What if the darkest seasons of your life became the foundation of your greatest clarity?

In this soul-deep episode of The Knowing Podcast, host Christene Marie sits down with Sammy Aslam—entrepreneur, former convict, and the heart behind Alyshaan Fine Rugs—to explore identity, emotional safety, love, addiction recovery, and the surprising transformations that happen in solitude.

From how prison shaped his inner world to the intimacy and safety he’s found in his marriage, Sammy brings humor, wisdom, and raw truth to the table. You’ll leave this conversation reflecting on what parts of yourself are worth keeping—and which ones it’s finally time to release.

0:00 Intro

0:30 Podcast Intro

1:08 Sammy Guest Intro

4:27 Addiction, Loyalty & the Bond That Survived It

10:52 KPIs for Healthy Relationships? Yes, Please

16:00 The Power of Being Deeply Understood In Relationships

18:37 Emotional Protection vs. Codependency

26:17 Christene’s Story: Pain, Protection, and Childhood Illness

34:17 Understanding as a Bridge to Empathy

41:00 How Prison Made Me Who I Am

44:07 Identifying Who You Want to Be (Through Books)

50:30 Final Reflection: Knowing You Still Have Work To Do

📚Recommended Books to Read discussed in this episode:

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

💬 Comment below: What part of this conversation stayed with you? 🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes on self-awareness, business, and relationships 🔔 Hit the bell to get notified when new episodes drop 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

#TheKnowingPodcast #SammyAslam #EmotionalIntelligence #FromConvictToCEO #MarriageAndRecovery #KnowYourself #PersonalGrowth #UnderstandingHeals #AlyshaanFineRugs #EntrepreneurshipWithHeart #ChristeneMarie

📲Follow + 📌Connect:

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on TickTock: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

Sammy Aslam is the co-owner of Alyshaan Fine Rugs, Arizona’s premier destination for high-end, ethically sourced, and design-forward area rugs. Located in Scottsdale and serving luxury clients across the U.S., Alyshaan is renowned for its integrity, curated quality, and unmatched customer service.

Sammy brings the same thoughtfulness, emotional intelligence, and clarity to his work in the rug industry as he does to his life and relationships. Whether you’re furnishing a space—or healing one—you’ll feel the difference.

🔗 Visit: www.alyshaan.com

In this raw and resonant episode of The Knowing Podcast, Christene sits down with Dmitri Smirnov, entrepreneur, ad strategist, husband, and father of two, to explore the emotional journey of becoming an adult—one where you learn to hold grief and joy, fear and hope, truth and contradiction, all at once.

From growing up as an only child and navigating early identity confusion, to redefining freedom, parenting, and the power of silence—this conversation touches both the cerebral and the soulful.

🔑 Topics include:

• Identity and non-conformity
• Rewriting inherited narratives
• The antidote to pride
• Defining emotional adulthood
• The value of modern stillness

Whether you're navigating personal transitions, parenting from a place of growth, or reclaiming your voice—this episode will meet you right where you are.

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:24 Podcast Introduction

1:03 Introducing Dmitri

4:24 Only Child and Living in Freedom

10:30 Unspoken Rules & Painful Baseball Lessons

15:55 Names & Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

20:00 Awakening and Gratitude

34:12 The Real Definition of Adulthood

38:16 Grieving While Showing Up

41:00 Becoming Your Own Caretaker

49:21 Shower Thoughts & Modern Meditation

56:58 Processing vs Avoiding

👇 Leave a comment: What’s a contradiction you’ve learned to hold as truth?

👉 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of emotional health, identity, and impact.

🔔 Don’t forget to hit the bell so you never miss a moment of Knowing.

#TheKnowingPodcast #EmotionalIntelligence #Adulthood #InnerWork #SelfDiscovery #ChristeneMarie #DmitriSmirnoff #EmotionalMaturity #GratitudePractice #ModernMasculinity #PodcastChapters #KnowYourself

📲Follow + 📌Connect with Host Christene Marie

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on TickTock: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

Dmitri is a performance marketing expert and Founder and CEO of Big Life Marketing. With a unique mix of creative intuition and analytical rigor, he helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs craft messaging that converts and stories that resonate.

More than a strategist, Dmitri is also a philosopher at heart—known for weaving emotional intelligence into everything from marketing to marriage.

🔗 Connect with Dmitri: Website: https://biglifemarketing.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dmitri-smirnov Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biglifemarketing/

This episode of The Knowing Podcast goes straight to the heart of modern entrepreneurship—where high achievement meets emotional exhaustion. Christene Marie sits down with digital entrepreneur and agency owner Adam McChesney, who opens up about chasing success, losing himself, and the powerful moment he chose alignment over accolades.

🔑 Together, they explore:

• The hidden cost of being "always on"
• How business partnerships can mirror unresolved childhood dynamics
• What it really takes to know yourself and your worth

Whether you’re building a business, navigating complex relationships, or in the middle of a personal reckoning—this one will hit deep.

0:00 Intro

0:30 Welcome to The Knowing Podcast

1:08 Introducing Adam

4:40 The Story of Adam's Father's Business

8:03 A Business Exit That Brought Up Healing Generational Patterns

10:27 The Lie Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves: "I’m Doing It For My Family"

16:13 Christene on Religious Conditioning & Reclaiming Intuition

19:30 Avoiding Conflict and the Cost of Sweeping Things Under the Rug

24:46 Adam on Pattern Recognition and Taking Ownership

28:53 Drawing a Line in the Sand: Choosing Alignment Over Achievement

34:30 Defining Relationship KPIs for Business and Life

46:55 Subconscious Distractions and the Power of a Mental Audit

• 🔔 Subscribe to The Knowing Podcast for more real conversations every week.
• 👍 Like this video if you’ve ever struggled with alignment in business or life.
• 💬 Drop a “🔥” in the comments if you’ve been through a major life pivot.
• 📲 Share this episode with someone building a business and a life.
• 📲Follow us on Instagram and Tick Tock @theknowingpodcast for more rich content.

✨ What part of Adam’s story resonated with you the most? Let’s talk about it below 👇

#KnowingPodcast #AdamMcChesney #EmotionalIntelligence #BusinessAlignment #Entrepreneurship #InnerWork #KnowYourself #LeadershipJourney #BurnoutRecovery #ConsciousBusiness #PersonalGrowth #BusinessBoundaries #FoundersLife #MindsetShift #AuthenticLiving #DigitalMarketing #MastermindCommunity #SelfReflection #EmotionalWellness #HealingThroughWork

—

📲Follow + 📌Connect:

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on TickTock: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

—

Adam McChesney is a St. Louis-based digital marketing expert, speaker, and entrepreneur who helps service-based businesses grow through SEO, lead generation, and personal branding. After exiting a multi-million-dollar agency partnership that no longer aligned with his values, Adam launched his own agency and a mastermind community that teaches business owners how to grow authentically and profitably.

🔗 Website: https://adammcchesney.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammcchesney 📸 Instagram: @adammcchesney 🐦 Twitter/X: @Adam_L_McChesney

Welcome back to Season 2, Episode 4 of The Knowing Podcast with Christene Marie. This week, we’re joined by Chris Gray—evolving from corporate hustler to emotional intelligence champion—who shares candid stories around personal growth, presence, and living from a place of love.

• Chris’s dive-bar moment that sparked his first step into self‑confidence
• A pivotal conversation with his wife that reshaped his integrity
• How a simple 10-minute mindfulness bell keeps him grounded daily
• Christene's dinner table question that surfaces hidden perceptions
• A heartfelt discussion on choosing love over fear in work and life

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 Intro

0:24 Knowing Podcast Intro

1:03 Chris Joins the Conversation

4:30 Impostor Syndrome to Inner Confidence

10:30 “You Need to Work on Your Game” – Dive Bar Catalyst

15:22 Marriage Truth That Changed Everything

19:03 Christene’s Mirror Moment

25:00 From Head to Heart: Vibes, Projection, and Self-Reflection

29:02 Excavation of the Soul

34:59 What Do People Overestimate and Underestimate About You?

38:00 Chris’s Mindfulness Practice: 10-Minute Bell

49:38 Are You Squeezing the Life Out of Your Work?

If you found value in today’s conversation:

👍 Like this video

🔔Subscribe to The Knowing Podcast

💬 Leave a comment: Which truth resonated most?

🔁 Share with someone who’s in the middle of their growth journey

✍️ Journal: What is one thing that people overestimate about you? And what is one thing people underestimate about you?

Recommend books from this episode:

📚: Double Your Dating by David DeAngelo

—

📲Follow + 📌Connect:

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on TickTock: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

—

Chris Gray is a speaker, entrepreneur, and a champion of emotional intelligence. He’s the founder of multiple marketing ventures—including a fractional CMO agency—and a thought‑leader on cultivating mindful presence in leadership. Formerly stuck in the corporate world, Chris broke free by living through self‑reflective choices and embracing emotional authenticity.

Among his credentials: • Speaker & Fractional CMO offering marketing strategy grounded in emotional intelligence • Entrepreneur whose ventures now generate $8M+ annually • Mindset Mentor, using principles like the Bhagavad Gita and daily mindfulness tools • Jiu‑Jitsu Practitioner, blending martial arts grit with heart‑centered presence

• Website: (https://redpalm.us/)
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yochrisgray
• Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/yochrisgray/)
• Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/YoChrisGray/)

—

#EmotionalIntelligence #Presence #Podcast #KnowingPodcast #Mindfulness #SelfGrowth

What if your biggest breakdown was really a setup for your breakthrough?

In this powerful episode of The Knowing Podcast, host Christene Marie sits down with Darryn Yates—musician, rebel, and transformational coach—to talk about the moment he found purpose in a parking lot with a 9mm. Darryn opens up about the darkness he overcame, how he reclaimed his identity, and why authenticity is the secret weapon for any visionary leader or creative.

This conversation dives deep into identity, reinvention, parenting, performance, and the painful-yet-powerful road to truly knowing yourself.

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

0:35 Christene Intro

1:19 Darryn Intro

07:36 Most Potent Feeling

10:50 Your Why

14:38 Becoming the Person for Success

17:22 The Dream While Being Married

21:44 Pursuing a Life-Giving Passion

26:33 Purpose in Pain

31:47 Out of the Matrix

35:45 Something Must Die

39:05 Emerging from Transformation

43:11 People as Mirrors

50:52 Closing Thoughts

🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Leave a Review if this episode spoke to you.

—

📲FOLLOW + 📌CONNECT:

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on TickTock: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

—

👤 ABOUT DARRYN YATES

Darryn Yates is a musician, creative entrepreneur, and purpose coach who helps people break free from limiting beliefs and step into their boldest, truest selves. As the founder of Reveal Your Rock Star, Darryn combines mindset coaching, personal storytelling, and raw vulnerability to guide others toward a life of freedom, clarity, and power.

🔗 Website: www.DarrynYates.com

🎸 Coaching & Purpose Discovery: www.RevealYourRockStar.com

📱 Instagram: @darrynyatesofficial

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryn-yates-b5a507b/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/darrynyates

#TheKnowingPodcast #DarrynYates #RevealYourRockStar #AuthenticLeadership #RockBottomToPurpose #ChristeneMarie

In this heartfelt episode of The Knowing Podcast, Christene Marie sits down with entrepreneur and lifestyle investor Justin Donald for a deeply honest conversation on what it means to truly know yourself—not through achievement, but through presence.

Together, they explore:

-Why emotional intelligence isn’t optional for leadership

-How to shift from performance to presence in your relationships

-The myth of "doing more" and the courage to just be

-Powerful metaphors about family, business, and what’s truly fragile

-The role of curiosity, faith, and identity in building a life that lasts

Justin opens up about fatherhood, boundaries, success, and the wake-up calls that made him reevaluate his priorities. Christene brings the emotional depth and clarity that makes this podcast a sanctuary for those hungry for both truth and transformation.

🔹Complimentary Marriage and Family Planning Day https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jVxZgVEF6vZR0F_S65LGl52bzsxOQb47/view?usp=drive_link

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

0:30 Christene Intro to the Podcast

1:08 Guest Intro

6:16 Curating Communities & Boundaries

11:23 Presence Over Performance

16:51 Childlike Curiosity & Self Discovery

20:30 Ego Walls & Emotional Safety

26:05 Business Growth by Choosing Family

30:46 Marriage & Family Planning

35:48 Glass Ball vs Rubber Ball Mindset

37:28 Faith, Marriage, Children, & Purpose

41:36 Mentorship, Masterminds & ROI on Growth

🔔 Subscribe and tap the bell for weekly insights on knowing yourself, your relationships, and your purpose.

👇 Drop your favorite moment or takeaway in the comments—we'd love to hear what spoke to you.

—

📲FOLLOW + 📌CONNECT:

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on TickTock: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

—

👤 ABOUT JUSTIN DONALD Justin Donald is the founder of Lifestyle Investor, a community and investment network that helps people create wealth without giving up what matters most. Through private deals, conscious investing, and his signature courses, Justin teaches leaders how to build financial freedom and a meaningful life.

📘 Author of The Lifestyle Investor – a WSJ Best Seller

🎯 Host of The Lifestyle Investor Podcast

💡 Creator of the Lifestyle Investor Mastermind and Investment System

🌐 Website: https://justindonald.com

📘 Book: https://lifestyleinvestorbook.com

🎙️ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifestyle-investor-investing-passive-income-wealth/id1541009357

📸 Instagram: @justindonald

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justindonald01

🔹Complimentary Marriage and Family Planning Day Document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jVxZgVEF6vZR0F_S65LGl52bzsxOQb47/view?usp=drive_link

#TheKnowingPodcast #JustinDonald #EmotionalIntelligence #PresenceOverPerformance #FaithAndBusiness #LeadershipWisdom #knowingyourself

Welcome to Season 2 of The Knowing Podcast. In this powerful solo episode, host Christene Marie returns to the mic with unfiltered honesty, guiding us through what it means to live in vertical alignment, reclaim our self-worth, and wake up to our truest selves.

Through personal stories, daily practices, and emotional breakthroughs, Christene shares how to:

-Stop outsourcing your worth

-Heal from shame stories that started in childhood

-Reconnect with the person you were before the world told you who to be

Whether you're navigating grief, growth, or a season of self-reflection, this episode will meet you where you are—and move you forward.

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

0:30 Welcome To the Podcast

1:09 Podcast Start

4:13 Key Practices for Personal Growth

6:14 The Pain of Loss and Grief

11:48 Self-Worth and Presence in Grief

16:46 Worthiness Discovery

19:49 61 Day Challenge and Overcoming Narratives

29:59 Discovering Purpose and Emotional Intelligence

36:09 Nature vs. Nurture: A Self-Exploration

46:41 Intentional Energy

48:45 The Power of Emotional Intelligence

👉 New episodes drop weekly—subscribe and reflect with us.

🪞 Start your Knowing journey: Are you brave enough to pursue joy?

Recommended Books by Christene Marie:

📖 Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

📖 Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore

📲FOLLOW + 📌CONNECT:

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on Instagram: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Follow The Knowing Podcast on TickTock: @theknowingpodcast

🔹 Learn more at: https://www.theknowingagency.com/

🔹 Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

🔹 Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

#EmotionalIntelligence #SelfWorth #GriefHealing #KnowYourself #ChristeneMarie #PodcastForWomen #PurposeDrivenLife #HealingJourney #FaithAndHealing #EmotionalGrowth #TheKnowingPodcast

What if truly knowing yourself could change everything?

In this episode of the Knowing Podcast, Christene Marie walks listeners through a personal exercise on self-awareness, encouraging them to pause, engage, and explore the connection between logic and emotion. She introduces three key steps in deep inner work: identifying the source of emotions, building a strong personal foundation, and taking action to change old patterns. She emphasizes the importance of truly knowing oneself and making space for both thought and feeling in decision-making.

Drawing from her life experiences—grief, loss, and relationship struggles—she shares how unprocessed emotions can quietly shape our lives. She challenges listeners to reflect on their own defining moments and take responsibility for their growth rather than falling into a victim mindset. The episode wraps up with a reminder to practice “vertical alignment” daily, making space for self-awareness amidst life’s distractions.

Important Moments:

0:00 Intro

0:37 Words of Welcome From Christene

3:15 The Three Steps to Deep Inner Work

5:19 Balancing Logic and Emotion

9:57 Who are you?

12:16 What was a Catalytic Moment that Forced you Awake?

16:53 Summary of The First Two Questions from Christene

19:28 Have you Assumed Responsibility Over Self?

26:55 The Body’s Wisdom and Intuition

37:31 Narratives and Their Impact

43:11 Embracing Both Shadow and Light

48:07 What is the Light in You?

—

Sign up for Christene Marie’s Newsletter: https://christenemarie.com/receive-newsletter/

Read the blog: https://christenemarie.com/blog/

Invite Christene to speak: https://christenemarie.com/speaking/

Connect with Christene on her socials:

Instagram: @christenemarie_

LinkedIn: @christenemarie and @theknowingagency

Facebook: @christenemarie