In this powerful episode of Momentum Shift, host Antonio sits down with pastor, counselor, and author Justin McNeil for a raw and deeply moving conversation about trauma, grief, faith, and the hidden battles high performers carry beneath the surface. Justin shares the story that changed his life forever, losing his best friend to cancer and spending a decade refusing to grieve. What began as strength slowly turned into panic attacks, emotional numbness, and a crisis of faith. Together, Antonio and Justin unpack what it really means to face pain instead of outrunning it, and how unresolved grief can shape our decisions, relationships, and identity. They explore the powerful framework of the Head, Heart, and Gut, how emotions serve as vital indicators rather than weaknesses, and why true healing doesn’t require losing your edge. Justin opens up about anger toward God, the danger of self-reliance, and the moment he learned that weakness is not failure but the doorway to transformation.INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/antoniovaglicajrhttps://www.instagram.com/momentumshiftpodhttps://www.instagram.com/justincmcneil/CHAPTERS 00:00 - A Rare Temperament & Opening Prayer04:00 - What a Healthy Church Really Looks Like08:00 - Science, Faith, and the Search for Truth12:00 - When My Best Friend Was Diagnosed With Cancer16:00 - Angry at God and Refusing to Grieve20:00 - The Panic Attacks That Changed Everything24:00 - Finding God in Weakness28:00 - Why Emotions Are Not the Enemy32:00 - The Head, Heart, and Gut Framework36:00 - God Is Not Afraid of Your Questions40:00 - When Logic Turns Into Apathy44:00 - Knowing God Through the Heart48:00 - The Therapy Breakthrough Momen52:00 - Making Peace With Past Decisions56:00 - The Difference Between Grace and Excuses1:00:00 - The Gut Signal and Impulse Living1:04:00 - Scarcity, Speed, and Burnout1:08:00 - When Fear Takes Over1:12:00 - Healing Without Losing Your Edge1:16:00 - Father Wounds and Identity1:20:00 - Becoming the Father You Never Had1:24:00 - Choosing Your Hill to Die On1:28:00 - What Success Really Means#MomentumShift #Faith #Grief #EmotionalHealing #TraumaRecovery #ChristianPodcast #MentalHealth #Emotions #Leadership #SpiritualGrowth #Healing #OvercomingAnxiety #PersonalDevelopment #purposedriven #innerwork

In this heart breaking episode, Antonio Vaglica sits down with Chris Welton for a conversation about resilience, grief, and purpose.Chris opens up about being born with one arm due to his mother’s addiction, the moment he realized he was “different,” and the people who helped shape his belief that his story could become his strength. He then shares the heartbreaking loss of his son CJ, what the grieving process really looked like behind closed doors, and how his faith and family helped him move forward without pretending it didn’t hurt.From tragedy to fatherhood again, Chris also breaks down the mindset he calls the “adversity accelerator,” why he intentionally does hard things, and how he built a business around his family instead of building his family around business. This is a real conversation about what it means to keep going, even when life doesn’t make sense. LISTEN ON SPOTIFY 🎙️https://open.spotify.com/show/3yhTKf2Cot9exkajivTPGJ?si=WyQiUDjqQbmXJHKjSEImygINSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/antoniovaglicajrhttps://www.instagram.com/momentumshiftpodhttps://www.instagram.com/onehandatatime/Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@momentumshiftpod_CHRIS’ BOOKhttps://onejordanbook.comCHAPTERS:00:00 – Growing Up Different & Losing Family01:23 – Discovering He Was Born Without an Arm05:19 – Childhood Surrounded by Addiction08:54 – Resentment Toward His Mother10:03 – How Adversity Shaped His Identity10:52 – Losing His Son CJ12:13 – The NICU and Medical Crisis13:43 – Seeing His Son for the First Time15:41 – Making the Hardest Decision of His Life16:29 – Saying Goodbye to His Son18:41 – Finding Peace Through Faith20:09 – Fear of Becoming a Father Again23:11 – His Wife’s Strength in Surgery24:27 – A Family Miracle26:22 – Rebuilding His Relationship with God27:52 – Praying on the Hospital Floor29:21 – Turning Pain into Purpose31:14 – Refusing to Quit01:02:30 – Building a Business Around Family01:04:22 – Saying No to Protect What Matters01:05:23 – Regret From Missing His Older Kids01:09:42 – Losing Everything and Starting Over01:14:01 – Redefining Success01:15:42 – What I’d Say to My Son CJ01:18:12 – Final Reflections & Gratitude#grief #childloss #fatherhood #grievingfather #healingjourney #resilience #overcomingadversity #faithjourney #mentalhealth #traumahealing #lifelessons #personaldevelopment #podcastclips #inspirationalstories #purposedriven

In this episode of Momentum Shift, host Antonio sits down with Simon Lerner for one of the most raw and introspective conversations we’ve had on the show.Born and raised in Russia, Simon moved to the United States at just 12 years old without speaking English. What followed was a collision of cultures, loneliness, rejection, and an early obsession with figuring things out on his own. From showing up to football tryouts with a soccer ball, to hosting his first business event at 19, Simon’s story is a masterclass in resilience, self-education, and momentum built through adversity.Simon opens up about strained family dynamics, resentment toward his father, scarcity-driven motivation, and the internal pressure to prove himself at a young age. We dive into the emotional cost of entrepreneurship, the psychological toll of trading, losing nearly $2 million in crypto, and what it actually takes to rebuild confidence after your worst losses.LISTEN ON SPOTIFY 🎙️https://open.spotify.com/show/3yhTKf2Cot9exkajivTPGJ?si=WyQiUDjqQbmXJHKjSEImygINSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/antoniovaglicajrhttps://www.instagram.com/momentumshiftpodhttps://www.instagram.com/mrsimonlerner/Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@momentumshiftpod_CHAPTERS:00:00 – Growing Up Between Two Worlds03:45 – Moving to America Without Speaking English07:30 – Not Fitting In and Early Culture Shock11:45 – Loneliness, Video Games, and Escaping Reality16:10 – The First Taste of Making Money Online20:30 – Discovering Bitcoin and Early Risk-Taking24:55 – Trading, Investing, and the Illusion of Control29:40 – Losing Millions and Facing Reality34:20 – Scarcity Mindset and Family Resentment39:10 – Push vs Pull Motivation Explained43:30 – Identity, Ego, and Self-Worth48:15 – Why Momentum Matters More Than Motivation52:40 – Building Community When You Feel Alone57:25 – Dropping Out of College and Betting on Yourself1:02:10 – Creating Events and Becoming the Connector1:06:55 – Relationships as a Competitive Advantage1:11:30 – Managing Success, Pressure, and Expectations1:16:10 – Letting Go of Old Identities1:21:00 – What Success Actually Looks Like Now1:26:00 – Final Reflections on Momentum and Life#MomentumShift #SimonLerner #EntrepreneurMindset #PersonalDevelopment #BusinessPodcast #ImmigrantStory #Resilience #TradingPsychology #EntrepreneurLife #SelfGrowth #WealthMindset #CommunityBuilding #HighPerformance #LifeLessons #PodcastClips

On this episode of the Momentum Shift Podcast, host Antonio Vaglica sits down with Zach Cummings, host of The Journey Podcast, for a raw, honest conversation about masculinity, mental health, burnout, success, and what it really means to “stay in the game.”Zach opens up about the pressure men carry in silence, the dark side of hustle culture, emotional numbness, self-sabotage, and why vulnerability might be the most masculine trait there is. From chasing success and external validation to learning how to be present with family, relationships, and faith, this episode dives deep into the conversations most men avoid — but desperately need.INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/antoniovaglicajrhttps://www.instagram.com/momentumshiftpodhttps://www.instagram.com/zacharycummings_Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@momentumshiftpod_CHAPTERS:00:00 – Intro & setting the tone02:15 – Seasonal depression & the New York grind05:10 – Burnout, distraction, and doing “too much”08:30 – Success isn’t as glamorous as it looks12:05 – Staying in the game vs chasing quick wins15:40 – Why most men feel emotionally numb19:10 – Shame, vulnerability, and men’s mental health23:00 – Separating identity from mistakes27:15 – External success vs inner fulfillment31:45 – Wanting more presence, not more achievements36:10 – Family, regret, and learning to slow down40:30 – Why men avoid emotional conversations44:20 – Masculinity, leadership, and vulnerability48:30 – Hustle culture and emotional suppression52:45 – Self-sabotage and fear of being hurt57:10 – What real masculinity actually looks like1:01:30 – Relationships, emotional availability & growth1:06:00 – Staying present while still chasing goals1:10:45 – Final thoughts & momentum mindset#MomentumShiftPodcast #AntonioVaglica #ZachCummings #TheJourneyPodcast #MensMentalHealth #Masculinity #MentalHealthMatters #Burnout #HustleCulture #Vulnerability #EmotionalGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #Mindset #PodcastClips

In this powerful episode, we sit down with DC Banks to unpack a story marked by loss, resilience, faith, and an unrelenting belief that purpose can grow from the darkest places. From bouncing between foster homes, losing the woman he knew as his mother, and watching his father disappear, to battling depression, loneliness, and the crushing weight of feeling unwanted, DC opens up about the moments that nearly broke him—and the God moments that carried him forward. He shares how sports became his escape, how a stranger’s Christmas gift kept him alive, and how the simple mindset of “Just Wait On It” was born out of injury, pain, and a season that could have ended everything. We talk about sleeping in cars, working trash jobs, chasing NFL dreams, showing up at Gymshark headquarters uninvited, and the viral journey that led him from rock bottom to American Ninja Warrior and full-time creator. This conversation is raw, vulnerable, and a reminder that God wastes nothing—not your rejection, not your setbacks, not your suffering. If you’ve ever felt unseen, unchosen, or unsure why God is taking you through what He is, this episode will shift your perspective on identity, purpose, and the quiet way God prepares you long before He reveals the why.INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/antoniovaglicajrhttps://www.instagram.com/momentumshiftpodTik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@momentumshiftpod_CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro00:45 Opening Prayer and Intentions01:30 Meet DC Banks: First Impressions02:33 DC's Foster Care Journey04:42 Challenges in Foster Homes05:15 Finding Acceptance Through Sports07:51 Dealing with Depression and Finding Hope08:32 Football and Aunt Tracy's Influence11:03 Building Confidence and Setting Goals13:32 Faith, Risk, and John 13:715:16 A Life-Changing Move to Arizona16:13 Chasing Dreams Amidst Adversity17:47 From Coaching to Couch-Surfing20:46 Hustling Through Hard Jobs23:38 American Ninja Warrior: The Breakthrough24:42 Staying Faithful in Tough Times25:51 The Origin of "Wait On It"28:38 Vulnerability and Sharing Your Story31:01 Chasing the NFL Dream35:30 New Motivation, Legacy and Giving Back38:38 Persistence in Creating Opportunities41:48 Aunt Tracy's Impact43:41 Life and Goals in St. Pete44:44 Entering a New Chapter46:38 Advice to Younger Self47:35 Content Creator Advice: Consistency and Authenticity51:00 Making It in Content Creation53:01 Final Thoughts, Gratitude, and Wrap Up#JustWaitOnIt #FaithJourney #Testimony #ChristianPodcast #FosterCare #Adversity #Godsplan #AmericanNinjaWarrior #Motivation #PurposeDriven #MomentumShift #PainToPurpose #Inspiration #TrustGod #faith

Raj Dua opens up about losing over $2,000,000 in a massive investment scam and how that devastating loss became the foundation for rebuilding his faith, his mindset, and his business — stronger than ever before. From growing up in a Christian home to navigating pride, betrayal, forgiveness, and entrepreneurship, this conversation reveals the emotional and practical lessons that reshaped Raj’s life and leadership. We dive into what real stewardship looks like, how founders must invest in themselves first, and why sustainable business scaling beats chasing fast money. Raj breaks down the dangers of “passive income” traps, the truth about hiring A-players vs B-players, how to rebuild after financial loss, and the mindset needed to operate at a high level without burning out.INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/antoniovaglicajrhttps://www.instagram.com/momentumshiftpodhttps://www.instagram.com/rajdua_Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@momentumshiftpod_CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Prayer & introduction to Raj Dua02:10 – Growing up Christian & early mindset around success05:30 – Pride, achievement & hitting a breaking point in college09:15 – Discovering faith during failure12:40 – Building his first businesses15:10 – The $2,000,000 investment scam revealed20:30 – Realizing it was all gone23:50 – Carrying the weight of family & friends losing money27:10 – The struggle to forgive31:40 – Why forgiveness changed his future35:00 – Rebuilding without fear38:25 – Shifting from chasing money to creating value41:20 – Why investing in yourself is the highest ROI45:10 – The danger of “passive income” thinking48:50 – Hiring A-players vs B-players52:30 – Leadership accountability & delegation56:20 – Over-systemizing businesses (what he learned)59:20 – Travel lifestyle while scaling companies1:03:10 – Preparing for fatherhood & redefining success1:07:20 – Sustainable scaling vs fast growth1:10:30 – Final mindset lessons & encouragement#EntrepreneurPodcast #RajDua #FaithAndBusiness #MillionDollarLesson #MindsetShift #BusinessMotivation

In this unfiltered episode, Austin Medlin opens up about the divorce that completely dismantled him and ultimately rebuilt his entire life. From years of quiet panic attacks, sleeping on the couch, drinking himself numb, losing his identity, and carrying the pressure to hold everything together, Austin shares the truth behind the relationship that slowly broke him down piece by piece. He talks about the lies we tell ourselves to stay comfortable and the painful process of rebuilding confidence, purpose, and self-worth from the ground up. This conversation dives deep into toxic patterns, emotional resilience, masculine responsibility, checking in with yourself, and how letting go of the wrong thing can be the exact breakthrough you’ve been praying for. If you’ve ever felt trapped, anxious, disconnected from yourself, or afraid to walk away from something that’s destroying you, this episode will challenge you, encourage you, and show you what it really looks like to take your life back.INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/antoniovaglicajrhttps://www.instagram.com/momentumshiftpodhttps://www.instagram.com/theaustinmedlin/Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@momentumshiftpod_CHAPTERS:00:00 – The Boys Are Back (Intro & Austin’s Highlight Reel)01:10 – The “Darkness” Behind the Flex03:00 – Inflection Point #1: Parents’ Divorce at 1205:30 – Inflection Point #2: Losing His College Girlfriend09:00 – Inflection Point #3: DUI, Jail & the Wake-Up Call12:30 – Toxic Marriage, Jack Daniels & Panic Attacks17:30 – “I’m Done” – Walking Out & Never Looking Back21:30 – Isolation, Losing Friends & The Power of the Boys25:30 – The 9-Year-Old Inner Child & Rebuilding Identity30:30 – Quitting $40K/Month & Starting From Scratch36:00 – Seasons of Discipline, Partying & Flipping the Switch43:00 – Caffeine, White Monsters & Health Consequences49:00 – 12 Meetings a Day & Why He Doesn’t Burn Out56:00 – Parents, Phone Calls & Redefining Family Time01:07:00 – Social Media, Comparison & Being Happy Alone (Closing)#DivorceRecovery #MensMentalHealth #RebuildingYourLife #PersonalGrowth #SelfWorth #EmotionalHealing #ToxicRelationships #BreakthroughMoments #MasculineLeadership #OvercomingAnxiety #LifeReset #HealingJourney #LettingGo #InnerStrength #NewBeginnings

In this eye opening episode, we expose the silent battles most people never talk about. Burnout, performance addiction, self-protection, and the fear of never being “enough.” Justin Saunders joins us to talk honestly about relationships, biblical masculinity and femininity, identity beyond money and metrics, and why real healing requires surrender instead of control. Through personal stories of trauma, unworthiness, and learning how to be loved, we unpack how God transforms the exact areas we try hardest to hide. Whether you’re a leader, a believer, or someone desperately trying to fix what still feels broken… this conversation will challenge how you see yourself, how you show up in love, and why freedom only comes when you let God into everything

INSTAGRAM

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https://www.instagram.com/momentumshiftpod

https://www.instagram.com/justinjaysaunders/

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@momentumshiftpod_

CHAPTERS:

#ChristianPodcast #JustinSaunders #FaithOverFear #God #Healing #Breakthrough #ChristianRelationships #PurposeOverPerformance #MenOfGod #Godsplan #HolySpirit #HurtToHealing #LetGo #faith #HealingJourney