Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek

Drs. Ray Dorsey and Michael Okun, both leading experts in the United States on parkinson's disease, have a prescription for action on how to prevent the disease in the first place and offer revolutionary treatment for those suffering. This week, they are speaking with Next Steps Forward host Chris Meek about their book "Ending Parkinson's Disease: A Prescription for Action" and their PACT initiative. They will break down step-by-step what PACT is composed of: P - Prevent the disease, A - Advocate for protective policies, C - Care for patients, and T - Treat the condition with innovative therapies, and how even average citizens can play a part in ending the disease by making the commitment to carry out the steps of PACT themselves. With a bold vision on how to eventually prevent the disease altogether, Drs. Dorsey and Okun explain to the audience what it would take to get there - medically, financially, politically and socially. Whether you are a patient, relative of someone living with the disease, clinician, politician or activist, this hour has imperative and life changing information in store for you.

Monique Daigneault, president and CEO of MD Consulting speaks with Chris Meek about her role as an executive coach with over three decades of experience developing corporate executives into successful leaders ready to change company cultures. Monique's personal story exemplifies what it means to be empowered: having dropped out of high school, she married at sixteen, got a divorce, was a single mom to her two children, began her healing journey through exercise and bodybuilding, got her GED along with three college degrees, and is now a successful entrepreneur and author. After spending a significant portion of her life in the process of healing, she figured out how to use her experiences to help others think, reflect and move forward in life. She will speak about how she helps leaders and executives overcome micro-traumas in the workplace, the common mistakes that leaders often make, how to ensure that your leadership style and brand stay authentic to who you are, and how you can use your past experiences to empower yourself and others.

This week's Next Steps Forward guest is Michelle Elman, a five-board accredited life coach who is best known for her campaign Scarred Not Scared. Named one of The Sun's 50 most inspirational women in the United Kingdom and a prolific speaker whose TedX talk has been viewed more than 65,000 times, Michelle speaks with program host Chris Meek about her new book "The Joy of Being Selfish: Why You Need Boundaries and How to Set Them," the importance of creating boundaries in order to teach others how we would like to be treated, and just how to go about setting boundaries with family, romantic partners, friends and co-workers. In addition to speaking about her book, Michelle will also provide a look into her work as a life coach, her own challenges she has had to overcome throughout her life and her work advocating for representation of people with scars. This informational and inspirational hour will leave viewers with a better sense of how to be selfish by setting boundaries without feeling guilty and how to rid your life of drama and toxic relationships.

Erik DaRosa and Marc Fernandes, hosts of the From Survivor to Thriver podcast, aim to shatter the stigma long associated with speaking out and speaking up about mental health issues without desensitization. In their efforts to disrupt discussions surrounding mental health and wellness, Erik and Marc stop by Next Steps Forward to speak with program host Chris Meek about normalizing those discussions, especially among men, and helping drive home the point that it is okay for people to have those sometimes tough conversations with those they trust, whether its a sibling, parent, cousin, coworker or friend. They also speak to the importance of asking questions within the mental health space. In addition, they will speak in-depth about their podcast and the voice it gives to the survivor to thriver movement, as well as their aim to build a community of those who feel comfortable and able to share their stories in order to help listeners, some of whom may not already have a voice, so that they too can feel as though they are not alone.

Jon Runyan, former NFL offensive tackle, looks back at the progression of his football career spanning 14 seasons playing with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Diego Chargers. Now serving as the NFL’s Vice President of Policy and Rules Administration, Runyan will provide his unique perspective on the current state of the league, how football has changed since he last played, how the league has adapted to challenges presented by COVID-19 and what he believes the future holds for the NFL. Having also previously served in Congress representing New Jersey’s 3rd district, Runyan will speak about his experience serving in Washington, how politics have changed dramatically in recent years, and will touch on timely issues, particularly those relating to veterans. Runyan will impart wisdom he's garnered from his experiences both on and off the field leaving the audience empowered to become leaders in the game of life and inspired to serve others.

Eighteen year old Rasha Alqahanti sits down with Next Forward Host Chris Meek to speak about the video game software she is developing within the setting of the ever popular Minecraft game which she designed to help her peers learn about their anxiety and access mental health. Rasha - third place recipient of the 2021 Regeneron International Science and Engineering behavioral science award, Mawhiba alumni member, and public speaker - will provide an inside look into how the video game specifically seeks to address the problems of stigma and inaccessibility that impede young teens from seeking out the mental health care they may need. With a maturity beyond her years mixed with both intense passion and thoughtfulness, Rasha will provide her perspective on what it is like being a female in STEM, why she believes receiving a diagnosis is a crucial step for overall mental health and a glimpse into the anxiety that she experienced as a student trying to maintain an A+ status. This is a must listen not only for other teenagers who are also struggling with anxiety due to the demands and pressures of their education, but also women pursuing a career or already immersed in the world of STEM.

David Woods Bartley has seen his fair share of successes and setbacks, from directing a nationally recognized nonprofit to battling a life-threatening mental illness. Now he's speaking with Chris Meek about what he describes as the brutal knock-down, drag-out fight he experienced with clinical depression, which led him to attempt suicide and now devote his life to opening the doors to the possibility of good mental health and wellness to everyone. As an international mental health educator, trainer and advocate, David instructs others on the "why" of suicide and the "how" of hope. He believes that we all must take the initiative to understand what mental illness feels like for others, focus on the "why" surrounding those feelings and subsequently why people commit suicide. He also reminds us that when struggling with mental health it is easy to believe that everything you think is true. But suicide is not about truth or fact, as David discusses, it is ultimately about needing faith and the "how" of hope. This hour of Next Steps Forward focuses on the problems and solutions of suicide, the three most important words of mental health (hint: connection, connection, connection), and how to ask the right questions to those who may be struggling.

Michael Gier - actor, producer, and director - is attracted to projects that change people's lives. This week on Next Steps Forward, Michael joins Chris Meek to speak about the life-changing documentaries he directed and produced, award-winning "Wounded Heroes" and the follow-up documentary "Healing the Heroes of 9/11." "Wounded Heroes" focuses heavily on alternative treatments for those veterans, police officers and first responders living with post-traumatic stress (PTS), including RTM Therapy, a visualization technique which helps individuals retrieve and then alter memories, and Trauma Resiliency Protocol, another technique currently being deployed to police and fire departments across the nation. An advocate for peer-to-peer help, Michael will speak to the importance of trust in the treatment process and how seeking help from a fellow veteran or first responder can allow individuals to feel better understood and feel as though they aren't at risk of losing their purpose. With a mission to educate others about the reality that those living with PTS can find healing, Michael proves that "finding unicorns," i.e. people who have moved past their PTS diagnosis and symptoms, really is possible. Because his films focus on next steps for success, he is certainly a fitting guest for an audience that tunes in to discover their own next steps in life!

In this episode of Next Steps Forward, Chris Meek facilitates an informative conversation with guests Steve Campbell and Ashley Powell. Working for the National Football League would be considered a dream job for many in the audience, Steve and Ashley will describe the paths that lead them to their roles as Vice President of Communications and Director of Community Relations, respectively, for the Indianapolis Colts. They will also discuss their responsibilities within their positions, the skills individuals need to find success in a career in sports communications or community relations, and the most challenging and rewarding parts of their jobs. Both guests focus on the recent emergence of mental health awareness within the sports spectrum, particularly due to COVID-19, as the Colts have adopted mental health as an important cause for their organization through their "Kicking the Stigma" campaign. They will speak about the impact that the awareness campaign has had on the community, as well as the NFL's commitment to current social justice issues. Don't miss out on this special inside look into life working for an NFL team!

Program host Chris Meek highlights the documentary Quiet Explosions:Healing the Brain on this week's episode of Next Steps Forward. Director and producer Jerri Sher, along with Sebastian Sebby Raspanti, a 9/11 survivor who is featured in the film, speak about how the documentary focuses on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) in veterans, athletes and civilians. The film was awarded the Most Important Film of the Year 2021 by TMIF and follows the stories of ten individuals grappling with TBI or PTS who found healing with the help of six different scientists and doctors often through alternative measures. The purpose of documenting the emotional roller coaster ride that those with TBI or PTS experience is to draw attention toward the need to help others cope and to highlight various treatment options that many might not be aware are available. For those struggling or who know someone struggling with TBI or PTS, as well as those seeking more information on the issue and listeners looking for a beacon of hope, you are encouraged to join their conversation to learn more about the documentary and hear Jerri and Sebby's stories and perspectives. Jerri and Sebby will inspire others not only to hold steadfast in finding reasons to live but also seek out opportunities each and every day to positively influence others.