What’s it like to oversee elections during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American history—and still find hope through music, friendship, and a few beloved cats?

In this compelling episode, I sit down with David, former Director of Elections for the Minnesota Secretary of State (2019–2024) and author of a deeply personal memoir that goes far beyond politics. While his career placed him at the center of some of the biggest questions surrounding democracy and election integrity, his story is equally about navigating mental health challenges, heartbreak, and the lifelong pursuit of authenticity.

With honesty, vulnerability, and a refreshing sense of humor, David shares how resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship—it’s about finding meaning through it.

In this episode, we discuss:

🗳️ What it was like leading state elections during a pivotal moment in American democracy
🧠 Living with and overcoming lifelong mental health challenges
🎵 How music became a source of healing and hope
🐈 The unexpected comfort and companionship of pets
💔 Recovering from heartbreak while staying true to yourself
😂 Finding humor even during life’s most difficult seasons
🌟 Why authenticity is one of the greatest strengths we can develop

David’s message is simple: no matter what challenges life brings—whether personal or professional—hope, connection, and authenticity can help carry us forward.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with anyone interested in leadership, resilience, mental health, or the human stories behind public service.

💡 Connect with David:

Visit https://www.davidmaeda.com/ to learn more about David’s memoir, his journey through public service, and the life experiences that shaped his remarkable story.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #DavidMaeda #Leadership #MentalHealth #Resilience #Democracy #Elections #Authenticity #PersonalGrowth #Memoir #Hope #Storytelling

Have you ever been told, “Everything looks normal,” even though you still feel exhausted, struggle with weight gain, or just don’t feel like yourself?

In this enlightening episode, I sit down with Dr. Roopa Chari, an Internal Medicine physician and Functional Medicine doctor with more than 25 years of experience helping women over 45 uncover the real causes behind stubborn weight gain, belly fat, fatigue, hormone-related changes, poor sleep, and low energy.

As co-founder of the Chari Center of Health, Dr. Chari takes a personalized, physician-guided approach that looks beyond symptoms to understand how nutrition, hormones, metabolism, and lifestyle work together to support long-term health and vitality.

In this episode, we discuss:

🌿 Why “normal” lab results don’t always tell the whole story
⚖️ The real reasons behind stubborn weight gain and belly fat after 45
💤 How hormones, sleep, and metabolism are deeply connected
🥗 The role of nutrition and lifestyle in restoring energy and balance
🩺 What functional medicine looks at that traditional approaches may miss
💪 How women can become better advocates for their own health
✨ Practical steps to start feeling healthier, stronger, and more energized

Dr. Chari’s message is empowering: your symptoms matter. If you don’t feel well, it’s worth asking deeper questions and finding an approach that treats the whole person—not just the lab report.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with the women in your life who deserve answers, renewed energy, and hope for better health.

💡 Connect with Dr. Roopa Chari:

Visit https://charicenter.com/ to learn more about the Chari Center of Health, Dr. Chari’s personalized approach to functional medicine, and resources to help you take charge of your health.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #DrRoopaChari #FunctionalMedicine #Women’sHealth #Hormones #HealthyAging #Wellness #Metabolism #Nutrition #Energy #HealthPodcast #MidlifeHealth

What if better health—for you and the planet—started with something as simple as laughing more and throwing away less?

In this uplifting episode, I sit down with Cathy Nesbitt, health and wellness advocate, environmental innovator, and founder of Cathy’s Crawly Composters, Cathy’s Sprouters, and Cathy’s Laughter Club.

For more than two decades, Cathy has inspired people to embrace sustainable living through composting, gardening, sprouting nutritious food, and one of the most overlooked wellness practices of all—laughter. Her unique approach proves that caring for ourselves and caring for the environment can go hand in hand.

In this episode, we discuss:

🌱 How composting can transform both your garden and the planet
😂 The surprising physical and mental health benefits of laughter
🥗 Why growing sprouts is an easy way to boost nutrition
🚴 Living an active, sustainable lifestyle every day
🌍 Small environmental actions that create lasting impact
💚 Finding joy while making a difference
✨ Building healthier communities through wellness and sustainability

Cathy’s message is simple: every small action matters. Whether it’s sharing a laugh, planting a garden, or reducing waste, each choice helps create a healthier future for ourselves and the world around us.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who’s passionate about health, sustainability, and making a positive impact.

💡 Connect with Cathy Nesbitt:

Visit https://www.cathysclub.com/ to learn more about Cathy’s workshops, laughter sessions, wellness programs, and practical ways to live a healthier, more sustainable life.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #CathyNesbitt #Sustainability #Wellness #Composting #HealthyLiving #LaughterYoga #Gardening #EnvironmentalInnovation #PersonalGrowth #Health #EcoLiving

What if the hardest parts of your life weren’t enemies to defeat—but “roommates” you had to learn to live with without giving them control?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Josef M. Gonzalez, resilience-focused writer and author of Love That Doesn’t Sharpen Spoils: A Warrior’s Framework for Staying in Control When Rage, Pain, Trauma or Addiction Want It More.

Drawing from deeply personal experience, Josef shares a practical framework for navigating trauma, disability, addiction, grief, ego, and emotional pain without allowing them to define who you are. His unforgettable “roommate” metaphor reminds us that while we may not choose every challenge we face, we can choose who remains in charge of our lives.

In this episode, we discuss:

⚔️ Why pain doesn’t have to become your identity🏡 The powerful “roommate” framework for understanding trauma and adversity💪 Reclaiming agency when life feels out of control🧠 Living alongside anger, addiction, grief, and fear without surrendering to them🌱 Transforming hardship into purpose and personal growth🔥 Building resilience through daily choices instead of quick fixes✨ What it truly means to become the leader of your own inner world

Josef’s message is simple: life may bring pain you never asked for, but you still have the power to decide how you respond. Your circumstances don’t own you—your choices do.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone navigating hardship, recovery, or a season that requires strength, courage, and hope.

💡 Connect with Josef M. Gonzalez:

Visit https://motheroceanfund.org/ltdsp-landing-pa to learn more about Love That Doesn’t Sharpen Spoils and explore Josef’s work on resilience, healing, and purposeful living.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #JosefMGonzalez #Resilience #MentalHealth #TraumaRecovery #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #Mindset #Healing #Purpose #AddictionRecovery #SelfMastery

What if your greatest pain became the foundation for your greatest purpose?

In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Jeffrey, a hospice care professional with 36 years of experience serving patients and families across 12 states. After surviving a childhood marked by abandonment, foster care, abuse, addiction, and a near-fatal accident at just 16 years old, Jeffrey made a life-changing decision—to forgive, rebuild his identity, and dedicate his life to serving others.

Today, his work in hospice care is more than a profession—it’s a calling rooted in faith, compassion, and the belief that every person has a unique purpose.

In this episode, we discuss:

💛 Overcoming childhood trauma and finding hope
🙏 The life-changing power of forgiveness and faith
🌱 Rebuilding your identity through self-love and purpose
🏥 What 36 years in hospice care has taught about life
✨ Why serving others brings lasting fulfillment
💪 Choosing to become a leader instead of a follower
🌍 Discovering the unique gift you were created to share

Jeffrey’s message is simple: your past does not define your future. No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve endured, you have the power to rise, serve others, and live a life filled with purpose.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement to keep going and discover the purpose waiting on the other side of hardship.

💡 Connect with Jeffrey:

Visit https://jeffrey-speaker.lovable.app to learn more about Jeffrey’s story, connect with him, and request him to speak at your event or organization.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #Jeffrey #Purpose #Faith #Hope #HospiceCare #Resilience #Forgiveness #PersonalGrowth #Inspiration #Leadership #NeverGiveUp

What if God’s presence is closer than you think—and learning to recognize it could transform your daily walk of faith?

In this uplifting episode, I sit down with Marcia McFarland, award-winning author of Perfect Glory: 21 Spiritual Insights for the 21st Century. Marcia shares her personal testimony of encountering the Divine, along with Biblical wisdom that encourages believers to deepen their relationship with Jesus and experience God’s glory in everyday life.

Through heartfelt stories and practical spiritual insights, Marcia reminds us that faith isn’t just something we believe—it’s something we live.

In this episode, we discuss:

🙏 Marcia’s personal encounters with the Divine📖 Biblical principles for strengthening your daily walk with Jesus✨ What it means to experience God’s perfect glory💛 Growing in faith through life’s challenges🌿 Finding hope, peace, and purpose in God’s presence🕊️ Practical ways to deepen your spiritual life❤️ Living with confidence in God’s promises

Marcia’s message is simple: God is always at work in our lives, and when we open our hearts to Him, we can experience His presence, guidance, and glory in powerful ways.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone seeking encouragement, spiritual growth, and a deeper relationship with God.

💡 Connect with Marcia McFarland:

Visit authormarciamcfarland.com to learn more about Perfect Glory: 21 Spiritual Insights for the 21st Century. The book is also available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #MarciaMcFarland #PerfectGlory #Faith #ChristianLiving #Jesus #SpiritualGrowth #Hope #Bible #Inspiration #Prayer #GodsGlory

A

What if you didn’t wait until you were older to chase your dream?

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Shanti Hershenson, an accomplished young author whose first two novellas were published while she was still in the sixth grade. From the moment she could hold a pencil, Shanti was creating stories, and today she continues to captivate readers with science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction while advocating against bullying and preparing to study Creative Writing at Bryn Mawr College.

Her journey is a powerful reminder that passion, persistence, and creativity have no age limit.

In this episode, we discuss:

📚 Beginning a publishing journey at an incredibly young age
✍️ Turning imagination into compelling stories
🚀 Why science fiction continues to inspire readers and writers
💡 Balancing school, creativity, and everyday teenage life
💜 Using writing as a platform for anti-bullying advocacy
🎤 The power of poetry, storytelling, and finding your voice
✨ Encouraging young creatives to pursue their dreams with confidence

Shanti’s message is simple: you don’t have to wait for the “right time” to follow your passion. Your story matters, and the best time to begin is now.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with aspiring writers, young creators, and anyone who needs a reminder that age should never limit ambition.

💡 Connect with Shanti Hershenson:

Visit https://www.amazon.com/Shanti-Hershenson/e/B08QRF5LP4?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1645593351&sr=8-1 to explore Shanti’s books and follow the journey of one of today’s most inspiring young authors.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #ShantiHershenson #YoungAuthor #Writing #Storytelling #ScienceFiction #Fantasy #CreativeWriting #Author #AntiBullying #Inspiration #Podcast

What if some of life’s greatest healing happens in the ordinary moments we’re tempted to overlook?

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Laura Sharp-Waites—author, licensed minister, pastoral counselor, and host of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor. Through her writing and conversations, Laura creates a welcoming space for people navigating grief, burnout, and the uncertain seasons of life, reminding us that hope and healing are often found in the everyday moments God uses to restore us.

With warmth, compassion, and practical wisdom, Laura encourages us to slow down, embrace God’s presence, and discover that even life’s hardest seasons can become places of growth and renewal.

In this episode, we discuss:

🍞 Finding God’s presence in everyday life
💛 Walking through grief with hope and faith
🌿 Recovering from burnout and emotional exhaustion
🙏 Trusting God during life’s in-between seasons
🏡 Creating spaces of hospitality, healing, and encouragement
📖 How faith transforms ordinary moments into meaningful ones
✨ Choosing hope when life feels uncertain

Laura’s message is simple: no matter what season you’re in, you are never alone. God is present in both the joyful celebrations and the quiet, ordinary moments that shape your journey.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who could use a little encouragement, hope, and reminder that healing often begins one ordinary day at a time.

💡 Connect with Laura Sharp-Waites:

Visit https://bakingpastor.com/ to learn more about Laura’s books, At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, and resources that offer hope, faith, and encouragement for every season of life.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #LauraSharpWaites #BakingPastor #Faith #Hope #Healing #Grief #Burnout #ChristianLiving #SpiritualGrowth #Encouragement #Podcast

What if the strength you need to overcome life’s greatest challenges is already inside you?

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with a guest whose life has been shaped by resilience, discipline, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in personal responsibility. From the lessons learned through family, faith, and community to the discipline forged in the United States Marine Corps, our conversation explores where true inner strength comes from—and how anyone can access it when life gets difficult.

At the heart of this episode is a simple philosophy that has carried him through success, setbacks, and everything in between:

“If it is to be, it is up to me.”

In this episode, we discuss:

💪 Discovering the strength you already possess
🇺🇸 How the Marine Corps shaped a mindset of resilience
🌱 Turning setbacks into opportunities for growth
🎯 Why personal responsibility changes everything
🤝 The importance of relationships, family, and community
🔥 Finding the motivation to keep moving forward
🚀 Why it’s always too soon to quit

His message is simple: life will knock you down—but your future is built by the decision to get back up, keep moving, and never stop believing in what’s possible.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement to keep pushing forward, no matter what they’re facing.

💡 Connect with Our Guest:

Visit https://neverquittrying.com to learn more, find encouragement, and discover resources that will help you build resilience, pursue your goals, and remember one powerful truth:

It’s Always Too Soon to Quit.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #NeverQuitTrying #Resilience #Motivation #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #Success #Mindset #Perseverance #Inspiration #SelfImprovement #NeverQuit

What if the greatest leadership lessons don’t come from a boardroom—but from the ordinary moments that shape an extraordinary life?

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Ed Doherty—leadership development expert, consultant, former restaurant executive, and author of Observations at the Speed of Life. After decades of mentoring leaders, building high-performing teams, and serving organizations across the country, Ed has collected a lifetime of stories that reveal the power of integrity, perseverance, and becoming the best version of yourself.

From working as a pipefitter during the Vietnam War, to filming a commercial with Larry Bird, to running his first Boston Marathon at the age of 70, Ed shares the experiences that shaped his perspective on leadership, success, and living a meaningful life.

In this episode, we discuss:

🏆 What decades of leadership have taught about inspiring others💼 The difference between managing people and truly leading them🌱 Why personal growth is a lifelong journey💡 Finding wisdom in everyday experiences🤝 The importance of integrity, service, and mentorship🏃 Running the Boston Marathon for the first time at age 70📖 Turning life’s defining moments into lessons that inspire others

Ed’s message is simple: every experience—whether joyful, difficult, humorous, or unexpected—has the potential to teach us something valuable if we’re willing to pay attention.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify! Follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with anyone looking for inspiration, leadership wisdom, and practical lessons for living a life of purpose.

💡 Connect with Ed Doherty:

Visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/2Kw to learn more about Observations at the Speed of Life, connect with Ed, and discover the stories and lessons that have inspired leaders for decades.

#Podcast #NewEpisode #EdDoherty #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Mentorship #Success #Inspiration #BostonMarathon #Storytelling #LeadershipDevelopment #Motivation #ObservationsAtTheSpeedOfLife

R