Blaze Your Own Trail

In this inspiring interview, Kaleb and Kyler Cook share their journey from small-town Illinois to becoming filmmakers with a faith-driven mission. They discuss their creative process, the importance of community, and how their faith shapes their work, culminating in the of their recently released impactful film 'Just One More' which has won several awards in multiple categories

Takeaways
-Consistent practice and honing craft over years is essential to success.
-Surround yourself with people better than you to elevate your work.
-Faith and community are foundational to impactful filmmaking.
Sound Bites
"Surround yourself with people better than you."
"High quality storytelling makes much of Jesus."
"Embrace the long journey to mastery."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to TwinBolt Media and the Cook Brothers
02:11 Growing Up in Southern Illinois: Culture and Influences
04:46 The Impact of 90s Comedy on Their Creative Journey
08:12 Transitioning from High School to Filmmaking
09:28 The Journey Through Education and Early Career
12:09 The Birth of TwinBolt Media During the Pandemic
13:55 Finding Purpose in Filmmaking and Faith
15:02 The Evolution of Christian Filmmaking
19:00 Addressing Addiction and Community in Their Films
22:37 Growing Up with Brothers and Wrestling
23:57 The Birth of TwinBull: A Partnership in Filmmaking
28:18 The Role of Faith and Family in Filmmaking
30:21 Creating High-Quality Content for a Higher Purpose
34:28 The Inspiration Behind 'Just One More'
38:12 Building Community and Collaboration in Filmmaking
42:08 Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers
Learn more about Kaleb & Kyler's current & future projects: https://www.twinboltmedia.com/
Watch 'Just One More" here: https://www.angel.com/movies/just-one-more
Connect with Kyler: https://www.instagram.com/kylercook/
Connect with Kaleb: https://www.instagram.com/kaleb_cook_filmmaker/
The Blaze Your Own Trail Podcast is Sponsored by CityGate Studios.
If you are looking for a world-class team to help with your Film, T.V., Podcast or other creative production project in a clean, safe and Christ-Centered environment, look not further!
Visit their website to learn more: https://citygatestudios.com/



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Jordan Mendoza sits down with Eddie Konialian, co-founder of Netwrk.VIP, for a conversation about resilience, leadership, and why networking should be measured by generosity, not extraction. Eddie shares how growing up in Beirut during the civil war, immigrating to Los Angeles, and building his career in finance shaped his belief that real success comes from helping other people win. They discuss Eddie’s path from sports and early jobs into banking leadership, the lessons he learned from managing teams, and why he built a platform focused on ownership, trust, and relationship quality. The episode centers on one big idea: in a world full of AI and automation, being human is becoming a competitive advantage.
Key topics
Eddie’s origin story: growing up in Beirut during the civil war and immigrating to the United States in the mid-1980s
Overcoming language barriers and finding confidence and community through sports
Lessons from athletics and John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success
“Raise the floor, not the ceiling”: why results matter more than potential or promises
Eddie’s reflections on college, completing what you start, and the value of education
His early jobs, sales experience, and career at Countrywide Home Loans
Becoming a manager at 23 and learning to lead and coach a team
The 2008 financial crisis, rebuilding his career, and developing the idea for Netwrk.
Chapters
00:00 — Introduction to Eddie and the episode’s mission
01:22 — Why Jordan wanted Eddie’s full story before talking business
01:53 — Leaving Beirut because of war and starting over in the U.S.
02:17 — Language barriers, being held back, and learning to belong
03:13 — Sports as a bridge to friendship and confidence
04:18 — John Wooden, sports culture, and lessons for business
07:28 — “Raise the floor, not the ceiling”
09:48 — Family pressure, a partial scholarship, and choosing work over college
12:16 — Eddie’s perspective on the value of finishing school
16:57 — First jobs, copier sales, and landing at Countrywide
17:51 — Managing 30 loan officers at 23
19:40 — Why helping employees and customers became the real reward
23:20 — The hardest thing to teach is care
24:47 — Leaving Countrywide, the 2008 crash, and rebuilding at Bank of America
25:45 — Comerica promotion and leading 105 employees
27:33 — Tracking referrals and spotting the Netwrk.VIP idea
30:21 — Eddie’s definition of networking: “sum of all effort”
33:29 — Why CRM data and social profiles need real action behind them
35:15 — What Netwrk.VIP does and why it exists
39:35 — Netwrk.VIP features: dashboard, global reach map, digital passports, and groups
41:04 — The upcoming "netwrk score"
42:45 — Measuring character instead of credit score
44:03 — Where to find Netwrk.VIP and Eddie’s contact information
44:27 — Final thoughts: “Be good people”
Connect with Eddie:
https://netwrk.vip/
https://www.instagram.com/coacheddiek/



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In this episode, Chef Andres Hinojosa shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a successful chef and mentor. Discover how adversity shaped his life, his passion for food, and his mission to empower other chefs to succeed.

Key topics
Chef Andres' childhood and early influences
Overcoming adversity and personal challenges
The founding of Dinner with a Chef and Chefpreneur University
The importance of excellence and service in the culinary arts
Strategies for aspiring chefs to succeed and monetize their passion
The role of faith and purpose in personal and professional growth
Sound Bites
"God uses all things for our good"
"Adversity can be your superpower"
"Success leaves clues"
00:00 Welcome and introduction to Chef Andres
01:04 Growing up in San Diego and discovering a love of food
02:58 His mother’s accident and a life-changing childhood
04:27 Moving to Iowa and finding faith through hardship
06:14 Taking on adult responsibilities at 14
08:00 Marriage, family, and growing up quickly
10:45 Turning adversity into purpose
12:26 The moment he chose to believe
15:53 Early dreams and finding direction
17:29 Encouraging his mother through difficult nights
19:38 Meeting Danielle and starting a family
22:20 Adversity as a potential superpower
23:12 Dinner with a Chef and Chefpreneur
24:12 His grandmother’s influence and culinary beginnings
25:26 Leaving demanding restaurant hours to start a business
26:23 Helping chefs build personal chef businesses
29:51 Learning excellence and service in luxury hotels
33:06 The vision behind Chefpreneur University
35:43 Real-world expertise versus online coaching hype
39:09 Three tips for becoming a better cook
40:00 Use quality ingredients, keep it simple, and season well
44:11 Three tips for starting a chef business
45:12 Find proven success, persist, and make a plan
49:20 Turning vision into strategy
50:23 Closing reflections and where to find Chef Andres
52:11 Final sign-off




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Jeff and Debb share their inspiring journey from hardship to living full-time on a cruise ship, emphasizing the power of resilience, faith, and community impact. Their story highlights overcoming adversity and building a life of purpose and impact.
Key Topics
Jeff and Debb's background and childhood stories
The decision to live full-time on a cruise ship
The role of faith and community in overcoming adversity
The journey of building a social media presence and brand
The importance of authenticity and impact in content creation
Strategies for overcoming personal struggles and depression
The significance of setting boundaries and self-care
Future plans for growth, impact, and monetization
The power of sharing stories to inspire others
Connect with Jeff and Debb: https://www.weliveonacruiseship.com/
Grab a copy of Jordan's Best Selling Book: The Life-Changing Power of Adversity: https://www.amazon.com/LIFE-CHANGING-POWER-ADVERSITY-Struggles-Potential-ebook/dp/B0FHYB6JV3

Are you an Entrepreneur, Coach, Author, Actor, Podcaster or Creative?
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Our Trailblazer Ecosystem also enables you to network with other entrepreneurs and the creator hub eliminates multiple subscriptions and logins creating a one stop shop with 30 tools to help you take action an grow your business and brand for just $97 per month!

Join here: https://trailblazerecosystem.com/

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In this episode of the Blaze Your Own Trail podcast, host Jordan Mendoza speaks with Marcy Axelrod, who shares her journey of overcoming stuttering and how it shaped her understanding of human connection and compassion. Marcy discusses the importance of showing up authentically in life, the continuum of presence, and how art serves as a powerful medium for expression and community engagement. She emphasizes the role of adversity in personal growth and the necessity of being present and compassionate towards others.
Takeaways
Marcy emphasizes that what we do is not who we are.
Her experience with stuttering taught her about interconnectedness.
Adversity can be a gift that shapes our identity.
The importance of being present and compassionate in interactions.
Art is a universal form of expression that everyone can engage with.
We impact the world at every moment through our actions.
The show up continuum helps us understand our presence in the world.
Choosing how we show up can transform our relationships.
Marcy's journey highlights the power of vulnerability and authenticity.
Community engagement through art can uplift others.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Marcy Axelrod
06:14 The Journey of Communication and Self-Discovery
15:59 The Impact of Stuttering on Identity
22:54 The Show Up Continuum: Levels of Engagement
27:38 Art as a Medium of Expression
28:01 The Essence of Art and Creativity
34:09 The Role of Art in Community and Philanthropy
45:26 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Presence
Connect with Marcy: https://choosetoshowup.com/
Get a copy of Marcy's Best Selling Book: https://choosetoshowup.com/books

Are you an Entrepreneur, Coach, Author, Actor, Podcaster or Creative?
Join my FREE Group Coaching Community where we have live calls, Q&A and more!
Our Trailblazer Ecosystem also enables you to network with other entrepreneurs and the creator hub eliminates multiple subscriptions and logins creating a one stop shop with 30 tools to help you take action an grow your business and brand for just $97 per month!

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