In a world that often celebrates the loudest voices, Adam Roa has turned his whispers into a mighty roar. As a multifaceted artist, he’s captivated millions with his ability to turn life’s messiest moments into beautifully crafted works of art.
Adam’s storytelling prowess is, simply put, captivating. Through spoken word poems that blend profound truths with lyrical mastery, this thespian’s signature raw prose—often referencing the cycles of life and nature—clearly has a magnetic effect on his audiences.
For one, his viral poem on self-love, You Are Who You’ve Been Looking For, has amassed over 200 million views worldwide. And whenever he performs live at events like Mindvalley University, standing ovations tend to follow him.
Adam’s work shows that even the chaos in your life can be fuel for art—if you let it. And his secret to unlocking this creative force: vulnerability. It’s “the gateway to connection,” Adam says in his interview on The Mindvalley Podcast.
Watch the full episode:
Who is Adam Roa?
Adam’s a spoken word poet, multidisciplinary artist, motivational coach, and speaker whose work transcends the traditional boundaries of art and personal growth.
At the heart of all he does is his life-long passion for telling stories. Everything, he says, begins with the human capacity to build meaningful narratives. “Storytelling bypasses logical defenses and resonates directly with emotions,” he says. “That’s why it can transform people more quickly than anything else.”
And he’s not wrong. Our ability to weave tales and tropes into meaning-making—the stuff of bedtime rituals and TED Talks alike—has been shaping our human connection for millennia.
According to science, it activates the brain’s “theory of the mind” network, which allows listeners to connect deeply with characters and their experiences. So, our ancestors weren’t just sitting around the fire for fun; they were transmitting knowledge and values across generations in ways that have remained until today.
And for Adam? It’s muscle memory. Nowhere is that magic more evident than in his ability to reframe personal challenges as universal lessons—a skill he first developed by navigating his own emotional challenges.
From emotional shutdown to creative awakening
Adam’s journey into vulnerability and artistic expression wasn’t always smooth sailing. Growing up in a household where emotional expression was discouraged, he learned to bottle up his feelings. His father, a stoic man of Asian descent, would tell him to “stop crying like a little girl,” a phrase that left a lasting imprint on Adam’s young mind.
By his teens and early adulthood, the emotional suppression began taking its toll. He faced depression, insomnia, and a profound sense of disconnection.
Searching for meaning, Adam turned to substances in college, hoping to fill the void, but found only temporary relief. “I was so shut down emotionally that I didn’t even know how to process what I was feeling,” he shares.
But then came acting, a burgeoning interest that he credits as his lifeline. Moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, he discovered that the stage was a safe space to explore and express the emotions he had long buried.
“Acting was the first time I felt like I could fully feel something—and not only was it okay, it was celebrated,” he recalls. This revelation became the cornerstone of his personal and creative awakening.
Through acting, Adam began to reconnect with his emotions, process his pain, and eventually channel his experiences into slam poetry.
The rise of a viral poet
Adam’s path took a transformative turn by leaps and bounds when he began channeling his emotions into slam poetry performances. Then, one day, You Are Who You’ve Been Looking For happened at an event called Evolving Out Loud—and boy, did it strike a chord with his audiences. It wasn’t long before word of his performance went like wildfire around the world.
“It was wild,” Adam recalls. “I never expected something so personal to resonate with so many people.” Watch the poetic moment that racked up over 700,000 views on YouTube alone:
This overnight success catapulted Adam into the global spotlight, defining the start of his multifaceted career. But more than that, it signals people to embrace their imperfections and step into their power, no matter their personal and professional roles in life.
“Art allows us to reframe pain into beauty,” he explains, referring to the contents of the poem. “It’s like giving people a map to navigate their own emotional landscapes.”
The impact of Adam’s iconic moment didn’t stop there. It has since opened doors to stages at events like Mindvalley University, where he has become a celebrated motivational speaker with a unique niche. His ability to blend storytelling, performance, and emotional depth has earned him standing ovations and an audience that spans across continents.
For Adam, though, the true reward isn’t the applause; it’s the ripple effect his words create in people’s lives. “When someone tells me that my words helped them heal or gave them hope, that’s the real standing ovation,” he admits.
When he’s not performing, he channels this transformative power into coaching, working with high-level clients—including CEOs and athletes—to help them inject their personal stories into the message they share with the world. This blend of creativity and purpose defines his journey of wearing many hats and inspiring others to do the same.
3 ways Adam Roa inspires the art of healing
“Every piece of art I create is an opportunity to explore, express, and expand,” Adam says. And this rings true whether “art” looks like a memorable performance on stage or coaxing the “real” out of his clients so they can speak up on their platforms with confidence.
Art allows us to reframe pain into beauty. It’s like giving people a map to navigate their own emotional landscapes.
Adam Roa, actor, spoken word poet, multidisciplinary artist, motivational coach, and speaker
And now, he’s inviting you to do the same with these principles:
1. Vulnerability is a superpower
With society favoring those who wear masks, being unapologetically yourself can feel daunting. But Adam suggests challenging the fear by daring to wear your heart on your sleeve as a token of self-acceptance.
“When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we open the possibility for incredibly deep connection,” he explains in the interview. And at the same time, “it also opens the possibility of being rejected—and that’s what makes it inspiring.”
Why? Simple: it forces us to confront parts of ourselves we often hide—essentially shadow work—and integrate our fears and insecurities.
Adam believes that creativity only truly comes alive in this space between fear and acceptance. So, whenever you need to impact others—by giving a heartfelt speech at work, owning up to a mistake, or sharing a personal story in a group setting—being upfront about how you feel can make all the difference.
2. Creativity is a tool for expansion
No matter who he’s coaching, Adam’s focus is always the same: to empower his clients to heal from their limiting beliefs in business and share their message to the world in a way that authentically hits the mark.
“Every time you step into creative expression, you’re expanding your consciousness,” he says. “That’s where the magic happens.”
Doing this cements your creative intelligence: the ability to tap into your imagination to see things differently, break through limits, and spark transformation. And this ability is the hallmark of leadership.
Here are Adam’s actionable steps to unlock your creativity:
- Focus on why you create rather than what you’re creating so your purpose—essentially knowing your vision vs. mission statement—guides your expression authentically.
- Embrace your emotions and fears to access more profound ideas that could empower both your personal and professional lives.
- Practice relentlessly to master how to get in the flow and make your creative flair a muscle memory. If writing is your primary medium, this means refining your “voice” in text. As a speaker, flow is how you can nail stage presence.
- Reframe challenges to turn them into sources of inspiration.
- Commit to understanding your creative spurts so you can use them to your advantage—whether in life or your career. Observation, as it turns out, is one of the best emotional regulation skills for boosting creativity constructively.
3. Authenticity matters above all else
Whether sharing personal stories or channeling emotions through poetry, Adam makes sure to keep it raw and honest. “When you combine your emotion with art, it shifts people more deeply than logic ever could,” he explains.
The trick, he shares, is mastering the “hero’s journey.” Developed by writer and mythologist Joseph Campbell, this narrative framework shows how challenges can become transformative lessons.
“Every story has a moment where everything feels like it’s falling apart,” Adam says. “But that’s where you find your strength, and the lesson emerges.”
Why does this trope matter?
First, it’s universal—every human experiences the cycle of struggle, growth, and transformation, making it relatable to audiences from all walks of life.
Second, it’s outcome-driven. Personally, it helps you reframe hardships into opportunities for growth and healing. Professionally, it fosters trust and relatability, whether you’re leading a team, delivering a presentation, or creating impactful content.
So, when in doubt, just revert to your authentic self. The stories you tell from there, no matter the situation, will carry what’s true—and this is the stuff of genuine impact.
Let your change do the talking
“When you allow yourself to feel everything—the pain, the joy, the fear—you open the door to transformation. And that’s when life truly begins,” Adam says.
Consider his words an invitation to embrace yourself fully—messy truths and all—and weave their essence into everything you do.
And if you’re wondering where to start, Mindvalley’s got you covered. When you sign up on the platform for free, you’ll find plenty of quests to help you own your narrative—whether through mastering personal branding, healing emotional blockages, or becoming a better leader.
Want to connect with your audience by mastering authenticity through public speaking? Lisa Nichols’ Speak and Inspire can help.
Redefining your goals and stepping into the extraordinary? That’s where Vishen’s Be Extraordinary comes in.
Ready to level up your leadership game? Ultimate Leadership by Keith Ferrazzi has you covered.
And there’s plenty more where these quests come from—they’re all here, on the platform, ready to help you explore, grow, and thrive in your own hero’s journey.
Welcome in.
