No polish. No pretending.
Just real stories and real people showing up.
This is Real with Rocky.
See you next week.

In this episode, Rocky sits down with entrepreneur and designer Matt Marciante for a raw conversation about ambition, pride, and the hidden costs of doing everything alone. They unpack the underdog identity, why survival mode eventually breaks down, and what it really takes to build something sustainable. This episode challenges the idea that struggle equals success and invites leaders to rethink how they win.

Episode Highlights:

. Why the underdog mindset can quietly give us an excuse to lose.

. The difference between surviving and actually competing to win.

. How pride can disguise itself as loyalty, grit, or self-reliance.

. Why building with “scrappy” teams eventually raises the personal cost.

. Letting go of doing everything yourself without losing your edge.

. Learning to ask for help and trusting both yes and no as valid answers.

. Shifting from proving you can to building something that lasts.

Get To Know Our Guest:

Matt Marciante is an entrepreneur, leather maker, and designer who builds products and brands with the same philosophy: quality first, no unnecessary noise. Through Marciante and Company and Mission Leather Co, he designs and produces handcrafted leather goods rooted in timeless design, ethical sourcing, and practical function. As the founder of Pretty Decent Marketing, he brings that same hands-on mindset to marketing...creating clear, honest systems that turn attention into sales without the fluff. His work helps brands, creators, and small businesses grow through thoughtful design, strong storytelling, and marketing that actually works.

Resources Mentioned. Pretty Decent Marketing - https://prettydecent.site/.

Marciante & Company - https://marcianteandco.com/.

Mission Leather Co - https://missionleatherco.com/.

Join Rocky’s Live Leadership Training - https://www.rockygarza.com/confidence

In this candid conversation, Rocky and Temi unpack the unseen emotional weight many fathers and creatives carry but rarely name out loud. From dad guilt to under-belief to the pressure to be everything for everyone, Temi opens up about the internal battles shaping his identity as a husband, father, and artist. This episode invites listeners to reflect on what they’re chasing, what they’re avoiding, and what it really means to be human. A powerful dialogue for anyone navigating responsibility, creativity, and self-worth.

Episode Highlights:

Why many fathers feel Dad guilt but struggle to talk about it openly. . How overthinking often masks deeper patterns of under-belief. . The tension between being needed and being wanted in marriage and parenting. . The danger of defining your worth by being “the problem-solver.” . How comparison steals joy from creative and family life. . Rewriting internal soundtracks and choosing human things over hard things. . The power of trusting the people who actually love you. . Seeing yourself as complete today, not someone who needs to be fixed tomorrow.

Get To Know Our Guest:

Temi Coker is a Designer and Art Director who layers his Nigerian heritage through bold colors, patterns, dimensions, and textures. He creates powerful visual experiences through wearable art, art prints, and creative campaigns that help people feel seen, connected, and represented. His work challenges beauty standards and reflects a growing cultural movement. His mission is to make space for every person to discover their creative voice.

Website: www.temicoker.co | shop.temicoker.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/temiloluwacoker/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/temi.coker/?hl=en

Resources Mentioned:

Soundtracks by Jon Acuff.

Temi Coker – www.temicoker.co.

Temi’s Shop – shop.temicoker.co

Join Rocky for a live leadership training at the end of the month by RSVPing at rockygarza.com/confident.