With Gratitude, Matt

Wayne Box Miller is an award winning media professional, communications veteran and diversity consultant. He is also the pre-game and post-game host for the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network, an author, and currently serving as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. Wayne’s philosophy is simple and effective, and sometimes is as easy as just saying “hello.” In his work with the Cincinnati Bengals, he also sees how sports can remove walls and connect people when they come together to rally for their favorite team. Wayne has also shared his wisdom on stage as a motivation speaker, as an activist, and the author of several books including From the Soul of a Man, The Power of Love, and his newest You Wake Up You Win – Developing a Winning Attitude in the Face of Adversity. Listen in to this entertaining conversation with Wayne as he shares many more stories and many of his guiding principles. You can also view the interview here on YouTube -https://youtu.be/Klt8b9X8IHQ 

An unexpected illness has many effects, physically and mentally, on a patient and on loved ones who surround that patient. When kidney cancer came around for a 2nd fight in 2018 with Matt, he went searching for ways to cope. One of the most common attributes he found with those who were successfully fighting a disease or some type of adversity in their life, was gratitude. The gratitude stories inspired Matt to begin his own gratitude practice and to learn more about caring for what Dr. Roy Vongtama’s calls the four houses of health – the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual houses. Feeding, balancing and connecting these 4 houses has made a significant difference in Matt’s recovery journey, but as you might expect, there is more work to do. March is once again Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, bringing attention to the 68,000 new kidney cancer cases and 14,000 deaths that will hit in the United States alone this year, making it the 6th most common cancer among men. Listen in as Matt reviews his journey and the many lessons he has learned from the support that has surrounded him (you can also watch on YouTube here). His uplifting message about finding positivity and awesomeness in every day is inspiring and drives his mission to help others fighting kidney cancer. To get behind Matt and the charge he is leading to bring more attention and funding to kidney cancer research, please visit Matt’s Kidney Cancer Fundraising page below. On behalf of Matt’s family and all those battling, many thanks for your support and generosity. Support Kidney Cancer page.

Fr. Michael Graham spent over 30 years at Xavier University in Cincinnati, first as an assistant history professor in 1989, then as the VP for University Relations in 1994, and lastly, from 2001 to 2021 as the longest-serving University President. Fr. Graham’s achievements as the XU president are far and wide and include expanding the campus 80 acres, raising 500 million for the university and joining the Big East conference to name a few. But what made Fr. Graham so effective as leader was his connection to the students and his staff. In this interview with Matt, Fr. Graham fondly recalls the stories of students he was able to help in their life journey at Xavier and how proud he is of the path they are on now, living as men and women for others. In addition, Matt and Fr. Graham talk Xavier basketball and how the University has grown to have a more national presence attracting students from all over the country with diverse backgrounds and talents. You can also view this conversation on YouTube here.

 Dr. Cara Hurley is a licensed clinical psychologist whose practices includes a broad range of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, life transitions, parenting approaches, grief, and trauma. She has specialized in many areas including women’s health, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Health Psychology all which inform her integrative approach to working with each client. The conversation with Matt takes aim at relationships and how we can do the simple things daily to make more deposits into a marriage than withdrawals  She offers suggestions to try (e.g., the 20 second hug), discusses the conflict killers such as criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling and addresses infidelity. A few other relationship specialists that she references include John Gottman and Esther Perel, both who have done valuable research and offer additional advice. For more about Dr. Hurley or the amazing work she does out of her Hinsdale, IL office, visit her website, http://www.cbtspecialistsofchicago.com/. If you wish to view this episode, go to the WGM YouTube page and watch here.

Whether it be running into an old friend, healing from a disease, or just a random song that shows up at the right time, we often attribute events in our lives to just an amazing coincidence.  Or could it be that these coincidences are God’s presence in our day and we just don’t see it? In this podcast, let your faith take a ride as Paul Zucarelli shares his story where he experienced death after he unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest and was revived through intercessory prayer by many. Let his faith be a testament of the purpose God has for us, the power of prayer and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our day and in our coincidences. Paul and his wife Beth sit down with Matt and talk about how Paul’s healing shined light on their true purpose of helping others become closer to Jesus. You can also learn more about Paul on his website https://faithunderstood.org/ or through his book, Faith Understood, An Ordinary Man’s Journey to the Presence of God available on Amazon.  You can also view this interview on YouTube here. 

In 2011, Dr. Tom Jenike was a family practice physician in Charlotte raising his son and daughter. From the outside, you could see layers of success and achievement. But on the inside was a different picture. In the balancing of a grueling schedule, a commitment to patients and the demands of family, something wasn’t right and Tom realized he had found some blind spots that needed to be addressed. He began working with executive coach, Nicholas Beaman, and over the course of a year found a name for what he was feeling - burnout. With this awareness, he dove in and began a personal growth journey that brought major life changes, deeper personal relationships, and a sense of renewal that inspired him to share this growth with others. His courage to share led his hospital system to create a pilot program and the opportunity for Dr. Jenike to transition to the Chief Well Being Officer for Novant Health. In this role, Dr. Jenike supports the resiliency, wellness and leadership of Novant’s 37,000 team members allowing other doctors, nurses, and staff the chance to address their own blind spots and find a healthier balance through this life-changing work. The impact has been beyond what anyone dreamed and is revitalizing careers, igniting personal relationships, and providing long-term tools to prevent burnout. Listen in or view on YouTube this candid and very personal story that Dr. Jenike shares with Matt. To learn more about this transformative work that Dr. Jenike and the Novant team are doing to build their culture, go the the Novant website or you may contact the department directly at [email protected]. 

Mary Curran Hackett is today a popular author of several novels and a highly sought after international ghostwriter. Her story to reach this point is inspiring and brave as she has risen up from a low point after surviving a rape over 20 years ago. This tragedy propelled her in many directions but it was these challenges that shaped many of her strengths today. In much of her writing and speaking engagements including this interview with Matt, she shares the wisdom from her journey and the foundation she now has. Many have benefited via her articles, blogs, and essays which have been featured in magazines, on the radio, anthologies, and on national television. She has now edited hundreds of books and ghostwritten over twenty published books for some of the world's leading executives, entrepreneurs, doctors, artists, celebrities, and religious leaders. Her novels include such hits as, Proof of Heaven (2011), Proof of Angels (2014), The Capital One Story (2020), and The Sephora Story (2020). Mary also previously taught writing and literature at the University of Cincinnati. Mary is also helping several clients write their own books, while still managing to find time to work on her own memoir and next novel. She is married to Greg Hackett and the proud mother of two children. To learn more about Mary, visit here here website - www.marycurranhackett.com. If you wish to see the video version of this interview, it can be viewed here - https://youtu.be/BuuYRIr0CAo

Brian Morris is a loving husband and father of 5 and the head golf pro at Ocean View Golf Course in Bermuda. He grew up around golf and always hoped for a chance to play in a PGA event. However in 2019, the 54 year old was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. He is today being treated regularly for his esophageal and stomach cancer. But supporting this treatment plan is his incredible spirit and positive approach which is helping him battle like crazy to keep beating the odds. His family and friends have been the beneficiaries of his brave battle. He got to celebrate with them all in October 2021 when a sponsor’s exemption allowed him to make his PGA Tour debut at the Bermuda Championship. It was a dream come true and truly a reward for his approach to how he lives every day. Enjoy this heart-warming interview and learn more about all the people Brian is inspiring. 

Luke Kuechly is considered to be one of the best NFL linebackers of all-time. He played 8 seasons with the Carolina Paranthers, beginning in 2012 when he led the league in tackles and won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In 2013, he became the youngest ever to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and began a streak of 6 straight Pro Bowl selections. Luke’s lists of awards piled up more each year including winning the NFL Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Winner in 2017 before retiring from the NFL in 2019. His athleticism, vision and feel for the game made every one of his teams better going back to his high school days at St. Xavier in Cincinnati where he helped his 2007 team go 15-0 and take the #1 ranking in the country. He then attended Boston College where he set a school record for tackles (2nd in NCAA) and was a 2 time All-American. Since retiring, Luke is focusing on his family and is enjoying his time hunting and fishing. In this interview, Matt and Luke discuss some of his career highlights and the roots of his character formation growing up in Cincinnati.

John Sabatalo is a man full of charisma and kindness who cares deeply about others. Early on he was called to be a coach and those characteristics helped him succeed on the field and in the boardroom for many years and for many teams. He is currently the President of Planes Companies in Cincinnati, Ohio where since 1991 he has helped grow the business into one of the premiere moving, warehousing, transportation, and logistics firms. The Cincinnati Enquirer consistently rates them as one of the top places to work and John will tell you it is because everyone is treated the same, as a trusted family member. In addition to Planes, John is the President of Global Workplace Solutions, a company that delivers global project management and workplace services to corporations, healthcare and lab facilities, hospitality companies, governmental agencies, and educational institutions. His prior coaching experiences still drive how he manages and motivates his teams. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts, he moved to Cincinnati to coach at the University of Cincinnati as a graduate assistant before going to St. Xavier High School for 6 years (’80-86) as the Offensive Coordinator before being named the school’s youngest athletic director. From 1986-1991, he was the head coach of Lakota High School where in his 4th season, he was named the Ohio Division 1 Coach of the Year. In this interview, John will talk candidly about the many lessons learned stepping into new roles, overcoming adversity, and how gratitude is a big part of his day. His infectious energy and passion for life spill into everything he does including being a dedicated husband to his wife Lynn and a loving father to his 2 boys, Brian and Stephen.