Your Words Have Power: Speaking with Impact with Jordan LeBel

What happens when a professor known for impact and connection is forced to slow down — and discovers that saying “No” might be the most powerful lesson of all?Jordan LeBel is a marketing professor and food industry expert whose superpower lies in the spoken word — the ability to move people, build trust, and create lasting connection. In this episode, he reflects on the joy of teaching, the legacy of his Grandmama, and the wake‑up call that came with surviving a widow maker heart attack.He opens up about:• “My words have impact” — Jordan’s first superpower• Building trust and connection with his students• Why self‑care does not equal self‑indulgence• How taking stock led to growth, gratitude, and new boundariesEpisode Chapters00:00 Introduction02:00 From a 12‑Year‑Old in the Kitchen to Marketer and Academic06:09 Jordan’s First Superpower — My Words Have Impact11:23 Grandmama’s Legacy and Influence15:49 The Gratification of Connecting with Students26:09 Speaking to an Aviation Industry Audience31:51 Trust and Human Connection Before Taking the Leap37:01 Overcoming Fear Through Preparation and Support42:18 Learning from Failure and Being Good to Yourself46:53 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Your Superpowers49:48 Surviving a Widow Maker Heart Attack and Reassessing Life58:33 Self‑Care Does Not Equal Self‑Indulgence01:08:11 Learning to Say No Without Guilt01:12:51 Jordan Suggests Mark’s Superpower Might Be This Podcast01:15:54 Growth and Gratitude as Guiding Principles01:20:09 Asking for Your HelpDiscovery OptimizationThis episode explores speaking with impact, intentional living, communication as a superpower, trust and connection in teaching, overcoming fear, imposter syndrome, self‑care, boundaries, and the life‑changing clarity that comes after a major health wake‑up call. Ideal for listeners interested in personal growth, leadership, gratitude, and finding purpose through adversity.