Next Steps Forward host Chris Meek is honored to welcome legendary auto racing driver, Bobby Rahal, who most famously won the Indianapolis 500 in 1986 to the program. In an 18-year career spanning F1, Can-Am, Le Mans/IMSA and CART, Mr. Rahal’s name is widely known across the world having garnered three CART championships, along with wins at the 1981 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1987 12 Hours of Sebring endurance races. Chris is honored to know Mr. Rahal personally, having founded the nonprofit SoldierStrong which benefits greatly from Mr. Rahal’s many philanthropic efforts. Throughout the hour, Mr. Rahal will discuss his iconic career in auto racing, his role as a principal at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and his focus on philanthropy and bettering the communities in which his businesses serve.

Dr. Gary Reiss is a licensed clinical social worker and certified trainer in process-oriented psychology in private practice in Eugene and Portland, Oregon, who joins program host Chris Meek on Next Steps Forward to discuss his work teaching process-oriented psychology worldwide for more than 35 years. His specialties include family therapy, sex therapy, working with coma patients, worldwork in hot spots in the world, organizational development and integrating process work with different spiritual traditions. He is the director of The International Peace Group and the founder and director of the Rivers Way Community Clinic in Portland, Oregon. In addition to finding the time to do all that, he’s the author of 14 books, including Healing History, Process-Oriented Facilitation and Getting off the Wheels, a Process-Oriented Approach to Personal and World Liberation. Throughout the hour, Dr. Reiss will draw on his extensive experience teaching, counseling and facilitating individuals and groups to walk the audience through how he has developed unique techniques for applying process oriented awareness skills with the goals of enhancing deep development while reducing suffering, both personally and collectively.

Samantha Baltadonis, owner and CEO of Strive Solutions and senior manager at a Fortune 5 company where she provides Organization Development Consulting and Leadership and Transformation Coaching, joins program host Chris Meek on this installment of Next Steps Forward. Sam advocates for creating healthy organizations that prioritize the well-being of individuals, emphasizing that kindness and empathy do not need to be separate from exceptional business results. She will speak to her mission to fundamentally alter corporate America’s approach to workplace expectations and engagement by leveraging trauma-informed leadership to go beyond emotional intelligence to understand the psychological and physiological elements to overstimulation and burnout. She will walk the audience through how she empowers leaders to respond to the complex and evolving needs of their teams with empathy and compassion. Listeners will be inspired to take control of their lives and align with their true values and desires to enable true, lasting transformation.

On this installment of Next Steps Forward, Strategic Communications Executive Jackie Gulley joins program host Chris Meek to discuss her experiences as an executive in global communications, marketing, and digital strategy advising clients on executive coaching, brand development, corporate strategy and media relations. Through her work in corporate branding, she built a strategy of outreach and advocacy for business executives with regulators, third party groups, think tanks, trade associations, influencers and media. Jackie’s experience in corporate life served as the launching pad for her career as an executive coach - with her years leading global employee communications, crisis and issues management, strategic messaging, and executive communications, she developed the tools and methodologies to help her clients succeed. As she will share with the Next Steps Forward audience, her secret to success is understanding the dynamic and ever-evolving role of leaders today. Audience members are encouraged to tune in to learn about how Jackie expands the presence and creates strategies to thrive for businesses and high achieving executives, increases productivity and visibility for employers and their businesses and helps entrepreneurs grow and expand.

Donna Rice Hughes is the President and CEO of Enough Is Enough ® (EIE), an internationally known internet safety expert, author, speaker and Emmy-Award winning producer. She joins Chris Meek on this installment of Next Steps Forward to share her vision which helped to birth the internet safety movement in America at the advent of the digital age and how, since 1994, she has been a pioneering leader on the frontlines of U.S. efforts to make the internet safer for children and families. Throughout the hour she will share steps to prevent internet-initiated crimes against children through education, equipping and empowering parents, educators and caring adults with the knowledge and resources they need to protect children, as well as cyber security risks and dangers related to social networking, online gaming and mobile devices. Ms. Rice Hughes uses evidence-based curriculum to equip adults to implement both safety rules and software rules when it comes to youth’s internet enabled devices.

Fundrage founder Maria Underwood brings her over ten years of experience in fundraising, business and social media strategy to the Next Steps Forward audience, offering her unique knowledge of the how and why behind donor giving. Throughout her appearance on the program, she will discuss the success she has experienced in all types of fundraising campaigns, including major events, corporate sponsorships, peer-to-peer fundraising, grassroots grant writing and major gifts, as well as trends in the nonprofit sector, what drives millennial giving and secrets to success for digital fundraising. The audience will gain insight behind her mantra “Don’t get mad, get giving,” and will be inspired to give to the causes that the mean the most to them.

Stan Gibson is passionate about delivering powerful stories, science-based research and real world strategies that help high-achieving leaders experience renewed energy, uncover creative solutions and unleash their team’s true potential! The corporate executive turned author, entrepreneur, speaker and success coach, joins Chris Meek in this installment of Next Steps Forward to share his message that will both inspire and engage the audience to find greatness. Mr. Gibson’s mix of strategies found on both the athletic field and in the business world are timely to leaders wanting a reset at home and in the workforce. Those looking for information about transformative and powerful leadership strategies and training will find just that and more throughout the hour!

Eric Caron served honorably for 25 years as a distinguished Special Agent and Diplomat for the U.S. Government, where he held senior positions within Homeland Security and INTERPOL and managed world-wide covert operations relating to Iran, China and Russia’s illegal acquisition of weapons of mass destruction. He joins program host Chris Meek in this installment of Next Steps Forward to discuss his endeavors in furthering the interests of U.S. National Security, including his work leading covert operations relating to human trafficking, child pornography, terrorism, money laundering and drug smuggling. Mr. Caron has spent his life lending both his knowledge and expertise to the country’s continuing fight against crime, evil and terrorism - and will now share with the audience the realities of his experiences and important information about the current state of America’s national security today and what more needs to be done to protect our nation. A believer in John Adams’ wise words, “We are a nation of laws, not of men,” Mr. Caron will spend the hour driving home the important point that no man or institution is above the law.

Program host Chris Meek is honored to welcome Bishop Donna L. Hubbard to Next Steps Forward. Chris has been proud of his commitment to bring forth guests who have worked tirelessly on the frontlines to combat human trafficking to share their stories, educate and offer hope to all of those who have suffered the horrors of being trafficked and to America at-large. Bishop Hubbard joins him to share her own experiences of being trafficked and how becoming incarcerated offered her a way out and led her to finding God. Upon her release she founded Women at the Well Transition Center, a non-profit ministry providing direct services to rescued, trafficked, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women throughout the United States. Bishop Hubbard is a world recognized and respected Human Trafficking Subject Matter Expert and Survivor Leader, who will provide awareness, education and critical information to empower those who have experienced trafficking and place us all in the position to decrease the likelihood of exploitation throughout her appearance on the program.

Brittany Dunn, a national leader working to eradicate human trafficking in the United States and COO and Co-Founder of Safe House Project, joins program host Chris Meek in this edition of Next Steps Forward. Prior to the Safe House Project, Brittany spent 10 years in international business development at CareerBuilder.com. Brittany earned a B.A. in Economics and English from Wellesley College. She graduated top of her class with an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Pi Sigma Alpha, Wellesley Alumnae Association, the Naval Officers’ Spouses Club, and is an active member in her church. Brittany received the CEO Circle Award from Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is a military spouse, the mother of two, a lifelong learner, a world traveler and a protector of the vulnerable. Human trafficking is an issue that once you sink your teeth into it, you cannot turn away from the issue - Brittany believes that we all have a responsibility to face and combat the evil that is human trafficking. Through her work through the Safe House Program she has increased survivor identification via education and training, served survivors as they exit their specific trafficking situations and spearheaded policy on the state and federal level to create comprehensive solutions. Throughout the hour, Brittany will establish how to serve survivors without re-victimization, speak to how deep relationships allow us to work to meet the needs of survivors holistically and the need to not only focus on a survivor's victimization.

Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio is a leading authority on helping senior leaders make more inclusive decisions for themselves and their organizations. Having advised some of the largest for-profit and non-profit companies in the world, she joins program host Chris Meek to discuss her experiences as an award-winning expert on race and gender and leadership strategy. Discussion topics will include what led Paola to first become interested in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and why she decided to make it the focus of her career, what companies can do to attract more diverse applicants, tips for removing implicit bias during the interview process and why onboarding is crucial to increasing diversity. From entry-level to the boardroom, Paola’s experience and tips are sure to have powerful impacts on the companies who apply her expertise.

Kim Borchers, president and owner of Bird Dog Recruitment and Consulting, joins program host Chris Meek on this installment of Next Steps Forward. Her firm focuses primarily on placement of senior talent at the highest levels of state and federal government along with management development. Before opening her firm, Kim was the Executive Director of Leadership Development at a national think tank, the Foundation for Government Accountability, where she created and launched the organization’s Talent Bank Project. Kim has spent 20 years in the grassroots movement fighting pornography in her public library. She also served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and currently serves as Republican National Committeewoman for the great state of Kansas. Kim provides fresh perspectives on topics central to civic engagement, including why some voters may be disengaged with politics at the local level, strategies for successfully combating public apathy towards the electoral system, and how to encourage bipartisan cooperation and consensus. For those interested in fostering civic engagement in their own communities or who are taking their first steps in becoming more involved in political processes, Kim has a wealth of knowledge that will not only inspire but provide tangible steps for action.

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 the U.S. Navy, where he served as an operations specialist, and possesses a diverse skill set that includes combat search and rescue, tactical combat casualty care and diving instruction. In 2016, Bryant founded the Humanitarian Aid and Rescue Project, where he currently serves as head of mission and CEO. Under his leadership, HARP has executed operational missions across North America and around the world, including the front line of the ongoing Ukraine war. Program host Chris Meek looks forward to welcoming him to Next Steps Forward.

Many in the Next Steps Forward audience will surely recognize Victoria Jackson - actress, comedian and Saturday Night Live legend. Mrs. Jackson joins program host Chris Meek to discuss her iconic career in stand up comedy, her decision to leave Hollywood behind for Nashville, her brave battle with cancer and her unshakeable faith in God. Since leaving Hollywood, Mrs. Jackson has remained busy, most recently releasing her debut music-comedy album “When I Get to Nashville.” She will speak about the album, as well as other current projects she is currently pursuing. It is an honor to have her join the program for this special interview!

Dessi Schachne is a certified life coach, dedicated to enlightening and empowering individuals in midlife experiencing relationship transitions such as divorce, a breakup or the loss of a spouse. Through her coaching, Dessi equips her clients with a diverse set of proven techniques, enabling them to overcome challenges like past focus, people-pleasing, anxiety, and suffering, rebuild self-confidence, and have healthy relationships with themselves and others. She joins program host Chris Meek on Next Steps Forward to speak in-depth about her mission to foster emotional well-being and will guide the guidance one step closer to realizing their dream lives.

With America divided as never before, Kelly Wright, host of NTD News’ “America’s Hope with Kelly Wright,” seeks to answer questions such as “where can we find hope?” and “how can we return to the values outlined by our Founding Fathers?” A unique performer and accomplished musician, many individuals have become familiar with Mr. Wright’s work as an Emmy Award-Winning TV news journalist over the course of his more than thirty years delivering news to the American public. A former co-host of Fox News Channel’s Fox and Friends Weekend and America’s News Headquarters Weekend, his current show America’s Hope explores timely and informative topics such as fatherlessness across the country, how freedom of religion is under attack, how individuals are going above and beyond to overcome their disabilities and the current state of education in America, to name a few. Now he joins Next Steps Forward to discuss not only his career trajectory and passion for exploring the topics and news headlines that mean the most to Americans, but shed light for the audience on the fundamental questions he seeks to answer: where exactly he believes each and every one of us can find hope and how we each play a role in how we can return to the values put forth by our Founding Fathers.

Dr. Lisa Babbage is an author, teacher and philanthropist. She has spent 20 years teaching math and science in the public school system in Georgia, where she currently resides. As a child, Babbage, her mother and brother, were frequently homeless. In 2011, she took a three-year leave of absence from her profession to inaugurate a non-profit organization, Maranatha House Ministries, aimed at the fight against homelessness. She joins Next Steps Forward to share her love for people and how it serves as a basis for giving back to those in her community through teaching, writing and entrepreneurial endeavors so that her community can reach its fullest potential. She is also currently involved in ground-breaking efforts to reform Georgia’s education system and empower more people in Atlanta. Throughout the hour Dr. Babbage will share her thoughts on why she believes in education reform, the key challenges facing the current education system, how reform efforts address these issues and how education politics and practices can be made more responsive to the needs of marginalized and underserved communities.

Natasha Owens is a contemporary Christian musician who has taken a new direction by offering up a bold, proud, powerful concept collection in her fifth studio album, American Patriot. Through her music she bridges an unwavering love of country with the themes of faith and family that have always played a significant role in her artistry. Program host Chris Meek welcomes Mrs. Owens to the program to discuss how her faith has turned her darkest days into light, reflect on her own seasons of loss and how through peace poured into her through the Holy Spirit she has taken her love of music and poured it into others in an effort to find healing. She will speak of God's intent for His children to do more than merely survive but thrive, with the hope that her own story will be a powerful testimony to this very fact. The lessons in faith Mrs. Owens shares will inspire the audience to trust in the Lord to help them face any feelings of inadequacy or intimidation they may be experiencing.

Program host Chris Meek is honored to have the audience join him for a lively discussion with Jessica Cording, a registered dietitian, health coach and author with a passion for helping people simplify their wellness routines by building sustainable, healthy habits. Through her writing, consulting, public speaking and counseling, she works with individuals, corporations, and the media to help make drama-free healthy living approachable and enjoyable. She is the author of “The Little Book of Game-Changers: 50 Healthy Habits for Managing Stress and Anxiety” and her recently released second book “The Farewell Tour: A Caregiver’s Guide to Stress Management, Sane Nutrition, and Better Sleep.” Jessica also runs the Drama-Free Healthy Living podcast and has recorded guided meditations for Simple Habit. She has also created educational content for CARAVAN Wellness. Cording is part of the mindbodygreen Collective and a frequent contributor to various media outlets such as Forbes, SHAPE, and more. Additionally, as a big believer in the mental and physical benefits of exercise, she is a certified Pilates mat instructor. With all of the noise that can distract us from how we feel, or should feel, about our bodies and that causes us to overthink what we should be doing to improve our health, Jessica provides perspective on how we can each quiet that noise and listen to the right voices.

Meaghan B Murphy is the author of “Your Fully Charged Life: A Radically Simple Approach to Having Endless Energy and Filling Every Day with YAY” (Penguin Random House), an editor, on-air personality, lifestyle and health expert, a home-hack master and certified trainer. She brings her high-energy, upbeat personality to Next Steps Forward to discuss how the audience can take a simple yet effective approach to having endless energy everyday. She will provide an overview of the concepts presented in her book, including cultivating gratitude and passing it on, making meaningful connections, learning to say no and recharge when you need it and how to contribute to a happier, healthier world.