July 26, 2025 • 9 mins
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In this episode of Struggle2Success, Sterling shares a raw reflection on duality—wearing the badge and holding the mic—while healing from injury, showing up for family, and staying true to purpose. From a sponsor shout-out to a powerful story sparked by his daughter’s show-and-tell, Sterling unpacks how pain can be repurposed, how systems built on good habits drive success, and why showing up—step after step—changes everything.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sterling Brown (00:00):
Hello, my Wonderful People.
This is Sterling Brown, host ofStruggle2 Success Podcast.
In this episode, I want to givea shout out to our sponsor,
Cali Marketing Solutions.
To be quite honest, they havebeen with me from day one.
Starting my brand wasn't easyand I was juggling so many
different aspects of thepodcasting business.
(00:20):
They helped me channel mypassion and deliver what you
hear today a clear message thatis filled with positive energy
in every episode.
So if you're starting a smallbusiness or your brand is in
need of a makeover, CaliMarketing Solutions can help
your business stand out, reachmore customers and stay ahead of
(00:42):
the competition.
They offer flexible paymentplans and most forms of payment
are accepted.
Let them tell your story theright way, your way.
Contact Cali MarketingSolutions today at Cali.
mktgsol@ gmail.
com.
Se habla espanol.
(01:03):
Before we get into today'sepisode, I want to take a moment
to reflect on the last one, myinterview with Dr Sarah Wright
and her team.
That episode was personal,powerful and honestly necessary.
As someone who's always movedwith hard charging, work ethic,
having not one but two surgeriesin the same year was more than
just a setback.
(01:23):
It was an uphill battle, notjust for me but for my entire
family.
I had to learn how to slow down, how to sit still, how to heal,
and that healing it wasn't justphysical, it was mental,
emotional and spiritual.
Sarah didn't just treat my armand shoulder.
She treated the part of me thatwas frustrated, burnt out and
(01:47):
tired of being told no.
Through her passion andtraining, she helped me realize
that I had limited mobility inmy right arm, which was later
discovered to be a torn rotatorcuff.
This crucial discovery was agame changer.
It could have cost meeverything later on down the
line.
She listened, she advocated,she cared, and that's what we
talked about.
(02:07):
What happens when pain goesunseen?
How careers get delayed orworse or let go?
How people carry silentinjuries that no one
acknowledges.
Sometimes the system sees youas a liability before it sees
you as a person.
You saw me when I couldn't liftmy own arm, and now I'm back
behind this mic doing what I'mcalled to do.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
If you have ever been told by someone that you're not
capable of attaining success,if you have made mistakes or
lived in an underprivilegedneighborhood, then this podcast
is for you.
You are now locked in toStruggle to Success.
Struggle to Success aims toinspire individuals to navigate
life's challenges with courage,fortitude and unwavering
(02:49):
determination.
So if you're in your carjogging or somewhere else trying
to find the calm in the storm,then join Struggle to Success
airing every other Saturday.
Remember life is trials.
Stay focused.
Sterling Brown (03:15):
Let's talk about duality, what it really means
to wear more than one hat, carrymore than one burden and still
rise every day with purpose andpower.
And sometimes that dualityshows up in the most unexpected
places, even in the hands of achild trying to make sense of
who you are or who you arebecoming About.
Four months ago my daughter hada show and tell in her school.
She was so excited to bring insome of my correctional gear.
We packed her bag together withmy duty belt, cuff case and a
(03:39):
crisp uniform shirt.
That next morning, likeclockwork, she grabbed her
backpack, gave me a kiss andheaded out the door with pride.
She had her show-and-tell bagin one hand and her regular bag
in the other, ready to show theclass what her daddy does.
When she got home that eveningI was eager to hear how it went.
(03:59):
I was expected to hear how coolthe cuffs were and how her
classmates reacted to the shirt.
But what she said next it hitme in a way I didn't expect.
She looked at me and said Itold them that you got hurt and
had to have surgery and youcouldn't play with us like you
used to.
Man, I was crushed.
I stood there holding her wordslike they were weights.
(04:21):
I was ready to lift Her out wasa man known for being fit,
disciplined and hands-on,reduced to a memory of what I
used to do, not because I didn'twant to, but because I
physically couldn't.
That moment just didn't sting.
It exposed something deeper.
You see, people see the badge,they hear the podcast, they
(04:43):
respect the uniform, they quotethe motivation, but they don't
always see the man in between.
And that's similar to whathappens to many of us, whether
you're a mother, your father,your provider, your uncle.
They see the many hats that youput on, but they lose focus of
the person in between.
So here I was, a man who wasjuggling fatherhood, trying to
(05:07):
get back into physical fitnessand just trying to get back into
the vine of life and dealingwith trauma, the man who's
powering through therapy,fighting to recover not just
physically but emotionally.
I realized right then thisinjury wasn't just robbing me of
mobility, it's chipping away atmoments with my family, my
(05:30):
identity, ultimately my joy.
And that's the duality rightthere Wearing the badge serving
others but feeling powerless inyour own home, dropping
knowledge on the mic or probablyfighting pain that won't let
you lift a gallon of milk or hugyour child the same way, being
respected publicly but feelinglimited privately.
(05:52):
This ain't just about work-lifebalance.
This is about working throughlife with invisible weights, as
many of us do, but still showingup.
It's about being the protectorand the patient, the motivator
and the one needing motivation.
But through all this, I'm stilllearning, but I learned
something.
(06:12):
Motivation but through all this, I'm still learning, but I
learned something Dualitydoesn't divide you.
It develops you.
I didn't have to choose betweenbeing a man with a badge and a
man with a message.
It was both, and you can beboth too.
And yes, there are days when Iwalk into the facility and I say
, can I do this job?
Am I ready to do this job?
But the biggest thing is justshowing up.
(06:35):
Just show up.
Don't give yourself any excuses.
Just show up and let everythingelse fall in place.
But I know something that'sbetter now.
God didn't waste my pain.
He repurposed it.
So every time I touch this mic,every door I check in the
facility is part of my mission.
Now I don't wear the badge toflex power.
(06:57):
I wear it to protect peace.
I don't speak into this mic forattention I speak, that
somebody out there can finallybreathe.
Some of you are listening arebalancing your own battles, your
own struggles.
You're trying to be a father, amother own battles, your own
struggles.
You're trying to be a father, amother and a dreamer, a
provider and a student, a man offaith, a woman of love and
(07:24):
concern, just to rebuild somepart of all of your life so you
can make a better future for youand your family.
You are not behind.
You are not broken.
You are evolving.
You are proof that purposesurvives pain.
And if no one told you today,you're not crazy for caring a
lot, you're courageous fortrying.
The saying that the first stepis always the hardest one rings
true with everything we're goingto do, especially when you're
(07:45):
trying to level up.
So I'm going to say continue totake that first step.
So, whether it's the right footor the left foot, continue to
follow up with the next step andthe next step and the next step
.
Before you know it, you'regoing to be looking back and say
(08:06):
how did I get here?
Because you kept pushingforward.
And I'm going to tell yousomething else too there's good
habits, there's bad habits, andwhat I've learned is that our
habits make up our systems.
So if you develop good habits,if you keep putting a foot
forward and you keep showing up,those habits are going to turn
into a habit that has a systemthat is powered on its own for
(08:28):
success.
So good habits plus systemsequals success.
No matter how many times youhave to go forward, let's
develop those systems.
If this episode spoke to you, Ineed you to do two things Share
it with someone who's jugglingmore than they show.
And, number two, dm me yourstory or topic you want me to
(08:49):
cover.
You never know who else needsto hear it.
I've got the mic, I've got thebadge, but this movement it's in
your hands too.
Before we wrap up, I just wantto let you know that the next
episode of Struggle2 SuccessPodcast, I'll be sitting down
with Carrie Kurtz, founder ofReentry Synergy and a powerful
voice in the reentry space.
(09:10):
With over 20 years ofexperience, she brings wisdom,
passion and real solutions tothe table.
Trust me, you don't want tomiss this one.
This is Sterling Brown andyou've been listening to
Struggle2 Success Podcast.
Remember life is trials.
Stay focused.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Thanks for checking out this episode of Struggle2
Success.
To connect with the show, youcan email us at struggle2success
.
p@ gmail.
com.
Make sure you like andsubscribe so that you never miss
an episode and remember life istrials.
Sterling Brown (09:48):
Stay focused.
Hello, my Wonderful People.
This is Sterling Brown, host ofStruggle2 Success Podcast.
In this episode, I want to givea shout out to our sponsor,
Cali Marketing Solutions.
To be quite honest, they havebeen with me from day one.
Starting my brand wasn't easyand I was juggling so many
different aspects of thepodcasting business.
(00:20):
They helped me channel mypassion and deliver what you
hear today a clear message thatis filled with positive energy
in every episode.
So if you're starting a smallbusiness or your brand is in
need of a makeover, CaliMarketing Solutions can help
your business stand out, reachmore customers and stay ahead of
(00:42):
the competition.
They offer flexible paymentplans and most forms of payment
are accepted.
Let them tell your story theright way, your way.
Contact Cali MarketingSolutions today at Cali.
mktgsol@ gmail.
com.
Se habla espanol.
(01:03):
Before we get into today'sepisode, I want to take a moment
to reflect on the last one, myinterview with Dr Sarah Wright
and her team.
That episode was personal,powerful and honestly necessary.
As someone who's always movedwith hard charging, work ethic,
having not one but two surgeriesin the same year was more than
just a setback.
(01:23):
It was an uphill battle, notjust for me but for my entire
family.
I had to learn how to slow down, how to sit still, how to heal,
and that healing it wasn't justphysical, it was mental,
emotional and spiritual.
Sarah didn't just treat my armand shoulder.
She treated the part of me thatwas frustrated, burnt out and
(01:47):
tired of being told no.
Through her passion andtraining, she helped me realize
that I had limited mobility inmy right arm, which was later
discovered to be a torn rotatorcuff.
This crucial discovery was agame changer.
It could have cost meeverything later on down the
line.
She listened, she advocated,she cared, and that's what we
talked about.
(02:07):
What happens when pain goesunseen?
How careers get delayed orworse or let go?
How people carry silentinjuries that no one
acknowledges.
Sometimes the system sees youas a liability before it sees
you as a person.
You saw me when I couldn't liftmy own arm, and now I'm back
behind this mic doing what I'mcalled to do.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
If you have ever been told by someone that you're not
capable of attaining success,if you have made mistakes or
lived in an underprivilegedneighborhood, then this podcast
is for you.
You are now locked in toStruggle to Success.
Struggle to Success aims toinspire individuals to navigate
life's challenges with courage,fortitude and unwavering
(02:49):
determination.
So if you're in your carjogging or somewhere else trying
to find the calm in the storm,then join Struggle to Success
airing every other Saturday.
Remember life is trials.
Stay focused.
Sterling Brown (03:15):
Let's talk about duality, what it really means
to wear more than one hat, carrymore than one burden and still
rise every day with purpose andpower.
And sometimes that dualityshows up in the most unexpected
places, even in the hands of achild trying to make sense of
who you are or who you arebecoming About.
Four months ago my daughter hada show and tell in her school.
She was so excited to bring insome of my correctional gear.
We packed her bag together withmy duty belt, cuff case and a
(03:39):
crisp uniform shirt.
That next morning, likeclockwork, she grabbed her
backpack, gave me a kiss andheaded out the door with pride.
She had her show-and-tell bagin one hand and her regular bag
in the other, ready to show theclass what her daddy does.
When she got home that eveningI was eager to hear how it went.
(03:59):
I was expected to hear how coolthe cuffs were and how her
classmates reacted to the shirt.
But what she said next it hitme in a way I didn't expect.
She looked at me and said Itold them that you got hurt and
had to have surgery and youcouldn't play with us like you
used to.
Man, I was crushed.
I stood there holding her wordslike they were weights.
(04:21):
I was ready to lift Her out wasa man known for being fit,
disciplined and hands-on,reduced to a memory of what I
used to do, not because I didn'twant to, but because I
physically couldn't.
That moment just didn't sting.
It exposed something deeper.
You see, people see the badge,they hear the podcast, they
(04:43):
respect the uniform, they quotethe motivation, but they don't
always see the man in between.
And that's similar to whathappens to many of us, whether
you're a mother, your father,your provider, your uncle.
They see the many hats that youput on, but they lose focus of
the person in between.
So here I was, a man who wasjuggling fatherhood, trying to
(05:07):
get back into physical fitnessand just trying to get back into
the vine of life and dealingwith trauma, the man who's
powering through therapy,fighting to recover not just
physically but emotionally.
I realized right then thisinjury wasn't just robbing me of
mobility, it's chipping away atmoments with my family, my
(05:30):
identity, ultimately my joy.
And that's the duality rightthere Wearing the badge serving
others but feeling powerless inyour own home, dropping
knowledge on the mic or probablyfighting pain that won't let
you lift a gallon of milk or hugyour child the same way, being
respected publicly but feelinglimited privately.
(05:52):
This ain't just about work-lifebalance.
This is about working throughlife with invisible weights, as
many of us do, but still showingup.
It's about being the protectorand the patient, the motivator
and the one needing motivation.
But through all this, I'm stilllearning, but I learned
something.
(06:12):
Motivation but through all this, I'm still learning, but I
learned something Dualitydoesn't divide you.
It develops you.
I didn't have to choose betweenbeing a man with a badge and a
man with a message.
It was both, and you can beboth too.
And yes, there are days when Iwalk into the facility and I say
, can I do this job?
Am I ready to do this job?
But the biggest thing is justshowing up.
(06:35):
Just show up.
Don't give yourself any excuses.
Just show up and let everythingelse fall in place.
But I know something that'sbetter now.
God didn't waste my pain.
He repurposed it.
So every time I touch this mic,every door I check in the
facility is part of my mission.
Now I don't wear the badge toflex power.
(06:57):
I wear it to protect peace.
I don't speak into this mic forattention I speak, that
somebody out there can finallybreathe.
Some of you are listening arebalancing your own battles, your
own struggles.
You're trying to be a father, amother own battles, your own
struggles.
You're trying to be a father, amother and a dreamer, a
provider and a student, a man offaith, a woman of love and
(07:24):
concern, just to rebuild somepart of all of your life so you
can make a better future for youand your family.
You are not behind.
You are not broken.
You are evolving.
You are proof that purposesurvives pain.
And if no one told you today,you're not crazy for caring a
lot, you're courageous fortrying.
The saying that the first stepis always the hardest one rings
true with everything we're goingto do, especially when you're
(07:45):
trying to level up.
So I'm going to say continue totake that first step.
So, whether it's the right footor the left foot, continue to
follow up with the next step andthe next step and the next step
.
Before you know it, you'regoing to be looking back and say
(08:06):
how did I get here?
Because you kept pushingforward.
And I'm going to tell yousomething else too there's good
habits, there's bad habits, andwhat I've learned is that our
habits make up our systems.
So if you develop good habits,if you keep putting a foot
forward and you keep showing up,those habits are going to turn
into a habit that has a systemthat is powered on its own for
(08:28):
success.
So good habits plus systemsequals success.
No matter how many times youhave to go forward, let's
develop those systems.
If this episode spoke to you, Ineed you to do two things Share
it with someone who's jugglingmore than they show.
And, number two, dm me yourstory or topic you want me to
(08:49):
cover.
You never know who else needsto hear it.
I've got the mic, I've got thebadge, but this movement it's in
your hands too.
Before we wrap up, I just wantto let you know that the next
episode of Struggle2 SuccessPodcast, I'll be sitting down
with Carrie Kurtz, founder ofReentry Synergy and a powerful
voice in the reentry space.
(09:10):
With over 20 years ofexperience, she brings wisdom,
passion and real solutions tothe table.
Trust me, you don't want tomiss this one.
This is Sterling Brown andyou've been listening to
Struggle2 Success Podcast.
Remember life is trials.
Stay focused.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Thanks for checking out this episode of Struggle2
Success.
To connect with the show, youcan email us at struggle2success
.
p@ gmail.
com.
Make sure you like andsubscribe so that you never miss
an episode and remember life istrials.
Sterling Brown (09:48):
Stay focused.
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