Voices of Influence: The Podcast with Criss Madrigal

What happens when you stop waiting to feel ready… and choose yourself anyway?In this episode of Voices of Influence, Criss Madrigal sits down with Joyce Ayers, Divorce Strategist, for a real, unfiltered conversation about alignment, identity, and the courage it takes to use your voice—especially when it feels uncomfortable.This isn’t a conversation about having it all figured out.It’s about what happens when you decide to show up anyway.Joyce shares her personal journey from silence to self-expression, the internal battles many women face between who they are in their work versus their personal lives, and the moment she realized it was time to stop playing small and step into a bigger level of visibility.Together, Criss and Joyce explore what it truly means to be in alignment—and why your next level often requires you to move before you feel ready.In This Episode, We Talk About* The difference between being in alignment… and actually showing up in it* Why so many women feel confident in business but shrink in their personal lives* The identity shifts required to step into your voice* Letting go of perfection and embracing real, human expression* The power of saying yes before your mind talks you out of it* How intuition often gives you the answer in a split second—and what happens when you trust itContinue the ConversationThis episode is part of our Top 50 Voices of Influence Speaker Spotlight Series, where we highlight the women who are choosing to lead, speak, and expand their impact.✨ Read the full companion article featuring Joyce Ayers - Divorce Coach on Substack:“Saying Yes Before You’re Ready”✨ Ready to step into your next level of visibility and share your voice?Explore opportunities to be featured inside Top 50 Voices of Influence.Because in this new era, we don’t build alone. We rise together.To hear more, visit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crissmadrigal.substack.com/subscribe

This first episode of Voices of Influence inside Substack marks more than the launch of a podcast, it represents a shift.A shift in how we connect, how we build, and a shift in how we choose to be seen.In this opening conversation, I share the intention behind this space, the evolution of my work, and what it means to move from building alone into collaboration in community.This is the beginning of something deeper.From Audience to CommunityOne of the biggest realizations that led to this space was the difference between having an audience… and building a community.For a long time, many of us have been taught to grow numbers, expand reach, and focus on visibility. But visibility without connection feels empty.What we’re craving now is something more meaningful. These are spaces where we’re not just seen, but felt. Where we’re not just consuming, but participating.This is about moving beyond surface-level interactions and into real connection, and that’s what you’ll find here. This podcast is rooted in alignment. The kind that feels true within.The conversations inside Voices of Influence center around five core areas:* Health* Wealth* Relationships* Spirituality* Personal PowerBecause midlife invites a deeper level of reflection. And it asks you to look at what’s working, and what’s not. What feels aligned and what no longer does. And from that place, to begin making different choices.The Shift from Individualism to CollaborationThere is a collective shift happening.For years, success has been tied to independence—doing it on your own, building in isolation, proving your worth through output. But what’s emerging now is something different.A return to collaboration, to co-creation, and a return to building in community.This isn’t about losing your individuality, it’s about expanding it through connection with others. Because when people gather in aligned spaces, the impact multiplies.This is the foundation of everything I’m creating: Collaboration in community is the new currency.Stories as a Path to LegacyAnother theme that will continue throughout this podcast is the power of your story.In this episode, I share that I’ll be opening up about the different chapters I’ve written as a 5x international bestselling author, and not just the stories themselves, but the meaning behind them.These are moments that shaped me. The lessons that transformed me. The experiences that brought me back into alignment. And a reminder that your story is not just something that happened.It holds wisdom. It holds power. And it has the ability to impact someone else in ways you may not even realize.Voices of Influence is about the collective voices.This space will spotlight women who are leading in alignment through Top 50 Voices of Influence, as well as members inside The Collaboration Room.Women who are ready to share their message. Members who are ready to be seen.People who are ready to step into their next level of visibility.Because this is more than a podcast. It’s a platform for collective elevation.We are in a time where more women are waking up to the realization that the way they’ve been living, leading, and building no longer feels aligned. And yet, many are trying to navigate that shift alone.This space exists to remind you that you don’t have to do anything alone. That there is another way.A way rooted in connection. In collaboration. In authentic expression. A way that allows you to be fully seen, without losing yourself in the process.As you listen to this episode, I invite you to reflect:Where in your life are you craving more alignment?Where are you being called to connect more deeply… or to stop doing it alone?This is an ongoing conversation, and you are a part of it.If this resonated, let’s stay connected.Subscribe to Voices of Influence on Substack so you don’t miss upcoming episodes, including the next series where I’ll be sharing the chapters of my story and the lessons that shaped them.And if you feel called to be in a space where collaboration and connection are real, I invite you to explore The Collaboration Room.✨ Ready to step into your next level of visibility and share your voice?Explore opportunities to be featured inside Top 50 Voices of Influence.Because in this new era…We don’t build alone. We rise together. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crissmadrigal.substack.com/subscribe

There was something powerful about this kickoff.It was the transition of The Collaboration Room into Substack, and it signaled something deeper. This is not simply a shift in platform. It is a shift in how we connect, how we collaborate, and how we expand our voices—together.This moment represents the beginning of a new way of being in community. A way that is intentional. A way that is aligned. A way that allows your voice to not only exist, but to be witnessed, supported, and amplified in the right rooms. Why This Space ExistsThe Collaboration Room was created from a truth that many of us have felt but not always named:We are not meant to build, create, and grow alone.So many women are doing meaningful work—writing, speaking, creating, leading—but doing so in isolation. And while your voice can grow on its own, it expands differently when it is held inside a space that is designed for connection and collaboration.This space exists to move you out of doing everything on your own and into co-creation with aligned members. It is a place where your voice is not competing for attention, but is supported in its natural expansion.Because when you are in the right rooms, your voice doesn’t just grow—it multiplies.Join The Collaboration Room - The space where collaboration in community becomes currency. Why Substack Changes the GameBringing The Collaboration Room into Substack was a deeply intentional decision.Substack is one of the few platforms where organic visibility still exists. It allows your voice to reach beyond your current audience and into spaces where new connections can organically form. More importantly, every subscriber becomes part of your ecosystem—creating a direct line of communication that you own.What makes this even more powerful is how seamlessly content can evolve within this space.One piece of content can expand into multiple forms:* A live conversation* A podcast episode* A written article* Content shared across other platformsThis is not about doing more. It is about allowing what you are already creating to have a greater impact.Inside Substack, your voice is no longer limited to one format or one moment. It becomes something that continues to live, expand, and reach others in meaningful ways.More Than Content—This Is CommunityThe Collaboration Room is not just a place to publish or promote your work.It is a space where you are witnessed. Where your voice is not only shared, but supported by others who are also committed to growth, alignment, and expansion.This is where collaboration becomes a lived experience.Because when you are part of a community that is rooted in intention, support looks different. Engagement looks different. Growth looks different.This is where the philosophy becomes real:Collaboration in community is the new currency.Not in a transactional sense, but in a deeply aligned way where:* You support others because their message resonates* You engage because something genuinely moved you* You share because you believe their voice deserves to be heardAnd in doing so, your voice is naturally amplified as well.How The Collaboration Room WorksThe structure of The Collaboration Room is simple, yet powerful.Each month, we gather intentionally. These are not passive calls. They are spaces designed for connection, collaboration, and support.Inside this space, you will experience:* Monthly live calls focused on connection and collaboration* Opportunities for member spotlights, where you can share your work and vision* A private chat space, where conversations, ideas, and opportunities unfold in real timeThese elements work together to create a living, breathing ecosystem—one where you are not just consuming, but actively participating.Because visibility is not created by staying hidden. It is created by allowing yourself to be seen and supported.Co-Creation Over CompetitionOne of the foundational beliefs of this space is that competition is not the path forward.There is room for all of us.You can be doing similar work, serving similar audiences, and still have your own people. Your voice, your energy, and your way of expressing your message are uniquely yours.This is why collaboration works.Because you are not losing anything by sharing space with others. You are expanding what is possible for everyone involved.Co-creation allows each voice to stand fully in its truth, while also benefiting from the collective energy of the room.Visibility Through AlignmentNot every connection will be meant to turn into collaboration—and that is by design.This space invites you to move with intention. To connect with those who feel aligned. To build relationships that energize and expand you.Visibility through alignment means:* You follow what genuinely resonates* You collaborate where there is natural connection* You trust what feels expansive, not forcedBecause the goal is not to collaborate with everyone.The goal is to collaborate with the right people.The ones where conversations flow easily, ideas build naturally, and you leave feeling more energized than when you arrived.A New Way to Amplify Your VoiceAs part of this evolution, the Voices of Influence Podcast is launching within this ecosystem.Members of The Collaboration Room will be the first invited into this space, creating a powerful opportunity for co-creation and visibility.Each feature includes:* A podcast conversation* Distribution across major platforms* A collaborative Substack article expanding on the conversationThis creates a ripple effect where one conversation becomes multiple points of connection and visibility.This is the essence of what The Collaboration Room was created for—expansion through collaboration.The Power of Being Seen As You AreThere is a deeper layer to this work that goes beyond strategy.You do not need to be perfect to be visible. You do not need to be polished to be powerful. People are no longer looking for perfection. They are looking for truth. For real conversations. For authentic voices.When you allow yourself to be seen in that way, something shifts. Because people do not connect to perfection. They connect to presence.And this space is designed to hold that.This Is a Space You Step IntoThe Collaboration Room is not something you watch from the outside.It is something you step into.It grows through participation. It expands through connection. It becomes more powerful as each member brings their voice, their work, and their presence into the space.This is where:* Opportunities are shared* Collaborations are created* Voices are amplified—togetherAnd over time, this becomes more than a room. It becomes an ecosystem of aligned visibility and support.An Invitation ForwardIf you are here, it is because your voice is ready for more.The Collaboration Room is where your voice is supported, nurtured, and expanded through aligned community. And for those who feel ready to take that expansion even further…There is another stage available to you.Top 50 Voices of Influence is where your message reaches beyond this space and into a broader audience. It is where your voice meets visibility at a different level and where the collaborations that begin here can extend even further.This is the virtual stage that takes you on t.v. and you become a part of the upcoming Voices of Influence TV show streaming on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV. This is just the beginning.And if something in you felt activated while reading this, trust that.Your voice is ready.The space exists.And the expansion is already in motion. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crissmadrigal.substack.com/subscribe

This message came through in real time, and I chose not to wait to share it. What I spoke about on a global stage last week didn’t feel complete until it was brought into a space like this—because legacy is not built on stages alone. It is built in rooms.In the video above, I share a deeper truth that shifted everything for me: standing out is often the very thing that keeps us disconnected from our voice. When we focus on being seen, we can easily fall into performance—adjusting, measuring, and questioning ourselves in ways that slowly pull us away from who we truly are. Over time, that performance creates exhaustion, and eventually, disconnection.What I came to understand through my own journey—especially after years in corporate where I learned how to lead, perform, and be recognized—is that what I was truly craving was not visibility, but belonging. A place where I could show up fully, without needing to prove or position myself.That shift changed everything.Because belonging is not something a room gives you. It is something you decide before you walk in. And when you anchor into that, your voice carries a different frequency. It becomes clear, grounded, and felt. It no longer needs to compete for attention because it naturally resonates.This is why The Collaboration Room exists.Not as another place to post or consume, but as a space where voices expand through connection. A space where women support each other, amplify each other, and invite each other into aligned opportunities. Because this is how legacy actually grows—in community, in proximity, and through shared visibility.If you watched the video and felt something activate within you, trust that. That pull is not random.We’ll be gathering for our kickoff call on Monday, April 13th at 10amPT / 1pm ET, and this is your invitation to step into the room—not to stand out, but to belong.Because we don’t build legacy by trying to be seen.We build it by choosing the rooms where we can fully be ourselves—and allowing our voice to expand from there.Join The Collaboration Room and step into community, connection and visibility. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crissmadrigal.substack.com/subscribe