Your partner should not be a source of chronic anxiety. Your partner should be a source of momentum.

In this episode, Esther and Paul are joined by Alexis Marquez for a wide-ranging conversation about partnerships of every kind: dating, marriage, business partners, clients, teams, mentors, therapists, and family. The throughline is simple: alignment beats performance.

We introduce a lens that instantly clarifies compatibility: Rocket vs Anchor. Rockets are driven by growth, variety, big vision, and expansion. Anchors thrive on stability, roots, and local legacy. Neither is better. The problem is pretending they are the same. Misalignment shows up later in the decisions that shape your life: where you live, how you spend holidays, what you build, and how far your dreams want to travel.

We also challenge the checklist approach to partnership. Money, titles, and status can look impressive, but they do not tell you how someone handles truth, growth, conflict, and commitment. Values do.

Try these questions from the episode:

• What kind of life am I building, and does this person genuinely want that life too?
• Would I start a business with this person? If the answer is no, pay attention.
• Am I hoping they will save me, or am I becoming the person I say I want to be?

ABOUT ALEXIS MARQUEZ
Alexis Marquez is a coach and systems thinker with a Master’s degree and a background in urban planning and international program management. She specializes in DEIJ leadership and neuro-inclusion, has trained US goverenment teams on best practices for working with neurodiverse populations, and has facilitated 120+ coaching sessions for Foreign Service staff, creating spaces of belonging across cultures and sectors. Her promise to clients is simple: “I got you — I’m your ally, coach, and your safe space to breathe and begin again.”
Instagram and TikTok: @TheAlexisMarquez

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS!
This show is for YOU! Let us know if you have a question you would like us to answer, if you would like to appear on the show, or if you have a topic you would like for us to discuss. Find us:
Instagram: @be.act.change
Website: beactchange.com
Email: hola@beactchange.com

THEME SONG
“HIGHER” by Kingsley
Written and performed by Kingsley exclusively for the podcast.

Stream “Higher” here: https://www.iamkingsley.com/higher-by-kingsley
More music: kingsleymusic.bandcamp.com/track/higher-awaken-the-trailblazer-within-podcast
Instagram: @yokingsleymusic
Website: iamkingsley.com

Keywords: partnerships, values alignment, rocket vs anchor, relationship anxiety, intentional dating, healthy love, business partnerships, hiring by values, client alignment, leadership relationships, therapy fit, coaching relationship, legacy, growth mindset

#JustWhatINeeded #Podcast #Partnerships #ValuesAlignment #RocketAndAnchor #IntentionalDating #HealthyRelationships #BusinessPartnership #Leadership #Coaching #Therapy #Legacy #GrowthMindset

We often speak about the journey to a limitless life, but there is a fundamental truth we must acknowledge. You cannot build a skyscraper on an island. To truly thrive, you need a foundation of genuine support. You need a community that sees you, values you, and propels you forward.

Finding deep connection today can feel elusive. That is why we are thrilled to welcome Earl Talbot to kick off 2026 with the energy we all need.

Earl is a true guide to "soulpreneurship" and a master of intentional community building. In this episode, we move beyond surface level connection to explore the mechanics of belonging. We unpack the shift from viewing community as a transaction (what you can get) to a contribution (how you can serve).

Earl challenges us to distinguish between our "North Star" and our "North Pole." The North Star is the visible aspiration, while the North Pole is the invisible magnetic pull of intuition. We also explore the "Round Table" and how to choose the few key advisors who sit in the front row of your life, not just to agree with you, but to hold you to your highest standard.

If you are navigating change, feeling the "slump" of uncertainty, or ready to shift from passive participant to active creator of your tribe, this conversation offers the blueprint you have been looking for.

ABOUT EARL TALBOT

Earl is a solopreneur and founder of Creative Muscle, helping corporate citizens and solopreneurs live on purpose.

With 25+ years across tech sales and management consulting, he supports digital and cultural transformation for multinational clients, partnering with C-suite leaders to deliver measurable results.

A certified NLP trainer, Earl blends modern tools with ancient wisdom, and has coached and mentored people since co-facilitating his first wellbeing retreat in 2002.

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS!

This show is for YOU! Let us know if you have a question you'd like us to answer, if you'd like to appear on the show, or if you have a topic you'd like for us to discuss. Find us:

Instagram: @be.act.change
Website: beactchange.com
Email: hola@beactchange.com

SEO
Keywords: community, belonging, intentional community, soulpreneurship, purpose, mentorship, North Star, intuition, Round Table, personal growth

Hashtags
#JustWhatINeeded #Podcast #Community #Belonging #Purpose #Soulpreneurship #Mentorship #Intuition #PersonalGrowth #Leadership

THEME SONG: "HIGHER" by Kingsley

Written and performed by Kingsley exclusively for the podcast.

Let the vibes lift you up and remind you of your power to rise.

Stream "Higher" here: https://www.iamkingsley.com/higher-by-kingsley

Discover more music by Kingsley:
kingsleymusic.bandcamp.com/track/higher-awaken-the-trailblazer-within-podcast

Join the Kingdom for more music, magic, and meaning:
Instagram: @yokingsleymusic
Website: iamkingsley.com

In this episode of Just What I Needed, Esther and Paul sit down with Precious Azuonwu to trace his journey from one of Africa’s largest slums to the forefront of global entrepreneurship. Precious shares how his father’s commitment to education, plus a resilient mindset, helped him transform adversity into a mission for systemic change.

We explore the birth of Bankable Wisdom, a platform built to bridge the opportunity gap for young people through high demand digital skills. The conversation also dives into core pillars of success: leveraging education, using storytelling to unlock doors, and grounding ambition in service.

Precious offers a practical roadmap for change makers by highlighting the power of community support and the courage to embrace your unique narrative. You will hear how to cultivate a growth mindset and turn raw talent into bankable assets in today’s digital economy.

ABOUT: Precious Azuonwu | Founder of Bankable Wisdom

Precious Azuonwu is an impact entrepreneur and digital strategist focused on tackling Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. Known as “Emperovial,” he founded Bankable Wisdom at age 23 and scaled it into a workforce development engine that has empowered 75,000 users across 30 African countries. His work centers on Strategic Systems Development, Sustainable Resource Optimization, and Collaborative Community Empowerment to bridge the gap between raw talent and global opportunity. A 2024 Western Union Foundation Fellow and member of the Forbes Black Community, Precious has educated 15,000+ students globally and mentors for the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Through partnerships with Google and the Ford Foundation, he continues transforming marginalized youth into bankable assets within the global digital economy.

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/preciousazuonwu
Instagram: https://instagram.com/financialemperovial
Facebook: https://facebook.com/preciousazuonwu
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Read-Change-Inspiring-Generation-Readers-ebook/dp/B01F5JOY0W
Company: https://bankablewisdom.com

SEO
Keywords: inspiration, Precious Azuonwu, Bankable Wisdom, youth unemployment, Africa, digital skills, entrepreneurship, workforce development, growth mindset, storytelling, opportunity gap, global careers

Hashtags
#JustWhatINeeded #Podcast #Inspiration #Entrepreneurship #BankableWisdom #DigitalSkills #GrowthMindset #Storytelling #YouthEmpowerment #WorkforceDevelopment #Africa #ImpactEntrepreneur

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS!

This show is for YOU! Find us:
Instagram: @be.act.change
Website: beactchange.com
Email: hola@beactchange.com

THEME SONG
"HIGHER" by Kingsley

This original song "Higher" was written and performed by Kingsley exclusively for the podcast.

Let the vibes lift you up and remind you of your power to rise.

Stream "Higher"
Discover more genre-bending, soul-stirring music by Kingsley.
Instagram: @yokingsleymusic
Website: iamkingsley.com