When Your Greatest Challenge Becomes Your Greatest Purpose
Aug 25, 2026 · 33 min · 12 segments
- Speakers
- Arielle Blaine ColeGuest
Melissa GonzalezHost
Aug 25, 2026 · 33 min · 12 segments
Melissa GonzalezHost
No, I love that because I think so often many view hardships as something that interrupts our path, right? And we think that it's taking us off that path of success, but your very company exists because you were able to, you know, see that hardship, do something about it.
How else has this changed your point of view on setbacks when you think about that and its opportunity for success?
I mean, listen, during that time, I thought the setback was the hardest thing I've ever been through, was debilitating, was taking on something that I thought was bigger than me.
Hindsight now, almost nine years later, I know it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Um, and so I think that as long as you have the wherewithal to know that you are in a setback and that there is a bigger game plan and there is a bigger plan out there for you, and that you do learn lessons from this, then you're gonna be okay.
Um, listen, I have friends who have never really had any hardships before and now are starting, at 36 years old, starting to go through some stuff.
Um, and they're taking it much more, much harder than I did at 27 when I was diagnosed with depression.
It has made me a better friend, a better sibling, a better daughter, um, and I'm really proud of who I am today because of all of that that I went through.
No, I, I love that you say that because, you know, I started this journey on my own because of that medical emergency I had in '24, and it stopped me in my tracks, but I am so thankful for the evolution I've made.
Um, I don't think I would've had that perspective otherwise, even though it was super scary to go through it.
You also, you know, you speak and, and you write openly about depression as well, so I think, like, you're contributing a lot through your brand itsel- itself with the product, but also that conversation, you know? And so was there a moment for you where you realized that sharing your story actually isn't a liability and it's part of your leadership? And I ask that because, again, the impetus of my book, one of it was women didn't wanna share their stories because they didn't want it to be associated with weakness, and I very much felt we had to change that narrative.
I went to my mom and my aunt at lunch, like, the day after and was like, "I need help." And then once I went to therapy, the day I left therapy and was told to go to a psychiatrist and start this whole journey was the day that I started talking about it with my friends.
I always had- ... such close friends, um, but it was something I was hiding.
And, um, I think that was the best thing that I ever did was just come up front and say it.
No, I love that because I think so often many view hardships as something that interrupts our path, right? And we think that it's taking us off that path of success, but your very company exists because you were able to, you know, see that hardship, do something about it.
How else has this changed your point of view on setbacks when you think about that and its opportunity for success?
I mean, listen, during that time, I thought the setback was the hardest thing I've ever been through, was debilitating, was taking on something that I thought was bigger than me.
Hindsight now, almost nine years later, I know it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Um, and so I think that as long as you have the wherewithal to know that you are in a setback and that there is a bigger game plan and there is a bigger plan out there for you, and that you do learn lessons from this, then you're gonna be okay.
Um, listen, I have friends who have never really had any hardships before and now are starting, at 36 years old, starting to go through some stuff.
Um, and they're taking it much more, much harder than I did at 27 when I was diagnosed with depression.
It has made me a better friend, a better sibling, a better daughter, um, and I'm really proud of who I am today because of all of that that I went through.
No, I, I love that you say that because, you know, I started this journey on my own because of that medical emergency I had in '24, and it stopped me in my tracks, but I am so thankful for the evolution I've made.
Um, I don't think I would've had that perspective otherwise, even though it was super scary to go through it.
You also, you know, you speak and, and you write openly about depression as well, so I think, like, you're contributing a lot through your brand itsel- itself with the product, but also that conversation, you know? And so was there a moment for you where you realized that sharing your story actually isn't a liability and it's part of your leadership? And I ask that because, again, the impetus of my book, one of it was women didn't wanna share their stories because they didn't want it to be associated with weakness, and I very much felt we had to change that narrative.
I went to my mom and my aunt at lunch, like, the day after and was like, "I need help." And then once I went to therapy, the day I left therapy and was told to go to a psychiatrist and start this whole journey was the day that I started talking about it with my friends.
I always had- ... such close friends, um, but it was something I was hiding.
And, um, I think that was the best thing that I ever did was just come up front and say it.
The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode
No account is needed to search Radar.
