Dare To Be Fearless with Alexa Curtis

Janine Delanay is not your average fitness personality. With 2.5 million Instagram followers, Janine has created a new definition of the term influencer. While working a corporate job, Janine amassed millions of followers on social media that led her to get approached by brands and producers who wanted a stake in what she was building. She's a firm believer in spreading body positivity to men and women of all ages and through her uplifting fitness videos and content. She's created a company for herself that involves determination, grit and utter passion. Follow Janine at @Janine_Delaney.

EPISODE 85// How many of you ever take a moment to just step back and breathe? Last week was a bit of a unique week for me. It reminded me that you have to always be uncomfortable because that feeling is what makes you thrive and grow constantly and consistently. Since back to school season is here, I'm talking about how I moved out at 17 (I don't suggest this AT ALL!), when I knew I needed to move out and how I navigated making friends in Manhattan. Did my mom and dad approve the decision? How did I pay rent for the first month? Answering all of your questions with some advice for you guys during episode 85, out NOW! Head to iTunes, SoundCloud & Spotify to find out for yourself ;) #livelifeunfiltered

Alexa brings episode 84, initially written as a blog post on Life Unfiltered, to life and video via IGTV. 160,000 kids in the United States are afraid to go to school because of the fear of being bullied. How can we as a community help prevent bullying and help kids who are being bullied? Plus, Alexa talks about her bullying experiences during this episode.

Aja Dang is the OG influencer. She launched her YouTube page and site before the days of blogging became as big as they are now. We launched our careers around the same time, and after meeting earlier this year on a USC panel talk, I couldn't help but ask her to come and chat with me. It's so important for you guys to know the reality behind building a brand off of yourself, and for you to be aware that being an "influencer" isn't what it's cracked up to be all of the time. Follow Aja on social media at @ajadang.

Therese Hoover describes herself as an intersectional feminist, artist and mom. She's also struggled with an eating disorder, which stemmed her to launch her Instagram page @healingcrayons. Along with talking about mental health and body image, Therese focuses on a range of topics to help young people overcome many obvious life obstacles.

Have you heard of SB Projects? Allison Kaye is a force in the entertainment industry, helping make talent like Ariana Grande AND Justin Bieber's careers. Along with CEO of SB Projects Scooter Braun, Allison finds talent and makes them into worldwide phenomenons. In this interview with Allison, we dive into the reality behind being such a successful executive, what you wouldn't know about your favorite stars and how she balances being a mother and a total boss babe. Follow Allison at @allisonjamiekaye on social media.

It doesn't matter what age or gender you are, or what profession you're in, anyone experiencing some form of success can feel like they're an impostor on some level. In fact, an estimated 70% of all people feel have suffered from impostor syndrome at least once in their lives. Have you? @alexa_curtis is tackling feeling like a fraud (imposter syndrome) today during This is Life Unfiltered. You ARE worthy.

Comforté founders Lina & Nadine Kennedy (the founder behind Alexandria Professional, the start of sugaring waxing) join me to talk about their latest venture, Comforté. This mother/daughter duo is a force of nature, newly focused on a unique remedy to help girls with their period cramps.

I'm intrigued by the concept of the work/life balance. Can you really do it all? In the media we always see stories of working mothers and fathers who talk about how they balance picking up their kids, going to work, making dinner, etc., but can they really do it all? I'm not a parent, but I certainly struggle with trying to do everything including be a daughter, a friend, and an entrepreneur. Let's talk more about this work/life balance this week!

Todd Grinnell is the co-founder of This Bar, formally This Bar Saves Lives, along with Kristen Bell + 2 other actors. Todd is originally from the East Coast (EC is the best coast) and he stopped by to tell me about his journey going from actor to entrepreneur, how he found his purpose, and HOW This Bar saves lives.

Vivek Jain is a unique individual. Originally from Canada, he worked in finance for the majority of his life before deciding to pursue a few different companies. Now, he runs LOKO (an innovative new dating app, completely unique) full-time along with pursuing acting + being a dad! If you're looking to pursue a nontraditional career path, this is a fantastic episode for you to listen to.

Finding your purpose takes time. It's a craft you have to perfect. Our founder Alexa Curtis takes us through the necessary steps you have to follow to find your purpose, and hopefully her experience will inspire you to take the next step towards finding your purpose. Follow Alexa on social media at @alexa_curtis.

Gabby Frost is a rising junior at Drexel University and founder of the nonprofit Buddy Project. Buddy project works to pair you with a person dealing with a similar situation you may be dealing with in an attempt to continue the conversation and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Gabby is a spokesperson for American Eagle and their AExMe council.

Dylan Gambardella is a 23-year-old entrepreneur, speaker, and leader. Dylan is the Co-founder of Next Gen, the premier business hub that cultivates knowledge, resources, and mentorship to empower the world's greatest entrepreneurs, energizing them to create and grow meaningful businesses.

Carly Stein was attending college in Canada when she went on a trip to Italy and came across propolis: a natural remedy from bees that helped cure her autoimmune disease. What started as a side-hustle in college turned into her leaving her job as a trader at Goldman Sachs to launch Beekeeper's Naturals. Now the leading seller of propolis (sold at retailers like Vitamin World and Whole Foods) Carly knows a thing or two about running a successful startup. Follow them on social media at @beekeepers_naturals.

As an international Crisis Management, Suicide Prevention, and Leadership Skills presenter, Sergeant Kevin Briggs' story and lived experiences have been featured at the Technology, Entertainment, and Design 2014 Conference as a TED Talk. His first book, Guardian of the Golden Gate: Protecting the Line Between Hope and Despair, was released in July 2015. Briggs, a retired California Highway Patrol sergeant, encountered numerous individuals clinging to life by a thread – individuals who had lost hope and could see no way out of their current situation - ready to jump off the bridge.

KIND Campaign was founded by Lauren Paul & Molly Thompson over 8 years ago. They travel the world with their nonprofit inspiring young people to be kind! Both girls are the definition of fearless and unfiltered, speaking on topics like bullying and using your voice to make a difference during their appearances. Follow them on social media at @kindcampaign!

On March 15, I successfully pulled off the first ever Be Fearless Summit in Philly. I didn't have more than 5 months from getting this idea approved to executing the full day, and there's a lot I walked away from the first summit learning. Likeeee....don't ever try and pull a summit off alone! So much of being an entrepreneur is about not being fearful of failing. The only thing you should be afraid of when it comes to a new idea is the possibility of failing yourself.

Chelsea Moore grew up in Los Angeles before attending UCLA and studying architecture. During school she started a mini business spray tanning girls in her sorority before leaving college and started BoxFox, an uber chic curated box filled with tons of different brands. BoxFox brought in over $6 million last year and continues to change the way people buy gifts nowadays. Follow BoxFox on social media at @shopboxfox.

I frequently talk to founders who left their corporate job to run their startup full-time. But what about those who don't have that million dollar idea (or want one!) but aren't happy working at a startup or a corporate company? My advice is simple: we all have our own definition of happiness, but how much are you willing to sacrifice to a) land your dream job b) stay in your existing job because the money is good even if you're not happy? When is too much unhappiness enough to get you to pursue something else?

At 17, Jade Darmawangsa is an entrepreneur and digital strategist. With over 100,000+ fans and followers, her personal brand focuses on social media growth and motivation. Her content exceeds 3.2 Million views via YouTube and Instagram. She started the millennial entrepreneurship podcast The Raisn Brand in December 2017. Then received "Creator on The Rise" feature on YouTube Trending Worldwide. Follow her on social media at @jadedarmawangsa!

Emily Miethner is a powerhouse. As as the Founder and CEO of FindSpark and MCG Social, an adjunct professor, and an award-winning speaker, FindSpark has produced 250+ career, diversity, and recruitment programs for top employers like NBCUniversal, Yelp, L'Oreal, Grey, Bustle, and IPG Mediabrands and their 30,000+ members. MCG Social, FindSpark's sister agency, provides social media, community, and experiential marketing expertise with a focus on Gen Z and Millennials.

Brandon Leibel started Sand Cloud after a draining corporate call center job left him dreaming of sunny days at his local San Diego beach. Thanks to hard work and a break on Shark Tank in February 2017, Sand Cloud took off and has now done over $20 million in sales, while continuing to donate to organizations that protect marine life and ocean ecosystems as apart of the Sand Cloud mission to #SaveTheFishies. Leibel is the head of sales, licensing, marketing and public relations for Sand Cloud.

Lauren Brody was the editor of GLAMOUR for 16 years, before she embarked on her own journey of being a mom & entrepreneur. She's the mastermind behind The Fifth Trimester, and her work has been published in CNN, Forbes, Fast Company & more. We're talking all about parenting & advice for those of you struggling with connecting with your parents, and feeling like you can discuss your struggles with them.

Thane Marcus is a 26-year-old force: he's an author, a professional golfer and a successful public speaker. When Thane reached out I knew I wanted to have him on This is Life Unfiltered because Thane is the definition of a driven and talented individual who knows what he wants out of life: something we all struggle with finding. Follow Thane on social media at @thanemarcus.

I met Arabian Prince when I spoke at UCLA with the Boys & Girls Club, and I didn't realize he was one of the founding fathers of rap until after we spoke! N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, CA- founded by members like Arabian, Dr. Dre & Ice Cube. Arabian is a tech junkie and incredibly successful rapper and founder of multiple tech companies. I'm honored to have had the chance to talk to him on the podcast and hope you love the interview!

Deep connections are hard to come by, which is one of the main reasons I stopped going out. Think there's no proper way to network? There totally is. I started going out when I first moved to New York City and I learned a lot when I began networking: you'd be surprised how many things you're probably not realizing when you go out and meet people. If you start thinking of yourself as a brand you'll realize how easy networking becomes: you won't take rejection as hard as you do now, and you'll start thinking about the bigger picture: becoming successful with your career one day!

Nicolette Mason & I have followed each other on social media since around the time I started my blog, A Life in the Fashion Lane. Nicolette is an influencer, inspiration and co-founder of Premme: a new plus-size clothing company that is about expressing your personality, having fun, and not feeling limited by society's current fashion rules. Follow Nicolette Mason on social media at @nicolettemason!

Besides being Ansel Elgort's girlfriend (swoon) Violetta is a sophisticated ballerina who is incredibly talented. She's also got a casual 1 million + following on Instagram. We interviewed her in NYC a month ago and we already made plans to go to hot yoga when I'm next in the city- she's getting trained to be a yoga instructor too! Follow her on social media at @violetta.

50 EPISODES OF THIS IS LIFE UNFILTERED! Wow! I can't believe I still get as giddy filming a new episode as I did the first episode that I ever filmed. The past 50 weeks have been monumental in my career: I picked up, subletted my beautiful 1 bedroom apartment in Boston and headed to Los Angeles to hopefully get some type of signal that I would become successful in this industry. I've learned so much from every guest I've had on and I hope you love following my journey and feel strong enough to pave your own path to happiness.

We live in a world where we have access to everything instantly: need a car? Grab an Uber. Need a meal? Postmates is where it's at. Need a date? Yep, Bumble, Tinder, or The League are reliable options. Best part? If you aren't in the mood, you don't even have to pick up the phone and cancel your date. Amanda Bradford, founder of The League joins me today to talk about the crazy world of dating we live in. Use code #AlexaVIP to instantly get bumped to the front of the line after you apply & get a VIP member account, exclusive to TILU listeners!

One of my favorite parts of my job is having the chance to speak to people around the globe: whether it's a celebrity, a kid or a seriously cool adult, I learn so much after listening to someones story. I've got Devin Bushey on this week: a 23-year-old from Springfield, MA who is currently enrolled in college and decided to share his honest opinion on college with me this week. He's got some wise words for those of you who just aren't quite sure what to do with your life!

Sophie Gray is the founder of DiveThru, an introspection app to help you answer life's questions. It combines guided breathing, journaling and reflection to help you turn within and better understand what you're facing. Sophie initially began as a fitness influencer until she realized her calling wasn't in fitness: it was in the mental health world. Her devoted 300k+ followers follow her and stay inspired by her positive and confident perspective on life. Follow Sophie at @sophiegray!

Wow, I don't have enough words to describe how much I respect Houston Kraft. He founded CharacterStrong in 2016, a program designed to educate and develop stronger school culture through Character-Development & SEL Curricula and Staff Professional Development, plus he's an "influencer" and an all-around KICKASS guy!

I've noticed A LOT of young adults and aspiring entrepreneurs become obsessed with the concept of "hustling", which is made even more popular by figures like Gary Vee who encourage a nonstop obsession with working. I wanted to openly discuss when I think the idea of "hustling" is taken too far and what to do when you feel like you're comparing yourself to other social media influencers. You DON'T need to get up at 6 AM to work a 12 hour day to make your company or life successful. Do you think the word hustle has become saturated or do you agree with the hustle concept that the media enforces?

Milan Costich isn't your typical entrepreneur. He founded Prevail Boxing in Los Angeles after working in the entertainment industry for years, working under some of the biggest talent agents in Hollywood. He woke up one day and realized he wanted more out of life that he wasn't getting from his 9-5 job, and that's when the journey of Prevail began. 7 years after launching and Prevail has become THE boxing studio in LA that all of your favorite Instagram models and celebs go to to break a sweat.

Meghan Asha is a person that trade shows like CES should be very afraid of. She's the founder of FounderMade, the latest and greatest consumer discovery show. But what's different about this show? She only has some of the most successful founders speak- we're talking people like the founder of ClassPass, DryBar, and Lo Bosworth...she's obsessed with finding the best products in health and wellness, and she's not afraid to admit that she knows she's onto something special.

I had the pleasure of having Andy Puddicombe into the office at Disney to appear on my show Fearless Everyday. Since my Fearless Everyday interviews aren't that long, I'm sharing the full clip of Andy's interview on This is Life Unfiltered! Andy is an incredibly successful entrepreneur & dad, originally from London. He started one of the most popular apps out there right now called Headspace: a meditation app for people across the world to use.

I met Sarah Gaines back when I lived in Boston and hosted a dinner with Ann Shoket. Immediately upon meeting Sarah I felt incredibly inspired by her story and drive. She's a 25-year-old entrepreneur from Boca Raton, FL who attended Northeastern University before starting Fit University & The Y Society, based in Boston, MA. Follow her on social media at @sarahjgaines.

Montana Tucker first appeared on Fearless Everyday on Radio Disney last week, and I had the chance to talk to her after the premier and dive further into her background. She's an incredible singer, dancer and anti-bullying activist.

The journey since I began my website has been a long, long journey. Yes, I'm only 20, yes I began my blog when I was 12, and no I didn't ever intend for my platform to turn into what it has: but I knew I was onto something the minute I began throwing around the word fearless. I always knew deep down that I had the power to inspire teens to get out of their comfort zone, do what they love, and live fearlessly. On October 27, 2017, I wrote an email to a Disney executive. I'm thrilled to announce that Fearless Everyday with Alexa Curtis premiers on Radio Disney on September 7th, 2018. Thank you for following my journey. Thank you for your support, your openness, and your efforts to let my journey inspire yours.

Candice Puthawala spent 18 years working in the fashion industry, traveling the world and experiencing opportunities that most people only dream of. While following her dreams, she also barely had time to breathe let alone meditate and focus on her mental health. understatement. By living this way, she burned out her entire body and became ill. Along with an autoimmune disease, she found herself having no more inspiration in her life. And so her journey truly began here: when she decided to drop her career in the fashion industry and launch the dopest (and prettiest) chocolate brand out there, Beauty Bar Chocolate.

Burn out is a real thing: whether you're in college or in the working world, feeling burnt out can stem from a variety of factor. Alexa is tackling her tips to overcoming burn out on Episode 36 and what traits you should look out for if you feel like you or someone you may know is starting to spiral down a negative path.

Rachel Gersten is a licensed therapist and certified health coach based in New York City. She's the co-founder of Viva Wellness , which is almost a coaching company revolving around mental health, and holistic health services to help improve your life for the better. Rachel completed her undergraduate degree at the Arizona State University where she double majored in psychology and human development, and attended Teachers College Columbia University where she earned two masters degrees in counseling!

Let's be honest: everyone has a different idea of what the word entrepreneur means. That definition continues to evolve, but at the end of the day, being an entrepreneur means working for yourself and (usually) coming up from nothing. On this episode, Alexa discusses how much being self-made has played a part in her success & what aspiring entrepreneurs should know before they take the leap.

Bobby Hobert also known as "Bobbbaaaay" is a 24 years young go-getter. After graduating from Bentley University in 2016 unsure of what his passion was, he launched his podcast Purpose in the Youth focused on unfolding the stories of passionate people. He runs his YouTube channel, a second podcast called Breakfast is Served and continues to push himself to do the things he never thought were possible. Positivity is what fuels him, ambition and xdetermination is what drives him. If you're ever in Los Angeles, you might be lucky enough to have him as your Uber driver.

Can you believe it? We're officially 30 episodes in. The past 30 weeks have been an absolute roller coaster: new friendships, a breakup, a book, a TV show...what's next for Alexa, This is Life Unfiltered, and what's the end goal? Follow Alexa on social media at @alexa_curtis.

Natasha Bure is one of my best friends in LA and her and I sat down in the comfort of my lovely West Hollywood bedroom to talk about rejection, getting out of your comfort zone, and dealing with being insecure. Follow her on social media @natashabure.

Tiffanie Darke is the Editor in Chief of A+E Networks History and biography department. She's responsible for all content across digital and social channels, where she builds stories and campaigns to give the channels editorial voice and vision. Along with being a major mentor and influence, she's a mom, an author, and a truly successful business woman.

Katie DePaola is the founder + CEO of Inner Glow Circle (IGC), a coach training and personal branding company for women. Today, IGC serves thousands of women through it's internationally accredited coach training programs, online courses and global community. Katie maintains a busy private practice and serves on the board for Bo's Effort, a nonprofit started in memory of her brother Bo.