Hacks and Hobbies with Junaid Ahmed

Timestamps00:01 — The moment Justin reconsidered the “five people” principle00:04 — The manager who saw potential in him00:09 — Why your intention matters more than the event00:12 — The five people Justin keeps in his corner00:20 — A more natural approach to networking00:29 — What makes a room worth being in00:33 — How to audit your circle without cutting people offGuest linkswww.instagram.com/justintschenck 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Shay’s healing journey helped her find her voice—and a new direction for her work.Why effective leadership starts with curiosity, listening, and making space for others.Signs that “independence” may actually be isolation, and how community can help.What makes an inner circle meaningful: shared values, different perspectives, and real contribution.Why purpose and profit can support each other—and how to lead with intention.Timestamps00:00 — Meet Sha Sparks and the idea behind the episode02:00 — The healing journey that led Shay to speak her truth07:12 — Courage, vulnerability, and being present09:37 — Leading through curiosity instead of having every answer17:17 — The hidden cost of striving alone21:10 — How to know when you’re ready for an inner circle32:09 — Purpose-driven business and the fear of rejectionGuest LinksLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sha-sparksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theshasparks/Instagram: www.instagram.com/theshasparks/YouTube: www.youtube.com/shasparksWebsite: www.shasparks.com 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 Key TakeawaysMoney decisions are influenced by emotional patterns and family stories—not just budgets and calculations.A quick, pressure-free writing exercise can help clarify what you genuinely want from life and money.Small, repeatable steps are more sustainable than trying to change everything at once.A pre-approval or maximum qualifying amount isn’t the same as a comfortable, realistic home budget.You don’t need to put 20% down in every case, but you do need to understand the full costs and possible payment changes.Timestamps02:08 — Why Jax expanded from mortgages into financial education04:45 — The hidden money patterns that can affect high achievers11:35 — Why budgets fail when they ignore emotions and identity18:22 — A 5–10 minute exercise to get clear on what you want21:30 — The Financial Instincts Framework, explained31:25 — What first-time home buyers often misunderstand39:19 — Pre-approval, down payments, and the risk of becoming house poorGuest LinksPBJ Mortgage: PBJTeam.comurals.co (Portfolio)podopshost.com (RSS Feed)pbjteam.com (Company)linkedin.com/in/pbj-mortgage-jacqueline-crider 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode:How perfectionism can lead to paralysis, overwhelm, and procrastination.Why ADHD, emotional reactivity, and perfectionism can overlap.How vulnerability and authenticity can help people connect.What a balanced, supportive parenting approach can look like.Why aiming for “good enough” may be healthier than demanding 100% all the time.Timestamps00:00 — Meet Dr. Beth Capecchi and the “Never Perfect” message06:03 — People-pleasing, perfectionism, and getting stuck08:01 — ADHD, procrastination, and imposter syndrome11:03 — How perfectionism undermines your potential19:47 — Practical ways to challenge your inner critic26:37 — Perfectionism, parenting, and modeling imperfection41:05 — Dr. Beth’s challenge: practice progress over perfectionGuest LinksWebsite: neverperfect.org@neverperfectpodcast 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 key takeawaysRussell describes how accommodations during a state government internship—and later experiences in law school—shaped his path into dyslexia research.He argues that identifying reading difficulties early can help families and schools respond sooner.His “write first, read next” approach starts with a student’s interests and builds from words to sentences.He demonstrates how reading a sentence aloud and revising it can help students notice grammar and spelling.For older students, he outlines a structured writing process using specific questions, evidence, and a “warrant” to connect ideas.Timestamps01:17 — The internship experience that turned dyslexia into a mission11:11 — The advice Russell says can make struggling readers wait too long for support19:53 — A live demonstration of the “write first” approach29:00 — Why student interests and motivation matter32:00 — Building ideas from specific questions toward bigger themes37:31 — A framework for writing stronger body paragraphs48:33 — Where to learn more about Russell’s workGuest linksWebsite:https://dyslexiaclasses.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses (page with 2,091+ followers) 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.