Rising Stars: Meet Danny Valdes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Valdes.

Hi Danny, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It was 1983 in Torreon Coahuila Mexico. On the floor of his tiny, flay roof house, a three-year-old boy was playing with his soccer ball. His mother, a beautiful, young, wild, and pregnant American was handwashing clothes and cranking them through the rollers of the wringer dryer. She hung them on the line in the hot Mexican sun.

Ok, I won’t go that far back! That’s actually from the first chapter in my book, “WIYC”. It stands for “what if you could.” The reason I wrote that book was because I was a miserable carpenter, poor, and stressed out trying to take care of my family of six. I was a poor, miserable carpenter because I lost my childhood, something that most people do. I was challenged by a friend to get in touch with what I was good at when I got to this planet, my childhood “gifts” rather than my learned talents. I embarked on a reinvention quest and began pursuing my childhood dream of acting.

Long story short, it worked. I got an agent, soon got hired onto a podcast that became the #1 health podcast of 2018 with 300,000 downloads still to this day, and started a media company providing social media content for businesses. Oh, and I’m also the national voice for Chipotle commercials! lol

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Where would I start?

During the reinvention process, I had to face my darkest fears. I traded dark depression for anxiety. I was so riddled with anxiety that I was destroying my stomach. I had pain all over and became convinced that I had colorectal cancer like my grandma. I mean, I knew I had cancer. I wrote last words to my wife and each of my four children. It was serious pain for like two years along with crippling anxiety. I got a colonoscopy. Nothing. “A baby’s colon,” said the doctor. I was totally losing it. Was diagnosed with “anxiety disorder” and “PTSD”. Didn’t take meds. Worked on midset and overcame it all.

I remember standing at a gas pump with a declined debit card. I opened my fifth third app, $437 in red. I’ll never forget that red number. I had four kids at home waiting on daddy to come home for movie night.

I could go on and on.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an actor, host, and own a social media company. Most people know me as a host of “The Trim Healthy Podcast” and “Live Signing,” where I interview celebrity authors and fans that buy their book can ask a live question.

I’m most proud of my family. Not that I’m proud of myself for doing a great job raising kids or being a perfect husband, but to me, they are all that really matter. I used to be filled with ambition. Now, I just want them to have a great life and be happy living their dreams and purpose.

I think my love sets me apart from others. I love people so much. I love to be around them and feel bad when people fight. Really we should all party like the human family we are. Everyone seems so afraid. It’s unnecessary. I try and bring that energy to my interviews. Even people I don’t agree with bring balance to my world. I want them to leave my interview feeling huge energy and love. Like they want to get together again for dinner.

I serve as a guide to four children. My goal is that they would never “grow up” but rather grow into the fulfillment of all they can be on this earth. So many of my ambitions have been sacrificed so that they can feel love and direction in this world. To pursue my career the way I really want would involve some form of abandonment of them. It’s a daily struggle to choose family, but it’s a struggle worth winning. I remind myself all the time that they are the greatest dream worth pursuing. Photo attached.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Money doesn’t solve every problem, but it solves the money problem, and a lot of subproblems get solved because of that. Get your money right first or you’ll spend your whole life trying to get your money right. Plant a money tree (scalable business), then pursue your passion. Or, if you have rich parents, go to college for your favorite thing that you are uniquely gifted to do. Craft your superpower when you are young. Look at school as a place to meet your future business contacts and be amazing to all of them! Don’t be short-sighted.

Also, pursue the old way of character. Be an honorable samurai, not a triggery emote. Young men seek adventure, old men seek values. Do both right, from the start!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/dannyvaldes
• Facebook: facebook.com/dannyvaldes4real