Made By Challenge
Hosted by Alberto Sardinas. Made By Challenge is a podcast where high profile guests share how personal hardship shaped them and sparked businesses, lifelong missions and prosperity.
We focus on how they turned pain into purpose — and stories into career and business impact.
Episodes
27 episodes
From Federal Prison to Purpose | Rashmi Airan
Rashmi Airan had built the life she thought she was supposed to have: Columbia Law School, a career at Morgan Stanley, her own successful law firm and a growing family. Then a series of decisions changed everything, ultimately leading to a fede...
He Dropped Out of School. Then a 3AM Decision Changed His Life
Chef Brad Delgado’s path to Hell’s Kitchen was anything but traditional. After dropping out of school and deciding to become a chef at 3AM, an unexpected Instagram DM eventually changed his career. After dropping out of acting school an...
He Built a Bank During the 2008 Crisis and Sold It for $168M
Most people think success comes from talent, hustle, or having the perfect business idea. Eddy Arriola believes it comes from something much simpler: relationships.After founding Apollo Bank during the 2008 financial crisis and eventual...
She Couldn't Get Hired. Now She Teaches Companies Who to Hire. Martita Mestre
A single mom. No college degree. Working three jobs and wondering if life would ever get easier.Today, after more than 35 years hiring talent, Martita Mestre shares the lessons that transformed rejection into opportunity and reveals wha...
Christie Fraga Won Her First Election at 23 With Just $16,000
How do you win an election at just 23 years old with only $16,000?Before becoming the first woman to lead the City of Doral, Christie Fraga was a young accountant with no political experience, no major donors, and little reason to belie...
How Andrés Moreno Built Open English and Raised $150 Million
In this episode of Made By Challenge, entrepreneur Andrés Moreno, founder of Open English, shares the lessons behind building one of Latin America's biggest education companies, raising more than $150 million, serving millions of students, and ...
Can You Follow Your Passion and Make Money? | Gregory Cheng
Can you follow your passion and still build a successful career?After finishing his freshman year with a 0.0 GPA, Gregory Cheng could have accepted failure. Instead, he rebuilt his life, pursued music, became a conductor, launched busin...
How to Build a Powerful Personal Brand | Amanda Demanda
In this episode of Made By Challenge, Alberto Sardiñas sits down with attorney, entrepreneur, and branding expert Amanda Demanda for a practical conversation about building a career with purpose.Instead of chasing shortcuts, Amanda expl...
Brett Eaton on Overcoming Loss, Building Confidence & Finding Purpose | Made By Challenge
How do you rebuild your life when everything changes in an instant?In this episode of Made By Challenge, host Alberto Sardiñas sits down with performance coach, entrepreneur, and author Brett Eaton to discuss the challenges that shaped ...
Raised in Cuba's Darkest Years, Now She Teaches AI | Yane Diaz
Born in Cuba during one of the country's most difficult periods, Yane Diaz grew up surrounded by scarcity, uncertainty, and limited choices. Yet those challenges became the foundation for a remarkable journey that would take her from im...
Season 2 Premiere Laid Off? It Wasn't About You | Bruce Turkel on AI, Careers & Opportunity
246,000 tech workers lost their jobs last year. AI is reshaping industries, companies are restructuring, and professionals everywhere are asking the same question: How do I stay relevant?In this episode of Made By Challenge, host Albert...
STOP TRYING TO "OPTIMIZE" YOUR LIFE: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Success
Is data really the new steroids? In this special off-season episode of the Made by Challenge podcast, Alberto sits down with Jonathan Carvajal (JC), founder of the Optimal Performance Group, to debunk the myths behind the recent "data is not st...
Finance Expert & Investor: This is How to Make Money
In this episode of Made By Challenge, Michaeljohn Green sits down with us to talk honestly about what it takes to build a business. After seeing over 10,000 startup pitches, he shares what actually works, what doesn’t, and why so many founders ...
From ER Traumas to Healing: Dr. Linda Washington Brown's Story for Young Adults with Anxiety
Dr. Linda Joyce Washington-Brown, Ph.D., EJD, APRN-C, MSN, CNS, HCRM, FAANP, FAAN—health equity leader, advanced practice nurse (certified PNP 1989, ANP 1996), telehealth pioneer, President of Xspurt Provider Services, former Founding Associate...
Millionaires Reveal How They Made Their First $1,000,000
The best moments from past Made By Challenge conversations, all in one video. From million–dollar exits to early failures and hard-earned wisdom, this compilation captures what it truly takes to go from idea to impact. A must-watch for entrepre...
$100 Million CEO Founder: This Is Why Speed Beats Strategy Every Time
In this episode, Anne Mahlum, founder of solidcore and the entrepreneur behind one of the fastest growing fitness empires in the U.S., shares the mindset that took her from building a nonprofit run club to selling a company worth over $100 mill...
The Hidden Risk of Success: NBA Gambling Scandal Explained by the Father of Online Betting
The NBA is facing one of its biggest scandals in years. Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones are all facing federal charges tied to illegal sports betting and rigged poker games linked to organized crime.Host Alberto Sardiñas...
A Priest Explains Why You Won’t Find Purpose Without Taking the Risk
n this episode of Made by Challenge, Father Alberto Cutié shares the full arc of a life lived in the public eye, from becoming one of the most recognizable priests in the world to facing a scandal that forced him to confront who he really was. ...
Peak Performance Coach: Stop Chasing Passion, Find Purpose
In this episode, Manning Sumner, founder of No Days Off and wellness entrepreneur behind one of the most talked-about premium beverage brands, opens up about the real meaning of commitment, purpose, and resilience. Drawing from years of b...
Marketing Expert: This is Why You Don't Know What You Want.
On this episode, Bruce Turkel, branding expert and bestselling author, opens up about the real meaning of success. Drawing from decades in the branding world helping top companies, he shares what he’s learned about purpose, happiness, and...
CEO of a Billion-Dollar Brand: Why Most People Will Never Make It
On this episode, Ivan Herrera, shares his journey from arriving from Cuba to the U.S. with nothing, to building Univista Insurance. He opens up about being rejected for having no experience, becoming a top salesman, risking it all to buy ...
World-Renowned Chef: The Shocking Reality Behind OWNING A Restaurant
In this episode, world renowned chef Adrianne Calvo shares the highs and lows of building a culinary empire; from bestselling cookbooks at 18 to running multiple acclaimed restaurants. She opens up about $150,000 IN stolen revenue, tough ...
Millionaire Entrepreneur: Waiting Too Long Will Kill Your Business: Aaron Spivak – Made By Challenge Ep. 4
In this episode, Aaron Spivak, the founder of Husk Blankets, shares his journey from starting a business to selling it for $48 million. He talks openly about the highs and lows, why hesitation can hold you back, and the importance of surroundin...
How This Artist Turned Happiness into a Global Brand – Made By Challenge Ep. 3
In this conversation, Romero Britto, the world-renowned Brazilian artist, shares his journey from humble beginnings to global success. Beyond the colorful canvases and vibrant sculptures, Britto opens up about the lessons that shaped him as a p...