Two Dates and a Dash Podcast

From beauty pageants to black eyes, Mistie Layne went from becoming a prominent surgeon to facing forty years in prison after her horrific cocaine addiction forced her to rock bottom, when she took the life of another. In prison, she found strength in writing and developed a four step C.O.P.E.= HOPE method which walks you through releasing TOXIC GUILT, SHAME and ANGER. She believes SELF-FORGIVENES and LOVE is the key to true joy and inner peace, NOT depending on others for validation. After her prison release, she HUMBLY rebuilt a career in nuclear medicine and speaks fervently with PASSION to finally SHOUT to the world her “RAW TRUTH” of ugly dark secrets she spent so many years hiding. Her mission statement is simple; “FIND, LOVE and BE yourself. PULL YOURSELF UP!” By sharing her story of redemption, she hopes to educate and inspire a movement to JUDGE less and MENTOR more.

Gary J. Byrne served in federal law enforcement for thirty years, in the U.S. Air Force Security Police, the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service, and most recently as a Federal Air Marshal. While serving as a Secret Service Officer, Gary protected President Bill Clinton and the First Family in the White House. His first book, CRISIS OF CHARACTER, was a #1 New York Times bestseller.

Mary is motivated to reduce student college debt through her organization Thriving Athletes (www.thrivingathletes.org) and her upcoming athlete combine in Rockford, IL on April 12-13th. The combine will be an intensive athletic combine mixed with inspirational speakers and people in the college education industry. Mary is relentless in finding creative ways to help kids across the country attend college and play collegiate sports with minimal accruing debt!

As a player Brandon was a three year starter at defensive tackle for Joe Paterno at Penn State, playing in the 1995 Rose Bowl, 1996 Outback Bowl, and capping his career as the Defensive MVP of the 1997 Fiesta Bowl. He spent the next nine years in the NFL, playing for the 49ers, the Barcelona Dragons (NFL Europe), Dallas Cowboys, and the Washington Redskins. After retiring in 2005, Brandon went into college coaching, starting at West Chester University (DII) coaching outside linebackers and defensive lines for the Golden Rams over five seasons. He spent the next three seasons coaching defensive lines in the UFL with the Omaha Nighthawks, Coastal Carolina University, and Temple before leaving coaching to spend more time with his wife and three kids. Since leaving coaching Brandon has been busy as a broadcaster, hosting the DII Sports Podcast, The Obligatory PSU Pre Game Show, and as the game analyst for the Colonial Athletic Association game of the week on CBSdigital/College Sports Live.

Fox News Channel Anchor, Jillian Mele Jillian Mele is co-host of FOX News Channel’s (FNC) FOX & Friends First (weekdays 5-6 AM/ET) alongside Rob Schmitt. In addition, Mele serves as a member of FNC’s morning show franchise, FOX & Friends (weekdays 6-9 AM/ET) where she reports on the latest news headlines and contributes to daily segments. She joined the network in March 2017.

Prior to joining FNC, Mele served as a co-host on Comcast Sports Net Philadelphia’s (CSN Philly) local morning news program, Breakfast on Broad where she earned an Emmy Award for her work. Earlier in her career, Mele spent seven years with WCAU-TV (NBC 10) in Philadelphia, PA and reported in various capacities, including as a news, sports and traffic reporter. She got her on-air start as a local news anchor for stations in Presque Isle, Maine, and Binghamton, New York. Additionally, while enrolled in college, Mele held an internship with CSN Philly. Mele received a B.A. in arts and communication from La Salle University.

Dr. Dale Comstock is the Vice President for Intrepid Global Security Solution's, Inc. Critical Infrastructure Protection Division. Dale regularly works as a contract security specialist applying his skills and knowledge on myriad of security challenges around the world for various clients.

Dale retired from the U.S. Army in August of 2001, after serving 5 years in the 3rd Special Forces Group (Green Beret) as the Senior NCO on an A-Team; 10 years with the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (The Delta Force) as an assault Team Leader and Explosives Expert; he served 4 years with the 82nd Airborne Division as an Airborne Infantryman in a Long Range Reconnaissance Platoon; and he served 9 years as a Security Advisor in Afghanistan and Iraq in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT).

He has a Master of Arts Degree in Business and Organizational Security Management and a Post Graduate Degree in Alternative Medicines and Therapies. Since his retirement he has started several security companies specializing in nuclear, petrochemical, personal, and K-9 security.

Additionally he is a teacher for Henley-Putnam University in San Jose, California where he teaches Psychology of Violence, Technical Surveillance, Area Study Analysis, and Special Weapons; he is the Military Tactical Advisor for Falchion Enterprises, Inc.

Dale Comstock has studied the Martial Arts for 36 years. He has Black Belts in American Karate and Ju-Jitsu. Some of his achievements include: Professional Boxer; Tough Man Championships; Vale Tudo Championships; PKC Kick-boxing Championships.

Duche (Dutch) Bradley grew up without his biological father. Anger and loneliness filled the void. As he grew older, these emotions carried him from despondent child to street thug. Machine guns and shotguns, Saran wrapped crack cocaine, and bruised knuckles set the background for his life.

He consoled himself by swearing that though his father left him, he would never leave his son. Never. But as street pedaling drugs turned into a drug enterprise, his lifestyle caught up. A simple traffic stop turned into a gun to his head and a hog tie on the interstate and suddenly Duche Bradley was faced with decades in prison and a lifetime away from his son Bradley. His promise to his son would be broken.

Joe Battista is a former American ice hockey coach and sports executive. He is the author of “The Power of Pragmatic Passion - 7 Common Sense Principles for Achieving Personal and Professional Success.” From 2013 to 2015 he served as the Vice President of Hockey and Business Administration for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL) after 26 years at Penn State University. Since 2016 he has been the owner of Pragmatic Passion LLC consulting focusing on Keynote and Motivational Speaking, Success Coaching, and Business Development.

Battista graduated from Penn State University Smeal College of Business in 1983 with a degree in marketing. He has a total of 30 years coaching experience, with 512 wins and six ACHA national titles. Battista also coached Team USA in the 2003 World University Games. He is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Penn State Hockey Hall of Fame, and the Penn Hills Hall of Fame.

Battista has also worked in a variety of sports marketing and management positions with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Culver Military Academy. After his coaching days at Penn State, Battista served as Executive Director of the Nittany Lion Club for the University from 2006-2009. He was awarded the Division of Development and Alumni Relations "Ridge Riley Lion's Pride Award". Later, he became Director of Major Gifts at Smeal College of Business.

During his administrative time at Penn State, Battista was instrumental in securing the largest donation in the university's history, an $88 million gift from Terry & Kim Pegula for a new ice facility and to have Penn State Hockey become a Division I team. Battista, serving as Associate Athletic Director for Ice Arena and Hockey Operations, oversaw the building of the new double sheet Pegula Ice Arena and the development of the new Division I Men's and Women's programs.

After his successful years at Penn State, he was hired by the Buffalo Sabres, which is owned by Terry & Kim Pegula to become Vice President of Hockey and Business Administration. After 2 years with the Sabres, he left to become a private sports and fundraising consultant.

In 2016, Battista would become Executive Director and Chief Development Officer for the Lock Haven University Foundation.

Battista left the Lock Haven University Foundation to focus on his own business, Pragmatic Passion, LLC as a Motivational Speaker and Private Consultant. He also serves as the Vice President of Business Development for the National Athletic and Professional Success Academy (NAPSA) https://www.napsacademy.org

Daniel Gomez is the founder of Daniel Gomez Enterprises, a company devoted to developing and strengthening organizations and individuals.

Daniel is a Dynamic Motivational Keynote Speaker with 14 years experience in the arena of Leadership Development, Team Building, Sales Mastery, and Confidence Coaching. He is the International Best Selling Author of "You Were Born to Fly", a book written to inspire and give people the high-performance habits and confidence needed to be the leaders of their own destiny. Daniel is not just a motivational keynote speaker, he gives your organization the success principles, leadership skills, and champion's mindset to develop and build a winning team. He encourages them to "Be Original", to love and believe in themselves at all times, to value their own opinion, and to step out of their comfort zones.

Daniel knows what it's like to fear the unknown, having lost his mother as a child and facing death at the age of eighteen. He did not let his circumstances dictate the outcome of his life. His positive attitude and approach to life are what makes him very successful in his personal and professional life.

Daniel's energy and enthusiasm capture the audience's attention from the opening moments of his presentation. He engages and interacts with them throughout his presentation, his sole desire is to unlock the untapped potential in people's lives. Daniel loves connecting with his audiences and making it personal. He takes great pride in cultivating leaders and champions.

He raises the level of expectations in people's lives and helps them to change their limiting beliefs, giving them the tools necessary to succeed and live a positive life. What you can expect from Daniel is a highly energetic and engaging environment where he loves to include his audience in his presentations. You will receive a "Highly Motivated and Passionate Speaker" that speaks directly from the heart. Daniel believes in exceeding expectations, he customizes his presentations for each event.

What separates Daniel from other speakers is that he challenges his audiences throughout his talk to think, feel, and believe that it's never too late to begin something amazing! His authenticity attracts admiration from others, he believes in being truthful and from the heart. His vulnerability and honesty inspire transformation in people's lives. His unique way of relating and connecting with them is what makes your event special and memorable.

If you are an event planner looking for an authentic, motivating, and delightful speaker or presenter for your next conference or event, then Daniel Gomez is the speaker you have been looking for!

Sid Brumbach's life has been as unusual as his novel - "Unintended Consequences". He grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch country where he trained for power-lifting ultimately setting Teenage American and World Records. Launching from that success he became a Registered Nurse; worked as a cut man for professional boxers logging 907 fights including 55 title fights; returned to college obtaining a biology education degree, and worked in pharmaceutical sales. He lives and writes in northern Idaho.