THE ONES WHO DARED

Hosted by Svetka

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Episodes

103

Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

THE ONES WHO DARED PODCAST Elevating stories of courage. You can listen to some of the most interesting stories of courage, powerful life lessons, and aha moments. Featuring interviews with leaders, pioneers and people who have done hard things. I hope these stories help pave the path for you to live out your courageous life.

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60 recent

May 3, 20261 hr 7 min

The Woman Before Him: Jim Murphy on Mother’s Influence, Inner Excellence, Samurai Wisdom, & Legacy

Send us Fan MailIn honor of Mother's Day, I’m sharing a conversation that deeply impacted me.This episode was originally created as part of The Women Before Me, a special series for Women’s History Month, where we honor the women whose courage, sacrifice, and strength shaped our lives. I felt compelled to bring it here because of how powerfully it stayed with me, and I believe it will stay with you too.We begin with voice notes from around the world, daughters honoring the women who came before them.Then, I sit down with performance coach and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Murphy, known for his book Inner Excellence.Jim reflects on the profound influence of his Japanese mother, raised with samurai values. She embodied discipline, humility, and deep gratitude even through pain. Her life and passing became foundational to the philosophy Jim now teaches to elite performers around the world.A former professional baseball player, Jim has spent over two decades coaching top athletes, Olympians, CEOs, and championship teams. His work gained global attention when A.J. Brown was seen reading Inner Excellence on the sidelines during the NFL Playoffs, introducing his message to millions.Through his coaching, retreats, writing, and speaking, Jim helps people shift from chasing results to mastering their inner world, where clarity, courage, and lasting joy are built.In this conversation we explore• The 98–2 principle that reframes success and effort • Why our greatest limitation is often our fear of feelings • The BFF framework: Belief, Freedom, Focus • The difference between chasing happiness and living from deep joyJim also shares something publicly for the first time in this interview, a powerful model of the three worlds.This conversation will challenge how you think about achievement, legacy, and what it really means to live an extraordinary life.Link to Jim Murphy innerexcellence.comPre-order his newest book The Best Possible LifeSupport the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/

March 2, 20262 min

Join the new initiative | THE WOMEN BEFORE ME | LAUNCHING ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Send us Fan MailTHE WOMEN BEFORE ME is an International multi generational, and multi-cultural project and upcoming podcast dedicated to honoring the WOMEN who shaped who we became. Mothers. Grandmothers. Aunts. Teachers. Coaches. Mentors and more. Women whose influence continue for generations. This is an invitation to give tribute to a woman in your life and to remind us all that "Our legacy is every life we touch" as Maya Angelou once said.Officially launching on International Women’s Day, the podcast features interviews with recognized leaders, compelling stories, and real-time voicemail tributes submitted by people across the globe. Together, these conversations reveal a shared truth: none of us stand alone. We are all part of a bigger legacy story.Consider this as your invitation to participate:Leave a brief voicemail tribute below honoring the woman who positively impacted your story, for an opportunity to be featured on THE WOMEN BEFORE ME podcast. When you record, please share:Your name and where you are recording fromWho is the woman who came before you, and how did she shape your life?What lessons did she pass down?How does her influence shape the way you live today?Together, let’s create a ripple effect that honors the women before us, reminding us that generations matter, influence matters, and the choices we make echo far beyond ourselves.We can’t wait to listen to your voicemails and hear the story of the woman who left a lasting imprint on your life. Go to Svetkapopov.com and leave us a voice-memo of a woman who made a positive impact on your life.Support the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/

February 17, 202649 min

Why You Feel Stuck (And It’s Not Because You’re Weak) | Trey Tucker

Send us Fan MailWhat if the biggest threat to your future isn’t fear…isn’t failure…but distraction?And what if the reason you feel stuck isn’t laziness but unresolved wounds quietly shaping your identity?Today we sit down with licensed therapist and author Trey Tucker to talk about purpose, trauma, masculinity, and the lie of “not good enough.” This isn’t self-help fluff. It’s practical tools for building real strength, and solid identity.Trey Tucker touches on a few important points.Why chasing happiness makes it harder to find, and what to pursue insteadHow distraction rewires your brain and weakens your sense of purposeThe difference between toughness and true strengthHow EMDR therapy “files” traumatic memories so they stop hijacking your presentWhy “I’m not good enough” is often born from small misinterpreted momentsA practical way to test the stories you tell yourselfHow to build identity through daily evidence instead of feelingsThe distinct role fathers and mothers play in shaping resilienceIf you’ve been busy but not fulfilled… productive but not peaceful… this conversation is for you.Connect with Trey Tucker:www.ruggedcounseling.comSupport the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/

January 16, 20261 hr 0 min

“Can I Create a Different Story Than the One I Was Handed?” Breaking Generational Cycles with Leigh Grames

Send us Fan MailWhat does it actually take to break generational cycles and build a meaningful life you’re proud of?In this episode, I sit down with Leigh Grames, a photographer, mother, and creative who has defied the odds by building a successful business, cultivating a strong family life, and walking through the courageous journey of adoption. Leigh shares her story with honesty and depth, offering insight into what it means to choose resilience, redefine legacy, and live intentionally both personally and professionally.A conversation about non-linear healing, courage, and how people can be both the source of our pain and the path to seeing ourselves differently. We all need at least one person to believe in us.In this episode you will walk away with:A real-life example of how generational patterns can be broken Honest reflections on motherhood, adoption, and choosing purpose over fearPractical wisdom on resilience, self-trust, and rewriting your personal narrativeInspiration to live intentionally and define success on your termsThis episode is for anyone who has ever wondered: “Can I create a different story than the one I was handed?”If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend.Support the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/

December 31, 202517 min

A Reflective Guide To Closing The Year | SVETKA

Send us Fan MailWe pause before the new year to reflect on what the year has been, name its themes, and choose intentions over resolutions. Along with my top books from 2025.Thank you for following along THE ONES WHO DARED podcast. Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!Feel free to share this podcast with a friend or send me a direct text below. Would love to hear from you, your year and your top reads from 2025.Support the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/

December 9, 202516 min

Life will throw you curveballs – cultivate JOY anyway | SVETKA

Send us Fan MailLife will throw you curveballs – create JOY anyway! Consider this your friendly reminder to carve out moments of joy and delight when life feels heavy.Support the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/

November 18, 202516 min

Introducing a new series | THE WOMEN BEFORE ME | Nominate a WOMAN of impact

Send us Fan MailI’m launching a new series called The Women Before Me and I’m looking for women with a story to tell.This is a generational storytelling project designed to celebrate the powerful women who shaped us.Each episode invites a guest to bring forward a woman from their lineage biological or chosen and share who she was, what she taught, the impact she made.These are the stories often told in kitchens, car rides, and the type of stories that rarely make it onto a microphone but leave a lasting impact.This series bridges generations, honors passed down wisdom, and inspires the women to come.It’s not about Not your story… but her story. The mother, grandmother, aunt, mentor, or soul-sister who shaped you. The woman whose courage, lessons, or love still ECHOS in your life today.If there’s a woman you wish the world knew,If there’s a story you’ve carried but never shared,I want to honor her with you.This is your invitation to be a guest on the showTo highlight her name, Share her impact,And inspire the next generation of women who are still becoming.Each episode brings you one woman’s storytold by the person whose life she touched.Not celebrities.Not icons.Just the real heroes: The WomenTo be clear you don’t have to be a woman to nominate, sons, grandsons and men are also encouraged to share about the women who shaped you, and she can still be in your life or passed on. The purpose is to highlight that ONE woman who made the greatest impact in your life. I want to know how, what did she do that stood out, that left a lasting impact.TO NOMINATE A WOMAN IN YOUR go to my instagram sveta_popov and send this DM “The Women”If you do not have instagram go to the description portion of this podcast episode and scroll to the bottom until you see.A like that says “send us a text” click on that and type in “The Women” and tell me why she deserved to be nominated, what I am looking for is What was she like in three words?What lesson from her became part of your DNA?What do you want the world to know about her, and why was she so special to you?Tell me a short story, don’t just say she was a hard worker and taught me to work hard. No show me, take me into the scene of when it happened, how did she teach you to work hard? Captivate me with her character. So that the listeners can be impacted too..Whats one think she did that you thought was dumb, but now you see value as an adult..THIS IS YOUR SHOT TO SHOUT ABOUT HER FROM THE ROOFTOPS!Roday, I want to highlight THE WOMEN who made me: My motherOne unusual thing my mom did which ended up saving my life on more than one occasion.This is actually a chapter I wrote for my book, that may or may not make it into the final manuscript, and my agent may or may not be upset for giving you an early preview.So bear with me as I do the unusual thing and read to you a story that took place in the former Soviet Union. Support the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/

November 11, 202540 min

Is God Speaking While You Sleep? How to Decode the Dreams You’ve Been Ignoring | Paige Collins

Send us Fan MailAre dreams just random thoughts or are they personal invitations from God?In this episode, visionary storyteller Paige Collins, founder of Icon Media Group and author of Awaken Dream Journal: Understanding God’s Voice in Your Dreams, explores how our nighttime visions can become a language of intimacy, direction, and creativity.Paige shares her own moment of awakening the night she heard her own voice asking for interpretation and how that question launched a season of vivid encounters and divine clarity. She explains how to set a nightly tone of peace, record what you see, and interpret your unique dream language through context and prayer.From symbols of movement and water to warnings and promises, Paige unpacks how dreams can guide our choices, fuel creativity, and reconnect us with a God who still speaks.Beyond her work as an author, Paige Collins is a seasoned media strategist, ideator, writer, and publicist with more than 20 years of experience crafting powerful messages that move hearts and minds. She has booked hundreds of television interviews, led publicity campaigns for major films, and produced red-carpet events and press conferences. As a screenwriter, producer, and founder of Honeybee Entertainment, Paige now develops faith-driven stories for film and television that uplift and inspire.If you’ve ever sensed that your dreams were trying to tell you something… maybe they are.Guest links:iconmediagroup.comhoneybeeentertainment.comSupport the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/

November 4, 202559 min

From addiction to impact, and how saying ‘yes’ changed Pat Bradley’s life and millions more.

Send us Fan MailWhat if a single “yes” could reroute your life and bring hope to millions?In this episode, we sit down with Pat Bradley, founder of Crisis Aid International, to trace his unlikely journey from alcoholism and divorce to a global mission feeding the hungry and rescuing girls from trafficking. What began as a broken heart and a yellow post-it note became feeding centers across Africa, trauma-informed safe homes in the U.S., and a model for faith-driven, sustainable aid.Pat shares the night a famine headline sent him halfway around the world with nothing but conviction and the moment a spontaneous rescue in a red-light district grew into a full anti-trafficking network. Along the way, he opens up about failure, reconciliation, and the faith that fuels impossible steps.If you’ve ever felt unqualified, uncertain, or overwhelmed by injustice, this conversation offers a new roadmap: start small, act on compassion, and let provision meet you in motion.Because sometimes, redemption begins where comfort ends and your yes might just lead to the purpose you are searching for.Support the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/

October 28, 202549 min

A Fight, a Funeral, and Building a Future Worth Imitating | Mitchell Osmond

Send us Fan MailA fight at home and a funeral forced Mitchell Osmond to ask a hard question: Is my life worth imitating? From losing his job and carrying $100K in debt to rebuilding his health, marriage, and purpose, Mitch shares the mindset shifts that changed everything.We dive into his “Author’s Advantage” method — writing two eulogies, defining a clear future, and reverse-engineering it into daily action. Along the way, we unpack how self-trust, discipline, and small wins at home can rewrite your entire story.This episode is about choosing your hard on purpose and building a legacy that starts at home and echoes for generations.Support the show-Links-https://www.svetkapopov.com/https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/