Episodes
Sept. 13, 2022
Thoughtful Action w/ Bryce Cherryholmes & Saul Martinez
On this noteworthy installment of Next Steps Forward, program host Chris Meek is honored to be joined by Staff Sergeant Bryce Cherryholmes and double-amputee and Purple Heart Recipient Saul Martinez. SSgt Cherryholmes served ...
Sept. 6, 2022
Supporting Today’s Veterans w/ George Casey and Joel Kupersmith
On this edition of Next Steps Forward, program host Chris Meek speaks with General George Casey and Dr. Joel Kupersmith, authors of “Supporting Veterans After 50 Years of the All-Volunteer Force and 20 Years of War: Ideas Mov...
Aug. 30, 2022
One Year Later: The Afghanistan Withdrawal w/ Lyla Kohistany
On the first anniversary of the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, program host Chris Meek speaks with Lyla Kohistany, an inclusion strategist and cultural intelligence advisor, on her thoughts about what the U.S. go...
Aug. 23, 2022
The NBA in Black and White w/ Ray Scott
On this edition of Next Steps Forward, National Basketball Association (NBA) great Ray Scott joins program host Chris Meek. Scott was a six-foot-nine-inch forward and center who played his college basketball at the University...
Aug. 9, 2022
Combating Human Trafficking w/ Heather C. Fischer
On this week’s edition of Next Steps Forward, special guest Heather C. Fischer joins program host Chris Meek to discuss human trafficking, human rights and democracy. Heather became involved in combating human trafficking as ...
Aug. 2, 2022
Becoming Mindful w/ Ayman Mukerji Househam
Regular listeners and viewers of Next Steps Forward know that the program is focused on personal empowerment, commitment to our own well-being and the motivation to achieve more than we ever thought possible. This installment...
July 26, 2022
Redesigning Work w/ Lynda Gratton
Lynda Gratton is one of the foremost global thought-leaders on the future of work and has been named by “Business Thinkers 50” as one of the top fifteen business thinkers. A professor of Management Practice at London Business...
July 19, 2022
Some Things Still Take Time w/ Ellen Beckjord
Dr. Ellen Beckjord, the Vice President of Population Health and Clinical Optimization at UPMC Health Plan and host of the Health Plan’s podcast, Good Health, Better World, speaks with Chris Meek about a myriad of issues withi...
July 12, 2022
Fear Is Not A Factor W/ Tana Goertz
Fans of NBC’s hit show “The Apprentice” will recognize this week’s Next Steps Forward guest, season three runner-up Tana Goertz. Also remembered for appearing on “Reality Stars Fear Factor,” Tana is an entrepreneur, an inspir...
July 5, 2022
The Life of A Hero w/ Yvette Benavidez Garcia
Yvette Benavidez Garcia is the author of Tango Mike Mike: The Story of Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez which focuses on her father, Medal of Honor Recipient Roy P. Benavidez. She joins program host Chris Meek to share the tr...
June 21, 2022
A Conversation w/ Michaela Rubinfeld and CSM Andraus L. Williams
On this edition of Next Steps Forward, Chris Meek speaks with Michaela Rubinfeld and CSM Andraus L. Williams, both recipients of the SoldierScholar academic scholarship provided by the national veteran-focused nonprofit Soldi...
June 14, 2022
Surviving Abusive Relationships w/ Beverly Gooden
Beverly Gooden, author of Surviving: Why We Stay and How We Leave Abusive Relationships and creator of the viral social media movement #WhyIStayed, joins program host Chris Meek in this edition of Next Steps Forward. Listed a...
June 7, 2022
The Strong Black Woman w/ Marita Golden
As an acclaimed author and veteran teacher of writing, Marita Golden provides guidance to aspiring authors on how to tell their own stories and encourages them to dig deep on their journeys as writers. The author of nineteen ...
May 31, 2022
Veteran and Military Suicide Prevention w/ M. David Rudd
On this hour of Next Steps Forward, program host Chris Meek is honored to speak with M. David Rudd, Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, Director of the Rudd Institute for Veteran and Military Suicide Prevention,...
May 24, 2022
Mental Health and Sports w/ Dr. Robin Scholefield
Dr. Robin Scholefield has provided counseling to individual student athletes, groups, teams, as well as conjoint sessions for student athletes and coaches/teammates for the past 24 years at the University of Southern Californ...
May 17, 2022
It’s Just Called “Life” w/ Gita Barry
Chris Meek is honored to have Gita Barry, executive vice president and general manager of immersive healthcare at Penumbra, Inc., join him on this edition of Next Steps Forward. Through more than 25 years in the medical devic...
May 10, 2022
Always March Forward w/ Crystal C. Romero
The Next Steps Forward guest this week is Master Sergeant Crystal C. Romero, who retired after serving sixteen-and-a-half years in the U.S. Army National Guard. She served full-time, providing active-duty operational support,...
May 3, 2022
The Toolkit to Change Your World w/ Dr. Cliff Robertson Jr.
Do you feel like your life is insignificant? Do you ever wonder if your life even matters? Next Steps Forward guest Dr. Cliff Robertson Jr wants you to know that your life matters and addresses these questions and more in his...
April 26, 2022
Brain Health w/ Dr. Geoff Ling and Dr. Sandra Chapman
Program host Chris Meek sits down for a conversation on brain health with Dr. Geoff Ling and Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman on this installment of Next Steps Forward. Dr. Chapman founded the Center for Brain Health, a research insti...
April 19, 2022
Fortune Favors the Bold w/ Jeff Gum
Jeff Gum is a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran, entrepreneur and founder of Sunga Life, a swimwear and athleisure brand focused on achieving bottom line goals of purpose and profitability, where 10% of profits go to veteran focused cha...
April 12, 2022
Facing the Music w/ David Loud
David Loud occupies a unique place in Broadway history. This week, he sits down with program host Chris Meek to discuss his distinguished body of work as a music director and vocal arranger and the three roles that he has ori...
April 5, 2022
Exclusion in an Inclusive World w/ Ruth Rathblott
Ruth Rathblott is a TEDx speaker, Inspirational DEI speaker and an award-winning former CEO committed to creating inclusion for all. Ruth has spent her entire career focused on providing opportunities for those who face obsta...
March 22, 2022
A Conversation on Women and Resilience w/ Katie Hafner
Katie Hafner is a journalist, author and current host of not one but two podcasts, Lost Women of Science and Our Mothers Ourselves. She speaks with program host Chris Meek about the focus of both of her podcasts. The first, L...
March 15, 2022
One Trusted Adult w/ Brooklyn Raney
Every young person needs a trusted adult who they can turn to, both at home and at school. Brooklyn Raney explores this topic in-depth in her book “One Trusted Adult: How to Build Strong Connections & Healthy Boundaries with ...