What happens when a young person notices the people everyone else seems to overlook—and decides to do something about it?

In this episode of Speak Feed Lead Conversations with Jackie Bailey, I sit down with Evaan Ahlawat, the young creator behind Now We See You, a meaningful initiative dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the school support staff who quietly make a difference every single day.

Evaan's journey began with a simple observation: many of the people who helped make his education possible were also people students often didn't really know.

Instead of simply noticing that, Evaan took action.

Through Now We See You, he interviews school support staff, listens to their stories, creates hand-drawn charcoal portraits in their honor, and uses art, storytelling, and technology to help make sure these often-unsung members of our school communities feel seen, valued, and appreciated.

During our conversation, Evaan and I talk about:

💙 The simple observation that inspired him to create Now We See You

🎨 How he combines art, storytelling, and technology to recognize the people working behind the scenes in our schools

🖤 Why hand-drawn charcoal portraits became one of his favorite ways to express gratitude

🤝 How young people can turn an idea into meaningful action within their communities

✨ Why gratitude becomes even more powerful when we choose to express it

We also explore how one small idea can grow into something much bigger—and why age should never determine whether someone is capable of creating meaningful change.

What I love about Evaan's story is that it reminds us that impact doesn't always begin with a huge plan. Sometimes, it begins by simply paying attention.

Who around us deserves to be seen?

Whose story hasn't been told?

And what can we do to let someone know that their work matters?

Evaan chose to answer those questions through his art and through Now We See You.

I hope you'll join us for this inspiring conversation about gratitude, creativity, youth leadership, storytelling, and the power of making people feel seen.

🎥 Premieres Friday, August 7 at 11:00 AM PT on YouTube

💙 Learn more about Evaan's work and Now We See You:

NowWeSeeYou.org

If this conversation inspires you, please like, comment, share, and subscribe. By sharing Evaan's story, you can help us continue celebrating young people who are using their voices, talents, and ideas to create positive change.

#SpeakFeedLead #JackieBailey #EvaanAhlawat #NowWeSeeYou #YouthLeadership #YouthEmpowerment #Gratitude #MakingADifference #YoungChangemakers #StudentLeadership #ArtWithPurpose #Storytelling #CommunityImpact #UnsungHeroes #Podcast

What if sharing your story could help someone else find hope?

In this heartfelt episode of In the Groove with Todd & Jackie, Jackie Bailey sits down with Kimberly Diaz, RN, Senior Care & Dementia Expert, for a compassionate conversation about caregiving, aging, dementia, and the courage to share our experiences so others know they are not alone.

Drawing from more than 26 years as a registered nurse and her work supporting seniors and their families, Kimberly shares practical guidance for navigating some of life's most challenging transitions with confidence, dignity, and compassion.

💙 Why your story has the power to encourage and comfort others

🧠 Understanding dementia with greater compassion and confidence

🏡 Navigating senior care and aging transitions with clarity

🤝 Supporting caregivers while honoring the dignity of loved ones

🌱 Practical strategies to help families feel more prepared and less alone

Whether you're caring for an aging parent, supporting a loved one living with dementia, working in healthcare, or simply preparing for the future, this conversation offers meaningful insights, hope, and practical guidance.

If this episode encourages you, please Like, Comment, and Subscribe to help us continue sharing conversations that educate, inspire, and make a difference.

Guest: Kimberly Diaz, RN

Senior Care & Dementia Expert

🌐 https://kimberlydiazrn.com/

Listen & Follow In the Groove with Todd & Jackie:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🎧 Amazon Music

🎧 iHeartRadio

🌐 Learn more about The Speak Feed Lead Project: https://speakfeedlead.org

#InTheGroovePodcast #KimberlyDiaz #SeniorCare #DementiaCare #Caregiving #HealthyAging #FamilyCaregiver #Podcast #TheSpeakFeedLeadProject

In this episode of In the Groove with Todd & Jackie, we're joined by Amanda Hinman, Hormone Health Expert and Founder of Hinman Holistic Health, for an insightful conversation about women's health, hormones, and what truly changes after 40.

For many women, healthy habits that once worked suddenly stop producing results. Fatigue, stubborn weight gain, brain fog, poor sleep, and low energy can feel frustrating—especially when you're doing everything "right." Amanda explains why these changes often have less to do with willpower and more to do with understanding the body's hormonal shifts.

During our conversation, we explore:

✨ Why your body changes after 40—and what your hormones may be trying to tell you

✨ Why discipline alone isn't always enough for lasting health results

✨ The connection between hormones, metabolism, energy, mood, and overall well-being

✨ Why addressing the root cause leads to more sustainable health outcomes

✨ Practical strategies to work with your body instead of against it

Amanda also shares her own health journey and how it inspired her mission to help women over 40 restore their energy, balance their hormones, and reclaim vibrant health through a personalized, holistic approach.

Whether you're experiencing hormonal changes yourself or simply want a deeper understanding of how hormones influence overall wellness, this episode offers practical insights and encouraging perspectives that can help you take the next step toward better health.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please Like, Comment, and Subscribe to help us continue sharing meaningful conversations with inspiring leaders, experts, and changemakers.

Learn more about Amanda Hinman:

🌿 Hinman Holistic Health: https://hinmanholistichealth.com

#InTheGroovePodcast #ToddAndJackie #AmandaHinman #HormoneHealth #Women'sHealth #HealthyAging #HormoneBalance #HolisticHealth #WellnessAfter40 #FunctionalHealth #HealthyLiving #Podcast

What if the life you desire isn't something you wait for—but something you intentionally create?

In this episode of In the Groove with Todd & Jackie, we welcome Irina Portnova, Manifestation Coach, Speaker, and Founder of Life Palette, for an inspiring conversation about manifestation, mindset, and living a life aligned with purpose.

Irina shares her personal journey of discovering the transformative power of manifestation and explains why true manifestation begins with inner alignment—not simply wishing for results. Drawing from her own experiences of navigating profound personal challenges, she reveals how life's greatest obstacles can become our greatest teachers.

Together, Todd, Jackie, and Irina explore how embracing change, overcoming limiting beliefs, and trusting life's journey can empower each of us to become the conscious creator of our own future.

✨ Irina's personal journey discovering the transformative power of manifestation

✨ Why true manifestation begins with inner alignment, not simply wishing for results

✨ How challenges become the doorway to purpose and personal transformation

✨ Practical ways to create a life filled with clarity, confidence, abundance, and authentic love

✨ Why we are always manifesting—and how to do it intentionally and with purpose

Whether you're seeking greater purpose, abundance, confidence, authentic love, or simply a fresh perspective on what's possible, this conversation offers meaningful insights to help you move forward with intention.

If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Comment, and Subscribe to support the show and help us continue sharing conversations that inspire, educate, and empower.

Irina Portnova is a Manifestation Coach, Speaker, and Founder of Life Palette. Through her work, she helps people reconnect with their inner power and intentionally create lives they truly love through manifestation, mindset, and aligned action.

🌐 Learn more: https://lifepalette.com

🎙 In the Groove with Todd & Jackie features meaningful conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are making a positive impact in the world. New episodes premiere every Friday.

What does it take to turn a dream into a life of purpose and service?

In this inspiring episode of In the Groove with Todd & Jackie, we welcome Mona Das—former Washington State Senator, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and changemaker—for a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, and creating lasting impact.

Mona shares the story behind her journey into public service, the lessons she learned while serving in the Washington State Senate, and the meaningful legislation she championed to help strengthen communities. She also reflects on how her mission has evolved beyond public office, using entrepreneurship, storytelling, and collaboration to continue empowering people and organizations to create positive change.

Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, aspiring public servant, or someone pursuing a purpose-driven life, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration to help you lead with courage, authenticity, and service.

✨ How one dream led to the Washington State Senate

💡 Leadership lessons from public service

🌍 How meaningful legislation can transform communities

❤️ Why great leadership always starts with people

🚀 How Mona continues creating positive change beyond public office

If this conversation inspires you, please like, subscribe, and share to help us reach more leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers around the world.

Mona Das is a former Washington State Senator, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and changemaker dedicated to helping people, empowering communities, and leading with purpose.

Learn more: https://www.monadas.com

🌐 Website: https://www.toddandjackie.com

🌐 The Speak Feed Lead Project: https://www.speakfeedlead.org

🎧 Listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and other major podcast platforms.

#Leadership #MonaDas #PublicService #Entrepreneurship #Changemaker #Legacy #LeadershipDevelopment #Podcast #InTheGroove #ToddAndJackie #PurposeDrivenLeadership #CommunityImpact #Storytelling #Inspiration

Why Great Speakers Are Trained—Not Born | Donna Riccardo on In the Groove with Todd & Jackie

What does it really take to become a confident, authentic speaker?

In this episode of In the Groove with Todd & Jackie, we're joined by Donna Riccardo, Founder of Red Stiletto – Get to the Point!™, public speaking trainer, speaker, and best-selling author. With more than 30 years of experience helping entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals communicate with confidence, Donna shares practical strategies that empower people to find their voice and speak with purpose.

Together, Todd, Jackie, and Donna explore:

✨ Why great speakers are trained—not born

🎤 How public speaking builds confidence, credibility, and business growth

💡 The importance of discovering your authentic voice

🚀 Practical techniques to overcome fear and communicate with clarity

🌟 How speaking with purpose creates meaningful opportunities in business and life

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, aspiring speaker, leader, or someone looking to communicate more effectively, this conversation is filled with practical insights and encouragement you can begin applying right away.

If this episode inspires you, please Like, Comment, and Subscribe to help us continue sharing conversations that empower people to grow, lead, and make a difference.

About Donna Riccardo

Donna Riccardo is the Founder of Red Stiletto – Get to the Point!™, where she helps professionals craft compelling presentations, develop signature talks, and become confident, authentic communicators who inspire action and build lasting connections.

#InTheGroovePodcast #ToddAndJackie #DonnaRiccardo #PublicSpeaking #CommunicationSkills #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #PersonalDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #Confidence #AuthenticSpeaking #Storytelling #ProfessionalDevelopment #SpeakWithConfidence #Podcast

What does it take to create a workplace where people feel valued, engaged, and empowered to do their best work? In this insightful episode of In the Groove with Todd and Jackie, we welcome Todd Krause, Founder and Principal Consultant of Silver Sun Consulting, for a conversation about leadership, workplace culture, and the human side of organizational success. Drawing from years of experience helping organizations strengthen leadership, improve communication, and build thriving workplace cultures, Todd shares practical strategies leaders can implement to create environments where both people and businesses flourish.

✨ In this conversation, you'll discover:

✔️ What it takes to build healthy, high-performing workplace cultures

✔️ Why leadership starts with people, not processes

✔️ How organizations can create environments where employees thrive and contribute their best work

✔️ The connection between purpose, engagement, and long-term business success

✔️ Practical strategies leaders can use to strengthen teams, improve communication, and navigate change effectively

✔️ Why investing in people is one of the most powerful drivers of organizational growth Whether you're a business owner, executive, manager, entrepreneur, or someone passionate about leadership and personal development, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable takeaways you can apply immediately.

Todd's message is a powerful reminder that successful organizations aren't built solely on systems and strategies—they're built by people who feel seen, supported, and inspired to contribute their best.

🌟 If this conversation resonates with you:

👍 Like this video

💬 Share your biggest takeaway in the comments

🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

👤 About Todd Krause Founder & Principal Consultant Silver Sun Consulting Todd helps organizations create stronger workplace cultures, develop effective leaders, and build environments where people and businesses can thrive together.

🌐 Website: silversunconsulting.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🎙️ About In the Groove with Todd and Jackie Where good vibes meet great conversations—and changemakers take center stage. Each week, Todd and Jackie bring you inspiring stories, meaningful conversations, and practical wisdom from leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, speakers, and everyday people making a difference in the world.

🌐 Website: [www.toddandjackie.com](http://www.toddandjackie.com)

📺 Subscribe: @inthegroovewithtoddandjackie

#InTheGrooveWithToddAndJackie #ToddKrause #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement #BusinessLeadership #OrganizationalDevelopment #TeamBuilding #Communication #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #Podcast

What if the key to transforming your health, relationships, leadership, and overall well-being starts with one thing: your mindset?

In this empowering episode of In the Groove with Todd and Jackie, we sit down with Nichole McLeod—Transformational Speaker, Mindset Mentor, Certified Fitness Coach, Founder of Nichole McLeod Coaching, and Host of The Comeback Season Podcast. With more than 30 years of experience helping individuals and teams build confidence, resilience, and consistency, Nichole shares powerful insights on what it truly takes to create meaningful and lasting change.

✨ In this conversation, you'll discover:

✔️ Why mindset is the foundation for growth and success in every area of life

✔️ How resilience is developed through challenges—not perfect circumstances

✔️ The powerful connection between self-trust, discipline, and personal transformation

✔️ Practical strategies to overcome burnout and break limiting patterns

✔️ How taking ownership of your mindset can positively impact your health, leadership, relationships, and daily life

✔️ Why lasting change begins from within

Whether you're navigating a difficult season, pursuing personal goals, leading others, or simply looking for inspiration to move forward with confidence, this episode offers practical wisdom and encouragement you can apply immediately. Nichole's message is a powerful reminder that growth doesn't happen by accident—it happens through intentional choices, consistent action, and the willingness to believe in what's possible.

🌟 If this conversation inspires you, please:

👍 Like the video

💬 Share your biggest takeaway in the comments

🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode

👤 About Nichole McLeod Transformational Speaker | Mindset Mentor | Certified Fitness Coach Host, The Comeback Season Podcast Founder, Nichole McLeod Coaching

🌐 Website: https://nicholemcleod.com

🎙️About In the Groove with Todd and Jackie Where good vibes meet great conversations—and changemakers take center stage. Each week, Todd and Jackie bring you inspiring stories, meaningful conversations, and practical wisdom from leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, speakers, and everyday people making a difference in the world.

🌐 Website: https://www.toddandjackie.com

📺 Subscribe: @inthegroovewithtoddandjackie

#InTheGrooveWithToddAndJackie #NicholeMcLeod #MindsetMatters #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #SelfDevelopment #MentalStrength #Confidence #Transformation #Wellness #Motivation #Podcast

What if you had more influence over your happiness than you realize?

In this thought-provoking episode of In the Groove with Todd and Jackie, hosts Todd Cudaback and Jackie Bailey welcome Loretta Graziano Breuning, PhD, Founder of the Inner Mammal Institute, Professor Emerita of Management at California State University, East Bay, and bestselling author of Habits of a Happy Brain.

Together, they explore the fascinating connection between human emotions, brain chemistry, and the mammalian instincts that shape our everyday experiences. Loretta explains the natural role of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphin, and cortisol, revealing how these powerful brain chemicals influence motivation, relationships, stress, happiness, and decision-making. She also shares practical strategies for building new neural pathways that support healthier habits, greater emotional resilience, and lasting personal growth.

✨ In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• How dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphin influence emotions and behavior

• Why happiness is not designed to be constant—and what that means for daily life

• How the mammalian brain shapes habits, motivation, and decision-making

• Practical ways to create new neural pathways and healthier emotional patterns

• The role of cortisol and stress in the human experience

• How understanding brain chemistry can help you build a more fulfilling life

This conversation is filled with practical insights, fascinating science, and empowering perspectives that can help you better understand yourself and the emotions we all experience as human beings.

🎙️ Guest: Loretta Graziano Breuning, PhD Founder, Inner Mammal Institute Author of Habits of a Happy Brain

Learn more about Loretta and her work: https://innermammalinstitute.org/

🔔 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations about confidence, leadership, communication, personal growth, and living with purpose.

📺 Watch and listen to In the Groove with Todd and Jackie on YouTube and all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spreaker, and iHeartRadio.

#InTheGrooveWithToddAndJackie #LorettaBreuning #HabitsOfAHappyBrain #InnerMammalInstitute #HappyBrainChemicals #Neuroscience #BrainChemistry #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalWellBeing #MentalHealth #SelfDevelopment #Dopamine #Serotonin #Oxytocin #Endorphins

What does it take to create lasting impact, strengthen communities, and build a sustainable future for mission-driven organizations?

In this inspiring episode of In the Groove with Todd and Jackie, Todd and Jackie sit down with Jacob Guidi, fundraising strategist, speaker, and founder of Never Ending Fundraiser, to explore how intentional giving, authentic relationships, and purpose-driven leadership can transform organizations and the people they serve.

Jacob shares his passion for helping nonprofits, community leaders, and mission-focused organizations move beyond transactional fundraising and create meaningful connections that inspire generosity, trust, and long-term support. Through his experience working with organizations of all sizes, he reveals why fundraising is not simply about asking for donations—it is about building relationships, sharing a vision, and creating opportunities for people to become part of something bigger than themselves.

Together, they discuss the power of community, the importance of leadership rooted in service, and practical strategies for creating sustainable growth while staying true to an organization’s mission and values.

In this episode, we explore:

✨ The mindset behind successful and sustainable fundraising

💡 Building authentic relationships that inspire generosity and trust

🌱 Creating long-term strategies for nonprofit and organizational growth

❤️ How purpose-driven leadership strengthens communities and impact

👥 Empowering supporters to become active partners in a mission

🌍 The role of generosity in creating meaningful change and lasting transformation

Whether you lead a nonprofit, support a mission-driven organization, or simply want to make a greater impact in your community, this conversation offers valuable insights, practical wisdom, and encouragement for anyone seeking to lead with purpose and create positive change.

Guest: Jacob Guidi

Website: https://neverendingfundraiser.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobguidi/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacob.guidi.3/

🎧 Listen on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spreaker, iHeartRadio, and wherever you enjoy podcasts.

#InTheGrooveWithToddAndJackie #JacobGuidi #Fundraising #NonprofitLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeadership #CommunityImpact #Generosity #MissionDriven #RelationshipBuilding #NonprofitGrowth #NeverEndingFundraiser #PodcastInterview #Leadership #CommunitySupport #GivingBack