Wake Up The Sun

Hosted by Matthew Williams

Business Health Fitness Education

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Episodes

197

Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

A podcast devoted to the different ways in which inspiring and successful people build routine, ritual, and consistency in their lives.

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60 recent

September 29, 202655 min

Helen Lipson: When the pain becomes great enough.....you walk through it

I first knew of Helen many years ago because we grew up in the same small town area in the suburbs of New York. Years later, we connected here in South Florida through mutual friends in recovery. One of the things I find most interesting about Helen is that she got sober at a very young age. She had to navigate a challenging time in life when most people her age were out partying and doing what “regular” late teens and early 20-somethings do. Her path looked very different, and she had to learn early on how to build a life around her recovery while watching the world around her experience life in a very different way. We sat down and talked about her childhood and history in New York, what it was like growing up there, and what it meant to experience college sober and feel different from many of her peers. For someone who once thought she would never leave the Northeast, the pandemic had other plans. She eventually found herself in South Florida, married, and unsure of what Florida would become for her. As she put it, “One of the hardest things to do is leave the comfort and familiarity of the connections and routine that were already established to move down here.” It took time for her to find her people, establish new routines, and truly feel at home. And during that process, she was also navigating a divorce. Through it all, Helen was able to rely on the foundation she had built through recovery and the strength of her community. She walked through that chapter the same way she had approached so many challenges since getting sober at a young age with resilience, honesty and one day at a time. Today, Helen is living a life she has intentionally designed for herself. She is an avid water woman who loves the ocean and wants to stay as close to the water as possible. She couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, and she has built quite a life for herself here. Her routine, work ethic, appreciation for the little things, and genuine enjoyment of life are a testament to what recovery can make possible. Helen’s story is not simply about getting sober young or making it through difficult chapters. It’s about continuing to grow, finding community, creating a life that feels authentic, and learning to embrace where life takes you.

May 27, 20261 hr 16 min

Rich Woodruff: On and Off the Court now embracing the biggest opponent of his life: Parkinsons

I met Rich around 2015 when I left coaching group fitness and moved my book of business to Impact Sports Performance in Central Boca. At the time, he was the head of the facility and coach to many up-and-coming tennis superstars. Early on, we butted heads a bit as we were both early risers, and he was used to being one of the only people in the gym at that hour. What started as tension eventually turned into a genuine respect for each other’s work ethic, business mindset, and the effort it took to show up every single day. We worked alongside each other for several years, sharing that huge training space and watching countless athletes and coaches come and go. When I eventually opened my own facility, Rich couldn’t have been more supportive. We stayed connected through social media, and one day while watching the US Open, the broadcast cut to the athletes’ training box. Sitting there stoically, locked into the match, was Rich. His athlete was battling for a spot in the finals. I snapped a photo and sent it to him with a quick message: “Congrats, man. So cool to see.” A few hours later he replied briefly as they were still on the road chasing a championship. Over the years, I continued asking him to come on the show, but it never quite materialized. Then, a couple months into 2026, he released a public video sharing his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. I watched the video several times and reached out to offer my support and appreciation for his honesty and vulnerability. Not long after, he agreed to come on the show. He explained that for years he simply wasn’t ready to sit down and openly talk about coaching, sports, or life because he was privately carrying the weight of the diagnosis while trying to hide it from the world. It was exhausting. When he arrived for the interview, he was completely himself. We sat down, went over the usual guidelines; open book, nothing off limits and started talking. He shared incredible stories from years of coaching at the highest international levels of tennis and reflected on the experiences and pressures that came with it. Most importantly, he opened up honestly about living with Parkinson’s. His physical challenges, the emotional toll and the journey toward acceptance. It became one of the most heartfelt, honest, and vulnerable conversations I’ve had on the show and I truly hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed having it.

May 6, 202652 min

Juliet Warner: To Hell and and Back. Sobriety, Motherhood and Leaning into Recovering out Loud

I met Juliet years ago in the sober community. She’s always been a mix of sweet, feisty, and unapologetically blunt. We shared a lot of the same circles: mutual friends, events, weddings, fellowship halls, even the gym. Life kept unfolding, and over the years we’d cross paths here and there. Like many relationships, ours had its ups and downs. Misunderstandings eventually led to a break in communication. Still, whenever we ran into each other, it was always cordial. At the end of the day, there was never ill will, just the quiet understanding of how hard it is to watch someone struggle, especially with something as unforgiving as addiction. From the outside, Juliet’s life looked full: beautiful family, meaningful relationships, travel, fitness. But underneath, she describes it as pure hell. There was a constant effort to hold everything together on the surface while battling untreated alcoholism and addiction behind the scenes. After years of talking about doing a podcast, we finally sat down and had the conversation. Over the past several months, Juliet has fully committed herself to change building a relationship with God, working on how she responds to life, helping other women, and sharing her journey publicly. What started on TikTok quickly grew onto Instagram, where her platform has taken off. She opens up about everything: addiction, recovery, marriage, motherhood, family, and the reality of putting your life out there inviting both support and criticism. She’s also been intentional about navigating what to share, making sure to protect her children and respect her family while still being honest. This conversation gave us the chance to clear the air, revisit old misunderstandings, and acknowledge that sometimes outside voices can complicate things. We talked about boundaries, growth, and perspective but most importantly, about how sobriety and active recovery have transformed our lives and the lives of those around us. I’m grateful we finally had this conversation. Please enjoy the episode. If you’d like to connect or have questions, you can reach Juliet on Instagram @thejulietsocial.

April 21, 202648 min

Dan Bergeron: Healthy Habit Guy

I met Dan at one of the community workouts down here in South Florida, and it didn’t take long to realize he’s an absolute fitness machine. We’d chatted a bit here and there, but after seeing the way he shares his content and shows up for the fitness community, it felt like the perfect time to bring him on the show. During our conversation, we unexpectedly connected over time spent in the Northeast, especially Vermont when Dan dropped a wild coincidence: he was actually a former student of my older brother, Dr. Rob Williams, a past guest of the Wake Up the Sun Show. Dan and I dove into fitness trends, why so many people struggle to stay consistent, and what really gets in the way of living an active lifestyle. We also spoke about the importance of following your passions even when the people around you might not get it or might think it’s a little “cringey.” What started as Dan’s personal fitness journey in the Northeast, then took him through the Midwest, eventually led him to South Florida just over a year ago. Since then, he’s been experimenting, finding what works, and sharing that journey online to help others do the same. That authenticity has resonated, his routines have caught on, and people are starting to follow his lead. Dan keeps it simple: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. You can find him on Instagram @healthyhabitguy. We hope you enjoy the show!

April 7, 20261 hr 15 min

Duke Gomez: I say what everyone else is thinking

I met Duke earlier this year after a buddy introduced us at a 5:15am workout. What started as me challenging him to actually show up turned into meeting one of the most viral, in-your-face personalities on social media. At first, it was all brutal ball-busting with nonstop jokes and getting roasted, but as I got to know him, I saw the guy behind the camera. He’s someone who speaks his mind without hesitation, and his story of building a platform is nothing short of incredible. Duke grew up in the Northeast in a blue-collar area, like most young guys just trying to figure out what he loved. He worked at a bagel shop, spent time working for his buddy’s asphalt company, and rode dirt bikes and motocross whenever he could. His family was incredibly supportive, always making sure he and his brother stayed involved in things that brought them joy. When the world shut down during COVID, Duke turned the camera on himself. He started sharing his unfiltered thoughts, unsolicited opinions, and commentary on everything from everyday life to bigger societal issues. His accounts on TikTok and Instagram exploded, only to be banned and taken down for what was labeled as “inappropriate content.” Like anyone would be, he was pissed. Something he worked hard to build was gone overnight. He stepped away for a few months, then came back six months later and started from scratch. This time, he blended his strong opinions with apparel he invested everything into, while continuing to share his passion for motocross. He rebuilt his platform from the ground up. As his following grew, so did the opportunities; cameos, paid content, and people literally paying him to roast their friends all while he continued working regular jobs on the side. One of his biggest takeaways: become so obsessed with what you’re doing that it looks crazy to everyone else. His content never slowed down whether it was raw reactions, sharp commentary, or simple facial expressions to some of the wildest videos online. One of his earliest viral moments came from a t-shirt that read “BRING BACK BULLYING,” sparking both massive support and intense backlash. “At first, it bothered me how many people hated me and the constant negativity in the comments,” he said. But he pushed through it. What stood out most was getting to know the real person behind the persona. He’s grounded, values family, cuts through the noise, and is focused on giving back especially helping young motocross riders gain recognition and get paid for their work. This episode had me laughing the entire time. It’s real, unfiltered, and full of perspective. We hope you enjoy the show. Follow him on Instagram: @dukegomez7 @dukegomezbackup2.0 @thisgensucks @motofestusa

February 18, 202643 min

Peter Bilbo: When you've got no other choice but to burn the boats

I met Peter in 2013 playing poker at a mutual friends house in sobriety. It's funny when you meet people at one point in their life and then watch as everything unfold for the better. What started out as a craigslist opportunity in the boating world sparked a greater dream of working and building "quite literally" a massive marine and seaside construction business. Peter, got sober and moved down to south florida to start over. His first job was a bike ride away from his sober living and he began working at a boat yard and observed detailing companies coming in and out making everything look nice. While he was very appreciative of the work opportunity he had always been entrepreneurial and thought, Hey, I can do that and do it better. He began biking up and down the coast passing out fliers and notes for opportunities for several months with only a couple of clients. One afternoon he told his boss that he was going to pursue it full time and had to give it all of his attention if was going to work and took one of the biggest risks. What happened then was nothing short of miraculous and you'll have to tune in to hear how everything played out. The company is called Seaside Marine Construction; At their core, they value God, Family, and Friends, and we bring that commitment to every marine construction project. They work hard to create exceptional waterfront experiences, specializing in seawalls, docks, and boat lifts, with safety, quality, and longevity at heart. If you are in need of their services please reach out through the website https://seasidemarineconstruction.com/ Peters life is one that could be a movie. He got sober, found his passion that fuels his dream to build and help others, married an amazing woman, had two beautiful twin baby girls and employs people that are looking for their second chance. I was blessed with the opportunity to sit down and record this story as it's one of my favorites. If you are looking for work, some inspiration or just a nice guy to help maybe point you in the right direction then look no further and we hope you enjoy the show!

February 10, 202642 min

Matthew Bocchi: When tragedy strikes and changes the course of your entire existence

I met Matt last year through a mutual friend and sober brother in NYC. We had crossed paths in the community but never formally sat down or conversed until we met up for coffee and connected on sobriety, life and all things health and wellness. We know a lot of the same people, attend similar fellowships and connected on our intensity and love of living a sober lifestyle. I learned that Matt is an author and speaker who discusses the transformative power of vulnerability in overcoming personal struggles, particularly those involving loss, trauma, and addiction. He speaks at schools and other events nationwide. He gained recognition for his best-selling memoir, Sway —the first story told by a child of 9/11. In the book, he shares his journey of overcoming various struggles, including losing his father on 9/11, addiction, and trauma. Matt also talks about his experiences with mental health challenges, such as depression and PTSD, and his path toward healing and recovery. With over ten years of sobriety, Matt now shares his personal story to inspire others to speak up and seek support for their mental health issues, trauma, and addiction. His advocacy work emphasizes the importance of reducing the stigma of addiction and mental health. Matt’s purpose is to impact at least one life each time he shares his story and to be “a voice” for those still suffering. What started as a casual conversation ended up being a great connection and brotherhood. If you or someone you know is struggling please don't hesitate to reach out at https://www.matthewjohnbocchi.com/ . We hope you enjoy the show and have a most triumphant day!

February 3, 202656 min

Brooke Boles: When you lose everything, Just move forward

I met Brooke several years ago when we were performing on stage at an event. She was outgoing, all smiles and very engaging. We happened to see her daughter Ava perform as well with her band. What began as a fun night continued into a working relationship of playing music, training in the summer for overall health and wellness and supporting each other in business endeavors. Brooke Boles is a Boca Raton luxury real estate advisor, marketing strategist, TV host, and keynote speaker recognized for guiding clients through some of life’s most significant financial and personal transitions with clarity, care and precision. A Real Trends Verified Top 1.5% agent, President’s Elite Winner with over $39M in closings to date and $18M+ in 2025, her work is rooted in integrity, empathy and concierge-level guidance supporting clients step into their next chapter. Whether navigating divorce, loss, downsizing, or an exciting new beginning, keeping clients calm, supported and stress free remains her priority. Working with Brooke feels like watching your home step onto the red carpet, beautifully prepared, expertly staged, showcased through global media and a strategic marketing plan designed to achieve momentum and maximum value. It's been awesome to watch Brooke overcome some serious challenges personally and professionally. We had a special guest jump on in the middle of the podcast to share her goals and aspirations professionally and musically as well. I hope you enjoy the show!

January 14, 202652 min

Matthew Steinberg: VP of Ideal Nutrition. When the Brand becomes more than the Food

I met Matt years ago when Ideal Nutrition was just getting started. At the time, they had a single location in West Palm Beach offering healthy, grab-and-go meal packages designed to make eating well easier. We talked about potential partnerships between FROPRO and Ideal Nutrition and I was grateful for the opportunity to have our products sold and shared with the West Palm community. What began as one store and a small kitchen quickly evolved into something much bigger—a large production facility, multiple store locations, and even a fleet of delivery vehicles connecting the community with healthy, high-quality, and fairly priced food options. Before entrepreneurship, Matt spent many years serving the West Palm community in law enforcement. One of the young men who came to train and work with him shared a passion for healthy eating, and as Matt’s time as a public servant came to an end, he and Wolfgang began working together to grow and enhance Ideal Nutrition. In a crowded space with plenty of competition, they knew they had something special that other brands couldn’t quite replicate. Their brick-and-mortar locations quickly became more than just places to pick up meals—they became spaces where people could walk in, ask questions, and get real, practical guidance about their food choices. It wasn’t just about the food; it was about the connection and the time spent with the people they served. Matt and I talked about his transition from public servant to entrepreneur, the “fake it till you make it” mentality, the endless time, effort, and sweat equity required to build a business, and the challenges and rewards of growing a company while raising a family. If you haven’t tried their meals yet, do yourself a FLAVOR and give them a shot. I’m a big fan of their breakfast burrito (and many others), and I promise you won’t be disappointed. You can find them at www.idealnutritionnow.com or on Instagram @idealnutritionnow . We hope you enjoy the show—and their delicious, high-quality food.

January 14, 202647 min

Dr. Sam Saltz: You were created to be enough

I first heard of Dr. Sam during my years in education, but it wasn’t until recently at a Christmas party that we had the opportunity to truly connect. As we talked, it quickly became clear how many parallels existed between her work and my own journey from teaching into coaching. Dr. Sam is a double board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist practicing in South Florida. She also serves as a voluntary assistant professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Her work focuses on supporting individuals from early childhood through adulthood, and she has built an incredible team dedicated to meeting people where they are. Their shared belief is simple yet powerful: there is a solution for everyone, and their mission is to help each person find the support they’re looking for. During our conversation, we explored many of the challenges people face today—from the “must be nice” mindset to the constant search for happiness, guilty pleasures, and the attention we all seem to seek, whether positively or negatively. We also shared some deeply emotional moments, especially when discussing what it means to feel like you are “enough,” and why that concept can be so difficult to embrace in everyday life. If you or someone you know is in need of support or simply someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Sam on Instagram @doctorsamllc or visit her website at www.doctorsam.com . We hope you enjoy the show.