Sometimes the Story Changes You
At Maravilla Luxe, we believe the best stories are the ones that make people feel something.
Sometimes, though, you don't choose the story.
The story chooses you.
Four years ago, Maravilla Luxe founder and creative director David J. MacNeil was losing his voice to throat cancer.
For someone who had spent decades as a voice artist, broadcaster, producer and podcaster, his voice wasn't simply a tool.
It was his identity, his livelihood, and how he supported his family.
Then suddenly, there was no guarantee it was coming back.
When the Microphone Goes Quiet
David underwent 33 radiation treatments.
Voice work stopped. Podcasting stopped. And for a while, the microphone went quiet.
But he held onto hope.
Today, David is three and a half years cancer-free.
His voice is back. He's recording again, creating again, and doing the work he loves.
But now he wants to use that voice for something more.
A New Purpose
David wants to create conversations about hope, resilience, reinvention and what helps people move forward when life doesn't go according to plan.
And now he has an opportunity to bring those conversations to a much bigger audience.
David is competing in Top Host 2026, presented by Ryan Seacrest with iHeartRadio.
The winner receives a six-episode podcast with iHeartRadio, a one-on-one on-air interview with Ryan Seacrest, and $25,000.
For someone who once wondered whether he'd ever podcast again, it's a remarkable full-circle opportunity.
Here's the short video David created to tell the story:
We're Currently in First Place
Thanks to an incredible response since voting opened, David is currently in first place in his group.
We're enormously grateful to everyone who has voted and shared the story.
But there's a long way to go.
And that's where we could use your help.
Vote for David
Free voting is available every 24 hours.
[VOTE FOR DAVID J. MACNEIL FOR TOP HOST]
If you've already voted, sharing the video or this story helps too.
Four years ago, David was hoping to get his voice back.
He did.
Now he has the chance to use it to create conversations that might help someone else through their own challenges.
We think that's a story worth telling.
Let's see where hope takes him next.
