Social Advocacy Episodes

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome Terry McGuire, a certified peer specialist and the founder of the nonprofit organization Giving Voice to Mental Illness, Inc. With over eight years of experience hosting the podcast *Giving Voice to Depression*, Terry shares her powerful journey through mental health challenges and her mission to foster understanding and connection among those affected by depression. Terry opens up about her own battles ...

Send us Fan Mail In this dynamic episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome Leslie Short, a trailblazer in the realms of business, culture, and accessibility. As the founder of the GAVU Group, Leslie has dedicated her career to breaking stereotypes and expanding possibilities for organizations. With a rich background as a classical ballet dancer and a successful entrepreneur, she has navigated diverse landscapes from Japan to corporate America, proving that there is no box too con...

Send us Fan Mail Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome Jesse Crosson, the founder of the Second Chancellor Foundation and author of the memoir *The Best Part of Prison*. Jesse shares his extraordinary journey of transformation, detailing his struggles with addiction and the life-altering consequences that led to a 32-year prison sentence. Through resilience and hard work, Jesse turned his life around, earning a pardon after 19 years and...

Send us Fan Mail In this impactful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome Larry Agee, co-founder and executive director of Disaster Aid USA, a nonprofit organization that has provided an astounding $2.5 million in disaster relief over the past year. Larry, a U.S. Army veteran and seasoned financial planner, shares his journey from military service to disaster relief, driven by a passion for helping communities in crisis. With experience in over 70 disaster missions across the ...

Send a text In this exciting episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we chat with Carlos Castillo, co-founder of Direct Book Me, a platform revolutionizing the short-term rental industry. With a wealth of travel experience spanning 40 countries and 30 U.S. states, Carlos shares his journey from healthcare to entrepreneurship and his vision for building authentic connections between hosts and guests. He discusses how Direct Book Me empowers property owners by allowing them to retain 100% o...

Send a text In this insightful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome Saul Cohen, a seasoned accounting and acquisitions advisor dedicated to empowering business owners to transition from operators to investors. Saul shares his passion for entrepreneurship and the pivotal role it plays in fostering community and societal change. He elaborates on his journey from working at PwC to specializing in acquisitions advising, highlighting the importance of understanding business valua...

Send us a text In this insightful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we are joined by Brad Dude, a leadership authority with over 40 years of experience in management and consulting. Brad shares his remarkable journey from working with the Peace Corps to teaching leadership courses for prestigious organizations like NASA. We delve into his diverse body of work, including his novels that tackle pressing social issues, particularly in his book "Finding Eden," which explores the harrowi...

Send us a text In this enlightening episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Dr. John Cusatis, founder and CEO of Aquatic Research Laboratory. A dedicated US Air Force veteran and first responder, Dr. John shares his mission to enhance public health and safety through innovative water treatment solutions. He recounts his journey from raising northeastern blue tilapia to developing groundbreaking products like Aqua Dichlor and Fluoride Be Gone, aimed at eliminating harmful ...

Send us a text In this impactful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome crime prevention specialist Stephanie Mann, who brings over 40 years of experience in violence prevention. Stephanie shares her personal story of resilience, having been abandoned in Mexico City at the age of 15, and how this experience shaped her mission to foster safer neighborhoods. With alarming statistics showing that one in five high school students experience neighborhood violence, Stephanie emphasi...

Send us a text In this enlightening episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we are joined by Jeffrey Nuziard, the visionary founder of Sexual Wellness Centers of America. At just 40 years old, Jeff faced a personal health crisis that could have defined his future, but instead, it ignited a passion to help others reclaim their sexual health. He shares his remarkable journey of developing a patented protocol that boasts a 97.2% success rate in treating erectile dysfunction, offering hope to...

Send us a text In this inspiring episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Kurt Avery, the founder and president of Sawyer Products, a company dedicated to innovative outdoor protection and humanitarian aid solutions. Kurt shares his remarkable journey from the corporate world to creating life-saving products, including water filtration systems and insect repellents. With a marketing background and an MBA, Kurt's vision for Sawyer Products was born out of a desire to provi...

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Dr. David Marcus, a seasoned clinical psychologist and author, to discuss the complexities of parenting in today's fast-paced society. With over 40 years of experience, Dr. Marcus shares his insights on the challenges parents face, from the impact of social media to the importance of effective communication with children. He emphasizes the need for parents to develop emotional language skills...

Send us a text In this powerful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we are joined by Emma Lyons, a trauma-informed healer and the founder of the Trauma Matrix. Emma shares her transformative journey from aspiring human rights lawyer to a dedicated advocate for women seeking to break free from the shame voice that has hindered their relationships, success, and visibility. She delves into the concept of the inner narcissist—a toxic voice that many carry within—and offers a fresh perspec...

Send us a text In this enlightening episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we have the pleasure of speaking with Kay Neal, a passionate advocate for Latin language education. Kay shares her mission to make Latin accessible and enjoyable for everyone, emphasizing its value in enhancing linguistic awareness and vocabulary. She discusses her personal journey of overcoming challenges in learning Latin and her determination to help others succeed where they might feel defeated. Listeners will...

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Alex Kain, an author, entrepreneur, and systems thinker who has founded the Philosophy, a social movement that challenges traditional notions of happiness and success. Alex shares his journey from a diverse career path, including roles as a private investigator and stand-up comedian, to discovering his passion for technology and social responsibility. He discusses the four key relationships t...

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we are joined by Julian Raven, an artist, author, and passionate advocate for free speech. Julian takes us on a journey through his eight-year battle with the Smithsonian Institution, sparked by his creation of a 7x15 portrait of Donald Trump. He shares the challenges he faced after submitting his artwork to the National Portrait Gallery, detailing the surprising rejection he received and the subsequent legal...

Send us a text In this powerful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Thomas R. Wilson, an inspiring author, community leader, and advocate dedicated to the neurodiverse and mental health communities. Thomas shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a recognized figure in advocacy and sensory-friendly event coordination. He discusses the importance of accessibility, the nuances of sensory-friendly events, and the Employment First movement, ...

Send us a text Welcome to another inspiring episode of Living the Dream with Curveball! Join us as we dive into the impactful journey of Tava Scott, CEO and chief consultant of T. Scott Consulting. Tava shares her profound experiences in social services, from her early days in Louisiana to her current mission of elevating care standards across multiple states. Discover how her passion for helping others led to the creation of a consulting firm dedicated to improving service quality for vulner...

Send us a text Vulnerability becomes a superpower in this raw, emotional conversation with author Terrell Latchinson, who transforms personal tragedy into purpose through writing and advocacy. After losing his brother to PTSD-related complications a decade ago, Latchinson found himself turning to writing as a therapeutic outlet – eventually launching a career crafting fiction that tackles mental health issues within minority communities. The power of Latchinson's story lies in its authentici...

Send us a text What would compel a successful executive to walk away from his career to build beds for children? For Luke Mickelson, it was the shocking discovery that kids in his community were sleeping on the floor. That realization sparked a mission that has since transformed into Sleep in Heavenly Peace, now the world's largest bed-building charity with 400+ chapters across four countries. Luke's journey began in 2012 when he learned about a family whose children had no beds. What starte...

Send us a text What happens when cultural identity, activism, and groundbreaking storytelling converge? Amber Afzali brings this powerful intersection to life as she joins us to discuss her starring role in "Rule Breakers," the inspiring Angel Studios film that chronicles Afghanistan's first all-girls robotics team. Born to Afghan immigrant parents and raised in America, Amber shares her unique journey of balancing dual identities while developing a deep passion for her cultural heritage. This ...

Send us a text Disability advocacy transcends ramps and automatic doors—it's about creating a world where everyone belongs in every aspect of community life. Jenna Udenberg joins us to share her powerful journey from diagnosis with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age seven to becoming an author, disability advocate, and accessibility educator. Diagnosed in the late 1980s and using a wheelchair since age eight, Jenna navigated a world before the Americans with Disabilities Act established basic...

Send us a text What if improving company profits and creating a more diverse workforce weren't competing goals but complementary ones? Paolo Gaudiano, founder of DEI tech company Aleria, flips conventional wisdom on its head with his revolutionary approach to workplace inclusion. With advanced degrees in aerospace engineering and neuroscience, Paolo brings a unique analytical perspective to diversity challenges. "I like to joke that I'm the white elephant in the room," he shares, acknowledging ...

Send us a text When Mark MacNicol stepped into a maximum security prison in 2016 to lead a theatre project with inmates serving life sentences, he couldn't have predicted how profoundly it would change his career trajectory. A writer, director, and producer by trade, MacNicol found himself captivated by the therapeutic potential of creative expression—particularly for those who would never identify as "creative types." This revelation birthed Anonymous Drama, a groundbreaking approach that has ...