Podcast Archives - Motivate Me!

Wrapping up Season 5 with more questions than answers—in the best way. I traveled to all 50 states, interviewed people about passion, and stepped into experiences I never thought I would… including living in a van for 90 days with two women I didn’t know. And now I’m asking: what is this book really about? Who is it for? And how can it actually help someone? This episode is part reflection, part clarity-seeking—and includes two excerpts from the book as it stands right now. Thanks for being here while I figure it out ????

Today on the show, we have Pamela N. Harris an award-winning author of Y/A mysteries and thrillers including When You Look Like Us, This Town is on Fire, and her latest, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Through Our Teeth. When she isn’t writing social justice-themed page-turners, she balances working full-time as a college professor and raising two self-determined kiddos.  Some passions won’t let go. You try to walk away, to give up, to focus on something else—but no matter what, the pull keeps coming. Writers, creators, dreamers… we all know this feeling. Rejection, long odds, setbacks—they don’t stop us. In this episode, we explore why certain callings grab hold and refuse to release us, and what it means to keep showing up even when the world isn’t ready for your work. Because the truth is, the things inside us that won’t let go? They’re often the ones that matter most.

Today on the show, we have Pamela N. Harris an award-winning author of Y/A mysteries and thrillers including When You Look Like Us, This Town is on Fire, and her latest, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Through Our Teeth. When she isn’t writing social justice-themed page-turners, she balances working full-time as a college professor and raising two self-determined kiddos.  Sometimes it feels like you’re inches from the breakthrough—validation arrives, momentum builds, and everything seems aligned. Then nothing happens. In this episode, we unpack what it means to pivot after near-misses, the lessons only time reveals, and how looking back can bring clarity you couldn’t see in the moment.

Racquel Henry is a Trinidadian writer, editor, and writing coach. She owns the writing studio, Writer’s Atelier, and is the editor in chief of Black Fox Literary Magazine. She currently has 7 self-published books in print, and she has written a Halmark-style holiday script that has be optioned by RomCom. “Tomorrow isn’t promised” sounds easy to ignore—until it isn’t. This episode is about what shifts when time feels more real, priorities sharpen, and the urge to create gets louder. It’s a reminder to stop waiting, start moving, and build what matters.

Racquel Henry is a Trinidadian writer, editor, and writing coach. She owns the writing studio, Writer’s Atelier, and is the editor in chief of Black Fox Literary Magazine. She currently has 7 self-published books in print, and she has written a Halmark-style holiday script that has be optioned by RomCom. Ever feel like your dreams are too big to reach? In this episode, we explore how to keep going, chase something bigger, and still do what you love along the way. Success isn’t about reaching the top—it’s about staying in the game. And there is no limit to how many pots you can have your fingers in. 

Dreaming is a team sport.  Meet Hilary Constable from WritersEP.com, Lynette’s brainstorming partner and judgement-free zone. Hilary is a writer and the creator of Writer’s Escape Portal where she holds weekly write-ins, monthly workshops, MEGA write-ins, and writing coaching. Today we talk about where ideas really come to life, and we explore what it looks like to plot, plan, brainstorm, and create—not in isolation, but in conversation. Because ideas grow faster when they’re spoken out loud, shaped in safe spaces, and shared with people who won’t judge or shut them down. 

You feel it, don’t you? That quiet pull telling you there’s more for your life. ✨ Maybe you finally have time for yourself… but you’re not sure where to start. Or maybe there’s that idea that’s never left your mind… the one that keeps nudging you. In this episode, I share: ???? 3 gentle steps to help you move forward ???? A simple way to start discovering what you truly want Sometimes the first step isn’t big. It’s just showing up for yourself. Save this post if you need a little guidance today, and listen to the full episode — your next chapter is waiting.

How would you feel driving all 50 states chasing stories of passion as the country erupted in protest and political unrest? Inspired—and uncomfortable. Unable to help. Aware of your own privilege.  It’s ten years later, and we ask today’s guest Cassie Hunter, the Motivate Me! with Lynette Renda’s 50 States in 90 Days camera woman, the question: would you do it again?

Be like Cassie. Imagine getting a message from a stranger with a wild proposal: travel the country, no plans, no guarantees—just the open road. Most people would delete it.  Cassie didn’t. She had no summer job, no place to stay, and just enough hope to take a chance. One bold yes set her on a journey she could never have planned—and it all started with a single email. Sometimes you just have to leap, like today’s guest Cassie Hunter, the Motivate Me! with Lynette Renda’s 50 States in 90 Days camera woman.

Who were you 10 years ago? Now imagine this: you’re on a 90-day road trip around the country with two other women, chasing stories, experiences, and possibility. Fast forward. You’re married. You have two kids. And the story you lived is finally about to be told. This episode is a reflection on becoming—how one season shapes the next, how adventure turns into legacy, and what it feels like to watch your past unfold just as your present fills up. ????️ A conversation about time and transformation with Chelsea Rathie Sitzman, the Motivate Me! with Lynette Renda’s 50 States in 90 Days Social Media Manager.

Once upon a private message. A woman in New Jersey messaged a young woman in Montana with a wild question: Want to travel all 50 states interviewing people about passion? They’d never met. They lived miles apart. She said yes. This Where Are You Now? episode traces the moment a single message changed everything. The leap. The risk. The beginning. ????️ Don’t miss the origin story of how Chelsea Rathie Sitzman became Motivate Me! with Lynette Renda’s 50 States in 90 Days Social Media Manager.

Who is this podcast really for? While on a mission to hone in on my show’s demographic to make my podcast, queries, and book proposal more specific, I asked the amazing members of my private Facebook group, Motivate Me! Support System, for help.  Who do they believe my intended audience really is? And they did not disappoint. Their answer? People who feel stuck, lost, or like life has passed them by. Adults who put themselves on hold, who’ve lost their spark, or who are searching for something meaningful again. They get it.

Fear of technology can be paralyzing—not because you can’t learn, but because you’re afraid to begin. Most people aren’t stuck—they’re isolated. In this episode, we provide 12 resources and show you how to use them, plus give two specific places to find your tribe, turning fear into courage and confusion into progress. You don’t have to do this alone. Let Lynette and Los Angeles television and film editor, Michael Scotti Jr., show you how.

Tech support isn’t about fixing problems—it’s about unlocking independence. In this episode, we talk about how understanding today’s technology can build real confidence and help you start something new now, not someday. We explore the power of curiosity, share practical resources, and show you how to “funnel the brain of ChatGPT” to shift perspective, spark ideas, and turn it into a personal assistant you didn’t even know was possible. New tools. New confidence. New momentum. “Let’s Go” with Michael Scotti Jr, Los Angeles television and film editor.

MM569- Moms Are People Too (Part 2)  is a reminder that behind the courage and the “I’ve got this” exterior are women who sometimes feel unsure, scared, and in need of reassurance themselves. In this Part 2 episode with my daughter, Mackenzie, we talk about the quiet truth no one says out loud: just because a mom does brave things doesn’t mean she has it all figured out. Like everyone else, it’s her first time here—and she’s learning as she goes, too. Thanks for being on the show, Mackenzie Scotti!

Fear isn’t weakness or failure—it’s human. In this Part 1 of a 2 Part episode, I speak with my daughter, Mackenzie, about what happens when you stop fighting fear and let it exist without shame – even in front of your child.  When you don’t hide, pretend, or mask—and choose to show up real instead—something powerful shifts. Vulnerability becomes connection. Honesty becomes comfort. And in the process, you don’t just free yourself… you empower the people watching you do it.  Welcome to the show, Mackenzie Scotti. 

We Deserve to Be Who We’ve Always Been. And chances are, you know exactly who that is. It’s the picture of yourself that’s burned into your memory. It’s that “thing” everyone always associates with you. Listen to an excerpt from the book Lynette wrote and is trying to get published that tells the story of how John and Lynette met, that shows that who they’ve been is who they still are. Listen in and explore further what this means for you. 

It’s hard staying committed to a big goal when the work is isolating. The conversation with John continues as we talk about the gift of tough love.  If you’re working toward something meaningful, this episode is a reminder that finding the right support system can make all the difference in seeing your vision through. Let’s get into it.   #Motivation #Inspiration #Passion #Podcast #Writing

What happens when someone you love feels called to something big — and you’re the one asked to support it? Welcome to Motivate Me! with Lynette Renda. In today’s episode, my husband joins me for an honest conversation about the vision behind my journey to travel 50 states in 90 days and the book that came from it. We talk about how the idea was born, his role in bringing it to life, and the very real fears and concerns he had about me leaving on a long journey — especially with two women I didn’t know at the time. This episode is for anyone chasing a big dream, loving someone who is, or trying to balance faith, fear, and purpose in real life.

Season Five, Episode One of Motivate Me! with Lynette Renda — “What If This Is Your Moment?” — opens the season with an invitation to pause, reflect, and consider what’s possible. In this episode, Lynette encourages listeners to step into a life that feels more exciting and meaningful, while sharing her current quest of bringing her book to publication—born from a powerful journey across all 50 states in 90 days. This episode is about courage, timing, and saying yes to what’s calling you now.

Enjoy the Season 3 Finale of the Motivate Me with Lynette Renda podcast and YouTube show featuring Lynette Renda, Chelsea Rathie Sitzman, and Cassie Hunter! Over 20,000 miles driven, 4,000 miles flown, 200 unique guests spoken to, and 244 videos and podcasts aired… the Motivate Me! #50statesin90days trip has been a great success. See their […] The post MM531- Season 3 Finale! 50 States in 90 Days with Lynette Renda – Motivate Me! appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Live from Home on the show’s one-year anniversary! Lynette celebrates being back at the Jersey Shore with previous Girl Scout troop member Leanna Goodman. Leanna reflects on how what Lynette has accomplished has impacted her perspective on her own life and nursing career. Lynette’s wish in this final trip episode is the same as her […] The post MM530 – MoMe! Crew Returns Home on Show’s One-Year Anniversary! – Audio Journal MM290 appeared first on Motivate Me!.

The last interview on the Motivate Me! crew’s 50 states in 90 days tour is with Grammy winner Ben Kane from Electric Garden! Ben is a music engineer who is passionate about making music and music recordings. He earned a Grammy for best R&B Album for his participation in D’Angelo’s Black Messiah album. Ben gives […] The post MM529 – Day 90 NY – Making Music and Music Recordings with Ben Kane appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Live from the Road: Behind the scenes footage we never thought we would air for you – be we are! It’s too cool not to. Just hanging out in Aric Johnson and Krisi Krings home recording studio in NYC. If you have never been inside an apartment in the big city, this is what it […] The post MM528 – Day 90 NY – Take that Leap! with Aric Johnson and Kristi Krings – Audio Journal MM289 appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Aric Johnson took the leap from Colorado to Manhattan in order to create. Whether he is working on writing, music, or film, he says pushing past perfectionism is key. He suggests practicing imperfection; he follows the “hurry up failing, so you can succeed” philosophy. Aric’s challenge to you: Stop holding yourself back by creating barriers; […] The post MM527 – Day 90 NY – Artistic Creations of All Kinds with Aric Johnson appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Singer, songwriter, speaker Kristi Krings uses her voice to change the world. She does this through song, as well as through a speaking career that includes a program that promotes kindness. She took the leap from Colorado to NYC, and with her producer husband turned their apartment into a recording studio. Do not partake in […] The post MM526 – Day 90 NY – Singing, Songwriting, Performing, Speaking with Kristi Krings appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Follow-up interview with Season 1 guest Michael Scotti Jr. In Season 1, Michael talked about how fear almost held him back from applying for a job at the Major League Baseball Network. Just over a year and a half later, Mike has been promoted and has an Emmy with his name on it on the […] The post MM525 – Day 89 NJ – Film Editor Follow-Up Interview … Big News! for Michael Scotti Jr. appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Vice Principal Nicholas Perrone from New Haven, Connecticut is passionate about breaking down the “school to prison pipeline.” Nicholas is on a quest to help students make good choices, to help them better their lives, and he will go to great lengths to accomplish this goal. If you have ever considered becoming a teacher or […] The post MM524 – Day 89 CT – Breaking Down the “School to Prison Pipeline” with Nicholas Perrone appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Tagan Engel has taken her love for food and people in different directions during her lifetime, but none that has been as emotionally fulfilling as using it to strengthen her community and improve the health of its members. Tagan will broaden your perspective on how to build out your passion in directions you have not […] The post MM523 – Day 89 CT – Using Food to Strengthen Community with Tagan Engel appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Hanifa Washington is uber passionate about connecting hearts and people. She is all about thought partnership and human connection, about finding and sharing her own voice, about living truth. Two nuggets from this interview are that all people are one, and that to pursue passion, people need to start with “rest.” There is so much […] The post MM522 – Day 89 CT – Creating Opportunities to Connect Hearts with Hanifa Washington appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Mistina and Luke Hanscom from Lotta Studio have created a space that embodies their passion, as well as promotes the talents of those in their community. Together, these two artists formed a unique niche, and in doing so, have designed a life they are excited to live. Take in their experience and apply it to […] The post MM521 – Day 89 CT – Gathering Creatives to Build Community with Mistina and Luke Hanscom appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Michaela Lamb is passionate about all things weddings! Ever wonder what a wedding planner’s role and life is like? She goes into great detail about the feeling of satisfaction she gets from making wedding dreams come true for others, and the feeling of accomplishment she feels from business ownership for herself. Get motivated to take […] The post MM520 – Day 89 RI – Passionate about Wedding Planning! with Michaela Lamb appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Live from the Road: Wedding planner Michaela Lamb and Lynette have a conversation about why, despite how much they loved teaching, they left the field to enter another one. And who was instrumental in this change and how. Do you feel there is something missing in what you are doing now? http://5ed.8db.myftpupload.com/ The post MM519 – Day 89 RI – Plan Your Wedding Planning, or Become a Wedding Planner with Michaela Lamb – MM 288 Audio Journal appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Entrepreneur Linda Stacy from LivingBluPrints.com is all about creating systems that allow less burnout and more turnout. Her passion is helping hyper-busy professionals find work-life balance. She discusses her own struggles in these areas, and promotes taking the first step in the right direction and letting the rest evolve when heading into new territory. Linda […] The post MM518 – Day 88 MA – Work-Life Balance for Hyper-Busy Professionals with Linda Stacy appeared first on Motivate Me!.

For Toby Fisher, flipping homes is about more than financial gain. He is an ethical real estate investor who has found ways to reap financial and emotional reward from his projects. Toby will inspire you to live a life that you love, to ward off feeling overwhelmed by taking each project one step at a […] The post MM517 – Day 88 MA – Turning Distressed Properties into Something Special with Toby Fisher appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Live from the Road: With two states and three days to go Lynette is full of awe, emotion, and gratitude. Listen to what the last days will bring! http://5ed.8db.myftpupload.com/ The post MM516 – Day 87 MA – The Motivate Me! Crew is About to Bring it Home – Audio Journal MM287 appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Richard Boddie was in a car accident that caused him to slow down. This, and a personal development program, forced him to take an honest look at how he was going about life. It was tough for him to take off the mask. He would like to share his passion for self-discovery with you by […] The post MM515 – Day 87 NH – Journey of Self-Discovery with Richard Boddie appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Jeff Photiades, a wealth management advisor, will ABSOLUTELY change your perspective on life. Just some ideas shared here: you are 81% more likely to achieve life-changing goals when it is written down, putting labels on yourself creates misery, and “Life is perfect, we just don’t like it that way.” Please open your mind so that […] The post MM514 – Day 87 NH – Helping Others Prosper through Human Connection with Jeff Photiades appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Live from the Road: This is what happens when a podcast host on a 50-state tour sits down for a chat about comfort zones with a business owner and a self-published author!  Thank you, Marie Romano and T.L. Manning!  http://5ed.8db.myftpupload.com/ The post MM513 – Day 86 ME – New Friends, New Zones with The Motivate Me! Crew, Marie Romano, and T. L. and Jeremiah Manning – Audio Journal MM286 appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Author T.L.Manning took a negative experience and, over time, turned it into a positive one. A self-published author of thirteen books, she implores you to do what makes you happy, despite the criticisms of others and any disappointments you may encounter. http://5ed.8db.myftpupload.com/ The post MM512 – Day 86 ME – Passionate about Novel-Writing! with T. L. Manning appeared first on Motivate Me!.

It was a special day of the trip when the Motivate Me! crew got to share Randolph Jones’ passion for sailing. Randolph is passionate about sailing Maine, and about sharing the traditional techniques of lobstering. Let him get you thinking about how you can balance what you love with what you need, and how you […] The post MM511 – Day 86 ME – Keeping the History of Lobstering Alive through a Passion for Sailing with Randolph Jones appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Live from the Road: Questions for the crew with guest host Marie Romano from Serenity Falls HomeStay at Camden, ME. What’s the crew doing in Maine? What’s it like in Maine? Why is the tri-state area so intense compared to all of the other states? What questions does the crew’s Maine host have fort them? […] The post MM510 – Day 85 ME – For Inquiring Minds with the Motivate Me! Crew and Marie Romano – Audio Journal MM285 appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Marie Romano from Serenity Falls HomeStay at Camden, ME, took the upheaval in her life as a sign that it was time to act on a dream. Superstorm Sandy, and other events, led Marie to a transition from New Jersey to Maine, from sadness to dreaming, from existing to excited. With one decision she changed […] The post MM509 – Day 85 ME – Making People Feel at Home in her Homestay with Marie Romano appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Live from the Road: Marie Romano from Serenity Falls HomeStay at Camden, Maine, had no idea the impact her kindness and enthusiasm would have for the Motivate Me! 50 states in 90 days trip. Let this episode speak volumes about the power of giving and the importance of receiving. http://5ed.8db.myftpupload.com/ The post MM508 – Day 84 ME – The Butterfly Effect of Kindness with Marie Romano – Audio Journal MM284 appeared first on Motivate Me!.

While art is often a solitary task, these two artists, Natalie Blake and Cynthia Parker-Houghton, thrive on collaboration. If you would like to make a career using your artistic skills, this is an episode you will not want to miss! http://5ed.8db.myftpupload.com/ The post MM507 – Day 84 VT – Bringing Life, Beauty and Energy to the World through Art with Natalie Blake and Cynthia Parker-Houghton appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Christian Stromberg from Saxtons River Distillery took his passion for concocting spirits and built a distillary. He says, “To do my own thing; I had to start my own thing” – even if that meant starting out slowly. If you are interested in creating and selling products of any kind, he has great advice for […] The post MM506 – Day 84 VT – Creating New and Interesting Spirits with Christian Stromberg appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Where does a passion for the dairy industry begin? On the farm! Eliot Morse makes cheese at the very popular Grafton Village Cheese Company in Brattleboro, Vermont. Eliot loves creating different flavors that age for up to four years, and he values helping “multiple farms with an avenue for their milk.” Eliot challenges you to […] The post MM505 – Day 84 VT – Passionate about the Dairy Industry with Eliot Morse appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Live from the Road: After a day with Lynette’s New Jersey family, she sits down to have a deep conversation with her nephew. For Conner Smith, it’s suffering that he wants to keep in his life. Conner feels that if people are not suffering, they are not pushing themselves, and they are too comfortable. His […] The post MM504 – Day 83 NJ – Deep Thoughts on the Motivational Properties of Suffering with Conner Smith – Audio Journal MM283 appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Live from the Road: Lynette speaks with the happy couple, the newly engaged, Michael and Mackenzie! If you are in love with love, or you’ve been afraid to put yourself out there, afraid to open your heart again, take a listen! http://5ed.8db.myftpupload.com/ The post MM503 – Day 83 PA – Get out There and get in Love with Michael Scotti Jr. and Mackenzie Renda – Audio Journal MM282 appeared first on Motivate Me!.

Behind the Scenes Episode: Michael shares with us the engagement video he made for Mackenzie. This day of the trip was dedicated to the happy couple: proposal, dinner, and party bus around Philadelphia. Mackenzie Renda will soon be a Scotti! http://5ed.8db.myftpupload.com/ The post MM502 – Day 82 PA – Proposal Video – A New Family Begins with Michael Scotti Jr. and Mackenzie Renda appeared first on Motivate Me!.