Andrew Bajda is an author and public speaker who previously served as president of Cleveland’s Polish-American Cultural Center and is a retired professor at Cuyahoga Community College. Bajda’s most recent book, The Tears of Happy Jake, is capturing attention for its honest portrayal of resilience, ambition, and personal healing when faced with overwhelming odds. This inspiring story follows the life of Jacob Newton, a young athlete whose dream of making the NHL is intertwined with a powerful and courageous journey of confronting past trauma. With the book’s release, Bajda and Newton have partnered to spread the power of growth and healing for athletes, survivors, and anyone navigating personal challenges while striving toward a greater purpose.
Bajda has also given numerous talks on his previous book, Captured in Liberation—which details the adventures and struggles of his father as a Polish teen during World War II—at libraries and universities across Northeast Ohio, Washington, D.C., and overseas in England and Poland. Through these talks, he has established a close relationship with the Polish government in its quest to promote the Trail of Hope Exhibit, a display that commemorates the fascinating journey of Polish General Władysław Anders during World War II. In May of 2019, he was invited by the Polish government to attend the 75th anniversary of the Anders Army's victorious Battle of Monte Cassino.
Jacob Newton is a personal trainer and mental health coach who spent ten years competing in professional hockey at the highest levels across North America and Europe. His inspiring personal story of overcoming childhood trauma to achieve both personal and professional success is illustrated in Andrew Bajda’s recent book, The Tears of Happy Jake.
Using the book as a springboard, Newton has expanded his business, Newton’s Mind, to reach and impact a broader audience of individuals and athletes looking to improve their mental performance through emotional control. He is currently leveraging his relationships with current and former players, executives, coaches, and influencers to appear on major podcasts, including the Hockey Think Tank and Cam and Strick. He has also conducted joint speaking engagements with author Andrew Bajda, showcasing the potential for growth, healing, and recovery far beyond the hockey world.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
- How mindset shifts can transform performance, confidence, and long-term personal growth.
- Why mental resilience is essential for overcoming setbacks and sustaining success.
- That limiting beliefs often prevent breakthroughs more than external circumstances.
- How intentional thinking patterns influence results in business, leadership, and life.
- Why peak performance begins with strengthening focus, discipline, and self-awareness.
- That lasting transformation requires daily habits aligned with purpose-driven goals.
- How to identify mental barriers and replace them with empowering perspectives.
- Why emotional control plays a critical role in decision-making and performance.
- That personal growth accelerates when mindset and actions consistently work together.
- How adopting a high-performance mentality can unlock greater potential and fulfillment.
about the show
Behind every transformative book, industry-defining manual, or life-defining manifesto, there is a cinematic story waiting to be told. Most authors spend their lives behind the pages, but the most impactful narratives deserve a global stage.
America’s Authors is a groundbreaking TV series dedicated to celebrating the writers and visionaries who shape our culture—and evaluating their work for screen adaptation. This show isn't just about the prose; it is a high-level media workshop designed to bridge the gap between the written word and the world of film and television.
We are bringing the nation's most compelling storytellers out from behind the manuscript to prove that a powerful book is more than just paper—it is the ultimate vehicle for national impact, entertainment legacy, and cultural transformation. Join us as we showcase the voices that are ready to transition from the bestseller list to the big screen.
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