Born without a choice

Victory Igberase
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Born Without a Choice is a podcast about growing up and trying to understand life in a world we never chose to enter. As teenagers, we’re suddenly faced with expectations, pressure, and questions we don’t always have answers to who we are, where we’re going, and what life really means. There’s no guide, no clear path, just experiences that shape us as we go. This podcast explores those thoughts, moments of confusion, self-discovery, school, relationships, and the quiet pressure to figure everything out. Through honest conversations and insights from people with more life experience.

  1. 4 days ago

    Why Are We Here? — Finding Purpose, Gratitude, and Meaning After Life’s Challenges- Dean Weitenhagen

    What happens when life takes an unexpected turn and forces us to question everything we thought mattered? In this episode of Born Without a Choice, we welcome Dean Weitenhagen, whose experiences with his partner’s debilitating stroke, his own battle with acute myeloid leukemia, and a stem cell transplant challenged him to reconsider his life, his priorities, and his purpose. After years of building a career, raising a family, and pursuing his dreams, Dean found himself confronting questions about mortality, expectations, and the meaning of life. During his time in the hospital, he began reflecting on the choices he had made, the dreams he had set aside, and the question that would change his perspective: Why are we here? Together, we explore how life’s hardest experiences can reshape our understanding of love, gratitude, resilience, and what truly matters. Dean shares insights into finding meaning during uncertainty, reconnecting with forgotten dreams, and learning to live according to our own values rather than simply meeting other people’s expectations. This conversation is also an invitation to reflect on your own life. Are you pursuing the dreams that genuinely matter to you? Are you living according to your values, or following a path others have chosen for you? Dean’s story reminds us that although we cannot control every circumstance we face, we can reconsider our priorities, appreciate the time we have, and choose how we move forward. Because sometimes, life’s most difficult questions lead us toward its most meaningful answers. 📬 Guest Details Guest: Dean Weitenhagen Website:
https://www.deanweitenhagen.com

  2. 4 days ago

    You Were Never Broken — Consciousness, the Subconscious Mind, finding Who You Are with Ali Christos

    What if the things you struggle with today aren’t signs that something is wrong with you, but patterns you developed to help you navigate life? In this episode of Born Without a Choice, we welcome Ali Christos, a Quantum Hypnosis Practitioner, author, speaker, meditation teacher, and founder of the Conscious Practitioner Network. After more than 15 years in business and real estate, personal challenges and years of Vipassana meditation led Ali to explore consciousness, identity, and the subconscious mind. Together, we explore why people repeat familiar patterns even when those patterns no longer serve them, how subconscious beliefs can influence our decisions and relationships, and how greater self-awareness may help us understand ourselves differently. Ali also shares insights from his work with hypnosis and meditation, discussing how people explore their inner experiences and turn personal insights into meaningful changes. We also reflect on the difference between the person society expects us to be and the person we genuinely want to become. What does it mean to understand ourselves without constantly trying to fix ourselves? And how can we begin moving forward when we feel stuck in old habits or beliefs? This conversation invites us to look at our experiences with greater curiosity and compassion, recognize the patterns we’ve developed, and consider new ways of approaching life. Because personal growth isn’t always about becoming someone completely different. Sometimes, it begins with understanding who we’ve become and deciding how we want to move forward. 📬 Guest Details Guest: Ali Christos
Profession: Quantum Hypnosis Practitioner, Author, Speaker, and Meditation Teacher
Organization: Conscious Practitioner Network 🔗 Website / Session Applications:
https://www.qhhtwithali.com/apply

  3. 19 Oct

    Going the Wrong Way- A Journey of Self-Discovery, Freedom, and Finding Your Way Back-Chris Donaldson

    Sometimes, finding yourself means getting lost first. In 1979, Chris Donaldson left Belfast on his Moto Guzzi Le Mans motorcycle, hoping to ride all the way to Australia. Growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, Chris felt compelled to break away from the familiar and discover what lay beyond the world he knew. But when the Iranian Revolution disrupted his original plans, his journey took an unexpected turn, carrying him across Africa, through the Americas, and eventually to Argentina—more than 50,000 miles later. In this episode of Born Without a Choice, Chris shares the extraordinary story behind his book, Going the Wrong Way, a remarkable coming-of-age adventure about freedom, uncertainty, courage, and the search for identity. Long before smartphones, Google Maps, and social media, he navigated unfamiliar countries, political tensions, dangerous roads, and unpredictable circumstances, relying on determination, instinct, and the kindness of strangers. We explore what happens when life takes us far away from the path we originally imagined, how stepping outside our comfort zones can change our perspective, and why some of life’s most meaningful lessons come from experiences we never planned for. Chris also reflects on returning to his original dream decades later, riding the same motorcycle toward Australia and revisiting a journey that began more than 40 years ago. His story reminds us that sometimes the wrong turn becomes the most important part of the journey—and that discovering who we are often requires the courage to leave behind what we know. Because we may not always control where life takes us, but the journey can still teach us who we’re meant to become. 📬 Guest Details Guest: Chris Donaldson
Author: Going the Wrong Way
Website: http://chrisdonaldson.world 📚 Book: Going the Wrong Way: A Motorcycle Journey to Australia… Possibly Book Link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Going-Wrong-Way-Australia-possibly/dp/1838012761 Key Discussion Topics: Growing up during the Belfast Troubles. Leaving home in search of freedom and self-discovery. Motorcycle adventures across Africa and the Americas. Navigating uncertainty, danger, and unexpected detours.The kindness of strangers and the humanity found across cultures.Returning to a lifelong dream decades later.What getting lost can teach us about life, identity, and purpose.

  4. 19 Oct

    It Takes 2 to Tango — Relationships, Communication, and Finding Your Rhythm with Linda Sutton

    Relationships don’t come with a manual. We all want connection, trust, and understanding, but knowing how to communicate, navigate differences, and build lasting relationships isn’t always easy. Sometimes, even when two people care deeply about each other, they can struggle to find their rhythm. In this episode of Born Without a Choice, we welcome Linda Sutton, an international performing artist, inspirational speaker, instructor, and world dance expert who uses the principles of Argentine tango to help people understand and transform their relationships. As the host and executive producer of The 22Tango Show with Linda Sutton, Linda has spent more than 12 years sharing the lessons of dance with audiences across multiple markets and platforms. Through her 22TANGO Transformation Framework and her book, It Takes 2 to Tango: Using the Secrets of the Dance to Create a Passionate Partnership, she explores how the connection between two dancers can reveal powerful lessons about trust, communication, and partnership. Together, we explore the importance of listening beyond words, letting go of control, respecting boundaries, learning from mistakes, and finding harmony without losing our individuality. Linda also shares practical insights into how we can improve our relationships, navigate misunderstandings, and build stronger connections with the people who matter most. Because relationships aren’t about controlling every step or expecting someone else to move exactly as we do. They’re about learning to listen, trust, adapt, and find a rhythm that works for both people. We may be born without a choice, but we can learn to choose how we connect with others. 📬 Guest Details Guest: Linda Sutton
Profession: International Performing Artist, Inspirational Speaker, Instructor, and World Dance Expert
Show: The 22Tango Show with Linda Sutton
Framework: 22TANGO Transformation Framework
Book: It Takes 2 to Tango: Using the Secrets of the Dance to Create a Passionate Partnership 📚 Book Link:
https://www.amazon.com/TAKES-TANGO-Secrets-Passionate-Partnership/dp/B0F347LX16/

  5. 17 Oct

    Sitting with God — Finding Peace, Purpose, and Yourself Through Silence with Rich Lewis

    In a world filled with constant noise, distractions, and pressure to keep moving, finding a moment of stillness can feel almost impossible. But what if the clarity we’re searching for doesn’t come from doing more, but from slowing down and learning to listen? In this episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with Rich Lewis, an author, speaker, and coach whose work explores centering prayer as a path toward inner transformation, peace, and a deeper relationship with God. After beginning his journey into silent prayer in 2013, Rich discovered how the practice of stillness could help him approach life with greater awareness and spiritual connection. Rich shares insights from his book, Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer, and explains how people can begin embracing silence, navigating distractions, and making space for reflection in their everyday lives. We explore the challenges of overthinking, the uncertainty of life’s circumstances, and the difference between the expectations others place on us and discovering who we truly are. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, approach ourselves with patience, and find meaning in the quiet moments we often overlook. Because even when we cannot control everything that happens to us, we can learn to respond with greater intention, faith, and understanding. 📬 Guest Details Guest: Rich Lewis
Profession: Author, speaker, and coach
Book: Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer
Website: https://silenceteaches.com/about-the-books/ Areas of Expertise: Centering prayer and contemplative spirituality Building a consistent practice of stillness Faith and personal transformation Self-awareness and spiritual growthNavigating uncertainty through reflectionJournaling, gratitude, and intentional livingKey Episode Themes:Learning to be still in a noisy worldUnderstanding centering prayerManaging distractions and overthinking Finding peace amid uncertaintyDiscovering your true self beyond others’ expectationsDeveloping daily habits that encourage reflectionLearning to approach silence with patienceMaking more intentional choices about how we live

  6. 17 Oct

    The Pressure to Hold It All — Overthinking, and Finding Your Way Back to Yourself with Liz Coleman

    Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to hold everything together? We chase success, try to meet everyone’s expectations, and push ourselves to keep going, even when we feel exhausted inside. But what happens when the very habits that helped us succeed begin to leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from ourselves? In this episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with Liz Coleman, a certified transformational life coach, Mind Shifting and NLP practitioner, and creator of the MindLife Reset™. With a background in psychology, Liz helps women who appear capable and successful on the outside but privately struggle with overthinking, constant pressure, and difficulty switching off. Drawing from her personal experiences with career demands, financial responsibilities, relationship challenges, and health issues, Liz shares how our inner beliefs can shape our decisions, relationships, and everyday behavior. We explore her whole-person approach to understanding the connection between the mind, body, and spirit, and why lasting change may begin with recognizing the patterns that no longer serve us. This conversation explores how to rebuild self-trust, challenge limiting beliefs, and learn to rest without guilt. Because sometimes, finding your way forward doesn’t mean doing more or trying harder. It means understanding what you’ve been carrying, questioning the expectations you’ve placed on yourself, and giving yourself permission to live differently. 📬 Guest Details Guest: Liz Coleman
Profession: Certified Transformational Life Coach, Mind Shifting and NLP Practitioner
Creator: MindLife Reset™
Background: Psychology
Areas of Expertise: Overthinking, limiting beliefs, self-trust, personal development, mindset shifts, and whole-person well-being. Free Guide: 5 Techniques to Overcome Limiting Beliefs
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bMRRUfq_QyFtpcLWxTkW1AMTZ4HijdUG/view?usp=sharing Key Episode Themes: The pressure to achieve and hold everything together Understanding overthinking and mental exhaustion Recognizing beliefs that influence our behavior The connection between mind, body, and inner patterns Rebuilding self-trust Challenging limiting beliefsLearning to rest without guiltFinding a calmer, more authentic way to live

  7. 17 Oct

    Beyond Willpower — Food, Identity, and Learning to Change with Jeff Siegel

    Why do we sometimes struggle to change habits even when we know exactly what we should do? Is lasting change really about willpower and discipline, or does it begin with understanding ourselves better? In this episode of Born Without a Choice, we sit down with Jeff Siegel, a men’s wellness coach, Harvard teaching fellow, and author of Eating 2.0: How to Eat Confidently in an Ultra-Processed World. Jeff helps us explore the relationship between food, identity, emotions, and the everyday choices that shape our lives. We discuss why knowing what to do doesn’t always translate into action, how stress and personal beliefs influence our habits, and why rigid control can sometimes make change even more difficult. Jeff also introduces his Four Inner Eaters framework: Survival, Pleasure, Social, and Strategic, offering a way to better understand the motivations behind our food choices. This conversation is about moving beyond self-judgment, recognizing the patterns that keep us stuck, and learning to lead ourselves with greater awareness and intention. Because sometimes, the first step toward lasting change isn’t trying harder—it’s understanding ourselves better. 📬 Guest Details Guest: Jeff Siegel
Profession: Men’s wellness coach, Harvard teaching fellow, and author
Book: Eating 2.0: How to Eat Confidently in an Ultra-Processed World
Expertise: Eating psychology, behavioral science, mindfulness, habit change, motivation, and personal development
Notable Work: Contributor to Psychology Today and creator of the TED-Ed lesson How to Make Muscles Grow. Free Inner Eater Quiz:
https://jeffrey-siegel.involve.me/inner-eaters-quiz Episode Themes: Understanding habits beyond willpower Food, emotions, and identity The Four Inner Eaters Self-awareness without shame Balancing control and flexibility Building sustainable habits and personal changeLearning to lead yourself with intention

  8. 17 Oct

    Finding Grace Through Grief: Moving from Surviving to Thriving After Life Changes - Michaela S. Cox

    What happens when life takes us somewhere we never expected to go? In this episode of Born Without a Choice, Michaela S. Cox explores grief, resilience, faith, and the journey of moving from simply surviving to discovering new purpose after life-changing experiences. Michaela is a speaker, multi-published author, and creator of the Finding Grace Through Grief book series and course. Drawing on her personal experiences of legal blindness, divorce, and the loss of her husband in 2017, she shares how unexpected changes can reshape our lives and challenge the future we once imagined. We explore Michaela’s Finding Grace in Life and in All Things framework, which focuses on finding grounding, embracing personal transformation, developing a sense of abundance, choosing care, and becoming equipped to move forward. She also discusses how faith, practical tools, and supportive relationships can help people navigate grief and uncertainty. This conversation is a reminder that thriving doesn’t mean pretending pain never happened or returning to the person we were before. Sometimes, it means learning to live differently, discovering strength in unexpected places, and recognizing that a meaningful future is still possible—even when life looks nothing like we planned. 📬 Guest Details Name: Michaela S. CoxRoles: Speaker | Multi-Published Author | Creator of the Finding Grace Through Grief SeriesWork: Finding Grace Through Grief book series and courseTEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/Lib2zOIPh8U?si=P7aH1s0NhVypPUszAreas of Expertise: Grief and loss, resilience, faith, personal growth, disability, motherhood, and life transitionsPersonal Journey: Navigating legal blindness, divorce at age 26, widowhood, and solo motherhood following the loss of her husband in 2017Framework: Finding Grace in Life and in All ThingsKey Principles: Gaining your grounding, being redeemed and redesigned, developing abundance, choosing care, and becoming equipped to move forwardKey Themes: Grief, healing, faith, adapting to unexpected change, rediscovering purpose, resilience, and rebuilding after lossFocus: Helping people navigate life’s unexpected challenges, move beyond survival mode, and discover practical ways to build a meaningful futureCore Message: We may not choose every challenge life brings, but we can learn to adapt, seek support, and take steps toward a future filled with renewed hope and purpose.

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About

Born Without a Choice is a podcast about growing up and trying to understand life in a world we never chose to enter. As teenagers, we’re suddenly faced with expectations, pressure, and questions we don’t always have answers to who we are, where we’re going, and what life really means. There’s no guide, no clear path, just experiences that shape us as we go. This podcast explores those thoughts, moments of confusion, self-discovery, school, relationships, and the quiet pressure to figure everything out. Through honest conversations and insights from people with more life experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Victory Igberase
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    472
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Victory Igberase
  • Show Website
    Born without a choice