A significant majority of American employees feelwork pressure, with studies showing figures like 80% reporting"productivity anxiety," and high percentages experiencingstress, burnout, and the need to "perform" being busy, especiallywith younger workers feeling it more intensely, leading to exhaustion andimpacting well-being,  Deloitte reports.

Michael Dugan is the author of "Turning Snowflakes IntoDiamonds" and creator of the Becoming Diamond Framework. With over 20,000hours of experience as a professional trainer from the world's largestautomotive group, Michael teaches individuals how to transform pressure intopower, master emotional intelligence, and thrive in an era defined by AI andconstant change. His mission is to help others stay calm, confident, andunshakable under pressure.  For over 20years, I have been teaching people how to perform under pressure. Not intheory, but in the trenches of real business and leadership. With more than20,000 hours locked as a professional trainer for the largest auto group on theplanet, I've learned that success comes down to belief. That's what inspired mybook, Turning Snowflakes to Diamonds. We're living in a time where AIautomation is rewriting the rules, and people are losing their sense ofcertainty and values. My mission is to help people rediscover their trueselves. Even when the world feels like it's changing too fast. Through myBecoming Diamond framework, I teach emotional mastery, effective communication,and self-belief, and how to transform life's pressures into personal power. I'vetrained thousands of people to stay calm, confident, and unshakeable when itmatters most. If your someone who is looking for a conversation that ismotivational, relevant, and deeply human, this is it! I help people see thatpressure isn't their enemy. It's the most incredible opportunity to evolve.

Get the Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Turning-Snowflakes-into-Diamonds-PRESSURE-ebook/dp/B0FQJLZ67Z  

Follow: @turning__snowflakestodiamonds

  Serial entrepreneurs drive significant economicimpact in the U.S., with firms generating 67% higher sales anddisproportionately boosting job growth, despite making up only about 3.5% ofbusiness owners, while overall small businesses are booming (5.2M newapplications in 2024), average nonemployer revenue hovers around $58k, andmillions of one-person companies are hitting the million-dollar mark, showingvaried revenue landscapes, Shopify reports.

Entrepreneur Paul Shrater is currently the owner or co-owner of over a dozencompanies and brands in various sectors, including e-commerce, third-party logistics/fulfillment,contract packaging in food and beauty, promotional products, foodservicedistribution, joint ventures, supplements, homeopathics, art, and TikToktalent/brand management. The companies span 3 buildings that total approximately.100k sq. ft.  He is a graduate of the acclaimed Wharton School ofBusiness, a speaker at national conferences in the areas of e-commerce, and hasappeared in numerous national television and print media.

From 1995 to 2004, Shrater worked in the film and televisionindustry, with offices on the Sony lot, and highlighted by selling anaction-comedy script based on Shrater's original idea for over a milliondollars. 

Shrater is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’sacclaimed Wharton School. 

He has spoken at several national conferences, such as theIRCE, IRCE Focus, B2B Online, B2B Connect, and B2B Multichannel Summit; locallyat EDC, Hub 101, 805 Startups, and VC Innovates.

He has participated as a judge in venture competitions andhas guest lectured at universities on topics such as e-commerce, supply chainmanagement, and change management.  He has authored a blog for WhartonMagazine and has been an adjunct faculty member at California LutheranUniversity, where he taught an experiential class in integrated marketingcommunications. 

Shrater has also appeared on such networks as CNBC and beenquoted in such publications as Forbes and USA Today. 

He consults with companies in various industries, includingdigital streaming, alternative advertising platforms, ESG, and more. 

LinkedIn @PaulJ.Shrater

Discover More: Minimusfulfillment.biz

Learn More: Minimusproducts.biz

Get Digital: https://digitalcommerceagency.com/

For more information: https://paulshrater.com/ 

  Royalty's children are among a growinggroup of children who have lost a parent or sibling. A 2023 report fromJudi’s House – an organization that advocates for grieving kids and families –found that one in 12 kids will lose a parent or sibling by age 18. Since thepandemic, the rate has continued to increase.

Following the death of his 35-year-old brother and facedwith the emotional toll of grief, artist Preston Zeller delves into a year-longproject to paint every day through Intuitive and abstract painting to processgrief and share his process with others. Along the way, this opens the door tonew conversation, ultimately raising the question of why grief isn't better addressedin Western culture?  As a culmination tothis year of painting, the 365 paintings are assembled into a massive 10 ft. x20 ft image to represent a year of grief and further spur conversations overthis important subject. When I directed The Art of Grieving, I witnessedfirsthand how creative action can transform loss, and it’s reflected in my ownwalk through grief after losing my brother. As someone who’s both felt andfilmed those powerful moments, I would love to share that journey with youraudience and spark meaningful conversation around hope, healing, and faith.

For over 15 years, I’ve been a believer and growth executivehelping scale businesses from zero to successful exits, while also buildinginnovative technology in the faith-tech space. My current focus is Psalmlog, anAI-powered app designed to help Christians quickly discover God’s guidance inlife’s hardest moments, a solution directly shaped by research with hundreds ofbelievers. With much of today's world rooted in real stories that connect tech,business, and the human journey, I think I’d fit right in.

I’m grateful for the chance to serve nearly 7,000faith-driven leaders and entrepreneurs online, but I’m even more interested inhonest conversations.  He joined me thisweek to have a conversation about hope, healing, grief, and gratitude.

For more information: https://theartofgrievingfilm.com/

Discover More: https://psalmlog.com/

Follow @PrestonZeller

Scoliosis affects approximately 2-3 percent of thepopulation, representing an estimated six to nine million individuals in theUnited States. While scoliosis can develop during infancy or early childhood,the primary age of onset is between 10 and 15 years, affecting both gendersequally. However, females are eight times more likely than males to progress toa curve magnitude requiring treatment. Each year, scoliosis patients accountfor over 600,000 visits to private physician offices, with an estimated 30,000children requiring bracing and 38,000 undergoing spinal fusion surgery,according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Dr. Mark Morningstar has dedicated his career toadvancing care for children with scoliosis and their families. He holds aDoctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic and a PhD inHealth Services Management from Concordia University. Dr. Morningstar possessesthree board certifications: the American Clinical Board of Nutrition, theAmerican College of Spine Physicians, and the American Association ofIntegrative Medicine.

With his extensive qualifications, Dr. Morningstar developedan integrated scoliosis management program recognized internationally. He hasauthored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and contributed innovativeexercises and equipment for scoliosis management. His work has receivednational recognition, including features on The Sister Wives.

Over the past two decades, Dr. Morningstar has sought torefine scoliosis care by emphasizing the underlying condition rather thanfocusing solely on spinal curvature, minimizing discomfort and side effects,and ensuring pediatric patients maintain a high quality of life. As a foundingmember of the Society on Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment(SOSORT)—established in 2005 in Milan, Italy—he collaborates with leadingprofessionals worldwide to advance non-surgical, exercise-based treatments suchas the ScoliSMART BootCamp.

One of few chiropractic physicians triple board certified inchiropractic medicine, integrative medicine, and naturopathic medicine, Dr.Morningstar provides comprehensive strategies for managing complex spine andneurological disorders, including Scoliosis, Fibromyalgia/Chronic FatigueSyndrome, and Lyme disease.

By integrating chiropractic rehabilitation, chiropracticneurology, functional medicine, kinesiotaping, and spinal orthoses, Dr.Morningstar has achieved notable outcomes in patient recovery and healing. Hehas multiple publications in peer-reviewed biomedical literature and iscurrently authoring books related to scoliosis and healthy living.

For more information: https://scoliosispractice.com/

Email: mmorningstar@backgenius.com

https://www.backgenius.com/

According to the Government of Canada In Ontario, teens(youth 13-24) make up a significant portion of the homeless population (around12-20%), often experiencing hidden homelessness or using transitional housingmore than shelters, with reasons primarily stemming from family conflict, trauma,and mental health issues, leading to high rates of first-time homelessnessbefore age 16 and overrepresentation of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ youth.Statistics show youth homelessness is undercounted but deeply impactful, withmany facing significant barriers and adverse experiences. 

The Windsor Residence for Young Men (WRYM) supportsyouth ages 16-24 as they leave homelessness behind to build new lives.  WRYM provides a supportive, functional family atmosphere, delivers individualcounselling, and teaches basic life skills.  WRYM helps youth experiencinghomelessness integrate into the community and reconnect with extended family orindependent living, as well as education and employment.  We supportactive citizenship, not dependence, and we follow up with our residents as theybecome active citizens.  We work together to end homelessness.

Selena Cosme is an aftercare and outreach worker for the organization, and shejoined me this week to tell me more about how this vitally importantorganization is working to end homelessness across Windsor-Essex and provideyoung men in our local community with a brighter future.

For more information: https://www.wrym.ca/

Email: executivedirector@wrym.ca

Can Faith impact our buying decisions, behavior at work,and cause us to take an inclusive approach to living life?   I’llreturn to this question in just a moment, but first.   I wantedto provide some statistical data to support our conversation.

74% of Leaders: Surveyed leaders state that anincreasing focus on trust and transparency—core components of organizationalclarity—is very or critically important for success. 92% of CEOs agreethey must cultivate unprecedented levels of personal and organizationaladaptability, often citing clarity as the foundation for navigating currentmarket chaos, according to Deloitte. 

Mike Harts, the founder and CEO of Harts Centered Coaching& Speaking, is a Speaker, Success Coach, and Saint Ambrose University(Davenport, IA) graduate with a degree in Communication and Theology. He bringsa practical approach to helping people achieve their highest calling anddestiny in life, based on over 15 years of experience in speaking and coaching.Mike believes it is our God-given obligation to live each day as if it were ourlast and to make the most of the time we have on this planet! Mike talks andcoaches at organizations, schools, and churches all around the world, both inperson and virtually, to help people achieve their life goals and objectives.His dynamic personal coaching style suits the needs of any individual seekingto turn their ambitions into reality. He joined me this week to tell me more.

YouTube: @HartsCenteredCoaching&Speaking

Follow: @mikehartsnow

A lot of employees feel disconnected from their bosses and managers, and it’sputting a real damper on workplace morale, CNBC reports.

Forty-six percent of employees across the U.S. say theirbosses only somewhat or rarely understand their contributions at work,according to the April 2025 Workplace Perception Gap Survey from HRplatform The Predictive Index, which sampled 1,000 workers acrossdifferent industries, age groups, and job levels.

Justin M. Riordan is a keynote speaker, author, andentrepreneur known as the anti-guru of emotional intelligence. A designer bytraining and a builder by nature, he founded the award-winning Spade and ArcherDesign Agency before turning his focus to human design—how people intentionallybuild emotionally intelligent companies, relationships, and lives.Through The Relationable Toolkit, Justin teaches simple, repeatabletools that start the shift from fear to freedom, helping leaders reconnect withwhat truly matters.

START THE SHIFT WITH JUSTIN M. RIORDAN:

·        Shift success from feeling heavy to feelingfulfilling

·        Shift leaders toward designing a culture with a clearintention

·        Shift entrepreneurs toward clarity, connection,and freedom

·        Shift emotional intelligence into practicalskills anyone can use

For more information: https://www.justinmriordan.com/

Approximately 59% of Americans say thathappiness—specifically the ability to spend money on things that bring themjoy—is the most important benchmark of success. This desire to achievefinancial happiness is so strong that roughly three-quarters of Americans (73%)report they would give up social media or forgo tickets to major events (76%)if it meant achieving this state, according to Empower.

Dr. Nicholas E. Michels CFP™  is more than a financial expert; he’s a guide,teacher, and public speaker who helps clients align their finances with whatbrings joy, fulfillment, and a legacy of abundance. With a career spanningthree different decades, he has empowered thousands to achieve financialfreedom, eliminate stress, and build purposeful wealth.

With a Doctorate in Business Administration, Nick is thefounder of Michels Family Financial. He combines his expertise as a CertifiedFinancial Planner™, Certified Private Wealth Advisor™, and a National SocialSecurity Advisor.

Beyond finance, Nick is a devoted husband, father, andpassionate advocate for giving back through his family’s foundation, TheMichels Corporation, which supports youth education, missions, and families inneed.

For More Information: https://richbychoicebook.com/

A Gallup survey released earlier this year,indicates that only 35% of Americans retain confidence in the judicial system,representing a 24% decline over the past four years.

Confidence in the Supreme Court is sharply divided alongparty lines; Gallup reports that 71% of Republicans express trust in theinstitution, compared to just 24% of Democrats.

Christine E.Ohenewah provides insights at the intersection of law, human behavior, andmasculinity studies through her Men’s Rea™ framework, which makes complexconcepts of identity, masculinity, and personal empowerment both accessible andengaging. Ms. Ohenewah, an accomplished Lawyer, Humanist, and Professor,integrates law, social sciences, and humanities with a focus on personalevolution. Originally from Accra, Ghana, she has dedicated herself tointellectual inquiry as a means of advancing personhood.

Ms. Ohenewah's academic credentials include a Juris Doctorfrom Cornell Law School and advanced degrees in Sociology and InternationalRelations from Columbia University and the University of Chicago. She alsoholds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and American Studies fromMacalester College and has pursued studies in Pan-African philosophy at Oxfordand Harvard.

After beginning her career in white-collar criminal defenseat a major law firm in New York City, Ms. Ohenewah transitioned to academia,where she now teaches courses in Criminology, Sociology, and Ethics. She isdevoted to creating environments that empower students who often feelmarginalized to reclaim their agency. Her students frequently describe her as atransformative educator who encourages honesty and challenges conventionalthought.

In 2025, Ms. Ohenewah established the Elizabeth TweneboahFoundation, initiating efforts to found a university focused on intimate,rigorous, and liberatory education. Her pedagogical approach combines Socraticdialogue, legal reasoning, and reflective practice to foster intellectualinnovation and transformation.

For Professor Ohenewah, building an academy grounded intruth and humanistic advancement is her life’s work—an institution designed towelcome new creators and inspire personal growth.

For additional information, visit https://www.etfny.org/

LinkedIn: @ChristineE.Ohenewah

Entrepreneurial clarity is a deep, focused understanding ofyour business's "why" (purpose), "what" (vision, goals, offerings),and "how" (strategy, actions), leading to aligned decisions,confident execution, and consistent growth, moving beyond confusion topurposeful direction and impact. It's the difference between feeling lost andhaving a clear roadmap for success, involving self-awareness, strategicplanning, and the ability to articulate a compelling narrative for yourself andyour customers.

Meanwhile, according to LinkedIn, 53% of CEOs reportthat strategy development is their number one priority. 71% of thedifference between high and low performing organizations can beattributed to CEO strategic clarity and cultural alignment.

Adam Smith is a Director at A-Game Consultancy, where he focuseson High-performance coaching for founders and Business Owners. Transformingtheir mindset, health, and relationships to improve performance in business andfulfillment at home.

 Founders hire him to fixtheir habits and upgrade their mindset to increase their profits, create morefreedom, and be more present at home.  Hejoined me this week to tell me more.

For more information: https://agameconsultancy.com/

LinkedIn: @AdamSmith

Follow: @A-GameConsultancy

  A significant percentage of elite athletes areaffected by psychological factors, with studies finding rates of mental healthissues like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders ranging fromabout 19% to over 40%, depending on the specific population and mentalhealth category. Factors such as performance pressure, stress, burnout, andlife events can contribute to these psychological impacts, which are present inelite sports across various cultures and levels, according to the NationalInstitute of Health. 

Dr. Alex Auerbach, Ph.D., is a performance psychologistcurrently working as an executive in professional sports. He currently servesas a Performance psychologist for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with the best athletes in theworld in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and Olympians, as well as high-performers in otherdomains like elite military units, Fortune 5 companies, and venture-backedstart-ups. I am also a father to 2 wonderful daughters, husband to a greatwife, dog owner, enjoyer of sunshine, and a former high-level football coach.Currently serving clients throughout the Tucson, Arizona metropolitan area,including Oro Valley, Casas Adobes, and Catalina Foothills areas. “   I've seen first-hand what it takes tocompete consistently at the highest level. When your family and team depend onyou to deliver, you need high-performance mindset skills to be your best whenit matters most.
‍
I have worked for over a decade at the highest levels of sports, including inthe NBA and NFL.

Now, I'm leveraging the science-backed, field-tested strategies I have used tohelp pro athletes be their best to help founders and CXOs raise their game anddeliver consistently.

For more information: https://www.alexauerbach.com/

Employee Engagement on the Brink In 2024, the globalpercentage of engaged employees fell from 23% to 21%. Engagement has only losttwice in the past 12 years, in 2020 and 2024. Last year's two-point drop inengagement was equal to the decline during the year of COVID-19 lockdowns andshelter-in-place orders.  According to the latest State of the GlobalWorkplace 2025 report, released by Gallup.

$9.6 trillion in productivity could be added to theeconomy if the global workforce were fully engaged.

That would represent a 9% increase in global GDP. But ifleaders seize the moment, a productivity opportunity awaits. In fact, someorganizations are already enjoying the benefits of a highly engaged workforce.Manager engagement is the key to reversing declining productivity, improvingemployee well-being, and unlocking trillions in economic potential.

As Founder of HEARTnomics, Hanna Bauer equips top teams with actionablestrategies to build cultures of resilience and clarity. She is among just 20global Faculty Members for Maxwell Leadership, travelling internationally totrain executive teams in leadership that connects people and performance.Hanna's career includes being a former CEO who led her company toGovernor-recognized success, as well as blazing a trail as the first woman to chairthe Board of Ser Familia.

Her work resonates with thousands of leaders andprofessionals online, but Hanna's approach remains incredibly genuine anddown-to-earth. Her speaking style is engaging, relatable, and deeply rooted inpersonal experience and decades of cross-industry leadership.

Implementation Excellence

It’s about having the solutions and knowing how tointegrate the right solutions successfully. Executed with love, you can learnhow excellence becomes vital for delivering quality services that fostercustomer retention and acquisition.

 She joined me thisweek to tell me more.

For more information: https://heartnomics.com/

Follow: @HannaBauer

**Habitat for Humanity Canada/Leger Poll (August–September2024):** A recent poll found that 70% of Canadians believe that owning a homehas become impossible.

**Statistics Canada (August–September 2024):** The CanadianSocial Survey revealed that nearly half (45%) of Canadians are very concernedabout housing affordability due to rising costs. This concern is even moresignificant among young adults aged 20 to 35, with 59% expressing high levelsof worry.

Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a nationalcharity made up of local Habitat organizations operating in every province andthe North. Through innovative home construction, repairs, financing, skillstraining, and advocacy, they unite people to build homes, communities, andhope. Habitat for Humanity Canada is a member of Habitat for HumanityInternational, a leading global non-profit organization working in over 70countries.

Pedro Barata is the President and CEO of Habitat forHumanity Canada. He is a passionate and values-driven leader with two decadesof experience in fostering multi-sector collaborations to create solutions forcommunities. Before joining Habitat in 2024, Pedro served as the executivedirector of the Future Skills Centre, where he led the establishment of anational research impact center and launched various multi-sector innovationpilots across Canada.

Barata  joined me thisweek to discuss how Habitat for Humanity Canada is addressing the homeowneraffordability crisis and working to provide more Canadians with safe, decent,and affordable places to call home.

For more information, visit:[habitat.ca/en](https://habitat.ca/en) 

Follow us on social media: @habitatcanada

A significant majority of business owners and marketers seedigital marketing as a key growth driver, with studies showing over 60% (e.g.,61% in one report) finding improvements in effectiveness and ROI, citingbenefits like increased exposure (83%), traffic (73%), and leads (65%), withemail marketing and SEO often highlighted as top performers for driving revenueand qualified leads. Businesses with higher digital maturity are significantlymore likely to see strong sales growth, confirming digital marketing's impacton growth, reports Business.com

Garrett Hammonds is a partner at Hammonds Media andMarketing, where he leads digital marketing, sales, and business development.He’s managed ad budgets of over $16 million a year and helped businessesgenerate more than $100 million in revenue. With expertise in digital ads, SEO,and growth strategy, Garrett specializes in helping even the most nicheindustries scale through digital marketing.

Garrett Hammonds is not your typical marketer. He didn’tstart with a business degree or a plan to run an agency. In fact, his earlypath was toward teaching high school speech and debate after becoming anationally ranked college debater. Yet what began as “Garrett’s young, he cando social media” at his first job turned into a career helpingorganizations—from nonprofits to SaaS companies to Fortune 500 partners—growthrough digital marketing.

Under his leadership, HMM was the only Oklahoma agencyselected to attend Google’s first-ever Search Central Live conference in NewYork City in 2025, and the agency has also been recognized by Clutch as one ofthe top digital marketing agencies in Oklahoma.  He joined me this week to tell me more.

-

For more information: https://www.hmm.agency/

Email: garrett@hmm.agency

 LinkedIn: @GarrettHammonds

96% Agree on its Importance:** A global study conducted byHarvard Business Review Analytic Services in 2024 found that 96% of respondentsbelieve creative ideas are essential for a company's long-term success. MostMarketers Emphasize Creative Quality:

 An August 2025 surveyby Marketing Week revealed that 80% of brand-side marketers consider creativequality to be a key factor in the overall effectiveness of a campaign. AmongSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), which include many entrepreneurialbusinesses, two-thirds (65.4%) share this perspective.

Dennis Meador is the CEO and Founder of The Legal PodcastNetwork (LPN). He helps professional business owners and service providers,such as attorneys, doctors, consultants, and firm owners, establish theirmarket authority to attract their ideal clients. With 30 years of business andmarketing experience—two of which focus specifically on the legal andwhite-collar sectors—he simplifies the process for professionals to buildlasting authority through podcasting, content creation, and effective strategies.He joined me this week to share more insights.

For more information, visit: [The Legal PodcastNetwork](https://www.thelegalpodcastnetwork.com/)

Discover more: [DM onDemand](https://www.dmondemand.expert/)

Connect on LinkedIn: @@DennisMeador

Public perception: A 2025 Gallup poll indicated that only35% of Americans are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education, marking arecord low. Additionally, one in five respondents believes that schools are"excellent" or "good" at preparing students for today’s jobmarket.

Student performance: According to a National Center forEducation Statistics (NCES) survey, it is estimated that 32% of public-schoolstudents were behind grade level in at least one academic subject during the2023–24 school year.

Jeff McCoy helps K-12 senior leaders and innovative solutionproviders transform educational systems and co-design better solutions forstudents through strategic research and development, thought leadership, andreal-world district partnerships. As the Chief Education Officer for theEducation Research & Development Institute (ERDI), he plays a vital role incollaborating with educational leaders and innovators.

ERDI is the premier provider of unique research anddevelopment opportunities for companies designing products and services tosupport pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade education. At ERDI, they strive tocreate a rich and meaningful forum for collaboration, allowing educationalleaders and innovators to discuss, design, and shape PK-12 products andservices. They are dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to thehighest quality learning experiences, preparing them to be productive stewardsof the future.

McCoy joined me this week to discuss how we can worktogether to improve the quality of education in America and how strategicresearch and development, along with thought leadership, can serve as acatalyst for these efforts.

LinkedIn: @JeffMcCoy

Grief and gratitude can coexist, providing a powerfulfoundation for personal transformation and healing. By embracing gratitudeduring your grief journey, you can cultivate resilience, discover meaning andpurpose in your experiences, and ultimately achieve greater peace, acceptance,and growth. Over half of Americans will experience a major loss within threeyears, with grief affecting a vast number of people annually due to the highincidence of deaths and other losses. For instance, in a single year, 2.5million Americans die, leaving behind at least 12.5 million grieving lovedones. Additionally, a study indicated that about one in three Americansexperienced a serious illness, the death of a loved one, or the death of a petin the year before the survey, as reported by USATODAY.

Amanda Landes is a licensed psychologist with experience inboth private practice and forensic settings.

“I believe I offer a unique perspective based on my personaland professional experiences. I am dedicated to understanding human behaviorthrough hard work and empathy, viewing both aspects as essential to helpothers. I am humble, quirky, and don’t take myself too seriously, which manyfind makes me approachable and easy to converse with. I enjoy discussing humanbehavior in a lighthearted and relatable way, often using metaphors or TV showreferences to illustrate my points.

Recently, I published my first book, I'm Almost Okay. Thebook chronicles my experiences managing my father's cancer diagnosis andultimate death, as well as the other difficult co-occurring events in my lifeat that time. I combine personal and professional insights to offer guidance toreaders about coping with grief, gratitude, and interpersonal connection.”

Follow me on Instagram: @amandaelandes 

Get my book: [I'm Almost Okay: NavigatingMiscarriage](https://www.amazon.ca/Im-Almost-Okay-Navigating-Miscarriage/dp/B0FXDFTSWB) 

Email: Amanda@imalmostok.com

Inclusive acceptance is the practice of actively embracingand welcoming individuals from all backgrounds, ensuring they feel respected,valued, and a sense of belonging. It goes beyond mere tolerance, aiming toprovide equal opportunities for everyone to fully participate, regardless ofdifferences such as race, gender, disability, or other identities. Thiscommitment involves understanding diverse perspectives, removing barriers, andaccommodating various needs.

Scott Martin is an award-winning soccer coach, educator, andadvocate for the disability community. He holds an advanced national coachinglicense and has over 30 years of experience coaching at the select youth, highschool, and college levels. He has received the Coach of the Year honors fourtimes and has led multiple teams to state championships. His expertise hasconnected him with top coaches both in the U.S. and internationally.

Beyond the soccer field, Martin is a dedicated educator inWisconsin and the host of the "Life's a Road Trip" podcast, where heshares stories of resilience and disability advocacy. After surviving alife-threatening illness that resulted in the loss of his hands and feet, hehas become a powerful voice for amputee abilities and advancements inprosthetics. His contributions to research at the University of Washington andJohns Hopkins University have helped shape innovations in this field.

Recognized for his advocacy work, Martin serves as a GlobalAdvisor for Billion Strong, a worldwide disability organization. His inspiringjourney has been featured in "Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power ofPositive," and he is the author of "Play From Your Heart"(Library Tales Publishing), a memoir that chronicles his remarkable journey ofperseverance, reinvention, and the unwavering spirit that has guided himforward.

For more information, visit: https://librarytalespublishing.com/collections/scott-martin 

According to the National Institutes of Health,approximately 61% of children with autism exhibit behavioral or conductproblems, based on a large study. However, the prevalence of these behavioralissues can vary significantly depending on the definitions used, with estimatesfor specific aggressive behaviors ranging from 8% to over 68%.

Jake Edgar is a Special Education Director and Advisor whohas dedicated his career to empowering children and adolescents withdisabilities and supporting the families who care for them. He has alwaysfollowed his passion for helping young people reach their full potential.Currently, he serves as the Director of Education at Springbrook AutismBehavioral Health, a residential program that provides specialized care forchildren and teens who are autistic and also face behavioral or emotionalchallenges.

Jake is also the founder of the Carolina Special EducationAdvocacy Group, where he works directly with parents and families to navigatethe Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. He helps them understandtheir rights, develop effective plans, and gain the confidence to advocate fortheir children’s educational needs. In addition, Jake hosts the All Abilities,No Filter podcast, which features real, unfiltered conversations aboutdisability, inclusion, and education. Each episode includes voices fromparents, professionals, and self-advocates, all working toward a common goal:building a more understanding and inclusive world.

His passion has always centered on helping children andadolescents with disabilities reach their fullest potential. Over the years,Jake has had the privilege of working across a wide range of educationalsettings—from self-contained classrooms to public school inclusionenvironments, and now in residential care. Each experience has deepened hisunderstanding of the diverse needs, strengths, and stories within the specialeducation community.

For more information, visit: [All Abilities, NoFilter](https://www.allabilitiesnofilter.com/) 

Discover more at: [Springbrook Autism BehavioralHealth](https://springbrookbehavioral.com/)

As of February 2025, more than 68 million Americans arerecipients of Social Security benefits. Recognized as the largest anti-povertyinitiative in the nation, Social Security lifted 27.6 million individuals outof poverty in 2023, according to data from the Center on Budget and PolicyPriorities.

A 2024 survey conducted by the American PsychologicalAssociation indicated that most U.S. adults consider societal division to be asignificant source of stress.

Clarence H. Carter offers a unique perspective on issuesrelated to poverty, governmental innovation, and systemic transformation,drawing upon over three decades of leadership within major safety net agenciesacross the United States. His experience spans service under two presidents,four governors, and a mayor. As Commissioner of the Tennessee Department ofHuman Services, Carter oversees a $3 billion agency that serves vulnerablecommunities in all 95 counties. Notably, his expertise centers on re-evaluatingthe role of government assistance programs. He has implemented sustainablereforms such as transitioning Washington D.C.’s homeless shelter system towardpermanent housing solutions and administering the $16.5 billion federal TANFprogram.  Carter is also the founder ofthe Institute for the Improvement of the Human Condition and frequentlyprovides testimony before Congress. As a Fellow of the National Academy ofPublic Administration, he shares candid insights regarding effectivestrategies, identified challenges, and reasons traditional safety nets can beinsufficient.

Find out more:

https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/dhs-commissioner.html

Get the Book:

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