Tenacity with Sonia C.

Latest Episodes:

The Founder Who Left Comfort to Chase Purpose with Marco Benitez Nov 27, 2025

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What makes a founder walk away from stability, an excellent salary, and a clear corporate path, just to start over from scratch?

In this episode of Tenacity with Sonia C., Marco Benitez, CEO of ROOK, shares the pivotal moment that changed the trajectory of his life. From a national Taekwondo champion in Mexico to a biomedical engineer and then climbing the ladder in big pharma, Marco had everything society tells us to want. Yet he felt deeply unfulfilled.

When his wife asked, “Why are you so sad?”, it forced him to face a truth he’d been avoiding: he was meant to build, not maintain.

Sonia and Marco unpack:

⚡ The internal battle between comfort and purpose
⚡ How he navigated a high-risk pivot from fitness wearables to healthcare & insurance
⚡ The real emotional cost behind raising capital (400 investor calls!)
⚡ Why being “in love with the problem, not the product” saved his company
⚡ What founders misunderstand about resilience and long-term vision
⚡ The future of health data, wearables, and consumer control
⚡ How to make the leap when fear has you frozen

This episode is a powerful reminder that tenacity isn’t loud; it’s the quiet decision to keep walking, even when the world tells you to stay where it’s safe.

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A Founder’s Fight to Grow During the Ukraine Invasion with Oleksandr Buratynskyi Nov 20, 2025

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What does it take to build and scale a tech startup while your country is under attack?

In this episode of Tenacity with Sonia C, Ukrainian founder Oleksandr (“Alex”) Buratynskyi, co-founder of T-Travel, shares the raw, unfiltered truth about growing a startup during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with no outside funding, constant uncertainty, and the pressure to keep his team motivated while the world around him shifted overnight.

Alex opens up about:

The hackathon spark that pushed him from QA testing into entrepreneurship
Bootstrapping T-Travel through wartime conditions when investors disappeared
How the invasion changed everything, from funding to timelines to team morale
The biggest mistake he made as a founder (and how it cost years of time and money)
Why overbuilding early nearly crushed the company
How he scaled to 37,000+ users without VC dollars
The mindset tools he used to stay steady while leading through crisis
His philosophy from his book Systematic Adaptiveness, and how founders can apply it in their own moments of chaos

This conversation serves as a blueprint for fostering founder resilience, resourcefulness, and psychological endurance.

If you’re navigating failure, rebuilding after a setback, or fighting to keep your dream alive, Alex’s story will remind you that tenacity is a strategy, not just a trait.

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Why Niching Down Is the Smartest Way to Grow with Gabriel Kaam Nov 13, 2025

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When you try to serve everyone, you end up serving no one.

In this episode of Tenacity with Sonia C., Sonia Couto sits down with Gabriel Kaam, founder and CEO of K&R, to unpack one of the hardest, but smartest, growth decisions a founder can make: niching down.

Gabriel shares how focusing his agency on fashion and luxury e-commerce helped him land clients like L’Oréal, Givenchy, and Louis Vuitton, without a sales team. He opens up about the early struggles of scaling, why being small became his biggest superpower, and how founders can win trust from big clients, even when you’re still building.

You’ll learn:

Why niching down is the key to sustainable growth
How being small and flexible can attract global brands
The truth about managing client expectations and setting boundaries
How to sell your idea before your product
Why cheap hires cost more in the long run

If you’re building a startup, agency, or SaaS, this episode is your reminder that focus isn’t a limitation; it’s leverage.

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How a Single Mom Built a Profitable Fintech in Cannabis with Aubrey Amatelli Nov 06, 2025

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What does it take to leave a decade-long career at JP Morgan and build a profitable fintech startup in one of the most stigmatized industries in America, Cannabis?

In this episode of Tenacity with Sonia C., host Sonia Couto sits down with Aubrey Amatelli, founder and CEO of PayRio, the first payment provider focused exclusively on cannabis and alternative medicines.

Aubrey shares her journey from the stability of corporate banking to the chaos of startup life, all while raising three kids as a single mom. She opens up about:

Leaving JP Morgan to launch a cannabis fintech from scratch
Turning stigma into strategy in an underbanked industry
Hitting profitability in under 12 months, self-funded
Balancing motherhood, burnout, and leadership in a male-dominated space
How one platform crash reshaped her entire approach to resilience

This conversation is a masterclass in tenacity, purpose-driven leadership, and building credibility when the system isn’t built for you.

🎧 Listen if you’re a founder breaking barriers, rebuilding after setbacks, or redefining success in a stigmatized industry.

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Men Get Breast Cancer Too: Breaking the Stigma with Phil Alderson Oct 30, 2025

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When you think of breast cancer, you probably don’t think of men, but you should.

In this episode, Phil Alderson shares his story of surviving male breast cancer, a diagnosis most men never imagine they’ll face. From the moment he found a lump to navigating isolation, stigma, and the lack of male-focused support, Phil’s honesty will challenge what you think you know about breast cancer.

As two survivors, one male, one female, Sonia and Phil go into:

- The reality of male breast cancer (yes, it happens)

- Why early detection saves lives

- How stigma and silence make men more vulnerable

- The need for more inclusive awareness and language

- Rebuilding identity and purpose after cancer

If you’re a man, a father, a brother, this episode could save a life.

Website: https://www.soniacouto.com/Podcast

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Rebuilding Identity After Breast Cancer with Alexandra Goldwell Oct 23, 2025

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When Alexandra Goldwell was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer as a single parent and lifelong healer, she was forced to confront the limits of her strength and the depth of her beliefs about healing. A psychologist and somatic therapist for over 25 years, Alexandra had spent her career helping others process pain, but breast cancer became her most personal teacher.

In this episode of Tenacity with Sonia C, we have an honest and transformative conversation. Alexandra shares how she approached her diagnosis differently, why she delayed surgery, and the mental and emotional practices that helped her navigate fear, isolation, and uncertainty. We also talk about the often-ignored post-cancer phase, the disorientation, the grief over a changed body, and the process of redefining your identity and priorities after survival.

This isn’t just a story about breast cancer; it’s about agency, resilience, and rewriting your life on your own terms.

🎧 Listen now for a conversation that will speak to anyone facing a life-changing diagnosis, a significant transition, or the challenge of starting over.

Website: https://www.soniacouto.com/Podcast

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A Dad’s Journey Through His Daughters Breast Cancer Journey with Bob Furniss Oct 19, 2025

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What does it mean to be a parent when your child is fighting for her life? For Bob Furniss, the answer was to stand beside his daughter Keisha, as her advocate, her cheerleader, and eventually, the keeper of her legacy.

In this profoundly emotional conversation, Bob shares his journey as the father of a young woman diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer at just 30 years old. He opens up about the moment everything stopped, what it means to advocate for a loved one in the doctor’s office, and the heartbreaking reality of watching his daughter fight for four years before passing away at 34.

But Bob didn’t stop at grief. He and his family founded Keisha Warrior Princess Foundation to spread awareness, empower young women to do self-exams, and prevent others from missing the early signs. He also wrote On to Blue, a memoir of love, resilience, and lessons learned from Keisha’s warrior spirit.

This episode is a rare and powerful look at breast cancer through the eyes of a parent. It’s about loss, hope, and the courage to turn pain into purpose.

🎧 Listen now to hear Bob’s story, and the question he believes every dad should ask his daughter.

Website: https://www.soniacouto.com/Podcast

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Confidence, Resilience & Finding Peace After Cancer with Christie Cioffi Oct 16, 2025

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When Christie Cioffi was diagnosed with breast cancer just days after her 36th birthday, her world turned upside down. A West Point graduate, Army veteran, and marathon runner, Christie was no stranger to discipline and resilience, but cancer forced her to confront an entirely different battle: rebuilding her confidence, identity, and sense of self.

In this raw and empowering conversation, Christie shares how she navigated her diagnosis, made life-altering decisions about her body, and ultimately discovered a deeper sense of authenticity and leadership. We talk about what it means to date after cancer, the power of therapy, and how embracing vulnerability can become a superpower.

This episode isn’t just about surviving breast cancer; it’s about what comes next: learning to trust yourself, letting go of old stories, and stepping into life with confidence and peace.

🎧 Tune in for an honest conversation on resilience, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to rebuild after cancer.

Website: https://www.soniacouto.com/Podcast

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When Breast Cancer Tried to Steal Her Spotlight with Fitz Koehler Oct 09, 2025

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Fitz Koehler built her career as a fitness expert and race announcer, inspiring thousands with her energy and passion. But when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her life took a turn that tested every ounce of her strength.

In this candid conversation on Tenacity with Sonia C, Fitz opens up about the realities of treatment, the toll it took on her career, and the grit it took to keep showing up with a microphone in hand, even while battling cancer. She shares how humour, community, and unapologetic authenticity became her survival tools, and why she believes resilience is something we can all train for.

We also delve into the lessons she now carries forward: redefining strength, rebuilding after loss, and finding purpose in helping others navigate life’s most challenging obstacles.

🎧 This is more than a cancer story; it’s about grit, joy, and refusing to let hardship steal your spotlight. #breastcancer

Website: https://www.soniacouto.com/Podcast

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The Mastectomy I Always Wanted with Survivor, Author & Advocate Erica Campbell Oct 02, 2025

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When Erica Campbell answered the call from her doctor late on a Friday afternoon, her world stopped. A breast cancer diagnosis instantly brought back memories of losing her mother to the disease, and fears of history repeating itself.

In this candid conversation, Erica opens up about the emotions of that moment, why she chose a double mastectomy, and how reconstruction shaped her relationship with her body. She and I dive into the raw, often unspoken truths about femininity, control, fear of recurrence, and the difficult decisions women face between lumpectomy and double mastectomy.

Erica also shares the inspiration behind her influential book The Mastectomy I Always Wanted, her work leading the Pinky Swear Foundation for children with cancer, and the leadership lessons cancer taught her: vulnerability, compassion, and the power of trust.

This isn’t just a breast cancer story. It’s about reclaiming choice, reframing struggle, and discovering freedom on the other side of fear.

🎧 Tune in to hear why Erica believes the most significant lesson is never to give up, and why no one has to go through this journey alone. #breastcancer

Website: https://www.soniacouto.com/Podcast

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