briar Harvey said she went into the hospital expecting to come home with a baby, but instead she came home with nothing.  Due to complications, her baby didn’t make it.  Briar explains what happened, how this traumatic experience has affected her, and how she was able …

087: Eric Christiansen: How Surviving the 1990 Painted Cave Fire Turned This Editor into a Messenger of Hope Through his Award-Winning Films

It’s been 29 years to this day that Director, Producer, Editor and Filmmaker Eric Christiansen survived the 1990 Painted Cave Fire in Santa Barbara, California. The fire destroyed over 400 homes, including Eric’s, and burned over 5,000 acres, devastating many lives.  Eric talks about how he turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the …

068: Phillip Andrew: Why This Emmy-Nominated TV Producer Says, “Vulnerability Saved My Life”

Phillip Andrew is an Emmy-nominated TV Producer, Writer, Media and Life Coach.  He’s also a Speaker, who talks at rehabs, jails, colleges and high schools. In this interview, Phillip shares his story of how he began abusing alcohol at an early age. Actually, he started drinking when he was 11. Things got worse when his …

067: Lee Rowley: Keeping his Daughter’s Legacy Alive–Just Be

Today’s guest is Lee Rowley—entrepreneur, Copybrander, coach, author, mentor and now co-host of the podcast, Copy That Speaks.  Lee is a highly sought-after copybrander. He describes what he does as helping brandpreneurs craft authentic, connection-focused marketing copy to attract their best clients. Here, he shares his personal story of how six years ago he and …

065: Donnie Boivin: How This Marine Veteran Went From Working For Someone Else’s Dream to Helping Others Build up Their Own

Today we’re talking with Donnie Boivin. Donnie’s an entrepreneur, podcaster, author and a veteran. He served as a Marine, and he talks about how bootcamp normally took 13 weeks, but for him, it took six months. He explains why and how that experience has helped shape the rest of his life. He also explains how …