Liftoff Journeys with Jeanniey Walden

Jeanniey Walden
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Liftoff Journeys isn’t about polished success stories. It’s about the moments before success makes sense.It was inspired by my three-year-old who told me, “I want to be a bubble bather when I grow up."   I realized that what she saw was that a bubble bath created joy, helped people, and made others feel good.Her instinct to do this in every roles she has had never disappeared. This moment revealed something powerful to me: it’s the moments before success that shape who we become.Hosted by Jeanniey Walden, Liftoff Journeys features honest conversations with leaders, founders, and executives about how they actually built their lives and careers, through real decisions, detours, doubts, and defining moments.No bios. No highlight reels. Just authentic choices, inspired action, and relatable human experience.At its core, the show reflects the mission of Liftoff Enterprises: helping leaders grow with confidence, clarity, and trust — in themselves and with others. These conversations echo the ideas behind The Trust Threshold: the point where self-doubt turns into momentum and leadership shifts from performance to presence.There’s no single path to growth, but there are patterns.If you’ve ever wondered what happens before it all clicks, this podcast is for you.This is Liftoff Journeys.

  1. A Divorce, a Dead-End Job Market, and a Book About Pirates: The Journey of A Bartending Author

    MAR 20

    A Divorce, a Dead-End Job Market, and a Book About Pirates: The Journey of A Bartending Author

    Alex Bennett started washing dishes at his parents' restaurant at 16, and by 25, he was running the whole place. But then life threw him some curveballs: a divorce, a master's degree he couldn't use at the worst possible time, and a career pivot most people wouldn't see coming. And somehow, all those detours led him to write a historical fiction trilogy about bourbon, pirates, and a Scottish rebellion. Yeah, you read that right. What really got me is how Alex talks about letting life take you where it's going to take you instead of fighting it. He has this incredible way of looking at setbacks not as failures, but as setups for something better. And the story behind how the book came together, including one random conversation with a kid at the bar that made him rewrite an entire manuscript. I won't spoil it, but let's say the details matter more than you think. If you've ever felt stuck between what you planned for your life and where life actually took you, this one is going to hit different. Alex drops some seriously good advice for anyone chasing a dream, starting over, or just trying to figure out their next move. Plus, you're going to learn something about whiskey history that will make you the most interesting person at your next happy hour. Trust me on that one. Listen now and find out how a dishwasher turned bartender turned author figured out that the best stories, in books and in life, come from the chapters you never planned to write.

    27 min
  2. They Blamed Her Parenting. Karen Spent a Decade Proving Them All Wrong

    MAR 13

    They Blamed Her Parenting. Karen Spent a Decade Proving Them All Wrong

    Imagine taking your child to a therapist for help with their behavior, only for the therapist to basically call you a bad parent and tell you it’s your fault they act the way they do? I sat down with Karen Thomas, the founder and CEO of Naturally Recovering Autism, and what she shared about her journey had my jaw drop.This mom spent over a decade and more than $100,000 of her own money researching, experimenting, and figuring out how to help her son recover from autism symptoms, naturally. Spoiler alert: She did it! Her son went from struggling in kindergarten to being a college graduate living independently, and she's helped other parents see incredible results too, including a mom whose nonverbal son started talking and reading within two months of starting Karen's program. This is a mom who refused to accept "there's nothing we can do" and built an entire recovery roadmap from scratch! And she did it all before AI. Whether you're a parent navigating autism, dealing with health challenges in your own family, or just trying to figure things out when nobody has the answers, you're going to feel so seen listening to this. Grab your copy of my new book, The Trust Threshold, available on Amazon https://www.liftoffcompany.com/the-trust-threshold/

    34 min
  3. The Biggest Gang in New York City Saved His Life (And It's Not What You Think) - Sergio’s Shocking Journey

    MAR 6

    The Biggest Gang in New York City Saved His Life (And It's Not What You Think) - Sergio’s Shocking Journey

    Sergio Kopelev has one of those journeys that sounds almost unbelievable. He came to the US as a refugee, grew up in real poverty in Brooklyn, got into some serious trouble as a kid, and somehow turned it all around to become a vice president at a multinational consulting firm who's spoken in front of Congress. It’s like a mix of West Side Story meets an episode of The Americans with a bit of Goodfellows and Hijacked all tied together. Yet, it’s 100% REAL, and that's what makes this one SO good.We got into everything from how his family's history shaped his mindset, to the moment law enforcement completely changed his trajectory, to what he's building now, and okay, I have to tell you about this, he's launching a spy school startup called Tradecraft Adventures! It’s where people actually get to live as an undercover operative for four days. Like, WHAT?! I couldn't believe he was sharing all of this, and I didn't want this conversation to end.Sergio owns every single part of his story, including the messy parts that most people would never talk about. At the end of the day, his journey is about figuring it out as you go, and honestly, aren't we all doing that? If you need a reminder that where you started doesn't define where you're headed, this is your episode. Trust me on this one.Grab your copy of my new book, The Trust Threshold, available on Amazon https://www.liftoffcompany.com/the-trust-threshold/

    32 min
  4. I Dropped Big News In This Episode with The Snarketing Podcast

    FEB 27

    I Dropped Big News In This Episode with The Snarketing Podcast

    Trust is the invisible line between momentum and stagnation. Cross it, and teams move faster. Miss it, and nothing works the way it should. In this episode of the Snarketing Podcast, hosts Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa welcome back their first-ever repeat guest, Jeanniey Walden, for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about trust, leadership, attention, and growth in an AI-shaped world. Jeanniey introduces her new book, The Trust Threshold: Crossing the Line Between Stuck and Unstoppable, and breaks down how her AIR Method (Authenticity, Inspiration, Relatability) applies far beyond business strategy. The discussion spans everything from why attention has collapsed to a three-second window, to how leaders unintentionally create “checklist workers,” to why relatability is a revenue and survival skill, not a soft one. The episode also explores how AI can be used as a thinking partner rather than a shortcut, the danger of performative leadership, and why trust signals show up long before revenue drops. With real-world stories from Fortune 250 brands, startups, and personal leadership moments, this conversation blends practical insight with humor and honesty. Within hours of its release on 2/24, the book hit bestseller! Grab your copy by going to https://www.liftoffcompany.com/the-trust-threshold/

    46 min
  5. We Just Vibe-Authored A Book! Blank Page to Author with Keith & Vanessa Bell

    FEB 20

    We Just Vibe-Authored A Book! Blank Page to Author with Keith & Vanessa Bell

    Hopefully you know by now that I didn’t just wrote a book (The Trust Threshold) - but this took me on a journey I never expected. I didnt just write it - I “vibe-Authored” it. And during that process I realized I created the way I lead when I was a little girl (WHAT?!?!)This episode came from sitting down with Vanessa and Keith Bell for an unexpected, unfiltered, no-prep conversation about my own journey. The one that led me to do something I swore I would never do again…write another book.I talk openly about my first book experience years ago, and why I never wanted to write another book. Bu more importantly, it touches on how the journey to write a book through this vibe-authoring process led me on a journey to understand so much more of who I am and give me the insights to create the framework that can now help and power other business, brands and leaders.You will hear so much and meet the great team behind this process. We talk about the early fears.The moment the outline stopped me cold.And the realization that the framework behind my work (authenticity, inspiration, and relatability) didn’t start in my career… it started when I was young and helping my grandma learn to speak after a stroke. This conversation became the missing chapter in my own story. It helped me understand why this podcast exists, why this book needed to be written, and why the AIR Method isn’t just a business framework, it’s a way of navigating life, leadership, and growth.If you’ve ever said:Writing a book sounds cool, but I could never do it, I dare you to not just listen to this podcast, but to try it out. My book is all about helping people go from Stuck to Unstoppable and you deserve that.Oh and P.S. If you are seeing this before 2/23 - enter our giveaway for a free copy of my new book. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/432368-the-trust-threshold-crossing-the-line-between-stuck-and-unstoppable

    18 min
  6. Letao Wang Was Supposed to Be a Banker…Then Astrology Intervened

    FEB 16

    Letao Wang Was Supposed to Be a Banker…Then Astrology Intervened

    I don't know about you, but 2025 wasn't the best year for me. I lost my mom, my former company liquidated in bankruptcy and most people I know lost their jobs. That had to be more than a coincidence, and after chatting with Letao Wang, now I know why and I am super psyched for this new year- the year of the Fire Horse! All I have to say is THANK goodness Letao didn't listen to his family and chose this path.  A conversation you will not want to miss. In this episode of Liftoff Journeys, I sit down with Letao Wang, counselor and award-winning astrologist, to talk about how your life can positively impact many people when you follow the path you are drawn too.  Like many of us,  Letao didn't find his career part right away. In fact,  he followed the expected path his family had set for him. He graduated, went into finance, graduated, and stepped into a career that looked stable and successful. But internally, something was missing, and he could feel it. Imagine living according to expectations rather than alignment. That was Letao's reality and a chance spiritual encounter during his Saturn return became the moment that shifted everything. Not because it gave him all the answers, but because it finally gave him permission to ask better questions.He makes everyone who has been in this position before feel really happy as he shares how  how astrology and counseling became tools for Letao not to escape reality, but to understand people more deeply and to help them heal. What I loved most was how authentic and relatable he was about fear, doubt, and the grief that can come with choosing a different path. Best of all, he trusted his inner voice. Trust led to belief and belief led to his business leadership. This episode is for anyone who has ever looked at their life and thought, this should feel right by now. This is your year. Let's do this. Support the show Subscribe to our YouTube channelWatch the TV show "Liftoff with Jeanniey Walden"Follow us on XFollow us on InstagramTalk to us on FacebookMeet Jeanniey live - see where she will be next.

    25 min
  7. The Weird Childhood Dream That Built Gareth Russell's Writing Career

    FEB 6

    The Weird Childhood Dream That Built Gareth Russell's Writing Career

    Famous author and great guy, Gareth Russell Dreamt about being the Czar of Russia when he was little. WHAT?!?  I wasn’t expecting this conversation to go where it did, and honestly, that’s my favorite kind.In this episode of Liftoff Journeys, I sit down with author and historian Gareth Russell to talk about how he became the writer he is today… and it turns out that journey started much earlier than most people realize. Long before the books, the acclaim, or The Palace, there was a child in Belfast surrounded by Bible stories, family history, old films, and an imagination big enough to dream of becoming the Czar of Russia. Gareth is incredibly authentic about the fact that writing wasn’t just a dream, it was a refuge. A place where things made sense. A necessity before it was ever a career. And in that honesty, there’s something deeply inspiring about realizing that the path doesn’t have to be linear or obvious to be meaningful. This is one of the first conversations we have had where the person knew what they wanted to be when they grew up from such a young age!Because this is Liftoff Journeys, the conversation doesn’t stay in one lane. We move from childhood dreams to modern leadership, from royal history to artificial intelligence, and from the past to the very real questions we’re all asking about the future. Gareth shares why history isn’t something we leave behind, it’s something we repeat, reinterpret, and often fail to listen to.This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt called to something before they had the language for it. For anyone who’s taken a winding path and for anyone who believes that understanding how people become who they are can change how you think about your own journey.P.S. It is SUCH a good conversation that we've already asked Gareth to come back on the show in a month (we heard he is working on a new project) and we want to share the scoop!

    29 min
  8. Why Studying Volcanoes Changed How Stephen Gee Thinks About Leadership, and What Most Executives Get Wrong

    JAN 30

    Why Studying Volcanoes Changed How Stephen Gee Thinks About Leadership, and What Most Executives Get Wrong

    I’m sitting down with Stephen Gee — CEO and co-founder of Blend — expecting him to give me a common story of his background, and at some point he casually says, “I actually went to college to become a volcanologist.” Volcanoes.Lava.Remote islands.No friends. (His words, not mine.) And somehow… that explains everything about how he sees leadership today. This episode of Liftoff Journeys is very much about Stephen’s journey — not the polished LinkedIn version, but the real one where he followed curiosity instead of a title and ended up exactly where he was supposed to be. Stephen walks through how studying volcanoes — systems under pressure, unseen fault lines, sudden eruptions — shaped the way he now spots what’s broken in modern leadership. Why siloed executives feel productive but miss what’s actually building beneath the surface. Why pressure narrows perspective instead of expanding it. And why the most dangerous leaders aren’t the ones who fail — they’re the ones who stop questioning. We laugh a lot in this conversation. About awkward rooms. About walking into spaces where you have no idea what anyone does. About realizing, decades into your career, that the most growth happens when you’re willing to say, “I don’t know — tell me more.” And we also get real about: how Stephen accidentally found his way into the human side of leadershipwhy community and cognitive diversity matter more than playbookshow Blend was built by intentionally breaking industry boundariesand why curiosity — not certainty — is what actually makes leaders betterWithout trying to, this conversation brings The AIR Method™ to life: Authenticity — being willing to admit what you don’t knowInspiration — letting unfamiliar perspectives reshape your thinkingRelatability — realizing no one’s path is as linear as it looksIf you’ve ever wondered how someone really ends up where they are — or if you’ve felt that quiet nudge that says there might be more growth outside your usual lane — this journey will stick with you. Because sometimes the very thing that seems like a detour…turns out to be the training ground for everything that comes next.

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Liftoff Journeys isn’t about polished success stories. It’s about the moments before success makes sense.It was inspired by my three-year-old who told me, “I want to be a bubble bather when I grow up."   I realized that what she saw was that a bubble bath created joy, helped people, and made others feel good.Her instinct to do this in every roles she has had never disappeared. This moment revealed something powerful to me: it’s the moments before success that shape who we become.Hosted by Jeanniey Walden, Liftoff Journeys features honest conversations with leaders, founders, and executives about how they actually built their lives and careers, through real decisions, detours, doubts, and defining moments.No bios. No highlight reels. Just authentic choices, inspired action, and relatable human experience.At its core, the show reflects the mission of Liftoff Enterprises: helping leaders grow with confidence, clarity, and trust — in themselves and with others. These conversations echo the ideas behind The Trust Threshold: the point where self-doubt turns into momentum and leadership shifts from performance to presence.There’s no single path to growth, but there are patterns.If you’ve ever wondered what happens before it all clicks, this podcast is for you.This is Liftoff Journeys.

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