The Middle Child Podcast

What if the people around you are affecting your next level more than you realize?You can have big goals, business ideas, and plans for your future — but the energy you surround yourself with, the conversations you entertain, and the people you allow into your space can influence how far you go.In Episode 71 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles sits down with entrepreneur and personality MuffDeezy DaDon for an honest, hilarious, and thought-provoking conversation about business, motherhood, personal growth, relationships, and protecting your peace.MuffDeezy DaDon shares how an unexpected turn after maternity leave pushed her to open a boutique and step into entrepreneurship. From building businesses and hosting events to helping others understand credit, car buying, and financial responsibility, she talks about the lessons she's learned along the way — including what it means to start over and build again in a new season.The conversation also explores the pressure of wearing so many hats, figuring out which opportunities deserve your focus, and learning to appreciate the journey instead of immediately moving on to the next goal. MuffDeezy DaDon opens up about moving back home as a mother, making decisions for her children, and adjusting to a different chapter of life.But there's more to growth than business.Royal and MuffDeezy DaDon get real about outgrowing friendships, being intentional about who you spend time with, and recognizing when the conversations and energy around you no longer align with where you're trying to go. They discuss people-pleasing, protecting your peace, finding the right community, and why sometimes you need to put yourself in rooms where you can learn from people who are further along than you.MuffDeezy DaDon also shares a personal part of her journey with alopecia, including the experience that led her to embrace her hair and become more comfortable with something she once felt ashamed of.This episode is full of laughs, real-life lessons, and reminders that growth requires more than simply saying you want better. It takes action, self-awareness, consistency, and sometimes the courage to change your environment.Because your next chapter may require a different mindset, different habits, and a different circle.Pay attention to the energy you allow into your life. It transfers.CHAPTERS00:00 Energy Transfers: Who You Surround Yourself With Matters01:04 Welcome to The Middle Child Podcast02:25 MuffDeezy DaDon on an Unpredictable Season of Life03:00 Moving Back Home and Making Decisions as a Mom05:29 Poor Decisions: Making Business Events Different08:00 Starting Over and Building Back Up10:07 From Social Work to Entrepreneurship14:04 Car Sales, Credit, and Financial Literacy18:43 Why People Need to Get Educated25:03 Wearing Many Hats and Finding Your Focus31:00 Outgrowing Friendships and Finding Your People55:46 Embracing Alopecia and Learning to Love YourselfABOUT MUFFDEEZY DADONMuffDeezy DaDon is an entrepreneur, businesswoman, and mother who shares her journey through business, personal growth, and embracing who she is. From entrepreneurship and motherhood to self-acceptance and protecting her peace, she brings honesty, humor, and real-life lessons to the conversation.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muffdeezyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@muffdeezyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/muffdeezyABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated. Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://underconstruxtion.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalbolesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroyalboles#TheMiddleChildPodcast #RoyalBoles #MuffDeezyDaDon #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #ProtectYourPeace #PersonalGrowth #EnergyTransfers

You can stay busy, show up for everybody else, and keep pushing forward. But what happens when you finally have to face yourself?In Episode 70 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles sits down with E Josiah Kenty for a real conversation about identity, personal growth, therapy, relationships, fatherhood, faith, and the things we sometimes avoid when life gets busy.E Josiah describes life as a mosaic — different experiences and pieces of our story that come together to shape who we are. But understanding yourself means being willing to look at more than the parts you're proud of. It means acknowledging the difficult moments, questioning the roles you've grown accustomed to, and recognizing where you still have room to grow.E Josiah opens up about the pressure to be strong, the tendency to share his successes while keeping his mistakes private, and how therapy helped him approach difficult experiences differently. He and Royal explore what happens when we become so focused on being there for everyone else that we forget to check in with ourselves.And growth doesn't stop with you.E Josiah shares how marriage and fatherhood have influenced his priorities, why being present for the people you love matters, and how balancing your time and responsibilities can change the way you show up for others. They also discuss leadership, relationships, personal accountability, and the importance of having people around you who can support your growth.The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as E Josiah reflects on a frightening medical situation involving his wife and how that season challenged his desire to control the outcome. He shares how prayer, Scripture, and his faith helped him navigate uncertainty and learn to trust God when he didn't have all the answers.From therapy and emotional healing to family, faith, and the everyday work of becoming a better version of yourself, this episode explores the parts of personal growth that aren't always visible to other people.Because you can change your circumstances, achieve your goals, and take care of everyone around you — but real growth also requires you to be honest about what's happening within you.You can't grow by avoiding yourself. Sometimes, the next step forward begins with facing what's already there.CHAPTERS00:48 — Meet E Josiah Kenty01:26 — Flip the Culture: Amplifying Athletes' Stories02:31 — Life as a Mosaic04:14 — Therapy, Healing & Facing the Truth05:15 — People Pleasing & the Pressure to Be Strong06:00 — When Your Role Becomes Your Identity11:00 — Relationships, Hurt & Personal Growth16:00 — Marriage, Fatherhood & Protecting Your Time24:00 — Keeping God at the Center29:00 — Trusting God When You Can't Control the Outcome38:00 — Faith, Shame & Taking ResponsibilityABOUT E JOSIAH KENTYE Josiah Kenty is the creator and host of Flip the Culture, a platform that amplifies the stories and experiences of current and former athletes. He is also a husband, father, and entrepreneur who shares perspectives on identity, leadership, faith, and personal growth.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/e.josiahkentyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ejosiahkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/e_josiah_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/e-josiah-kenty-cfei-124558187/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FlipTheCultureABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated.Subscribe for more honest conversations about life, identity, relationships, growth, and everything that happens in the middle.Website: https://underconstruxtion.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalbolesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroyalboles#TheMiddleChildPodcast #EJosiahKenty #PersonalGrowth #SelfDiscovery #MensMentalHealth #FaithAndFamily #MarriageAndFatherhood #FlipTheCulture #RoyalBoles

People can form an opinion about you without knowing your full story. But their opinion doesn't have to determine your future.In Episode 69 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles sits down with Judge Ruby Clark for an honest conversation about overcoming judgment, unexpected life changes, personal growth, and learning to release the things that keep us tied to the past.Ruby reflects on the experiences that shaped her journey, including becoming a mother at a young age and hearing people question what her future would look like. Rather than allowing those opinions to define her, she continued moving forward — eventually building a career in law and becoming a judge.But this conversation isn't just about accomplishments. It's about what happens on the inside while you're becoming the person you were meant to be.Ruby shares the story behind her book, Hearsay, and why putting personal experiences into words required courage. She talks about the gossip and assumptions that followed her, the process of sharing her truth, and the freedom that came with finally telling her story.She and Royal also get into a topic many of us struggle with: forgiveness. What does it mean to let go of resentment? Can you move forward while still holding on to what someone did to you? And when does protecting your peace require you to stop carrying old hurt?Ruby also shares how her daughter encouraged her to consider law school, how faith shaped her journey, and how a path she never imagined for herself eventually led her to the bench.This episode is a reminder that people may remember where you started, but they don't know everything you've overcome, everything you've learned, or who you're still becoming.Your beginning is part of your story. It doesn't have to be the definition of your future.CHAPTERSCHAPTERS00:00 — The Story Behind *Hearsay* 01:11 — Welcome to The Middle Child Podcast 01:57 — Meet Judge Ruby Clark 04:44 — Why Ruby Shared Her Story 07:52 — The Meaning Behind Hearsay 09:34 — Learning to Forgive and Let Go 13:47 — How Grudges Affect Your Peace 16:41 — The Hardest Part of Writing Her Book 19:46 — The Unexpected Path to Law School 21:41 — From Attorney to Judge 23:19 — Faith, Motherhood & Life's Unexpected Turns 27:24 — Friendships, Hurt & Where Resentment Begins 31:57 — The Middle Child Question 36:17 — Becoming the Judge She Never Planned to Be 38:11 — Why Forgiveness Is for YouABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated.Subscribe for more honest conversations about life, identity, relationships, growth, and everything that happens in the middle.Website: https://underconstruxtion.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalbolesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroyalbolesABOUT JUDGE RUBY CLARKJudge Ruby Clark is an attorney, judge, author, and mother. Her book, Hearsay, explores her personal experiences and the impact of gossip, assumptions, and other people's perceptions.Follow Ruby on social media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruby.y.davis.3TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@respectfullyyourhonorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/respectfullyyourhonor#TheMiddleChildPodcast #RubyClark #PersonalGrowth #OvercomingAdversity #Forgiveness #LifeLessons #WomenInLaw #Hearsay #FaithAndGrowth #RoyalBoles

What happens when the life you planned for yourself looks nothing like the life you're called to live?In Episode 68 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles sits down with Pastor John Cobb for an honest conversation about transformation, grace, family, faith, business, and learning to stop running from what you're meant to do.John opens up about growing up in Pratt City, the choices he made when he was younger, the anger he carried, and the experiences that helped shape the man he is today. He reflects on the influence of his family, the importance of breaking generational cycles, and how going through difficult seasons changed the way he sees and treats other people.But becoming who he is today wasn't an overnight process.John shares how he resisted the idea of becoming a pastor, what it was like to feel called before he was ready, and why the journey toward his purpose took patience, obedience, and personal growth. He also discusses the importance of compassion, leading people well, and understanding that ministry comes with real responsibility.And there's more to his story than the pulpit.John talks about leaving a job at Honda, building his own floor-coating business, learning some hard lessons as an entrepreneur, and discovering what it takes to keep a business moving forward. He also opens up about writing books, prayer, fasting, marriage, fatherhood, and the role faith plays in his everyday life.This conversation is a reminder that your past doesn't have to define your future, your journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's, and sometimes the road to becoming who you are meant to be takes longer than you expected.CHAPTERS00:00 — The Realities of Ministry01:18 — Meet Pastor John Cobb02:47 — From His Past to a Life of Grace05:00 — Family, Fatherhood & the Men Who Shaped Him10:40 — Learning Compassion Through Life's Hard Lessons13:30 — Love, Marriage & Discernment15:30 — Running From the Call to Ministry18:00 — Why Answering Your Calling Took Time20:00 — Pastors, Church Finances & Leadership22:00 — Leaving Honda to Build a Business24:00 — Lessons From Building Floor Candy Coatings28:00 — What He'd Tell His Younger Self29:30 — Writing Books, Prayer & Fasting36:30 — Marriage, Fatherhood & a Life of Grace39:00 — Being a Middle Child & Breaking Generational CyclesABOUT JOHN COBBJohn Cobb is a pastor, author, husband, father, and entrepreneur. He leads in ministry while also running Floor Candy Coatings, a business focused on transforming concrete floors into durable, decorative surfaces.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.cobb.188Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorjcobb2TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@floorkandycoatingsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/johncobbii/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floorkandycoatingsanddesignABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated.Subscribe for more conversations about life, identity, growth, relationships, faith, and everything in between. Website: ⁠https://underconstruxtion.com/⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalboles⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/theroyalboles⁠#TheMiddleChildPodcast #JohnCobb #LifeTransformation #GraceAndRedemption #ChristianLeadership #Entrepreneurship #PersonalGrowth #FaithAndBusiness #RoyalBoles

What happens when your life changes in a way you never expected — and you have to find the strength to keep moving forward?In Episode 67 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles sits down with Cherelle Hines for a deeply personal conversation about being diagnosed with breast cancer at 30, keeping her diagnosis to herself, navigating treatment, rebuilding her confidence, and learning what resilience really looks like.Cherelle opens up about the emotional side of her breast cancer journey — not just the physical changes, but the fear, the silence, the impact on her family, and the process of finding herself again.But her story didn't end with cancer.After going through her own journey, Cherelle wanted to create something for other people facing difficult seasons. That led to Runway of Resilience, an event created to celebrate people affected by breast cancer, provide support, encourage confidence, and remind people that they are more than what they've been through.The conversation also takes an unexpected turn into lingerie, confidence, and self-worth.Cherelle talks about her lingerie business and why it's about much more than selling lingerie. She wants women to feel comfortable in their bodies, recognize their beauty, understand what works for their individual bodies, and feel confident for themselves — not for someone else.She also shares lessons she's learned about business, knowing her worth, advocating for yourself, self-care, resilience, and refusing to give up on your dreams.This is a conversation about breast cancer, resilience, confidence, women's health, self-love, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and continuing to push forward even when life gets hard.Sometimes the strongest battles are the ones nobody sees.And sometimes the person fighting in silence becomes the person who helps someone else find their strength.CHAPTERS00:00 — Cherelle's Story Begins01:35 — Meet Cherelle Hines03:28 — A Season of Development11:22 — Finding Out She Had Breast Cancer14:00 — Fighting Through the Diagnosis18:00 — Fighting in Silence21:02 — Becoming Cancer-Free23:17 — Turning Pain Into Runway of Resilience26:59 — Learning to Advocate for Yourself30:00 — Building Confidence Through Lingerie34:18 — Lingerie, Self-Worth & Feeling Good in Your Body37:00 — Learning to Take Care of Yourself40:01 — Don't Give Up on Your Dreams41:37 — Encouragement for Anyone Fighting Cancer45:00 — Keep Pushing ForwardABOUT CHERELLE HINESCherelle Hines is an entrepreneur, breast cancer advocate, and the creator of Runway of Resilience. Her work centers around resilience, confidence, supporting people affected by breast cancer, and encouraging women to embrace who they are.She also owns a lingerie business focused on helping women feel confident in their bodies and comfortable in their own skin.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BossLadyHFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/1011ObsessionsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@misseshines2youInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrshines_ABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated.Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://underconstruxtion.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalbolesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroyalboles#TheMiddleChildPodcast #BreastCancerAwareness #BreastCancerSurvivor #BreastCancerJourney #BreastCancerSupport #RunwayOfResilience #WomensHealth #WomensConfidence #BodyConfidence #SelfLove #Resilience #LingerieBusiness #WomensEmpowerment #CherelleHines #RoyalBoles

Sometimes you don't realize how much something has changed you until you stop and look back.In Episode 66 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles sits down for another solo conversation—but this time, Kiki and Jalisa are in the building asking the questions.And the conversation starts with a statement Royal has made before:“Podcasting saved my life.”What does that actually mean?For Royal, podcasting became much more than sitting behind a microphone and having conversations with people. It became a space where she learned how to communicate, become more transparent, build genuine relationships, trust her own voice, and confront parts of herself she had spent years avoiding.She talks about the version of herself who started this journey feeling lost and unsure of what God wanted her to do. She reflects on childhood rejection, feeling unseen, fighting for validation, and how podcasting helped her identify weaknesses and triggers that she once thought were simply part of who she was.But the biggest transformation may have been vulnerability.Royal opens up about learning how to receive people, how to have difficult conversations without hurting people, how to become more empathetic, and how podcasting helped her become comfortable with being uncomfortable.She also talks about the people who challenged her along the way, the guests who made her look at herself differently, the friends who became a safe place for her, and the moments that taught her she didn't have to carry everything by herself.Then the conversation gets even deeper.Royal talks about her relationship with her mom, learning to extend grace, understanding where people come from, trusting her instincts, becoming more intentional, and learning that she doesn't always have to react immediately.She also reflects on her healing journey and why she believes healing can happen faster when you intentionally change the way you move through your everyday life.Getting back in the gym.Spending more time with God.Going to therapy.Changing her routine.Being intentional.Allowing herself to be vulnerable.All of it became part of the person she is becoming.And maybe one of the biggest lessons from this episode is this:You don't always find your voice by speaking louder. Sometimes you find it by finally being honest about what you've been carrying.This is a conversation about podcasting, purpose, healing, friendship, family, vulnerability, confidence, faith, identity, and becoming comfortable enough to let people really see you.Because sometimes the thing you thought you were creating...is actually creating you.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 — Why Royal Says Podcasting Saved Her Life02:22 — When Royal Didn't Know Her Purpose03:15 — How Podcasting Changed Who She Is04:04 — Who Was Royal Before Podcasting?07:23 — What She Could Finally Say Behind the Microphone08:39 — Finding Confidence, Identity & Purpose10:14 — The Episode That Changed Everything13:17 — The Conversations That Challenged Her18:31 — What Podcasting Cost Her & What It Gave Her23:41 — Who Believed in Her Voice Before the Audience?27:10 — What She'd Tell Her Younger Self30:41 — Learning to Be Vulnerable With Her Friends40:42 — Fighting for Her Relationship With Her Mom45:02 — Would Podcasting Have Saved Past Friendships?ABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated.Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://underconstruxtion.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalbolesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroyalboles#TheMiddleChildPodcast #RoyalBoles #PodcastingSavedMyLife #PodcastingJourney #PersonalGrowth #HealingJourney #FindingYourVoice #FindingYourPurpose #Vulnerability #SelfDiscovery #IntentionalHealing #PersonalDevelopment #FaithAndHealing #WomenAndHealing

What does it really take to build something that lasts?In Episode 65 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles sits down with DJ Strick for a conversation about longevity, growth, consistency, finding your voice, and what happens when you stop looking for shortcuts and start developing your craft.DJ Strick has spent years behind the microphone, from radio and Strick City to podcasting, community building, mentoring, and helping other creators figure out how to get started. But one of the biggest lessons throughout his journey is that you don't become good overnight.You learn.You practice.You get corrected.You find people who can help shorten the learning curve.And then you keep going.DJ Strick talks about how his voice developed over time, why beginners shouldn't overcomplicate the process, the importance of actually practicing outside of the moments when people are watching, and why sometimes the people around you can help you see what you can't see yourself.The conversation also goes deeper into building community in Birmingham, creating opportunities for local podcasters, learning from mentors, and the humbling seasons that can change the way you see yourself, your work, and the people around you.Because building something that lasts isn't just about what you create.It's about who you become while you're building it.This is the long game.CHAPTERS00:00 — What Does It Take to Build Something That Lasts?01:35 — Meet DJ Strick02:30 — Balancing Radio, Podcasting & Life14:32 — How DJ Strick Got Into Radio18:00 — Creating Space for Christian Hip Hop19:30 — The Mentors Who Helped Shape Him21:55 — Radio, Podcasting & Finding Your Voice24:00 — Why Mentorship Can Shorten the Learning Curve27:21 — Show Me Your Wallet, I'll Show You Your Heart28:45 — Why Practice Matters More Than You Think32:00 — What Being a DJ Really Means33:00 — Building the Birmingham Podcast Community38:55 — Helping New Podcasters Get Started41:00 — Why You Have to Start Somewhere43:36 — Learning Through Community & Critique45:07 — Don't Miss the Moment47:20 — The Humbling Season That Changed Everything51:00 — Being a Middle Child52:30 — Where to Find DJ Strick53:58 — The Long GameABOUT DJ STRICKDJ Strick is a longtime radio personality, podcaster, communicator, and mentor who has spent years developing his craft and helping others develop theirs. His work has included Strick City, radio, podcasting, community building, and supporting creators in Birmingham and beyond.Connect with DJ Strick: https://strick.bio.linkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dj.strickTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dj.strickInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/strickcityABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated.Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://underconstruxtion.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalbolesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroyalboles#TheMiddleChildPodcast #DJStrick #TheLongGame #LongTermSuccess #PersonalGrowth #Podcasting #ContentCreation #Mentorship #BirminghamAlabama #RoyalBoles #StrickCity

Sometimes healing doesn't happen because you finally understand what happened. Sometimes it starts when you decide you're going to do something different.In Episode 64 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles gets real about healing fast, changing your life, and what it actually takes to create a sudden shift when you're tired of being in the same place.After talking about wanting to rush her healing in Episode 58, Royal shares what she eventually learned: sometimes you have to stop waiting to feel different and start changing the way you move through your everyday life.For Royal, that meant getting back into the gym, changing her mornings, spending intentional time with God, going to therapy, meal prepping, working, podcasting, spending time with family, and filling her days with things that helped her become comfortable again — but in a healthier place.She talks about why discipline comes before devotion, why therapy requires you to actually participate in your own healing, and why getting uncomfortable can be part of becoming the person you're trying to become.And then there's the bigger question:What would happen if you suddenly shifted the way you were living?Maybe you need to change your routine. Maybe you need to rebuild your confidence. Maybe you need to redirect your attention. Maybe you need therapy. Maybe you need to get back to something you used to love.Whatever it is, healing doesn't mean pretending the pain never happened.It means deciding that the pain doesn't get to control what you do next.Royal's message in this episode is simple: if you want something different, you have to be willing to do something different.Sometimes the shift doesn't happen slowly.Sometimes you have to make a sudden shift.CHAPTERS00:00 — The 4 AM Gym Crowd Hits Different00:52 — Why Royal Is Doing a Solo Episode02:14 — We're Living Through a Sudden Shift02:58 — Why Royal Wanted to Rush Her Healing03:17 — The Moment She Realized She Had to Change04:08 — Getting Back Into the Gym05:29 — The Shift Her Mind, Body & Emotions Needed06:05 — Changing Her Routine From the Inside Out07:24 — Discipline Comes Before Devotion09:07 — The Cheat Code to Healing Faster10:03 — Getting Her Life Back11:00 — Therapy, Theology & the Tools to Heal12:05 — You Have to Participate in Your Healing13:19 — Taking Your Healing Seriously14:32 — What Does It Mean to Shift Suddenly?ABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated. Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://underconstruxtion.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalbolesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroyalboles#TheMiddleChildPodcast #RoyalBoles #HealingFast #HealingJourney #PersonalGrowth #SelfImprovement #HealingAfterHeartbreak #MindsetShift #PersonalDevelopment #LifeChange #IntentionalHealing #TherapyAndHealing #HealthyHabits #SuddenShift

Success isn't always what you think it is. Sometimes success has a funny way of showing you the parts of yourself that still need work.In Episode 63 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles sits down with Ashley Williams for a conversation about success, personal growth, identity, relationships, career, and what happens when you reach a level in life that requires you to become a different version of yourself.Ashley describes this season of her life with one word: development.She's working on her discipline, rebuilding her strength, learning consistency, navigating relationships, and figuring out what it really means to grow into the person she knows she's supposed to become.And then she says something that really puts the whole conversation into perspective:“Success has a funny way of showing you that you're underdeveloped.”Because sometimes we think getting to the next level means we've made it. But the next level can actually expose the things we haven't dealt with yet.Ashley opens up about her journey into real estate, moving to Atlanta, coming back home to Birmingham, and how some of the biggest changes in her life didn't happen the way she expected them to.Royal and Ashley also get into identity, being a middle child, being the peacemaker and problem solver, relationships that change, learning when to let people go, and what happens when you stop trying to control every part of the process.They talk about the difference between progression and perfection, learning to see yourself differently, and understanding that growth doesn't always look like a dramatic transformation.Sometimes it's going to the gym when you don't feel like it.Sometimes it's rebuilding your confidence.Sometimes it's realizing a relationship isn't meant to continue the way it once did.Sometimes it's going back home.And sometimes it's simply admitting:“I'm still developing.”This conversation is about what happens in the middle — the space between who you were, who you've become, and who you're still becoming.Because success isn't just about what you accomplish.It's also about who you become along the way.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 — Faith, Hope & the Season We're In01:00 — Welcome to The Middle Child Podcast02:12 — Meet Ashley Williams03:28 — Ashley's One Word for This Season: Development05:21 — Be Careful What You Ask For06:47 — “God, Make Me Effective”09:15 — Faith, Hope & Desperate Faith12:17 — Discipline Before Devotion15:10 — Learning How to Build a Relationship With God20:44 — You Don't Have to Be Perfect25:53 — Ashley on Being a Middle Child27:03 — Finding Your Identity30:28 — Learning to See Yourself Differently36:39 — When Someone Doesn't Choose You41:07 — How Ashley Got Into Real Estate44:13 — Moving to Atlanta Before the Pandemic48:00 — What Ashley Would Tell Her Younger Self53:02 — Real Estate, Home Ownership & Building Wealth55:01 — What Happens in the Middle?57:01 — Rebuilding Hope & Moving Forward👤 ABOUT ASHLEYAshley Williams is a businesswoman and real estate professional whose journey has taken her through career changes, personal growth, relationships, relocation, and seasons of development.TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/ @home_withashInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/home_withash/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Luxuryhomeswithash👤 ABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated. Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://underconstruxtion.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalbolesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroyalboles#TheMiddleChildPodcast #SuccessIsntWhatYouThink #AshleyWilliams #PersonalGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #SelfGrowth #Success #FindingYourself #LifeLessons #CareerGrowth #RealEstate #HomeOwnership #ProgressionOverPerfection #RoyalBoles

Not everyone is your friend. And not everyone is supposed to be.In Episode 62 of The Middle Child Podcast, Royal Boles sits down with her friend Jalesa for a real conversation about friendship, faith, community, discernment, growth, and what it means to have friends in the fire.Royal shares why having the right people around you matters, especially when you're going through difficult or transformative seasons. Real friends aren't only there for the celebrations. They're the people who can stand beside you through allegations, rumors, lies, loss, and moments when your life is changing.This conversation also gets into the reality of friendships that change over time.Sometimes you have to recognize that you've outgrown a season. Sometimes God removes people. Sometimes people need to be repositioned in your life. And sometimes the person you're looking for as a friend is actually someone you need to become for somebody else.In this episode, Royal and Jalesa talk about:What it really means to have friends in the fireWhy everyone isn't meant to be in your circleThe importance of having people who will stand with youWhy real friends have to be willing to tell you the truthHaving friends who protect you instead of tearing you downWhy community matters during difficult seasonsFinding your tribeAsking God to reveal, remove, replace, and reposition peopleRecognizing when you've outgrown a friendship or a seasonWhy outgrowing someone doesn't automatically mean you have to hate themLearning how to reposition people in your lifeFriendship, faith, discernment, and accountabilityKnowing when to help someone and when to step backThe importance of praying for your friendsBeing intentional about the people you allow around youBecoming the kind of friend you want to haveWhat Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego teach us about friends in the fireWhy the right people can help you walk through transformative seasonsOne of the biggest questions from this conversation is:Who's really in your circle?Because everybody who calls themselves your friend may not be a friend who is willing to stand with you in the fire.And while you're looking for those people, don't forget to ask yourself:Am I that kind of friend for somebody else?⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 — Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego: Friends in the Fire01:45 — Welcome to The Middle Child Podcast03:32 — Why Royal Is Intentionally Walking Through Her Healing Journey04:21 — Why Royal Needed Her Friends in This Season05:33 — What It Really Means to Have Friends in the Fire06:23 — The Conference Lesson That Changed Royal's View of Friendship08:40 — Why People Hide What They're Going Through09:44 — Friends Who Protect You When You're at Your Lowest11:13 — Why God Gives Us Community12:09 — When Your Friends Help Lead You to Jesus13:20 — Reveal, Remove, Replace & Reposition14:36 — Becoming the Friend in the Fire21:30 — When You've Outgrown a Friendship23:00 — Finding Your Tribe & Walking Into Purpose28:01 — When God Removes People From Your Life31:16 — Friendship, Integrity & Keeping People's Secrets35:49 — Pray for Your Tribe & Ask God for Discernment38:25 — What It Really Means to Stand With Someone42:00 — Tell the Truth, Be Discerning & Be a Good Friend47:43 — What God May Be Doing Through Your Friendships🎙️ ABOUT THE MIDDLE CHILD PODCASTThe Middle Child Podcast with Royal Boles is the show where you are seen, loved, and appreciated.Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://underconstruxtion.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroyalbolesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroyalboles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialmiddlechildpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroyalboles#TheMiddleChildPodcast #NotEveryoneIsYourFriend #FriendsInTheFire #RoyalBoles #ChristianFriendship #GodlyFriendships #FindingYourTribe #ChristianCommunity #FriendshipAndFaith #HealthyFriendships #Discernment #SpiritualGrowth #FriendshipGoals