Meet Maryann Rivera-Dannert, MSL | Podcaster, Author, Life Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maryann Rivera-Dannert, MSL and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maryann, what principle do you value most?
I love this question. I’ve looked at my values numerous times over time, and three always come out in my top 10: Community, Happiness, and Freedom. The first time I was asked about my values, and did a values exercise, was during my undergrad studies at Roberts Wesleyan University. I honestly never thought about what my values were, or why they were important until then. And they’re what make life worth living.

First up is Community. It’s about being part of something bigger than just myself. It’s the people around me, the connections I make, and the support I give and receive. Community is where I find belonging and understanding. It’s where we come together to help each other out and make things better for everyone. Without community, we’d feel pretty alone in the world. As someone who once struggled with belonging, Community has become an integral part of my life.

Then there’s Happiness. It’s not just about feeling good for a moment; it’s about being content and fulfilled in life. Happiness is different for everyone, but it’s about finding meaning and joy in what I do and who I’m with. It’s about appreciating what I have and growing as an individual. When we’re happy, it’s contagious—it spreads to those around us and makes our communities stronger. For as long as I can remember, I thought people, places, and things were what made me happy. However, happiness, and I mean true happiness, comes from within. When you know who you are, what your values are, what truly brings you joy, and have boundaries, that’s when you start to really experience happiness.

Lastly, there’s Freedom. This one’s a big deal. It’s about being able to be myself, to speak my mind, and to live my life without someone else telling me what to do or feeling like I must downplay myself to be accepted. Freedom means having the power to choose my own path and pursue my dreams, unapologetically. It’s about fairness, equality, and respecting one another, knowing that we won’t always agree. Without freedom, life would feel pretty stifling.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m really curious about life. For me, it’s about my inner fire that refuses to be extinguished, my ability to bounce back stronger after setbacks, my relentless drive to keep pushing forward no matter what, and my deep-seated desire to become the best version of myself while inspiring those around me.

One of the most recent projects that I’m most excited about is that I’ve recently partnered with a podcast producer and revamped my podcast – Fearless Fridays with Maryann. The partnership has grown my podcast, reaching a larger audience, as I’m now in more than 20 podcast platforms. And something that is in the works is me finishing my solo book.

I’m often asked what drives me and how did I get to where I am today. The first thing is believing in myself. Life has not been a constant array of rainbows and unicorns. There’s been ups and downs, detours, pivots, and sometimes even complete pauses. But if you believe in yourself, your dreams, purpose, etc., you will persevere. Discovering my purpose and passions has also been instrumental as I know where I’m headed and why. Having clarity makes facing roadblocks a little easier because you keep pushing forward. And for me, my biggest why is desiring to be the woman and person I wish I had growing up.

When you’re faced with those challenges and roadblocks, focusing on your why, surrounding yourself with the right people, and learning and knowing when to ask for help, is just as important.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is that not everyone will be happy about your journey, wins, and growth. When people see you doing better than from how they first met you, it’s hard for them, especially if they’re not doing any healing or growing themselves. They can’t fathom the fact that you’ve gotten sick and tired of living an unfulfilled life, and you decided to make a change. And it’s important to remember that that’s their story, not yours. Know your worth and keep going: the right people will appear. And as hard as it is to believe or accept, your current circle is not going to help you grow if they’re not growing and doing the work themselves.

I do what I do because of the adversities I’ve faced in life. I use my personal life’s journey to empower others and show others that it doesn’t matter how you started. What matters are the lessons you learn along the way, and how you transform yourself to become the best version of yourself and to live unapologetically. That is what I’ve been tasked with, and I’m excited for how the future will unfold.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Playing tourist in one’s own city is always fun because you get to discover little hidden gems. Traveling is my love language, and everyone needs to be doing more of it. You don’t have to have tons of money. Exploring your own city can be fun.

If an out-of-town friend was visiting for a week, we definitely would hit up Park Avenue. There are numerous boutiques, coffee shops, and it’s great for walking and people watching. Next up, is a quick drive to Niagara Falls – and we could stay in the US side or cross the border and hit up Canada. While it’s not in the immediate area, you’re here, so might as well take advantage of the opportunity and check it. Heading back home, I love a good massage, and we have some awesome day spas in the area. I believe in compounding activities, so we’d head to Woodcliff Lodge for the spa, and then head to Casa Larga, which is a winery within minutes. And for a little shopping, we’d go to Eastview Mall.

Then we’d head back to the inner city, and I would show her all the places I lived in growing up and the schools I went to. And if she was in the mood for the best local woodfire pizza, we’d go to Veneto’s on East Ave. I know we both love books, so we’d check out some small and local bookstores. Eventually we’d make our way to Stoneybrook Park or Letchworth State Park for some hiking. And after all the walking that we’d done, we’d most likely get another massage!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a big thanks to my Milestone Mavens Sisters. They’ve been there for me with constant support and encouragement, pushing me to keep going and holding me accountable. Seriously, they’ve been a huge help on this journey. We’ve built a strong bond, cheering each other on and celebrating our achievements together. It’s not just about words; it’s about the real impact of having awesome friends by your side. Cheers to us hitting even more milestones together!

A big shoutout to my LLDP 2023 classmates! I’ve said it to them, and I will continue saying it. I walked into a room with 17 strangers, and by the end, I had acquired 17 new family members. We’re more than just a bunch of people that happened to be in the class; we’re like a tight-knit community. We back each other up, push each other to do better, and always treat each other with respect. Even when we don’t see eye to eye, we’ve got each other’s backs. Appreciate every single one of you!

Finally, I want to give a huge shoutout to my husband and kids. They’re like my solid ground, always there to cheer me on and keep me going. I can’t thank them enough for believing in me no matter what. Their support is what drives me to be better every day. I owe them everything and I’m forever grateful for their love and encouragement.

Website: https://www.maryannriveradannert.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannriveradannert

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryannriveradannert/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrdempowermentsolutions

Youtube: https://youtu.be/QqtCINGyez0?si=Nl9yiifplN4X1WK2