In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, Theo opens up about a humbling truth: who you are is shaped long before you ever speak about it. It’s shaped in the quiet, unseen moments such as the habits, choices, and thought patterns that build your real character behind the scenes. Theo reflects on a season when he appeared disciplined and inspired on the outside, but inside he was exhausted and misaligned. Through honesty and self-reflection, he learned that authenticity isn’t crafted but it’s pr...

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, Theo shares the real story behind walking away from a stable banking job, multiple promotions, and a clear path to financial security in order to pursue something far less certain but far more honest. This is not a highlight reel. It is a conversation about nausea from burnout, friends disappearing, being called reckless, and still choosing to trust an inner peace that made no sense on paper. Theo opens up about: The difference between faith and fear, a...

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, Theo breaks down one of the most powerful truths in personal growth: consistency is what transforms your life. Not the big promises, not the perfect plans, nor the daily choices you honor even when conditions aren’t ideal. Together, you’ll explore: Why consistency matters more than motivationHow small actions compound into real changeA simple practice that reveals what you’re not doing and why honesty creates accountabilityHow your consistency becomes a...

What does it actually mean to live in alignment? Like not just in quotes on a canvas, but in the real, messy, beautiful parts of life? In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, Theo gets honest about the difference between looking “put together” and truly feeling aligned. Together, you’ll explore what happens when your inner and outer worlds finally match and why that shift can shake up your relationships, routines, and even your sense of self. Theo shares personal reflections on: How to recogn...

In this powerful conversation, Theo sits down with Lariesha Lee (she/her), LLMSW who is a licensed social worker with 16 years across nonprofit, education, healthcare, and corporate spaces to talk about what it really takes to stay whole while doing the hard work of social justice. From being “everything for everyone” to reclaiming rest, boundaries, and self-worth, Lariesha shares how she manages emotional labor, builds systems of support, and redefines success in purpose-driven work. S...

In this intimate solo episode, Theo unpacks the difference between performing and sharing whether it's on stage and/or in everyday life. Performance can be a polished mask we build for safety or approval. Sharing is slower, tender, imperfect and to be quite frank, honest. Theo explores how survival-mode “performance” shows up in our lifestyle and relationships, what it costs us, and how returning to presence, boundaries, and truth creates real intimacy and legacy. If you’ve ever felt you had ...

In this reflective solo episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, Theo explores what it truly means to be “like-minded.” Too often, the phrase gets mistaken for sameness but in real community it ain't always about echo chambers or perfect agreement. It’s about shared foundations strong enough to hold healthy differences. Theo invites listeners to rethink connection, individuality, and growth: how our unique perspectives can sharpen one another rather than divide us. Take a deep breath, pour a cup of co...

In this inspiring episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, Theo sits down with Sam Spencer who is a gender-fluid, non-binary individual who found the courage to live authentically later in life. Through decades of teaching, creating, and raising a family, Sam’s story reminds us that it’s never too late to rediscover who you are. Together, Theo and Sam explore what “freedom” really means from the point of view of liberation of self-expression to the power of chosen family and community support. This co...

Sometimes the most healing words don’t come from a sermon or a friend. Sometimes the message you need to hear arrives in the quiet mornings, through tears, breath, and an honest prayer. In this intimate episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, I share a message I received in a moment of deep exhaustion. A message that reminded me that my past is not my punishment, my pain is not my identity, and that it’s safe to rebuild and begin again. This is a love letter to my inner child, a gentle invitation to ...

Leadership isn’t glamorous. It’s not about applause, validation, or popularity. More often than not, it’s about carrying weight, facing criticism, and being misunderstood by the very people you’re trying to help. In this solo episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, Theo shares a raw reflection on the true challenge of leadership: the loneliness, the opposition, and the rejection that can come when you choose to stand firm in your values. ☕ Why being liked isn’t the job of a leader ☕ How to anchor you...

What happens when passion feels more like a wildfire than a warm nurturing light? In this deeply personal episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, I share my own journey with passion and how it once consumed me, left me burned out, and why I chose to lock it away. But lately, something has shifted. Passion wants to return but not as chaotic force, it wants to return as a youthful spark. This conversation is about learning to hold passion differently: not as an enemy to fear, but as a companion that ca...

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, we welcome Tim Harris who is a nonprofit leader, youth mentor, music coach, and freestyle artist whose passion sits right at the intersection of community and creativity. Tim works with Escape Ministries in Holland, Michigan, where he helps suspended students reintegrate into public schools. His mission is to ensure that youth who often fall through the cracks of society encounter support, opportunity, and belonging. At the same time, Tim is an artist a...

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break podcast we sit down with Alberto Garza, an established business owner, community builder, and co-owner of both General Woodshop and The Factory in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Alberto shares the story behind co-owning General Woodshop and The Factory, reflecting on his journey from banking outreach to building, the resilience it took to relocate and establish a new brand, and his vision for creating spaces that are rooted in retaining talent, collabo...

In this solo episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, I open up about something we’ve all faced: false narratives. When people are hurt, the healthy response is to seek distance and protect themselves. But when ego takes over, stories get twisted into weapons and then gossip, grudges, and smear campaigns that have nothing to do with healing or justice get out of control!! In this coffee break session we breakdown: The difference between healthy boundaries and ego-driven punishmentWhy gossip and rumors...

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, I sit down with thee Shayna “Akanke” Marie who is a poet, art activist, creative entrepreneur, and quiet force behind so many of Grand Rapids’ truth-telling spaces. As the founder of Akanke’s Room, narrative strategist at The Diatribe, and collaborator on projects like A City Within A City, GRMiFi (Media Initiative & Film Incubator), and Reaching Beyond Bias; Shayna has built rooms where art and activism meet healing and transformation. In this coff...

For me, a coffee break has never been just about coffee... I've always seen it as another way to connect with family, catch up with friends, or even connect within the community, workplace, or even with myself. In this reflective solo episode, I have decided to share how my earliest memories of coffee at my grandparents’ kitchen table and childhood home shaped my understanding of love, care, and presence with those around me and myself. In remembering my Grandma VanderVeen’s playful tea...

Have you ever felt like you couldn’t do anything right like no matter how hard you tried you were made to feel like you are never enough? This episode was created for the ones who’ve been micromanaged in love, guilted by those they trusted, and told that keeping score was the only way to protect yourself. Today, we lay it all out on the coffee table for us to discuss: The quiet damage of over-correction disguised as loveWhy “keeping score” only drains your joyHow real love creates space and...

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, Theo sits down with Alexis Stark who is a journalist, poet, educator, and West Michigan creative to talk about the intersections of faith, queerness, and storytelling. Alexis shares the heart behind her forthcoming poetry collection The Sound of Honey Falling, the role of journalism in shaping community narratives, and what it means to live authentically at the crossroads of Christianity and queer identity. Together, they explore themes of healing, belo...

This episode is an open invitation straight from Theo of Theo's Coffee Break. If you’ve been listening to Theo’s Coffee Break and thought, “I’d love to share my story, too” this is your sign. Theo is inviting listeners (yes, you!) to become future guests on the podcast. Whether you want to share your journey, offer insight, or just have an honest conversation at the coffee table, this is your chance to connect. And if you know someone whose voice deserves to be heard, send them Theo’s w...

In this solo episode of Theo’s Coffee Break, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it’s really like to be your own boss. Entrepreneurship comes with the promise of freedom, your own schedule, and the power to call your own shots. But here’s the plot twist: without structure, freedom can quickly become drifting… and drifting can lead to burnout or even failure. I’ll walk you through my actual day literally from the night-before prep, to the rituals that keep me grounded, to the work blocks and ...