Welcome back to Season 2, Episode 4 of The Knowing Podcast with Christene Marie. This week, we’re joined by Chris Gray—evolving from corporate hustler to emotional intelligence champion—who shares candid stories around personal growth, presence, and living from a place of love.

• Chris’s dive-bar moment that sparked his first step into self‑confidence
• A pivotal conversation with his wife that reshaped his integrity
• How a simple 10-minute mindfulness bell keeps him grounded daily
• Christene's dinner table question that surfaces hidden perceptions
• A heartfelt discussion on choosing love over fear in work and life

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 Intro

0:24 Knowing Podcast Intro

1:03 Chris Joins the Conversation

4:30 Impostor Syndrome to Inner Confidence

10:30 “You Need to Work on Your Game” – Dive Bar Catalyst

15:22 Marriage Truth That Changed Everything

19:03 Christene’s Mirror Moment

25:00 From Head to Heart: Vibes, Projection, and Self-Reflection

29:02 Excavation of the Soul

34:59 What Do People Overestimate and Underestimate About You?

38:00 Chris’s Mindfulness Practice: 10-Minute Bell

49:38 Are You Squeezing the Life Out of Your Work?

If you found value in today’s conversation:

👍 Like this video

🔔Subscribe to The Knowing Podcast

💬 Leave a comment: Which truth resonated most?

🔁 Share with someone who’s in the middle of their growth journey

✍️ Journal: What is one thing that people overestimate about you? And what is one thing people underestimate about you?

Recommend books from this episode:

📚: Double Your Dating by David DeAngelo

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📲Follow + 📌Connect:

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🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

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Chris Gray is a speaker, entrepreneur, and a champion of emotional intelligence. He’s the founder of multiple marketing ventures—including a fractional CMO agency—and a thought‑leader on cultivating mindful presence in leadership. Formerly stuck in the corporate world, Chris broke free by living through self‑reflective choices and embracing emotional authenticity.

Among his credentials: • Speaker & Fractional CMO offering marketing strategy grounded in emotional intelligence • Entrepreneur whose ventures now generate $8M+ annually • Mindset Mentor, using principles like the Bhagavad Gita and daily mindfulness tools • Jiu‑Jitsu Practitioner, blending martial arts grit with heart‑centered presence

• Website: (https://redpalm.us/)
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yochrisgray
• Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/yochrisgray/)
• Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/YoChrisGray/)

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#EmotionalIntelligence #Presence #Podcast #KnowingPodcast #Mindfulness #SelfGrowth

What if your biggest breakdown was really a setup for your breakthrough?

In this powerful episode of The Knowing Podcast, host Christene Marie sits down with Darryn Yates—musician, rebel, and transformational coach—to talk about the moment he found purpose in a parking lot with a 9mm. Darryn opens up about the darkness he overcame, how he reclaimed his identity, and why authenticity is the secret weapon for any visionary leader or creative.

This conversation dives deep into identity, reinvention, parenting, performance, and the painful-yet-powerful road to truly knowing yourself.

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

0:35 Christene Intro

1:19 Darryn Intro

07:36 Most Potent Feeling

10:50 Your Why

14:38 Becoming the Person for Success

17:22 The Dream While Being Married

21:44 Pursuing a Life-Giving Passion

26:33 Purpose in Pain

31:47 Out of the Matrix

35:45 Something Must Die

39:05 Emerging from Transformation

43:11 People as Mirrors

50:52 Closing Thoughts

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Leave a Review if this episode spoke to you.

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📲FOLLOW + 📌CONNECT:

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

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🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

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👤 ABOUT DARRYN YATES

Darryn Yates is a musician, creative entrepreneur, and purpose coach who helps people break free from limiting beliefs and step into their boldest, truest selves. As the founder of Reveal Your Rock Star, Darryn combines mindset coaching, personal storytelling, and raw vulnerability to guide others toward a life of freedom, clarity, and power.

🔗 Website: www.DarrynYates.com

🎸 Coaching & Purpose Discovery: www.RevealYourRockStar.com

📱 Instagram: @darrynyatesofficial

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryn-yates-b5a507b/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/darrynyates

#TheKnowingPodcast #DarrynYates #RevealYourRockStar #AuthenticLeadership #RockBottomToPurpose #ChristeneMarie

In this heartfelt episode of The Knowing Podcast, Christene Marie sits down with entrepreneur and lifestyle investor Justin Donald for a deeply honest conversation on what it means to truly know yourself—not through achievement, but through presence.

Together, they explore:

-Why emotional intelligence isn’t optional for leadership

-How to shift from performance to presence in your relationships

-The myth of "doing more" and the courage to just be

-Powerful metaphors about family, business, and what’s truly fragile

-The role of curiosity, faith, and identity in building a life that lasts

Justin opens up about fatherhood, boundaries, success, and the wake-up calls that made him reevaluate his priorities. Christene brings the emotional depth and clarity that makes this podcast a sanctuary for those hungry for both truth and transformation.

🔹Complimentary Marriage and Family Planning Day https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jVxZgVEF6vZR0F_S65LGl52bzsxOQb47/view?usp=drive_link

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

0:30 Christene Intro to the Podcast

1:08 Guest Intro

6:16 Curating Communities & Boundaries

11:23 Presence Over Performance

16:51 Childlike Curiosity & Self Discovery

20:30 Ego Walls & Emotional Safety

26:05 Business Growth by Choosing Family

30:46 Marriage & Family Planning

35:48 Glass Ball vs Rubber Ball Mindset

37:28 Faith, Marriage, Children, & Purpose

41:36 Mentorship, Masterminds & ROI on Growth

🔔 Subscribe and tap the bell for weekly insights on knowing yourself, your relationships, and your purpose.

👇 Drop your favorite moment or takeaway in the comments—we'd love to hear what spoke to you.

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📲FOLLOW + 📌CONNECT:

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on TickTock: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

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👤 ABOUT JUSTIN DONALD Justin Donald is the founder of Lifestyle Investor, a community and investment network that helps people create wealth without giving up what matters most. Through private deals, conscious investing, and his signature courses, Justin teaches leaders how to build financial freedom and a meaningful life.

📘 Author of The Lifestyle Investor – a WSJ Best Seller

🎯 Host of The Lifestyle Investor Podcast

💡 Creator of the Lifestyle Investor Mastermind and Investment System

🌐 Website: https://justindonald.com

📘 Book: https://lifestyleinvestorbook.com

🎙️ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifestyle-investor-investing-passive-income-wealth/id1541009357

📸 Instagram: @justindonald

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justindonald01

🔹Complimentary Marriage and Family Planning Day Document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jVxZgVEF6vZR0F_S65LGl52bzsxOQb47/view?usp=drive_link

#TheKnowingPodcast #JustinDonald #EmotionalIntelligence #PresenceOverPerformance #FaithAndBusiness #LeadershipWisdom #knowingyourself

Welcome to Season 2 of The Knowing Podcast. In this powerful solo episode, host Christene Marie returns to the mic with unfiltered honesty, guiding us through what it means to live in vertical alignment, reclaim our self-worth, and wake up to our truest selves.

Through personal stories, daily practices, and emotional breakthroughs, Christene shares how to:

-Stop outsourcing your worth

-Heal from shame stories that started in childhood

-Reconnect with the person you were before the world told you who to be

Whether you're navigating grief, growth, or a season of self-reflection, this episode will meet you where you are—and move you forward.

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

0:30 Welcome To the Podcast

1:09 Podcast Start

4:13 Key Practices for Personal Growth

6:14 The Pain of Loss and Grief

11:48 Self-Worth and Presence in Grief

16:46 Worthiness Discovery

19:49 61 Day Challenge and Overcoming Narratives

29:59 Discovering Purpose and Emotional Intelligence

36:09 Nature vs. Nurture: A Self-Exploration

46:41 Intentional Energy

48:45 The Power of Emotional Intelligence

👉 New episodes drop weekly—subscribe and reflect with us.

🪞 Start your Knowing journey: Are you brave enough to pursue joy?

Recommended Books by Christene Marie:

📖 Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

📖 Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore

📲FOLLOW + 📌CONNECT:

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on TickTock: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

#EmotionalIntelligence #SelfWorth #GriefHealing #KnowYourself #ChristeneMarie #PodcastForWomen #PurposeDrivenLife #HealingJourney #FaithAndHealing #EmotionalGrowth #TheKnowingPodcast

What if truly knowing yourself could change everything?

In this episode of the Knowing Podcast, Christene Marie walks listeners through a personal exercise on self-awareness, encouraging them to pause, engage, and explore the connection between logic and emotion. She introduces three key steps in deep inner work: identifying the source of emotions, building a strong personal foundation, and taking action to change old patterns. She emphasizes the importance of truly knowing oneself and making space for both thought and feeling in decision-making.

Drawing from her life experiences—grief, loss, and relationship struggles—she shares how unprocessed emotions can quietly shape our lives. She challenges listeners to reflect on their own defining moments and take responsibility for their growth rather than falling into a victim mindset. The episode wraps up with a reminder to practice “vertical alignment” daily, making space for self-awareness amidst life’s distractions.

Important Moments:

0:00 Intro

0:37 Words of Welcome From Christene

3:15 The Three Steps to Deep Inner Work

5:19 Balancing Logic and Emotion

9:57 Who are you?

12:16 What was a Catalytic Moment that Forced you Awake?

16:53 Summary of The First Two Questions from Christene

19:28 Have you Assumed Responsibility Over Self?

26:55 The Body’s Wisdom and Intuition

37:31 Narratives and Their Impact

43:11 Embracing Both Shadow and Light

48:07 What is the Light in You?

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Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

Read the blog: https://christenemarie.com/blog/

Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

Connect with Christene on her socials:

Instagram: @christenemarie_

LinkedIn: @christenemarie and @theknowingagency

Facebook: @christenemarie

Is it important to forgive to find healing?

In this episode of the Knowing Podcast, Dafne Wiswell, a champion of inner healing and forgiveness, shares a deeply moving conversation with Christene Marie on her experiences with chronic autoimmune conditions and the powerful role forgiveness played in her healing journey.

Dafne sheds light on the often-overlooked connection between childhood wounds, unresolved emotions, and physical health, emphasizing the significance of addressing these root causes for genuine well-being.

From this podcast, gain insights on setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and embracing the power of forgiveness in seeking greater emotional well-being and personal growth.

Important Moments

0:00 Intro

1:14 Dafne Wiswell Greeting

2:18 The Importance of Sharing Stories with Honor

5:38 Dafne's Personal Background and Family Life

10:34 The Truth of the Past during Sickness

11:56 The Journey to Healing

17:35 The Power of Intuition and Emotions

18:54 Navigating Anger and Understanding Emotions

26:05 Forgiveness and Family Relationships

30:39 Starting the Healing Journey

39:09 Embracing the Mystery of Healing

42:30 Women and Self-Sacrifice

48:20 Recognizing what Emotions to Let Go

52:34 Practical Steps for Inner Healing

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Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

Read the blog: https://christenemarie.com/blog/

Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

—

Enjoyed what you heard from Dafne? Connect with her and her amazing resources!

THE CHRONIC ILLNESS COACH - https://thechronicillnesscoach.co/

GET A FREE E-BOOK! Breakthrough by Dafne Wiswell - https://thechronicillnesscoach.co/books/

‘4 Keys to Connect with Your Spouse When Your World is Crumbling’ - https://fiercemarriage.com/4-keys-to-connect-with-your-spouse

Website: www.dafnewiswell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dafnewiswell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dafnewiswell/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedafnewiswell/

What does it really take to have self-discipline?

In this episode of the Knowing Podcast, prepare to be moved by a heartfelt conversation with Monica Levi, an executive self-discipline coach and former lawyer, on overcoming limiting beliefs, manifesting realities, and the power of discipline.

Monica shares her story of personal transformation that started when she left her successful but unfulfilling legal career to pursue a more authentic path.

She details actionable strategies for building self-discipline and practical tips for creating a life that aligns with your values and goals

Learn valuable lessons to create a meaningful life with Monica’s blend of strategic planning and belief in manifestation.

Important Moments:

0:00 Intro

3:20 Growing Up in Communism in Bulgaria

7:50 The Power of Discipline

11:53 Willpower vs. Discipline

14:08 Creating Intentional Family Relationships

20:01 Manifestation and Discipline

23:10 Monica's Journey to the U.S.

28:03 Facing the Fear of Leaving Law

29:24 The Turning Point: Internal Instincts

30:41 Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies

32:45 Parental Expectations and Personal Values

36:32 The Journey of Self-Discovery

49:12 Embracing Failure as a Path to Success

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Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

Read the blog: https://christenemarie.com/blog/

Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

—

Take Monica's 1-on-1 coaching program to learn how to build self-discipline and start taking consistent action towards your goals. Visit https://www.monicalevicoaching.com/ for program details.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicalevicoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/self_discipline_coach/

In this episode of the Knowing Podcast,

Christene Marie dives into a meaningful conversation with James Valentine, ascension coach, bestselling author, and international speaker, about the path to inner peace and self-forgiveness.

James passionately discusses the importance of non-reaction to thoughts, emotions, or external events, viewing reality as a projection of our thoughts. By choosing non-reactivity, individuals can break free from negativity.

He highlights the significance of self-forgiveness in healing past wounds and fostering personal growth. By forgiving ourselves, we detach from limiting beliefs and embrace change.

He also shares his views on deconstructing the ego to reconnect with one’s true self. By examining and challenging these narratives, individuals can rediscover their authentic selves.

Important Moments:

[2:53] The Catalyst for Transformation

[07:28] Exploring Consciousness and the Ego

[10:46] Awareness and Emotional Healing

[15:58] Consciousness and Individual Realities

[19:04] Rejecting Subconscious Judgements

[21:40] Unchecked Thoughts and their Consequences

[24:32] Thoughts vs Emotions vs Feelings

[28:18] Accountability for Yourself

[32:16] Scientific Emotions and What you can Control

[37:41] Ego and its Origin

[44:10] Older and Younger Self Introductions through Therapy

[52:42] Existing in the Moment by Moment

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Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

Read the blog: https://christenemarie.com/blog/

Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

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Enjoyed what you heard from James? Connect with him and his amazing resources!

Book:

• Daddy Loves You: Relationship Chronicles - https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Loves-You-James-Valentine/dp/B08Y9WFNL1

Podcast:

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/the-journey-to-ascension/id1766370467

Socials:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-andre-valentine/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theascensioncoach_1111/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awakeningtoLove1/?_rdr

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAscensionCoach_1111