Building Strength and Confidence Through Adversity -51

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Marli Williams [: 00:00:04

Well, hey there. What is happening? Welcome back to the Marli Williams podcast where this week I am hanging out with the amazing Angela Gargano, who I just recently met, who happens to be a pull up row, helping over a thousand women get their first pull up. She's a six time ninja warrior. And this week, my friends, we are diving into the idea of around how to build strength and confidence through adversity. Whether you're going through a health challenge, a personal challenge, a life challenge, the world is crazy right now. Angela is on the show today to share how she has built her resiliency and how her greatest biggest challenges in life have been her biggest gifts and opportunities for growth. So I cannot wait to dive into this powerful conversation with you today. Let's do this.

Marli Williams [: 00:01:06

Hey, everyone. What's happening? I am super stoked to welcome you to the Marli Williams podcast, where we will explore authentic leadership, transformational facilitation, and how to create epic experiences for your audiences every single time. I am your host, Marli Williams, bringing you thought provoking insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to unlock your potential as a leader, facilitator, and speaker. Thank you for joining me on this journey of growth, transformation, and impact. Let's lead together. The Marli Williams podcast begins now. Let's dive in. Or this week, I am hanging out with my new buddy, Angela Gargano, who is a six time ninja warrior, which is badass, an amazing, amazing keynote speaker who talks about resilience and mindset and just being a badass in your life, and has helped over 1,000 women get their first pull up.

Marli Williams [: 00:02:13

She's gonna help me do that too, which I am super excited about. Angela, welcome to the show.

Angela Gargano [: 00:02:20

Thank you so much for having me. Just a funny note. I just loved how I got to meet her. We're doing this a week after I've met you in real life, but you were on my list to get a pull up, which I didn't even know I didn't even know that you were on my own. Like, you're like, wait. I got a message from somebody about pull ups. Yeah.

Marli Williams [: 00:02:36

Yeah.

Angela Gargano [: 00:02:36

And I'm like, that was definitely me.

Marli Williams [: 00:02:40

We we we both, like, the first people to show up for the speaking boot camp, and she was I was like, so yeah. Tell me tell me about yourself and what you do. And she's like, I'm a pull up coach for women. And I was like, no way. I 100% signed up for, you know, some sort of Instagram pop up. And I was like, it is one of my life goals to be able to someday do a pull up, and I know that you are gonna be the person to help me do that. So Gotcha.

Angela Gargano [: 00:03:02

I'm here for it.

Marli Williams [: 00:03:04

And we're also both on this mission of sharing our message with the world as keynote speakers and being a part of this amazing community who's doing the same thing. And so it was so fun that you were the first person that I got to meet and you're on the podcast today. And, you know, one thing that really resonated for me when I met you is like, yes, you're this, like, badass, like, ninja warrior keynote speaker. And so someone can maybe, like, look at that and be like, it feels like unattainable or, like, the way that people might see you is like putting you like kind of on this pedestal. And yet, you know, you've been through a lot to get to where you are. And we see the success story, but we don't always know, you know, the journey that helps someone get there. So I'd love for you to kinda introduce yourself to this the podcast community of just your journey, your story.

Marli Williams [: 00:03:57

How did you become a Ninja Warrior and, you know, become this, like, I think, like, the world's only women's pull up coach to now, like, beginning on stages and doing these keynote talks. So maybe just a little bit about your background, your story, your journey, where you've been, where you are.

Angela Gargano [: 00:04:13

Absolutely. And, yeah, it's so interesting because it all of this was a total accident. If you wanna call it accident, you know, we don't it probably wasn't an accident from the universe. But for me, I actually went to college to be a biological chemist. So I have a biological chemistry degree, believe it or not. So I was actually working. I worked at Brown University for a little while making compounds in there to help with cancer, like a lab coat, goggles, everything. Then I worked at a pharmaceutical company where I was in a hazmat suit, and I was working 7PM to 7AM.

Angela Gargano [: 00:04:44

So it's wild to think of where I've come, like, all the things that have happened since then. And I don't think that people even maybe know that about my journey. Right? Because like you said, you hear about the the the, maybe, the tough parts or you always hear about, like, this awesome stuff that they do. But people don't typically talk about the in between, which is what we kinda talked about at the at the speaking event. I love to say it as, like, one door closes, another one opens, and no one talks about this hallway, this in between point. Like, you don't really know where it's gonna take you. It's kinda dark in there. Like, what's kinda happening? So my accidental ninja piece and getting on American Ninja Warrior is a friend of mine was actually trying out for the show.

Angela Gargano [: 00:05:21

She was putting in a submission video. And it was one of those things where I really looked up to this woman. She was a mentor of mine. And a friend came up to me and said, Angela, you should really try out for this show too. Like, you used to be a gymnast in college. Like, this would be perfect for you. And I just remember saying, I can't do that. And they're like, why not? And I was like, I I mean, I don't wanna step on my friend's toes.

Angela Gargano [: 00:05:41

Like, this is her thing. She's doing I don't wanna be like, oh, by the way, I'm doing it too. Right? And my friends and it's so great to have these people in your life. Right? The people who, like, see that thing in you that you do not see in yourself at the time. And he just kept pushing me and pushing me. And finally, we made a submission video to get on this American Ninja Warrior show, and I forgot about it. I forgot about it for a couple months. I didn't honestly think anything of it.

Angela Gargano [: 00:06:03

I didn't think of myself as somebody who would be able to even do something that cool. And then I got the call. I got the call. The call. I got the call.

Marli Williams [: 00:06:15

And we how does that feel, like, that moment where you got the call?

Angela Gargano [: 00:06:17

So it's actually even more funny. So I thought it was spam. So I let it go to voice mail. I'm like, calling me in this 818 number? And it's funny if anyone here listens and knows about American Ninja Warrior. It's the infamous 818 number. I had no idea. So I put let it go to spam. And then I went to go, listen.

Angela Gargano [: 00:06:34

This is back in the day where, like, they didn't have it where you could, like, actually see what your voice mail looks like and you gotta actually dial it in and, like, listen to it. And it was this guy with this, like, real I mean, he literally said it like this. He's like, you've been accepted to American Ninja Warrior. And I was like, come again? Like and they're like, please call us back so we could, like, whatever. And I'm with my other friend, and I'm like I'm like, wait. I'm like, come over here. I'm like, I literally just got American Ninja Warrior. Like, I don't know what to do.

Angela Gargano [: 00:06:59

So she came up to me. We called back together. We put this guy on speaker phone. I I kind of thought it was a joke, you know. I don't know. It didn't seem like and they're like, yeah. Like, you're on and, like, you know, would you be able to come in and fly into Philadelphia and compete in two weeks? Two weeks. Two weeks.

Angela Gargano [: 00:07:14

It's very television y. Everything's pretty much last minute. And I mean, of course, I'm like, yeah. Like, I'm gonna do it, but I had no idea how to ninja. Like, so I now I I had two weeks to figure out how to ninja. Like, where do I ninja? How do I where did one ninja?

Marli Williams [: 00:07:28

Class that you can, like, sign up for at the gym. Like, oh, there could be on American Ninja Warrior one on one.

Angela Gargano [: 00:07:35

It was kinda popular, but not it's definitely much more popular now. There's, like, a lot of gyms. Right? And so I you know, Facebook was popular back then. I went on Facebook. I typed in, hey, guys. I got on American Ninja Warrior. Does anybody here know how to ninja or I can learn how to ninja? And believe it or not, I had a bunch of people message me back. I was living in Rhode Island at the time.

Angela Gargano [: 00:07:55

And this one guy, he was awesome. He was like, listen. I built a actual course in the woods. In the woods, like, a handmade Ninja Warrior horse. If you come, I'll teach you how to do it. And I remember just being, like, a little sketchy, but, I mean, whatever. Let's go. Do it.

Angela Gargano [: 00:08:09

Like, right?

Marli Williams [: 00:08:10

A friend of a friend of a friend. I'm like, how do I be?

Angela Gargano [: 00:08:13

Yeah. So I get there. I mean, they were amazing. They were so welcoming. They were like, yeah. Let me show you how to do this. Hey. You should really know how to do this for when you get on the course and do all these things.

Angela Gargano [: 00:08:21

And it was so amazing. I mean, kind of like the community that we're in right now. Right? It's like the welcomingness and these people who just, like, were so excited for you to be there, be a part of this new ninja journey was so powerful. So, yeah, total accident getting on the show, and I literally had two weeks to learn how to ninja. Then I wound up getting there, going to Philadelphia. By the way, at this time for a ninja, they don't pay for anything, so you have to pay your way.

Marli Williams [: 00:08:44

Oh, wow.

Angela Gargano [: 00:08:45

Okay. And I had to go to the beginning. Super broke. So I found somebody that I I don't remember where I found her through. She let me stay at her house and borrow her car, and then I realized that it was filming overnight. So thank goodness I was working the overnight shift because I kinda knew that that vibe. So I was filming set, like, same thing, 7PM to 7AM. So it's, like, next and dark outside.

Angela Gargano [: 00:09:05

So the set, it, like, was really bright in the city and stuff like that. And then we proceeded to just wait outside in the cold all night and just wait for our turn to go, for the first time competing, which is wild.

Marli Williams [: 00:09:16

Wow.. That is crazy. So what was that first I'm just like, what was that first experience like?

Angela Gargano [: 00:09:21

The first experience was so I mean, again, I was just so grateful to be there, and I really personally didn't have much expectation on myself because, again, I'm here. I'm like, I'm just so happy to be here. And a side note, I was going through, like, a very horrible breakup. So I honestly, like, didn't even knew know who I was, like, when I was when I was doing this. And but I'm so happy because it just showed me such a world of opportunity when I was out there. Like, oh, you don't need to, like, stay in Rhode Island. There's so many things, like, out here for you to do, like, awesome, you know, set. So, yeah.

Angela Gargano [: 00:09:52

I didn't I I think I got past I fell in the obstacle everybody was falling on that that night, which was fine. But after that, I was so hooked. Like, I was like, this is incredible.

Marli Williams [: 00:10:00

This is it.

Angela Gargano [: 00:10:01

I'm getting coming back again. I need to keep doing this. And, believe it or not, after that, put in two more submission videos. I didn't get selected.

Marli Williams [: 00:10:09

Interesting.

Angela Gargano [: 00:10:10

Very interesting. Because I'm a little more, You know?

Marli Williams [: 00:10:12

Right. So you're like, I've already been selected, so why didn't I get okay. So you you submit again. Didn't get selected twice. Then what?

Angela Gargano [: 00:10:20

And then and then I kept trying to figure out why am I not getting selected? And then what I realized then was is this is a TV show. This is actually about storytelling. This is about they wanna have someone really epic who's obviously fit in some capacity, although that that honestly really didn't matter as much as the TV show. They want you to they want you to have some kind of story. And I was like, okay. Cool. Let me, like, start to kinda tell my story a little bit better on these videos. And then once I kinda figured out the formula for that, I was able to get on again.

Angela Gargano [: 00:10:45

And then I finally got on again, for season ten, and I was ready. Like, I was ready. Like, I'm like, I got this. I'm the strongest I've ever been in my life. At that point, I now had quit the pharmaceutical job. I owned my own gym. I, like, just kinda, like, threw myself into that. I'm on the cover of Women's Health magazine randomly, so that was really cool.

Angela Gargano [: 00:11:05

And that's how I had a boyfriend for, like, a slight second again. And things are going well. And that was what was my that was what my submission video was and got on the show feeling really great. And I get on this course, and I'm so confident. I'm flying. I'm flying through this course. I'm, like, looking at my coaches on the coaches on the sideline. I'm like, this is gonna be amazing.

Angela Gargano [: 00:11:22

I'm crushing it. And I get to this final obstacle, and I know that, like, once I finish that obstacle, I'm gonna be a top female. I'm literally made it. I did it. And you could see all the, like, veterans in the crowd. Like, wow. This girl. Like, where'd she come from? Like, whatever.

Angela Gargano [: 00:11:36

And I landed and finished that obstacle, would have been a top female, and I collapsed, completely collapsed. I blacked out. I remember sitting there on the force holding my knee, crying. I really didn't understand, like, what had just happened. I was really confused. And, yeah, I realized in that moment that I literally tore my ACL in front of everybody and had to be carried I had to be carried off the course after that. So

Marli Williams [: 00:11:58

Wow. Yeah. That's intense. You're like, here I am. It's like this, like, peak moment to, like, then get injured on the course.

Angela Gargano [: 00:12:09

On the in front of everybody. Think about all those people that were leaning in front of me.

Marli Williams [: 00:12:11

In front of everybody.

Angela Gargano [: 00:12:13

Like a strong girl, whatever, like, all these things. And now I'm sitting there holding my leg. Now I own a gym. All these people are looking up to me. They're so excited to hear about how it went. Right? Like, how did it go? And I'm over here just like, like and, yeah, it was definitely a very devastating part of my life. And I remember calling my friend right away, Jess. It's so funny.

Angela Gargano [: 00:12:32

Jess was also the same exact person who was next to me when I got the call to get on the show. She's one of those friends, you know, who's there with you for everything.

Marli Williams [: 00:12:37

Just there.

Angela Gargano [: 00:12:37

Yeah. And I call her crying. She's like, how did it go? How did it go? And I'm like, I tore my ACL. Like, I can't believe it. And she's like, oh, Angela. She's like, I know this is so tough right now.

Angela Gargano [: 00:12:49

She's like, but, you know, this is a blessing in disguise. And I'm like, get out of here. I'm like, oh my god. I'm gonna smack you.

Angela Gargano [: 00:12:57

Yeah. I'm like, duh. Like, I'm like, this is not a blessing. I was like, I I was meant to go on that course and finish it and be a top female. That's how it was supposed to be. That's what I was always, you know, that's the way it was supposed to go. That really was a pivotal point in my life and, you know, we obviously can continue to dive into it more, but, like, that really changed everything for me.

Marli Williams [: 00:13:16

What did you realize? And, like, how did how was that, like, a pivot point for you?

Angela Gargano [: 00:13:22

Yeah. So I realized that I I was placing so much of my identity on being a ninja warrior, being a gym owner, being all these accomplished things. And once all that was gone, I didn't who was I? Right? I I and I think this happens to a lot of athletes. Right? You'll fear this for a lot of people who go to college for a sport, and after that, the sport's over. Right? And they're in this depression because they're like, who am I? Like, I don't have this sport. I don't know who I am. I feel worthless. Right? So I was sitting in this place of just feeling so worthless.

Angela Gargano [: 00:13:53

I can't walk. I can't do anything. I can't do ninja warrior. What are people gonna think of me? So it really was a point in my life where it made me stop and really dig a lot deeper. I had to dig way deeper into myself and realize that without all those things, I am just as awesome. Right? I am I am worth just as much without all those external things. But it took me a while. I mean, I was really down in the dumps, and I was so depressed.

Angela Gargano [: 00:14:18

And not only was I depressed, but I was trying to hide my depression from everybody because I'm supposed to be this strong person. I own this gym. Right? And I I joke about this when I talk about my in my keynotes. But it's kinda like that thing if you ever have, if there's guys or girls sitting in here who have girlfriends, and the girlfriend's like, I'm fine. And you know right away, like, you're not fine.

Marli Williams [: 00:14:40

They're not fine. They're not fine.

Angela Gargano [: 00:14:42

I'm fine. Like, you're not fine. Okay? We know it.

Marli Williams [: 00:14:47

We know it. And everyone knows it.

Angela Gargano [: 00:14:49

We know it. Right?

Marli Williams [: 00:14:49

Feel it when you're just, like, trying to fake feeling fine when you're really not.

Angela Gargano [: 00:14:54

You're really not because you think that you need to be the strong one, and you need to power through it, and you need to do all these things. And I was down the dumps for months and months and months. I there was points where I was sitting at home when I was away from all people just being like, I don't even know if I wanna live anymore. Like and I know that sounds so wild to say because people might be like, that's so dramatic. You just tore your ACL, whatever. But this happens to people all the time in all different areas of their lives. Like, I really was felt that worthless where I was like, does it even matter? Will people even care, like, if I'm gone? Because I'm not doing these awesome things. And thank goodness, I had a friend who was a friend who knew that the I'm fine did not mean I'm fine.

Angela Gargano [: 00:15:30

And she called me one day, and she's like, I just wanna let you know. She's like, I see, like, past this, and I see that you're not okay. And she's like, listen. It's cool. I'm gonna give you permission right now to not be okay. Like, it's okay that you're not okay. Like, I don't want you to get stuck. I don't want you to get stuck there.

Angela Gargano [: 00:15:46

And it was the perfect timing, the way she said it. I mean, some it sometimes it takes that. Right? You could have someone say the same thing to you, like, over and over again. You're like, yeah. Get out of here. And then that one person, like, comes and says it to you. And what I realized is that you know, and this happens for any challenge that might come your way. It may not be an ACL tear.

Angela Gargano [: 00:16:03

I don't we feel like we need to be so tough as leaders, as people to just push through it. But you need to take that moment, and you do need to feel whatever you need to feel. You are human. You're allowed to feel some sort of way. You're allowed to feel sad. You're allowed to feel mad. You're allowed to feel like, oh, like, why me? But then what I like to teach in my keynote is you gotta put a deadline on it. Okay?

Angela Gargano [: 00:16:24

Like, we gotta we gotta set we gotta get out of it.

Marli Williams [: 00:16:26

To not stay there. It's like allowing yourself to feel the feelings because it's not overriding them or bypassing them. Because if you ignore them, they're just gonna show up. It's like sometimes I say, if it doesn't come out front ways, it comes out sideways. So meaning, like, if we don't acknowledge the reality in some way, shape, or form, like, go to a rage room, like, break some shit or, like, share with a confidant, a friend, a coach, a therapist, like, this is what's really going on. Everybody else thinks I'm fine. I'm really not. Right? Because it's like if we don't acknowledge it, meaning we don't acknowledge it out loud.

Marli Williams [: 00:17:02

When when I say it comes out sideways, it comes out in all these, like, little, like, being short, being curt, being hard on ourself, like, doing, like, trying to override it or overcompensate even versus just, like, the power of acknowledging. And I love what you said of, like, you know, there's a lot of crazy shit happening out there in the world right now and, like, this moment of, like, it's okay to not be okay and to not let yourself stay there and get stuck there.

Angela Gargano [: 00:17:29

Because I see people do that. Right? You'll see people who are, like, for a while, you're, like, noticing with your friends, like, some friends. And I'm so lucky to have such great friends. Right? But, yeah, you'll notice certain people. Like, wait. You've been stuck in the same place for, like, a couple of years now. It's like, okay. Let's how can we get through this?

Marli Williams [: 00:17:44

It's time to, like, I love the the deadline. I'm like, I'm gonna let myself feel the feelings.

Angela Gargano [: 00:17:49

Yeah. Exactly. And, obviously, with the deadline, right, it doesn't need to be it may not be like a day, but I love my friend. She said one time, like, give yourself like that. If it's a small challenge that happened that you can get out a little quicker. Right? Give yourself a pity party. Like, give yourself a little pity party for a little while. You know, hit a pillow.

Angela Gargano [: 00:18:04

Do what you need to do. Get it all out and then okay. Cool. Like, time to move on. For you know, like you said, getting it out for me, I found meditation and I found writing very helpful. For me, that was my unbiased place that I could write out all the crazy I mean, I'm sure if I go back to these journals, it's gonna read crazy. But, like, I was like, I'm just gonna allow myself to write it. Like, why not put it on the paper.

Angela Gargano [: 00:18:28

Right? It's that unbiased place that you can go to, whether it be your piece of paper, whether it be a friend, whether it be a therapist. Right? Just allowing yourself to actually feel those feelings, know that it's okay knowing that you are absolutely human. And people have these thoughts happen all the time. But, yes, not getting stuck there and, again, setting that deadline. Like I said, for me, it took a while. I was writing it every single day. But when she said that, I think I was able to start to slowly see myself come out of it after, like, a week, after feeling a little better, after, again, just journaling it, letting it be on paper over and over and over again. But now what's great is, like, once you go through this once and you push past it once and you get through that, you know, feeling like, ah, and then unstuck, you can do it again.

Angela Gargano [: 00:19:07

Like, you you recognize it. You're like, oh, cool. I'm here again. Cool. What do I need right now? What tools can I use? Okay. For me, this is gonna be a small thing today. Okay. Cool.

Angela Gargano [: 00:19:15

I'm gonna have myself a little pity party in the corner, and I'm gonna be mad about it. And then I'm gonna come back, and I'm gonna get myself going.

Marli Williams [: 00:19:20

And then we're gonna move on.

Angela Gargano [: 00:19:22

Yeah. We're gonna move on. We're gonna move to the next thing.

Marli Williams [: 00:19:24

It's so important. There's some there's so much in what you said around this this identity piece where we we over identify with a certain you know, whether that's like being an athlete or being a performer or being like this a leader, you know, and then that thing maybe goes away. And maybe, you know, temporarily because of an injury. But I think that this question or, you know, being from women, like being a mom or being, you know, being a parent or being a wife or a partner or whatever it is, and then you go through a divorce or a breakup. And there is this question of like, who am I without all of that? And when those things fall away, those, like, quote, unquote identities, those labels that society puts up puts on of, like, oh, that's what makes me worthy. That's what makes me valuable to society. But when that goes away, what's left? And this invitation and opportunity to be like, well, who am I without being a ninja warrior? Or, you know, I'm maybe I'm still a gym owner, but maybe I can't perform at the level that I did. Or, you know, how do I show up for my clients? And I don't wanna let people you know, recovering people pleasers, and I I don't wanna let anybody down and perfectionist.

Marli Williams [: 00:20:43

Like, it all has to, like, so it's like, what if it doesn't, you know, work out? And I think that that's people's biggest fear of when they go after something. They're like, oh, there's no way I can do that. Mhmm. And I think a lot of people because what if I fall? What if I fail? What if I hurt get hurt? Yeah. And I know that your big message is like, well, what if it all goes right?

Angela Gargano [: 00:21:08

Yes. And that's exactly the journaling prompt, and I told you this before the call, but I use that journaling prompt every single day. That right is what got me through it. Right? So first, I I wrote out all the crazy all the crazy in there. And then I started to ask myself because I started looking at a lot of things with the visualization. I mean, I used visualization when I was in for gymnastics. I used visualization for Ninja Warrior. Then I'm like, can I visualize myself out of this? Like, I could apply the same tools that I was using at before.

Angela Gargano [: 00:21:35

And what I found so fascinating is that as soon as I started to try and think about what if it all goes right and what that even looked like, I didn't know. So here I am, like, sitting there, upset, whatever with myself, but I don't even know what going right looks like. And it's gonna be very hard to try and get to whatever your destination is or your if you don't even have, like, kind of a a visual, like, what you really want that to look like. And it's really tough sometimes because when your body is in that place of fight or flight, right, all it can think about is what's gonna go wrong. That is it. The only thing is, like, this is gonna go wrong. That's gonna go wrong. But what if it went right? And what was so great is every single day, I would sit down and I would journal.

Angela Gargano [: 00:22:13

And the first day, I really had no idea. Just write out something. The second day, I had a little more of an understanding. The third day, now I'm starting to write it now. Now I'm starting to, like, a little bit see it in my mind. Then I'm starting to, like, you know you know, smell it. Like, all the different senses started to come and be, and you started to get a more a better picture of what it what if it all goes right and what it actually even looks like. And what can I control? What can this this be this injury be as an opportunity instead to propel me forward into whatever it is that I again, I I you can't typically visualize and know that something even better is on the other side, which is exactly what my friend was telling me on the phone.

Angela Gargano [: 00:22:55

Right? She's telling me Angela. She's like, this is a blessing in disguise. Like, this is gonna she's like, this is gonna like, literally, you can't even see it right now. She's like, just wait. It's gonna be better. And this is like a much she's an older friend of mine, so I feel like she's got that wisdom that a lot of people who are older have. And she would always tell me that, and I couldn't see it until I started to write it down every single day. And then I started to slowly start to show up in that way to ask myself, okay.

Angela Gargano [: 00:23:18

If it all went right, how would that person be showing up each day even during an injury right now? And that's when I was like, okay. Cool. I don't have my leg right now. I gotta get surgery. Okay. Cool. What do I have? I've got my upper body. I've got a core I can work on.

Angela Gargano [: 00:23:32

I got my mindset I can work on. I've got a core I can work on. I'm like, maybe I could come out of this and be even stronger. Like, maybe that's a possibility. Yeah. And, you know, a lot of times, doctors on the cautious side. They're like, you know, you're not gonna be able to come back. This might be a career under injury.

Angela Gargano [: 00:23:49

Like, they try and tell you that. I know I know when they can prove me not to be, like, morbid about where you they want you to go, but just to to kinda give you some some facts. Like, hey. You may not come back as strong. And then I was like, again, what if it all goes right? Then I started to look for proof. I was like, cool. I'm gonna try and look for some proof from some people who have worn their ACL before and what happened to them on their journey. I started to look at other athletes, and I started to see that these athletes, like football players, skiers, all sort of stuff, that they actually had their best year the next year.

Angela Gargano [: 00:24:21

And I was like, oh, interesting. So I started to find that proof, and I started to utilize them. Like, hey. You know what? Maybe if I can you know, we they'd like to say a lot of times, you know, borrow the belief from somebody else that they had when they did it. Maybe I can take that for myself, and maybe I can actually come back stronger. Maybe there's something I'm missing here. Like, why did I tear my ACL in the first place? Was I not strong in certain areas? And I realized from that that I was throwing a lot of big ninja y moves doing all the craziness and crazy stuff, but I was missing having a strong foundation. I was missing those smaller pieces that you really need.

Angela Gargano [: 00:24:53

And just like a house needs a strong foundation to do to stand tall so something comes its way. Right? We need strong foundations as well, and that is actually what I was missing. Right? I was I was skipping all the foundational pieces, and I was always up here. So this was a huge opportunity. Cool. I'm gonna build on my foundation so when I come back, I'm not only gonna feel better. I'm gonna do better. I'm gonna be more confident in my mindset.

Angela Gargano [: 00:25:16

And, also, I'm gonna be able to kind of get rid of, you know, who doesn't matter about it's not really about ninja. Right? It's about me. It's about a deeper it's not about, oh, can I win this course again? Right? It's, oh, like, can I come back for me and do this for me and and do and not even care about the outcome fully? Honestly, like, just be like, hey. I'm gonna come back and come as strong as I can. So, yeah, finding the proof is the next piece that I typically teach people is, first yeah. Looking for that what if all of our guys. Again, knowing you're not gonna maybe know that right away. It's not gonna be, like, tomorrow.

Angela Gargano [: 00:25:46

Okay. Cool. Like, cool. I'm unstuck now. Let's write the

Marli Williams [: 00:25:49

what if it all

Angela Gargano [: 00:25:49

goes right. I got it all together. It's like a slow gradual process of you doing that day by day. And then it's finding that proof in some way. And, again, that proof could be from somebody else. That proof can be from another version of yourself who pushed past something maybe not the same, but difficult, and you saw yourself get through. You're like, okay. Cool.

Angela Gargano [: 00:26:06

I I like that version of myself got through this. I can get through that too. So there's so many different ways that you can kind of come out of it. So, yeah, I really utilized that time of me coming back from my injury to really create that song base. I also had realized I didn't wanna own a gym. So here I am owning a gym. I went from I went from being a biochemist to owning the gym, which is I thought what I wanted to do, to being like, I don't actually like, I'm just doing this because I feel like I thought that's what I was supposed to do. Like, I I was I became a trainer after, and I thought that I was supposed to own a gym.

Angela Gargano [: 00:26:33

And I was like, okay. Cool. So I wound up shutting down the gym. And I'm like, I I feel like I'm, like, I'm meant for something more. I didn't I didn't know what it was, but I'm like, I'm gonna go to New York City and find out. So it really over course. I would have never probably never left Rhode Island if I didn't tear my ACL. Would have never gone to New York City and found my voice and found, you know, that I was actually meant to have a much bigger impact on people.

Angela Gargano [: 00:26:54

The other thing I realized is as I was going through, I was filming my journey. So I was filming me coming back from my ACL tear. This is before Instagram was massive. This is, like, before I even knew Instagram was gonna be, like, anything. And I'm getting messages from people as I'm posting my journey. I'm like, I'm coming back. I'm coming back. And they're like, thank you so much for sharing that.

Angela Gargano [: 00:27:12

Like, that that helped me get through a really rough time. Again, not even related to injury. I had ACL people messaging me too. But and then, again, it started more moments started to come here. I was like, wow. I'm meant to have a much bigger impact. Like, this is so much more than just me coming back. This is the fact that I can share this story, and I can teach others to come back from things that are also difficult instead.

Angela Gargano [: 00:27:34

And, again, I didn't even do that on purpose. I was just posting it to make myself feel better. Right? And then all

Marli Williams [: 00:27:38

of a

Angela Gargano [: 00:27:39

sudden, like, these things started coming. And, yeah, and that was really the the biggest part of the journey of coming back was really sharing the messages and sharing it vulnerably, the good days, the bad days. I had a blood clot at one point. I had, like, notes, tissues, blood out of my note. I'm like, guys, here we are. Another day in the life of coming back from my surgery. So there's just so much that was, being on that journey.

Marli Williams [: 00:28:01

Yeah. There's so much in what you said that I love around, you know, sometimes that question can be hard to answer when we're going through a challenging moment and whether that's a physical challenge, a mental challenge, you know, all of the everything in between of what if it this question that I love, what if it all goes right? And and I think this permission to not know, like, I don't know what that looks like. And what you did was, like, well, whatever you're going through, my guess is that someone else has gone through something similar. And it's kinda like if you don't have the strength, like, again, drawing on other people's belief in you, whether that's people that you know or strangers on the Internet. Right? It's like and I think getting curious. I love asking questions from a place of curiosity rather than pressure. Like, oh, I should know the answer or I need to know the answer. It's like, wow.

Marli Williams [: 00:29:03

Like, I'm feeling really stuck right now, and I have no idea what unstuck looks like. And sometimes I think about, you know, if I've always lived my life, like, at a five or a six, it's hard to know what a nine or a 10 would even feel like. And to know that kinda going back to this, like, to know that I I am worthy of that life and to look back on all of the challenges you face in your life and to be like, we are so much more resilient, powerful, and stronger than we give ourselves credit for. It's like, I I did, you know, I made it through that breakup, or I made it through that really hard move, or I made it through that really tough job, or whatever it is. And how can we use that past knowledge of ourselves to have strength in those moments where we feel alone or weak or that moment that feels like such a setback and really look at that, you know, and it's it's when people say it's a blessing or it's a gift. And in the moment, you're just like, f you. Like, get out of here with that.

Angela Gargano [: 00:30:08

Get out of here. Like, don't tell me that right now. Exactly. Yeah. It's so true.

Marli Williams [: 00:30:12

To use those moments of, like, how can I serve others To do it, I mean, in a way, you were serving yourself of, like, this is me sharing my story? And when you see that it, like, helps or resonates with other people, that can give you the strength as well by being vulnerable, like you said, and sharing the good, bad, bad, the ugly in between, all of those things along the way. So so you come back. So and, oh, I wanna say this thing too of sometimes we, like, climb the ladder, whatever that is. Like, I opened the gym, I got the job, And then we're like, is this actually what I really wanted? And this moment of challenge where you kinda have to, like, reassess, take a beat, take a break. You're like, is this what I really want? Yeah. One of the things that I say all the time is you don't have to wait for your life to suck to wanna change it. And it's like, oh, but I thought that this is what I wanted, and people just hang on to that for dear life even if it's not what you want anymore. And this, like, this willingness to let that go and this this voice in you, I have felt the voice of, like, I feel like I'm made for more, meant for more, built for more.

Marli Williams [: 00:31:27

I'm here to make a bigger impact. You know? I was working in a higher ed, and it was like I could only make a certain impact with the certain students that I was working with. Just like at the gym, you're like, I have these clients and I have and at the and at the time, it's like, for me, when I left my job, I was like, oh, I don't wanna let these people down. I don't wanna let my students down.

Angela Gargano [: 00:31:45

I felt the same way with closing the gym. I was like, well, I'm like, what are they gonna think? I've been with them this whole time. Yeah. And then my friend was like, I'm gonna tell you one thing. So, like,

Marli Williams [: 00:31:52

they're like, they're gonna be okay. They're gonna be okay.

Angela Gargano [: 00:31:55

I remember her my friend saying that she'll give you that they're literally gonna be okay. I'm like, are you sure? And I remember when I finally came out and said, hey, everyone. Like, I'm gonna shut down this gym or whatever. They were so supportive, so sweet, so like, you know what? It's okay. And everything literally was fine.

Marli Williams [: 00:32:10

It was fine. Everything is fine. Yeah. Like, sometimes we don't leave that that corp you know, a lot of people, you know, in a corporate job or or even a relationship, you know, where it's kinda like, oh my god. This it's just we go to the worst case scenario, I think, sometimes. And we forget it's like we forget we're resilient. We also forget that other people are resilient too. Like and in our job, we think, like, I am the only person that can send this email or, like, lead this meeting or teach this course or whatever it is, and it's like, they will be okay.

Marli Williams [: 00:32:45

They will figure it out. My job is to empower people. It's like, let them have their own experience. They are strong. They are resilient. Like, instead of being like, oh, they don't they need me. They don't need me. Right? Kind of that, like, ego self importance piece of, like, I did my job until it was time to let that go.

Marli Williams [: 00:33:03

And, like, know if you have that, like, whisper inkling in your heart of, like, I'm here for more. I'm meant for more. Like, there is a reason for it and to give yourself that permission to, like, listen to it and take that leap of faith. Yeah. I'm gonna leave Rhode Island. I'm gonna go to New York City. I'm gonna

Angela Gargano [: 00:33:21

do this thing. Starting over too, starting from zero. Like, everyone's like, oh, do you make money from the gym? I'm like, no. Like, I had $0. Like, I had to figure I was literally back at zero again. Like, I had to figure like, clean bowl, clean slate. I'm like, I had to fix it out after, but it felt so good because, like you said, I knew and I always have that voice since I'm even now. Like, I I know I'm meant for more.

Angela Gargano [: 00:33:41

Like, I just know. There's just this reason. I can't really fully explain it. I can't put my like, I just do something that's just, like, calling me to do these things. So, yeah, I'm so happy. And I wouldn't I don't think I would have done that without having that injury. That injury was really what catapulted me to do the things that I knew internally I did want, but I was a little too nervous to maybe even, like, bring up or even even even say, like, because, again, is that possible? I felt like I was really stuck. And even when I was a biochemist, like, I assumed this is what I assumed.

Angela Gargano [: 00:34:10

I assumed that you go to college, you get your degree, and that's what you're doing. Like, that's it. Like, there's no anything. That was it. I mean, I I already had, like, in my mind that I'm a be in Rhode Island forever. I'm gonna be in this biochemistry job. And then it's so cool because even from that evolution of, like, I'm still evolving. There's still times that things are changing, and I love seeing women, especially the women I'm selling like, I support now with the pull ups are typically older.

Angela Gargano [: 00:34:32

Like, they're doing full evolutions that they're in their forties, fifties, sixties, seventies. Like, it keeps happening. And what's so great is each time that you go through it, you get a little better at it because you're like, oh, I did that before. Right? So, like, I I've been there. Oh, been here before again. No problem. Like, I got this. Like, I

Marli Williams [: 00:34:47

can this.

Angela Gargano [: 00:34:48

I can handle this even more. So it's really it's so funny they say that you know, I think that some people think that, like, resilience, you're born with it. But I don't think you're born with it. I think it's built. I think it's built over time. It's built from life experiences that's happening over and over again that you're overcoming, and you slowly start to build up that resilience a little bit more each time, I think is really, really powerful. But yeah. So closed down the gym, went to New York City, trained my little far off, and I was able to come back from ninja to ninja, eleven months later.

Angela Gargano [: 00:35:18

Wow. Yeah. Which is super wild. And I just remember, like, right before I went to compete, it felt so different because I was standing there before the buzzer was about to go off, and I was just like, I don't care what happens. I didn't care. I was like, I'm good. Like, I made it. I'm happy.

Angela Gargano [: 00:35:35

And if you ever go back to watch the episode, you see the smile on my face. Every landing I make, I'm pumped. Like, I didn't I was just like, I just don't care. I'm like, I'm so happy to just be here. I'm so happy that I made it here. Like, I never thought I could make it here. I was able to make it to finals again, which, again, like, I if you watch the video, I literally am sitting there crying. I'm like, I can't I'm like, I was like, I can't believe it.

Angela Gargano [: 00:35:57

Like, I like and it would have been fine if I fell in the water on the first obstacle too. Like, I would have been totally happy with that because I was just so happy to have been and to gone through this. And what I found really powerful and and why I started actually teaching women pull ups is because, you know, a lot of people in the city when I was training, people in the city, they kept coming to me like, oh, you're a ninja warrior. Like, I just wanna be able to do one pull up. And I'd be like, yeah. Let's do it. Like, let's go for it. And they'd be like, oh, no.

Angela Gargano [: 00:36:21

I can't. Like, I can't do that. Like, what again, the thoughts. What if I fail? What if it what if I don't go right? Can I really do that? Like, the same thoughts I was having from my ACL. Like, same thoughts. And I was that person. He was like, no. I'm gonna show you that you can, in fact, do that.

Angela Gargano [: 00:36:36

So I started teaching a lot of women their first pull ups. That's what they wanted, and we were able to get it. But what was more important about them getting their first pull up was the confidence I was seeing. The fact that they were able to push through that I can't I don't know if I can do this mindset and pursue something that they thought once was impossible. Because just like we talk more than that, and it really does relate to exactly to what I went through on my journey to get my, to come back from my ACL.

Marli Williams [: 00:37:04

Yeah. I mean, that the mindset piece to all of that, right, of so often, again, what is our kind of definition of success? Is like, it's the gold medal, it's the promotion, it's the house, it's the job, it's whatever. And, you know, or like the ninja warriors to win. Like, versus, like, the goal is to just, like, be there and enjoy the journey, enjoy the ride. And in life, you know, the joke that I make sometimes is the point of life is not to get to the end as fast as possible. Yes.

Angela Gargano [: 00:37:40

But we want to we want things

Marli Williams [: 00:37:41

yesterday. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yesterday. Yeah. But that's what we do with when it comes to success is this idea of, like, I just wanna get there as fast as possible. Like, again, it's like we're both in this, like, space of doing, you know, keynoting. Oh, I wanna get to that 10,000 person arena as fast as possible versus how much can I enjoy the ride? And this is my favorite quote about goals and goal setting is the purpose of a goal isn't to achieve it. The purpose of a goal is to figure out who you are along the way.

Marli Williams [: 00:38:16

Achieving it is the icing on the cake. And so it's like, I can have this goal of speaking on these stages or writing a book or giving TED talk or whatever it is. And it I love this question of like, who do I get to become along the way? It's, you know, with speaking, it's like, I get to find my voice. I get to declare my message. I get to make an impact, whether it's a room of 10, a hundred, or a thousand. Like, I get to go on this journey of really exploring. Like, I mean, and being an entrepreneur is like the biggest personal growth journey we'll ever go on. I'm like, who am I and why would someone pay me? Like, you know, always.

Marli Williams [: 00:38:54

Oh my goodness.

Angela Gargano [: 00:38:54

Oh my goodness. No one tells you that with business. Right? I'm like I'm like, what a personal development journey this has been.

Marli Williams [: 00:39:00

And the mindset required. Right? Exactly. I think, like, the mindset of how do we keep showing up again in the midst of setbacks, in the midst of, you know, in putting ourselves out there. Right? And one of the things I talk about is visibility equals vulnerability. When the more that you put yourself out there, it can feel really kind of ex there's a level of exposure. Exposure to hate the haters, the critics, like the, you know, all the all these things. And so, you know, when it comes to the mindset work with the pull ups, right, like, helping someone

Angela Gargano [: 00:39:35

I think that this piece

Marli Williams [: 00:39:36

you said, like, 80% is mindset, 20% is strategy. Yep. With pull ups, with life, with business, it's like, do I believe it's possible? Because if I have this story of there's no way someone would pay me that much for a keynote or there's no way I could ever do a pull up, it's like someone could give you the playbook. Someone give you the step by step. It doesn't matter.

Angela Gargano [: 00:40:02

It doesn't matter. Because if you don't believe in yourself and I tell them that right away when I women who come into my workshops that I do for them for pull ups. I'm like, listen. I can tell you all the stuff right here. But if you don't fully believe it for yourself, it's never gonna happen. And the women who don't get it when they go through my program is typically a mindset thing. And I always I always make sure that's top of mind, but I do always tell them this. I'm like, you're gonna get it.

Angela Gargano [: 00:40:25

Like, the pull up with the goal you have, you're gonna get it when you're ready. It's gonna come when it's it might be longer than you wanted. Right? Yeah. But you're gonna get it when it's when it's actually time, when you've gone through different pieces. And I I like to say this too even with, so I had told you I was on three different fitness covers. Right? 02/2016, I was messaging all the Oxygen magazine cover people. I'm like, I wanna be on the cover. I wanna be a cover.

Angela Gargano [: 00:40:48

I'm like, writing this whole thing. I'm trying to get myself on cover. Didn't get it. Had on my vision board for years, years, years, years. I kept getting so annoyed. Like, why am I not getting this cover? I feel like I'm fit I'm fit, whatever. I got all the stuff. And then I let it go.

Angela Gargano [: 00:41:00

I like this whatever. I'm like, I'm just gonna keep doing my thing, and I didn't get it till 2021. Okay? Twenty twenty one. But let me tell you something. I'm so proud of that girl on that cover. I'm so happy I didn't get it when I wanted it. I'm so happy I got it when I was ready, when I went through and I became that person that I wanted to become. It's the same thing with their pull ups with, again, with the speaking on the big stages, all this stuff.

Angela Gargano [: 00:41:21

I feel like we're gonna get it when we're ready, when we've gone through. Like, the universe is like, woah. We've got some experience that we want you to have. We've got some blessed want you to learn, and then you're gonna get it, and then it's gonna all make sense. But, yeah, so often we want everything tomorrow. We're like, we'd like it tomorrow, please. Yesterday, thank you. Like It's like we already

Marli Williams [: 00:41:39

yeah. We already wanna be there, like, on the cover or on the stage or with the book or whatever it is. And, yeah, I I love their the quote or the analogy where it says, luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Yeah. Where it's like, oh, someone's just lucky or I just ended up. And it's that blend of that preparation. How much am I preparing, practicing, going to the gym, getting my mind and my body in the right, you know, shape in order for that opportunity to find its way to me. And I love this moment.

Marli Williams [: 00:42:16

This what you're saying is it will happen when it's meant to. And I always say if what is meant for you won't miss you.

Angela Gargano [: 00:42:25

Absolute yeah. It absolutely will not miss you. Like, it's if you're meant to have it and, also, if you're dreaming about it, if it's in your mind, like we just talked about, like, it's gonna it's inevitable. If you just trust, it's inevitable that it's gonna happen. It's not a matter of if it's gonna happen. It's when. Like, when it's it's gonna happen. If you've been dreaming about it and wanting it or whatever, or maybe you don't get that thing.

Angela Gargano [: 00:42:46

It's but it's way better than you expected. Way better. Way way better than you can even mad what if

Marli Williams [: 00:42:51

it all goes right? Like, what if it's even more than you could imagine? Right? And it's like that coming back, it's like, who do I get to become along the way? Right? In the midst of that setback built like, I love what you said about building the foundation of your mindset, trusting yourself, confidence, your core, your upper body. Like, it's like, what can I do versus what can't I do?

Angela Gargano [: 00:43:16

Absolutely. Yeah. And that foundation that we were talking about is exactly what I teach in Pull Up Revolution. I teach them from the ground up. We're like, we're gonna work on this pull up. I'm like, you guys are going to the bar, and you're looking up at the bar. Like, I can't get my shirt to the bar, and you're getting mad at yourself. I was like, we need to start from the bottom.

Angela Gargano [: 00:43:30

That's where we're starting. We're starting from the bottom. That's okay. Let's start there. Let's slowly build it up, break it up step by step, build that strong foundation, and build up there. And it's literally the same thing you do for everything else in your life. Right? It's so interesting because when you you think about whatever goal is you're having right now, you can think about it in terms that sometimes make more sense, right, in your mind because it's maybe not fully connecting. But, like, with marathon, I feel like it's a great way to be like, okay.

Angela Gargano [: 00:43:53

If you're gonna run a marathon, on day one, are you gonna go run a marathon?

Marli Williams [: 00:43:58

No. No. Literally not. Right? You would get hurt. You wouldn't give up.

Angela Gargano [: 00:44:02

Like, it wouldn't work out. Right? So now look. What do you do? You sit down and say, hey. You know what? I don't even run right now. I'm gonna just get off on my couch. I'm gonna go for a walk outside. I'm gonna start with that. Okay.

Angela Gargano [: 00:44:10

Cool. And then I'm gonna go a little run. I'm gonna go a little faster. And you're gonna keep kind of building upon that. It's the same thing with your pull up. It's the same thing with your goals. It's that gradual build up. It is, like you said, the learning along the way.

Angela Gargano [: 00:44:20

Maybe you get to the halfway point and, oh, there's a there's a roadblock there. There's something that you gotta figure out. Okay. Cool. Awesome. Like, bring it on. Let's ldo it. Right? So really breaking it down, it's so important throughout your process and really coming back to that foundation piece of it, which is where we tend to wanna skip because, again, we want things yesterday.

Angela Gargano [: 00:44:37

But it's really the most important piece of the entire journey. So, yeah, it's just really interesting how it all relates and it all comes together. I never really pull I was telling you this before. Like, you know, I've been doing the pull up thing for a long time, and, yes, we're gonna always keep it. But I'm starting to I'm ready to evolve out, which is why I'm doing more of the speaking from the mindset pieces that I've taught. Right? And I thought to myself, oh, man. I gotta get rid of talking about fitness or pull ups, and I I didn't think that I should talk about it anymore so people wouldn't think of me as only the fitness person. But it relates so much.

Angela Gargano [: 00:45:06

Like, it is so connected. And, like, I'm like, wait. Hold on. I'm not gonna fully hear of it because, like, it is so connected what I've taught taught these thousands of women to what we can apply to leaders and to individuals in any everyday life that has nothing to do with the pull up.

Marli Williams [: 00:45:19

Right. Because like you said, it's like, if you don't believe it's possible, it's very it's not. Yep. It's just not. And so, you know, coming back to, like, these tangible, like, tools and takeaways for the audience, you know, as they go out there into their life, they have big dreams, they have big goals. I'm curious. What would you what would you leave them with today to go out into the world with?

Angela Gargano [: 00:45:45

When they're going out into any crazy maybe some crazy goal that they might have? Yeah. Yeah. I think that honestly don't I think the biggest thing I see holding women back from their pull up in anything is continuing to wait for it to be the right time. It is not the right time. You just need to start. And the only way like, you're not gonna be confident at first. You're not gonna feel good at first. The only way you get confident is by trying.

Angela Gargano [: 00:46:08

So I would say stop making all the excuses about I don't have time to do this or whatever. You can make time to make it happen, whatever goal it might be. We talked about this a little bit when I was at the event, but there's a hundred and sixty eight hours in the week. Even if you put in, like, thirty minutes a couple times a week into whatever goal that you wanna treat and you just give it a shot and you just try, it's gonna get you much closer than waiting for the perfect time perfect opportunity. The perfect just try. Just try. The way you're gonna be able to do

Marli Williams [: 00:46:35

it is by just trying. Yeah. I mean, it's so true. I think we wait for the right conditions, the right moment, and I think sometimes those opportunities, like you said, you know, when you've got that call, that maybe those opportunities come even before you're ready. But am I willing to jump in? And I'm am I willing and open to saying yes to those moments, yes to those opportunities, and every day saying yes to me that, like, I'm worth it? Like, you what you're saying is kinda like, am I willing to show up for myself in this way? And a lot of, you know, lots of people listen to the podcast, lots of women, but it's like, imagine showing up for yourself the way you show up for everybody else. Oh, absolutely. Like, your friend calls you, they had a bad day, they had a rough go, they're going through a challenge and you're like, you've got this. You're amazing.

Marli Williams [: 00:47:27

You're strong. You're powerful. What do you need? I got you. And then, like, you hit a wall, you hit a setback, you get stuck, and you're like, I'm the worst. I'm an epic failure. I'm never gonna make it. I like, we if we talk to other people the way we talk to ourselves, we would not have any friends. Right? And so, you know, I think that this this idea that you're sharing of, am I willing in those moments, not just in the moments where everything is going well, but in those moments of that feel like a setback or feel like a challenge is coming your way or even the world right now feels very challenging of saying like, what do I have a say in? What do I have control over? And it's what's happening up here in our, in our brains, our mindset, those thoughts, are they serving you? Are they stopping you? And then it's how it's what we do every day.

Marli Williams [: 00:48:22

Like, showing up five minutes a day for ourselves, ten minutes a day. Like and, again, starting so small that it's crazy to not do it. Exactly. When you look at

Angela Gargano [: 00:48:31

the when I looked at the perspective of that and I was really just sitting here when I was, you know, not doing some of my speaking stuff, and I was like, wait a second. If I actually do the math of this and I zoom out, I was like, I have time to do this. Okay? Like Yeah.

Marli Williams [: 00:48:44

Where are we making up a story? Like, I don't have time.

Angela Gargano [: 00:48:47

We're making it seem like there has to be this whole overly dramatic thing for whatever goal we might have. Again, even with the with the ladies who come to do the pull up, they're like, they think they need to work out, like, two hours a day or something if dramatic. I'm like, literally, I'm only working out four times a week for forty five minutes. That's less than four hours a week that I'm spending in the gym. The rest is not there. Like, I am not in the gym any other time before that. And it's that perspective that you can shift, to see that, wow. I absolutely do have the time I can do this.

Angela Gargano [: 00:49:11

I just need to go for it and just, again, try. The only way that you're gonna do it is by trying.

Marli Williams [: 00:49:15

Yeah. Put yourself in the arena Mhmm. As it were. Yeah. I love it. Well, where can people, like, learn more about you, maybe even do their first pull up with you, tell the people where to find you. I know you're you got amazing Instagram.

Angela Gargano [: 00:49:31

Oh, thank you. Yeah. So Instagram's the best place, at angela_gargano. And then if you wanna get your pull up, we've got at pull up revolution. That's the name of our program because we're creating a revolution of women. It's only women, by the way. So only women are allowed in that group, which I'm loving so much. And a lot of the women are 40, 50, 60, 70 plus.

Angela Gargano [: 00:49:50

We have a 76 year old in there.

Marli Williams [: 00:49:52

Oh, I love that.

Angela Gargano [: 00:49:53

So much. So it's amazing. So it's a really greeting great, empowering community that we've created here where we're not there to get smaller. We're there to get bigger, to take up space, to get stronger, which is super exciting. And, yeah, it's just a really powerful place. And, yeah, for all the speaking stuff that's on that's on my site. So, yeah, really excited to do continue to do more of that.

Marli Williams [: 00:50:15

Yeah. I know. I'm excited to be with you on the speaking journey as well. And for you to just share your medicine and your magic with your people and this this community, I'm super, super grateful. And the thing that struck me and stuck with me when we met was this phrase that you said, which was redefining what's possible. You know? And my invitation as people go out into the world is, like, how can you redefine what's possible for yourself, for your life, whether that's doing a pull up, giving a talk, writing a book, being a parent, getting married, buying the house, whatever it is. Like, anything that you want, the number your number one job is to believe that whatever you want is possible. And if you have it in the past, to redefine what is possible.

Marli Williams [: 00:51:03

So thank you for sharing your journey, your story with all of us today. As always, if you love this, like this, share this with a friend, tag all the things, tag me, tag Angela. Love to hear your golden nuggets and takeaways from our conversation today. Thank you again, Angela, for joining us. Thank you so much. Alright. Until next time, take care. Thank you for joining us on another inspiring episode of the Marli Williams podcast.

Marli Williams [: 00:51:32

We hope you're leaving here with renewed energy and valuable insights to fuel your leadership, coaching, and speaking endeavors. I'd love to invite you to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast to help us reach more aspiring leaders and speakers like you. We have more exciting episodes and remarkable guests lined up, so make sure to tune in next time. Until then, keep leading with purpose, coaching with heart, and speaking with conviction. This is Marli Williams signing off. See you next week.