Episodes

Janet Baker is an Assistant General Counsel at S&P Global Inc. and certified Information Privacy Professional for both Europe and the United States.

Program host Chris Meek is pleased to sit down with Sylvie Légère Ricketts on this week’s episode of Next Steps Forward to discuss the philanthropist’s passion for leveraging technology to provide solutions to unite and inspire individuals and for advancing future generations of changemakers, particularly those that are female. A staunch believer in the power of public policy’s impact on daily life, Sylvie is the co-founder and chairman of The Policy Circle, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization...

Next Steps Forward host Chris Meek is joined by 20TIMinutes podcast creator and host Tim McCarthy to discuss how his own experiences with mental health, including living with ADHD, anxiety, bipolar II and manic depression, as well as a suicide attempt, has shaped his view on brain health and the topics he discusses with his guests each week on his podcast. The audience will find the manner in which Tim tackles mental health to be refreshing and completely void of judgement. His stories and persp...

Program host Chris Meek speaks with inspirational speaker, author, coach and advocate Jennifer Tracy on this installment of Next Steps Forward. Jennifer experienced tragedy at the age of 29 when her husband and one of her daughters were killed in a drunk driving accident and will discuss how she was able, with God’s help, to put her experience into perspective to use the skills she already had to face life head on. She will detail what it means to “lose the battle, win the war,” the idea that if...

On this installment of Next Steps Forward, program host Chris Meek speaks with Lt. Col. Justin Constantine about his experience serving in the Marine Corp as a JAG officer. Constantine will share the powerful story of how he survived a gunshot to the head by a sniper while on a combat patrol and how he has emerged as a portrait of courage in the years since. Constantine will discuss his current focus on workforce development for veterans and disadvantaged job seekers and provide an inside look i...

In this installment of Next Steps Forward, program host Chris Meek speaks with Dot Sheehan, founder, president and CEO of the nonprofit organization Operation Hat Trick (OHT) which supports the recovery of wounded service members and veterans through the sale of OHT branded merchandise, the proceeds of which are donated to those organizations that align with OHT’s mission. Sheehan will speak about how the $1.6 million that OHT has donated since its inception in 2008 has positively impacted the l...

On this installment of Next Steps Forward program host Chris Meek speaks with legendary NFL linebacker and defensive end Charles Haley. Haley, who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1986 to 1991 and again from 1998 to 1999, as well as the Dallas Cowboys from 1992 to 1996, will speak about the trajectory of his football career from high school to college and then on to the NFL. Haley will discuss what it takes to play professionally, how he learned to use his teammate’s strengths to increase...

On this episode of Next Steps Forward, program host Chris Meek speaks with Ken Hersh, current President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center and co-founder of NGP Energy Capital Management. Hersh will discuss the nonpartisan philanthropic endeavors carried out by the George W. Bush Institute, which serves as the public policy arm of the Bush Center and focuses on economic growth, education, post-9/11 veterans and leadership. He will share how he first met President Bush and how he a...

Next Steps Forward host Chris Meek is honored to speak with Dana Perino, co-anchor of FOX News Channel’s morning news program America’s Newsroom and co-host of The Five, about her career as an American political commentator, bestselling author and role as White House press secretary under President George W. Bush. Perino will speak about the lessons that she has learned throughout her career on how to maintain a level head and find success in the face of adversity. No conversation with Perino wo...

Steve LaCroix speaks with “Next Steps Forward” host Chris Meek about his successful 30-year career as a sports and entertainment executive. Having served as the Minnesota Vikings’ executive vice president and chief marketing officer from 2001 to 2020, LaCroix will provide a glimpse into what it’s like to work for a major sports franchise, how he adjusted to being an effective leader during the pandemic - including what it was really like for the players to play games without fans in the stadium ...

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin joins program host Chris Meek in this installment of Next Steps Forward to discuss his personal battle with bipolar disorder. Having commanded the largest engineering force in the theater, the 130th Engineer Brigade, during the Iraq War; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwest Division, served as Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School and Fort Leonard Wood, Deputy Commanding General of Third Army/US Army Central, Commandant of the Army War College...

Andi Buerger, founder and chair of Voices Against Trafficking, and the Hon. Blanquita Cullum, co-founder of Voices Against Trafficking and host of The Hard Question on WCGO AM/FM, join program host Chris Meek in this installment of Next Steps Forward. Buerger and Cullum will provide perspective on the current state of human trafficking in the United States, focusing in particular on the trafficking and other forms of abuse that are taking place at the southern border. Along with providing common...

Daniel Fairley, a Youth Opportunity Coordinator focused on Black Male Achievement for the City of Charlottesville, and John Thompson, a Family Services Specialist for the Charlottesville Department of Human Services, join Chris Meek in this installment of Next Steps Forward to discuss mental health in the Black community and existing inequalities both inside and outside of the mental healthcare structure. Hosts of the podcast “How U?,” (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAW96LgJg-Hr4CQzTqn1uJQ) w...

Alden Mills, three-time Navy SEAL platoon commander, founder/CEO of one of the nation’s former fastest-growing companies and leadership speaker, joins Chris Meek in this installment of Next Steps Forward. Believing that every individual is born to be unstoppable, Mills will discuss how exactly we can become unstoppable, what exactly it means to be unstoppable and how for many of us our first challenge is to be stopped so that we can rise above it to be our unstoppable selves. Drawing from a mixt...

William Tong, Connecticut’s 25th Attorney General and first Asian American elected statewide, speaks with Chris Meek about protecting families, residents and consumers while standing up to the powerful forces that threaten them. Tong, who grew up working with his immigrant parents in their Chinese restaurant, will share how his passion and respect for the legal system not only resulted in a successful law career but also propelled his political career. Tong will reflect on the challenges and suc...

Deborah Lee James, former Secretary of the United States Air Force and the second woman to lead a U.S. military service, speaks with host Chris Meek about her experiences managing 660,000 people and a $139 billion dollar budget (more than the GDP of over 120 countries) in her role. James will discuss the challenges and successes that she encountered as Secretary, as well as in other roles, including professional staff member in the US House of Representatives and Assistant Secretary of Defense. ...

Jon Runyan, former NFL offensive tackle, looks back at the progression of his football career spanning 14 seasons playing with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Diego Chargers. Now serving as the NFL’s Vice President of Policy and Rules Administration, Runyan will provide his unique perspective on the current state of the league, how football has changed since he last played, how the league has adapted to challenges presented by COVID-19 and what he believe...

Rebekah Roulier, nonprofit executive leader and licensed mental health clinician focused on driving innovation in the mental health and youth sport communities, speaks with host Chris Meek about the relationship between sport and mental health. Roulier serves as the Deputy Director of Doc Wayne Youth Services based in Boston, Massachusetts and will provide insight into how the nonprofit re-imagines therapy through the lens of sport, offering children not only a sense of belonging but a repetitio...

Dr. Cliff Robertson, executive director of The Warrior’s Refuge in West Columbia, Texas, speaks with host Chris Meek about how his organization is committed to ending homelessness by providing shelter, counseling, resources and training to the state’s veterans. The organization is also soon to be the nation’s first nonprofit to offer access to a groundbreaking virtual reality technology developed at the University of Southern California known as BraveMind, to treat War on Terror veterans experie...

Dan Luna, 20-year Navy SEAL veteran, speaks with program host Chris Meek about empowering the next generation of leaders by way of academics, consulting and coaching through his leadership coaching company 3LX. Luna’s background serves as the foundation for his extraordinary leadership skills, having refined his coaching methods while delivering competency-based leadership training to future Navy and Marine Corps Officers at the Naval Academy. So well versed in providing guidance, management and...

Rachel Faulkner Brown, founder and director of Be Still Ministries and Never Alone Widows Retreats, speaks with host Chris Meek about how experiencing the loss of two husbands lead her to create a community that empowers military and first responder widows. Now married a third time, Rachel will speak in-depth about her journey to finding faith and seeking out marriage and love once again despite experiencing heartbreaking loss. Rachel will educate listeners about the power of “yes,” believing th...

Cynthia Garrett, nationally recognized television host and personality, speaks with Chris Meek about her storied career in the entertainment industry and ultimate journey to finding faith. Garrett will speak about breaking industry barriers by making history as the first African-American woman to host a network late-night show, NBC’s LATER w/ Cynthia Garrett, and how her ability to empathize and relate to others helped her garner mass respect within the industry. Her personal story of overcoming...

In this installment of Next Steps Forward show host Chris Meek speaks with Dr. Pat Boulogne, lifestyle medicine expert and coach, about how she has helped thousands of individuals implement simple and effective steps in their daily lives to regain their health. With over three decades of experience in delivering science-based solutions to those experiencing weight problems, chronic diseases and genetic dispositions, Dr. Boulogne will talk the audience through how she uses targeted diet and exerc...

Kent Syverud, Chancellor and President of Syracuse University, speaks with program host Chris Meek about navigating the pandemic and its impact on the future of higher education. Breaking down the positives and negatives of virtual learning, he will pinpoint areas where education can be improved based on lessons learned throughout the pandemic and how those lessons underscore the importance of thoughtfully and safely reopening society. Chancellor Syverud will speak in-depth about the challenges ...