Founder's Story: Bullied, Broken, and Built for Purpose Part 1

Founder's Story: Bullied, Broken, and Built for Purpose Part 1 Host: Julie Riga | Episode Type: Solo Episode Part 1 Overview In this deeply personal solo episode, Julie Riga pulls back the curtain on the story behind the Stay On Course Podcast and the legacy, purpose, and faith that built its foundation. For the first time, Julie shares the raw truth about her childhood years battling an undiagnosed illness, eating lunch alone in a bathroom, and being bullied from the age of five. This is not a pity story. This is a purpose story. Julie reveals how her hardest lessons became the very ingredients that shaped her conviction, her tenacity, and her drive to help others find their own purpose-driven path. If you have ever felt like an outsider, like you do not belong, or like life has knocked you down one too many times, this episode will remind you that your story is not over.

Founder's Story: Bullied, Broken, and Built for Purpose Part 1

What You Will Learn:

Four years into hosting the Stay On Course Podcast, Julie Riga steps into the guest seat to share the story she has never fully told before. From honoring her father's legacy to surviving Graves disease, from eating lunch alone in a high school bathroom to becoming a leadership coach and transformation catalyst, Julie's journey is proof that our hardest seasons carry our greatest lessons.

Key Topics:

The Heart Behind Stay On Course:

Why Julie created the Stay On Course Podcast four years ago
How her father's words of faith became the soul of the brand
The meaning behind "Stay on course" and why it carries so much weight

Lesson One: The Kid Who Had Lunch in the Bathroom:

Being bullied from age five and the identity it almost stole
Spending high school years eating lunch alone due to isolation and illness
The quiet inner voice that carried her through: "They do not know who you are. They do not know who you will become."

The Surgery That Changed Everything:

Undiagnosed Graves disease discovered at 16 after a life-threatening surgery
Being rushed to the ICU and the doctor's warning to her mother
How her senior year marked the turning point toward becoming herself

Memorable Quotes:

"If the world falls down on your shoulders, brush it off and keep going your way. Stay on course. Have faith."

"They do not know who you are. They do not know who you will become."

"I am a person of conviction and I am a person of purpose."

"It is because of those lessons that I became the unique individual that I am today."

Key Takeaways:

Your story has purpose. The hard seasons are the foundation of who you are becoming
Reframe every setback as a lesson and watch your growth accelerate
Faith carries you through seasons you cannot navigate alone
Circumstance does not define you or your future
Tenacity and conviction are forged through difficulty, not comfort

About Julie Riga:

Julie Riga is a leadership coach, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and host of the Stay On Course Podcast. She helps leaders and business owners discover their true purpose, build authentic confidence, and break through to their next level of success.

Services: One on One Coaching | Leadership Programs | Training Programs | Brand Building

Explore all of Julie's resources here: https://stacklist.app/julieriga

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