Unmasking the Truth: A Raw Conversation on Influence, Identity, and Intentional Living

By Dr. Sharon H. Porter | Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 6:00 PM EDT

In a recent episode of the Vision & Purpose Podcast, listeners were invited to lean in for a gripping, unfiltered conversation with Dr. Brittney Clinton, the author of Unmasking Influence: Who Are You Following? — a newly released book that’s quickly becoming a must-read for anyone ready to reclaim their voice in a world drowning in curated content, comparison, and cultural noise.

The episode peeled back the veneer of influence — not just the Instagram kind, but the kind that creeps into our beliefs, shapes our decisions, and subtly pulls us away from who we truly are.

“Your influences is what will build you as person.”

Throughout the episode, the guest shared that her deep thought-provoking conversations with her teenage boys is what sparked this revelation. Dr. Clinton also expressed vulnerable moments of waking up to the realization that much of her own identity had been shaped by unconscious following — trends, approval, even spiritual and cultural expectations. This candid storytelling set the tone for a powerful exploration of what it means to live an authentic, intentional life.

What made the conversation truly stand out was its blend of personal revelation and actionable insight. Dr. Clinton didn’t just diagnose the problem — she offered tools. Listeners were encouraged to take a hard look at their own “feeds” — not just online, but in life. Who are you giving influence to? What ideas are you consuming without question? And most importantly: Is that influence in alignment with who you’re becoming?

One of the episode’s most striking moments came when the author challenged listeners to research and not just follow or analyzing whats taking place with whatever is catching your eye or keeping your attention.

“When an individual begins to hone in and research a person, place, or thing, that really intrigues them about what is taking place with the person, place or thing....This is when you know you have been heavily influenced....

As the episode wrapped, both host and guest echoed a shared hope: that people begin to follow truth more than trends, and purpose more than popularity.

Whether you’re leading a business, raising a family, scrolling through social feeds, or simply navigating your own self-worth, Unmasking Influence — both the book and the episode — will leave you thinking deeply about the forces shaping your life.

Takeaway Truth: Influence is inevitable. But following? That’s a choice. And as Unmasking Influence reminds us — it’s one worth making with intention.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now on all podcast platforms and grab your copy of Unmasking Influence: Who Are You Following? today.

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