Retired police lieutenant and positive psychology practitioner David Berez, MAPP, DRE joins us to discuss how we can transform trauma into a catalyst for growth. David shares his journey from a 20-year career in law enforcement—where "resilience" meant simply bouncing back—to his development of "Courageous Optimism," a framework that empowers first responders to become "anti-fragile" in the face of chaos. By blending the science of human flourishing with the gritty reality of police work, David illustrates how storytelling and vulnerability can break the stigma of silence and save lives.

David Berez’s VIA Strengths: Honesty | Kindness | Curiosity | Perspective | Social Intelligence

Audio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com)

Recorded: January 7, 2026

Dele Davies, MD, Interim Chancellor at University of Nebraska Medical Center

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) = (Personal Competence = Self Awareness x Self-Management) x (Social Competence = Social Awareness x Relationship Management)

CliftonStrengths: Significance | Futuristic | Focus | Maximizer | Strategic | Learner | Achiever | Responsibility | Belief 

Recorded: January 8, 2026

Grant Stonebraker: Building a Pay-It-Forward Culture

Speaker, coach, and author Grant Stonebraker shares how his signature strengths of honesty, kindness, and love fuel both his entrepreneurial work and his grassroots kindness movement, Operation: Pay It Forward. Grant discusses how spirituality and creativity guide his approach to building authentic connections and inspiring others to make progress through simple, intentional acts of goodness. This conversation offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking to live their values and spark positive change in their community.

A visualization of the aggregated VIA Strengths of people who have been guests on the podcast after adding Grant’s top VIA Strengths: Honesty | Kindness | Love | Spirituality | Creativity

Audio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com/)

Recorded on: 11/20/2025

Jacob Kendall: Curiosity, Creativity, and Rethinking How We Grow Older

Dr. Jacob Kendall—gerontologist, social worker, and two-time open-heart surgery survivor—joins us to share a fresh lens for understanding health across place, and time. Drawing on his signature strengths of creativity, curiosity, and humor, Jacob challenges one-dimensional thinking about aging and advocates for a pro-aging mindset grounded in fairness and forgiveness. This conversation will transform how you think about growing older—and inspire you to approach life's challenges with both scientific rigor and deep humanity.

A visualization of the aggregated VIA Strengths of people who have been guests on the podcast after adding Jacob’s top VIA Strengths: Creativity | Fairness | Curiosity | Humor | Forgiveness

Audio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com/)Recorded on: 11/19/2025

Leo Louis II: Identity Formation, Community Building, and Cultural Transformation

Leo recently co-authored the book: The Grownfolks and the Magic Wand

Recorded: November 14, 2025

Lakesha Green: Speaking Love into Community through the Arts and Vision

Lakesha is the Executive Director of the Union for Contemporary Art

CliftonStrengths: Self-Assurance | Learner | Input | Arranger | Strategic

Recorded: October 30, 2025

Amy Goodburn: Building the Good Life with Husker P.O.W.E.R. 

Senior Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean of Undergraduate Education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

CliftonStrengths: Learner | Achiever | Input | Discipline | Arranger

Recorded: September 10, 2025

P.O.W.E.R. = Purpose, Ownership, Well-being, Engagement, and Relationships

From the Inter-association Wellbeing Collaborative:

We define well-being as an optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential. Our focus is on two interdependent types of well-being: 1) individual and 2) community.

Amy Lanham: Creating Wellbeing Through Recreation

Campus Recreation Director, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

CliftonStrengths: Responsibility | Communication | Developer | Relator | Belief

Recorded: September 3, 2025

From the Inter-association Wellbeing Collaborative:

We define well-being as an optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential. Our focus is on two interdependent types of well-being: 1) individual and 2) community.

Daryl Davis: How to be Prohuman with Music and Friendship

Recorded 8/7/2025

Becca Schusler: The Win-Win of Workplace Wellness

VIA Strengths: Gratitude | Learner | Hope | Forgiveness | Self-Regulation

Born in a struggle for justice (Horace Carter Fights the Klan), Atlantic Packaging works to build wellbeing (Atlantic Wellness) and a thriving planet (A New Earth Project)

Core Values: Connection, Nourishment, Purpose, Movement, Nature, Prevention

Vision: To establish health, in all of its dimensions, as the fundamental guiding principle that informs all of our decisions.

Mission: Health & well-being is the throughline connecting our employees, our business community, and the overall vision for our company.

Recorded: July 25, 2025