From Fyre Festival to Redemption: Billy McFarland on Prison, Entrepreneurship, and Starting Over

What if everything you survived in life was preparing you to become the person who changes someone else's future? Nivia Bejarano's story is one of extraordinary resilience, determination, and the power of turning pain into purpose. Growing up in the Bronx, New York, Nivia spent much of her childhood in foster care. Her mother struggled with addiction, her family life was unstable, and by her teenage years, Nivia had experienced homelessness, hunger, abandonment, and the painful reality of navigating the world without the support most children take for granted. At one point, a school guidance counselor suggested she drop out rather than help her overcome her circumstances. She slept in a car, struggled to find food, and faced challenges that could have easily destroyed her hope for a better future. But Nivia refused to let her circumstances determine the rest of her life. In this deeply moving conversation, John Quick, host of Stories Worth Hearing, sits down with Nivia to explore how a young girl who once felt forgotten by the world became a successful artist, entrepreneur, curator, and founder of Arts After Dark, one of Las Vegas' largest independently operated community art centers. Nivia shares the defining moments that changed her life, including leaving dangerous environments behind, caring for her grandmother, confronting her struggles with alcohol, and discovering that creating a different future required difficult decisions about the people, habits, and environments surrounding her. Art became more than a creative outlet. It became her lifeline. After years of producing exhibitions and creating opportunities for artists, Nivia pursued a boarded-up building in Las Vegas with a vision of transforming it into something her community desperately needed. Today, that vision is Arts After Dark, a 6,600-square-foot creative community that has showcased more than 1,000 artists in just over a year. Nivia has built an environment where artists can exhibit their work, develop their talents, learn to generate income, and connect with people who genuinely want them to succeed. And she does it without charging artists to showcase their work. But the most powerful part of Nivia's story isn't what she has built. It's why she built it. Nivia remembers Anna Rye, a woman who taught ceramics at a Boys & Girls Club when Nivia was a little girl. While others overlooked her struggles, Anna offered kindness, encouragement, and a safe place to create. Decades later, Nivia still honors her by offering free ceramics classes to others. One person's kindness helped change Nivia's life. Now she's determined to pass that gift on to thousands more. Nivia also shares her ambitious vision for the future: creating a community where young adults aging out of foster care can find housing, learn trades, explore their creativity, earn money, and build meaningful relationships. Throughout this inspirational conversation, John and Nivia explore childhood trauma, homelessness, addiction, entrepreneurship, personal responsibility, compassion, and what it truly means to create lasting change. Nivia Bejarano is living proof that your past does not have to define your future, and sometimes the greatest legacy we can leave behind is becoming the person we once needed. Connect with Nivia Bejarano and Arts After Dark: Website: https://artsafterdark.com/ Nivia's Instagram: @thenivia Arts After Dark Instagram: @artsafterdark.lv If you're in Las Vegas, visit Arts After Dark and support the artists and community Nivia is building. About Stories Worth Hearing Hosted by John Quick, Stories Worth Hearing features remarkable people with extraordinary stories of perseverance, entrepreneurship, leadership, personal transformation, and purpose.

Are UFOs and aliens actually connected to the spiritual realm? Could mysterious encounters that people believe are extraterrestrial actually have a biblical explanation? And is spiritual warfare happening around us without us even realizing it? Pastor Mike Signorelli returns to Stories Worth Hearing with John Quick for a fascinating conversation about UFO disclosure, aliens, demons, angels, Christianity, and the unseen spiritual world. Signorelli reveals details about a private briefing he attended with individuals he describes as having former U.S. military and intelligence connections. According to Signorelli, the group discussed unexplained phenomena, encounters with mysterious entities, and a series of predictions he says later came true. He also clarifies misinformation surrounding the meeting, explaining that it was not a White House briefing. The conversation explores his belief that some UFO and alien phenomena may be better understood as interdimensional or spiritual rather than extraterrestrial. Drawing from biblical accounts of angels, demons, the Nephilim, and spiritual encounters, Signorelli challenges conventional thinking about the supernatural. But this conversation goes far beyond UFOs. John and Pastor Mike also discuss: Who Jesus really is: Why Signorelli believes modern culture has created competing versions of Jesus that often miss the truth of Christianity.

What does it take to rise to the rank of three-star general, command some of America's most powerful military aircraft, and then build an entirely new career in business, finance, and national media? On Stories Worth Hearing, host John Quick sits down with retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Richard "Dick" Newton for a fascinating conversation about military service, leadership, entrepreneurship, faith, and the opportunities that continue to define the American Dream. Newton spent 34 years serving in the United States Air Force, rising to become Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and serving under multiple presidential administrations. From commanding the first B-2 stealth bomber squadron to leading a B-52 bomber wing at Minot Air Force Base during the September 11 terrorist attacks, his career placed him at the center of some of the most consequential moments in modern American military history. He shares what it was like to command an Air Force base on 9/11, prepare thousands of service members and their families for an uncertain future, and transition from peacetime operations to combat missions in Afghanistan just weeks later. But Newton's story didn't end when he retired from the military in 2012. He went on to build a remarkable second career in corporate leadership, serving on major investment and corporate boards, including Victory Capital and Terran Orbital, while expanding into consulting, artificial intelligence, energy, and national security. Today, he's also a senior national security contributor for NewsNation and serves on the National Security Advisory Council of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. The conversation explores how leadership principles learned in the military translate into the boardroom, why America's economic strength is essential to national security, and whether the American Dream is still alive for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Newton also opens up about the importance of faith and family, his commitment to mentoring future leaders, and the advice he gives young professionals looking to build meaningful careers. His message is simple: never stop learning, find great mentors, take calculated risks, and pursue opportunities that align with your values. From flying stealth bombers to navigating Wall Street and national television, Dick Newton's journey is a powerful story of service, reinvention, and leadership. Stories Worth Hearing with John Quick brings you conversations with remarkable people whose experiences, accomplishments, and lessons offer inspiration for life, leadership, and business. Learn more about Lt. Gen. Dick Newton: https://ltgennewton.com/

Stories Worth Hearing host John Quick sits down with Vijay Goel, senior partner at Singhania & Co’s London office, international lawyer, dealmaker, and one of the most connected business figures working between India, the U.K., Europe, and the United States. Vijay has advised major clients on corporate law, joint ventures, foreign collaborations, private equity, real estate transactions, AIM listings in London, and Indian companies acquiring businesses in the U.K. He has worked on major international transactions, including a deal where a Government of India company provided roughly $500 million to Reliance for a power project. The conversation covers Vijay’s journey from India to London, how he built a powerful global network, why India is one of the biggest business opportunities in the world, and where he sees the next wave of growth in AI, data centers, nuclear power, green hydrogen, healthcare, finance, and cross-border investment. Vijay’s influence extends beyond law. He is the founder of the Indo-EU Business Forum, chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce Asian Business Association, chairman of ASSOCHAM UK, former advisor on emerging markets to former U.K. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, advisor to the Hinduja Group, and a committee member for the Gandhi statue in front of the British Parliament. For entrepreneurs, investors, executives, and anyone interested in how billion-dollar global business actually gets done, this is a conversation worth hearing. Website: https://singhaniauk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijay-goel-4353a511

On the Stories Worth Hearing podcast, host John Quick sits down with Pastor Mike Signorelli to talk about his life story, his ministry, and his new book, The Unoffendable Heart. Pastor Mike shares how he went from being raised by a single mother in a broken home to surrendering his life to Christ at 15, preaching the Gospel, and eventually starting a church in New York City with 18 people that has grown into multiple locations across the country. He also talks about deliverance ministry, spiritual warfare, and why his church has become known for reaching people who are hurting, searching, and in need of freedom. John and Pastor Mike also discuss why offense is so dangerous, how bitterness can affect entrepreneurs, leaders, families, and churches, and why learning to forgive is not just emotional but spiritual. Pastor Mike explains the message behind The Unoffendable Heart, why he believes this book is needed right now, and how Christians can stop getting trapped in outrage and start building the life, family, business, and calling God has placed in front of them. Check out Pastor Mike Signorelli’s book here: https://amzn.to/4iS78O5