Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek

This week on Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek is joined by Carolyn Sharp, a nationally recognized relationship expert, licensed independent clinical social worker, and award-winning author of Fire It Up: Four Secrets to Reigniting Intimacy and Joy in Your Relationship. With more than 30 years of experience helping couples build resilient connections, Carolyn offers deep insights into the nature of true intimacy, why it often fades, and how attachment styles, subtle relationship patterns, and major breaches of trust shape long-term connection. She also explains how couples can reignite emotional closeness, the difference between intimacy and sexual connection, and the transformative role of PACT, the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy.

Chris and Carolyn will explore the world of high-conflict couples: what defines them, how early experiences fuel repeated patterns, and how professionals determine whether partners should stay together or separate for their safety and well-being. Carolyn reflects on her career path from working with children in the foster care system to counseling high-conflict couples, sharing the lessons she's learned about resilience, healing, and the rebuilding of trust.

About Carolyn Sharp: Carolyn Sharp, LICSW, is a nationally recognized relationship expert with over 30 years of experience helping couples, individuals, and teams build resilient connections. Her career began working with severely impacted children in foster care, later serving as Clinical Director at the YMCA and faculty member at Washington School for Professional Psychology, training future therapists. In 2005, Carolyn launched her private practice, specializing in high-conflict couples therapy. She trained extensively with Dr. Stan Tatkin, founder of PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy), and served as a PACT Institute ambassador.

Carolyn expanded into coaching, retreats, and corporate consulting, creating transformational experiences worldwide using real-time, science-based interventions. She's the award-winning author of Fire It Up: Four Secrets to Reigniting Intimacy and Joy in Your Relationship, has spoken for The New York Times Company, and is a Psychology Today columnist. She leads sold-out retreats across the U.S. and Italy. Known for her direct, insightful, humor-infused style, Carolyn brings deep compassion and a no-nonsense drive for real change. Personally, after navigating divorce and blending a family of four teenagers, Carolyn understands firsthand the work required for lasting love. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, passionate about helping others build relationships that are joyful, resilient, and fully alive.

This week on Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek welcomes Brittany Dunn, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Safe House Project, one of the nation's leading organizations dedicated to ending human trafficking and supporting survivors on their path to freedom and restoration.

With a decade of global business experience and years of hands-on leadership in the anti-trafficking movement, Brittany brings a rare combination of strategic insight, operational expertise, and deep compassion for the individuals Safe House Project serves. Under her co-leadership, the organization has expanded survivor housing, advanced trauma-informed care, strengthened national reporting and identification efforts, and mobilized cross-sector partners to fight trafficking at the systemic level.

In this powerful conversation, Mrs. Dunn discusses:

• The realities of human trafficking in the United States and the misconceptions that hinder progress

• Why safe housing is one of the biggest gaps in survivor recovery

• How Safe House Project builds national networks of care and long-term support

• Success stories that illustrate what true restoration looks like

• Policy and community changes needed to protect vulnerable populations

• How individuals, companies, and communities can be part of the solution

This episode sheds light on a crisis too often hidden and highlights the resilience, courage, and hope of those fighting it every day.

About Brittany Dunn: Brittany Dunn is a nationally recognized expert in the fight against human trafficking, with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. She earned a B.A. in Economics and English from Wellesley College and an MBA with distinction from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Before co-founding Safe House Project, Dunn spent a decade in mergers and acquisitions, leading international business development across Europe and Southeast Asia. Her corporate background in strategic planning and fostering corss-sector and cross-cultural collaboration now informs her innovative work in combating trafficking.

As co-founder and COO of Safe House Project, Dunn has refined the national response to human trafficking by building a pioneering network of safe housing and holistic care for survivors while driving systemic change at every level of government. Appointed by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to the Governor's Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support, she has shaped policy, enhanced protections, and created sustainable public-private solutions.

Her leadership has been featured in Forbes, The Hill, and CBN, and in 2024 she co-authored Eradicating Human Trafficking: A Transformative Approach Through Collective Impact. A military spouse and mother of two, Dunn is dedicated to creating a safer, more equitable world for future generations.

On this week's installment Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek welcomes Dr. Katina Sawyer, organizational psychologist, associate professor at the University of Arizona, and co-founder of Workr Beeing. Together, they explore the roots of her work in organizational psychology, what truly drives workplace well-being, and the inspiration behind her mission to help companies create healthier, more human-centered cultures. Chris and Katina also discuss the evolving nature of work-life balance, how the pandemic and generational shifts are reshaping our expectations of work, and the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence in today's workplace. With insights on burnout, belonging, leadership, and the future of work, this conversation offers practical guidance for anyone striving to thrive, both on the job and beyond it.

About Katina Sawyer: Katina Sawyer is a co-founder of Workr Beeing and an Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management. Her areas of expertise include diversity, work-life balance, leadership, and positive workplace behaviors. Over the years, Katina has published over 50 peer–reviewed studies, book chapters, and Harvard Business Review articles. Her work has been cited in many public outlets, including the Washington Post, Bloomberg Business Week, The Atlantic, Forbes, and The Conversation.

She has been awarded research grants from the National Science Foundation and the Society for Human Resource Management. In 2017, Katina was named Top 40 under 40 from the Philadelphia Business Journal. She also has extensive experience consulting with various organizations. Katina earned her BA in Psychology from Villanova University and a dual-PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Women's Studies from the Pennsylvania State University.

This week on Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek welcomes Colonel (Ret.) Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA, a nationally recognized leader in military medicine, medical education, and compassionate healthcare leadership.

Dr. Hartzell brings more than 25 years of Army service, including deployments with the 82nd Airborne Division, and a distinguished career as an infectious disease physician and educator. From leading the Internal Medicine Residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to shaping the future of graduate medical education through innovative leadership training, he has become a transformative voice in how we train, mentor, and care for those who serve.

Now a faculty member at the Uniformed Services University, author, speaker, and coach, Dr. Hartzell continues to champion a culture of excellence grounded in empathy, service, and human connection.

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Hartzell and Dr. Meek explore:

• How military experiences shaped his philosophy of leadership and resilience

• Lessons learned from caring for service members in challenging environments

• Why compassionate leadership is critical in both medicine and the military

• His work developing next-generation medical education and leadership programs

• The power of mentorship, purpose, and service in building stronger teams and communities

Whether you're a healthcare professional, a veteran, an aspiring leader, or someone seeking motivation to take your next step forward, this episode offers wisdom you won't want to miss.

About Col Josh Hartzell: Colonel (retired) Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd currently serves as faculty within the Center for Health Professions Education. He served 25 years in the Army before retiring in 2023. His final role in the Army was the Program Director for the National Capital Consortium Internal Medicine Residency Program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). His previous roles included being the Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency, Assistant Chief of Graduate Medical Education (GME), and Army Intern Director at WRNMMC and the Assistant Dean for Faculty Development and Director of Internal Medicine Selectives at the Uniformed Services University. He is a board certified Internist and Infectious Diseases Physician.

Dr. Hartzell has a variety of research and scholarly interests. He has conducted research on infectious diseases to include pertussis, multidrug resistant organisms, leishmaniasis and Q fever. He was the lead author for the Armed Forces Practice Guidelines for the Management of Q fever and was a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention working group on Q fever that published similar recommendations. Dr. Hartzell's primary interests, however, are medical education, mentoring, and leadership development. In particular, Dr. Hartzell has an interest in developing the leadership and teaching skills of residents and faculty. Dr. Hartzell attended the Stanford Faculty Development Clinical Teaching Course in October 2013 and has avidly been conducting faculty development since that time. Dr. Hartzell developed a military-wide leadership curriculum for Graduate Medical Education that began in 2017.

On this week's episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek welcomes retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General James Lukeman, the current CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. With a distinguished 40-year military career that included deployments to the Persian Gulf, Germany, and Okinawa, as well as leadership roles ranging from Commanding General of the Second Marine Division to Deputy Director for Strategy and Plans at U.S. Africa Command, General Lukeman brings unparalleled insight into service, leadership, and resilience.

In their conversation, General Lukeman reflects on what inspired him to join the Marines, the challenges and triumphs of his decades in uniform, and the lessons in resilience and leadership that remain at the heart of Marine Corps culture. He also shares his candid perspective on the ups and downs of military life, including how early setbacks shaped him into a stronger leader.

As CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, General Lukeman discusses the mission of preserving and promoting the history, traditions, and values of the Corps through the National Museum of the Marine Corps and beyond. From the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps to the Foundation's education and outreach initiatives, he offers a powerful vision of how the legacy of the Marines continues to inspire unity, service, and hope for the future.

About Gen. Jim Lukeman: As the current CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, retired U.S. Marines Corps Major General James Lukeman's mission is to preserve and promulgate the history, traditions, and culture of the Marine Corps, and educate all Americans about its virtue. Jim Lukeman attended the University of Notre Dame on a Marine Corps ROTC scholarship, was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation, and spent 40 years of his life on active military duty. Among his many assignments over the years, General Lukeman was deployed to the Persian Gulf, Germany, and Okinawa. He was detailed to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, served as the Chief of Staff for Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, served as the Deputy Director for Strategy and Plans for the U-S Africa Command, was the Commanding General of the Second Marine Division, and served as the Commanding General of the Training and Education Command.

In this installment of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with former Division I hockey champion Grace Shirley, who is twice a national title winner with the Wisconsin Badgers (2021 & 2023), to explore her journey beyond the rink. Grace shares how the thrill of victory and the pressures of elite sport shaped her path, how she discovered the importance of mental-wellness through her own experience, and why she's now focused on becoming a counselor and advocate for student-athlete mental health.

They'll talk about:

• the moment she realized that being "just a hockey player" wasn't enough;

• the transformative role of sports psychology and seeking support early;

• balancing academic, athletic, and personal identity;

• and her vision for what the next chapter looks like: helping others ask for help, redefine success, and embrace the person behind the athlete.

Whether you're a student-athlete, coach, parent or anyone trying to navigate high expectations and identity beyond a role, this episode offers candid insight, practical encouragement, and a reminder that your next step is as meaningful as your first win.

About Grace Shirley: Grace Shirley is a Canadian-born former collegiate ice hockey player turned mental-health advocate and counselor. Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, she played four seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey program, helping the team capture NCAA national championships in 2021 and 2023, both alongside her older sister Sophie.

During her tenure at Wisconsin, Shirley earned Academic All-Big Ten honors three times, and also received Academic All-WCHA recognition. Despite her athletic and academic success, she candidly reflects on the internal pressures she faced as a student-athlete: "There was a lot of just pressure that I was putting on myself," she said, describing the toll that self-doubt took on her well-being.

In 2023–24, Shirley transferred to Providence College as a graduate student, where she played one season for the Friars and concurrently pursued a master's degree in counseling with the goal of becoming a licensed mental-health counselor. Her experience seeking support, working with a sports psychologist at Wisconsin and finding broader value in those resources beyond the rink, sparked a commitment to helping other student-athletes navigate the intersection of performance and mental-wellness.After graduating with her master's degree, she is poised to step into a career that bridges her athletic background and her passion for mental-health advocacy, striving to be the kind of mentor she once needed.

In this installment of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Rob "Sleepwalker" Weisberg, a 9/11 firefighter who turned personal tragedy and decades of silent suffering into a path of healing. After grappling with PTSD and survivor's guilt for over 20 years, Rob found unexpected hope and renewal on the Appalachian Trail. His memoir, From the Grey Tunnel to the Green Tunnel, chronicles a raw, courageous journey from darkness to light, offering inspiration to anyone facing their own battles.

Rob Weisberg: Rob Weisberg's memoir From the Grey Tunnel to the Green Tunnel: A 9/11 Firefighter's Journey from Despair to Hope takes readers from the harrowing chaos of September 11, 2001, to the healing solace of the Appalachian Trail. As a firefighter who served during the tragic attacks, Rob confronts the aftermath of that fateful day, grappling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its ripple effects on his life and relationships. Through raw storytelling, he recounts his struggles, the guilt he carried, and his path to understanding and self forgiveness. In a journey marked by resilience and reflection, Rob Weisberg finds a path forward through unexpected companions - horses, service dogs, and the unique culture of Appalachian Trail hikers. Each step on the trail becomes a step away from despair and toward hope, showing how the simple act of walking can lead to transformation. His book From the Grey Tunnel to the Green Tunnel is a deeply moving tale of survival, connection and strength to rebuild after life's darkest moments.

In this episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Ilya Bratman, Executive Director of Hillel at Baruch College and a U.S. Army veteran, to explore his inspiring journey from immigrant to educator and advocate. Ilya shares how his experiences, from serving overseas to building inclusive Jewish communities on campus, have shaped his mission to support the next generation of student leaders. With a focus on resilience, diversity, and purpose-driven leadership, this conversation dives into the challenges and rewards of guiding young adults through complex times.

About Ilya Bratman: llya Bratman has held the position of the Executive Director at the Hillel at Baruch College since November 2013. In 1992, Ilya immigrated from Moscow, Russia to the US. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999. Upon his graduation, Mr. Bratman enlisted in the United States Armed Forces. He served honorably for over four active years and four reserves, including deployments to Korea, Germany and Iraq. After returning from his tour in Iraq in 2004, Ilya Bratman received a Master's Degree in Applied Linguistics and Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 2006.

In 2006 Ilya 'immigrated' to New York. He worked as a Real Estate agent and in 2008, he began to work in the Jewish community including as an instructor at the Sinai Academy in Brooklyn, Director of Jewish Programs at the Kings Bay Y in Brooklyn, and as the Project Manager of Limmud FSU USA, before becoming the Executive Director at the Hillel at Baruch College. In his spare time, Ilya enjoys long-distance running, playing soccer and other sports, writing, playing guitar and watching the Steelers. Ilya speaks Russian fluently and is proficient in Hebrew and German. Ilya lives with his wife, Sonya, son, Gabriel and daughters, Miriam and Sima, in New Jersey.

In this powerful and emotionally resonant episode of Next Steps Forward, host Dr. Chris Meek welcomes renowned mediator and attorney Kenneth R. Feinberg, one of the foremost experts in administering compensation funds in the aftermath of national tragedies. Feinberg will take the audience through the heart-wrenching and historic journey of valuing human life when presented with the unthinkable.

In particular, he will discuss the story behind his appointment as Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, where he worked pro bono for 33 arduous months, personally awarding over $7 billion to victims and families, and conducting nearly 1,000 individual hearings amid profound grief and emotional intensity. He will also reflect on the uniquely bipartisan support the 9/11 compensation program received, his firm belief that it shouldn't be replicated, and the program's rarity as an apolitical, national response during a time of crisis. Throughout the hour he will explore topics of leadership, responsibility, empathy and how law - or any profession in the public sphere - can become a vehicle for healing and service.

Mr. Feinberg exemplifies how deeply personal experiences of loss can shape programs designed to restore dignity and stability. His journey reveals how public policy leaders must balance objective frameworks with emotional intelligence and unwavering moral clarity. Join them for a conversation that transcends compensation formulas: this is about healing, restoring trust, and discovering what it truly means to do the right thing in times of profound tragedy.

About Kenneth R. Feinberg: Kenneth R. Feinberg has been key to resolving many of our nation's most challenging and widely known disputes. He is best known for serving as the Special Master of the Federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, in which he reached out to all who qualified to file a claim, evaluated applications, determined appropriate compensation, and disseminated awards. Mr. Feinberg shared his extraordinary experience in his book What Is Life Worth?, published in 2005 by Public Affairs Press, and in his follow-up book Who Gets What, published by Public Affairs Press in 2012.

Mr. Feinberg has been appointed to two presidential-level commissions because of his experience and expertise, and has had a distinguished teaching career as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Columbia University Law School, New York University Law School, and the University of Virginia Law School.

This week on Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek welcomes Sophia Mullins, founder of Wall Street Wellness, LLC, to share her remarkable journey from the fast-paced world of investment banking and private equity to becoming a leader in corporate wellness. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune thyroid condition, Sophia took charge of her health through functional medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. Her recovery not only transformed her personal well-being but also ignited a passion for helping professionals thrive without sacrificing their health. That passion became Wall Street Wellness, a consultancy dedicated to equipping high-pressure workplaces with practical, sustainable wellness strategies.

In this episode, Sophia opens up about her health journey, the hidden costs of stress in demanding industries, and the challenges of leaving a successful finance career to pursue a mission-driven path. She also explains what corporate wellness really means - beyond gym memberships and fruit bowls - and how organizations can build cultures that foster resilience, balance, and long-term performance. Whether you're a professional navigating a high-stress career, a leader looking to invest in workplace wellness, or someone curious about making a bold career change, Sophia's story offers inspiration, practical insights, and hope.

About Sophia Mullins: Sophia Mullins spent nearly a decade working and thriving in the high-pressure world of investment banking, private equity, and hedge funds. Her life and career took a dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease. Through functional medicine, nutrition, stress management, and lifestyle changes, Sophia regained her health and discovered a passion for helping others navigate wellness in demanding careers. That passion led her to found Wall Street Wellness, a corporate wellness consultancy that helps individuals and companies integrate realistic, sustainable wellness practices into high-pressure work environments. Not only is she the founder of Wall Street Wellness, she's also a certified health and well-being practitioner. Sophia's mission is simple: empower professionals to perform at their best while maintaining their health, resilience, and balance.