Looking for a gym that actually meets you where you are? We sit down with Shay Shulman of HIIT It Fitness, a boutique small group training studio in Mission Viejo, to explore how smart strength, thoughtful conditioning, and a welcoming community help everyday people move better and feel confident. From the first hello, Coach Shay makes it clear: intensity is personal, not punitive, and the goal is lasting health, not quick fixes.

We unpack the most stubborn myths in fitness, including the fear that lifting makes women bulky. Coach Shay explains how building muscle boosts metabolism, supports bone density, improves posture, and protects long-term independence. She shares how HIIT can be scaled for beginners and seasoned athletes alike by adjusting load, tempo, range, and work-to-rest ratios—so you leave energized, not wrecked. You’ll hear why form-first coaching in small groups delivers both motivation and individual attention, and how structured programming turns good intentions into steady progress.

Community sits at the center of this story. Most new members arrive through referrals because people feel seen, supported, and challenged at the right level. Coach Shay talks about the studio’s culture—celebrating small wins, trying new workouts, and joining local races and events—and how her own self-care practices keep coaching fresh and empathetic. We close with practical ways to start: try a free class, check the studio’s Google reviews for real testimonials, and remember that you don’t need to be fit to begin; you begin to get fit.

If you’re in or near Mission Viejo and want strength training that respects your body and time, this conversation is your nudge. Subscribe for more neighbor-led stories, share this with a friend who needs a confidence boost, and leave a review to help others find the show.

What if the advice you keep hearing is true—but only halfway true for you? We sit down with Raquel Veisaga, founder of V-Saga, to explore how personalized coaching cuts through the noise of generic tips and reveals the story you actually want to live. Born from a yoga studio where candid coffee chats turned into real breakthroughs, V-Saga now blends workshops, a supportive app-based community, and direct one-on-one coaching to meet people where they are and move them forward with precision.

Raquel shares why two truths can be valid at the same time and how that nuance gets lost in blanket advice and viral self-help posts. She explains why V-Saga pairs scalable learning with custom onboarding and live access to coaches, ensuring that firefighters, founders, and families get guidance that fits their real constraints. We also dig into her choice to grow through referrals and partnerships instead of funnels and urgency tactics, and why deep change should not be sold with hype. Authentic relationships, strong results, and steady word of mouth have brought V-Saga into large networks, from behavioral health groups to public service departments.

Along the way, we get a glimpse of the person behind the practice—dance, beach reads at Dana Point, and a love of travel and fine dining—and the deeper meaning behind the name V-Saga: V for victorious, the dash for our brief time on earth, and saga for the story we craft on purpose. If you feel trapped in an old storyline of fear and doubt, this conversation offers a path to clarity, confidence, and action that lasts.

Ready to test the fit? Good Neighbor Podcast listeners get a free discovery call to experience V-Saga’s approach firsthand. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to tell us which insight challenged you most.

Looking for a project leader who actually ships? We sit with Constantino Delli of COS 4 Excellence to unpack how he delivers complex initiatives on time and within budget across industries—without the fluff. From Wall Street math to Main Street service, COS blends precision, empathy, and narrative to turn scattered efforts into steady execution.

We break down his two-track model—strategic planning and tactical delivery—and why most projects stumble for the same reasons: weak structure and fuzzy requirements. COS shares the four pillars he uses to change that trajectory: operational excellence to create a reliable engine for work, emotional intelligence so leaders surface risks early and resolve conflict, precision in execution with crisp definitions of done and demo-driven milestones, and empowerment that turns contributors into owners. He explains how clarity of story—what you want to change and why—aligns resources, trims waste, and keeps teams focused on outcomes instead of activity.

COS also opens up about selecting the right clients, working by referral, and guaranteeing results by staying lean and hands-on. We explore his love of complex programs, the value of small, decisive rituals over bloated process, and how personal balance—solitude in nature, poetry, cooking with family—keeps creative judgment sharp. If your roadmap slips, budgets bloat, or meetings outnumber milestones, this conversation offers a simple, durable playbook to regain control and deliver value your customers can feel.

Check out two books by COS by visiting:

creativeoptimumself.org and 48answersformyson.com

Subscribe, share with a teammate who owns a deadline, and leave a review to tell us your biggest project hurdle—we might feature it next time.