The Journey with Mark Astor

What happens when success doesn’t come in a straight line? The Journey with Mark Astor explores the paths most people never talk about the setbacks, turning points, and internal battles that quietly define who we become. Hosted by attorney Mark Astor, this podcast goes beyond surface-level conversations to uncover the real stories behind leadership, recovery, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. Each week, Mark sits down with guests who have navigated complex journeys of their own from business leaders and legal professionals to behavioral health experts and individuals shaped by life-altering experiences. These conversations challenge assumptions, shift perspective, and invite listeners to rethink what progress truly looks like. If you’re interested in honest dialogue, meaningful insight, and stories that stay with you long after the episode ends, this podcast was created for you.

The Journey with Mark Astor is a business podcast hosted by Mark Astor, with 31 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Mark Astor hosts The Journey with Mark Astor, a business show with 31 episodes published.

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  The Journey with Mark Astor

  Ep. 31 Why This Divorce Lawyer Had to Stop White Knuckling Life with Lesa Koski

  Sep 1, 202649 min

  What if the thing you think you hate about your career is actually your greatest calling? Lesa Koski spent 25 years as an attorney before a cancer diagnosis at stage one completely shattered her understanding of control, purpose, and what it means to truly help others. She was white-knuckling her way through life, believing she could fix everything through sheer determination, until her body forced her to stop and surrender in ways she never imagined possible. The revelation that changed everything came during a prayer when she realized her oncologist hates cancer but still dedicates her life to healing patients. This conversation reveals the hidden struggles of high-achieving professionals who appear to have it all together while battling anxiety, perfectionism, and the crushing weight of always needing to have the right answers. Lesa's transformation from someone who feared vulnerability to an attorney who openly admits when she doesn't know something offers a masterclass in authentic leadership and finding peace in uncertainty. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Lesa Koski: Podcast: Saddle Up Live Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts LinkedIn: Lesa Koski Website: Lesa Koski Email: lesa.koski@gmail.com

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  The Journey with Mark Astor

  Ep. 30 How Losing His Mom To Opioids Launched A 600-Episode Podcast with Justin Schenck

  Aug 25, 202649 min

  What happens when the worst moment of your life becomes the catalyst for helping millions? Justin Schenck's story defies every expectation - from a 1.7 GPA kid voted least likely to succeed to hosting over 600 podcast episodes that have literally saved lives. Six months before launching his podcast, Justin lost his mother to a 20-year battle with opioid addiction that began when she was caught stealing pills from the pharmacy where she worked. The conversations he needed to have in that moment of grief became the authentic foundation that made his show take off. Justin doesn't sugarcoat the reality of loving someone you can't save - the roller coaster of clean periods followed by devastating relapses, the family dynamics that addiction destroys, and the moment he realized his mother didn't die because she was an addict but because she didn't love herself. His raw honesty about his own three-month drinking bender after her death and the breakthrough that followed reveals how personal transformation becomes the bridge to helping others heal. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Justin Schenck: Instagram: @JustinTSchenck Growth Now Summit: growthnowsummit.com

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  The Journey with Mark Astor

  Ep. 28 He Traded NBA Finals Tickets To His Dealer for $1,000 In Cocaine with Brian Cuban

  Aug 11, 202656 min

  What drives someone to trade NBA championship tickets for cocaine? Brian Cuban, attorney and recovery advocate, shares the raw reality of his 20-year battle with addiction that nearly destroyed his legal career and family relationships. From doing cocaine in federal courthouses to showing up to hearings under the influence, Brian's story reveals how addiction doesn't discriminate based on privilege or profession. His journey from rock bottom to nearly 19 years of sobriety offers profound insights into the intersection of mental health, family dynamics, and the legal profession's hidden crisis. Brian opens up about childhood trauma, the day he was stripped of his clothes by bullies, and how that shame followed him through decades of self-medication. He discusses the complexities of family relationships during active addiction, the moment his wife found him after a two-day blackout, and the decision that changed everything. This conversation explores the reality that lawyers suffer from alcohol use disorder at twice the rate of the general population, while offering hope for anyone struggling with addiction or supporting someone who is. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Brian Cuban: Website: www.briancuban.com Email: brianwithanI@briancuban.com

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  The Journey with Mark Astor

  Ep. 27 Why 80% Of Criminal Cases Are Mental Health Issues: The School Bus Analogy with Shannon Roy

  Aug 4, 202638 min

  What if the criminal justice system has been approaching rehabilitation completely backwards? Shannon Roy, a seasoned criminal defense attorney with over 15 years of experience, shares a powerful analogy that reframes how we think about mental health and substance abuse in criminal cases. She reveals that at least 80% of her cases involve underlying mental health or substance abuse issues, yet the system continues to treat symptoms rather than root causes. Through her compelling school bus metaphor, Shannon illustrates why simply incarcerating people without addressing their underlying issues is not only ineffective but counterproductive. Shannon takes us inside her practice where she's learned to listen first, observe behavioral patterns, and build comprehensive mitigation strategies that address the whole person. From her early days winning a boating under the influence case to handling life-or-death felony trials, she shares the emotional weight of advocating for people whose liberty hangs in the balance. Her approach goes beyond traditional defense work, focusing on creating treatment plans that serve both public safety and human dignity. You'll discover how specialty courts are revolutionizing criminal justice and why Shannon believes everyone deserves someone willing to fight for them, regardless of the charges they face. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Shannon Roy: Website: Roy LAW FIRM – Roy Defense

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  The Journey with Mark Astor

  Ep. 26 How Opioid Addiction Cost Him Everything And Led To 95% Sales Close Rates with Jake Stahl

  Jul 28, 202646 min

  What happens when a top pharma salesman with a 95% close rate loses everything to addiction and has to move back in with his parents at age 50? Jake Stahl's story isn't just about falling down-it's about the strategic comeback that led him to create Orchestrate, a revolutionary sales psychology platform. After collapsing at home during opioid withdrawal and spending five horrifying days in detox, Jake rebuilt his life using the same behavioral psychology principles that made him number one in four different pharmaceutical products. His journey from packing trucks for Amazon to developing technology that helps businesses achieve 78% open rates on cold emails reveals the power of understanding human decision-making patterns. Jake's approach to sales isn't about manipulation-it's about creating conversations where purchase becomes the only logical endpoint. Through neurolinguistic programming and social psychology, he discovered why traditional sales methods fail and how to break conditioned responses that block real connection. His personal recovery story intertwines with professional insights about resilience, remarriage, and the psychology behind everything from car dealership tactics to Tesla's pricing strategy, offering hope and practical wisdom for anyone rebuilding after loss. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Jake Stahl: Website: Orchestrate Mortgage Services, Title Search & Property Tax Services Book: Own the Room: How to Communicate to Be Seen, Heard and Respected

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