Next Steps Forward

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.

Mike Erwin graduated from West Point in 2002 and went on to serve on active duty for 13 years, including three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group. This week on Next Steps Forward, Mr. Erwin joins program host Chris Meek to discuss what his time in the military taught him about leadership and the importance of giving back to those fellow Americans who serve our country. Mr. Erwin will discuss his work through the veteran-focused non-profit organization he founded in 2010, Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) and the work the organization carries out to enrich the lives of America’s service members. Additionally, he will discuss the Positivity Project, a non profit organization he co-founded with the mission to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships. Mr. Erwin has consistently demonstrated a commitment to actively using the skills he developed in the military to pursue life changing projects in the civilian sector to better the lives of countless American veterans and children. Beyond his work with veterans and youth, he is the co-author of “Lead Yourself First.” Throughout the interview he will focus on the principles of the book, including how solitude strengthens people’s character and their ability to lead with clarity, balance and conviction.

This week’s guest is Dr. Robb Kelly, a sought-after recovery expert who believes in treating the causes of addiction and not the symptoms. A frequent contributor to radio and print interviews, his professional credentials include a PhD in psychology from Trinity College/Oxford University and a PhD in Psychology with a behavioral science concentration from the University of Southampton. Dr. Kelly hosted the Sober Celebs show on KLIF radio in Dallas and currently hosts the Breaking Through Addiction podcast featuring special guests discussing a variety of mental health issues. He is currently the chief executive officer of the Robb Kelly Recovery Group, an addiction and mental illness recovery coaching company he created based on extensive research and behavior studies that he has conducted over the past 20 years. As some in the audience know all too well, many patients often wonder if the professionals who treat them have ever experienced what they’ve experienced and whether those professionals truly empathize with them. Because Dr. Kelly has lived through the highs and lows of addiction himself while struggling with and overcoming crippling alcoholism, he will authentically share his personal journey with the audience, not just the chapter involving his addiction but his life leading up to addiction and after recovery.

Susan Ann Davis is Chairman of Susan Davis international (SDI). She joins program host Chris Meek to discuss how the global strategic communications consulting firm headquartered in Washington, DC provides expertise in reputation management, market entry and expansion, public affairs, crisis and risk communications. Ms. Davis will provide an inside look into her role offering counsel to government and business leaders in 14 countries, including Northern Ireland, Ireland, Panama, Egypt, Sweden, and Germany, as well as providing public relations counsel to the Vatican for the Papal Visit to Ireland. In addition to counseling Members of the US Congress; NGOs, multinational C Suite executives, and senior leaders of US government agencies, she is also a lifelong advocate for democracy building and leadership development for women. As such, she will speak to the initiatives she is involved in to advance such efforts including having served as the Board Chair Emeritus of Vital Voices Global partnerships, the preeminent NGO empowering emerging women leaders in 125 countries.

Ashley Davis is a lead principal at West Front Strategies, a multi-million dollar lobbying firm she co-founded in 2015. In that role, she oversees advocacy efforts for the interests of her Fortune 500 clients before the federal government’s legislative and executive branches. This week she joins program host Chris Meek on Next Steps Forward to share her expertise garnered through years working in the executive branch. As Special Assistant to National Director and then Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Ashley directed the daily operations and oversaw the staff at the newly created Office of Homeland Security. She holds a Masters of International Business from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She will also discuss her philanthropic spirit, as she sits on several non-profit and corporate boards, including The Kennedy Center National Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Christine Hardy and Dr. Kristen Weishaar of the Flint Animal Care Cancer Center at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado join Next Steps Forward host Chris Meek to discuss their mission to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in pet animals and how they translate their research and knowledge to benefit people with cancer. Dr. Christine Hardy is the Associate Director, Development Operations and Strategy Lead of the One Cure Program. Dr. Kristen Weishaar is the Director of the Oncology Clinical Trials Service. They will both speak to the incredible similarities between cancer in dogs and humans and the research that is creating a better understanding of both.

This week on “Next Steps Forward,” host Chris Meek speaks with Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo, director of medical virtual reality at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies, about BraveMind, the virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy program Rizzo created to successfully treat post-traumatic stress (PTS) in veterans. Aside from discussing that groundbreaking technology and treatment in-depth, Rizzo will also touch on how other revolutionary medical technology advancements are paving the way we address mental health. Joining the conversation is Chris Merkle, a 14-year U.S. Marine combat veteran who has directly benefited from the BraveMind technology during his own experiences with PTS. Merkle will also introduce ways that we can all work to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and speak on the feelings of empowerment that volunteering in his own community has afforded him.

Graham Rahal, a race car driver for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in the NTT IndyCar series, kicks things off by speaking about his experiences on the race track. Rahal will also share how he has applied leadership skills and a work ethic learned through racing to his business and philanthropic ventures, which includes his work through the Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation. The foundation supports Turns For Troops, a program dedicated to helping our country’s veterans. One such veteran, Sgt. Dan Rose, speaks with Rahal and host Chris Meek about utilizing revolutionary medical technology in the form of an exoskeleton suit to regain his ability to stand and walk again after being severely injured by an improvised explosive device. Rahal and Sgt. Rose will provide listeners with an inside look at how perseverance, the power of hope and hard work can be harnessed to achieve everyday success, motivate us to give back to others and find successes we never thought possible.

Driven by the belief that every individual has a unique voice and an important story to tell, Madeline Fetterly builds partnerships, creates stories, champions women’s leadership and is a sought-after strategic thinker. She joins program host Chris Meek to break down the importance of how and why it is up to each and every one of us to use our voices and stories to strive for ultimate success. As the founder and CEO of Be the Brand, Madeline will take the audience behind the scenes of her work with Fortune 500 executives, CEOs, industry leaders, business owners and corporations working with them to craft and amplify individual thought leadership and build purposeful and powerful online brands. Listeners on their own journeys of developing their brand identities will be engrossed by Madeline’s unique expertise when it comes to personal branding and will immediately identify what sets her apart as a leader in the space. As generations navigate the digital transformations currently taking place, her vision and leadership serve as guiding lights when many individuals seeking branding success need it the most.