Why Being Uncomfortable Is the Only Way to Grow: Andrew Stern on Loss, Leadership, and Real Life
Respectfu11yShow Notes
Andrew Stern didn’t plan on running a global fitness brand.He grew up in Jersey, dealt with real loss early in life, and found himself stepping into leadership at Rumble Boxing while still figuring things out like the rest of us. In this conversation, Andrew sits down with Jamie to talk about the stuff people don’t always say out loud — grief, imposter syndrome, pressure, and what it actually takes to lead when people are looking to you for answers.Andrew shares how losing his parents shaped the way he approaches work, family, and purpose. He talks about the early days of Rumble, teaching classes before stepping into the business side, and the uncomfortable stretch where you’re learning in real time while everyone assumes you’ve got it handled.Jamie and Andrew also get into:Why getting comfortable being uncomfortable mattersThe role therapy played in shaping his leadershipWhy community is the real engine behind fitness brandsThe pressure of leading franchise owners and teamsMorning routines, journaling, and small daily winsWhy real human connection still beats social mediaThere’s also a lot of Jersey energy in this one — the kind that tells the truth even when it’s messy.This episode is about showing up anyway. Even when you’re still figuring it out.
More from Respectfu11y
Kristin Falcone didn’t set out to become a viral sensation; she just knew how to tell a story. A Staten Island hairdresser with a gift for observation and a family full of material, Kristin found her way to millions of screens through characters so specific they feel universal. Her alter ego “Carol” has become the kind of internet fixture people send to their group chats. But behind the wigs and the one-liners is someone who discovered comedy by accident; during a hard season, when laughter was the only thing that made sense. Kristin joins Respectfu11y to talk about authenticity over algorithm, the Italian-American storytelling tradition she didn’t know she was carrying and why the funniest people in the room are usually the ones who feel the most.
What does it look like when a woman decides that the corner office simply is not enough and builds something entirely her own? This week on Respectfu11y, Jamie sits down with Donna Ivackovic, entrepreneur, beauty industry veteran and visionary founder behind The Beauty Suite in New York.
Ellen Tailor is a Seattle media personality whose career has spanned radio, television, and digital news. Whether she's behind a microphone, in front of a camera, or sitting across from a friend over coffee, she's always interested in people and the stories that shape them. She's spent nearly two decades helping people make sense of the world and each other. Known for her honest perspective, quick wit, and ability to get people talking, Ellen has a way of turning strangers into friends and believes the best conversations aren't about having all the answers, they're about helping people feel seen.
Gentiana Ipekli is a 32-year-old fashion influencer, content creator, mentor, and women’s empowerment advocate, born and raised in the Bronx and one of five children. She became pregnant and married at 21, and by 25 was a full-time mom of three. She holds a degree in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising and has always had a deep passion for fashion, beauty, glam, and dressing up.
They say you write what you know. For Candice Guardino, that was family.