In this episode, Anthony Craiker talks with Dr. Danny Brassell—a former teacher turned international speaker and author—about how to make reading meaningful, fun, and transformative at any age. Known for his humor and down-to-earth storytelling, Danny shares practical tips for parents who want to raise engaged readers, strategies to help kids and adults alike fall in love with books, and the surprising ways reading builds communication skills and personal growth.

They also discuss the power of stories in business and everyday life, how technology can help our reading habits, and why building a reading culture at home matters more than ever. Whether you're a parent looking for actionable reading strategies, an educator seeking fresh ideas, or anyone wanting to become a more thoughtful, effective communicator, this episode will leave you inspired to see reading in a whole new light.

Danny also offers a free storytelling guide to help listeners craft more compelling presentations and connect more powerfully with any audience.

About Danny Brassell:

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.

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Connect with Danny: LinkedIn, X,  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube

Get Danny's free "Storytelling Blueprint: 5 Steps to Craft a Compelling Business Narrative" here: http://freestoryguide.com/

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If you're ready to transform your work and life in a way that feels sustainable and meaningful, this episode is for you. Anthony Craiker talks with Hilda Fainsod, transformational and executive coach and author of Power Up, about the real barriers that hold us back—our own inner saboteurs—and how to overcome them with self-awareness, reframing, and daily practice. Hilda shares her Four-Step Breakthrough Model to help you clarify what truly matters, create lasting habits without overwhelm, and build the identity you want. You'll hear practical strategies for resisting perfectionism, taming fear of change, and making tiny 1% improvements that lead to big results over time. If you're looking for personal development strategies, leadership coaching insights, or ways to create a more purpose-driven life, don’t miss this inspiring and actionable conversation.

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About Hilda Fainsod:

Hilda Fainsod is a catalyst for personal and professional growth, striving to empower individuals and organizations to unlock performance and happiness.

Specializing in Mastermind, Mental Fitness, and Coaching, Hilda holds ten international certifications that validate her expertise in working with senior executives, their teams, and organizations for two decades.

Fainsod has been a trusted partner on leaders' transformative journeys. Her commitment lies in supporting those who invest in their growth and change, ensuring their choices and actions are amplified.

As a leadership podcaster and author of "Buen Camino,” Hilda challenges individuals to embrace change and reach their next level.

When she's not immersed in her work, you can find her exploring new destinations, taking leisurely walks, engaging in meaningful conversations, cherishing time with her family, and enjoying life.

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Connect with Hilda: LinkedIn, X,  Instagram

Click the link below to download the 30-day challenge to begin your personal or professional transformation and to join a community to share concerns and possibilities:

http://www.hildafainsod.com/

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If you’re in a season where your work no longer feels meaningful—or you sense your life is out of alignment with who you really are—this episode will help you reconnect with what matters most. Executive coach and strategist Daphne Valcin shares how to craft a personal mission statement that’s not just inspirational, but actionable. She walks us through a values-based approach to leadership, time management, and career clarity—perfect for mid-career professionals seeking more purpose, better work-life balance, and deeper connection at home and in the workplace. You’ll hear stories of transformation, practical tools for measuring success beyond titles and income, and a fresh take on how your values shape every relationship you have. Don’t miss this powerful roadmap to creating a purpose-driven life, one aligned decision at a time. 

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About Daphne Valcin:

Daphne Valcin is a first-generation American, born to two Haitian immigrants in a Miami neighborhood that was experiencing an increase in drugs and violence. However, using some of the same strategies that she now shares with individuals and organizations, she has committed her life to overcoming obstacles and embracing opportunity and success. Daphne Valcin is now a certified professional coach, professional speaker, and corporate trainer focusing on career advancement and business growth who has been featured in Forbes.com and Voyage Magazine as a result of her work.

Daphne has coached over 400 clients across 4 countries since starting Daphne Valcin Coaching in 2014. A number of business coaching clients who have worked with her have tripled their revenue, 10x'd their revenue, or grown 6-figure or multiple 6-figure businesses. Her career and executive coaching clients include clients representing Fortune 50 and Fortune 500 companies including UnitedHealthcare, Lockheed Martin Corporation, UPS, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. along with leaders within organizations committed to social change including Higher Achievement, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and KIPP Public Charter Schools.

She resides right outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two little girls, and looks forward to continuing to make an impact through her work!

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Connect with Daphne: LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Instagram

https://www.daphnevalcin.com/

Schedule a free 15-minute discovery call with Daphne: https://calendly.com/daphnevalcin/15mindiscoverycall

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Discover how to grow into the kind of leader people trust and remember in this inspiring conversation with Dr. Andy Neillie. Anthony and Andy break down the four leadership necessities — conviction, competence, character, and covenant — and reveal how these principles can help you lead with integrity, build stronger teams, and find deeper purpose in your work and life. If you’re navigating mid-career growth, managing people, or simply striving for more meaningful work and authentic leadership, this episode offers practical insights to guide your journey. Tune in to learn how to lead yourself first, handle hard conversations, and make your workplace better for everyone who’s part of it.

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About Dr. Andy Neillie:

Business owner, best-selling leadership author, and award-winning speaker, Andy Neillie knows what it takes to become a high-performing leader. Speaking, training and leading teams have characterized the past 20 years of Andy's career. In addition to owning a $3M local retail business, he currently serves as a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, coach and consultant, presenting workshops on leadership topics for numerous Fortune 500 firms as well as small and mid-sized companies, trade groups and associations. By combining his background in management and sales with strong speaking and training abilities, he is able to motivate clients and audiences to take actions that benefit them and their organizations.

Perhaps just as importantly, he's passionate about the personal side of leading well, and writes and speaks regularly about building trust as a leader. In addition to teaching leadership principles for Concordia University’s MBA program, he published his first book, The Golden Principles: Life and Leadership Lessons from a Rescued Dog, which uses simple lessons learned from a Golden Retriever about living well and leading well. In 2015, The Golden Principles was honored by Amazon.com with a “Top 100 Best Books of the Year” award. Clients hire Andy to help them develop their leaders because he is one: he owns several businesses, manages a team of key leaders and owns ultimate P&L responsibilities for several million dollars of annual revenues. He has managed an operational team as well as a sales team, and has spent more than fifteen years honing his craft as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator on all things pertaining to leadership.

Connect with Andy: LinkedIn, X, YouTube

Download: The Three Imperative Leadership Conversations

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You’re checking all the boxes—career, income, productivity—but something still feels off. In this episode, we explore resilience mapping, a powerful framework for realigning your work and life with what truly matters. Guest expert Genevieve Skory unpacks how to prepare for life’s inevitable challenges by grounding yourself in your core values—so you can face obstacles without losing your way. Whether you’re feeling burned out, disconnected from your purpose, or just stuck in a cycle of chasing the next achievement, this conversation will show you how to build sustainable success rooted in meaning, not just momentum. Learn how to bounce back stronger, enjoy the process, and create a more purpose-driven life—starting today. 

00:00 Introduction to Resilience
01:30 Meet Genevieve
01:49 Defining Resilience and Resilience Mapping
05:20 The Importance of Values in Resilience Mapping
06:31 Steps to Effective Resilience Mapping
12:06 The Role of Goal Setting and Daily Reflection
14:33 Real-Life Applications and Success Stories
25:23 Final Thoughts

Connect with Genevieve

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In this episode, Anthony Craiker sits down with Alan Lazaros, CEO and co-host of the Top 100 podcast Next Level University, to explore how adversity can fuel a purpose-driven life. Alan shares his journey from personal tragedy to professional success, offering career coaching insights on how to build resilience, create work-life balance, and align your skills with your calling. Whether you're seeking meaningful work, longing for deeper fulfillment, or simply tired of chasing success without purpose, this conversation will give you the tools and mindset shifts needed to achieve health, wealth, love, and a meaningful life.

00:00 Intro
00:36 Overcoming Adversity
11:25 Career Success & Financial Growth
13:04 Turning Point
17:02 Mentorship & Realizations
18:12 Balancing Fulfillment & Success
19:29 Aligning Skills with Market Needs
26:40 Journey of Friendship and Collaboration

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About Alan Lazaros:

At age 2, Alan's father passed away in a car accident. At age 26, after getting into a nearly fatal car accident himself, he questioned everything he was doing in life. He questioned who he was and the choices he was making. At an all-time low, he learned the hard way that external success is empty when it's not aligned with who we really are and who we really aspire to be. Filled with pain, regret, and confusion, Alan searched for answers and finally found what he'd been missing: Holistic Self-Improvement. After that, he dug DEEP into every podcast, course, Ted Talk, and book he could get his hands on.

This process not only transformed Alan and his entire life, but it also helped him muster the courage to trade in an unfulfilling career for a deeply meaningful calling he was proud to go ALL IN on. Today, Alan is grateful to lead a global team of 17 individuals as the Founder and CEO of Next Level University, a Global Top 100 Self-Improvement Podcast that helps people reach their own unique potential in more than 175 countries. As a Coach, Trainer, and Podcaster, Alan believes in a heart-driven but NO BS approach to achieving both external success AND internal fulfillment, helping others get to the Next Level of their life, love, health, and wealth.

Connect with Alan

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Check out Alan's business coaching: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/business-consulting/

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Feeling overwhelmed by change or stuck in grief? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay there. In this inspiring episode, Laura Bratton shares her powerful story of losing her sight as a child and learning to navigate life with grit, purpose, and deep gratitude. If you're struggling to move forward, searching for resilience, or craving meaning in the middle of life’s hardest moments, Laura’s journey will show you that healing and hope are possible—one choice at a time. 

00:00 Intro
01:11 Meet Laura Bratton
02:24 Childhood Diagnosis
06:26 Teenage Realization
10:52 College and Career
12:22 Grit and Gratitude
21:50 Developing Resilience
27:12  Final Thoughts

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About Laura Bratton:

At the age of nine, Laura was diagnosed with an eye disease and faced the difficult reality that she would become blind. Over the next ten years she experienced the traumatic transition of adjusting to life without sight. She is the author of the book, Harnessing Courage. Laura founded Ubi Global, which is an organization that provides speaking and coaching to empower all people to overcome challenges and obstacles with grit and gratitude.

Connect with Laura

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For More Info about Laura's speaking and coaching, check out: https://www.laurabratton.com/

Purchase Laura's book: Harnessing Courage: Overcoming Adversity with Grit and Gratitude

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Most people struggle to consistently prioritize their health, ending up discouraged over their perceived failures. In this episode, bestselling author and health coach, Esther Avant, teaches listeners how to better focus on their health through self-compassion and small, sustainable steps. She addresses common challenges such as overcoming perfectionism, struggling with consistency, dealing with stress eating, and finding motivation to exercise. Listeners will learn practical strategies to make lasting improvements that not only contribute to better health and wellbeing, but to a more meaningful life. 

00:00 Self-Compassion & Health
01:55 Esther's Journey in Health & Fitness
04:02 Importance of Health for a Meaningful Life
06:01 Common Obstacles to Health & Wellness
09:14 Consistency vs. Perfectionism
10:39 Strategies for Enjoying Exercise
18:46 Stress & Emotional Eating
23:15 Success Stories
26:21 Final Thoughts

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About Esther Avant:

Esther is a health industry veteran with 20 years of experience, passionately guiding busy people to break through the barriers to better health. In her 20s, despite being a personal trainer and nutrition coach, she wrestled with an all-or-nothing approach—swinging between strict diets, over-exercising, and overeating, pouring energy into her health without seeing the results she felt she deserved. That struggle taught her the value of consistency and balance, a middle ground she now lives daily, juggling a business, family, and health goals while prioritizing mental, physical, and emotional well-being over the scale.

Through her work, Esther shares practical tools and new ways of thinking to help audiences focus on what matters, lean on those who can help, and take compassionate ownership of the process. Her audiences leave empowered and motivated to build sustainable habits that enhance every part of life. Esther is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, co-owner of MADE By ME Coaching, author of the bestselling book To Your Health: A Lifestyle of Health, Happiness, and Confidence, and host of the To Your Health podcast.

Connect with Esther

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Check out Esther's podcast: To Your Health

https://estheravant.com/

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In this episode of Fulfilling Work, Meaningful Life, host Anthony Craiker talks with Susan Hensley, a former HR executive and current executive coach, about the transformative and stress-reducing power of art journaling. Susan shares her personal journey of battling burnout during the pandemic and how adopting a creative practice helped her manage stress and find clarity in her life. The discussion delves into the science behind art journaling, the benefits of engaging the right brain through simple creative activities, and how creativity can help unlock rigid thought patterns, reduce stress, and enhance neuroplasticity. Susan also explains how anyone, regardless of artistic skill, can start art journaling and use other creative outlets to find purpose and joy. Listeners will learn practical insights about how to incorporate 10 minutes of playful creativity into their daily routines to achieve a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

00:00 Intro to Stress Reduction and Neuroplasticity
00:36 From Burnout to Creativity
01:52 Embracing Art Journaling
05:07 Understanding Art Journaling
13:07 The Science of Creativity and Stress Reduction
19:52 Susan's Book
26:08 Conclusion

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About Susan Hensley:

Susan Hensley is a transformational coach, speaker, and author dedicated to helping people navigate life’s transitions with joy, creativity, and resilience. With decades of experience as a corporate executive and leadership coach, Susan has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with major life changes. Drawing on her extensive background in HR, coaching, and journalism, Susan’s mission is to empower people to unlock their inner wisdom, creativity, and sense of play during times of uncertainty and change. Through workshops, speaking engagements, and one-on-one coaching, she guides clients to rediscover their authentic selves and infuse their lives with more color, meaning, and joy.

Connect with Susan:

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Check out https://susan-hensley.com/ to get your FREE downloadable PDF for quick tips to get started with art journaling, purchase Susan's book, Art for Your Sanity: How Art Journaling Can Help You Manage Chaos and Unleash Joy, and sign up for her online course. 

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In this week's episode of Fulfilling Work, Meaningful Life, host Anthony Craiker sits down with Lenny Richardson (aka Leviticus Rich). Lenny shares how his experience of getting kicked out of college and being unable to make rent led him to understand what it takes to create a flourishing life. Tapping into ancient wisdom, Lenny realized that one of the keys to having a productive and meaningful life is time management. This conversation will inspire you to pursue excellence and be intentional with your time in order to achieve your goals and flourish in life.

00:00 Introduction: Defining Your Future
00:46 Guest Introduction: Lenny Richardson's Journey
03:30 Lenny's College Struggles and Turning Point
10:45 Discovering Eudaimonia: The Path to a Flourishing Life
17:57 The Importance of Time Management
22:11 Practical Tips for Effective Time Management
28:29 Productivity Accelerator: Helping Others Succeed
31:55 Conclusion: Final Thoughts and Parting Wisdom

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About Lenny Richardson:

Lenny, also known as Leviticus Rich, is a dynamic force who has consistently shattered expectations and forged new paths. As one of the top podcasters in Northern Virginia, his show "Meeting VA" has become a platform for influential figures in the DMV area. In addition, Lenny is the head of business development at a leading medical laboratory franchise and the top productivity trainer in Northern VA, helping professionals unlock a "Better Lifestyle" through his comprehensive program, Productivity Accelerator. 

Lenny is also a published author and has been featured on numerous podcasts and publications. He is passionate about helping others achieve a better lifestyle through building what he refers to as the Pillars of Eudaimonia.

Connect with Lenny:

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Learn about Lenny's Productivity Accelerator here.

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https://fulfillingworkmeaningfullife.com/