Four astronauts recently returned from space. Part of the Artemis II mission, they went up as pilots, engineers, and explorers. They came back entirely changed; their perspective on life altered forever.

Their professional insights will undoubtedly shape the future of our space program, our return to the moon, and exploration beyond. But perhaps their most important discovery isn't about space at all. Perhaps it's about our life right here on Earth.

After launching from Earth and traveling at speeds approaching 25,000 miles per hour, the crew journeyed hundreds of thousands of miles through space. When they returned ten days later, the world leaned in, eager to hear what they had learned.

And yet, in interview after interview, the crew of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen struggled to find the words. Awkward silences filled press conferences. Not because they lacked intelligence or clarity, but because they experienced something too big for language. Let me explain.

Erik Rees is the founder of NEGU, Never Ever Give Up, which is a global movement inspired by the life of his daughter Jessie. What began as a father walking through unimaginable grief has become a mission that has delivered nearly 600,000 JoyJars to children battling cancer around the world, each one carrying a simple but powerful message: you are not alone.

Today, Erik shares the extraordinary life of his daughter Jessie, why she chose to focus on bringing happiness to other kids in the middle of her own fight, and how her legacy continues to impact families across the globe.

My friends, if you are walking through grief, searching for purpose, or wondering how something painful could ever be used for good, this conversation is for you. You'll leave ready to live courageously, love constantly and lead compassionately.

Self-assured.

Self-made.

Quick to decide.

Successful.

Sarcastic.

Snarky.

Recently, I asked a classroom of high school students studying leadership to describe the traits they most often see in leaders- in politics, in media, and in social settings. This was their list. (I'll admit, I had to look up that last word.)

But let's not confuse common with effective. So, let me ask you: What defines the very best leaders.

Most would agree descriptors like selfless, humble, sacrificial, other-focused and loving aren't just admirable traits for leaders, but transformational ones.

And each of those traits describe my friend, Amy Ruzicka. Let me explain.

Willow Weston is an author, speaker, and founder of Collide, a ministry impacting women nationwide through honest conversations around pain, faith, and healing. Drawing from decades of mentoring and her own deeply personal story, Willow invites us to stop running from our wounds and begin facing them with courage and hope.

Today, Willow shares how a childhood marked by trauma led to an unexpected calling, why avoiding pain keeps us stuck in cycles we don't understand, and how healing begins when we choose to face our wounds instead of hide.

My friends, if you've ever felt stuck in your past, unsure of your purpose, or weary from carrying pain you don't know how to heal, this conversation is for you. You'll leave reminded that your story is not something to hide… it's something that can be redeemed.

Recently, 130,000 graduates of Saint Louis University received a magazine in the mail.

Inside was a story about one of their own making a difference in the world.

The feature wasn't about a speaker, a business owner or a corporate executive. It was about a graduate who chose a different path: serving when no one is watching, modeling love in a world longing for it, and showing up fully and faithfully for others.

The story was about my wife, Beth. Let me explain.

Recently, Mom and I shared coffee with a man who helped shape our lives decades ago. He wasn't a celebrity. He didn't make headlines. He was a caregiver at Mercy Hospital's burn unit, and we came to know him as Nurse Roy. Let me explain.

On any given day in Marietta, Georgia, men line up for a haircut from Travis Sanders.

But what draws them in and liberates them to wait isn't simply getting their hair styled. It's connection, encouragement and a powerful reminder that hardship does not get the final word. Let me explain.