Episodes
June 6, 2023
Bringing Freedom to Those Who have Been Exploited w/ Stacey Efaw
The war against sex trafficking and exploitation of children by predators who prey on them for profit or their own gratification may be the most important human rights battle of our time. This week’s conversation on Next Step...
May 30, 2023
Finding Purpose w/ Burke Bryant
Burke Bryant is an esteemed author, public speaker, and humanitarian whose life-saving contributions have garnered widespread recognition, including the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a veteran of ...
May 23, 2023
A Firefighter’s Journey Through PTSD W/ Christy Warren
Christy Warren, a retired fire captain from the Berkeley Fire Department in California and host of The Firefighter Deconstructed, walks the audience through a firefighter’s journey through PTSD on this week’s episode of Next ...
May 9, 2023
The Movement to End Sexual Exploitation w/ Dr. Stephany Powell
Dr. Stephany Powell provides a unique insight into the world of sexual exploitation and trafficking throughout her appearance on Next Steps Forward, which she gained from her thirty years with the Los Angeles Police Departmen...
May 2, 2023
Excellence Isn’t a Destination, It’s an Identity w/ Chad Hennings
This week’s guest on Next Steps Forward is someone who program host Chris Meek has respected and admired for a long, long time. Chad Hennings believes that in order to achieve a legacy of excellence, one must live a life of i...
April 25, 2023
First Responders and Mental Health w/ Dr. Jena Casas
The focus of this week’s installment of Next Steps Forward is first responders and mental health and program host Chris Meek is excited to welcome Dr. Jena Casas, an expert on the subject matter. Dr. Casas is a licensed clini...
April 18, 2023
Triumph Through Life w/ Alina Donahue
This week’s guest on Next Steps Forward is Alina Donahue, a human trafficking subject matter expert and survivor. She co-created the Shelly Stayer Shelter’s 18-month Human Trafficking Residential Program, a nationally recogni...
April 11, 2023
Finest Care: First Responder Mental Health w/ Nick Stefanizzi
Nick Stefanizzi is the Chief Executive Officer of Northwell Health’s direct-to-employer organization, Northwell Direct, which supports businesses through a full spectrum of customized employer health services. Next Steps Forw...
April 4, 2023
Taking Responsibility for Your Life w/ John Alite
As a boy, John Alite was born into a life of organized crime which led him to serve as the top hitman for John Gotti and the Gambino Crime Family. But living a life of crime came with many dangers and pitfalls, which eventual...
March 28, 2023
First Responder Health and Wellness w/ Dr. Anna Courie
Dr. Anna Courie leads AT&T’s commitment to First Responder Health and Wellness. Joining the team in May 2020, Dr.
March 21, 2023
Developing Compassion and Building Resilience w/ Dr. Rachel Turow
Dr. Rachel Turow is a psychotherapist, research scientist, mindfulness and compassion teacher, and an adjunct faculty member at Seattle University and at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She joins program host Chr...
March 14, 2023
It's the Cheeto w/ Dr. Elizabeth Klodas
Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, a cardiologist who trained at Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins and practices in Minneapolis, Minnesota, joins Chris Meek for another installment of Next Steps Forward. She’s the author of the book “Slay the...
March 7, 2023
Preparing to Survive in Today’s Reality w/ Brian Searcy
Brian Searcy is the President of The Paratus Group. Founded in 2019, the organization’s objective is to use Brian's decades-tested and proven leadership and training experience to solve a need for relevant, effective, trustwo...
Feb. 28, 2023
The Mindful Return w/ Lori Mihalich-Levin
Lori Mihalich-Levin believes in empowering working parents. She pursues this mission as the founder and CEO of Mindful Return, author of “Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave...
Feb. 21, 2023
Resilience in the Face of Adversity w/ Bryce Cherryholmes
SSgt Bryce Cherryholmes, USMC (Ret), served faithfully for eight years in the United States Marine Corps. During his first deployment, Cherryholmes incurred an initial back injury that became much worse over time. Due to the ...
Feb. 14, 2023
Eating Disorders & Body Image w/ Dr Dena Cabrera & Megan Kniskern
If you or someone you know is living with an eating disorder, today’s conversation could be a potentially life changing, or even life saving, one. This Week Dr. Dena Cabrera and Megan Kniskern join program host Chris Meek to ...
Feb. 7, 2023
The Micro of the Macro
Joel Lesses founded the Education Training Center as a means of counseling those marginalized by trauma, addiction and psychological distress, and its effects including incarceration, homelessness and institutionalization. He...
Jan. 31, 2023
Involved Health w/ Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi
Next Steps Forward host Chris Meek is excited to welcome Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi to the program to discuss timely topics surrounding wellness, such as how to reduce the stigma around mental health, how to improve mental healt...
Jan. 24, 2023
Lessons in Faith from a Fragile Life w/ Bob Vander Plaats
God often uses the weakest among us to make the greatest impact. Bob Vander Plaats, President and CEO of The FAMiLY LEADER whose gospel-first mission is to strengthen families by coming alongside the Church and inspiring Chri...
Jan. 17, 2023
Taking Division out of Diversity Conversations w/ Karith Foster
Karith Foster is a Diversity Engagement Specialist whose signature programs are impacting lives at academic institutions, organizations and corporations across America. Now, she is joining Chris Meek on Next Steps Forward to ...
Jan. 10, 2023
A Passion for Healing w/ Dr. Dawson Church
Dr. Dawson Church is an award-winning science writer with three best-selling books to his credit and the founder of the EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Universe with a mission to bring the healing benefits of EFT tapping a...
Jan. 3, 2023
Taking Charge of Your Mental Health w/ Ross Szabo
Thank you for joining Next Steps Forward as we launch into 2023 with a continued commitment to helping improve your wellbeing, become even more empowered and achieve more than you ever thought possible. As always, it's an hon...
Dec. 27, 2022
Sleep and Recovery w/ Vitalijus Majoravas
Vitalijus Majoravas is a sleep biohacker, certified sleep and recovery coach, certified Buteyko clinic breathing instructor and co-founder of Pulsetto, who has spent more than ten years in the sleep products industry. On this...
Dec. 20, 2022
Sum of Parts w/ Kimberley Tent
Constable Kimberley Tent is an author, poet, retired police officer and owner of Apothic Entertainment. In her book “Parts of Me,” Kimberley details how she had given up on life and her battle with post-traumatic stress disor...