Abstract Essay

Doug Fleener

Doug Fleener — Author of Start With What If: Weekly Questions to Spark Immediate Change and Growth

Doug Fleener is the author of the upcoming book Start With What If: Weekly Questions to Spark Immediate Change and Growth, releasing January 6, 2026.

He's a coach and speaker who helps people reframe challenges and create better perspectives and options through his simple framework called The What If Rule.

Drawing on his own journey from addiction and the bankruptcy of a family business to becoming the Director of Retail for Bose Corporation and later a CEO, Doug shares real-world stories and practical insights that help people grow at home, at work, and in life — one intentional action and What If question at a time.

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Kern Carter

Novelist and Entrepreneur making a living with words.

I'm living a dream.

I told myself at 8 years old that I would be a novelist and that is exactly the life I'm living today. That said, it took a lot to get here.

I dropped out of high school at 18 when I became a father. But I believed so much in the power of education that I found a way to earn my final credit then accepted a full athletic scholarship to play basketball at a university in Upstate New York.

University is where I started writing my first novel in earnest. After self-publishing my first two books, I secured an agent and signed my first publishing deal in 2021, then two more in 2022 with Penguin and Scholastic. I currently have multiple publishing contracts.

I also have a thriving creative business that includes Film Production (one of my films is on Amazon Prime Video), Ghostwriting, and building platforms for emerging writing and creative talent.

My story is all about perseverance and strategy. I didn't get here by accident. I planned each step of my journey with precision and now I'm living the live I've always dreamed of.

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Jenny Hornby

Licensed Professional Counselor and children's book author. Trained in EMDR and play therapy. Passionate about bringing connection and compassion into our relationships with ourselves and others.

Jenny Hornby is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Tidewater, Virginia. She has been working with families for over 15 years to restore connection and heal broken relationships. She wrote the children's book Made For This which utilizes a playful approach of story telling to help families discuss big feelings in a playful way. She is married to her best friend, Ben. She is a mother to two sons, Nathan and Jack. She loves indoor cycling, yoga, watercolor and coffee dates in her free time.

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Joseph Lenard

Author, Blogger, Cancer Survivor, former IT guy, Podcaster, SocialMedia guru (on 15+ platforms), Speaker, Vlogger, more...

Greetings, how many times does a guest present choices/options? Well I can/do!

I am Author of "TERROR STRIKES: COMING SOON TO A CITY NEAR YOU" (Apr 2022) Historical-Fiction (aka: FACTion) and #1 Amazon Bestseller (https://TerrorStrikes.info/bestseller); "HOW TO WRITE A BOOK AND GET IT PUBLISHED: HINTS, TIPS & TECHNIQUES;" "CHRISTITUTIONALIST (TM) POLITICS" (CTP the book, corresponds w/ my podcast); "PODCASTING: QUICK-START GUIDE" (May 2024) and CTP2 (June 2024), "THE BOOK OF KENNEDY: PROJECT CARPE DIEM" (Christian book, Female lead, dropped Aug 2025), 8th Intl book CTP3 (dropped Sep. 2025). # 9 (also Sept. 2025) A SHORT STORY: A LASTING LEGACY? (though title a bit of a misnomer, as it is a novelette), as well as my 9th being 4th in the CTP series. # 10 IS ET REALLY HERE?: A REALLY SHORT STORY (Oct. 2025).

Been on Shows about: Cancer, ChristiTutionalist (TM)(term I coined and my podcast), Comedy/Jokes, Crime/Punishment, Entrepreneurship/Branding/Business, General Health, Information Tech., Mental Health (Anxiety, Depression, Suicide), Movies, Music, Sports, Paranormal, Podcasting (have own, CoHost another), Terrorism, Travel, UFOs/USOs/UAPs, Writing/Publishing. Some samples: https://TerrorStrikes.info/interviews as well as some IVY.FM has listed for me: https://ivy.fm/tag/joseph-m-lenard and https://www.podchaser.com/creators/joseph-m-lenard-107ten9NBc/appearances

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Zipporah Jarmon

Supporting BIPOC & Queer individuals by turning life's changes into opportunities for growth, clarity, and success.

Within Me Coaching is the brainchild of Zipporah Jarmon, a Black and Queer Chicagoan who practices virtually from Chicago, IL. Zipporah, an Advanced Certified Life Coach, brings expertise in empowerment, transition, and relational polyamory coaching to the heart of Within Me Coaching's practice. Zipporah firmly believes that you already have everything within you to thrive, and her role is to help you access it.

Within Me Coaching is dedicated to uplifting and supporting BIPOC and queer individuals as they navigate life's transitions with clarity, resilience, and self-confidence. In our personalized 1:1 coaching, you'll work closely with Zipporah to build self-trust, develop emotional tools, and create intentional pathways forward. Our group workshops, on the other hand, provide a supportive community where you can learn and grow alongside others who share your experiences.

Through Transition coaching, Within Me Coaching helps clients embrace planned and unexpected changes as opportunities for transformation and growth. Whether it's a career shift, identity transition, a recent diagnosis, or a life pivot, our goal is to support clients in building a solid foundation of clarity, stability, and choice, ensuring they feel secure and in control of their journey.

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Terry Whalin

Dedicated to the Craft of Writing

I've been in book publishing for decades and worked with hundreds of authors. Many of these authors have unrealistic expectations about what will happen when their book is published. Also much of the publishing process is outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 Publishing Myths to give authors realistic expectations and encouragement to take practical action steps to make their book a success.

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Adriana Vaccaro

CEO & Founder of Culture Redesigned | Author | Speaker | Leadership & Culture Development Expert

Adriana Vaccaro is the CEO and founder of Culture Redesigned, a firm dedicated to aligning human capital with business results through behavioral science data. An MBA and SHRM-SCP certified Culture Strategist, she helps business owners and leaders develop strong company cultures that enhance organizational identity, drive employee engagement, and deliver exceptional performance.

Adriana began her career focused on improving business processes, learning ISO, Six Sigma, Lean Enterprise, and Project Management. While successful in these areas, she realized that processes alone are not enough. Without the right people and culture, success is limited. She then explored human resources and talent acquisition, learning firsthand the challenges of attracting, training, and retaining top talent. These experiences led her to the insight that true organizational success comes from a culture that unites processes and people, turning values into actions.

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Skyler Fleming

Simplifying the Seemingly Complex World of Financial Planning for Young Adults | Host of Financial Planning for Young Adults

Skyler Fleming is a Financial Planner and Candidate for CFP® Certification whose mission is to help young adults like himself understand personal finance. His goal is to help everyone see that financial planning doesn't have to be complicated or only for the wealthy.

After hosting Money Talk for over 4 years and 200+ episodes, Skyler realized the opportunity that other young adults and young professionals have with their most valuable asset, time. But they're bombarded by terrible advice, predatory salespeople, and too much misinformation.

This led Skyler to launch Financial Planning for Young Adults and become the financial planner that young adults need to help them get set up on the right path.

What makes Skyler different? He's not your parents' financial advisor, giving theoretical advice from a distance. He's living these strategies in real-time with his own finances, seeing firsthand what works for young professionals navigating student loans, 401(k)s, and the temptation of lifestyle creep. He speaks the language of his generation because he is a part of it.

Skyler's superpower is making financial planning feel less like homework and more like a conversation with a trusted friend who genuinely wants to see you win. His audiences walk away feeling empowered and not overwhelmed

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Abstract Essay, now in its sixth season, features Victor Dacoma, a Strategic Financial and Wealth Planner who helps individuals build sustainable wealth with clarity, confidence, and intentional action. In this in-depth conversation, Victor breaks down the core principles of strategic financial planning, explaining how disciplined decision-making, long-term vision, and practical systems can replace confusion and financial anxiety with structure and momentum. He speaks directly to people who are ready to take ownership of their money—those who want more than quick wins and are committed to building real financial stability over time. Drawing from his professional experience, Victor explores how aligning values with financial strategy leads to smarter choices, greater confidence, and measurable progress. This episode offers a grounded, thoughtful discussion that equips listeners with the mindset and tools needed to move from uncertainty to clarity, and from intention to decisive, confident action.

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Abstract Essay, in its fifth season, features Maya Ackerman—AI pioneer, CEO, and professor—as a distinguished guest, bringing a rare blend of academic rigor, entrepreneurial leadership, and visionary insight into the evolving world of artificial intelligence. This episode explores the intersection of human creativity and machine intelligence, examining how AI is reshaping music, art, innovation, and decision-making in ways that challenge long-held assumptions. Drawing from her experience as both a researcher and industry leader, Maya Ackerman offers a thoughtful perspective on ethical responsibility, creative collaboration between humans and machines, and the future trajectory of intelligent systems. The conversation moves beyond hype to address substance, emphasizing how intentional design and human values must guide technological progress. Through this in-depth discussion, the episode invites listeners to reflect on AI not as a replacement for human ingenuity, but as a powerful tool that amplifies it when guided by wisdom, purpose, and accountability.

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