Tigrilla Gardenia, B.M. M.S., Nature-Inspired Mentor, Certified Life Coach (ICF PCC), and World Ambassador for Plant Advocacy, empowers creative multipotentialites and nature-inspired professionals to confidently live authentic, purpose-driven lives in collaboration with the plant world. Drawing from 25+ years of experience in the arts, technology, communication, and eco-social innovation, Tigrilla bridges the wisdom of Plant Neurobiology, EcoSystem Thinking, Community Dynamics, and Esoteric Teachings to help you evolve limiting beliefs, nurture your many passions, and thrive alongside plant collaborators.

Adam Torres is a top 2% podcaster and #1 Best Selling author of "1 Billion Podcasts: The Future of ALL Media." As Co-Founder of Mission Matters, a media, branding and book publishing agency, Adam is dedicated to amplifying the voices of entrepreneurs, entertainers, executives and experts. An international speaker and author of multiple best selling books, his advice is featured regularly in major media outlets such as Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, Fox Business, and CBS to name a few.

Alan Lazaros is the Founder & CEO of Next Level University, a Global Top 100 Self-Improvement Podcast with listeners in more than 175 countries. His journey began with profound loss—his father passed away when Alan was just two years old—and a near-fatal car accident at 26 that changed everything. That moment became the wake-up call that forced him to question who he was, what he valued, and what true success really meant.

Through years of study, reflection, and personal growth, Alan discovered the power of holistic self-improvement—aligning external achievement with internal fulfillment. Today, he leads a global team of 17 and is devoted to helping others transform pain into purpose and reach their own unique potential.

As a coach, speaker, and podcaster, Alan brings a heart-driven, no-BS approach to life, love, health, and wealth—reminding audiences that real success starts from within.

Amy Adler is the president of Five Strengths Career Transition Experts, a firm specializing in resume writing for executives and their teams. Since launching her business in 2009, Amy has worked with hundreds of executives and their teams. She presents widely on resume writing and resume business practices to industry and corporate audiences and hosts The Job Search Podcast and Amy Adler's How I Hire Podcast.

Amy holds the Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE) certification, Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW), and Certified Executive Resume Master (CERM) designations. She has been a judge in CDI’s Toast of the Resume Writing Industry (TORI) Awards, previously having won first and third places for Best Executive Resume. She is the author of Courageous Career Change: Fearlessly Earn the Executive Role You Deserve. Amy holds an MBA from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin & Marshall College.

Angie Hawkins is an Inner Glow Coach, speaker, and author of Running in Slippers, a raw memoir about reclaiming joy after hitting rock bottom. She helps high-achieving, spiritual women break free from people-pleasing, stop chasing external approval, and radiate confidence from within. Through deep inner work and identity transformation, Angie guides her clients to embrace their true selves, set boundaries without guilt, and attract love, success, and happiness on their own terms. Known for her fearless spirit and authentic vulnerability, she blends real-life experience with practical strategies to help women shine from the inside out.

Anil Gupta is an internationally recognized teacher, speaker, and mentor whose work has inspired audiences on four continents. After losing everything in 2008, he rebuilt his life through awareness, service, and what he calls the Happiness Formula: Give, Grow, Gratitude. Anil has spoken alongside leaders like Les Brown, Richard Branson, and Daymond John, and his bestselling book Immediate Happiness helps people transform relationships, find clarity, and create meaningful lives. In this episode, he shares the turning points that shaped his journey, the insight that lifted years of fear and shame, and practical ways to use awareness, forgiveness, and gratitude to live a fuller, happier life.

Anna Quigley is a leading intuition mentor with 30+ years helping women tune into their inner guidance and take confident, aligned action. Combining neuroscience, mind-body practices, and practical tools, she shows how subtle signals can unlock your next chapter—whether in life, career, or purpose. Anna empowers people to stop second-guessing themselves and trust the wisdom they already carry. Explore her free intuition guide and tracking sheet at IgniteIntuitionGift.com

Bob Martin is a former felony prosecutor, law professor, and lifelong seeker of wisdom. From navigating high-stakes legal cases in Miami to public service in North Carolina, he has combined law, ethics, and personal growth into a remarkable journey. Trained in Daoist and Buddhist practices under Master Knee, Bob teaches meditation, mental resilience, and holistic wellbeing, helping others strengthen their minds and live intentionally. He is the founder of A Wise and Happy Life, offering community-driven tools for mindful living. Bob’s work bridges law, spirituality, and personal transformation, inspiring others to align career, purpose, and happiness. 

Carlee Wolfe helps leaders and organizations grow with resilience, clarity, and purpose. With 20+ years across corporate HR (Under Armour, Hyatt), Olympic and Paralympic programs, and grassroots nonprofits, she brings actionable tools for leading through change, building future-ready skills, and finding fulfillment at work and in community.

Chanoa Inez is a master of reinvention who believes your authentic self is the "secret sauce" to both personal joy and professional success. As an advanced meditator and author of Dream On, Chanoa guides others through the journey from upheaval to triumph with speed and resilience. Through her MAGNETIZE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND™ program, she acts as a "branding mirror," blending elite copywriting expertise with deep transformation techniques to help clients attract better opportunities. Her own path—a dramatic relocation from Montenegro to Los Angeles—serves as a powerful testament to her manifestation philosophy. Whether she’s coaching or writing, Chanoa is dedicated to helping people reconnect with joy and communicate their unique truth to the world. 

Chaz Wolfe is a serial entrepreneur and high-performing business strategist on a mission to help owners win in all areas of life. He has built, bought, and sold multiple seven-figure ventures in franchising, home services, real estate, and consulting. An award-winning sales mind and operations expert, Chaz is also the creator of Gathering The Kings, a mastermind community for established entrepreneurs.

Chaz combines ambition with honesty, sharing the real costs of growth, the tension between work and family, and how to stay ambitious while staying grounded. He teaches lessons on autonomy, faith, identity, and building a life that truly holds the success you’re creating.

Chris Baron is an award-winning filmmaker, storyteller, and host of No Ordinary Monday. As founder of Frontier Films, he has created documentaries for National Geographic, Disney+, Curiosity Stream, and the BBC, including Evolve, Lift the Ice, and living inside a volcano for One Strange Rock. Combining science, adventure, and cinematic storytelling, Chris brings audiences into worlds that inspire and entertain. On his podcast, he explores unusual and impactful careers, sharing thrilling stories, humor, and insights that spark curiosity and a deeper understanding of our planet and its people.

Cortney McDermott is an author, TEDx speaker, global keynote presenter, and coach who helps people evolve from within. She guides clients through career transitions, aligning work with personal values, and finding clarity in times of uncertainty.

Cortney combines neuroscience, lived experience, and practical coaching to create safe spaces for reflection and transformation. She has spoken at Mindvalley, Oxford Saïd, and Richard Branson’s Necker Island and has been featured in Inc., SUCCESS, Women’s Health, and Huffington Post. Her work empowers people, especially women and leaders, to trust intuition, embrace authenticity, and define success on their own terms. 

Dan MacQueen is a resilience strategist, keynote speaker, and mindset coach who turns life’s toughest blows into lessons you can act on. After surviving two emergency brain surgeries and climbing back from rock bottom, he rebuilt his life with grit, perspective, and his signature hacks—like gamifying life and turning failure into fuel. Formerly a corporate leader in energy and social media, Dan now inspires audiences to embrace challenges, shift perspective, and chase bold goals. Through storytelling and actionable strategies, he proves that even an “average guy” can do the extraordinary.

Dr. Albert Bramante, a seasoned talent agent with more than two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Walden University. Additionally, he is a certified Hypnotist and NLP Practitioner, bringing a unique blend of psychological insight and practical expertise to his work. Driven by a passion for both the performing arts and the human psyche, he embarked on a mission to empower actors to overcome self-sabotage and unlock their full potential.
Throughout his impressive career, Dr. Bramante has achieved remarkable success as a talent agent, securing roles for actors in a wide array of productions including TV shows, films, commercials, Broadway, and Off-Broadway performances

Dr. Dan Bamper is a chemist turned CFO, martial artist, and founder of Black Belt Ledgers. He scaled his own martial arts school by $150K using financial frameworks he built from scratch, then left a six-figure government career to help contractors and trades business owners reclaim hidden profits, fix cash flow chaos, and pay themselves like real CEOs. Combining data-driven systems, the scientific method, and martial arts discipline, Dan simplifies finances, grows profits, and reduces stress. Clients routinely save six figures, increase profits, and gain clarity on their numbers. Learn more at skool.com/chief-financial-you

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A highly-sought after speaker, trainer and coach known as “Jim Carrey with a Ph.D.,” Dr. Danny Brassell has spoken to over 3,500 audiences worldwide. He has authored 19 books, including "Leadership Begins with Motivation" and "Misfits and Crackpots." The co-founder of The WellCrafted Story Workshop, Danny helps entrepreneurs, individuals and organizations leverage speaking on stages as a major client lead source that converts.

Heinz holds advanced degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, with more than 35 years of global experience spanning industry and academia. A prolific innovator, he has authored around 35 publications, secured over 25 patents, and contributed to several monographs and textbooks.

After decades leading international teams and solving complex technical challenges, Heinz pivoted his focus to what he considers his true calling: helping others design lives fully lived. As the founder of Heinzsight.org, he coaches and mentors professionals at all stages, guiding them to uncover their passions and find fulfillment well beyond their work.

He is also a sought-after motivational speaker and workshop facilitator known for delivering tangible results. When he is not teaching leadership or career strategy, you will often find him sharing his love of jazz and music as another expression of a life well lived.

Jeff Kiplinger started his career in drug development as an analytical scientist at Pfizer in the 1990s.  He was part of the revolution in drug discovery and development, with much effort devoted to 'democratizing' analytical technologies so they could be used directly by chemists and biologists, without the intervention of 'experts' like spectroscopists and chromatographers.  After leaving Pfizer, Jeff started several companies.  In 2007 he developed a new contract research firm with an analytical chemistry focus, and sold the company in 2016.  Since then, he's written a bestselling book on scientific entrepreneurship called "Expert to Entrepreneur: How to Turn Your Hard-Won Expertise into a Thriving Business", and founded a consulting firm called "Selling Science".  Jeff lives in the Hudson River Valley in New York with his wife Katy, and together they've been re-wilding a 10 acre depleted farm with the goal of increasing biodiversity.  

Dr. Jessie And Omar Ferreira are the founders of A Soul’s Quest, a transformational platform that helps midlife individuals and professionals navigate life’s turning points—career shifts, identity crises, and personal awakenings—with clarity, resilience, and renewed purpose. 

They guide individuals through disorientation and inner chaos by offering a structured, accessible path that blends timeless wisdom and lived experiences with modern psychology, allowing them to turn endings into empowered new beginnings. A Soul’s Quest is not about manifesting desires—it’s about remembering the Self.

It is a psycho-spiritual guide for navigating the sacred tensions between our biological inheritance, cultural conditioning, and our spiritual identity. It’s not therapy. It’s not coaching. It’s initiation.

Julia Barzyk, Ph.D., is a research strategist, former federal program manager, and founder of Wise Investigator. During her 10+ years at the U.S. Army Research Office, she managed a high-impact portfolio in geoscience and civil engineering, shaping strategic priorities, crafting $6M topic calls, and evaluating outcomes. Her work influenced national science investments and supported countless academic researchers.

Now through Wise Investigator, Julia helps university researchers secure funding through a one-on-one training and support program rooted in her experience in federal funding. Her approach addresses the critical gap in strategic guidance and skill development many researchers face.

She earned degrees from the University of Rochester, the University of Florida, and the University of Chicago, and lives in Durham, NC, with her husband and two teenagers.

Lucinda Jackson is the author of two inspiring memoirs: Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious about succeeding in male-dominated organizations and Project Escape: Lessons for an Unscripted Life, a story of creating our best lives in and out of the workplace. Jackson, a global executive and PhD scientist, has worked for four Fortune 500 companies in over 30 countries. She is a featured public speaker, podcast guest, and author of articles, book chapters, magazine columns, and patents. The founder of LJ Ventures, Jackson speaks and consults on empowerment in our careers and in our Next Act. Connect with Jackson or find her books at: www.lucindajackson.com and connect with her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucinda-jackson/

From crisis to triumph, Dr. Naeema doesn’t just inspire change—she builds it. After a decade as a chiropractor, a cycling accident led her to radically reinvent her life. She closed her practice, traveled solo to 13 countries, and founded Every Damn Thing, LLC to help women over 40 reclaim their power.

Now a reinvention coach, speaker, and author of Raised as a Lie, Dr. Naeema empowers high-achieving women to rise from burnout, break generational patterns, and thrive with purpose. Her upcoming book, Every Damn Thing: Your Disruption Manual, guides women to stop shrinking and start living fully expressed.

Whether in workshops, keynotes, or candid conversations, Dr. Naeema delivers soul-shifting truths and practical tools to help women rewrite what’s possible.

Tara S. Singer is president emerita of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, where she served as CEO from 2013–2023. During her tenure, O∆K launched its first multi-million-dollar campaign, grew to 55 campuses, and expanded its publications. Now a senior consultant with Academic Search, Tara previously built a 30-year career in higher education at institutions including the University of Louisville, Western Kentucky University, the University of West Georgia, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Indiana State University. Her leadership roles have spanned alumni relations, development, communications, student affairs, and enrollment management. She holds three degrees from the University of Louisville, has authored research and publications, and is active in community and professional service, including on the Wayne Theatre board. Tara enjoys gardening, entertaining, and time with family.

Drewbie Wilson is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and four-time author committed to living in excellence and leading by example. Once weighing over 300 pounds, he transformed his health and lost more than 100 pounds through discipline and mindset, not shortcuts. A service-first action taker, Drewbie has produced seven figures in revenue across multiple industries, rising from entry-level roles to executive leadership. Known for his direct honesty, confidence, and empathy, he challenges people to own their time, effort, and standards, living by two mottos: Call The Damn Leads and Crush The Day Before It Crushes You.

Garrett Wood, NBC-HWC, is a clinical hypnotherapist, executive functioning specialist, and founder of Gnosis Therapy. He works with executives, founders, and entrepreneurs who want sustainable high performance without trading health or relationships. Over 18 years, he developed the A³ Framework—Assess, Accommodate, Align—which maps capacity across seven drivers of performance: sensory intelligence, bio-budgets, emotional regulation, core beliefs, attachment patterns, values, and executive functioning strengths. He applies outcome-based coaching, somatic regulation, and clinical hypnotherapy to end the boom-and-bust cycle of burnout, because sustainable success is built through your well-being, not at its expense.

Jake Isaacs is an entrepreneur, author, and co-leader of Gathering the Kings, an entrepreneurial mastermind helping business owners grow profitably while thriving at home. He has scaled businesses from single-truck operations to million-dollar revenues, led high-impact nonprofits, and built teams of 135+ employees. Jake combines operational expertise with purpose-driven leadership to help others achieve success without sacrificing life. 

Joanne Merrick is a global leadership expert and founder of The Leadership Recipe, dedicated to helping professionals decide if management is their best career play before they take the leap. With over 25 years of experience delivering transformative programs across 22 countries and five continents, Joanne blends neuroscience with practical wisdom gained from leadership roles at Deloitte, Amazon, and Juniper Networks. She is the author of Game On! Is Management Your Best Career Play?, a guide that empowers high performers to move beyond the typical "trust fall" approach to promotions. Having lived in Australia, Hong Kong, and the USA, Joanne brings a diverse, global perspective to communication, emotional intelligence, and team performance. She helps individuals and organizations move from accidental management to intentional leadership, ensuring that when they step into a role, they do so with their eyes wide open and a focus on lasting impact. 

John and his wife Julie have realized an abundant life. And they believe that all of our outcomes are rooted in our thinking. John’s career has been bi-vocational: fully engaged in building businesses and serving part time as a pastor and teacher. As a jail chaplain he saw people whose thinking led them way down the wrong path. And as an entrepreneur, he discovered the power of thinking about others first and seeking to create great value. John partnered to build a wealth management business that managed more than $1billion of client assets and “retired” at age 51. After a one year COVID sabbatical he served CEOs and business owners as a C12 chair, facilitating day-long business retreats. John’s focus is helping people think better so they can fulfill the purpose for which they were made. His book Thinking for Success: 52 Stories that Upgrade Your Thinking to Boost Productivity, Problem Solving, and Relationships will be released by Morgan James in January 2026.

Keith Anderson is an executive career strategist and founder of Career Alchemy Lab, where he helps tech professionals bridge the gap between high performance and leadership advancement. An ex-Meta and DoorDash leader who has hired over a hundred people, Keith understands that promotions are built on perception and "trust signals," not just hard work. From failing high school English to teaching graduate rhetoric at UC Berkeley and leading global teams at Google, his journey proves you should never let external feedback define your worth. He is the author of The 30-Day Career Reboot and creator of The Undeniable Leader community, providing the mentorship he lacked while navigating the corporate ladder. Today, Keith helps managers and VPs position themselves as the obvious choice for senior roles by aligning their professional identity with their true leadership potential.

Kelly Schuknecht is a marketing strategist and thought leadership expert with nearly two decades of experience helping entrepreneurs and professionals elevate their brands. Kelly is the founder of Two Mile High Marketing, where she works with businesses to refine their messaging, grow their visibility, and create impactful marketing strategies. She’s also the host of Beyond the Bestseller, a podcast that empowers women to share their stories and build thriving platforms. Kelly is passionate about empowering women in leadership, advocating for remote work, and helping others find clarity and confidence in their professional journeys.

If today’s conversation inspired you to elevate your brand and grow your thought leadership, be sure to connect with Kelly! You can visit www.kellyschuknecht.com to explore her free resources, check out her podcast Beyond the Bestseller, or book a consultation to take the next step in your journey.

Kristin Hiemstra, M.Ed., CPC, ELI-MP is the founder of The Art of Potential Coaching and an Adjunct Lecturer in Management, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at NC State’s Poole College of Management. With deep expertise in organizational culture, employee engagement, and emotional intelligence, Kristin brings both heart and strategy to the world of leadership and career growth.

She holds a BA from the University of North Carolina, an M.Ed. from George Mason University, a certificate in Human Resources from Duke University, and a professional coaching certification from iPEC (the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching).

In addition to her work as a TEDx speaker, coach, and educator, Kristin is passionate about helping people reconnect with their worth and live in alignment with who they truly are. Outside of work, she enjoys life with her husband Hans and their adult daughters, Haley and Zoe.

Lisa Haynes is a certified executive and retirement coach and the author of Retired and Killin’ It. After decades as a CFO, Lisa chose retirement intentionally and discovered how unprepared many high achievers are for life after work beyond the finances. Today, she helps retirees and soon-to-be retirees design a next chapter filled with purpose, connection, and joy. Through her KILLIN’ IT formula, Lisa guides people to transition from successful careers into a life they are genuinely excited to live. 

Mike Barefoot is a high-performance catalyst who blends 27 years of corporate recruiting dominance with the mental discipline of a world-class martial artist. Having placed over 1,000 IT professionals and generated $50M+ in revenue, Mike earned multiple "Performer of the Year" honors before transitioning his boardroom grit into professional speaking. He holds a 7th-degree black belt and is a multi-time Hall of Fame inductee, utilizing 37 years of combat arts training to teach the "black belt mindset"—a framework of clarity, purpose, and relentless discipline. Whether addressing MBA students at NC State or advising executive teams, Mike draws from a career of sitting across from thousands of decision-makers to help others raise their standards and dominate their field. He is a firm believer that peak performance isn't a gift, but a discipline practiced daily.

Mike Wysocki is an award-winning author and career readiness advocate dedicated to fixing the broken bridge between education and the workforce. After a 30-year career in tech sales where he achieved financial stability but found little joy, Mike pivoted to a mission of helping the next generation choose their paths with clarity rather than guesswork. He is the author of the Amazon bestseller Careers By the People, which features candid insights from 101 professionals to give students a transparent look at the real world. A first-generation, low-income college graduate himself, Mike has spoken to thousands of students from Massachusetts to Maui and produced over 120 videos to simplify networking and career exploration. He brings a down-to-earth, "no-fluff" perspective to the career conversation, empowering both students and mid-career pivoters to stop chasing paychecks and start building lives that fuel them. 

Natalie Siston is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and bestselling author of Let Her Out: Reclaim Who You Have Always Been. 

Through her powerful blend of personal storytelling, leadership expertise, and practical mental fitness tools, Natalie helps high-performing professionals slow down, reflect deeply, and lead with more presence, clarity, and confidence.

With experience spanning Silicon Valley, the Fortune 100, and entrepreneurship, Natalie has coached and trained leaders from rising executives to established changemakers. She served as Head of Client Success at Positive Intelligence, and today, she continues as the company’s Lead Presenter, where she introduces teams and individuals to the tools that strengthen resilience and performance from the inside out.

She lives in Plain City, Ohio, with her husband and two teenage daughters. 

Nataly Huff is an executive coach and founder of Inspire Forward Coaching, a heart-centered practice integrating neuroscience-based approaches to help professionals achieve performance, fulfillment, and alignment. With over 15 years of leadership experience building world-class teams, Nataly specializes in helping C-Suite executives and high-performers discover that personal and professional success can coexist. Her "science meets soul" methodology combines neuropsychology with empathetic coaching to create sustainable transformation from the inside out.

Neena Perez is a transformational coach, author, and motivational speaker passionate about helping women step boldly into entrepreneurship and create impactful coaching businesses using their wisdom, skills, and God-given talents. With a deeply personal journey marked by overcoming abuse, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, divorce, and poverty, Neena has transformed her life through faith and resilience. Her inspiring story is captured in her autobiography, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, where she shares the hard-earned lessons that now fuel her mission to empower others.

Penda L. James was raised in Dayton, Ohio, where funk music, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and a large extended family influenced her creativity. She developed a love of reading and writing from the adults in her life who emphasized the importance of education. As an alumnus of Wilberforce University, Penda’s love for helping people tell their stories was shaped in college. At Bowling Green State University, she earned an M. Ed, in Training and Development. She has earned certificates in life coaching, film writing, and Strength-Based Family Worker from Temple University. With more than 18  years of experience in nonprofit and child welfare, service is her passion. 

Penda has authored seven inspirational books and journals and one novel. With her pen, podcast, and life, she strives to inspire people to use their gifts and pursue their dreams. 

Ray Martin, aka The Daily Explorer, is an entrepreneur and award-winning business leader. As a coach, mentor, facilitator, speaker, writer, and mindfulness teacher, he is a torchbearer for greater human consciousness. Ray is also a marathon runner and fundraiser. He’s on a mission to empower people to live authentically and to bring more joy and happiness into the world.

Renée Onesti spent nearly two decades leading in American manufacturing. She’s an engineer turned Director of Operations with an MBA, a Six Sigma Black Belt, and a reputation for getting things done. But behind the high performance was a woman carrying too much, questioning her purpose, and feeling the slow creep of burnout. In this two-part conversation, Renée opens up about the pressure, the turning point, and what it really took to step away from the role she was known for and into a life that finally felt like her own. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to succeed without losing yourself, Renée’s story will stay with you. 

Shelley McIntyre is a reinvention partner for GenX professionals ready to leave corporate life and build work that truly belongs to them. A certified coach with a background in strategy and tech, she created Burn the Map, a podcast and coaching practice that helps midlife professionals drop outdated identities and design a career that fits. Shelley brings clarity and creativity to the messy, exhilarating process of starting over. She helps people stop performing roles they’ve outgrown, uncover their strengths, and take confident steps toward a life and work that feels authentic. 

Stanley Bronstein is a "transformation architect" who proves the impossible is merely a starting point. An attorney, CPA, and author, Stanley’s credentials are eclipsed by his staggering personal achievement: losing over 220 pounds without drugs or surgery and maintaining it for nearly 17 years. This journey birthed The Way of Excellence, a "human operating system" designed to align mind, body, and spirit. As founder of the Million Pound Weight Loss Challenge, Stanley moves beyond "feel-good" motivation to provide a practical framework for permanent change. Known as a "walking expert," he famously transformed from 367 pounds to a life of total vitality by mastering the pillars of willingness, discipline, and commitment. Stanley doesn't just teach excellence; he lives it, empowering listeners to break through mental barriers and build a life that keeps getting better.

Steve Jaffe began his writing journey at San Diego State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication. After a 25-year career in advertising and marketing, he has returned to his writing roots. Steve has built a reputation for creativity, strategic insight, and a deep understanding of human experiences. His approach to work and life, infuses authenticity, empathy, and a genuine desire to connect with others.

Steve resides in Altadena, California, with his wife, two children, and a perpetually shedding dog. When he’s not writing or consulting as a marketing expert, you can find him chasing waves along the coast or carving fresh powder on the slopes—always seeking balance and adventure in his professional and personal life. Steve’s journey continues to be a testament to resilience, innovation, and the belief that sharing authentic experiences can inspire growth and lead to a deeper understanding of who we truly are. 

Sybil Stewart is a Christian Business Speaker and Consultant who believes that we all should do well, be well and serve well. She helps faith-led women in service businesses speak and build stages so that they can serve their ideal clients at the highest level.   For more than a decade, Sybil served as the quiet force behind influential leaders, global companies, and cultural movements, and now she has been called to serve other kingdom businesses.
As a TEDx Organizer, Sybil has made it her mission to create the stages women deserve to stand on.

Walter Dusseldorp is a passionate advocate for personal growth and mentorship, dedicated to helping individuals unlock their potential. With extensive experience in coaching and leadership, he inspires others to pursue their goals with clarity, courage, and confidence.

As a dynamic speaker and storyteller, Walter shares actionable insights on resilience, leadership, and cultivating a growth mindset—drawing from real-life experiences and proven strategies. He is the founder of TheDutchMentor.com, where he offers tools and resources for both personal and professional development.

When not mentoring or speaking, Walter enjoys flying helicopters and airplanes, a pursuit that reflects his love for learning and new perspectives. Committed to empowering others, Walter invites audiences to embrace their journeys and rise to their next level of success.

Wes Towers is the founder of Uplift 360, a digital agency he has grown over more than 20 years helping trades and construction businesses get found, get trusted, and get chosen. With a background in graphic design and multimedia, Wes discovered his creative spark early when he won a school logo competition in grade six, a small moment that shaped what he believed was possible.

Early in his career, Wes was handed an unexpected challenge at a marketing firm. “You’re the young guy. Go figure out websites.” Not long after, he started his own business before he felt ready and learned marketing, networking, and leadership the real world way by doing the work. Today, he is known for cutting through noise with clear communication, practical strategy, and a strong belief that busy is not the same as successful.

Wes also hosts the podcast Built, Trusted, Chosen, where he shares hard won lessons on trust, growth, and staying human in an AI driven world.