In Part 2 of this conversation on Rise + Rebel, Aya sits back down with hypnotist Rusty Diamond—and what starts with humor and playful banter quickly unfolds into something deeper, stranger, and unexpectedly grounding.

From hypnosis and memory retrieval to past life regression and even alien encounters, this episode explores the edge of what we think we know… and what might exist just beyond it. But more than that, it asks a powerful question:

What do we choose to believe—and how does that shape our reality?

Through stories, patterns, and raw reflections, Rusty shares what he’s witnessed working with clients who genuinely believe in their experiences—whether explainable or not. And Aya brings it back to what matters most: awareness, choice, and the way we consciously create our lives.

This conversation isn’t about proving what’s real.
It’s about expanding your perspective enough to ask better questions.

You’ll also hear honest moments on:

• Navigating leadership and making difficult decisions
• The power of daily affirmations and self-perception
• Breaking patterns of distraction, doubt, and self-sabotage
• Why “everything matters—and nothing does” might be the most freeing truth of all.
  

At its core, this episode is a reminder:
You are not stuck. You are creating—whether you realize it or not.

So the real question is…
What are you choosing today?

—

Watch more conversations like this on Rise + Rebel
Ready to go deeper? Join the Inner Circle for more insights, tools, and real conversations:
risewithaya.com

What does it really take to reinvent yourself when life forces you to slow down?

In this episode of Rise + Rebel, you sit down with Rusty Diamond for a conversation that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

From pro wrestling to hypnosis, Rusty shares the unexpected journey that led him to completely shift his path—and how one life-changing moment pushed him into a new purpose.

Together, we explore:
- The truth about hypnosis—and the myths people still believe
- The difference between influence, healing, and ethical responsibility.
- How life’s setbacks can become your biggest turning points
- Why not all “social anxiety” is what it seems
- And how creativity, energy, and environment shape who we become

This episode is filled with humor, real talk, and those unplanned moments that make conversations truly powerful.

It’s a reminder that sometimes, the detours in life lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.

And of course… you might just find yourself getting lost in the sauce along the way.

If you’re navigating change, curious about mindset work, or ready to see things from a new perspective—this one’s for you.

Watch more episodes of the Rise + Rebel Podcast
Connect with Aya & join the Inner Circle: risewithaya.com

In this episode of Rise + Rebel, Aya Hojadova sits down with Jeff Pareja, VP and SBA Commercial Loan Officer, for a powerful conversation on SBA lending, business growth, risk, and the psychology behind financial decision-making.

What made this conversation especially meaningful was Jeff’s transparency. This was not just a conversation about loan products or lending mechanics. It was a deeper look at the human side of business financing: how entrepreneurs think, what fear can do to decision-making, and why mindset matters just as much as numbers when it comes to growth.

Together, Aya and Jeff explore the mindset shifts that happen when someone moves from employee thinking into owner or investor thinking, how to view SBA loans as tools within a broader business strategy, and the difference between emotional readiness and financial readiness. They also unpack the tension between fear and expansion, what healthy risk-taking actually looks like, and how alignment, intuition, and purpose can shape the way entrepreneurs approach money and opportunity.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, investors, small business owners, and anyone navigating growth who wants a more honest conversation about SBA lending, commercial loans, business mindset, money psychology, and expansion strategy.

If you have ever wondered whether you are truly ready for your next level in business, this episode offers more than lending insight. It offers a real conversation about the internal and external factors that shape how we grow.

Topics covered:

SBA lending, commercial lending, small business financing, entrepreneur mindset, business growth, expansion strategy, emotional readiness, financial readiness, money psychology, healthy risk-taking, and aligned decision-making.

Connect with Jeff Pareja

Jeff Pareja

VP | SBA Commercial Loan Officer

135 N. Meramec Ave. | Clayton, MO 63105

8712 Lindholm Dr. | Huntersville, NC 28078

Serving the Greater Charleston, SC Market

Website: www.mwrbank.com

Office: 980-391-2859

Mobile: 512-966-9285

Email: jpareja@mwregionalbank.com

Commercial Real Estate can feel like a locked room: Confusing terms, intimidating numbers, and no clear starting point. In this solo episode of Rise + Rebel, Aya breaks down Commercial Real Estate for beginners: what it is, how it differs from residential, the main property types, and the most practical ways to get started through leasing or owner-occupied purchases.

This episode is especially helpful for entrepreneurs and business owners in the Charleston Tri-County South Carolina area who are considering leasing, relocating, renewing a lease, or buying their first commercial property.

In this episode:

- What Commercial Real Etate (CRE) is (and why it’s a mindset shift)

- Retail, office, industrial, multifamily, and land

- Lease vs buy: how to choose your lane

- Owner-occupied CRE + why SBA can matter

- Risk, forecasting, and strategy (what beginners miss)

- NOI, cap rate, rent rolls, and lease structure basics

- NNN vs gross leases

- Due diligence + Phase I environmental overview

- How to get guidance without wasting time guessing

Work with Aya (Charleston Tri-County):

Visit: https://www.risewithaya.com/commercial-residential-real-estate

Or email aya.hojadova@cbrealty.com with subject line CRE

#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #LeaseVsBuy #OwnerOc

In this episode of the Rise + Rebel Podcast, Aya sits down with Haven Morningstar for a powerful conversation about finding yourself, trusting your intuition, and honoring who you truly are without doubt, judgment, or fear.

We talk about what it really means to listen to your inner voice, how self-trust shapes both life and business success, and why no one knows you better than you know yourself. This episode is a reminder to come back to your truth, trust your own knowing, and build a life that feels fully aligned with who you are.

If you have been questioning yourself, second-guessing your path, or trying to succeed while disconnecting from your true nature, this conversation will bring you back home to yourself.

Explore Haven’s work through MorningStar Life, which is centered on clarity, trusting your inner voice, and soulful connection. https://www.morningstarlife.com/

The conversation delves into the journey of self-remembrance and artistic exploration, exploring the themes of self-activation, divine alignment, trusting self, and embracing doubt and uncertainty. Haven Morningstar shares her personal experiences and insights, offering a profound perspective on these themes. The conversation delves into the themes of authenticity, alignment, and trusting intuition. It explores the concepts of doubt and trust, the role of art as self-expression, being in tune with oneself, adapting to society's norms, and embracing uncertainty as part of the journey.

Takeaways

• Self-remembrance
• Artistic exploration Authenticity and alignment
• Trusting intuition

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey of Self-Remembrance
• 05:39 Navigating Divine Alignment
• 21:09 Embracing Doubt and Uncertainty
• 26:29 In Tune with Self
• 34:22 Adapting to Society's Norms
• 42:53 Embracing Uncertainty

In this soulful episode of Rise + Rebel, I’m joined by my aunt, Dr. Ana Kirsta, as we explore the richness of Turkmen heritage, the power of language, her path to becoming a healer, and the sacred role intention plays in everyday life.

From ancestry to healing, this conversation invites us to remember that even the most ordinary moments can become meaningful when approached with awareness. Even something as simple as drinking water can become an act of reverence, connection, and care.

This is an episode about roots, wisdom, healing, and the quiet power of being intentional in all things.

Learn more about Dr. Ana Krista:

https://www.youtube.com/ZuniBlue

What if the weight you’ve been carrying was never just physical?

In this episode of Rise + Rebel, I talk about body image, shame, aging, emotional weight, nervous system stress, and what it means to reclaim your body after survival. This is a conversation about the invisible weight so many women carry; the pressure, the judgment, the grief, the self-abandonment, and the stories we’ve been taught to believe about our bodies.

Published on International Women’s Day, this episode is an invitation back to yourself. We explore how body shame is often tied to something deeper: identity, safety, heartbreak, stress, and the aftermath of toxic relationships.

If you’ve been navigating body image struggles, emotional healing, nervous system exhaustion, or the process of reclaiming your worth, this conversation is for you. If this episode resonates, subscribe to Rise + Rebel, share it with someone who needs it, and join my newsletter community for deeper reflections and updates.

In this powerful episode of Rise + Rebel, Aya sits down with Dr. Wendy Perrell (soul coach, shaman, and spiritual teacher) for a grounded conversation on personal power and what it actually looks like to live from inner authority.

You’ll hear about cultural conditioning and the quiet ways it shapes our choices, how to recognize when you’re seeking validation instead of truth, and practical ways to return to your inner guidance. This is not empowerment as a concept. This is empowerment as a daily practice.

Soul-led, honest, and deeply activating, this episode is an invitation to sovereignty and self-trust.

Learn more about Dr. Wendy Perrell:
https://heal.me/drwendy
https://www.drwendyempowers.com/