Abstract Essay

Kristin Kurtz

LIFE Coach, Spiritual Midwife & Voice Activator for Faith-Filled Women

Kristin Kurtz is an author, life coach, and spiritual midwife, and the founder of New Wings Coaching and host of the Hope Unlocked podcast. She works with women leaders, entrepreneurs, and ministry builders at pivotal moments...helping them unlock identity, activate their voice, and make bold, faith-aligned decisions that accelerate clarity, confidence, and impact.

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Aaron Ryan

Highly enthusiastic, prolific, bestselling & award-winning author/speaker with a ton of heart, whose stories blend the best of science fiction with the best of humanity through 41 books and counting.

I'm a bestselling and award-winning author as well as a longtime speaker and panelist who would be delighted to appear in more interviews. I'm regularly interviewed and show up well. I've written and published 41 books. One of them has been adapted for the screen and is currently being pitched to major streaming networks - I'm tremendously excited! I had two others adapted as well, and they have won entrance into multiple film festivals, garnering several awards thus far.

I just released a YA dystopian dark fantasy / paranormal thriller, the middle chapter in a new sci-fi reluctant hero vigilante series, and a nonfiction book on being a daddy.

I'm also a voiceover artist and narrate my own audiobooks, but AI (and other factors) is eroding my voiceover career, so I have adapting and am overcoming adversity by returning to authoring. All of my life I've been a storyteller, and I love to tell stories! Both of my careers fit me like a glove, and I love talking about both, but in particular, authoring, as well as self-publishing, creative ways to market, the threats of AI to creatives, and more.

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Nick Montalbine

Founder & CEO at Inner Voice Analytics

Nick Montalbine is founder of Inner Voice Analytics, the consultancy leaders call when something feels off, but the data says everything's fine. His team helps organizations catch the truth beneath the surface, using continuous listening and behavioral analytics to spot cultural cracks before they spread.

Through his work, Nick helps leaders tune in to what's really happening beneath the surface, catching disengagement early, and shifting culture before it breaks. His method combines behavioral science and AI-driven listening to build workplaces where people feel seen, heard, and energized to stay. His work doesn't just reduce attrition, it increases the odds of successful change.

He's spent over 20 years driving transformation inside Fortune 100s, deploying strategy, scaling culture, and leading ops across Nike, healthcare, finance, and retail. (Yes, he's a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma. Yes, that's a real thing.)

At Nike, he led HR strategy for global retail and digital teams, supporting 70,000+ employees. At Legacy Health, he leveraged continuous employee listening to guide large-scale organizational change, surfacing hidden risks early and boosting adoption across two major hospital systems. In one effort, his work engaged over 300 clinicians and uncovered cultural cracks that traditional approaches were missing entirely.

Nick's the person leaders call when performance is dipping, trust is fraying, or culture's quietly cracking beneath the surface. Whether it's early warning signs or full-blown cultural combustion, he helps leaders steady the ship and rebuild what matters.

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Sheila Butler

Founder & Chief Marketing Officer using my superpowers of branding, loyalty & marketing strategy for clients. Will work for bourbon.

Sheila is a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) with 25+ years experience in brand development & transformation, global loyalty program management, loyalty strategy, loyalty marketing, partnership marketing, business development, CRM, and integrated marketing across B2C & B2B at Disney, JPMorgan Chase, Choice Hotels, and Axiom Bank.

From tech start-ups to Fortune 100 companies in hospitality and financial services industries, Sheila has a demonstrated ability to lead marketing organizations, acquire new customers, deepen customer engagement, evolve brands, and drive loyalty and retention through consumer insights, customer relationship management (CRM), and strategic partnerships. Partners/clients have included Disney, IHG, Starbucks, Visa, Bluegreen Vacations, AMResorts, Penn National Gaming, World Travel Holdings, and more.

She has a passion for great brands and tackling complex marketing challenges and new initiatives in creative environments. She has a Bachelor of Science in Music and Business/Arts Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington and a Master of Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

When Sheila is not working, she enjoys traveling, trying bourbon cocktails & new restaurants, great food & wine, and watching Disney fireworks from her house.

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Carilyn Marrero

From Paycheck-to-Paycheck to Financial Freedom Financial Strategist Helping Working Professionals Escape Debt, Invest Confidently, and Build Generational Wealth

Carilyn Marrero is a financial freedom strategist and entrepreneur who went from living paycheck-to-paycheck to building lasting wealth after immigrating to the United States. After experiencing financial pressure, debt, and starting over from scratch, she became determined to understand how money truly works.

Today, she teaches working professionals how to escape the earn–spend cycle, eliminate debt strategically, invest with confidence, and build generational wealth through her Método LIBRE™ framework.

Carilyn is on a mission to help millions transform hard work into financial freedom without burnout, shame, or confusion.

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Bilal Ahmed

Interventional cardiologist. Founder of Lylah Health. Bringing science to the supplement space (Reset your gut - Upgrade your heart health). Internal/external mantra is no bullshit, ever.

Dr. Ahmed is an interventional/structural cardiologist and co-founder and CSO of Lylah Health, the personalized microbiome therapeutics company.

Lylah Health is a gut microbiome solution that combines prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics targeted at heart health and risk factors for heart disease.

He's a doctor first and entrepreneur second. His mantra is "no bullshit, ever.

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Jeff Niebuhr

Executive leadership at the intersection of AI, operations, and change.

I've spent my career leading large, complex technology and delivery organizations through periods of significant change — from modernization and scale to restructuring and execution under real-world constraints.

I've led global teams of hundreds, delivered mission-critical platforms, and operated at the intersection of strategy and execution where plans either work in practice or fail quickly. Much of my experience comes from roles where transformation wasn't optional and outcomes mattered — to customers, teams, and the business.

On podcasts, I bring a pragmatic, operator's perspective on executive leadership, organizational change, and what it actually takes to deliver at scale inside real enterprises — beyond theory, buzzwords, or hindsight storytelling.

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Elyse Seal

A book coach who helps authors stop stalling and start writing

I am a fiction book coach who helps authors get unstuck and finish their novels without spending years rewriting the same draft.

With five years of experience and training by Author Accelerator, I specialize in working with sci-fi and fantasy authors who are overwhelmed by their own stories and unsure how to move forward. I help writers build solid story foundations before they write, so their first drafts are stronger and less painful. And when authors are stuck in revision, I coach them through editing in layers, tackling big-picture problems first, then scenes, then language, so they can finish faster without the overwhelm.

My approach is candid and collaborative. I challenge authors to go deeper, then brainstorm with them on how to get there. I don't just fix manuscripts; I help writers identify the patterns and blocks that keep them stuck, so they finish not just this book, but every book after. Authors hire me for clarity, accountability, and expert feedback, someone who understands their vision and can guide them step-by-step to the finish line.

I believe writing doesn't have to take years. With the right framework, diagnostic tools, and support, authors can finish strong and enjoy the process again.

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Tamara Fyke

A Creator & Connector who fosters hope & healing through art, music, storytelling & community.

Tamara is a Creator & Connector with an undeniable gift for inviting others into Community. She focuses on fostering hope, community, and belonging through art and teaching, inspiring a joy that transforms hearts and mindsets.

Tamara is a creative entrepreneur passionate about kids, families, and communities. Through her work as the founder of Love In A Big World, her impact is evident across the US and beyond. With a Master's degree in education from Vanderbilt University, she has devoted over thirty years of service as an educator and program developer. As a seasoned leader of both nonprofit and for-profit businesses, she models community support and engagement. With an unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in the world, she has persevered through life's ups and downs. Through her writings, songs, and paintings, she shares her story of finding her voice. Her healing journey inspires others to seek wholeness.

Tamara lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and is the proud mother of three adopted adult children.

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Abstract Essay, now in its sixth season, features Camilo Rodriguez as a special guest in a thoughtful and intellectually engaging conversation that explores the deeper layers of ideas, personal insight, and the evolving landscape of human understanding. In this episode, we move beyond surface-level discussion and dive into the power of reflection, examining how experiences, perspective, and curiosity shape the way individuals interpret the world around them. Camilo Rodriguez brings a unique voice to the dialogue, sharing reflections on growth, purpose, and the importance of developing a mindset that embraces both critical thinking and creative exploration. Throughout the conversation, listeners are invited to consider how abstract ideas influence everyday life, from the way we approach challenges to how we define meaning and fulfillment in an increasingly complex world. By connecting philosophy, personal experience, and modern realities, this episode of Abstract Essay offers a compelling exploration of thought and perspective, encouraging audiences to slow down, think deeply, and rediscover the value of meaningful conversation in an age often dominated by noise and distraction.

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