Navigating No with Blue Stiley

Blue Stiley

Hosted by Blue Stiley, Navigating No delves into the art of overcoming rejection, failure, and self-doubt. Each episode features insightful conversations with guests from diverse fields who share their personal experiences and strategies for handling rejection. This podcast offers listeners actionable steps to improve their lives by understanding how to navigate “no” and not let it define their journey. Whether you’re facing setbacks in your career, relationships, or personal growth, Navigating No provides the tools to keep moving forward with confidence.

  1. HACE 1 DÍA

    "How Every ‘No’ Lifts You Higher" with Ana Mazzeo

    How do you believe that every “no” gets you closer to your “yes”?For Ana Mazzeo, that belief isn’t just a mindset—it’s her story. Named one of Forbes Italy’s Top 100 Successful Women and Fortune Italy’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women, Ana now serves as Managing Director of Wobi Italia. But her path wasn’t paved with easy yeses—it was shaped by countless no’s.Born in Argentina and raised with little, it was her mother’s bold decision to enroll her in an international school—and her access to an Italian passport—that gave Ana the springboard to chase something bigger. When she was passed over for a leadership title she worked hard for, Ana didn’t wait for recognition—she stepped into the role anyway, leading with clarity, courage, and conviction.In this episode of Navigating No, Ana shares how rejection became her greatest advantage—and how believing in your value, even when others don’t, is where true leadership begins. If you’ve ever been overlooked, underestimated, or told “you’re not ready,” this conversation is for you.00:00 Introduction and Overcoming Obstacles01:04 Ana Mazzeo's Journey: From Argentina to Success01:49 Navigating Rejection and Embracing Leadership03:44 Childhood Struggles and Educational Opportunities04:49 Economic Hardships and Family Support07:07 Balancing School Life and Personal Challenges10:17 Curiosity and Aspiration: Keys to Success11:34 Turning Envy into Motivation14:31 The Importance of Asking Questions21:05 Creative Solutions to Everyday Problems26:22 The Journey to Managing Director27:21 Embracing Rejection and Perseverance28:16 Learning and Leading Without the Title32:16 The Importance of Language Skills38:21 Overcoming Gender Barriers44:39 Final ThoughtsFollow and connect with Ana here on here LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anamazzeo/Managing Director WOBI Italia, World Business Forum & WOBI Global Management Team | Standout Women International Award 2024| Forbes Italy's Top 100 Successful Women 2024 |Fortune Italy’s 50 Most Powerful Women 2023|Or read more about her story here:https://www.lanacion.com.ar/lifestyle/de-vacaciones-en-carpa-a-ser-una-de-las-50-mujeres-mas-poderosas-de-italia-no-era-la-mas-inteligente-nid06082024/Or about her work at WOBI https://wbf.wobi.com/it/wbf/wbf-milano/https://wbf.wobi.com/ana-mazzeo-on-skytg24-about-gender-equality-for-real-change-to-happen-we-need-to-start-from-the-ground-up/https://www.insidemarketing.it/ana-mazzeo-country-manager-italia-wobi/Or her road to the Italian Business Elite according to Forbes and Fortune:https://forbes.it/2025/07/21/forbes-interview-guidare-il-cambiamento-intervista-ad-ana-mazzeohttps://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/never-give-up-a-mould-breaking-journey-in-business-leadership/https://www.we-wealth.com/news/mazzeo-wobi-il-world-business-forum-per-leader-futuro

    50 min
  2. 28 JUL

    Everyone Saw the Talent No One Saw the Pain with Greg Stern

    Sometimes it only takes a moment to knock you flat—and force you to question everything.For Greg Stern, that moment came not with clarity, but with exhaustion and the quiet collapse of a dream he’d chased for years. What followed was a shift sparked by a few powerful words from his father and the support of mentors who reminded him of the gifts he carried.In this episode, I reconnect with my childhood friend to talk about the role basketball played in shaping his identity, the setbacks that challenged him, and the resilience it took to find his way forward.Whether through mentoring youth with Rise Above or advocating for mental health with the John W. Brick Foundation, Greg is using his story to drive real change.This conversation is about failure, mentorship, and the quiet courage it takes to begin again—again and again—and how the foundations we lay in our hardest seasons often shape the greatest impact we leave behind.00:00 The Turning Point: Overcoming Self-Doubt01:01 Introduction to Greg Stern's Journey01:41 Reconnecting After Decades02:10 Childhood Memories and Early Influences03:33 The Impact of Mentors and Early Sports Experiences10:11 The Harsh Realities of Youth Sports Today22:04 Struggles and Triumphs in High School23:29 Facing Adversity: The College Basketball Experience31:14 The Aftermath of Failure and Finding New Purpose37:03 A Life-Changing Accident and Its Consequences43:14 The Aftermath of the Accident44:16 Dealing with Guilt and Emotional Turmoil45:55 Struggles with Depression and Quitting48:35 A Father's Tough Love53:35 Finding Purpose and Mentorship56:05 The Power of Connection and Empathy59:28 The Podcast Journey01:08:43 Lessons from Mentors and Giving Back01:16:07 Final Thoughts

    1 h y 27 min
  3. 21 JUL

    You Don’t Need Easy, You Need a Reason with Manny Hochheimer 

    What does it look like to lead with heart, bounce back from failure, and stay grounded through it all? Today, I sit down with Manny Hochheimer—banker, father, and leader—whose journey from Germany to Spokane, Washington, is anything but ordinary. As Assistant Vice President of Washington State branches at Idaho Central Credit Union, Manny brings more than business savvy to the table—he brings grit, grace, and a refreshing outlook on turning adversity into opportunity. Manny shares the hard-won lessons that shaped him as a leader, a partner, and a parent—and why showing up authentically is the key to real success. Whether you’re navigating your own “no” or searching for what’s next, this conversation will leave you with a bit more optimism, a few laughs, and a reminder that resilience isn’t about never falling—it’s about how you decide to get back up, here on Navigating No.  00:00 Overcoming Academic Challenges 00:41 Introduction to Manny Hochheimer 02:53 Manny's Early Life in Germany 03:34 Immigrating to America 05:30 Adjusting to Life in Fort Collins 08:46 Lessons in Resilience and Authenticity 21:26 Navigating Adversity in College 41:04 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Resilience 41:38 The Power of Currency in Motivation 42:07 Lessons from Business Mentors 43:44 Raising Kids with Tough Love 44:47 The Importance of Authentic Relationships 48:31 Breaking into the Spokane Market 56:25 The Value of Mentorship and Community 01:02:25 Self-Care and Mental Health 01:05:57 The Influence of Music and Movies 01:12:36 Final Thoughts

    1 h y 21 min
  4. 6 JUL

    If Not Now, When? with Blue Stiley

    This episode is a little different. Instead of hosting, I sat down with my good friends Brennon Poynor and Josh Hissong for their podcast If Not Now, When?—and what came out of that conversation surprised even me. We talk about growing up in Spokane, what martial arts taught me about failure, and how rejection shaped some of the biggest pivots in my life. I also open up about things I haven’t shared publicly—stories about identity, fatherhood, and the pressure to perform that I’ve carried for a long time. Josh and Brennon created the kind of space that pulled these stories out of me, and I’m grateful for it. This one’s real, it’s reflective, and at times… it’s raw. But if you’ve been listening to Navigating No, you know that’s exactly the point. Let me know what resonates—and if you’ve got your own story of turning rejection into purpose, I’d love to hear it. 00:00 The World Owes You Nothing 00:45 Introduction to the Podcast Episode 01:37 Starting the Conversation 02:57 Growing Up in Spokane 03:38 Martial Arts Journey Begins 03:50 Facing Bullying and Finding Strength 05:09 The Karate Kid Story 09:33 Lessons from Failure 14:57 Early Entrepreneurial Spirit 19:56 College Rejections and Persistence 26:48 Life Lessons from Mentors 30:11 Finding Mentors and Building Confidence 31:32 Overcoming Bullies and Life Lessons 35:14 Experiences in Japan and Personal Growth 37:15 Career Shifts and Personal Training 42:42 The Journey to Becoming a Teacher 52:17 Public Speaking and Modeling Challenges 01:00:11 The Journey to Writing a Second Book 01:00:46 Defining Personal Success 01:01:06 The Importance of Family and Relationships 01:02:47 Embracing Challenges and Growth 01:11:12 The Power of Mentorship 01:18:10 A Life-Changing Encounter 01:23:37 Returning to Spokane 01:25:42 Final Thoughts

    1 h y 28 min
  5. 23 JUN

    Fear and Money Are Excuses Not To Start with Chris Bovey

    Have you ever pitched an idea, vision, or business plan you believed in, only to be told it would never work? Our next guest, Chris Bovey, experienced exactly that. Instead of backing down, he used the rejection as fuel, refining his concept and adjusting his path to not only succeed, but to spark a city-wide movement. He’s the artist and entrepreneur behind Vintage Print, whose throwback-style prints have become synonymous with Spokane’s identity. From building a business one print at a time to saving the iconic Garland Theater from closing, Chris’s story is all about betting on your gut, staying true to your vision, and creating something that lasts. This is a conversation about grit, heart, and the power of saying “yes” to yourself—only on Navigating No. 00:00 Overcoming Fear and Excuses 00:50 Meet Chris Bovey: Turning Rejection into Fuel 01:35 Chris's Journey from Australia to Spokane 03:31 High School Struggles and Finding a Passion for Drama 09:13 From Drama to Graphic Design: Discovering a New Path 19:21 The Inlander Opportunity: A Dream Come True 27:30 The Birth of Vintage Print: From Rejection to Success 36:51 Facing Challenges and Realizing Potential 37:31 Creative Projects and Workplace Struggles 39:18 Taking the Leap to Full-Time Art 40:54 Building a Business and Community Engagement 47:36 Opening a Storefront and Overcoming Obstacles 53:33 Saving the Garland Theater 57:03 Nostalgia and Community Impact 01:07:57 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Hard Work 01:13:41 Current Endeavors and Future Vision

    1 h y 15 min
  6. 16 JUN

    Two Game-Changing Secrets for Entrepreneurs with Angela Dennison

    Perfect timing isn’t just for standup comedians—it’s also for building community. And someone got the last laugh to prove it. On this episode, Blue Stiley sits down with my friend Angela Dennison, the powerhouse behind making Laughs Comedy Club the best in Seattle. She didn’t plan to run a comedy venue, but when life presented the opportunity, she and her husband ran with it—building one of the most beloved comedy spaces in the Northwest. From navigating startup chaos to overcoming the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, Angela’s story is packed with grit, grace, and of course—laughter.  Let’s dive into what it takes to build a community, stay adaptable, and create a space where people can laugh, learn, and belong. This one’s for the dreamers, the doers, and anyone who knows the power of a good punchline. Let’s get into it—here on Navigating No. 00:00 The Courage to Pursue Comedy and Business 00:44 Meet Angela Denison: The Powerhouse Behind Seattle's Top Comedy Club 02:33 From Dentistry to Comedy: Angela's Unexpected Journey 04:49 Navigating Challenges and Embracing Change 07:00 Building a Community: The Key to Success 15:03 Adapting to COVID-19: Keeping the Club Alive 17:01 The Art of Comedy: Crafting Memorable Experiences 25:54 Handling Reviews and Maintaining Standards 32:46 Dealing with Rejection in the Comedy Industry 35:07 Crafting a Comedy Special 36:56 Ownership and Rights in Comedy 38:38 Providing Value to Comics 41:35 Advice for Aspiring Comedians 48:51 Challenges of Running a Comedy Club 53:57 Women in the Comedy Business 01:01:06 Overcoming Business Challenges 01:05:01 Final Thoughts

    1 h y 8 min
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Hosted by Blue Stiley, Navigating No delves into the art of overcoming rejection, failure, and self-doubt. Each episode features insightful conversations with guests from diverse fields who share their personal experiences and strategies for handling rejection. This podcast offers listeners actionable steps to improve their lives by understanding how to navigate “no” and not let it define their journey. Whether you’re facing setbacks in your career, relationships, or personal growth, Navigating No provides the tools to keep moving forward with confidence.

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