Against All Odds Podcast, The Less than 1% Chance with Maria Aponte

Maria

Maria highlights stories of people that have been the "less than 1% chance" and have come out of their situations thriving and seeing life as happening FOR them and not TO them! Inspiring and empowering stories that will show you that against all odds you can make it through anything!

  1. Your Best Friend On Your Worst Day with Abigail Rich

    1h ago ·  Video

    Your Best Friend On Your Worst Day with Abigail Rich

    Send us Fan Mail A flight paramedic sees the “master warning” light in a helicopter and knows exactly what it means: life is about to change, or end. Our guest Abigail Rich has lived that moment and somehow lived through what followed, including a crash that left her with multiple surgeries, hundreds of stitches, plates in her body, and a long fight back to the work she loves. If you’re searching for a story about resilience that doesn’t sugarcoat pain, this conversation goes there.  We trace Abigail’s full against-all-odds journey, starting with the earliest trauma of surviving an attempted murder as a two-month-old baby and moving through foster care, abuse, and the moment EMS became her purpose. She shares what it means to be someone’s “best friend on their worst day” in critical care flight medicine, and why service still matters when you can’t save everyone. We also talk about the unexpected turns people love to judge from the outside: her international modeling career, Victoria’s Secret, Playboy, and the steady presence of her “mama,” the candy striper who held her in the hospital as a baby and later adopted her.  Then the conversation gets even more raw: surviving sexual assault, mental health struggles, and the refusal to accept the phrase “everything happens for a reason.” Abigail explains how she chooses meaning instead, through community, honesty, and giving back. Her book Invisibly Broken became a bestseller, and she donates proceeds to the Red Nose Foundation to help feed hungry children. Finally, we confront the COVID era head-on: ventilators, coma, hospice, and the loss of both of her brothers, and how she’s now turning grief into music while staying committed to EMS.  If this story moves you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more listeners can find it. What part of Abigail’s journey stayed with you most? Connect with Abigail: Facebook: Abigail Rich, Model, Actress, Author & Singer Songwriter Instagram: @glammodelabby IMDB: Abigail Rich Book: Invisibly Broken National EMS Memorial Bike Ride: https://nemsmbr.org/ Support the show Love Your Life Follow Maria on Facebook HERE Follow Maria on Instagram HERE Follow Maria on YouTube HERE

    57 min
  2. I Decided This Year Is My "Yes And" Year: Season 4 Kickoff

    Jun 26 ·  Video

    I Decided This Year Is My "Yes And" Year: Season 4 Kickoff

    Send us Fan Mail One sentence at a podcast convention flipped a switch for me: “If you have a podcast, you have a book.” I went home, grabbed episode transcripts, figured out a format, used AI to help the writing flow, built the cover in Canva, and shipped a self-published book even though it wasn’t perfect. That decision didn’t just add “author” to my list. It reignited momentum and reminded me that big changes often start with one practical next step. I’m also sharing the real life behind the mic, including why this past year pushed me to rebuild my mindset and recommit to what I teach: life is happening for you, not to you. I talk about what’s new for season four, why I’m building a website and turning chapter lessons into a free seven-day email course and a more in-depth self-paced course, and how I’m thinking about monetizing a passion project in a way that still feels honest. If you care about podcast growth, self-publishing, course creation, and using AI tools without losing your voice, you’ll get plenty to take notes on. On the personal side, I open up about relationship challenges, what it felt like to be disconnected, and how deep conversations helped my partner and me find our way back. That’s also what inspired my next build: an app that brings conversation starter questions to your phone so the prompts are always with you, whether it’s your partner or anyone important in your life. I even share a new professional path, passing my Florida health and life insurance license and stepping into supplemental insurance because protecting your family matters. If you’re ready for a “yes and year” mindset and practical ideas you can act on, press play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What’s one bold thing you’re saying yes to next? Website: https://www.mariataponte.com/ Book: Against All Odds, The Less Than 1% Chance Free 7 Day Course: FOR You Shift- Click Here Support the show Love Your Life Follow Maria on Facebook HERE Follow Maria on Instagram HERE Follow Maria on YouTube HERE

    22 min
  3. Reclaimed Her Health By Listening To Her Body with Eva Skarström

    Jan 30

    Reclaimed Her Health By Listening To Her Body with Eva Skarström

    Send us Fan Mail When the experts say “there’s nothing more we can do,” where do you go next? Maria sits down with Eva Skarström, a vitality guide and best-selling author, to unpack a practical path from chronic pain and burnout to a grounded, energized life. Eva’s story begins with endometriosis, expands into fibromyalgia and fatigue, and arrives at a powerful framework that helped her get her life back: calm the nervous system, cleanse the body, and connect with the self. We dig into the real mechanics of healing, not quick fixes. Eva shares how gentle yoga, breath, and heart-focused stillness shifted her out of fight-or-flight so her body could repair. She explains why gradual diet changes—reducing processed foods, phasing out dairy and gluten, and supporting kidney and lymph function—reduced inflammation without overwhelming her system. Maria adds her own journey through recurrent cervical cancer, the moment she overhauled food and movement, and the surprising role of Reiki and mindset in helping her body find its balance again. Together, we explore how pain can be information rather than an enemy, and how stored emotions and trauma show up in the tissues until they’re witnessed and released. Eva describes craniosacral work and energy sensing in simple terms, highlighting how safe presence can unlock tension patterns and restore flow. This is a conversation about agency: taking small, consistent steps, learning to trust intuition, and defining vitality as freedom, calm, and strength you can feel every day. If you’re navigating pain, fatigue, or a life that feels stuck, you’ll leave with doable first steps—five minutes of stillness, one nourishing swap on your plate, a nightly heart meditation—and the conviction that your body wants to heal. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to tell us the one small step you’re taking today. Connect with Eva: LinkedIn: @evaskarstrom Facebook: @evaskarstrom Instagram: @evaskarstrom Support the show Love Your Life Follow Maria on Facebook HERE Follow Maria on Instagram HERE Follow Maria on YouTube HERE

    34 min
  4. From Kidney Failure To Finish Line with Mark Maselli

    Jan 27

    From Kidney Failure To Finish Line with Mark Maselli

    Send us Fan Mail A red kidney bean in the palm of a hand changed everything. That small birthday gesture revealed a living donor, set a life-saving transplant in motion, and became the spark for a comeback that defies every expectation. We sit with author and leader Mark Maselli to unpack how a feared family diagnosis turned into fuel, how a simple online plea found three matches, and how gratitude and grit carried him from the recovery room to the marathon start line in 346 days. Mark takes us inside the realities of polycystic kidney disease—aching joints, brain fog, and the emotional weight of a prognosis he grew up watching. He breaks down the practical steps that extended his runway: cleaning up his diet, dialing in blood pressure management, and setting a non-negotiable vision to avoid dialysis and get transplanted. When his function dropped to 18%, he asked for six months, humbled himself, and let the world help. The result? A donor discovered through a surprising family connection, and a transplant that delivered instant clarity and relief. We explore the Maselli Mindset—vision, discipline, resilience—and how it shows up when the miles get ugly. At mile 22 he almost quit, then remembered who he runs for: his grandmother, his mom, others waiting in wheelchairs at transplant clinics, and anyone facing a wall they didn’t choose. He finished faster, found community in Spartan and running circles, and turned survivor’s guilt into survivor’s respect. Along the way, we dig into saying yes before perfect plans exist, building habits around gratitude, and crafting a life that aligns energy, purpose, and action. If you need a reason to believe in second chances, or a push to start messy and figure it out on the way, this conversation is your sign. Follow Mark’s work, share this story with someone who needs hope, and subscribe for more comeback journeys. Your next mile could change someone else’s finish line. Connect with Mark: Website: https://www.masellimindset.com/ Facebook: Mark Maselli II Instagram: @Markmaselli Book: The Overcomer's Journey: Unlocking Your Potential Through Vision, Discipline, and Resilience TikTok: @Mark.Maselli Support the show Love Your Life Follow Maria on Facebook HERE Follow Maria on Instagram HERE Follow Maria on YouTube HERE

    1h 6m
  5. How A Near-Death Wake-Up Call Turned Hustle Into Harmony with Shelley Meche'tte

    Jan 23

    How A Near-Death Wake-Up Call Turned Hustle Into Harmony with Shelley Meche'tte

    Send us Fan Mail What if the badge of hustle is actually the burden blocking your purpose? We sit down with speaker, strategist, and best-selling author Shelley Meche'tte for a powerful update on her journey—surviving three strokes in one day, finding her voice again, and letting grace, not grind, set the pace. Shelley’s story doesn’t glamorize near-death. It reorders what matters: identity over titles, alignment over applause, and stewardship over striving. We unpack how purpose can stay the same at its core while the assignment changes, sometimes overnight. Shelley shares how she moved from a profitable but misaligned path to serving faith-driven women entrepreneurs with simple, grounded strategies that prevent burnout. Her framework of “solids and flexibles” is a practical game-changer: protect your non-negotiables, then let the rest breathe. From shutting the house down at a set time to prepping breakfast and clothes the night before, these small choices reduce decision fatigue and keep momentum steady. We also explore how intuition—the nudge of the Holy Spirit—guides pivots in business, relationships, and routines without drama or doubt. This conversation is honest about fear and starting over. Shelley challenges limiting beliefs like “you can’t revamp after years of work” and shows how past experience becomes a blueprint for what’s next. We talk gratitude as a daily anchor, fulfillment as the truest metric of fit, and the reality of our finite time—what we do with the dash between dates. If you’re craving clarity, calmer days, and a business that aligns with your calling, this is your reset. Subscribe for more stories that trade busy for purpose, share this with a friend who needs permission to slow down, and leave a review with one grind you’re ready to replace with grace. Your next aligned step starts here. Connect with Shelley: Website: www.ShelleyMechette.com Instagram: @ShelleyMechette Facebook: @shelleymechette Free Gift: 6 Spirit-filled Affirmations https://shelleymechette.myflodesk.com/affirmations Support the show Love Your Life Follow Maria on Facebook HERE Follow Maria on Instagram HERE Follow Maria on YouTube HERE

    51 min
  6. How A Second Chance In Real Estate Built Legacy, Community, And Freedom with Armando Roman

    Jan 21

    How A Second Chance In Real Estate Built Legacy, Community, And Freedom with Armando Roman

    Send us Fan Mail Start before it’s perfect. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with real estate broker, investor, and developer Armando Roman, whose journey stretches from low-income housing to leading a growing brokerage while flipping and holding properties across Western Massachusetts. We explore how faith, mentorship, and daily systems convert adversity into advantage—and why waiting for ideal conditions is the fastest way to stall your future. Armando breaks down how he moved from landlord to the BRRRR strategy—buy, rehab, rent, refinance—to scale acquisitions and recycle capital. He shares the moment he earned his license to move faster on distressed multifamily deals, then co-founded Signature Realty to create a win-win platform where clients and agents could thrive. We dive into the mechanics of finding and structuring deals, the power of value-first networking, and the underrated skill of bringing mentors something tangible—like a real lead—so you can learn while you earn. The conversation isn’t just tactics; it’s mindset. We tackle limiting beliefs rooted in scarcity, how language shapes outcomes, and why your closest circle often predicts your trajectory. From navigating divorce and career pivots to raising kids and building systems, we talk about planning tomorrow tonight, holding yourself accountable, and protecting your energy so you can lead with generosity and grit. If you’ve hesitated to buy because rates aren’t perfect or to start a project because the path isn’t clear, this is your push to act, iterate, and let time and equity do their work. If this story moved you, tap follow, share with a friend who needs momentum, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Tell us: what action will you take this week to move your life forward? Connect with Armando: Website: https://flippingroman.com/ Instagram: @flippingroman Facebook: @armandoromanrealtor Support the show Love Your Life Follow Maria on Facebook HERE Follow Maria on Instagram HERE Follow Maria on YouTube HERE

    43 min
  7. From Trauma To Trust: Embodiment, Gene Keys, And A Life Reclaimed with Shauna Hawkes

    Jan 16

    From Trauma To Trust: Embodiment, Gene Keys, And A Life Reclaimed with Shauna Hawkes

    Send us Fan Mail Some stories don’t just inspire—they recalibrate what you believe is possible. Today we sit down with Shauna, a women’s embodiment mentor, yoga teacher, and Gene Keys guide who rebuilt her life after profound childhood trauma. She walks us through the turning points that moved her from anger and hypervigilance to a grounded practice of trust, presence, and self-leadership. You’ll hear how therapy opened the door, but embodiment—yoga, breath, somatic tools, and energy work—actually rewired the patterns living in her body. We unpack that familiar feeling of being stuck and why it often comes from unclear desire rather than lack of discipline. Shauna’s no-fluff approach invites a new pledge: trust your inner nudge, decide, then back your decision without self-punishment. We challenge the myth of self-sacrifice and show why your joy is a strategy, not a luxury. When you become resourced, your energy changes everything you touch—parenting, work, health, and creativity. Maria shares a raw story of illness and recovery that proves putting on your own oxygen mask first can be life-saving and life-shaping. Curious about Gene Keys? Shauna demystifies this contemplative system that names your shadows, gifts, and highest expressions. Instead of “fixing,” you learn to watch patterns with compassion until they reveal the gift they’ve been guarding. Real-world stories bring it home: careers realigned, relationships completed with grace, and long-dormant art returning to the center of life. If you’re overwhelmed or unsure where to start, Shauna offers the simplest first step—get into your body for five minutes a day. Move, breathe, dance, or step into the ocean. Movement moves stories, and small repetitions build self-trust like compound interest. If this conversation lights a spark, share it with someone who needs a gentle nudge toward their next chapter. Subscribe for more courageous stories, leave a review to help others find the show, and tell us: what’s one decision you’re ready to back today? Connect with Shauna: Website: https://www.shaunahawkes.com/ Instagram: @shaunaembodimentmentor Facebook: @yogabyshauna Support the show Love Your Life Follow Maria on Facebook HERE Follow Maria on Instagram HERE Follow Maria on YouTube HERE

    47 min
  8. Resilience Is Built, Not Found—What Do You Anchor To When The World Crumbles with Shaina Hargens

    Jan 13

    Resilience Is Built, Not Found—What Do You Anchor To When The World Crumbles with Shaina Hargens

    Send us Fan Mail The ground can give way without warning. When Shaina Hargens’ first child, Lee, was stillborn, the loss was a one-in-a-million event that shattered assumptions and rewired daily life. From that grief came a quiet question that shaped everything: what actually held me up? Together we explore how her answer became a practical, grace-filled approach to resilience that women can use in real time. Shaina walks us through the anchors that kept her afloat—beliefs, community, reflection, and small, repeatable actions—then shows how she rebuilt her routine after her rainbow daughter arrived. We get tactical about energy management, including how syncing work with the menstrual cycle can reduce burnout and increase momentum. No hustle sermons here; just simple systems like alternating “in the business” and “on the business” weeks, clear pockets of recovery, and the courage to say no when your body says pause. We dig into the Resilience Map, a choose-the-next-step framework for messy days when anxiety blurs everything. Whether it’s a three-item grounding exercise, a hard phone call, or a bath that unclenches your jaw, the map trades overwhelm for clarity. We also talk about honoring safety while moving through limiting beliefs, widening your circle when you’re ready, and letting faith reshape the story you tell yourself. If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding it together on the outside while unraveling inside, this conversation offers language, tools, and permission. Build anchors before the storm. Rebuild them after. Sync your calendar to your real energy. And when the day feels impossible, choose the next right thing. If this resonates, tap follow, share with a friend who needs steady ground, and leave a review so more people can find their map. Connect with Shaina: Website: www.ShainaHargens.com Instagram: @shainahargens Facebook: @shaina.hargens  TikTok: @shainahargens YouTube: @isoprosperity Support the show Love Your Life Follow Maria on Facebook HERE Follow Maria on Instagram HERE Follow Maria on YouTube HERE

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Maria highlights stories of people that have been the "less than 1% chance" and have come out of their situations thriving and seeing life as happening FOR them and not TO them! Inspiring and empowering stories that will show you that against all odds you can make it through anything!

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