The Blessed Code™️

In this special compilation of The Blessed Code™️, we explore what really happens when men choose honesty over hiding. This episode highlights the most powerful moments of what vulnerability really looks like for men today–breaking the myth that honesty is weakness. From being pulled out of rock bottom, to finally calling for help, to facing a cancer diagnosis, these stories reveal how healing, leadership, and legacy begin the moment you stop suffering in silence.  If you’re navigating burnout, healing family wounds, or redefining what leadership looks like, this “best of” will remind you: your story gets lighter the second you stop carrying it alone. KEY POINTS  5: How Real Men Heal | The Vulnerability Code | Dr. Delatorro & Travis Holoway 7: When Brothers Build Together | The Networking Code | Clifton Addison & Woody Remy  9: How to Find Hope & Heal from Loss | The Grief Code | John Onwuchekwa 10: How Vulnerability Built a Billion-Dollar Brand | The Purpose Code | Melvin Rodriguez & Jessica Hurley  12: From Go-Getter to Go-Giver | The Pivot Code | Derek Lewis

In this segment of The Blessed Code™️, Chris Lyons (Andreessen Horowitz, Cultural Leadership Fund) and Melvin Rodriguez deliver a powerful message on access, belief, and divine positioning. They break down how technology has leveled the playing field — and why self-belief, creativity, and emotional intelligence (EQ) are the real currencies of the future. Melvin drives it home with a call to faith: God has already equipped you; all you have to do is believe you belong in the room. 👉🏾 You’ll learn: How access and information create generational wealth Why faith + confidence are the new power combo The importance of emotional intelligence in leadership How to overcome imposter syndrome and walk in divine purpose 📲 Stay connected & follow us: ▶️ The Blessed Code™️ Podcast – @theblessedcode ▶️ Melvin Rodriguez – @themelvinrodriguez▶️ Stay Blessed Studios – @stayblessedstudio🌐 Explore more at Stay Blessed Studio – stayblessedstudio.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE 🔥 If this episode spoke to you, be sure to leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🔑 The story must be told™️ Stay blessed, stay grounded, and keep unlocking your code. The Blessed Code™️ is produced by EPYC Media Network

In this episode of The Blessed Code™️, host Melvin Rodriguez sits down with Chris Lyons  - investor, innovator, and visionary behind Andreessen Horowitz’s Cultural Leadership Fund - to decode The Innovation Code. From the music studio to Silicon Valley, Chris has built bridges between Black culture, capital, and creativity. Together, they unpack how innovation begins with identity - and why authenticity is the ultimate advantage in business, tech, and life. If you’ve ever felt called to build something that’s never been done before, this episode will show you that your difference is your design. 👉🏾 You’ll learn: - How culture shapes the future of innovation and technology- Why faith and belief fuel creativity- What it takes to build without a blueprint- The mindset every visionary needs to lead with courage- How to turn cultural influence into generational impact KEY POINTS:  - How culture is a fundamental driver of innovation and creative breakthroughs - Chris’s journey from music to the tech industry  - The pivotal influence of social media apps like FB and IG  - How modern tools like AI and blockchain help businesses succeed - Diversity in Tech: Black representation as a competitive advantage - Chris on the Andreessen Horowitz's Cultural Leadership Fund  - Technology as a modern alchemy  - The need for more people of color in the tech industry  QUOTES:  “Technology is the modern-day alchemy, because just with a computer, you have the ability to create a billion-dollar business and change your entire life and family.” – Chris Lyons  “Tough times don't last, but tough people do.” – Chris Lyons  “The two most powerful words you can ever say [are] “I am” because whatever you say after that is off to the races.” – Chris Lyons  “The next generation of wealth was happening within the technology industry, and black people and people of color needed to have a seat at that table.” – Chris Lyons  “Tough times don't last, but tough people do.” – Chris Lyons  📲 Stay connected & follow us: ▶️ The Blessed Code™️ Podcast – @theblessedcode ▶️ Melvin Rodriguez – @themelvinrodriguez▶️ Stay Blessed Studios – @stayblessedstudio🌐 Explore more at Stay Blessed Studio – stayblessedstudio.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE 🔥 If this episode spoke to you, be sure to leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🔑 The story must be told™️ Stay blessed, stay grounded, and keep unlocking your code. The Blessed Code™️ is produced by EPYC Media Network 

In this clip from The Blessed Code™️, Chris Lyons (Andreessen Horowitz, Cultural Leadership Fund) and Melvin Rodriguez explore how faith, culture, and technology are reshaping the future of Black wealth and innovation. Chris shares why the next generation of wealth is being built in tech — from AI to crypto — and why people of color must have seats at the table, on cap tables, and in rooms where the future is designed. Melvin reminds us that legacy is built through access, collaboration, and courage: what we do now determines the greater tomorrow. 👉🏾 You’ll learn: Why culture + code = modern-day alchemy How faith fuels innovation and purpose The power of access, exposure, and collaboration Why the future of wealth must include us 📲 Stay connected & follow us: ▶️ The Blessed Code™️ Podcast – @theblessedcode ▶️ Melvin Rodriguez – @themelvinrodriguez▶️ Stay Blessed Studios – @stayblessedstudio🌐 Explore more at Stay Blessed Studio – stayblessedstudio.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE 🔥 If this episode spoke to you, be sure to leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🔑 The story must be told™️ Stay blessed, stay grounded, and keep unlocking your code. The Blessed Code™️ is produced by EPYC Media Network

In this clip from The Blessed Code™️, former PepsiCo President Derek Lewis reveals what 35 years in corporate leadership taught him about success, stewardship, and legacy. From his first promotion to the C-suite, Derek learned that results alone don’t define greatness — your relationships and your reputation do too. Here, he breaks down the mindset that made him one of the highest-ranking Black executives in global business and shares why true leadership is about impact, not ego. 👉🏾 In this video, you’ll learn: - The “3 R’s” that drive sustainable success: Results, Relationships, Reputation - Why performance without purpose will burn you out - How to lead people and protect your brand - Why legacy is built through service, not status 📲 Stay connected & follow us: ▶️ The Blessed Code™️ Podcast – @theblessedcode ▶️ Melvin Rodriguez – @themelvinrodriguez▶️ Stay Blessed Studios – @stayblessedstudio🌐 Explore more at Stay Blessed Studio – stayblessedstudio.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE 🔥 If this episode spoke to you, be sure to leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🔑 The story must be told™️ Stay blessed, stay grounded, and keep unlocking your code. The Blessed Code™️ is produced by EPYC Media Network

In this episode of The Blessed Code™️, host Melvin Rodriguez sits down with Derek Lewis — former President of PepsiCo Multicultural Business and author of Survive & Advance — to unlock The Pivot Code: how faith, humility, and stewardship shape true success. From growing up in hardship to leading one of the world’s largest corporations, Derek shares how childhood pain became purpose, how faith guided his rise, and how a cancer diagnosis shifted him from go-getter to go-giver. If you’ve ever wondered how to build wealth with faith, lead without ego, or find purpose beyond power — this is your blueprint for living a life without compromise. KEY POINTS: 00:00 - Intro – The Pivot Code 03:00 - Breaking Generational Curses 15:27 - How Childhood Pain Built Leadership 18:00 - Lessons from 35 Years at PepsiCo 24:00 - The 3 R’s of Success: Results, Relationships, Reputation 39:59 - When Faith Gets Tested 43:30 - How Cancer Changed Everything 46:00 - From Go-Getter to Go-Giver 51:18 Derek’s Daily Blessed Code QUOTES:  “I always knew I wanted to be a leader. Always knew I wanted to be.” – Derek Lewis “Rich is not something I look at as tangible. I look at ‘rich’ as being beyond the material.” – Derek Lewis “I never gave up focusing on me. Because I can't be my best version of myself for everybody else, but I'm not the best version of myself for myself. So I have to show it for myself first—and then I can create other opportunities for others.” – Derek Lewis “If you start with wealth creation as your model for rich and altitude and attitude, you're going to take a lot of missteps.” – Derek Lewis “I've always stayed to betting on myself, believing myself, and being myself. I never gave up authenticity.” – Derek Lewis  📲 Stay connected & follow us: ▶️ The Blessed Code™️ Podcast – @theblessedcode ▶️ Melvin Rodriguez – @themelvinrodriguez▶️ Stay Blessed Studios – @stayblessedstudio🌐 Explore more at Stay Blessed Studio – stayblessedstudio.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE 🔥 If this episode spoke to you, be sure to leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🔑 The story must be told™️ Stay blessed, stay grounded, and keep unlocking your code. The Blessed Code™️ is produced by EPYC Media Network

In this clip from The Blessed Code™️, Derek Lewis — former President of PepsiCo Multicultural Business and author of Survive & Advance — shares how his leadership journey began long before corporate boardrooms. From running neighborhood games as a kid to pledging Kappa Alpha Psi and meeting his wife at Hampton University, Derek reflects on the lessons, discipline, and divine alignment that shaped a 35-year career at Pepsi. It’s a story about vision, faith, and legacy — how God prepares you in private before He promotes you in public. 👉🏾 In this video, you’ll learn: How childhood traits reveal leadership purpose The power of faith, marriage, and mentorship in success Lessons from 35 years of leading with conviction Why true leadership begins with humility and service 📲 Stay connected & follow us: ▶️ The Blessed Code™️ Podcast – @theblessedcode ▶️ Melvin Rodriguez – @themelvinrodriguez▶️ Stay Blessed Studios – @stayblessedstudio🌐 Explore more at Stay Blessed Studio – stayblessedstudio.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE 🔥 If this episode spoke to you, be sure to leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🔑 The story must be told™️ Stay blessed, stay grounded, and keep unlocking your code. The Blessed Code™️ is produced by EPYC Media Network 

In this clip from The Blessed Code™️, tech innovator Zayd Portillo (Co-Founder & CEO of Light Energy Labs, with Grammy-winning producer Timbaland) joins Melvin Rodriguez to break down the next frontier of creativity - owning your platform. From building interactive live music experiences to empowering creators with the tools to monetize directly, this conversation reveals the truth about streaming platforms, audience data, and the future of creative ownership. If you’ve ever felt like you’re creating for the algorithm instead of your audience, this is your blueprint to reclaim your power. 👉🏾 In this video, you’ll learn: Why creators must own their platforms The truth about streaming, data, and monetization How to democratize creativity through technology The future of community-led innovation Why independence is the new influence 📲 Stay connected & follow us: ▶️ The Blessed Code™️ Podcast – @theblessedcode ▶️ Melvin Rodriguez – @themelvinrodriguez▶️ Stay Blessed Studios – @stayblessedstudio🌐 Explore more at Stay Blessed Studio – stayblessedstudio.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE 🔥 If this episode spoke to you, be sure to leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🔑 The story must be told™️ Stay blessed, stay grounded, and keep unlocking your code. The Blessed Code™️ is produced by EPYC Media Network 

How do you build something that’s never been done before, especially when there’s no blueprint to follow? In this episode of The Blessed Code™️, host Melvin Rodriguez sits down with three trailblazing founders - Dave Salvant (Co-Founder & President of Squire), Chris Simon (CEO of BTST Services), and Zayd Portillo (Co-Founder & CEO of Light Energy Labs, alongside Grammy-winning producer Timbaland) - to decode The Visionary Code™️. From billion-dollar fintech startups to mental health enterprises and groundbreaking creator platforms, these visionaries share what it takes to trust the calling, lead with conviction, and create what doesn’t yet exist. This episode is a masterclass for builders, dreamers, and innovators who know they were chosen to do something different - and have to create the map while walking the path. 👉🏾 In this episode, you’ll learn: How to lead with vision when no blueprint exists Why faith and obedience are the foundation of innovation The discipline and sacrifice behind billion-dollar ideas How to turn divine calling into tangible impact What it means to build for legacy, not just profit KEY POINTS:  0:00 – Introduction: The Visionary Code™️ 4:10 – Building without a map: the mindset of visionaries 12:00 – Exposure, opportunity, and becoming the example 19:20 – How Squire became a billion-dollar business 27:00 – Building tech that empowers creators 36:00 – Democratizing innovation and ownership 44:00 – Balancing sacrifice, success, and self-care 49:00 – The power of conviction and faith 54:00 – Why persistence beats resistance everytime  QUOTES:  “Treat people well. I've been working on this, too, because oftentimes you don't want to be [in] a position where you treat people differently depending on what they do and what value they add.” – Dave Salvant “I am a humble servant [who] has been blessed to be able to create some phenomenal businesses.” – Chris Simon “An attitude of gratitude. While we're ambitious and we aspire for so much more, and it could get frustrating, it could get scary… it could be optimistic, right?” – Chris Simon “Everything is just a relationship.” – Zayd Portillo “Somebody's going through something. Put yourself in their shoes.” – Zayd Portillo 📲 Stay connected & follow us: ▶️ The Blessed Code™️ Podcast – @theblessedcode ▶️ Melvin Rodriguez – @themelvinrodriguez▶️ Stay Blessed Studios – @stayblessedstudio🌐 Explore more at Stay Blessed Studio – stayblessedstudio.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE 🔥 If this episode spoke to you, be sure to leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🔑 The story must be told™️ Stay blessed, stay grounded, and keep unlocking your code. The Blessed Code™️ is produced by EPYC Media Network 

From East Baltimore to boardrooms across America - this story is proof that exposure changes everything. In this clip from The Blessed Code™️, a visionary founder shares how discovering golf as a kid completely transformed his life. What started as curiosity turned into opportunity - mentorship, travel, and a mindset shift that redefined what was possible. This is a powerful reminder that you can’t become what you’ve never been exposed to - and once you see it, you can’t unsee it. 👉🏾 In this segment, you’ll learn: Why exposure is the foundation of elevation How mentorship and access shape destiny The power of curiosity and discipline in success How golf became a gateway to entrepreneurship and community 📲 Stay connected & follow us: ▶️ The Blessed Code™️ Podcast – @theblessedcode ▶️ Melvin Rodriguez – @themelvinrodriguez▶️ Stay Blessed Studios – @stayblessedstudio🌐 Explore more at Stay Blessed Studio – stayblessedstudio.com 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE 🔥 If this episode spoke to you, be sure to leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🔑 The story must be told™️ Stay blessed, stay grounded, and keep unlocking your code. The Blessed Code™️ is produced by EPYC Media Network