The Catalyst with Samantha Kris

Duku spent the first ten years of his life in a Ugandan refugee camp. He had no idea an entire world existed around him and that one day he’d be traveling across the globe in pursuit of his wildest dreams. Duku has proven that with a little creativity and sticktoitiveness dreams really do come true, even when the odds are stacked against you. 

At the age of 11, Aisha’s life changed forever when child services took her and her siblings away from their parents. She learned early on that not all change can be planned for and not all forced change is bad. She shares how the adversity she faced taught her to lean in life’s plan, choose herself first, and walk away from that which does not serve her.

A two month summer break turned into an unexpected five month hiatus but we're back... not exactly as we'd planned but hey, when has anything great gone according to plan?

In this episode, Mark invites listeners to challenge what others have assumed to be true and embrace their life journey as if it were a big, blank canvas, primed for creative energy. If you’ve ever felt beholden to someone else’s vision for your life, fearful of what might happen if you allow yourself to step into your greatness, you’re not alone. But if you’re the slightest bit curious of what that greatness feels like, Mark helps you begin your journey within.

Mahalia’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Amidst the chaos there was one thing that kept her grounded: Sisterhood. The women in her life served as her strength and supported her through her healing, re-evaluation of her life and career, and self-discovery when she needed it most. She shares how building a great community is essential to supporting us in times of strife, and guiding us in times of plenty.

Connect with Mahalia on LinkedIn.

After a series of poor choices, Doug was incarcerated on felony drug charges and fell quickly into the depths of despair, unsure if he would live to see his 25th birthday. In an unexpected turn of events, his cellmate taught him a lesson that would change his life forever. Now Doug is paying it forward, helping people turn adversity into their advantage.

Growing up, good grades and an active social life concealed the horrible self-concept Donovan experienced behind closed doors. Unable to cope, mental illness and substance abuse took over. He longed to be seen, heard, and to better understand himself but he didn’t know how. Today, he is committed to stopping the cycle of self-disconnect among middle schoolers and dreams of becoming the Mr. Rogers of the next generation, empowering their social emotional learning.

Tania never envisioned having a family because she was so career focused and determined to help the planet by working with brands to operate sustainably. When her husband gave her an ultimatum she had some serious thinking to do. Could she really have it all? In this candid interview, Tania opens up about her decision, staying true to her values, and key considerations of having children for professional women. 

Becky isn’t one for tradition, she never craved stability, and is always up to something new to keep boredom at bay. Like many millennials, Becky is designing her roadmap one turn at a time. There is no end destination, she is living life on her own terms and is letting her values, interests and self-expression lead the way.

Through a personal battle with depression, anxiety, and binge eating, Christine has learned to overcome her struggles by taking simple but powerful actions in movement, nourishment, and self-development. She shares her journey of hope and healing, and explains how to better listen to the messages of your body in order to understand what it truly needs.