What Changed? with Dwayne Smith

Dwayne Smith
  • 5.0 (6)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
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What Changed? is a podcast about the moments that quietly reshape who we are. Each week, I sit down with professionals and leaders from different walks of life who have navigated real internal change. Career pivots. Identity shifts. Parenthood. The quiet pressure of holding everything together while something inside you is shifting. This isn't surface level advice. It's a deeper look at how people actually lead themselves when life demands growth — and how those experiences shape the work they do today. If you've ever felt the weight of change while still needing to show up for others, this space is for you. New episodes weekly. Subscribe if you're learning to lead yourself through change.

  1. What Happens After You Win? | Michael Yang on Success, Identity, and What Comes Next

    6D AGO

    What Happens After You Win? | Michael Yang on Success, Identity, and What Comes Next

    🎥 Prefer to watch the conversation? Full episodes are available on YouTube. Subscribe to What Changed? with Dwayne Smith:https://www.youtube.com/@whatchangedpod  What happens after you win? Michael Yang sold his tech company for 700 million dollars. The success was real. The achievement was undeniable. And it still did not make him feel complete. In this episode, we confront life after success and the quiet identity shift that can follow major milestones. Not burnout. Not failure. Something subtler. The moment when nothing is technically wrong, yet something inside feels unfinished. Michael is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, investor, and author who built and exited a massive company, only to face the question most high achievers never say out loud: Is this all there is? In this conversation, we explore: ▪️ Why success does not automatically create fulfillment ▪️ What happens when your title no longer defines you ▪️ The identity crisis that can follow achievement ▪️ How being replaced forced him to rethink self-worth ▪️ Why solitude and adventure exposed what ambition could not ▪️ How to expand your identity without burning down your life If you have ever reached a milestone and felt something unsettled underneath it, this conversation will challenge how you think about success, meaning, and what comes next. Michael Yang: www.michaelyang.com  More episodes and reflections: https://linktr.ee/whatchangedpod

    50 min

  2. FEB 10

    When Life Looks Fine but Feels Off | David Fung

    🎥 Prefer to watch the conversation? Full episodes are available on YouTube. Subscribe to What Changed? with Dwayne Smith:https://www.youtube.com/@whatchangedpod  There's a moment many people don't talk about. Life looks fine on the surface. You're capable, thoughtful, even successful. But internally, something feels off. Not broken. Not in crisis. Just unsettled in a way that's hard to explain. In this episode, I sit down with David Fung - CEO & Executive Coach, to explore what's really happening in those moments and why they matter more than we think. We talk about why clarity tends to disappear under pressure, how self-trust is actually built over time, and why most people don't need to reinvent their lives so much as realign them. David shares his own early turning point, how discipline shaped his self-trust, and what he's learned coaching leaders who look confident on the outside but feel uncertain underneath. This conversation isn't about quick fixes or dramatic change. It's about the quiet space before change. The honesty required to name what's true. And the small, grounded actions that can bring more calm across work, relationships, and everyday life. If you've been moving forward but feeling misaligned, this episode offers a place to pause, reflect, and reconsider what your next step really needs to be. David Fung: http://coachfulcoaching.com/ More episodes and reflections: https://linktr.ee/whatchangedpod

    1h 8m
  3. The Hidden Mental Health Struggle Most Fathers Don't Talk About | Dr. Andrew Howlett

    FEB 3

    The Hidden Mental Health Struggle Most Fathers Don't Talk About | Dr. Andrew Howlett

    🎥 Prefer to watch the conversation? Full episodes are available on YouTube. Subscribe to What Changed? with Dwayne Smith:https://www.youtube.com/@whatchangedpod  Fatherhood changes more than most men expect. Sometimes in obvious ways. Often in quiet ones. This conversation is for fathers who are wondering how they're really doing, and for those who want to stay ahead of the parts no one prepares you for. I'm joined by Dr. Andrew Howlett, psychiatrist, Assistant Professor in Child and Youth Mental Health at the University of Toronto, and founder of Fathers Health. For over a decade, Andrew has studied and supported fathers across different stages of parenthood, looking at how mental health, identity, and family wellbeing intersect. We talk about what research shows about fathers' mental health, why loneliness can show up even in stable lives, and how becoming a father can shift priorities, values, and self-perception in ways men rarely name. We also explore why paying attention early matters, not because something is wrong, but because it shapes how fathers show up for their families and themselves. Whether you're a new dad, a seasoned one, or preparing to become a father, this conversation offers perspective most men never get. Dr. Andrew Howlett: http://www.fathersmentalhealth.com/  More episodes and reflections: https://linktr.ee/whatchangedpod

    51 min
  4. She Worked Herself Into the Hospital. What Changed | Cynthia Lai

    JAN 27

    She Worked Herself Into the Hospital. What Changed | Cynthia Lai

    🎥 Prefer to watch the conversation? Full episodes are available on YouTube. Subscribe to What Changed? with Dwayne Smith:https://www.youtube.com/@whatchangedpod What happens when doing everything right still leads you to the hospital? In this episode of What Changed?, I sit down with Cynthia Lai, an executive coach, lecturer, board advisor, and entrepreneur who spent over 20 years in senior banking roles before her body forced her to stop. Twice. What looked like success on the outside slowly became unsustainable on the inside. This is a candid conversation about high achievers, hustle culture, and what happens when your career becomes your identity. Cynthia shares the warning signs she rationalized, the pressure to keep performing, and the moment she realized that pushing through was no longer an option. We talk about why driven people often ignore burnout until it shows up physically, and why setting boundaries can feel more threatening than exhaustion itself. You should listen if you feel successful but tired, motivated but depleted, or proud of how much you can handle while quietly questioning the cost. This episode will challenge how you define ambition, productivity, and self-worth, and may help you recognize signals you have been pushing aside. If you have ever wondered how long you can keep going like this, this conversation is for you. Cynthia Lai: https://linktr.ee/cynthiakylai More episodes and reflections: https://linktr.ee/whatchangedpod

    58 min
  5. Why Staying Where You're Comfortable Is Killing Your Potential | Chris March

    JAN 20

    Why Staying Where You're Comfortable Is Killing Your Potential | Chris March

    🎥 Prefer to watch the conversation? Full episodes are available on YouTube. Subscribe to What Changed? with Dwayne Smith:https://www.youtube.com/@whatchangedpod  Are you waiting for a sign that never comes? At 22, Chris March made a decision many people hesitate on. He left everything he knew and moved to the other side of the world without a map or a guaranteed outcome. He just knew that staying still was no longer an option. That single choice launched a 17-year journey across three continents and more than 80 countries, shaping the lived experience that led him to become a global Executive Coach and Leadership Advisor. In this episode of What Changed?, we explore: Why clarity often comes after you start moving How to build self-trust when certainty is missing The difference between learning leadership from theory versus lived experience How pivotal moments shape who you become over time If you're standing at the edge of a major decision and waiting to feel ready, this conversation offers a grounded perspective on what happens when you trust yourself and step forward. Chris March: https://chrismarchcoaching.com/  More episodes and reflections: https://linktr.ee/whatchangedpod

    52 min
  6. Stop "Pretzeling" for Your Career: How to Exit Survival Mode | Suzannah Kelly

    JAN 13

    Stop "Pretzeling" for Your Career: How to Exit Survival Mode | Suzannah Kelly

    🎥 Prefer to watch the conversation? Full episodes are available on YouTube. Subscribe to What Changed? with Dwayne Smith:https://www.youtube.com/@whatchangedpod  Are you a high achieving woman feeling buried by your career? In this episode, we explore the midlife awakening and how to stop pretzeling yourself to fit corporate expectations. We often stay in situations that no longer fit us because we've been told that sticking it out is a sign of resilience. We wear the title, collect the paycheck, and ignore the quiet whisper telling us that we're slowly disappearing behind our own success. I sit down with Leadership Coach and former HR Executive, Suzannah Kelly, to explore the moment the life you've built no longer matches the person you've become. After 25 years in the corporate world, Suzannah found herself in survival mode, performing and feeling deeply invalidated despite her senior status. It took a massive life interruption for her to realize that she wasn't falling apart - she was finally waking up. This is not just a conversation about career coaching. We discuss: The Myth of Resilience and why staying can be breaking you The terror of walking away from financial security The Minus 5 to Plus 5 framework for moving from stress to purpose Why so many ambitious women feel buried by their responsibilities. If you've ever felt like you're watching your life from the ceiling or wondering if it's too late to start over, this conversation offers the clarity and courage needed to take the next step. This episode is not about losing your career. It's about reclaiming your identity so you can finally lead a life that fits. Suzannah Kelly: www.suzannahkelly.ca  More episodes and reflections: https://linktr.ee/whatchangedpod

    58 min
  7. When Parenting Isn't About Fixing Your Child | Bryan Post

    JAN 6

    When Parenting Isn't About Fixing Your Child | Bryan Post

    🎥 Prefer to watch the conversation? Full episodes are available on YouTube. Subscribe to What Changed? with Dwayne Smith: https://www.youtube.com/@whatchangedpod  Parenting can feel overwhelming in ways no one really prepares you for. The frustration. The guilt. The fear that you're doing it wrong, even when you're trying your best. In this episode, I sit down with Child Behaviour Expert, Bryan Post, one of the leading voices in love-based parenting and someone who has spent nearly three decades working with children and families impacted by trauma. What unfolds is not a conversation about parenting techniques, but a deeper look at why parenting so often feels hard, and what's really happening underneath our reactions. We talk about control, discipline, homework battles, emotional regulation, and why behaviour is often a signal of stress rather than defiance. Bryan shares powerful stories from his own life and work, and challenges the idea that love-based parenting is permissive. Instead, he reframes love as something grounded, intentional, and deeply transformative. If you've ever felt triggered by your child's behaviour, stuck in cycles of frustration, or unsure how to stay calm without losing authority, this conversation will give you a new lens and practical insight you can carry into everyday moments. This episode isn't about fixing your child. It's about understanding yourself, so your child can feel safe enough to grow. 🎧 Listen with an open mind and notice what shifts. Bryan Post: https://www.youtube.com/@BryanPost/videos  📌 New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and all podcast platforms.

    1h 8m

  8. 12/30/2025

    Your Life Is Being Stolen. Here's How to Take It Back | Steven Puri

    What if the reason you feel behind, distracted, or exhausted isn't a lack of discipline, but a system designed to take your time without you noticing? In this conversation, I sit down with Steven Puri, a former Hollywood studio executive turned founder of The Sukha Company, to unpack how our attention is quietly being pulled away from the lives we actually want to live. Steven shares the moment he realized his time was no longer his own, what it cost him personally and professionally, and why high performance without control leads straight to burnout. Drawing from his experience in film, tech, and behavioural science, we explore how distraction, procrastination, and perfectionism slowly erode our sense of agency, and what it really takes to get it back. We talk about flow states, why some days feel energizing while others disappear, and how small, intentional shifts can help you reclaim your focus without blowing up your life. This is not about hustle or doing more. It's about doing what matters before your days quietly slip away. If you have ever ended a day wondering where the time went, this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar. 🎧 Plus, we settle the long-debated question: Is Die Hard actually a Christmas movie? Steven Puri: www.TheSukha.co  Watch the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/@whatchangedpod

    1h 22m
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

What Changed? is a podcast about the moments that quietly reshape who we are. Each week, I sit down with professionals and leaders from different walks of life who have navigated real internal change. Career pivots. Identity shifts. Parenthood. The quiet pressure of holding everything together while something inside you is shifting. This isn't surface level advice. It's a deeper look at how people actually lead themselves when life demands growth — and how those experiences shape the work they do today. If you've ever felt the weight of change while still needing to show up for others, this space is for you. New episodes weekly. Subscribe if you're learning to lead yourself through change.

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