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Michael Phelps has worked the Met Gala, styled Erykah Badu on tour, and run a Balenciaga store through the worst year that brand ever had. Forty five minutes into this conversation he said nobody has ever asked him to talk about himself. Not once. People ask about his process, his clients, his craft. Never him. What follows is two hours about a full ride scholarship he never auditioned for, a mother who left his play early, coming out at thirty and calling it the first time he accepted himself, and a single word he said more than a dozen times without ever hearing it. If you have gotten good at something and noticed that people only ever ask you about the something, this one is for you. REAL with Rocky is a conversation about the identity you were handed and the one you get to choose. New episodes every other Wednesday. Free book: rockygarza.com/confidence Michael: @mike_p_helps 00:00 Thirty minutes before I'm a dad 01:20 An old school thinker in a new age 05:07 Nobody tells you you have to be okay with being broke 08:35 Balenciaga, and the day I was done 13:03 The uncertainty nobody warns you about 14:29 We are one hundred percent regular 16:58 A Black gay man who loves Jesus 19:13 I'm the shit, I just ain't got no money 23:44 Admitting that I already know 27:56 Humility is a sword 32:44 Religion made self confidence feel like the devil 33:24 Coming out at thirty 35:15 Trying is not doing 37:32 Who you've been, who you are, who you're becoming 38:31 The word you've said the most 39:28 Scared of my own potential 40:46 The play she left early 44:00 The space between capacity and expectation 47:22 Nobody has ever asked me about me 49:45 You don't need me 51:36 It's not your job to protect me from my thoughts 53:17 Confidence is the belief that something is good 57:32 Am I wanted in my silence

In this episode, Rocky sits down with restaurateur Olivia Constance to unpack the emotional architecture of hospitality, the boundaries of effective leadership, and the vulnerabilities of managing growth. Olivia discusses decoupling personal identity from business outcomes, reminding leaders that while the work matters deeply, they aren't curing cancer,  money and businesses come and go. They dig into the mechanics of scaling a business, reframing management through a "field guide" that outlines decision-making frameworks so teams can work confidently and independently. This episode explores the need for a laser-strong vision, the value of emotional release when delegating, and the clarity required to reject convenient trends, like QR codes, in favor of authentic human connection. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 01:15 – Storytelling Through Food: Olivia's background as a literature major shapes how she uses authentic stories to build deep connections with customers. 01:54 – The Holiness of Service: She views serving guests as a "holy" act of intention centered on making people feel cared for. 04:04 – Authentic Voices in Dallas: The discussion highlights the need for stronger, more authentic voices in Dallas business rather than copying playbooks from other cities. 05:47 – Identity Beyond Work: Drawing on her Midwest roots, Olivia stresses not letting identity be defined solely by job or professional circumstances. 08:31 – Meta-Management and Empowerment: She describes herself as a "meta-manager," using a field guide to teach her team the thinking behind decisions so they can act independently. 09:58 – Supporting People, Not Positions: Leadership means supporting the humans behind the roles, recognizing everyone has different "seasons" of capacity and need. 10:56 – The Necessity of Clear Vision: Being "laser strong" with vision gives the team clear boundaries to be creative within. 13:50 – Avoiding the Spiral of Feedback: Maintaining clarity requires quiet and solitude and too much outside feedback breeds second-guessing and confusion. 15:20 – Big Boxes and Small Boxes: Rocky shares an analogy where leaders set the "big box" parameters while team members own the "small boxes" of execution. 17:42 – Intentionality Over Trends: Olivia explains why she refuses QR code menus– they remove a vital opportunity for human connection, the core of her hospitality philosophy. About Our Guest Olivia Constance is a restaurateur and creative based in Texas, where she owns and operates Fount Board & Table, Little Blue Bistro, and Seegars. Her work is rooted in hospitality as devotion to beauty not separate from daily life but built into the small things inside of it.  Dedicated to nourishment, gathering, and to the quiet rituals that make people feel alive. Olivia creates spaces that feel both timeless and deeply personal. Her restaurants are shaped by memory, seasonality, premium vibes, conversation, and the kind of love that is a soup simmering somewhere.  Much of her life is spent moving between kitchens, farms, dining rooms, and home with her two boys, building a life centered around meaning, creativity, and the ministry of presence. Follow Olivia on Instagram Fount Board and Table Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fountboardandtable/  Little Blue Bistro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlebluedallas/  Seegars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seegarsdeli/  Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviaconstance/  Website https://www.fountboardandtable.com/ https://littlebluebistro.com/  https://seegarsdeli.com/  Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

In this episode, Rocky and Lucia dive deep into the complexities of leadership, personal growth, and the often invisible gender dynamics at play in professional settings. Lucia Simek joins Rocky for a vulnerable and candid discussion about the motivations behind life choices, drawing on personal anecdotes from therapy to explore whether you act to heal old wounds or to express our true selves. They tackle the "soft skills" of leadership, reframing them as essential tools that are frequently undervalued, and provide a critical look at the subtle ways power is reclaimed through body language in mixed-gender environments. This episode is a call-to-action for a return to basic decorum and grace, emphasizing that the most toxic things lose their power once we find the courage to say them out loud. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:00:12 – The Drive of Personal History: Reflecting on how a desire to avoid the mistakes of past generations can subconsciously fuel current decisions.  00:02:10 – Filling Gaps vs. Authentic Action: Navigating the tension between acting to heal a personal deficiency and acting out of a true fulfillment of self. 00:04:21 – The Satisfaction of Being: Understanding why doing something to "be something" is more fulfilling than doing it just to "prove something." 00:06:15 – Leading with Righteous Anger: Using "fire" or "righteous anger" as a tool for staff advocacy, and how this internal heat is often missed by others. 00:10:32 – The Double Standard of Anger: A look at the misogyny women face when they deploy anger as a legitimate professional tool. 00:14:00 – Subtle Power Reclamations: How distracted body language—like shuffling papers or avoiding eye contact—is used to reclaim power in conversations. 00:16:04 – Radical Advocacy through Listening: How men can be better advocates simply by maintaining eye contact and giving "air" to women's voices. 00:17:31 – The Fallacy of "Soft Skills": Challenging the dismissal of empathy and listening as secondary skills when traditional "hard" leadership is failing. 00:21:26 – Decorum and Grace: Why effective communication requires a return to essential respect and basic manners for everyone involved. 00:24:25 – Say the Unspoken: Removing the "secret power" of toxic or hidden things by bringing them into the light through honest speech. Get to Know Our Guest Lucia Simek is an artist, writer, curator, and museum professional with an MFA in sculpture from Texas Christian University. She spent eight years at the Nasher Sculpture Center leading communications and international programs. In 2022, she joined Dallas Contemporary as Director of External Affairs and was later promoted to Deputy Director, overseeing public programs, publications, and education. She launched initiatives like DC Empty and the NTX Graduate Student Program to support regional artists. After serving as interim director, she was named Executive Director in February 2025. She stepped down in December 2025 to focus on her independent art, curatorial work, and writing, including her upcoming book Occiput through Deep Vellum Publishing. Learn more about Lucia Lucia as a museum curator: Best in Class: Dallas Contemporary exhibit Heni News: Lucia Simek Glasstire: Lucia Simek to step down Patron Magazine: Doomscrolling by Cheryl Donegan Lucia as an artist: Glasstire: Occiput at The Reading Room Dallas Observer: From her eyes to yours Dallas News: Artists tackle issues of identity in Cleaver Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

In this episode, the host sits down with creative and "planner friend" Rambo Elliott for a deep exploration into the necessity of rest, the complexities of breaking generational cycles, and the fundamental right to joy. Elliott shares her perspective on navigating the world while being on the autism spectrum, emphasizing the importance of direct communication over assumed intuition. Together, they discuss the "forest" metaphor for human capacity, accepting that some days we are growing saplings while others we are mighty oaks and the revolutionary act of resting in a society that demands it be "earned." From the healing power of "repair" in parenting to reclaiming childhood through mundane activities like coloring, this conversation is an invitation to stop hyper-intellectualizing our problems and start letting ourselves exist. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:03 – Redefining True Rest: Rambo explains that activities like scrolling social media or watching reality TV are often distractions rather than actual rest, which requires acknowledging human capacity limits. 01:20 – The Forest Metaphor for Capacity: To move away from rigid numerical scales of success, the guest uses a forest metaphor where "growing tree" days and "mighty oak" days are both valuable parts of an individual's overall identity. 03:53 – Challenging the "Earned" Rest Narrative: The conversation highlights a societal pressure in America to only rest once it is "earned," whereas rest is actually a fundamental neurological need. 06:04 – Rest vs. Capitalist Systems: Rambo notes that capitalist structures often defer personal time to retirement or specific hours, leading people to unfairly label rest as "laziness." 10:33 – The Importance of "Repair" in Parenting: Good parenting is defined not by perfection, but by the ability to apologize and perform "repair" after stressful or scary moments with a child. 11:27 – Defining a Safe Home: A child is truly safe when they know they can bring any problem to their parents and are accustomed to a consistent standard of love. 17:44 – The Tension of the "Planner Friend": Being the person who initiates community gatherings is viewed as both a unique gift to be utilized and an obligation to communicate when that person needs support. 18:52 – Navigating Autism and Communication: Guest Rambo Elliott shares how being on the autism spectrum leads them to use very direct communication, as they do not always intuit subtext or social hints. 22:01 – The Relationship Between Sorrow and Joy: Referencing Khalil Gibran, the guest explains that the depth of one's sorrow carves out the space necessary to contain a greater amount of joy later in life. 27:44 – Reclaiming Childhood Through Parenting: They discuss the healing power of participating in "mundane" activities like coloring with their children to reclaim parts of a childhood they felt were missing. About Our Guest Rambo Elliott is a creative director and photographer with a decade of work documenting music, art, fashion, and celebrity. Her background as a neuromuscular massage therapist shapes everything. Her work puts a deep emphasis on connection and vulnerability, and it shows. She's been featured in GQ, Vogue, Rolling Stone, the NY Times, Billboard, Vanity Fair, Essence, and more. She's created album covers and videos for Leon Bridges, done documentary work with Jon Batiste and Takashi Murakami, and shot campaigns for Stetson, Dickies, Lucchese, and Tecovas. Follow Rambo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rambo/ On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ramboelliott Website: https://rambophotography.com/ Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

In this episode, Rocky sits down with creative director Hance Taplin for a candid look at the ambition and personal values that fuel his brand, By Way of Dallas. Taplin shares the vulnerable reality of walking away from a high-powered career in New York City to bet on himself with only $3.79 in his bank account. Together, they explore the concept of "accumulated problem solving" from bypassing local dress codes to redefining Dallas merchandise through a personal, diverse lens. From childhood dreams of the major leagues to the daily motivation of fatherhood, this conversation is an exploration of the "Yes and Grow" philosophy: finding deep satisfaction in who you are today while never losing the drive to build something meaningful for tomorrow. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 03:41 – Trading Wealth for Time: Leaving a high-paying job to get his life back. 04:45 – Betting on Self: Starting with $3.79 and building something of his own. 06:23 – Filling the Dallas Void: Creating a brand Dallas was missing. 10:14 – Engineering Diverse Intersections: Using products to bring different people together. 13:35 – Design as Problem-Solving: Building a life around solving problems creatively. 21:03 – Making the "Major Leagues": Realizing he reached his dream in an unexpected way. 23:25 – The Danger of Contentment: Why comfort can become a trap. 25:02 – Redefining Success Through Fatherhood: Measuring success through his son's eyes. 27:22 – The "Yes and Grow" Philosophy: Being content while continuing to evolve. 31:06 – Overcoming Creative Ruts: How a Lego piece helped break a creative block. About Our Guest Hance Taplin is a Dallas-based designer, photographer, and creative director originally from Denver, Colorado. He is the founder of By Way of Dallas, a creative platform focused on connecting communities and reshaping the city through design and culture. His work has led to collaborations with brands like Nike, Neiman Marcus, The Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, D Magazine, Dallas Market Center, 7-Eleven and The Dallas Mavericks, making him a distinctive voice in the Dallas creative scene. Instagram Handle Follow By Way of Dallas @bywayofdallas Follow Hance @hancetaplin Links https://bywayofdallas.com Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

In this episode, Rocky sits down with restaurateur and creative Olivia Constance for a deeply honest conversation about what it looks like to keep going: through divorce, through a pandemic, through building three restaurants and raising two boys all at the same time. Olivia opens up about the six weeks between opening Fount Board & Table and COVID shutting the world down, and what it taught her about working beside fear instead of waiting for it to leave. Together they dig into why healing isn't a finish line, why bravery isn't something you acquire but something you access, and what it really means to move through every room as one integrated person. This episode is an invitation to stop chasing the version of wholeness that means no more wounds, and to find belonging in the mess of being fully, honestly human. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:03 – The Gift of Feelings: Why blocking emotions prevents us from receiving the gift they're trying to give 00:37 – Modeling for Children: How parents who avoid processing ruptures teach their kids avoidance by default 01:50 – Integrating Motherhood and Work: Why Olivia's roles as mother and business owner can't be compartmentalized — and why she stopped trying 07:45 – Opening Fount Board & Table: Six weeks before COVID, one-year-old at home, and the decision to plan for 18 months when everyone else planned for two weeks 10:51 – Finding Connection in Crisis: Handwriting notes of love between strangers during the pandemic and what it revealed about the human tether 13:12 – Healing as a Process: The shift from viewing healing as an endpoint to understanding it as something woven into the ongoing story 16:12 – Accessing Bravery: What Olivia told her son about inner strength — it's not something you acquire, it's something you access 20:17 – Moving as One Person: Finding a low center of gravity and showing up as Olivia everywhere — not nine versions of her, just one 28:28 – Working with Fear: The lesson COVID handed her — you either don't do the thing, or you do it scared. That's it. 41:45 – Wholeness and the Human Experience: Being whole isn't being without gaps. It's knowing the gaps exist, and choosing to show up anyway. About Our Guest Olivia Constance is a restaurateur and creative based in Texas, where she owns and operates Fount Board & Table, Little Blue Bistro, and Seegars. Her work is rooted in hospitality as devotion to beauty not separate from daily life but built into the small things inside of it.  Dedicated to nourishment, gathering, and to the quiet rituals that make people feel alive. Olivia creates spaces that feel both timeless and deeply personal. Her restaurants are shaped by memory, seasonality, premium vibes, conversation, and the kind of love that is a soup simmering somewhere.  Much of her life is spent moving between kitchens, farms, dining rooms, and home with her two boys, building a life centered around meaning, creativity, and the ministry of presence. Follow Olivia on Instagram Fount Board and Table Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fountboardandtable/  Little Blue Bistro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlebluedallas/  Seegars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seegarsdeli/  Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviaconstance/  Website https://www.fountboardandtable.com/ https://littlebluebistro.com/  https://seegarsdeli.com/  Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

There is a quiet voice inside of you that represents your intuition and consciousness, and you have spent so long ignoring it that you have forgotten what it sounds like. You often decline its invitation to return to peace and presence by staying busy on purpose, scrolling past our feelings, and performing a version of "okay-ness" because being honest is much harder than being busy. "Coming Home" is a call to stop using motion to avoid meaning. It is the difficult realization that peace is not geographic; it is not waiting for you on the other side of a new city, a new job, or a new country. You cannot engineer the right circumstances to quiet the noise if you are unwilling to change your internal posture. In this The In-Between episode, Rocky sits with a challenging question: What if peace isn't the absence of pressure, but a return to reality and the courage to finally acknowledge the life you actually have? What you'll hear: The Ignored Internal Voice: Why you choose a hundred shallow distractions over one real conversation with your own intuition.The Illusion of Geographic Peace: Why changing your scenery is often confused with changing your posture, and why peace is never geographic.The Difficulty of Honesty: How stopping the "run" forces you to face your weariness, fears, and the people who have been quietly waiting for you to come home.Returning to Reality: How peace is found in the small daily decisions that move you toward the life you want by paying attention to the one you are currently living. "Peace is not the absence of pressure. Peace is a return to reality." Once a month, Rocky hosts Somewhere in the Middle, a gathering for people who are done performing and ready to be real. Come be human with us. Get To Know Rocky Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of Real with Rocky. He helps leaders trade performance for presence and to lead like themselves, not someone else. Connect with Rocky Come be human with us at Somewhere in the Middle: https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence Follow Rocky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ Visit the website: https://www.rockygarza.com/

In this episode, Rocky sits down with artist and museum professional Lucia Simek for a reflective conversation about creativity, identity, and the courage to choose oneself. Together they unpack the tension of leaving a high-profile career to reclaim an "origin story," the difficulty of being a "hyphenate" person in a culture that demands linear identities, and the transformative power of vulnerability. Lucia shares how her history of caretaking shaped her leadership, why she is walking away from the "nonprofit machine" to prioritize her essential self, and her vision for creating a hybrid space that truly represents her multifaceted creative heart. This episode challenges listeners to rethink success, embrace uncertainty as an instructor, and recognize the value of staying true to one's core morality. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:00:43 — Why choosing a "crazy but healthy" exit from a major museum role was necessary for self-preservation. 00:01:10 — The challenge of being a "hyphenate" person with multiple identities in a culture that prefers clear career paths. 00:01:52 — Reclaiming an "origin story" as an artist and prioritizing essential happiness over financial security. 00:02:39 — Defining "non-negotiables" and shifting focus from fundraising to building genuine community. 00:07:38 — Embracing a "revolutionary heart" and the desire to create spaces that benefit the next person. 00:10:38 — The vision for a hybrid physical space for art and film that reflects a multifaceted identity. 00:13:34 — How deep moral care for a community can be both a leadership strength and an art world barrier. 00:20:45 — Reflections on a life of caretaking, from raising seven siblings to bringing those instincts into the workplace. 00:30:42 — The speaker challenges Lucia on the fear of asking for help when you are used to being the problem solver. 00:45:20 — Why pain and trauma are the "best teachers" and instructors for future choices and personal growth. Get to Know Our Guest Lucia Simek is an artist, writer, curator, and museum professional with an MFA in sculpture from Texas Christian University. She spent eight years at the Nasher Sculpture Center leading communications and international programs. In 2022, she joined Dallas Contemporary as Director of External Affairs and was later promoted to Deputy Director, overseeing public programs, publications, and education. She launched initiatives like DC Empty and the NTX Graduate Student Program to support regional artists. After serving as interim director, she was named Executive Director in February 2025. She stepped down in December 2025 to focus on her independent art, curatorial work, and writing, including her upcoming book Occiput through Deep Vellum Publishing. Learn more about Lucia's work Lucia as a museum curator: Best in Class: Dallas Contemporary exhibit Heni News: Lucia Simek Glasstire: Lucia Simek to step down Patron Magazine: Doomscrolling by Cheryl Donegan Lucia as an artist: Glasstire: Occiput at The Reading Room Dallas Observer: From her eyes to yours Dallas News: Artists tackle issues of identity in Cleaver Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

Most of us don't need more advice; we need clarity. We build inner walls to survive, believing that being the strong one who never needs help is what success looks like. We outwork and outlast everything until we stand at the top alone, in a silence we rarely talk about. "The Beautiful Boundary" is a pushback against the isolation of the castle. It is not about keeping the world out, but about the quiet, intentional decision of what belongs inside the gate. It is the honest truth that you cannot protect everything, and trying to do so only creates another wall. You are worth protecting, not just your image or your capacity to perform, but your integrity and your ability to be present. In this In-Between, the speaker sits with a challenging question: What if the highest form of love isn't self-sacrifice that leaves you hollow, but the courage to finally put yourself on the list of things worth protecting? What you'll hear: The difference between walls and boundaries: Why walls isolate out of fear, while boundaries invite in with clarity.Being needed vs. being loved: Why confusing the two leads to being useful to a relationship rather than actually being in it.Availability vs. Accessibility: How to move from a defensive posture of being always open to an intentional posture of deciding what moves through your channels.The reminder: Protecting what you love requires the courage to include yourself in that protection so you can better love those who matter most. "A life you want is not built by carrying more. It's built by protecting what you love." Once a month, Rocky hosts Somewhere in the Middle, a gathering for people who are done performing and ready to be real. Link in show notes. Come be human with us. Get To Know Rocky Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of Real with Rocky. He helps leaders trade performance for presence and to lead like themselves, not someone else. Connect with Rocky Come be human with us at Somewhere in the Middle: https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence Follow Rocky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ Visit the website: https://www.rockygarza.com/

In this episode, Rocky sits down with creative director and photographer Rambo Elliott for a deeply honest conversation about identity, permission, and what it actually takes to stop performing your way into belonging. Rambo opens up about her autism diagnosis at 36 and how getting that word didn't mean something was wrong with her. It meant she'd needed different accommodations. Together they dig into why curiosity requires rest, safety, and community before it can grow, why so many of us have learned to cry fine while everything's falling apart, and what radical self-acceptance actually looks like when you stop chasing people who can only handle you once every three months. This episode invites listeners to examine the stories they've inherited about who they are, challenge what's actually theirs to carry, and consider what becomes possible when you decide to let you. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:01:00 – Intensity and sincerity as a way of life 00:02:00 – Getting stuck without knowing it 00:02:30 – Autism diagnosis at 36 and the permission it gave 00:16:00 – Curiosity as a ripe environment 00:19:00 – Performance vs. genuine connection 00:22:45 – Emotion as information, not the enemy 00:28:22 – Crying fine, the lie we keep telling 00:35:38 – Radical self-acceptance and moving on faster 00:46:00 – What it means to be human About Our Guest Rambo Elliott is a creative director and photographer with a decade of work documenting music, art, fashion, and celebrity. Her background as a neuromuscular massage therapist shapes everything. Her work puts a deep emphasis on connection and vulnerability, and it shows. She's been featured in GQ, Vogue, Rolling Stone, the NY Times, Billboard, Vanity Fair, Essence, and more. She's created album covers and videos for Leon Bridges, done documentary work with Jon Batiste and Takashi Murakami, and shot campaigns for Stetson, Dickies, Lucchese, and Tecovas. Follow Rambo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rambo/ On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ramboelliott Website: https://rambophotography.com/ Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

The pressure to perform your way through being alive is real. And most of us have been doing it for so long, we don't even notice anymore. We optimize. We refine. We show up steady. We process the grief privately. We hide the confusion because clarity is mandatory and doubt is weakness. We believe, somewhere beneath the surface, that we have to arrive at some perfected version of ourselves before we are worthy of belonging. Just Be Human is Rocky's pushback against all of it. Not a lowering of the bar. Not settling. Not pretending things don't matter. Just the honest, grounding truth that you are a person before you are a performer. And that who you are, in the tension, in the mess, in the tired, is enough to take the next step. In this In-Between, Rocky sits with the question most of us are afraid to ask: What if the goal was never to outperform being human but to finally stop trying? What you'll hear: Why the world's reward for polish comes at the cost of wholenessThe difference between indulgence and honesty and why Just Be Human is neither an excuse nor an escapeWhat it looks like to feel the grief, admit the confusion, and take the next step anywayThe reminder: Be there. Be honest. Be present. Be imperfect. "Who you are, even in the tension, even in the mess, is enough to take the next step." Once a month, Rocky hosts Somewhere in the Middle, a gathering for people who are done performing and ready to be real. Link in show notes. Come be human with us. Get To Know Rocky Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of Real with Rocky. He helps leaders trade performance for presence and to lead like themselves, not someone else. Connect with Rocky Come be human with us at Somewhere in the Middle: https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence Follow Rocky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ Visit the website: https://www.rockygarza.com/

In this episode, Rocky sits down with entrepreneur and creative Hance for a deeply honest conversation about identity, belonging, and the stories we carry about ourselves. Together they unpack the tension between wanting connection and avoiding vulnerability, how childhood experiences shape present-day behavior, and why many of the narratives we believe about ourselves aren’t actually ours to carry. Hance opens up about feeling like an outsider in everyday environments (from youth sports to community spaces) and the internal battle between comfort and growth. This episode invites listeners to examine the stories they’ve inherited, challenge what’s actually true, and take small, courageous steps toward connection and authenticity. Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:00:03 — The stories told about us vs. the stories we tell ourselves—and where they collide. 00:02:21 — Navigating social anxiety and feeling like an outsider in everyday environments. 00:03:54 — The tension between comfort in isolation and pressure to connect with others. 00:07:58 — The internal narrative of not belonging—and how it shapes behavior. 00:10:04 — What do you actually want: connection, comfort, or control? 00:12:25 — Recognizing when your thoughts about others aren’t rooted in reality. 00:15:14 — Why you can’t expect an invitation if you never put yourself in a position to receive one. 00:17:24 — The difference between being needed vs. being wanted—and why it matters. 00:19:43 — Taking small, intentional steps to create connection and rewrite your story. 00:29:33 — Reframing your past: separating your identity from the stories others placed on you. About Our Guest Hance Taplin is a Dallas-based designer, photographer, and creative director originally from Denver, Colorado. He is the founder of By Way of Dallas, a creative platform focused on connecting communities and reshaping the city through design and culture. His work has led to collaborations with brands like Nike, Neiman Marcus, The Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, D Magazine, Dallas Market Center, 7-Eleven and The Dallas Mavericks, making him a distinctive voice in the Dallas creative scene. Follow By Way of Dallas @bywayofdallas Follow Hance @hancetaplin Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

There are two voices most of us have heard our whole lives. One says: Be content. Be grateful. Accept who you are and stop reaching for more. The antidote to hustle culture is stillness. Just be happy with what you have. The other says: You're not enough. Do more. Fix yourself. Optimize. Rest is falling behind, and the moment you stop growing, you start dying. In this episode, Rocky makes the case that both of those voices are lying and that the good life isn't found in either camp. It's found in the tension between them. “Yes and Grow” isn't a self-help concept or a rebrand of perfectionism. It's a discipline. It’s the daily decision to honor who you are while refusing to believe you're finished. "Authenticity without accountability is just stagnation with a good story." What’s inside: Why "be content" and "always be growing" are both incomplete and what each one produces when believed aloneThe person stuck in yes: how authenticity without accountability quietly becomes stagnationThe person stuck in grow: why growth without acceptance is just self-rejection at a faster paceWhat it actually looks like to hold both at once and why that tension is the point, not the problemThe discipline of “Yes and Grow” is honoring who you are while refusing to believe you're finishedJoin us once a month as Rocky hosts Somewhere in the Middle, a gathering for people who are tired of doing this alone. Get To Know Rocky Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of Real with Rocky. He helps leaders trade performance for presence and to lead like themselves, not someone else. Connect with Rocky Come be human with us at Somewhere in the Middle: https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence Follow Rocky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ Visit the website: https://www.rockygarza.com/

In this episode, Rocky sits down with entrepreneur and community builder Jonathan Morris for a reflective conversation about creativity, identity, and what it really means to build something that matters. Together they unpack the tension between living in the future versus being present, the loneliness that can come with vision, and the power of bringing others along in the process. Jonathan shares how community has shaped his entrepreneurial journey, why your greatest resource might already be inside you, and how creating for yourself—not just for the market—can unlock a deeper sense of purpose. This episode challenges listeners to rethink success, redefine resources, and embrace the kind of humanity that builds both businesses and people.  Episode Highlights: 00:01:36 — Why focusing on the present instead of future outcomes creates clarity and momentum. 00:08:14 — The hidden loneliness of entrepreneurship and building before others can see it. 00:04:41 — How community accelerates growth and turns ideas into real impact. 00:26:00 — Why your greatest resources aren’t money—but time, relationships, and proximity. 00:25:45 — The dangerous lie that you have to succeed on your own—and how to break it. 00:32:05 — How identifying gaps in the market reveals your next business opportunity. 00:38:29 — The power of creating for yourself—not just for profit or validation. 00:29:10 — Shifting from external validation to recognizing your internal value. 00:31:10 — Why paying attention is the most underrated skill in business and creativity. 00:46:18 — Building businesses that create belonging, connection, and meaningful human experiences. Get to Know Our Guest Jonathan Morris is a Fort Worth-based entrepreneur known for spotting what’s missing in a city and building it. He founded Fort Worth Barber Shop in 2014 and later co-founded Hotel Dryce, a boutique hotel rooted in community, culture, and local connection. Jonathan is also the host of Self Employed (streaming on Max and Magnolia Network), where he highlights the real stories behind entrepreneurs building something from nothing. His work sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, hospitality, and creating spaces people genuinely want to be part of. Hotel Dryce @hoteldryce Website hoteldryce.com Fort Worth Barber Shop @fortworthbarbershop Website fortworthbarbershop.com Cherry Coffee Shop (my wife's store) @cherrycoffeefw Website cherry-coffee.com Instagram @JonathanDFW Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

Rocky couldn't put down one idea: the good life isn't built at the edges. Not in hustle culture. Not in performative living. Not in the political certainty we cling to because the middle feels unsafe. The world rewards the poles, but Rocky makes the case that extremes rarely produce wholeness. This episode is for anyone who's been chasing a destination that keeps moving. It's for the people who are exhausted from performing. It's for the leaders who know deep down that presence matters more than spectacle and who need someone to finally say it plainly: the middle is not compromise. The middle is life. "Live at the edges and you perform. Live in the middle and you become." What's inside: Why the world rewards extremes and why that's costing you your wholeness The difference between performance and becoming What it actually means to live somewhere in the middle Why rest is not a means to an end; it's where becoming happens An invitation to stop chasing the mountain top and find your footing today Join us once a month as Rocky hosts Somewhere in the Middle, a gathering for people who are tired of doing this alone. Get To Know Rocky Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of Real with Rocky. He helps leaders trade performance for presence and to lead like themselves, not someone else. Connect with Rocky Come be human with us at Somewhere in the Middle: https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence Follow Rocky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/ Visit the website: https://www.rockygarza.com/