Libsyn Directory

#282: Katya Karlova — Turning Invisible Pain into Unstoppable Power

Release Date: 01/05/2026

#300: Reimagining Mike’D Up! What’s Next for the Show?

MIKE'D UP!

In this episode, Mike marks a monumental milestone: 300 episodes of Mike’D Up! and shares something that's been on his heart: it's time to reset. Not walk away. Reset. After six and a half years, hundreds of conversations, and a show that started as a passion project and grew into something far bigger than he ever imagined, Mike is stepping back to reset, reflect, and reimagine what Mike’D Up! looks like next. With a cross-country move to Houston on the horizon, his daughter Izzy's scoliosis surgery approaching, and his podcast agency, Social Chameleon, entering a major new chapter, Mike...

#299: Neal Foard — Why Stories Sell (And How to Pitch Anything Like a Pro)

MIKE'D UP!

Most ideas don't fail because they're bad. They fail because nobody saw the genius. This week, Mike welcomes Neal Foard, a 25-year advertising veteran who has crafted award-winning campaigns for Budweiser, Lexus, Sony, and Toyota. His international work earned him a spot among the top 10 most decorated creative directors in the world. Today, Neal advises Fortune 500 companies, universities, and even governments on the art of persuasive messaging, has graced the TEDx stage multiple times, and has built a massive following with viral videos that have moved millions with stories of everyday human...

#298: Lisa Woodruff — Why Running Your Household Is a Business (And How to Actually Get Organized)

MIKE'D UP!

Running your household is a full-time job. And most of us are winging it. This week, Mike welcomes Lisa Woodruff, founder and CEO of and host of the top-rated podcast Organized 365 with over 24 million downloads. Here’s the scoop: 87% of Americans believe organization is a learnable skill, yet fewer than 18% actually feel organized. Lisa is here to fix that, breaking down why the household is a real business and why so many of us feel buried by it. Lisa shares her rock bottom story of being told she wasn't a good teacher, quitting the next day, and accidentally building a company that...

#297: Alisa Sparks — From Garage Startup to 22 Locations: How She Built a Luxury Franchise

MIKE'D UP!

This week, Mike welcomes Alisa Sparks, Founder & CEO of Linden Creek, a luxury interior design and home staging franchise that has scaled to 22 locations across the country in only three years. Alisa shares how she made the leap from managing military finance budgets to launching a design business out of her garage, and the mindset shift required to go from talented designer to true business owner. The conversation unpacks what it really takes to franchise a business, including the painful process of documenting a 327-page operations manual and why proof of concept matters more than...

#296: Doug Bolton, PhD — Why Kids Are More Anxious Than Ever (What Parents Are Missing)

MIKE'D UP!

This week, Mike welcomes back clinical psychologist and author to break down the growing youth mental health crisis. They explore why kids feel more disconnected than ever despite constant connectivity, and how stress is impacting not only children, but parents and teachers as well. From over-scheduled lives to over-parenting, Doug explains how today’s environment is limiting independence and resilience. The conversation also highlights rising anxiety and depression trends, along with key lessons learned from the pandemic, where reduced pressure improved mental health for some students....

#295: Jennifer Chambers — Directing Theater & Film and Telling Stories That Connect

MIKE'D UP!

What makes a story truly stick? This week on Mike’D Up!, I sit down with Los Angeles–based director , whose work spans theater, film, and voiceover, including productions at the Geffen Playhouse, Barrington Stage Company, and the Kennedy Center. Jennifer shares what draws her to a script…powerful moments, a unique voice, or a visceral connection that tells her the story needs to be told. We talk about collaborating with playwrights, balancing creative vision with honoring the writer’s intent, and the differences between live theater’s immediacy and film’s longevity. She gives us...

#294: Bishop Kevin Foreman — Your Past Doesn’t Define You. Your Purpose Does.

MIKE'D UP!

This week, Mike welcomes ., pastor of , author, entrepreneur, and leader impacting tens of thousands across the globe. From humble beginnings in Orange Mound, one of the toughest neighborhoods in Memphis, to building thriving churches and mentoring leaders worldwide, Bishop Foreman’s story is a powerful testament to faith, resilience, and purpose. Growing up surrounded by violence, instability, and adversity, Bishop Foreman experienced moments that could have easily defined his future. Instead, he made a decision early on: this would not be his story. That mindset became the foundation for...

#293: Mitchell Osmond — Why Successful Men Feel Powerless at Home and How to Fix It

MIKE'D UP!

This week, Mike welcomes Mitchell Osmond, founder of and host of , helping men build legacy-driven success without sacrificing their families. On the outside, Mitchell had it all: career success, leadership roles, and momentum. But behind the scenes, he was overweight, in debt, disconnected in his marriage, and heading toward collapse. For Mitchell, everything changed after two pivotal moments: a devastating fight with his wife and a powerful wake-up call at a funeral that forced him to confront the life he was living and the legacy he was leaving behind. That moment sparked an 18-month...

#292: Brandon Steiner — Building a Legacy Through Sports Collectibles

MIKE'D UP!

This week Mike welcomes legendary entrepreneur Brandon Steiner, founder of Steiner Sports and the visionary behind . From starting with $4,000 in 1987 to building a 50 million dollar sports collectibles empire, Brandon shares the real story behind his rise, complete with risks, failures, and game-changing partnerships. Brandon takes us inside the early days of athlete marketing, long before social media, where relationships, trust, and hustle were everything. By booking thousands of athlete appearances each year, he built a network that would later fuel one of the most iconic memorabilia...

#291: Paul Hutchinson — Inside the Fight Against Child Trafficking

MIKE'D UP!

This week on Mike’D Up! Mike catches up with , investor, humanitarian, executive producer of the powerful blockbuster film Sound of Freedom, and author of the book . Paul has participated in more than 70 undercover rescue missions across 15 countries, helping liberate thousands of children from trafficking networks. As the founder of the , his work now focuses heavily on prevention, awareness, and equipping parents with the tools to protect their children in a rapidly changing digital world. In this powerful conversation, Paul explains why the greatest threat to children...

More Episodes

In this powerful episode, Mike welcomes Katya Karlova, former corporate VP, resilience alchemist, author, and endometriosis advocate, for a conversation centered on transforming pain into purpose. Originally from Moldova and educated at UCLA and University College London, Katya spent 15 years in global talent management before a life-altering health journey redirected her calling.

During the pandemic, Katya confronted chronic pain, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, eventually receiving a long-overdue diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women worldwide yet still widely misunderstood and misdiagnosed. She shares the emotional and physical toll of navigating a medical system that often dismisses women’s pain, and the resilience required to continue advocating for answers.

That experience became the catalyst for her debut book, Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power, and for her growing advocacy work supporting those living with trauma, chronic illness, and unseen suffering. Katya also opens up about body positivity, self-love, and reclaiming confidence, including her journey into boudoir modeling as a powerful form of healing and self-expression.

With more than 500,000 social media followers, Katya discusses authenticity, censorship, bias against curvy women, and the challenge of balancing vulnerability with empowerment online. Recognized as one of Womenpreneur Magazine’s Top 20 Empowering Women, her story is a compelling testament to resilience, leadership through empathy, and the transformative power of gratitude.

IN THIS EPISODE:

➡️ THE DIAGNOSIS FIGHT: Katya’s years-long battle to be diagnosed with endometriosis

➡️ MEDICAL GASLIGHTING EXPOSED: How women’s pain is dismissed inside the healthcare system

➡️ PAIN INTO POWER: The personal crisis that sparked Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power

➡️ THE POWER OF POSITIVE BODY IMAGE: Katya’s journey into the world of boudoir modeling

➡️ IMPACT THROUGH AUTHENTICITY: Building a global community by leading with truth and vulnerability

📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY:

True healing often begins the moment you stop questioning your pain and start trusting your voice. Katya’s story reminds listeners that self-advocacy is not confrontation; it’s self-respect, and it can be the turning point that changes everything.

🚀 PERFECT FOR:

Those living with chronic pain or searching for answers to unexplained health symptoms, as well as anyone who has felt dismissed or unheard within the healthcare system. Katya’s story is also perfect for leaders and professionals seeking to transform personal adversity into purpose-driven impact. Ultimately, this conversation is for anyone looking for hope, resilience, and meaning in the midst of life’s most difficult seasons.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Womenpreneur

The Endometriosis Association

Endometriosis Foundation of America

Connect with Katya:

Website

Instagram

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Connect with Mike:

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