Rebuilding The Beast Festus Ezeli

Welcome to the season 3 finale of Rebuilding the Beast! On this episode I reflect on all the guests we’ve had this season and the things I learned from them. We also dive deep into where my life is headed and the future I imagine for the podcast. 
 
Your guy’s support means the world to me and I’m so glad to have you all on this journey. But I need your help… if you’d like the podcast to keep going, I need you to rate us, follow us on all platforms, subscribe, and leave us reviews. It truly does help! We have an exciting season planned and just need y’all’s help to accomplish it.
 
Thank you for your support. Stay blessed, and I’ll see you soon. 
 
Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!
 
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Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!
 

Hello my fellow beasts! As our season starts winding down, I wanted to share this quick story called the Farmer With Two Buckets. It’s a great reminder that even though we may feel broken or have flaws, we can still inspire those around us in a positive way. 
 
I created this podcast for you to get inspired and have tips as we all journey through our own rebuilds. Surround yourself with others that inspire you and uplift you. And remember that you are a BEAST!
 
Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!
 
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!
Or check out our YouTube & website!
 
Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!
 

Trigger Warning: Suicide 
 
Our next guest is joining us all the way from Australia, today we have Alexa Towersey! Alexa, also known as “Action Alexa,” is a celebrity trainer, nutritionist, writer, sports model, and mental health advocate. This woman is a literal BEAST! After being bullied for being too skinny, the gym became her safe place as she developed strength both mentally and physically. 
 
Alexa has had many turning points throughout her life. She is 14 years sober after losing her father to alcoholism. She almost lost her mother to attempted suicide, then suddenly later to a lung injury. Then after needing hip surgery, Alexa died on the operating table and needed to be resuscitated 4 times.  
 
That’s not even all that we cover. We talk more about 
·      Growing up in a military family where she didn’t have a “quitters” mentality. 
·      Her mother being diagnosed with a mental illness then becoming the sole caretaker of her after her father turned to alcohol. 
·      Her relationship to her father and how she turned to alcohol as well. 
·      The decision to become sober after losing her father. 
·      How becoming sober was the hardest thing she had done.
·      Finding a purpose that gets you out of bed every day. 
·      Witnessing her mother’s attempted suicide and the misconceptions around mental health. 
·      Being fully present with someone. 
·      The one regret she has in life.
·      How she became a trainer the sense of fulfillment it gives her. 
·      Injuring her hip and needing to get surgery. 
·      The reason she had to be resuscitated 4 times while on the operating table. 
·      The moment of clarity she had when she had awoken.
·      Writing and why she has been single for the past 10 years. 
 
I felt like I had a therapy session by the end of this interview. I’m so grateful for how open and vulnerable Alexa was and I hope you enjoyed this episode. 
 
Want to keep up with Alexa? Follow her on Instagram! 
 
You can also check out Alexa’s website here. 
 
Want to read the article Alexa wrote? Click here! 
 
Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!
 
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!
Or check out our YouTube & website!
 
Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!

Let’s say Aloha to our next guest Xeana Kamalani - aka, Kama! Kama is a model, actress, Philanthropist, founder of Kama Training, and is the first pro league pitcher in softball that’s from Hawaii. And being only 25 years old, she has accomplished so much. 
 
Today we cover, 


·      What growing up in Hawaii is really like and how her hometown, Makaha, would be best described as the ghetto. 
·      The hardest part growing up poor. 
·      How her parents really pushed her to venture outside of Makaha and pursue her studies and softball. 
·      Getting full scholarships to Fresno State then UC Berkely to be able to play softball. 
·      The decision to continue with softball and what it means to her to be the first ever pro softball player from Hawaii. 
·      The biggest frustrations of being a female pro athlete. 
·      Almost losing her mom to a stroke and realizing the army she had supporting her. 
·      Not letting other’s opinions affect her. 
·      What Kama Training is. 
 
I am amazed by Kama and how well she has her head on her shoulders. She is an inspiration and I can’t wait to see where else life will take her. 
 
Want to keep up with Kama? Follow her on Instagram! 
 
Learn more about Kama Training here. 
 
Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!
 
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!
Or check out our YouTube & website!
 
Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!

Trigger Warning: Suicide 
Our next guest has been a long time coming… today we have my good friend Tara Mackey on the podcast! Tara is the CEO of “The Organic Life,” founder of “Genetix,” Author of Cured By Nature and Wild Habits, a musician, a scientist, and then her most important job – a solo mother. She’s on the journey of always pursing her interests and using her knowledge to help others. But like so many of us, all of this came with trials and tribulations. 
 
At a young age, Tara witnessed her mother overdose twice, was adopted by her grandparent, then soon started to be prescribed several different medications. Resulting her to be on 14 different drugs at one point. After a major life event in her 20s, Tara decided it was time to gain control back over her life, and quit cold turkey on all her medications.
 
So today, we cover 
·      How this is Tara’s first interview in over 2 years due to the birth of her son. 
·      Growing up and witnessing her mom overdose two times by the age of 6, and the moment her grandparents swooped in and adopted her. 
·      Remembering every single detail about her childhood, being grateful that it happened, but not wanting that life for her son or any child for that matter. 
·      Finding forgiveness after starting therapy at the age of 13. 
·      The reason she started being prescribed medicinal drugs and how it got to the point where she was on 14 all at once. 
·      Why she decided to quick her medication cold turkey and how she almost died. 
·      Working as a scientist in a 9-5 where she didn’t feel fulfilled. 
·      Losing her best friend to suicide at the age of 24 causing her to shift the way things were going in her life. 
·      Turning to her God given gifts to bring not only joy to herself, but also others.
·      Her own suicide attempt and recognizing she wasn’t ready to die. 
·      Her blog “The Organic Life” and how that turned into a book deal. 
·      Creating a DIY breast oil and then launching her company “Genetix” from it. 
·      Her proudest accomplishment. 
·      If she still thinks medicine is important. 
 
I feel so thankful for Tara’s vulnerability. She has a beautiful soul and I’m lucky to call her my friend. 
 
Want to keep up with Tara? Follow her on Instagram! 
 
Check out “The Organic Life” and “Genetix” while you’re at it.  
 
 
 
Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!
 
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!
Or check out our YouTube & website!
 
Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!

You guys, I am so excited about our next guest. Today on the podcast we the legendary Mahmoud Abdul Rauf! Mahmoud is a former NBA player who has played for the Denver Nuggets, the Sacrament Kings, and Vancouver Grizzles. He is one of the greatest players in the game, even while living with a form of Tourettes. 
 
We have seen his name in headlines often and not just for his incredible free throw shooters. In 1996, he made headlines for not standing up during the national anthem as a form of protest that ultimately lead to a temporary suspension. 
 
To perfectly encapsulate his life, on February 3rd, a documentary called Stand will be airing on Showtime directed by our co-guest today Joslyn Rose Lyons. 
 
Together with Mahmoud and Joslyn we cover 
·      How Mahmoud was comfortable enough to share his story in his new documentary. 
·      Joslyn’s experience working with Mahmoud and what it was like to talk to the people that know him. 
·      Growing up in Mississippi and how your environment shapes who you are. 
·      Getting opportunities to go to Basketball camps as a teenager, then how Mississippi withheld those opportunities from him. 
·      Getting diagnosed with Tourettes and how that helped and almost killed him on the court. 
·      Witnessing racism and his first-hand experience with the KKK. 
·      Why he chose LSU, excelling there, and then ultimately going to school with Shaq. 
·      What it was like not growing up with a father and how he tried to track him down. 
·      The pressure of being the 3rd draft pick for the Denver Nuggets. 
·      The anxiety and depression he experienced after moving to a new city and almost moving back to Mississippi. 
·      The decision to convert to Islam and how fasting improved his game. 
·      The decision to not stand during the national anthem and what he thinks of Colin Kaepernick. 
·      The affects 9/11 had on the Muslim community. 
·      Life after basketball. 
 
There is so much more we hit on this episode and so much more I wish we did, so you already know I’m going to have him on for a part 2! 
 
Be sure to tune into Stand Friday, February 3rd at 9pm EST. 
 
Want to keep up with Mahmoud? Follow him on Instagram! 
 
Want to keep up with Joslyn? Follow her on Instagram! 
 
Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts!  It will really help us grow & reach more people!
 
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily inspirational stories!
Or check out our YouTube & website!
 
Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram!