Never Ever Give Up Hope

What do you do when life sends trauma and pain where you hoped for love and kindness?  Have you felt broken? Betrayed? Traumatized? Rena Groot endured years of abuse that could have destroyed her. But she realized she had a choice to allow it to make or break her spirit.  Rena was abandoned, rejected, and unloved during her entire childhood while being tossed into horrific foster care homes repeatedly. By the time she was 21 years old, she did not know if she wanted to live another day and then a miracle sprung into her life.    As a little girl walking into her first-grade classroom, she was awestruck and knew she wanted to be a teacher. She was able to realize that dream and earned a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Religious Education. She taught in Canada and China where she wrote her memoir under a mosquito net and became addicted to writing.  Rena became an ambassador with "The Department of Eternal Affairs" for Haiti, Belize, the Ghetto in New York City, behind the Iron Curtain in Poland and Rom

Todd Christianson is an author, podcaster, speaker, Accredited Financial Counselor®, certified HUD housing counselor, and education manager at Money Fit by DRS. Todd has facilitated thousands of personal finance workshops and one-on-one counseling sessions since 2004, helping consumers of all backgrounds and income levels regain control of their finances, get out of debt, rebuild their credit, and create a brighter financial future. He published Everyday Money for Everyday People in 2014 and 50+ on FIRE in 2021. Todd maxed out his first credit card in less than 36 hours and was in credit card debt for nearly a decade before making changes. Now he is an award-winning author and creator of personal finance resources.  Todd Christenson understands despair including financial despair and the difficulty of raising his two-year-old son after his wife lost the battle with cancer. His story will touch you, encourage you, and motivate you. Since 1996, the 501 (C)3 nonprofit Money Fit by DRS (Debt Reduction Services

Until the age of 35, Barry Braun’s life was all about money. He had made lots of money and lost lots of money. Then something happened which made him wonder what the purpose of life really was about. Barry’s story helps us understand some of the struggles we often go through while achieving success.     After Barry experienced a deep self-reflection exercise lasting 18 months, he concluded that life was about service to others. He created a successful coaching practice that focused on entrepreneurs connecting to their sense of purpose. This became a competitive advantage by bringing social purpose to their businesses.   Looking forward to his grandchildren's future, he shifted focus to mitigating the outcomes they would likely experience by changing how we relate to our communities.        Barry Braun founded Happy Community Project to help communities realize the support the next generation will need and make them happier places to live.   HappyCommunityBuilders.com is bringing community developers toget

Bob DePasquale was diagnosed with cancer and experienced a terrible act of terrorism within a few days.  He thought the world was coming to an end.   Bob had always believed in taking care of the things he had been blessed with by helping others do the same. His perspective derived from his battle with cancer and his life threatened at the age of 18. After this experience, Bob realized the powerful force that the giving mindset is after experiencing his life-threatening illness and the terrorist attacks. He spent 15 years learning how to apply giving principles in his own business and it is now his mission to help others do the same. Organizations that have a generous culture are bound to attract better employees and better customers. Bob would not be around to speak if it were not for some amazing acts of generosity. Generosity is a Lifestyle Are you aware we tap, swipe, and click our devices an average of 2,617 times per day? Online advertising has rapidly increased and is now almost everywhere - from

Jim Barnard has dealt with disappointment and distress many times which led to significant depression. His wife, Alisha, had two near-death experiences and was not able to carry a pregnancy to term - adding to Jim's severe anxiety. But this is only the beginning of the story of how Jim and Alisha turned the impossible into the possible.     When Jim Barnard and Alisha planned their future together as husband and wife, they had no inkling that three months later Alisha would be fighting for her life. Their story will touch you but it will also change you as Jim shows us how to deal with any type of suffering you may encounter. Three months into their marriage, Alisha was not able to keep any food down and was diagnosed with a rare chronic illness - Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. She suffered greatly in a downward trajectory.  Jim has great insight into coping with tragedy as Alisha went through countless surgeries, tests, treatments, and therapies which failed to solve the rapid downfall she continues to experience

After being Dream Crushed by Corporate America, Debra Krusz listened to her inner voice which said “Leave this place” and she started writing. She is now a published author, blogger, coach, and consultant. Following the wrong dreams got her to low depressed areas in her life. Then she found the solution.     Debra is a survivor of crushed dreams and an expert in dream rescue. If your dream is a long-buried seed or a squashed bud, Debra can help you replant it, nurture it, and bring it to full bloom. Her program is ideal for employers who want to make an investment in their employees by making them the most successful version of themselves. Your employee morale will rise, productivity will increase, and turnover will decrease as a result of this dream pollination.  Your dreams are uniquely made for you for a reason This novel is told through the perspective of a young man named Maximo, who was a dream in his mother Maria's eyes. She did all that she could for the love of Maximo before he was even born

Dr. Tara Hines-McCoy is a compelling communicator and educator who uses her gifts, her experiences, and her faith to inspire women to take action and awaken their careers. Dr. Tara has been a rising thought leader in corporate America for over 15 years specializing in Human Resources. She has worked for Fortune 500 and multinational companies with multi-state and regional leadership roles. Her professional approach equips leaders with the tools needed to improve business performance and increase employee engagement.   Her vibrant personality aids in her ability to connect with people on all levels by encouraging them to move past their failures, define their character, and turn uncertainty into passion. As a former Global HR Professional, Dr. Tara founded DRTARASPEAKS: Up or OUT program to help women awaken their careers. Too often women overstay their welcome in organizations because they are waiting for someone to make the decision for them to leave and move forward.   Get Your Copy Here This handwri

"You will never conceive naturally." Those words are harsh, painful, and heard too often by women who want nothing more than to be a mom. It can leave a woman feeling helpless and ashamed. Christina McClelland is an Atlanta-based author and supporter of women's health advocacy. Christina grew up in Alabama, attended the University of Alabama with a B.A. in English Literature, and became one of the youngest art gallery directors in Atlanta at age 28 before committing to her writing career full-time in 2014.  Christina shares her story as an encouragement to women everywhere. Feeling alone is the worst feeling that exists. It is isolating, and depressing, and lends itself to hopelessness. The beauty of discovering that you are NOT alone can be life-changing.    Christina introduced an exciting and effective method to help you and your family (especially teens) express their core feelings in a safe place. She shares the Core Feelings Board in her interview.      And...she shares TWO important words that wi

Ryan Lindner had two sudden unexplained cardiac arrests at a young age. This forced him to explore different perspectives from profound, life-changing events. Priorities change when time becomes precious. Problems look different when you have no energy left to give them.  "If you are not living, then you are dying." - Ryan Lindner You CAN start living. Every. Single. Day.  Ryan Lindner is a personal development specialist who has worked as a behavioral coach for clients and top organizations all over the world. After two sudden, unexplained cardiac arrests at a young age, he began to explore different perspectives with clients that come with any profound, life-changing event. It was not uncommon for Ryan to teeter on unconsciousness even while working with a client, requiring him to prioritize his own energy and time masterfully, and assisting clients to do the same.  Marathon runners do not talk much on mile 20 - they choose to breathe Ryan has conducted thousands of coaching sessions, has led operations f

After being a primary caregiver for her mother for over six years, author Lynn Abate-Johnson understands the typhoon of emotions and responsibilities that come with caring for a loved one. However, she discovered how to blossom through (and after) caregiving rather than let it drown her.  By using her natural organizational skills and her solid work ethic, she developed systems and processes to help navigate the difficult journey of caregiving, which allowed her to go from “What am I going to do without my mom?” to “I know I can thrive after she’s gone–just as she would want.” Like most caregivers, Lynn juggled caregiving duties with a full-time career. In her daily life, she’s a business consultant and global community builder.  Caregivers are worthy of the same love, care, and attention they give their loved ones, which means they need emotional and logistical support to help them thrive. Unfortunately, it can take copious hours of research to find the resources they need, which leaves them feeling drained,

Have you ever been at such a low point in your life that you begged your partner to leave you? Have you felt helpless with the ongoing struggle of trying to lose weight? And what about anxiety and depression that becomes overwhelming? Coach Jon shares his incredible story of how he won the battle and lost 100 pounds. He is now a weight loss coach and emotional eating expert, a nanotechnology researcher,  a Navy Marine engineer, and a globetrotting nomad.  Coach Jon has found his calling -- and it is to help you lose weight for good and leave the bogus diets in the rearview mirror.  With Freedom Nutrition Coaching he marries the Science of Metabolism with the Psychology of Behavior Change and the compassion of human connection to create life-changing transformations for each of us. Coach Jon struggled with PTSD, trauma, obesity and mental health issues spending years on diets, methods, coaching, etc. that were entirely ineffective as a long-term strategy for creating health. In his interview, Coach Jon shares

After eight years of military service, Sgt. Q suffered from depression, anger, and panic attacks and was diagnosed with PTSD. He nearly ended his own life in the parking lot of a church. Aaron Quinonez (Sgt. Q) endured a rough upbringing before becoming a proud Marine. He was trained to fight the enemy and was prepared for war.  When he volunteered for a combat tour in Iraq, ne did not realize his real battle would be fought in his mind. Aaron is a Marine 1st Anglico veteran who specialized in communication as a forward observer. He holds billets for Naval Weapons Security Management and Close Combat Instructor. He received badges for expert marksmanship and master parachutist. Sgt. Q is an award-winning author of Healing Through Service originally aimed at struggling veterans, which also offers help for anyone in crisis and may be your ticket to a more fulfilled life.  From homeless and on the brink of suicide to founding a multi-million dollar company with over 100 employees, Reliable Commercial Cleaning an

Marlena Fiol, PhD. is a globally recognized author, scholar, and speaker. She explores the depths of who we are and what is possible in our lives. Her significant body of publications on the topic, coupled with her own raw identity-changing experiences, makes her uniquely qualified to write about personal transformational change. She holds an MBA and a Ph.D. in Strategic Management and has taught in the faculties of New York University and the University of Colorado.  Marlena's mission is to share true stories of survival against all odds to inspire us to become the truest and most authentic versions of ourselves. In her interview, she shares her journey from an abusive upbringing in Paraguay to escape, love, and loss in the United States and finally on to forgiveness and reconciliation. Marlena was physically abused as a child, sexually abused as a teenager, disowned by her father, and banned from participating in her Mennonite church -- all before her 18th birthday. And that is only the beginning of her ama

"Change is inevitable. How we embrace it determines our contraction or expansion." -- Dr. Lin Morrel Dr. Lin spent her childhood suffering from neglect, emotional abuse, familial alcoholism, and mentally ill caregivers.  Dr. Lin managed her challenges by developing hypersensitivity as a coping mechanism. Life changed when she began practicing martial arts at 15. Within a short period of time, she started teaching. Dr. Lin developed confidence, moved out at 17 for safety, worked part-time jobs through college, and sought refuge in work and education. During that time she grew her martial arts skills and fell in love with another martial arts enthusiast. After 13 years the relationship turned toxic and abusive due to mental illness. Dr. Lin found the courage to divorce. She fell in love again and was happily married for three years. Then in the span of a year, her mother and husband died in separate accidents, and her home and retreat center burned down. She was single and devastated and her past family trauma

Cast Your Vote for the Person You Are Becoming The Million Dollar Body Method Will Be The Last “Diet” You Ever Need. You may be thinking this is just one more expert talking about weight loss. You are in for a major surprise! Nate helps people get into the best shape of their lives using simple training & nutrition frameworks and without tracking a single calorie. Nate Palmer is a fitness and nutrition expert, coach, speaker, and writer who believes that being in incredible shape gives a massive advantage in business, focus, and relationships. He will inspire you to make easy changes in your life that will make a huge difference. Nate Palmer is a dad, husband, and the number one bestselling author of The Million Dollar Body Method and Passport Fitness. During his interview you will learn: Why breakfast is TRULY the most important meal of the day, and how it can improve your performance across the board What three pieces are INTEGRAL in a morning routine if you want high performance Calories aren’t ju

After a happy marriage of 34 years and two children, Barbara Mojica’s husband decided he wanted an open marriage so he could have a dual life with a younger woman. She filed for divorce, picked up the pieces, met and married her soul mate, and carved out a new life as an author and mentor. Barbara Ann Mojica has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees in History as well as graduate certifications in school supervision and administration from C W Post College, Long Island University. Barbara has been a lifelong educator in the fields of early childhood and special education, having spent 40 years as a teacher, principal, and school district administrator. Barbara currently authors historical articles under her banner Passages for The Columbia Insider and is writing her own award-winning children’s book series Little Miss HISTORY. We are all history-makers. It is impossible to understand what is happening today if we do not understand how we got here. Yesterday plus today equal tomorrow. My motto is

Do you love budgeting and giving up the things you love to save more? Does the lack of funds cause you to stress? If so, you are not alone.  When Gordon Stein lost his executive role, he owed $555,000, had three young children, and was looking for a new high-tech executive role in the middle of the “tech wreck” recession in the early 2000s. In his interview, Gordon will share his CASHFLOW COOKBOOK - $2 million of financial freedom in 60 easy recipes. The shocking state of financial wellness The 10-minute first step to building wealth The one number to track to build wealth Why budgeting can limit your wealth How to add $1 Million to your wealth in 10 hours of work The easy way to streamline your banking Gordon Stein is an international keynote speaker, blogger, personal finance expert, and author of Cashflow Cookbook - $2 Million of Financial Freedom in 60 Easy Recipes. He delivers transformational talks that help people crush their number one stress – their finances.   His mission is to impro

In 2013, Colleen Murphy's daughter, Lauren, was hit by a car and suffered severe brain damage. This is a miracle story you do NOT want to miss.  Colleen Murphy is a wife, mother of seven, author, and public speaker.  Tragedy struck Colleen’s family when her second oldest daughter, Lauren, was hit by a car and suffered severe brain damage. Colleen’s main focus became helping piece Lauren back together again. With the help of specialists from all over the country, her family and friends, as well as her strong faith, she was able to do just that.  Today, Colleen and Lauren speak together as a team, inspiring thousands of people by sharing the details of Lauren’s tragic accident, never-give-up attitude, and miraculous recovery. Colleen shares this raw, incredible story in her interview and how to unlock hope -- when life seems hopeless:   "There are several low points in the book but one that stands out was when Lauren was an inpatient at RIC and they sent her to Northwestern Hospital for a CT scan, the nurse at

Children should feel unconditionally valued and accepted regardless of birth circumstance, race, or ability— Trisha Campbell and her family rose to this challenge and adopted five hungry orphans.  Trisha had three biological children but decided to ignore the stigma of white families adopting multi-racial children.  Trisha K. Campbell is a mother, author, and advocate. After questioning her faith and volunteering in a third-world country, Trisha realized her true calling and God’s purpose for her life. A blended family with several special needs children came with many challenges. During her interview, Trisha shares the pain, struggle, setbacks, and rewards of adopting and caring for a transracial family.  

How do you build a healthy relationship with your family when you grew up in a dysfunctional one? Are you ready to create that life and family you dream and desire? Would you like to know how to break off generational dysfunction?  Phylis Mantelli is the author of the book Unmothered - Life with a Mom who Couldn't Love Me. She is a coach, mentor, speaker, and passionate advocate for helping women break off generational dysfunction.  Through all the mess, even in her own journey of trials and mistakes, Phylis breaks through the pain and replaces it with the heart of a daughter who loves her mom unconditionally until her mom's passing in 2007. After a failed marriage and the death of her baby boy, Phylis believed she did not deserve a happy life and family. She was broken. But she found her WORTH and can help you find yours too. Your determination and life survival skills only last so long - Phylis shares how you can love unconditionally and overcome the pain of the past. Phylis offers a six-week Patience and G