I created The Pay It Forward Pod because, frankly, it’s what I had been searching for—and what I needed. During the years I spent isolated in my room, dealing with my health crisis, I was in so much pain and sadness that I couldn’t see how I would physically, mentally, or emotionally survive it. The only thing I could do, outside of the obvious therapy and medical support, was try to give myself reasons to keep fighting for my future. But I didn’t know what that future could look like—and how can you fight when you don’t even know what you’re fighting for?

It was in this uncertainty that I realized I needed to figure out and decide what future I was going to need to create that I would actually look forward to living and fighting for. I spent a lot of time thinking about this and I realized what I really wanted was to live a life where I could do things I was passionate about, that felt aligned with my purpose, and would have a positive impact on others and the world. 

Inspired by this—and the desire to pay forward all that others gave me—I developed a framework that helped me brainstorm ways I could do this: Pain → Passion, Purpose & Positive Impact. 

This formula led me to create multiple businesses, projects, and a non-profit that for 7 years, almost every single day, had me jumping out of bed—EXCITED to be able to start creating. I saw firsthand how this formula, these projects, and the purpose they gave me not only helped me survive but also healed me in so many ways.

The Pay It Forward Pod is my way of sharing the hope and inspiration I found along the way. Through conversations with people who’ve turned their struggles into meaningful work, I want to help you find your own path, so you too can create a life that feels worth fighting for.