Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek

Prior to joining the Texas Public Policy Foundation in the fall of 2021 as the Distinguished Senior Fellow for Border Security, Rodney Scott served as the 24th Chief of the United States Border Patrol. In this installment of Next Steps Forward, he joins program host Dr. Chris Meek to discuss his three-decade career in the Border Patrol, under both Republican and Democrat administrations, earning the respect and admiration of agents, colleagues, and partners alike while working to successfully enforce our nation's laws and secure our borders. Throughout the hour Mr. Scott will speak extensively about the analysis and recommendations he makes on federal, state and local border security efforts through his work with America's leading state-based think tank.

Donna Orender is a powerhouse executive whose innovative leadership shaped some of the most recognizable brands in the sports industry. She is the former president of the WNBA, PGA Tour Senior Executive, and current CEO of Orender Unlimited. She is a nationally-recognized business leader, innovative thinker, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and author. She joins Next Steps Forward program host Dr. Chris Meek to speak about how she uses her passion for making a difference and draws on her extensive experience in sports, entertainment, media businesses, as well as her careers as a professional basketball player and hall of fame athlete, to connect women and girls in the service of building community within her many endeavors, particularly the not-for-profit Generation W which she launched in 2012. Throughout the hour she will discuss what drives her passionate pursuits, her secrets for achieving success, the importance of elevating the voices of women and girls, and her expertise on leadership initiatives, organization development and culture shaping.

Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio is a leading authority on helping senior leaders make more inclusive decisions for themselves and their organizations. Having advised some of the largest for-profit and non-profit companies in the world, she joins program host Chris Meek to discuss her experiences as an award-winning expert on race and gender and leadership strategy. Discussion topics will include what led Paola to first become interested in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and why she decided to make it the focus of her career, what companies can do to attract more diverse applicants, tips for removing implicit bias during the interview process and why onboarding is crucial to increasing diversity. From entry-level to the boardroom, Paola’s experience and tips are sure to have powerful impacts on the companies who apply her expertise.

On this installment of Next Steps Forward, program host Chris Meek speaks with Dr. Beth Kurland, a clinical psychologist with three decades of experience. She is a TEDx Talks speaker, sought-after public speaker and a mind-body coach. She is also the author of three award-winning books: Dancing on The Tightrope: Transcending the Habits of Your Mind and Awakening to Your Fullest Life; The Transformative Power of Ten Minutes: An Eight Week Guide to Reducing Stress and Cultivating Well-Being; and Gifts of the Rain Puddle: Poems, Meditations and Reflections for the Mindful Soul. In her latest book You Don't Have to Change to Change Everything: Six Ways to Shift Your Vantage Point, Stop Striving for Happy and Find True Well-Being, she writes about not trying to change yourself but instead meeting yourself where you are and how to go about doing that. The hour-long interview will focus heavily on the concept of "change" and Beth will elaborate on why we don't have to "change to change everything" and how change comes about if we're not exactly changing ourselves.

Kristi M. Rogers is a leading executive and former senior government official with extensive international leadership experience in the public and private sectors. She joins program host Chris Meek to discuss the strategic advice and counsel she is regularly sought after for issues relating to security and disaster response, federal government contracting, the role of business in complex and dynamic environments (including markets emerging from conflict), public-private partnerships, and crisis communications. As the managing partner and co-founder of Principal to Principal, a strategic positioning company operating at the most senior levels of business and government, she will speak to constructive approaches that can be taken to address today's multifaceted public policy issues, how she assists organizations with successfully addressing complex challenges, and the challenges, rewards and lessons she has learned in having successfully launched, managed and grown two companies with overseas operations.

Peggy Willms is innately and passionately wired to help others discover the healthiest version of themselves as a certified personal trainer, sports performance nutritionist, and health, wellness and life coach. Well known as the host of the internationally syndicated radio show The Coach Peggy Show, she joins Chris Meek to bring her expertise on all things wellness to the Next Steps Forward audience. Peggy knows there is no wellness "fix" - wellness is a journey of self-discovery and self-improvement. She will walk the audience through how she helps individuals re-wire and rid old habits by designing new ones, identifying pain points and extinguishing all excuses. Through her coaching, she helps others find their current "punctures" and solutions whether that means focus on preventative care, nutrition, exercise/movement, relationships, organization, or sleep. For those seeking real life strategies and to implement sound tools to regain control, you will not want to miss out on Peggy Willms' advice!

Dr. Marie Murphy is a non-judgmental coach for people involved in infidelity. She is trained and certified as a life coach, with her training coming from the Life Coach School and Martha Beck's Wayfinder life coach training. Her bachelor's degree is in sociology and human sexuality studies from San Francisco State University and she earned a Ph.D. in the sociology of sexuality from the University of California, San Diego. For years, she researched and taught about many things related to sex, sexuality, love, romantic relationships and family life. Her training and work in these realms have given her countless insights into the human experience and how we can deal with the many challenges associated with being human. She joins program host Chris Meek to discuss the both fascinating and uncomfortable topic of infidelity and her success in counseling people who are actively cheating or actively engaging in some kind of infidelity throughout the process of repairing their relationships. Many of those in the audience will think of cheaters as bad people but Dr. Murphy will provide perspective on why it is important for there to be support and empathy, or at least understanding, for people who are actively cheating as many might be experiencing something missing in their own lives.

Travis Conover is an actor, film producer and president of StoryTeller Film Company. He made his on-screen acting debut, co-starring in The Trial of Everett Mann, which won several awards throughout some of the largest film festivals in the world, including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Shortly after, Travis booked an acting and producing role in The Penitent Thief, which hit theaters in 2020. During Travis' career, he has written and produced several short and feature films. After becoming aware of the disturbing realities of human trafficking, he dedicated himself and his work in acting and film production to anti-human trafficking advocacy, which can be seen in his latest film project, Lions and Lambs. He joins program host Dr. Chris Meek on Next Steps Forward to discuss his journey as an actor, his passion for ending human trafficking for good, and how he and other actors are flipping the script on Hollywood which for far too long has ignored and even contributed to human rights injustices.

Stacy Blakeley is the CEO of The Policy Circle, a national organization that informs, equips, and connects women to be more impactful citizens. Founded in 2015 on the belief that the free market is the best means to unleash human potential, the organization has grown to include 15,000 members in all lower 48 states. The Policy Circle has built a proven model to boost civic literacy and equips its members to lead at the local, state, and national levels through solutions-oriented programming and approachable training. Stacy is a noted public speaker who engages audiences in constructive dialogue and inspires citizens to take action in their communities as positive change-makers. Throughout Stacy's appearance on Next Steps Forward, she will discuss The Policy Circle's advice to women to "be more curious and less furious" and it's work to help women do just that, as well as why civil discourse and civic engagement is so crucial in today's society, why The Policy Circle focuses its efforts on getting women involved in public policy and debate due to wealth transfer, women out-voting men and women only holding one-third of elected positions; and the two gaps in politics and policy that the organization is concerned about, which includes the confidence gap and the competence gap. For those audience members who are looking to become leaders in their communities and develop skills and qualities needed to do so, this is a conversation that you won't want to miss!

Singer, songwriter, musician and producer Julius Adams is music and music is Julius Adams. His love for music extends from his own love for people, as the Next Steps Forward audience will find as he joins program host Chris Meek to promote his new single, "Healer." Healer is a beautiful song about God being able to heal you from anything, whether it's sickness, disease, mental illness, financial issues, or heartbreak. Healer is meant to encourage listeners and let them know that God can heal them, that he loves them and he will never leave them. Julius will discuss how he uses music as an avenue to bring light to the lives of others, how he creates music with the goal to make listeners feel love, hope, happiness and closer to God, and provide insight into his own faith and relationship with God. As the audience will find, there is something for everyone in his music.