Permission To Shine

What happens when a dream, a culture, and a cup of coffee collide?In this episode, Andrew sits down with Shivani Darsinos, founder of Cafe Babu: Nashville’s coffee-meets-cocktail sanctuary that celebrates heritage, connection, and community. Named after her grandfather, Cafe Babu beautifully blends Shivani’s Indian roots and her husband’s Greek heritage, creating a space that feels both soulful and universal.Shivani shares how her upbringing shaped her drive; from a dad who taught her that strength knows no gender (“Who’s helping me lift this air conditioner?”) to the deep pride she feels in building a space that’s for everyone, regardless of where they come from or what they believe.She opens up about:Turning her cultural story into a business that channels people’s energyThe whirlwind of wearing “one too many hats” as a founderThe magic of a single cafe that’s a “one-hit wonder” … full of personality, warmth, and loveAnd yes… how Joe Jonas ended up performing at Cafe Babu (!)Through it all, Shivani reminds us that every cup of coffee holds a story; one made with intention, respect, and an incredible amount of love.If you’ve ever dreamed of creating something that brings people together, this episode will fill your cup.☕️ Follow Cafe Babu: https://www.instagram.com/cafe.babu/?hl=en🎧 Listen now on Permission to Shine with Andrew Namanny

In this episode of Permission to Shine, I sit down with Nick Luebke: creator, thinker, and host of the new podcast Constantly Curious. Nick opens up about the five books that most profoundly shaped his life:The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy KellerA New Earth by Eckhart TolleYour Platform Is Not Your Purpose by Blaine FuhsThe BibleThe Inner Work by Ash and MatWe explore how these works shifted his mindset, deepened his relationships, and inspired his creative journey. Nick also shares the mission behind Constantly Curious, where he’s already sat down with brilliant voices like Young Pueblo and Sahil Bloom. And—he drops some hints about writing a book of his own.This is a conversation about curiosity, purpose, and the power of the written word to change how we live.Follow Nick: https://www.instagram.com/nicholasjohn__/?hl=enFollow Permission to Shine: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_/?hl=enFollow Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Thanks to our key sponsor, Elite Executive Partners — a premier recruiting firm helping businesses scale with top-tier talent.Whether you need one critical hire, like a CFO, or an entire team of skilled tradespeople, Elite delivers. They work across multiple industries, filling roles quickly with the right fit. Learn more at elitestaffco.com.$500M+ entrepreneur and serial founder Peter Wokwicz has built, scaled, and invested in more than 60 companies. In this episode, he sits down with Andrew Namanny to break down the future of money — and why ignoring crypto could be your biggest financial mistake.Peter explains blockchain, exposes the myths about crypto, and shares practical ways busy professionals can get started safely. We cover stablecoins, DeFi, tokenization, prediction markets, and how digital assets will disrupt banks, governments, and traditional finance.You’ll learn:Why blockchain is more secure than any banking system in historyHow to earn yield on your money without leaving it in a low-interest savings accountThe coming wave of tokenized real estate, companies, and assetsWhat “truth markets” are — and how they could change journalism foreverPeter’s portfolio strategy for someone starting with $25K in extra cashWhether you’re crypto-curious or already investing, this is your one-hour MBA in digital assets from one of the sharpest minds in the game.📍 Follow Andrew on LinkedIn📍 Follow Peter on Linkedin Sponsorship & Feedback: andrew@permissiontoshine.orgThanks for listening!

Dr. John Holcomb is one of the most legendary trauma surgeons alive. He shares untold details from Black Hawk Down, where he operated for over 30 hours straight during the infamous battle in Somalia in 1993. He opens up about the chaos, grit, and brutal realities of combat medicine — and how that moment shifted his mission for life.Now, he's focused on saving lives before patients even reach the hospital. From pioneering blood delivery systems to taking five trips to the frontlines of Ukraine, Dr. Holcomb’s work is reshaping modern trauma care.This is more than a war story — it’s a raw look at courage, purpose, humility and what it means to serve on the edge of life and death.🔊 What You'll Learn:Behind-the-scenes of the Black Hawk Down missionHow Holcomb handled nonstop surgery for 30+ hoursThe innovation driving pre-hospital blood careWhy he keeps returning to Ukraine to help in war zonesThe mindset that sustains people in the world’s most high-stakes environmentsYou can learn more about his work here: https://prehospitaltransfusion.org/Follow Permission to Shine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_/?hl=enFollow Andrew Namanny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

The power of a great network can’t be overstated—and Noah Berkson is an expert community builder.He's a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits, founder and host of the Dose of Greatness podcast, Co-Founder of Outcove Valley a series of events for high caliber leaders, and a member of YPO. He’s made 1,000+ introductions in the last year (3 per day!). We discuss:✅ Make introductions the right way – Always provide context so both people see the value.✅ Say yes to everything in your 20s – Opportunities come from showing up.✅ Pick up the tab – When dining with someone much wealthier, covering the bill makes an impression.✅ Make friends, not “connections” – Real relationships > transactional networking.✅ Find your X factor – He cold-DM’d Jess Mah because she flies planes. A unique hook stands out.✅ Vulnerability is underrated – Being open, stumbling, and failing brings people closer.Tune in to learn more about the cold outreach, handling objections, and the biggest mistake people make about networking.Follow Noah Berkson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahberkson/Follow Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/Feedback & Sponsorship: andrew@permissiontoshine.org🎧 Listen now to Permission to Shine (#57).

What happens when you leave a thriving business to chase your true calling?Garrett Adair co-founded VitaFive, a successful gummy vitamin company, but deep down, he knew his real dream was music. Encouraged by Luke Bryan, he took a leap of faith, moved to Nashville, and is now on tour playing to packed crowds.In this episode, Garrett shares:🎸 Why he walked away from a booming business to pursue music full-time🎸 The challenges of switching from entrepreneurship to the music industry🎸 How his faith and family shaped his journey🎸 What it’s really like to go all-in on your passionThis is a story about taking risks, following your gut, betting on yourself, and staying consistent. Follow Garrett Adair: https://www.instagram.com/garrettadair/?hl=enFollow Permission To Shine: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_/Follow Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/Thanks for listening! Feedback & Sponsorship: andrew@permissiontoshine.org

What happens when you flatline for over 20 minutes and wake up weeks later, completely paralyzed? Brad Cunningham knows firsthand. He's the author of Resilience Unbroken: My Story of True Survivals. In this powerful episode, Brad shares his unbelievable survival story—first battling cancer at 25, spending six months in the hospital, and then suffering cardiac arrest in 2023, where his heart stopped for over 20 minutes. Doctors weren’t sure he’d wake up. He did. But he went from marathon runner to wheelchair-bound, forced to rebuild his life from the ground up.Through it all, Brad learned three lessons that changed everything:1️⃣ Resilience is a choice—even when you have no control.2️⃣ The right support system is the difference between surviving and thriving.3️⃣ Struggles don’t just leave scars, they leave lessons.This is a story of grit, survival, and the power of the human spirit.If you’ve ever faced adversity—or want to hear what real resilience looks like—this episode is a must-listen.Brad is the Founder of Open Horizon Analytics where he utilizes his 30+ years of experience to provide data science expertise. Purchase Brad's book here: https://www.amazon.com/RESILIENCE-UNBROKEN-Story-True-Survivals/dp/B0DMV96LYFFollow Andrew Namanny here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/Follow Brad Cunningham here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradcunningham23/

In this episode of Permission to Shine, I sit down with Tracy Tutor, powerhouse real estate broker, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star, and one of the most confident negotiators in the game.  We dive deep into: 🔥 The LA fires and how they’re reshaping the insurance market 🏡 Whether LA real estate is set for a boom or bust 💰 Her biggest deal ever ($56M!) and her goal to hit $1B in sales 🎥 How she became the first female main cast member on Million Dollar Listing 🤝 Her secret to building an all-star team and delegating like a boss 💡 Why confidence and authenticity are the keys to winning in any industry Tracy doesn’t hold back, sharing the mindset shifts that took her from agent to industry titan.  Whether you're in real estate, sales, or just want to level up your confidence, this episode is for you. Thanks for listening! Follow Tracy Tutor: https://www.instagram.com/tracytutor?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Follow Permission to Shine: https://www.instagram.com/tracytutor?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Follow Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Wan Kim is the owner and CEO of Smoothie King, overseeing 1,202 stores and $850M annually.  Originally an immigrant from South Korea, Wan and I discuss:  How his first store almost failed and why he pushed forward for 4 years with little results  How to create momentum: spark a series of small wins. Even if you aren’t getting sales, get 100 people to sign up for your marketing list or wake up at 5:30am every day.  The expectation to work for his father's manufacturing business and walking away from it.  His decision to upset current customers with a menu change towards healthier ingredients in order to obtain a younger audience. Consuming smoothies ONLY for 30 days and the effects it had.  The first people to tell you to quit your entrepreneurial dream are your loved ones and why you shouldn’t listen to them.  His 2 key leadership principles: correct incentives & feedback without emotion. Connect with Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/ Connect with Wan Kim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wan-kim-3a4a604/ Send your feedback and thoughts to: andrew@permissiontoshine.org Thanks for listening!

Hey, hey, hey it's Andrew Namanny -- welcome back! GPS, the INTERNET, Siri, Night Vision, Autonomous Vehicles -- they all started in DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency). It's the powerful government agency you've never heard of. Taryn Rose works for DARPA. She's a former orthopedic surgeon and successful founder of a $40M shoe company. We talk about: -Why DARPA was started to defend us against German attacks -The genetic make up of successful entrepreneurs -Appearing on Oprah and what it did for her business -Taryn's first amputation -What DARPA looks for in a partnership -Developing synthetic blood to solve our blood crisis Plus, we have a lot of fun and I know you will too while listening. As always, reach out anytime at: andrew@permissiontoshine.org Taryn Rose LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarynrose/ Andrew Namanny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/ Permission To Shine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr **Today's episode is sponsored by Ajax Partners, a team of award winning sales professionals who work across tech, medical devices, CPG, and more. Ajax partners directly with CEO's, sales managers, and sales reps to increase sales. Reach out to andrew@permissiontoshine.org to learn more.**