Podcast
Back2Basics: Reconnecting to the essence of YOU
Hosted by Leticia Latino, Leticia Latino van splunteren, leticia latino-van Splunteren · EN
We spend our hours ‘connected,’ but we’re drifting away from real human connection. Especially to ourselves. Join host Leticia Latino and her inspiring guests in exploring ways to reconnect to your essence, to your definite purpose, to what makes you TICK. Are you ready?”
21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
E335: Bernard Borghei - Courage, Connectivity and the Songs within
2w ago00:48:19Tap to summarizeDOWNLOAD "BREAKING MY ALLEGIANCE" by Bernard Borghei on your favorite APP or go to: Breaking My Allegiance - Single - Album by Bernard Borghei - Apple Music Learn more about Bernard at: Bernard Borghei | LinkedIn Episode Highlights From Tehran to Philadelphia: A Teenager’s Escape from Revolution At just 12 years old, Bernard witnessed the Iranian Revolution up close. His family lost everything—their home, savings, and even his Star Wars toys were confiscated. By 13, he was fleeing across Europe, eventually finding asylum in the U.S. thanks to policy changes under the Reagan administration. The Immigrant’s Fire: Why Hunger Beats Talent Bernard shares how working in pizza shops to pay for college while never attending a single basketball game or spring break fueled his relentless drive. His biggest fear? That his own children would have to experience the same survival mode he did. A Forgotten Iran: When Faith United, Not Divided Before the revolution, Iran was a secular, democratic society where Christians, Muslims, and Jewish Persians celebrated each other’s holidays. Bernard recalls watching the Israeli national soccer team play in Tehran—proof that the region once thrived on coexistence. The Music That Saved Him (And the Record Exec Who Said No) Music was therapy for Bernard. He taught himself guitar on a left-handed Fender, wrote 22 songs, and almost got signed by Polygram—until an A&R guy told him, “I can’t sell this face to the MTV generation.” Instead of giving up, he kept playing on weekends for decades. Breaking My Allegiance: A Song Against Weaponized Faith Bernard’s first official single, releasing this Friday, is a rock anthem born from his experience with the Iranian regime. It’s not against faith—it’s against using religion to justify oppression. The song’s message: *“If that’s what your religion is, I’m breaking my allegiance.”* The Immigrant’s Oath: Integrate, Follow Rules, Be Grateful Bernard offers a powerful perspective on immigration: he never hid his roots, but he worked tirelessly to learn English, pay taxes, and contribute. His advice to new immigrants? “If you want to chase a better life, respect what this country has to offer.” Show Notes 2:35 🇮🇷 Bernard’s childhood in Tehran – close to the Shah’s family 5:21 🗽 Ronald Reagan’s policy change allowed Iranian refugees like Bernard into the U.S. 7:44 🍕 Working in pizza shops and restaurants to pay for college 10:39 🇺🇸 “This is still the greatest country on Earth” 12:35 ✡️✝️☪️ Remembering a secular Iran where all faiths coexisted 14:31 ⚽ Iran was the only Middle Eastern country that would play soccer against Israel| 18:20 🧠 Defining ingredients of success: hunger, fire, and learning from mentors 23:40 🎸 Music as therapy – unwinding from the harsh realities of life 25:58 🎸🎸 Bernard is left-handed – finding a left-handed guitar was nearly impossible 26:58 💰 His dad bought him his first Fender; Bernard paid for $20/hr lessons himself 30:20 🎤 Polygram A&R guy loved his voice 32:25 🎸 Bernard never stopped playing – weekends recording for decades 34:48 🛐 His song stands up to the weaponization of faith 37:36 🗳️ Democracy is fragile – vote, stay involved, don’t be complacent 40:08 🧳 Bernard’s advice to immigrants: integrate, learn the language, follow the rules 44:37 ❤️ What keeps him centered? Family. He prays only for health and togetherness. Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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E334: Scott Parker - For the Love of the Game
2w ago00:34:57Tap to summarizeLearn more about Scott at : https://www.instagram.com/baseballsunlikely/ Show Notes ⚾ [03:14] First game in 1973: Angels vs. Dodgers with Aunt Elva 🎸 [03:56] Discovering KISS's Destroyer: "If they can do this, why can't I?" 🏢 [05:38] Almost signed to Geffen Records: "Timing is everything" 🎬 [06:35] Reinventing himself as an online editor after the band dissolved 📺 [07:45] Coloring *Naked and Afraid* for nearly 40 years ✍️ [09:56] The 40-year passion project: Collecting baseball clippings since the early 90s 👨💼 [16:10] The persistent friend Rusty: "How's your book coming?" 🚿 [20:36] Best story titles come from the shower 🤖 [22:00] AI hallucinations: Baseball history is too complicated for AI to get right 📚 [25:08] Book structure: No chapters, organized like a baseball game 🎬 [27:50] Favorite baseball movies 🎬 [30:11] Meeting Mike Myers and Farrah Fawcett in Hollywood 📈 [32:23] About 50 new stories per year—keeping the series alive Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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E333: Howard Langer- Rediscovering the writer within
2w ago00:30:46Tap to summarizeLearn more about Howard at: https://howardlanger.com/ Show notes: Show Notes ⚖️ [02:22] Reading biographies of famous lawyers as a child 💼 [05:42] Feeling "utterly astonished" and comfortable in the courtroom ⚖️ [07:24] Ronald Dworkin on the contingent fee: "Feel good and make money" 📖 [10:05] The failed attempts before finding the story ❓ [11:08] Writing without knowing: Discovering the rabbi's journey day by day 🎭 [12:44] Fiddler on the Roof's romanticized view vs. harsh reality 💬 [17:05] Reader feedback: A woman broke down crying reading the book 🛑 [19:21] "I can't give prayers of praise to God—He's broken trust with me" 🚗 [26:10] The accident at 63: Coma for weeks, both legs badly broken 🎶 [29:41] What makes Howard tick: Playing banjo (took it up late in life) Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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E332: Peter Mclaughlin- Healing the Hidden wound
3w ago00:57:34Tap to summarizeLearn More about Peter at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petertmclaughlin/ and his work at : https://blueskyhypnosis.com Follow him on Social Media: Twitter: https://x.com/PetMcLaughlin IG: https://www.instagram.com/thepetermclaughlin/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueSkyHypnosis Show Notes 👴 [02:02] Young Peter and his visionary grandfather 🦓 [03:57] The danger of standing out 🎭 [06:57] The Truman Show & Plato's Cave: Horrifying and exciting at the same time 👨👧 [09:17] Parenthood as the true rite of passage 🚒 [11:35] Volunteer firefighting: 75% of US firefighters are volunteers 🕯️ [16:33] The maze training: Two spirits meeting in the dark, panic dissolving 🩸 [19:24] The diagnosis of Leukemia in 2003 🧘 [23:38] The tipping point: Small nudges building until the moment of "yes" ✨ [27:16] The Law of Correspondence: "As within, so without" 🔥 [30:22] Outsized anger as an invitation to trace back to the wound 🧠 [33:27] Triggers as firearm mechanisms: One small pressure, huge reaction 🚗 [35:35] Hijacked by fight or flight: Great for lions, terrible for relationships 💰 [38:57] Money blocks: Subconsciously pushing away what you consciously want 👨👧 [40:43] Past life example: Wife was his daughter in a previous lifetime 📺 [42:29] Blue Sky Hypnosis: 127k subscribers, 70M+ views 🕯️ [44:23] Wrestling with faith: Catholic, Methodist, and the fear of not being accepted ⛪ [50:10] The woman hurt by church scandals: This work brought her back 💔 [53:23] You are not broken, you are wounded: A car with a failed part isn't worthless Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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E331: Rand Selig: Be the Author of your own Story
May 400:45:10Tap to summarizeLearn more about Rand at: https://randselig.com https://www.facebook.com/randselig https://youtube.com/randselig https://linkedin.com/in/randselig Show Notes 📐 [03:42] The intentional choice: Being an excellent student 🧮 [05:30] Math tutoring: Watching students go from "I hate math" to "math is fun" 💔 [09:04] The difficult relationship with his father and healing in his 40s ❤️ [13:58] The most important relationship you'll ever have is with yourself 🌍 [17:11] Two worlds: Doing vs. Being – and why starting with Being changes everything ⚖️ [20:18] Balance vs. Integration: Why integration is more powerful than balance 🙏 [23:58] Spirituality defined: Being in awe + being humble 📖 [27:28] The appendix: 75 paragraphs on books that impacted Rand 🌎 [30:14] Thriving in the world: Service, philanthropy, and caring for Mother Earth 🧘 [34:21] Intuition + Rationality: The analytical process, then listening to intuition 💚 [37:15] Self-care: A list of physical, social, and emotional practices 🔬 [40:46] Life as a series of experiments: Some work, some don't, some need tweaking Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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E330: Debbie Ausburn - Protecting Other People's Children
Apr 2000:35:40Tap to summarizeLearn more about Debbie at: https://www.ysoacademy.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/other-people’s-children-llc https://www.pinterest.at/OtherPeoplesChildren/ Buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Other-Peoples-Children-Strong/dp/1961293080 Show Notes 👨👩👧 [02:06] Debbie grew up in youth ministry and helping "at-risk kids" 📚 [05:16] The book journey: From foster parenting to defending youth organizations 📝 [07:21] Early warning signs: When organizations get overwhelmed 🔍 [09:37] Moving from policy-on-paper to a living part of your culture ⚠️ [12:48] Hard truths: Grooming happens, and it's hard to recognize ❤️ [14:20] The dilemma: Healthy mentoring relationships are incredibly valuable 📱 [18:57] Online safety: Predators go where the kids are 📊 [22:44] Stranger abduction is rare; online grooming is the real danger 👧 [25:39] Child-on-child abuse happens more often than adult-on-child 📋 [27:23] The worst thing: A policy you don't actually apply 💪 [28:09] Parent advice: Let your kids learn how to fail safely 🧠 [33:18] Kids usually tell the truth; adults corrupt memories with leading questions ❤️ [37:41] What makes Debbie tick: Working with passionate people on the front lines Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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E329: Rodney Eric Lopez - Cultural Fluency, When you don't speak the language, but you still belong!
Apr 900:40:27Tap to summarizeLearn more about Rodney at: https://www.rodneyericlopez.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-eric-lopez/ https://www.instagram.com/rodneyericlopez/ Show Notes 🗽 [02:06] Rodney’s origin story: Born and raised in the Bronx, Puerto Rican roots 💃 [05:27] The pivot: Meeting a professional salsa dancer and discovering a missing piece 👪 [07:13] "So He Won't Understand": Spanish used as a barrier, not an invitation 📖 [08:30] Salsa as cultural fluency: A different kind of language 👨👧 [12:08] Becoming a parent: Finding empathy for his parents' choices 📡 [16:05] Transmitting culture and language to another generation. ⚾ [20:24] The World Baseball Classic: Italian-Americans playing for Italy, Venezuelan pride 🤝 [25:52] What dance teaches: Confidence, connection, empathy, and humanity 🕺 [29:04] The life skill: Dance as something that stays with you forever 💰 [32:47] Letting go of money shame through giving 📚 [36:50] Sparking dinner table conversations about language, culture, and belonging 🧠 [38:50] What makes Rodney tick: Learning something new every day Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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E328: Lori Kingsley - Mastering your Craft
Apr 600:43:42Tap to summarizeLearn more about Lori at: https://www.sweetlifebylori.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Sweetlifebylori/ https://www.tiktok.com/@sweetlifebylori https://www.instagram.com/sweetlifebylori/ Show Notes 👔 [01:48] Lori's origin story: Growing up with her dad in the Garment Center 🧥 [04:18] Being her father's model: Learning fit, silhouettes, and collars 🗽 [08:55] The magic of Manhattan: Street fashion, theater, and inspiration 🎨 [10:03] The Donna Karan internship: Witnessing a master at work 💄 [13:36] Transition to beauty industry and medical-grade skincare 💔 [16:27] The wake-up call: Life is short, do not wait to chase your dreams. 🍫 [18:06] Chocolate as a way to make life sweeter 🎁 [20:42] A homemade gift sparks a business 🤲 [23:17] Acts of kindness that cost nothing 🎨 [25:10] The pivot to resin art: Creating everlasting beauty instead of edible art 📚 [27:06] YouTube as a classroom, failing often, and learning by doing 💔 [30:36] The pain of regret is worse than the pain of failure 🔄 [33:43] Start small: You don't have to quit your job to pursue your dream 🏆 [37:29] What's next: Resin art, website launch, and partnership with Code Blue Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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E327: Allison Maslan - Learning by Doing
Mar 2700:38:37Tap to summarizeLearn more about Allison at: https://www.facebook.com/PinnacleGlobalNetwork and follow her instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleglobalnetwork/?hl=en Show Notes 👔 [02:04] Family roots: Father's entrepreneurial journey and grandfather's clothing stores 📈 [04:09] Evolution to a full-service advertising & PR firm with clients like Ben & Jerry's 😱 [08:12[ Learning to face conflict: The lost photo slides and missing greeting cards 🔄 [10:38[ Knowing when to pivot: Following passion, not just market trends 🚧 [12:42[ The #1 blocker for scaling: Creatures of habit and letting go 👑 [14:58[ The visionary's role: Getting out of the weeds to lead 🤝 [17:10[ How Pinnacle Global Network works: 1-on-1 mentor matching and global community 📖 [19:41[ Scale or Fail: The book and the "Scale It Method" (5 pillars of scaling) 💥 [23:20[ The wake-up call: Burnout, car accident, and learning to ask for help 💪 [25:26[ Being your own cheerleader: Ignoring the naysayers and projecting fear 💑 [28:14[ Intentional partnership: Marrying another entrepreneur who understands freedom 📱 [31:48[ Match.com origin story: Finding her soulmate 21 years ago 🎪 [35:52] What makes Alison tick: 25+ years as a trapeze artist Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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E326: Alex Fredericks - Follow your Bliss
Mar 2000:45:21Tap to summarizeLearn More about Alex at and tonewell at: https://tonewell.co/ Follow him at: https://www.instagram.com/tone.wellco/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582953692411 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexfredericks/ Show Notes 🗽 [01:55] Alex's origin story: Repeating third grade and learning to pay attention 🎵 [03:13] How music helped him:18 years in the music business 🧴 [05:19] Translating artist DNA into physical goods 🧠 [08:09] Dyslexia explained: Thinking in shapes, colors, and pictures 🤵 [11:30] Music industry myth-busting: The wedding band that owns his house vs. the star locked in a hotel room 💡 [15:23] Artist vs. Suit: Bono can't change his image, but Elton John dressed as Donald Duck 📈 [17:43] What is a Growth Engineer: Strategy meets science 🤔 [23:32] Knowing when to pivot: The bell rings once—answer it or miss your chance 📊 [26:38] Eliminating the "no's" until only "yes" remains 📣 [29:00] The science: Your voice broadcasts your nervous system and physiology 🎯 [32:10] Intention vs. Attention: Aligning them to create change 📱 [35:31] How ToneWell works: 30 seconds, SMS, cloud analysis, instant report 💪 [42:05] What makes Alex tick: Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the non-negotiable hour Please leave a review or send us a Voice note letting us know what you enjoyed at:Back2Basics reconnecting to the essence of YOU (podpage.com)Follow us on IG and FB @Back2BasicsPodcast
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