For years, I believed my relationship with alcohol was just “normal.” On the surface, life looked fine—but underneath, I often felt disconnected, questioning my habits and wanting something more. Like so many, I lived in that quiet gray area where nothing seemed “bad enough” to change, yet something didn’t feel right.

Everything shifted when I began to gently question those patterns without judgment. What I discovered wasn’t just a different relationship with alcohol, but a deeper sense of clarity, self-trust, and freedom.

Today, as the Program and Coaching Manager with This Naked Mind,  I support others in exploring their own relationship with alcohol in a safe, compassionate way. I believe change doesn’t require shame or willpower—it starts with understanding. My work is about helping people reconnect with themselves and step into lives that feel more aligned, empowered, and fully their own.

In over 30 years in the motivation field, I have had 5 books published, I have spoken to 250 audiences in 11 states, I have written a nationally syndicated and award-winning column, and I am a quilt artist making quilts with words and symbols pieced into the design. In every case, as a speaker, author, columnist, and artist, I tell the stories of my life and hope others can glean life lessons from them. Additionally, I think of myself as a cheerleader with the message that life is difficult but that you can handle it. My newest book is what I hope to promote. It is called Chai on Life. The book has 36 slice of life stories with topics ranging from belly fat to Billy Joel. Each story has a full-color illustration that includes a one-line takeaway from the chapter. 

Dr. Jen Rafferty is an educator, an author, a TEDx speaker, and the founder of Empowered Educator, an organization transforming the culture of education by placing educator well-being at the center of school success. She holds a PhD in educational psychology, degrees in music education and vocal performance, and certifications in Emotional Intelligence and Neuro-Identity Evolution. As a former middle school music teacher, Jen knows firsthand the challenges and joys of life in the classroom, and the toll it can take when personal well-being comes last. Her own journey from burnout to balance ignited her mission to help educators reconnect with their purpose, restore their energy, and feel empowered as leaders both in and out of the classroom.

Nell 3D (Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey) is a Subtraction Activist, leadership strategist, and Forbes Leadership senior contributor who believes the most radical thing a high-achieving woman can do today is stop. Not quit, but stop adding, fixing, and pushing, and start subtracting what's in the way of the success that actually matters.

Nell works with leaders at organizations like Google, Bank of America, and the National Park Service, helping ambitious, big-hearted people build success that feels as good as it looks. She's the creator of Lead in 3D™ and the Stop, Drop, and Roll method, as well as Subtract to Succeed, a Substack newsletter with thousands of readers doing this work in real time.

She holds degrees from Harvard, Cambridge, Columbia, and London Business School, but has learned her most potent lessons from horses.

Stephen McConnell is a Personal Mastery and Leadership Coach and CEO of Growth Myndset Initiative. He draws from 30 years in the corporate world, including 20 years in manufacturing leadership, to help high-performing professionals and frontline leaders break through internal barriers and lead with clarity, confidence, and consistent action, without depending on motivation highs or burning themselves out.

After sobering up and reorienting his life toward service, Stephen immersed himself in coaching, mindset work, to guide others beyond limiting beliefs into genuine personal transformation. His approach is grounded in lived experience over theory and is supported by his forthcoming book, The Seven Laws of Personal Mastery. Each law offers a practical framework built around daily habits, environment, reflective questions, and the friction points that keep people stuck.

Stephen’s work centers on curiosity, intentionality, and sustainable growth. He helps leaders align who they are with how they lead.

Creative Empowerment Coach, Author, Poet, Pianist, Composer, and Podcaster Jenny Leigh Hodgins empowers individuals to rebuild trust in their creative process, restore energy, set mindful boundaries, and cultivate sustainable creative expression and inspired living. Anchored in her long-standing Buddhist practice and over 30 years of experience as a musician, teacher, and coach, she draws from her own burnout recovery journey and her life as a solo caregiver to guide others with spiritual, creative, and practical strategies for personal growth and authentic self-expression.

As the CEO of TRANSFORM YOUR PERFORMANCE, Transformational Leadership & Freedom Coach, Speaker and Author Regina Huber drives bold, conscious, and heart-centered leadership. She helps her clients become THRIVING LEADERS with THRIVING TEAMS by leveling up their leadership of themselves and their teams, while keeping stress levels low and energy high… and most importantly, inspiring everyone to live their freakin’ amazing lives.

With eclectic experience on 5 continents and through her frameworks, she guides her clients to recognize their own genius and potential, and to create the leadership, work and overall life that's right for them – while experiencing true freedom & power, in several languages. Regina has been featured on numerous podcasts, TV and radio shows, as well as magazines, and authored two books: Speak up, Stand out and Shine and Living My Freakin’ Amazing Life. She is also the host of RISE TO LEAD podcast.

Janet Polach, Ph.D. is a global executive coach and leadership strategist, distinguished speaker, award-winning author, and founder of strategic leadership firm In The Lead. She partners with C-suite and senior executives to elevate leadership from tactical execution to strategic impact—equipping leaders to think clearly, decide boldly, and lead with confidence in complexity. Drawing on decades of experience in the U.S. Marine Corps and senior roles at Deloitte, Korn Ferry, and CSC, Janet has coached hundreds of executives across global organizations in more than 20 countries. Her mindset-based frameworks integrate psychometrics, team effectiveness, and executive assessment to drive sustained performance and alignment. An ICF certified coach, Janet holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership and was named an Inc. Top Coach to Watch 2024.