What does it really take to make a fight scene look believable on screen?

In this episode of Messy on Purpose, I sit down with Anthony Giovanni Elias—martial arts expert, actor, and stunt professional—to break down the fascinating intersection of martial arts and film. From teaching actors how to move for the camera to understanding why the most realistic move isn’t always the right move on screen, Anthony gives a behind-the-scenes look at the craft that most audiences never think about.

We talk about:

• The difference between real martial arts and cinematic martial arts

• Why “correct” technique doesn’t always translate on film

• Training actors to sell impact, emotion, and story—not just strikes

• What it’s really like working in the film industry as a martial arts expert

• How choreography, angles, timing, and safety shape every fight scene

This episode gets even better when Lee Cummings joins the conversation—turning what started as a creative discussion into an unexpected bromance. Two filmmakers, two very different paths, one shared obsession with storytelling, film, and making things look damn good on camera.

What unfolds is a raw, nerdy, energetic conversation about:
🎬 Film sets and creative collaboration🥋 Action storytelling🎥 Why chaos often creates the best art🤝 How creative connection can turn strangers into lifelong collaborators

This episode is proof that some of the best conversations—and partnerships—happen when you bring passionate people into the same room and let the mess unfold.

If you love film, martial arts, behind-the-scenes industry talk, or creative energy that turns into something bigger—you don’t want to miss this one.

What if your turning point doesn’t look inspiring… but it saves your life?

In this deeply honest episode of Messy on Purpose, I sit down with Andreea Tanase, founder of Heal Thrive Prosper, to talk about what healing really looks like when you’ve lived in survival mode for most of your life.

Andreea shares her story of surviving childhood emotional abuse, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence—and how years of over-giving, people-pleasing, and staying quiet “to keep the peace” nearly cost her everything. In 2017, a violent episode landed her in the hospital, and that night became her turning point. Not a glamorous one. Not a polished one. But a real one.

From there, the journey was messy. Painfully messy.

We talk about:

• How survival patterns are formed—and why they repeat until we change them

• The cost of staying silent and abandoning yourself to feel safe

• Why healing takes real work, especially in your hardest moments

• Learning to rebuild self-worth after trauma

• Breaking cycles instead of reliving them

• Why you don’t need to be “healed enough” to choose more for yourself

Andreea explains how healing isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about remembering who you were before the world taught you to forget. Through her work, she now helps high-functioning women step out of survival mode and reclaim self-worth as a non-negotiable birthright, not something that has to be earned.

This episode is a reminder that:
✨ Your healing won’t be linear✨ Your story doesn’t have to be pretty to be powerful✨ You don’t need permission to choose yourself✨ Small, imperfect, honest decisions can rebuild an entire life

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the same patterns, questioning why things keep repeating—or wondering if it’s too late to start over—this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is quietly choose yourself… one honest decision at a time.

What happens when you stop betraying your intuition — and finally act on what you know?

In this unapologetically bold episode of Messy on Purpose, I sit down with Leela Black, a powerhouse entrepreneur and advocate for women backing their inner knowing — even when it costs them comfort, approval, or relationships.

Leela shares the real, messy truth of her journey:

• Walking away from her mum, her church, and her in-laws

• Choosing herself when it felt terrifying

• Acting on intuition instead of waiting for permission

• Building a business rooted in resonance, truth, and self-trust

• Turning over $100K after walking away — and $1M in revenue years later

This isn’t a story about overnight success.
It’s about acting before the evidence shows up.

We talk about:

• Why intuition isn’t “woo” — it’s data

• How projections from others keep people small

• What resonance really means in business and life

• Speaking truth to yourself so you can speak it freely everywhere else

• Why confidence is built through action, not affirmation

• How going ALL IN gives others permission to rise too

Leela is bold, passionate, and refreshingly honest about the decisions that shaped her confidence and success. Her story is proof that when you stop outsourcing your truth and start acting on your knowing, everything expands — personally, professionally, and energetically.

This episode is a reminder:
✨ You don’t need more validation.
✨ You don’t need permission.
✨ You need to trust yourself — and move.

If you’ve been feeling the pull to go all in but fear has been louder than your intuition… this one’s for you.