While heading to the final speaking event of a very full, very hectic year, I found myself doing what so many of us do this time of year: rushing.

It was a tight connection through a crowded terminal at DFW. As I hurried from one gate to the next, weaving through travelers, rolling suitcases, coffee cups, and glowing phone screens, I happened to glance out the window.

There on the tarmac stood a white hearse beside an arriving plane. Let me explain.

Haley Scott DeMaria is a speaker, author, and former University of Notre Dame swimmer whose life changed forever after surviving a tragic team bus crash that left her temporarily paralyzed. Told she may never walk again, Haley endured years of recovery before ultimately returning to compete for Notre Dame.

Today, Haley shares the heartbreaking aftermath of the 1992 bus crash that claimed the lives of two teammates, the physical and emotional battle to rebuild her life, and the people who carried her through it all. She reflects on grief, survivor's guilt, returning to the pool, and learning how to move forward when life takes an unexpected turn.

My friends, if you or someone you love is walking through disappointment, grief, uncertainty, or a season that feels impossibly heavy, this conversation is for you.

It's difficult when a chapter that once felt endless suddenly comes to an end.

Sixteen years ago, Beth and I stood nervously outside a little school in St. Louis called Holy Redeemer Catholic School. We were young parents then, with a five-year-old, a three-year-old, a one-year-old, and another child on the way. Life was chaotic and like most parents stepping into something new, we wondered if we were making the right decision.

Let me explain.

Nicholas Epley is a behavioral scientist, bestselling author, and professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business whose groundbreaking research explores why we as human beings often misunderstand each other. From studying social connection and happiness to teaching students how to design a meaningful life, Nicholas has spent his career helping people better understand themselves and those around them.

Today, Nicholas shares why we're far more connected than we think, why our fears around talking to strangers are usually wrong, and how one simple conversation can change the course of a day… or even a life. Drawing from the research behind his latest book, A Little More Social, we talk about the real cost of isolation, the lessons he's learned through personal loss and fatherhood, and why meaningful connection starts when we move past surface-level small talk and become genuinely curious in one another.

My friends, if you want to learn why expressing gratitude, asking better questions, and taking small social risks can lead to deeper joy, stronger relationships, and a more fulfilling life, this conversation is for you.

At a recent speaking engagement, I asked the audience to turn to a neighbor and share what they were grateful for in the moment.

On this morning, hundreds of new friends turned away from me and toward the person seated nearest them. Voices elevated, tears fell and smiles returned. It was awesome to observe this from stage.

But off to the side stood one woman. Alone.

I came down from the stage, walked over, knelt beside her, and said, "I love you…and there's nothing you can do about it! Now, tell me, what are you grateful for?"

She looked back and said, "Nothing."

Let me explain what happened next.

Chad Robichaux is a former Force Recon Marine, USA Today bestselling author, and founder of Mighty Oaks, a nonprofit that has helped thousands of veterans and first responders recover from PTSD, trauma, and the invisible wounds of war. After eight deployments to Afghanistan and years serving in elite special operations, Chad now dedicates his life to helping others rediscover hope, healing, and purpose.

Today, Chad shares how growing up in a violent and broken home shaped his life, the heartbreaking loss of his brother, and the journey that led him into the Marines and eventually into some of the darkest battles of his life. We discuss how accountability, faith, and serving others helped him rebuild his family, restore his purpose, and launch Mighty Oaks to help others do the same.

My friends, if you are walking through pain, regret, or hopelessness, this conversation is for you. You'll leave reminded that healing is possible and even our deepest scars can become a source of hope for someone else.

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.