Friends… this episode cracked me wide open in the best way.

After taking a full year off the podcast (yes… a whole year), I knew that when I came back, it had to be with someone who could meet me in the raw, the real, and the holy-f***-what-is-my-life moments we all move through. Enter: Samuel Gegen.

If you don't already follow Samuel (@samuelgegen on IG… go do that) 😏, he's one of those people who carries a kind of grounded power that only comes from being completely stripped down by life — and choosing to rise anyway. His story is WILD. One minute he's leading the sales department inside a major corporate role, feeling like he's "made it," and the next… he's being walked out the door with zero warning. Identity gone. Career gone. Safety net? ✨Nonexistent ✨

And instead of letting it break him, he let it build him.

In our conversation, we talked about:

what actually happens in those moments where everything falls apart — the shock, the shame, the ego death, the "who the hell am I now?" spirals — and how those moments become the exact portal into the work you're meant to be doing in the world.

Samuel opens up about rebuilding from scratch, stepping into coaching, trusting his calling (even when it made no logical sense), and learning to hold his own power without external validation. And we riff on all the uncomfortable, beautiful, necessary things that come with choosing the path of entrepreneurship: identity work, confidence, mentorship, sales, calling, clarity, and the truth about what it really takes to build something that feels aligned with your soul.

⚡This one is honest. It's tender. It's surprisingly funny.
And it's a reminder that your biggest breakdowns often become the start of your biggest breakthroughs.

If this episode hits you — and I think it will — come tell me on Instagram @christinebanno. I love hearing what lands for you.

To explore more of Samuel's work (and truly… you should):
Instagram: @samuelgegen
Website: samuelgegen.com

📣 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a 5-star rating and/or a review! It means the world to me and helps more people find the stories that might shift them. xx — CB