Golden Ticket
🍫🎟️ What’s your Golden Ticket? Charlie Bucket had his chocolate bar moment. 🏆 Charles Fernández had his Olympic one. But what happens "after" you’ve “made it”? When the crowd stops cheering, and you’re left asking Who am I when I’m not performing for applause? This week on Other People’s Shoes, I sit down with Charles Fernández, a 2x Olympian and world champion from Guatemala, who opens up about the hunger that success couldn’t satisfy and the power of being fully *present*. This one’s about chasing gold, losing yourself, and finding something far greater. 🎧 Listen now: opspodcast.com #OtherPeoplesShoesPodcast #HungrySeason #GoldenTicket #Olympian #CharlesFernandez #MindsetMatters #Identity #Purpose #Integrity #PodcastCommunity #BePresent #PersonalGrowth #Wholeness #Leadership #LifeAfterSuccess #InspiringStories #PodcastLife 🎙👟
🎙 Golden Ticket
🧩 Season Theme: Hungry
This season, we’re exploring what it means to be hungry not just for food, but for purpose, meaning, connection, and identity. Hunger can drive us, define us, and sometimes destroy us. But it also reveals what truly satisfies the soul.
👣 Guest Introduction:
Remember Charlie Bucket from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory the kid who found the Golden Ticket and got a glimpse behind the gates of wonder? This episode plays with that same idea, but through the story of Charles Fernández, a two-time Olympian from Guatemala who discovered that the real “golden ticket” isn’t found on a candy bar wrapper it’s discovered within.
Charles grew up doing humanitarian work with his family in the mountains of Guatemala before rising to become a world champion in modern pentathlon. He’s competed at two Olympic Games, won gold at the Pan American Games, and stood among the world’s best. But after the applause faded, Charles faced a deeper challenge: Who was he when the medals and titles weren’t enough?
Today, Charles leads IMPACTA, a high-performance coaching company helping leaders, athletes, and changemakers align identity, mindset, and purpose. His story is one of hunger for integrity, for presence, and for the kind of success that isn’t just seen, but felt.
💡 Episode Highlights:
What it really takes to compete and win on the world stage
The crash that comes after achieving your biggest dream
Redefining integrity: living in alignment with who you are
The difference between performing and being present
How to pursue excellence without losing yourself in the process
Why the “golden ticket” might not be what you think it is
🔗 Connect with Charles Fernández:
Website: Coach Compare Profile
🎧 Listen & Follow Other People’s Shoes:
👟 Website
📺 YouTube
📣 Leave Us a Review:
If this episode gave you something to think about—or reminded you what your own golden ticket might be—share that with us! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know how stepping into Charles’ shoes inspired you.
