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The Open Exchange with Paul Martinez

The Open Exchange with Paul Martinez

Written by: Paul Martinez
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About this listen

The Open Exchange Podcast shares real conversations with people from different backgrounds who have something meaningful to say. Paul Martinez hosts each episode with curiosity and honesty, asking questions that lead to deeper stories and personal truths. Guests include creators, entrepreneurs, athletes, and everyday individuals who talk about growth, failure, faith, identity, and discipline. Episodes capture honest moments, unexpected lessons, and practical takeaways without forcing a narrative. The focus is on connection, reflection, and the value of listening to someone’s journey without rushing past the details.


© 2026 The Open Exchange with Paul Martinez
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Relationships Self-Help Social Sciences Success
Episodes
  • What It Takes to Grow as a DJ | Alex Walker
    Jan 19 2026

    Send a text to suggest topics you’d like to hear!

    DJing isn’t just about the moment when everything clicks — it’s about everything that happens before it ever does.

    In this episode of The Open Exchange, I sit down with Alex Walker to talk through his DJing journey — from early gigs and teaching himself equipment, to learning how to read a room, build confidence, and grow through repetition and trial and error.

    Alex shares what it’s really like to develop as a DJ over time, how creativity fits into real life, and why staying consistent matters more than chasing attention. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the learning curve most people never see.

    Whether you DJ, create on the side, or just appreciate the work behind the music, this episode speaks to the journey itself.


    Chapters:

    00:00 – Reconnecting and early DJ memories
    02:15 – The “Kanye” nickname and early identity
    05:40 – DJing in New London and first gigs
    09:20 – Wanting more after early sets
    12:30 – Teaching himself DJ equipment
    16:10 – Looking unpolished and doing it anyway
    20:45 – Learning to read the crowd
    26:30 – Confidence built through repetition
    32:10 – Creativity, branding, and growth
    37:40 – Trial and error as the real teacher
    42:10 – Advice for DJs on the journey
    46:30 – What makes the work worth it
    47:50 – Where to find Alex


    🎙️ Follow Me:
    TikTok: @theopenexchangepodcast
    Instagram: @paullyym @theopenexchangepodcast
    Email: Theopenexchangepodcast@gmail.com
    Subscribe: / @paullyymm



    Support the show

    'Virtual Tip Jar' - Donate to my show to keep me going! Thank you!

    Paypal:
    https://paypal.me/PaulMartinez89?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US (PaulMartinez89)
    Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Paullyymm (Paullyymm)

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    48 mins
  • Growing Up Without a Blueprint | Zaga (ADHP Podcast)
    Jan 12 2026

    Send a text to suggest topics you’d like to hear!

    Adulting isn’t real — and most of us feel behind because we were told it was supposed to look a certain way.

    In this episode, I sit down with Zaga, co-host of the Adulthood Pending Podcast, for a real conversation about trauma, ADHD, identity, and the pressure millennials carry into adulthood without a blueprint.

    Tony opens up about growing up in the Bronx, experiencing 9/11 firsthand, surviving a life-altering accident at 13, and how those moments shaped his outlook on responsibility, success, and what “being an adult” actually means.

    We break down why so many people feel behind even when they’re doing fine, how social expectations distort reality, and why adulthood is less about rules and more about owning the choices you make.

    If you’ve ever felt like you missed a memo on how life is supposed to work — this one’s for you.

    🔗 CONNECT WITH ZAGA

    Podcast: Adulthood Pending Podcast

    Instagram: @adhpshow

    TikTok: @adulthoodpending

    YouTube ⁨@ADHPshow⁩

    Chapters:
    00:00 – Intro: Why “adulting” feels fake
    02:10 – Meeting through podcasting & chasing the same vision
    04:30 – Millennials, FOMO, and buying things we don’t need
    07:15 – Growing up in the Bronx & early childhood trauma
    10:45 – Hip hop, environment, and identity formation
    13:30 – Experiencing 9/11 from the Bronx
    17:45 – Curiosity over fear: learning instead of reacting
    20:10 – Getting hit by an F-250 at 13 (the full story)
    28:40 – Humor, trauma, and perspective
    31:10 – “Adulting is relative” explained
    34:20 – The biggest lie millennials were sold
    37:10 – Why people feel behind even when they’re doing okay
    40:15 – Awareness vs responsibility in adulthood
    43:10 – Non-negotiables when you choose responsibility
    46:20 – ADHD, discipline, and staying on track
    49:30 – The evolution of Adulthood Pending Podcast
    53:10 – Being yourself on camera vs real life
    56:30 – Final thoughts: adulthood has no blueprint

    🎙️ Follow Me:
    TikTok: @paullymtv @theopenexchangepodcast
    Instagram: @paullyym @theopenexchangepodcast
    Email: Theopenexchangepodcast@gmail.com
    Subscribe: / @paullyymm

    🎙️ Other ways to listen:

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-open-exchange-with-paul-martinez/id1733876904

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qh1HPG7IF9vlI1Sy21gST


    Podcast

    #Conversations #PersonalDevelopment #Faith #Inspiration #StoryTelling #Podcast

    Support the show

    'Virtual Tip Jar' - Donate to my show to keep me going! Thank you!

    Paypal:
    https://paypal.me/PaulMartinez89?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US (PaulMartinez89)
    Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Paullyymm (Paullyymm)

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Trauma, Discipline, and Legacy | Rob Springer on Identity Beyond the Job
    Jan 9 2026

    Send a text to suggest topics you’d like to hear!

    In this episode, Rob Springer shares the story behind his discipline: surviving a violent assault as a teenager, navigating mental health struggles inside his family, building a career early, and learning when to carry responsibility — and when to let things go.

    We talk about:

    Growing up too fast

    The cost of always saying yes

    Trauma, resilience, and empathy

    Why not every problem deserves your energy

    Fatherhood, legacy, and his upcoming memoir told through meals

    This is a grounded conversation about work, faith, pressure, and what actually matters over time.

    Chapters:
    00:00 – Meeting Rob & starting young
    02:45 – Imposter syndrome at 18
    05:10 – Trauma, assault, and losing two years
    08:50 – Early sales instincts & money lessons
    11:30 – Mental health, cynicism, and empathy
    15:20 – Discipline, pressure, and responsibility
    17:40 – Multitasking, burnout, and saying no
    20:30 – “Will this matter in a year?”
    23:10 – Career stress and emotional detachment
    26:00 – The book: memoir through meals
    30:45 – Cooking, travel, and culture
    33:50 – Building a brand around yourself
    37:40 – Faith, grounding, and resilience
    41:30 – Where to find Rob & closing thoughts



    🎙️ Follow Me:
    TikTok: @paullymtv @theopenexchangepodcast
    Instagram: @paullyym @theopenexchangepodcast
    Email: Theopenexchangepodcast@gmail.com
    Subscribe: / @paullyymm

    🎙️ Other ways to listen:

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-open-exchange-with-paul-martinez/id1733876904

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qh1HPG7IF9vlI1Sy21gST


    Podcast

    #Conversations #PersonalDevelopment #Faith #Inspiration #StoryTelling #Podcast

    Support the show

    'Virtual Tip Jar' - Donate to my show to keep me going! Thank you!

    Paypal:
    https://paypal.me/PaulMartinez89?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US (PaulMartinez89)
    Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Paullyymm (Paullyymm)

    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
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