The Resilience Breakthrough Podcast

Denise Hunter, MD, also known by her rapper name Dr. D-Nice Beaugelin (just kidding, but really), has been a medical doctor for over 18yrs and a youth leader for over 30 years.  She is a Adolescent Wellness Specialist. She is the founder of  Wisdomteethinger and creator of FOUNT.

Some people called Cordan James a “crack baby,” a negative label he’s learned to reframe.

Cordan is a fighter. As the only black person in a rural community, he fought to belong. As a young man, he also fought to fit in… and sometimes to stand out. He spent his life in the Foster Care system.

He had beautiful relationships with adoptive family and friends, and he experienced boldfaced racial discrimination and stereotyping. But Cordan never stopped fighting to discover who he was.

He joined the US military, where he became a leader, and he was later reunited with his birth family. Through all the challenges, Cordan never stopped fighting. He’s a living example of the kind of resilience that only shows up in a life beset by extraordinary challenges.

And that’s why they call him “The Comeback Kid."

Cordan’s voice, life, and mission are all about giving children hope. Hope for a brighter future, and the tools to see their life in new ways… today. For adults like Cordan who have a traumatic story, Cordan’s life and message show that it’s never too late to manifest the fearless imaginings of their childhood.

Cordan James Haveron is a motivational speaker, life coach, and the founder of The Comeback Kid Mentorship Program. Influenced by the WhyTry Program, he uses WhyTry today to support biological and adoptive families, veterans, and mental health professionals.

Dr Allison Farrington is the Principal of the Research and Service High School. She believes that strong community-school relationships are essential to academic and civic achievement. She navigated her school through the pandemic, where she faced food shortages and unprecedented challenges.

Dr Farrington empowers students to excel both inside and outside of the classroom. Control, Optimism, Resilience, and Empowerment are her school’s CORE values.

And she’s no stranger to adversity… Discover Allison’s story of resilience.

John Harrell manages a successful business, writes a blog, and regularly engages in public speaking. His audiences include corporations, trade associations, college students and incarcerated children-truly a "captive" audience. He encourages all to pursue their callings and not trade their potential for the security of a paycheck.

John is a fortunate survivor of childhood physical and emotional abuse. Because of his upbringing, Harrell is able to connect with struggling children, offering hope to kids, reminding them their futures are not limited by their circumstances. Everyone has the power within to break the generational malady of abuse and live a full life.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Rachel's Challenge, the largest program in the world which focuses on kindness and compassion. Named for Rachel Joy Scott, the first child killed at Columbine High School, Rachel's Challenge reaches 2 million people per year in 40 countries. John lives in Austin, Texas and is the proud father of two sons.

Magdalena Yesil is a founder, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author. She's been active in Silicon Valley for three decades. She was the founding board member and first investor in Salesforce, and she has invested in over 30 companies.

Magdalena was a pioneer in the commercialization of the Internet in its early days, helping it move out of the government and university domains and in establishing the infrastructure for e-commerce and financial transaction platforms.

She's the author of the book Power Up, and was featured as one of Silicon Valley's "Alpha Girls."

She started her career as a semiconductor design engineer at Advanced Micro Devices. She holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Industrial Engineering and Management Science and Engineering and a Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, all from Stanford University.

Dedication, Communication, Results- with a genuine smile on her face, and her office adorned with her beauty pageant crown hanging beside her Navy uniform.

Amen Mandela Rahh is the author of the book Revolutionary School Culture. He's known as the Revolutionary Principal for how he has built and founded University Pathways Public Service Academy, “The U,” an urban public school in South Central Los Angeles.

Principal Rahh distinguished himself in the classroom and as a school leader. As an middle school teacher in Watts, CA, he was selected as the turnaround teacher which ultimately helped him obtain his position as dean of students. As a principal, he founded one of the most highly-regarded schools in the area by students and parents.

Currently, Principal Rahh is one of the most engaging speakers for transforming the way schools serve their at-promise student populations in America. He is a published author of a chapter he wrote in the book titled Restorative Practices Meets Social Justice. He is also the recipient of many educational, professional and community awards.

He was born and raised from Compton, California in which he takes pride in saying. Amen received Associates Degree from Compton Community College, his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Black Studies, from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills. He holds two Master degrees in Education and in Special Education from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills. Amen is a certified trainer of trainers in Restorative Justice by the Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP). Amen began his Professional career as a Special Education Assistant.

Principal Amen Rahh was selected by to be the Founding Principal of University Pathways Public Service Academy “The U”. The U is currently in its second year and the school is already a model school for building a Restorative Community as well as establishing school-wide system to improve student achievement.