Shawn sits down with this coming year's La Reina Linda XI, Erica La Hood, an executive in San Antonio who has accepted a year long reign of highlighting the needs of educators in San Antonio and raising money for student scholarships throughout the city.

Join us as we learn about her incredible journey to Fiesta 2025!

Today Shawn sits down with Fabian Castillo Senior, business owner and San Antonio's Rey Feo 76 to discuss his heartfelt dedication to bridging the education gap, believing that every student deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Through scholarships and support, we aim to pave the way for a brighter tomorrow and build a community where education is accessible to all.

This week Shawn welcomes good friend and friend in recovery, Mike Smeltzer of the Last Resort treatment center. Mike suffered from heroin addiction, years of inability to get sober, when a shotgun prayer and arrest that he would realize later saved his life, coping with the loss of his best friend, his father. Now Mike has turned the corner and lives for his kids and wife using his experience to help those addicts and alcoholics who still suffer!

Shawn welcomes the owner of Break Your Loop support bracelets, Meliza Carrion as she continues her mission to help empower woman to reach their fullest potential. Meliza hopes that by wearing our Loops bracelets, we remind ourselves daily of our strength, resilience, and capacity for growth. Dive in to more than just bracelets for stories of struggle, doubt and resilience.

Join us as Shawn invites IFBB Pro bodybuilder and lifestyle coach and trainer Julia Rene on the pod to talk fitness, fitness journeys, the struggle with social and overcoming past obstacles to become who you always were meant to become! Julia has amassed over 345 thousand followers on Instagram using a combination of tips, lifestyle showcasing, humor and muscle! A motivating episode if there ever was one!

Shawn invites fellow runners to the pod to discuss their chance meetings, personal growth and Jesus Baeza overcoming visual impairment to finish marathons and continue to advocate for accessibility everywhere!

Join us as Shawn sits down with a great friend in recovery, Russell Matthews. Russell is an artist of out Austin, Texas and has one of the most wild rises back to sobriety of any guest! Tune in, check him out!

Shawn heads to downtown San Antonio to talk to Texas-native Chef Jason Dady inside his beautiful restaurant Range. Jason has explored the culinary scene at large and goes beyond the role of restaurant owner and executive chef, by applying familial values to create tight-knit bonds with members of his team and residents of the San Antonio community. As the owner of a multitude of restaurants and food services, Jason has garnered a laundry list of accomplishments. Come watch and listen to see what drives him to continue to innovate in the space and the struggles he's had to overcome.

This week Shawn welcomes Dr. Abbie Maroño who brings a unique level of experience and scientific validation to her work. Dr. Marono is both a scientist and a practitioner in the field of human behavior. In 2022, Abbie was awarded an O-1 visa for extraordinary abilities in the sciences. As such, the United States Department of State recognized Dr. Abbie’s international acclaim and record of extraordinary achievements in the sciences as placing her in the top 1% of her field. Let's get into the details about human behavior, Dr. Marono's insights on it and on her own struggles which she opens up about for the first time on a podcast!

This week Shawn hosts fellow runner and chef, Philip Speer of Austin, Texas. Philip Speer has built an impressive career, has been nominated for four James Beard Foundation Awards in the esteemed Outstanding Pastry Chef category and has received abundant recognition from major publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, GQ Magazine, Texas Monthly, Bon Appetit, and many more. His story includes addiction, to which he has made a profound recovery and since gained unexpected purpose. Tune in to hear more about his many accomplishments, his arrest and his future!

This week Shawn hosts the passionate Frank Parisi. A native of little Italy In Manhattan, his father and family were a part of organized crime and the mafia. Frank became and overcome an opiate addiction and a heart transplant to become an author with the newly released book “Embrace Abundance - A journey through Faith, Family, Health, Hustle & Purpose for a life beyond limits”. A wild listen to say the least!

This week's guest is Erica Blue, the CEO of Austin Sunshine Camps. Every day, she helps change the lives of kids today. Erica grew up in an abusive household with an alcoholic father who was in and out of prison. A kind gesture from a friend's father sent her to summer camp for the first time, and it completely changed her worldview, leading to what she does now. Having just met Shawn a few weeks before the episode, all involved can proudly say this was a decisive meeting of the minds as they discuss what it means to remove yourself from bad situations and use that circumstance to help others. Inspirational and engaging!

Shawn sits down with friend and Navy veteran Pat McGregor of Austin, Texas. Pat lost his brother tragically to veteran suicide and now spends his time raising money for veteran suicide awareness. His goals are balanced with being a running coach. Listen close to this one!

Shawn sits down with long time friend Brandon Parks. Brandon is a get after it kind of guy and we get to hear all about their relationship, getting in the gym, women, addiction, recovery and more!

Shawn sits down with professional pain-free fitness specialist and health coach @clairebays to discuss all aspects of her life including her sober journey and current podcast journey as host of her own show Conversations with Claire. Claire brings her fun infectious personality to the podcast, keeping things fun and light and informative!

Shawn invites Tank Girl on the pod! They discuss everything and anything! Tank Girl is an Austin based and badass tattoo artist, a recovered heroin addict and alcoholic. These days she expresses herself through her trade and she practices Shibari Japanese bondage. Strap in for this one!

The podcast welcomes back TikTok and social media star @rachelelizabeth0 to discuss all things about all the things! Shawn & Rachel take a little bit of a step back from their redemption stories to just have a conversation! We all need that these days and these two know how to get it going. Tune in for laughs, stay for stories, like and subscribe for more!

JUMP IN to this flipping-the-script episode as Shawn Livingston, your regular podcast host switches seats, inviting back TikTok sensation Rachel Elizabeth to grill HIM on his past, his struggles, how he got HERE and more! These two combine their wit and good vibes to bring you an amazing eye opening episode that helps us all learn a little bit more about Shawn and why he's dedicated his life to helping others.

The epic conclusion to the New England Cartel month series finds us in Coach Chartier's personal home office to revisit with Tyson, Connor and up and coming MMA fighter Carlos Lozoya a former Army Ranger with his own story of trials. Watch and listen now as Shawn takes us through the military influence on fighting, outside perspectives, favorite MMA moments and more! The New England elite MMA Team, UFC fighter Connor Matthews, former Army Ranger and highly touted MMA prospect #15 Ranked Flyweight in the US Carlos Lozoya, and MMA Coach of the Year 2020 Tyson Chartier!

Our coverage of the New England Cartel month continues with the #8 ranked UFC featherweight fighter THE BOSTON FINISHER Calvin Kattar! Calvin has been a professional fighter since 2007 with a professional record of 23-7. He is the owner of Combat Zone MMA and as of the date of uploading is set to fight Aljamain Sterling April 13, 2024 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV at UFC 300! We made our way up to Boston to shoot this pod IN the dungeon, the New England Cartel gym in the middle of February. A MUST LISTEN!