This Is How I Made It (HIMI)

Max Van Auken

This Is How I Made It (HIMI) is a podcast hosted by Max Van Auken that shares real stories from athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders about the mindset, habits, and purpose behind success. It inspires listeners to grow through discipline, faith, and resilience while finding their own path to greatness.

Episodes

  1. Jan 23

    How Kenyon Murray Raised Two NBA Stars | S1 EP7

    What does it truly take to raise not one, but two NBA stars? Is it talent, luck, or genetics or is it something far deeper? In Season 1, Episode 7, we sit down with Kenyon Murray, a father, mentor, and leader whose approach to parenting and development helped shape two elite athletes who reached the highest level of basketball. This episode goes beyond highlights and box scores to uncover the principles that built greatness long before the spotlight arrived. Kenyon Murray shares the unfiltered truth about what leadership looks like inside the home. From early mornings and long nights to tough conversations and unwavering standards, he breaks down how discipline, accountability, and structure became the foundation for success. He explains why leadership isn't about control it's about example, consistency, and teaching your children how to lead themselves when no one is watching. This episode dives deep into the mental side of development: how to build confidence without creating entitlement, how to push excellence without breaking spirit, and how to prepare young athletes for pressure, criticism, and failure. Kenyon opens up about moments of doubt, sacrifice, and decisions that weren't always popular but were necessary to shape resilient, focused competitors. His story is a powerful reminder that greatness is forged through intention, not accident. Beyond basketball, this conversation speaks to parents, coaches, and mentors in every field. Kenyon reveals how he taught his sons to handle adversity, stay grounded in success, and remain disciplined in an environment full of distractions. He emphasizes character over clout, work ethic over hype, and long-term growth over short-term wins values that translated directly into elite performance at the highest level. You'll hear about the importance of environment, the role of honest feedback, and why leadership starts with responsibility at home. Kenyon explains how he balanced belief with realism, support with standards, and love with accountability creating athletes who were prepared not just for the NBA, but for life beyond the game. This episode is raw, insightful, and deeply inspiring. It challenges common narratives around youth sports and exposes what it really takes to develop elite performers from the inside out. Whether you're chasing greatness, raising future leaders, or looking for lessons that apply far beyond the court, this conversation delivers value at every level. If you want to understand how intentional leadership can shape destiny and how the right guidance can turn potential into legacy Season 1, Episode 7 is an episode you don't want to miss.

  2. 12/10/2025

    His AI Tech Helped Generate $7B (and you've never heard of him) Manish Hirapara | S1 EP4

    Manish Hirapara is the founder and CEO of PeakActivity, a digital-strategy and technology-services firm that has grown under his leadership into one of the fastest-rising companies in the industry. Before launching PeakActivity in 2015, he spent years leading global e-commerce operations for a major retailer, where he helped manage digital platforms responsible for billions in revenue. With deep experience in both technology and business, Manish has built a reputation for driving innovation, helping companies modernize, scale, and adapt, all while prioritizing purpose, culture, and the human side of leadership. In our conversation, we dive into: How to lead with humility and vision in both business and life, transforming leadership from ego to empowerment. The transformative power of AI and tech: not as a replacement for humanity, but as an enabler of creativity, efficiency, and sustainable growth. What it takes to build and scale a modern digital company: balancing innovation with people-first values, staying adaptive in shifting technological landscapes, and embedding purpose into every decision. The parallels between personal growth and organizational growth, and how traits like resilience, curiosity, and integrity underpin both. Tune in and get ready for a conversation that breaks down complex ideas into simple, actionable insight the kind that stays with you long after the episode ends.

About

This Is How I Made It (HIMI) is a podcast hosted by Max Van Auken that shares real stories from athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders about the mindset, habits, and purpose behind success. It inspires listeners to grow through discipline, faith, and resilience while finding their own path to greatness.