Real with Rocky

Rocky Garza
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Real with Rocky, a podcast about being honest, being real, and just being human. Hosted by Rocky Garza, a trusted speaker, coach, and consultant with over a decade of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, this show explores conversations we’re often afraid to have about identity, confidence, purpose, growth, and vulnerability. Through honest stories and practical insights, Rocky helps you reconnect with who you are so you can lead, work, and live with clarity and and conviction. Learn more at www.rockygarza.com

  1. 4d ago

    The In-Between: Coming Home

    There is a quiet voice inside of you that represents your intuition and consciousness, and you have spent so long ignoring it that you have forgotten what it sounds like. You often decline its invitation to return to peace and presence by staying busy on purpose, scrolling past our feelings, and performing a version of "okay-ness" because being honest is much harder than being busy. "Coming Home" is a call to stop using motion to avoid meaning. It is the difficult realization that peace is not geographic; it is not waiting for you on the other side of a new city, a new job, or a new country. You cannot engineer the right circumstances to quiet the noise if you are unwilling to change your internal posture. In this The In-Between episode, Rocky sits with a challenging question: What if peace isn't the absence of pressure, but a return to reality and the courage to finally acknowledge the life you actually have? What you'll hear: The Ignored Internal Voice: Why you choose a hundred shallow distractions over one real conversation with your own intuition.The Illusion of Geographic Peace: Why changing your scenery is often confused with changing your posture, and why peace is never geographic.The Difficulty of Honesty: How stopping the "run" forces you to face your weariness, fears, and the people who have been quietly waiting for you to come home.Returning to Reality: How peace is found in the small daily decisions that move you toward the life you want by paying attention to the one you are currently living. "Peace is not the absence of pressure. Peace is a return to reality." Once a month, Rocky hosts Somewhere in the Middle, a gathering for people who are done performing and ready to be real. Come be human with us. Get To Know Rocky Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of Real with Rocky. He helps leaders trade performance for presence and to lead like themselves, not someone else. Connect with Rocky Come be human with us at Somewhere in the Middle: https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence Follow Rocky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ Visit the website: https://www.rockygarza.com/

    5 min

  2. May 27

    106: You are Good with Guest Lucia Simek

    In this episode, Rocky sits down with artist and museum professional Lucia Simek for a reflective conversation about creativity, identity, and the courage to choose oneself. Together they unpack the tension of leaving a high-profile career to reclaim an "origin story," the difficulty of being a "hyphenate" person in a culture that demands linear identities, and the transformative power of vulnerability. Lucia shares how her history of caretaking shaped her leadership, why she is walking away from the "nonprofit machine" to prioritize her essential self, and her vision for creating a hybrid space that truly represents her multifaceted creative heart. This episode challenges listeners to rethink success, embrace uncertainty as an instructor, and recognize the value of staying true to one's core morality. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:00:43 — Why choosing a "crazy but healthy" exit from a major museum role was necessary for self-preservation. 00:01:10 — The challenge of being a "hyphenate" person with multiple identities in a culture that prefers clear career paths. 00:01:52 — Reclaiming an "origin story" as an artist and prioritizing essential happiness over financial security. 00:02:39 — Defining "non-negotiables" and shifting focus from fundraising to building genuine community. 00:07:38 — Embracing a "revolutionary heart" and the desire to create spaces that benefit the next person. 00:10:38 — The vision for a hybrid physical space for art and film that reflects a multifaceted identity. 00:13:34 — How deep moral care for a community can be both a leadership strength and an art world barrier. 00:20:45 — Reflections on a life of caretaking, from raising seven siblings to bringing those instincts into the workplace. 00:30:42 — The speaker challenges Lucia on the fear of asking for help when you are used to being the problem solver. 00:45:20 — Why pain and trauma are the "best teachers" and instructors for future choices and personal growth. Get to Know Our Guest Lucia Simek is an artist, writer, curator, and museum professional with an MFA in sculpture from Texas Christian University. She spent eight years at the Nasher Sculpture Center leading communications and international programs. In 2022, she joined Dallas Contemporary as Director of External Affairs and was later promoted to Deputy Director, overseeing public programs, publications, and education. She launched initiatives like DC Empty and the NTX Graduate Student Program to support regional artists. After serving as interim director, she was named Executive Director in February 2025. She stepped down in December 2025 to focus on her independent art, curatorial work, and writing, including her upcoming book Occiput through Deep Vellum Publishing. Learn more about Lucia's work Lucia as a museum curator: Best in Class: Dallas Contemporary exhibit Heni News: Lucia Simek Glasstire: Lucia Simek to step down Patron Magazine: Doomscrolling by Cheryl Donegan Lucia as an artist: Glasstire: Occiput at The Reading Room Dallas Observer: From her eyes to yours Dallas News: Artists tackle issues of identity in Cleaver Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

    52 min
  3. The In-Between: The Beautiful Boundary

    May 20

    The In-Between: The Beautiful Boundary

    Most of us don't need more advice; we need clarity. We build inner walls to survive, believing that being the strong one who never needs help is what success looks like. We outwork and outlast everything until we stand at the top alone, in a silence we rarely talk about. "The Beautiful Boundary" is a pushback against the isolation of the castle. It is not about keeping the world out, but about the quiet, intentional decision of what belongs inside the gate. It is the honest truth that you cannot protect everything, and trying to do so only creates another wall. You are worth protecting, not just your image or your capacity to perform, but your integrity and your ability to be present. In this In-Between, the speaker sits with a challenging question: What if the highest form of love isn't self-sacrifice that leaves you hollow, but the courage to finally put yourself on the list of things worth protecting? What you'll hear: The difference between walls and boundaries: Why walls isolate out of fear, while boundaries invite in with clarity.Being needed vs. being loved: Why confusing the two leads to being useful to a relationship rather than actually being in it.Availability vs. Accessibility: How to move from a defensive posture of being always open to an intentional posture of deciding what moves through your channels.The reminder: Protecting what you love requires the courage to include yourself in that protection so you can better love those who matter most. "A life you want is not built by carrying more. It's built by protecting what you love." Once a month, Rocky hosts Somewhere in the Middle, a gathering for people who are done performing and ready to be real. Link in show notes. Come be human with us. Get To Know Rocky Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of Real with Rocky. He helps leaders trade performance for presence and to lead like themselves, not someone else. Connect with Rocky Come be human with us at Somewhere in the Middle: https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence Follow Rocky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ Visit the website: https://www.rockygarza.com/

    6 min

  4. May 13

    105: Permission to be You with Guest Rambo Elliott

    In this episode, Rocky sits down with creative director and photographer Rambo Elliott for a deeply honest conversation about identity, permission, and what it actually takes to stop performing your way into belonging. Rambo opens up about her autism diagnosis at 36 and how getting that word didn't mean something was wrong with her. It meant she'd needed different accommodations. Together they dig into why curiosity requires rest, safety, and community before it can grow, why so many of us have learned to cry fine while everything's falling apart, and what radical self-acceptance actually looks like when you stop chasing people who can only handle you once every three months. This episode invites listeners to examine the stories they've inherited about who they are, challenge what's actually theirs to carry, and consider what becomes possible when you decide to let you. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:01:00 – Intensity and sincerity as a way of life 00:02:00 – Getting stuck without knowing it 00:02:30 – Autism diagnosis at 36 and the permission it gave 00:16:00 – Curiosity as a ripe environment 00:19:00 – Performance vs. genuine connection 00:22:45 – Emotion as information, not the enemy 00:28:22 – Crying fine, the lie we keep telling 00:35:38 – Radical self-acceptance and moving on faster 00:46:00 – What it means to be human About Our Guest Rambo Elliott is a creative director and photographer with a decade of work documenting music, art, fashion, and celebrity. Her background as a neuromuscular massage therapist shapes everything. Her work puts a deep emphasis on connection and vulnerability, and it shows. She's been featured in GQ, Vogue, Rolling Stone, the NY Times, Billboard, Vanity Fair, Essence, and more. She's created album covers and videos for Leon Bridges, done documentary work with Jon Batiste and Takashi Murakami, and shot campaigns for Stetson, Dickies, Lucchese, and Tecovas. Follow Rambo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rambo/ On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ramboelliott Website: https://rambophotography.com/ Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

    48 min
  5. The In-Between: Just Be Human

    May 6

    The In-Between: Just Be Human

    The pressure to perform your way through being alive is real. And most of us have been doing it for so long, we don't even notice anymore. We optimize. We refine. We show up steady. We process the grief privately. We hide the confusion because clarity is mandatory and doubt is weakness. We believe, somewhere beneath the surface, that we have to arrive at some perfected version of ourselves before we are worthy of belonging. Just Be Human is Rocky's pushback against all of it. Not a lowering of the bar. Not settling. Not pretending things don't matter. Just the honest, grounding truth that you are a person before you are a performer. And that who you are, in the tension, in the mess, in the tired, is enough to take the next step. In this In-Between, Rocky sits with the question most of us are afraid to ask: What if the goal was never to outperform being human but to finally stop trying? What you'll hear: Why the world's reward for polish comes at the cost of wholenessThe difference between indulgence and honesty and why Just Be Human is neither an excuse nor an escapeWhat it looks like to feel the grief, admit the confusion, and take the next step anywayThe reminder: Be there. Be honest. Be present. Be imperfect. "Who you are, even in the tension, even in the mess, is enough to take the next step." Once a month, Rocky hosts Somewhere in the Middle, a gathering for people who are done performing and ready to be real. Link in show notes. Come be human with us. Get To Know Rocky Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of Real with Rocky. He helps leaders trade performance for presence and to lead like themselves, not someone else. Connect with Rocky Come be human with us at Somewhere in the Middle: https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence Follow Rocky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ Visit the website: https://www.rockygarza.com/

    4 min

  6. Apr 29

    104: Rewriting Your Story with Guest Hance Taplin

    In this episode, Rocky sits down with entrepreneur and creative Hance for a deeply honest conversation about identity, belonging, and the stories we carry about ourselves. Together they unpack the tension between wanting connection and avoiding vulnerability, how childhood experiences shape present-day behavior, and why many of the narratives we believe about ourselves aren’t actually ours to carry. Hance opens up about feeling like an outsider in everyday environments (from youth sports to community spaces) and the internal battle between comfort and growth. This episode invites listeners to examine the stories they’ve inherited, challenge what’s actually true, and take small, courageous steps toward connection and authenticity. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:00:03 — The stories told about us vs. the stories we tell ourselves—and where they collide. 00:02:21 — Navigating social anxiety and feeling like an outsider in everyday environments. 00:03:54 — The tension between comfort in isolation and pressure to connect with others. 00:07:58 — The internal narrative of not belonging—and how it shapes behavior. 00:10:04 — What do you actually want: connection, comfort, or control? 00:12:25 — Recognizing when your thoughts about others aren’t rooted in reality. 00:15:14 — Why you can’t expect an invitation if you never put yourself in a position to receive one. 00:17:24 — The difference between being needed vs. being wanted—and why it matters. 00:19:43 — Taking small, intentional steps to create connection and rewrite your story. 00:29:33 — Reframing your past: separating your identity from the stories others placed on you. About Our Guest Hance Taplin is a Dallas-based designer, photographer, and creative director originally from Denver, Colorado. He is the founder of By Way of Dallas, a creative platform focused on connecting communities and reshaping the city through design and culture. His work has led to collaborations with brands like Nike, Neiman Marcus, The Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, D Magazine, Dallas Market Center, 7-Eleven and The Dallas Mavericks, making him a distinctive voice in the Dallas creative scene. Follow By Way of Dallas @bywayofdallas Follow Hance @hancetaplin Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

    35 min
  7. The In-Between: Yes and Grow

    Apr 8

    The In-Between: Yes and Grow

    There are two voices most of us have heard our whole lives. One says: Be content. Be grateful. Accept who you are and stop reaching for more. The antidote to hustle culture is stillness. Just be happy with what you have. The other says: You're not enough. Do more. Fix yourself. Optimize. Rest is falling behind, and the moment you stop growing, you start dying. In this episode, Rocky makes the case that both of those voices are lying and that the good life isn't found in either camp. It's found in the tension between them. “Yes and Grow” isn't a self-help concept or a rebrand of perfectionism. It's a discipline. It’s the daily decision to honor who you are while refusing to believe you're finished. "Authenticity without accountability is just stagnation with a good story." What’s inside: Why "be content" and "always be growing" are both incomplete and what each one produces when believed aloneThe person stuck in yes: how authenticity without accountability quietly becomes stagnationThe person stuck in grow: why growth without acceptance is just self-rejection at a faster paceWhat it actually looks like to hold both at once and why that tension is the point, not the problemThe discipline of “Yes and Grow” is honoring who you are while refusing to believe you're finishedJoin us once a month as Rocky hosts Somewhere in the Middle, a gathering for people who are tired of doing this alone. Get To Know Rocky Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of Real with Rocky. He helps leaders trade performance for presence and to lead like themselves, not someone else. Connect with Rocky Come be human with us at Somewhere in the Middle: https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence Follow Rocky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ Visit the website: https://www.rockygarza.com/

    6 min

  8. Apr 1

    103: Creating with Community with Guest Jonathan Morris

    In this episode, Rocky sits down with entrepreneur and community builder Jonathan Morris for a reflective conversation about creativity, identity, and what it really means to build something that matters. Together they unpack the tension between living in the future versus being present, the loneliness that can come with vision, and the power of bringing others along in the process. Jonathan shares how community has shaped his entrepreneurial journey, why your greatest resource might already be inside you, and how creating for yourself—not just for the market—can unlock a deeper sense of purpose. This episode challenges listeners to rethink success, redefine resources, and embrace the kind of humanity that builds both businesses and people.  Episode Highlights: 00:01:36 — Why focusing on the present instead of future outcomes creates clarity and momentum. 00:08:14 — The hidden loneliness of entrepreneurship and building before others can see it. 00:04:41 — How community accelerates growth and turns ideas into real impact. 00:26:00 — Why your greatest resources aren’t money—but time, relationships, and proximity. 00:25:45 — The dangerous lie that you have to succeed on your own—and how to break it. 00:32:05 — How identifying gaps in the market reveals your next business opportunity. 00:38:29 — The power of creating for yourself—not just for profit or validation. 00:29:10 — Shifting from external validation to recognizing your internal value. 00:31:10 — Why paying attention is the most underrated skill in business and creativity. 00:46:18 — Building businesses that create belonging, connection, and meaningful human experiences. Get to Know Our Guest Jonathan Morris is a Fort Worth-based entrepreneur known for spotting what’s missing in a city and building it. He founded Fort Worth Barber Shop in 2014 and later co-founded Hotel Dryce, a boutique hotel rooted in community, culture, and local connection. Jonathan is also the host of Self Employed (streaming on Max and Magnolia Network), where he highlights the real stories behind entrepreneurs building something from nothing. His work sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, hospitality, and creating spaces people genuinely want to be part of. Hotel Dryce @hoteldryce Website hoteldryce.com Fort Worth Barber Shop @fortworthbarbershop Website fortworthbarbershop.com Cherry Coffee Shop (my wife's store) @cherrycoffeefw Website cherry-coffee.com Instagram @JonathanDFW Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

    51 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Welcome to Real with Rocky, a podcast about being honest, being real, and just being human. Hosted by Rocky Garza, a trusted speaker, coach, and consultant with over a decade of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, this show explores conversations we’re often afraid to have about identity, confidence, purpose, growth, and vulnerability. Through honest stories and practical insights, Rocky helps you reconnect with who you are so you can lead, work, and live with clarity and and conviction. Learn more at www.rockygarza.com

Information

  • Creator
    Rocky Garza
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rocky Garza
  • Show Website
    Real with Rocky

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