My Kommunity | Podcast en RSS.com

My Kommunity

por John Garis

Relaciones Diarios personales

Temporada 1

Fair Weather Friends & Forever Ones: An Honest Conversation About the Friendships That Actually Last With Bijal Damania

Think about your closest friend right now. Not the one you text every day. Not the one you see at every party. The one who knew you before — before the career, before the relationship, before you figured out who you actually were. The one who read your rough drafts, sat with you at Panera while you poured your heart out, and never once made you feel like too much. Do you have someone like that? Because John does — and her name is Bijal. John sits down with his Supergirl, his decade-long friend and ride-or-die Bijal Damania — health and fitness enthusiast, painter, crocheter, California transplant, and one of the most quietly wise people to ever sit across from this microphone — for a conversation about the thing nobody really teaches you growing up: how friendships actually work. Because here's what they don't tell you in school. Not every friendship is meant to last forever — and that's not a failure. Some relationships are simply complete. And the sooner you stop feeling guilty about that, the sooner you make room for the ones that are built to go the distance. You'll hear about the Panera moment that changed everything — how one vulnerable conversation cracked open a friendship and a whole new level of self-awareness for both of them. You'll hear Bijal talk about growing up in an Indian household where mental health simply wasn't discussed, and how that one afternoon shifted something inside her. And you'll hear the two of them unpack why your real friends aren't just the ones who show up for the good times — they're the ones your future partner is going to have to impress too. Whether you're reassessing your circle, missing an old friend, or just trying to figure out who your people actually are — this one is for you. Quality over quantity. Always.

Analog Friends in a Digital World: Why Your Real Ones Don't Need to See Your Breakfast Every Day With Giovanni Vinci

When's the last time you had a friend you didn't text every day — didn't send memes to every hour — didn't share your entire life with on Snapchat — and yet the second you were in the same room together, it was like no time had passed at all? If you have a friend like that, you already know there's nothing in the world quite like it. And if you don't? This episode might make you rethink every friendship in your phone. John reconnects over Zoom with his college twin from Rowan University, Giovanni Vinci — exercise physiologist, master of trades, and one of the most naturally honest guys you'll ever hear on a microphone. Ten-plus years after graduation, these two haven't lost a single step. And what they unpack in this conversation is something most people feel but never actually say out loud. We've been sold the idea that more communication equals better friendship. More texts. More reels. More check-ins. More Snapchat streaks. But what if all that quantity is quietly draining the quality right out of your closest relationships? What if the constant feed of memes and Instagram reels is actually making you more bored of each other — faster than ever before? Giovanni calls it perfectly: an analog friendship in a digital world. And once you hear him break it down, you'll never look at your group chat the same way again. Plus — the story of how these two actually met at Rowan? Genuinely one of the funniest cold-open origin stories this podcast has ever had. You need to hear it. Real friendships. Real talk. No streaks required.

Why Not You? A Self-Made Hustler Gets Raw About Life, Loss & the American Dream with Alec Bornstein

What do a magician, a car broker, a Long Island wise guy, and a new dad all have in common? They're all Alec Bornstein — and he just walked into the Kommunity podcast ready to talk. John sits down with his hilarious and surprisingly deep friend Alec for a conversation that goes from dirty diapers on airplanes and napkin etiquette, to getting ripped off at dealerships, growing up around the Gotti family, and surviving a childhood defined by domestic violence and chaos. Alec — self-described "self-hating Jew from Long Island, born again in Monmouth County" — is equal parts comedian, empath, centrist philosopher, and the most prepared guy in any room (seriously, he carries napkins and mints everywhere). But underneath the jokes is a man who figured out early that the only question worth asking yourself is "Why not you?" A dream job, a dream wife, a baby girl, and a father who never got to meet her — this one's got everything. Funny, real, and unexpectedly moving. Don't sleep on this episode.

Doctor's Orders: A Physician Walks Into a Podcast & Nothing Goes As Expected With Shawn Keating

What do you get when a medical doctor with a stand-up comedy side hustle sits down for a podcast with no script and zero censor button? This episode. John sits down with the hilarious Dr. Shawn Keating — Jersey-born, 33, and somehow both a licensed physician AND the funniest guy in the room — for a wild ride through the most unhinged patient stories you'll ever hear. From the woman who put Clorox on her face because "it's not bleach, it's Clorox," to the Oreo incident that had an entire hospital staff losing it, to a heroin push present in the labor and delivery ward — Shawn has seen it all and lived to joke about it. But underneath the laughs, there's real heart here too. Shawn drops some genuine wisdom on human kindness, finding your people, and why saying please and thank you might just be a revolutionary act in 2025. Equal parts comedy special and motivational talk — this one's a certified banger. Disclaimer: No patients were harmed in the making of this episode. Pedro the sketch artist, however, is a different story.

My Mom and I Get Real About Faith, Prayer and Finding Your Way Back

Some of the most powerful conversations about faith don’t happen in church — they happen at the kitchen table. In this heartfelt episode, John sits down with the woman who started it all — his mom — for an honest, moving, and surprisingly funny conversation about faith, prayer, and what it means to believe in something bigger than yourself. From Catholic school roots to questioning everything at 17, to finding her way back — John’s mom shares the real story of a lifelong faith journey, including the prayer that helped pay for college, and what she’s learned about trusting the process after decades of life experience. John also opens up about his own faith evolution and shares a deeply personal story about a toxic workplace, a bathroom prayer, and the moment God basically said “get out of there.” Whether you’re deeply religious, spiritually curious, or somewhere in between — this one’s for you. You don’t always get what you want. But you get what you need.

Buddy Christ & Bikini Bottom: A Brutally Honest Conversation About Faith With Mike Cherry

What happens when two guys who ditched the pew — but never lost the plot — sit down to talk about faith? John sits down with musician and longtime friend Michael Cherry for one of the most refreshingly unfiltered conversations you’ll hear on the subject. From Catholic school dropouts to agnostic philosophers, they dig into what faith actually means when religion doesn’t fit the mold. Expect SpongeBob references, Star Wars analogies, a George Carlin misquote, and somehow — a surprisingly deep take on heaven, struggle, and what it means to believe in something when you’re not sure what that something is. No judgment, no agenda, just two regular guys figuring it out one episode at a time. Don’t be a d*ck — that’s the only commandment that matters here.

Faith, Purpose & Perspective: Finding Your Own Spiritual Path With Rashan Bryant

In this deeply reflective episode of My Kommunity, John sits down with author Rashaan Bryant to explore the true meaning of faith, spirituality, and self-discovery. Rashaan shares his journey growing up in a deeply religious Baptist household and how life experiences—like a powerful moment working alongside a Muslim coworker—expanded his understanding of faith beyond religion. Together, John and Rashaan dive into: The difference between religion and spirituality Why faith is often hardest in our lowest moments The importance of perspective and personal belief systems How people enter our lives at the exact moment we need them And what it truly means to build a relationship with a higher power This episode is about unity, growth, and embracing your own path—without judgment, labels, or limitations.

It’s You vs You | Life Advice From Nick Ramos

What happens when success suddenly disappears? In this episode of My Kommunity, I sit down with Nick Ramos — former military signal systems specialist turned high-performing solar salesman — to talk about the unpredictable journey of career, business, and personal growth. Nick shares his story of: Transitioning from the military to civilian life Discovering unexpected success in sales Closing massive solar deals and building teams Watching companies collapse despite success Navigating layoffs, uncertainty, and reinvention Returning to school at 33 to pursue network & IT technology This conversation goes beyond business. Nick opens up about growing up in a rough environment, questioning authority, and learning that life isn’t a race against anyone else — it’s you vs you. Sometimes the path forward requires starting over.

Are Most Corporate Jobs Pointless? | 10 Years in Tech vs Job Hopping With Jimmy

What’s worse — being stuck in a “dead-end” job… or never sticking with anything at all? In this episode of My Kommunity, I sit down with my longtime friend and former boss Jimmy to talk about: Our Abercrombie days and early 20s chaos Retail as a “transitional phase” Job hopping vs long-term consistency Breaking into tech through bootcamps 10 years in software engineering Corporate culture & terrible bosses “Chandler jobs” and meaningless work Will AI eliminate spreadsheet jobs? We get real about fulfillment, money, work-life balance, mental health, and the struggle to find purpose in modern careers. This one’s personal too — because Jimmy isn’t just a friend. He’s someone who showed up for me when it mattered most.

Cybersecurity, Hustle & The NYC Grind | With Hector “Sub Zero” Santos

What’s it really like working in New York City? In this episode of My Kommunity, I sit down with my guy Hector Santos (aka Sub Zero) — senior manager in cybersecurity, MBA holder, and future entrepreneur — to talk about: The reality of working in the city The pros & cons of the NYC grind Cybersecurity and consulting life Why failing fast is critical in business Building a 5–10 year plan Entrepreneurship vs. playing it safe The importance of asking yourself WHY We also dive into community building — from fitness to gaming to mental health — and why relatable, “normal” voices matter more than influencer perfection. Hector drops some real wisdom near the end: 👉 Don’t chase certifications just to chase them. 👉 Don’t build something without knowing your “why.” 👉 Fail fast. Learn faster.

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