Navigating the "Failure to Launch" Phenomenon w/ Dr. Mark McConville
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
Release Date: 04/15/2025
Preserving the Legacy of the Marine Corps: A Conversation with Gen. Jim Lukeman
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
On this week’s episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek welcomes retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General James Lukeman, the current CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. With a distinguished 40-year military career that included deployments to the Persian Gulf, Germany, and Okinawa, as well as leadership roles ranging from Commanding General of the Second Marine Division to Deputy Director for Strategy and Plans at U.S. Africa Command, General Lukeman brings unparalleled insight into service, leadership, and resilience. In their conversation, General Lukeman reflects on what...
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From Championship Ice to Mental-Health Champion w/ Grace Shirley
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
In this installment of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with former Division I hockey champion Grace Shirley, who is twice a national title winner with the Wisconsin Badgers (2021 & 2023), to explore her journey beyond the rink. Grace shares how the thrill of victory and the pressures of elite sport shaped her path, how she discovered the importance of mental-wellness through her own experience, and why she’s now focused on becoming a counselor and advocate for student-athlete mental health. They’ll talk about: the moment she realized that being “just a hockey player”...
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From the Grey Tunnel to the Green Tunnel: A 9/11 Firefighter’s Journey of Healing w/ Rob Weisberg
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
In this installment of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Rob “Sleepwalker” Weisberg, a 9/11 firefighter who turned personal tragedy and decades of silent suffering into a path of healing. After grappling with PTSD and survivor’s guilt for over 20 years, Rob found unexpected hope and renewal on the Appalachian Trail. His memoir, From the Grey Tunnel to the Green Tunnel, chronicles a raw, courageous journey from darkness to light, offering inspiration to anyone facing their own battles. Rob Weisberg: Rob Weisberg’s memoir From the Grey Tunnel to the Green Tunnel: A 9/11...
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Leading with Purpose: Ilya Bratman on Faith, Service, and Student Empowerment
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
In this episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Ilya Bratman, Executive Director of Hillel at Baruch College and a U.S. Army veteran, to explore his inspiring journey from immigrant to educator and advocate. Ilya shares how his experiences, from serving overseas to building inclusive Jewish communities on campus, have shaped his mission to support the next generation of student leaders. With a focus on resilience, diversity, and purpose-driven leadership, this conversation dives into the challenges and rewards of guiding young adults through complex times. About Ilya...
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What Is Life Worth: Defining the Value of Life After Tragedy w/ Kenneth R. Feinberg
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
In this powerful and emotionally resonant episode of Next Steps Forward, host Dr. Chris Meek welcomes renowned mediator and attorney Kenneth R. Feinberg, one of the foremost experts in administering compensation funds in the aftermath of national tragedies. Feinberg will take the audience through the heart-wrenching and historic journey of valuing human life when presented with the unthinkable. In particular, he will discuss the story behind his appointment as Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, where he worked pro bono for 33 arduous months, personally awarding over...
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From Wall Street to Wellness: How Sophia Mullins Is Redefining Corporate Wellness
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
This week on Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek welcomes Sophia Mullins, founder of Wall Street Wellness, LLC, to share her remarkable journey from the fast-paced world of investment banking and private equity to becoming a leader in corporate wellness. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune thyroid condition, Sophia took charge of her health through functional medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. Her recovery not only transformed her personal well-being but also ignited a passion for helping professionals thrive without sacrificing their health. That passion...
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Building Trust in a Remote World with Dr. Tim Currie
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
In this episode of Next Steps Forward, host Dr. Chris Meek welcomes Dr. Tim Currie, CEO of NOVA and author of Swift Trust: Mastering Relationships in the Remote Work Revolution. Drawing from his groundbreaking research and leadership experience, Dr. Currie unpacks the hidden “trust bleed” that erodes collaboration, engagement, and culture in remote and hybrid workplaces. He explains why traditional approaches to building trust no longer work in today’s distributed environments and offers practical strategies for leaders to intentionally design the rituals, relationships, and structures...
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Courage After Tragedy: Kristen Breitweiser’s Fight for Justice In the Wake of 9/11
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
As the 24th observance of the September 11th attacks approaches, Next Steps Forward host Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Kristen Breitweiser, a woman whose life was forever changed that day and who transformed her grief into a powerful call for justice and accountability. After losing her husband, Ron, in the attacks on the World Trade Center, Kristen emerged as one of the most determined and influential voices for 9/11 families. Alongside three other widows, known to the nation as the “Jersey Girls,” she fought tirelessly for the creation of the 9/11 Commission, testified before Congress,...
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Breaking the Stigma: Understanding Veteran Mental Health with Dr. Ron Acierno
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
This week on Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek welcomes Dr. Ron Acierno, professor and vice chair of Veterans Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School, and executive director of the UTHealth Trauma and Resilience Center. With more than 150 published articles, 30 book chapters, and decades of groundbreaking research, Dr. Acierno is a leading voice on trauma, resilience, and veteran mental health. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Acierno and Dr. Meek explore: The realities and misconceptions surrounding post-trauma stress...
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The Power of Coaching: Building Leaders Who Inspire and Transform w/ Dr. Dana Kirchman
Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek
What makes a good leader truly great? In this week’s episode of Next Steps Forward, host Dr. Chris Meek welcomes Dr. Dana Kirchman, leadership expert, executive coach, and trusted advisor, to explore that very question. With more than 25 years of experience working alongside leaders at the highest levels, Dr. Kirchman shares her insights on the habits, mindsets, and relational skills that drive authentic leadership transformation. From the role of compassion in high-stakes environments, to the impact of remote and hybrid work, to the essential differences between emotional intelligence and...
info_outlineIn this week’s episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Dr. Mark McConville, a clinical psychologist and expert in adolescent and family psychology. Dr. McConville shares insights from his decades of experience working with adolescents and families, including his groundbreaking work on Failure to Launch, which explores the growing trend of young adults struggling to transition into full independence. Together, they dive into the root causes of this issue, touching on everything from societal changes and economic factors to the roles of parents in shaping the development of emerging adults. Dr. McConville also discusses the impact of parenting styles such as "helicopter" and "snowplow" parenting, and offers a deep dive into Gestalt therapy—explaining its key principles and how it can be used to better understand identity development in adolescents.Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about the challenges of growing up in today's world, the evolving role of parents, and how we can all take steps to better support the next generation’s growth into adulthood.
About Dr. Mark McConville: Dr. Mark McConville is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Beachwood, Ohio, specializing in adult, adolescent, emerging adult, and family psychology. He is a senior faculty member at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and has lectured and taught widely on the subjects of child development, parenting, and counseling methodology. His book “Adolescence: Psychotherapy and the Emergent Self” was awarded the 1995 Nevis Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Gestalt Therapy Theory. He is the author of the Counseling Feedback Report, an innovative and widely used adolescent assessment tool, and is co-editor of the 2001 book, “The Heart of Development: Gestalt Approaches to Childhood and Adolescence,” volumes one and two. His 2020 book “Failure to Launch” investigates the root causes of why modern kids are struggling to transition from childhood to adulthood. In addition to his private clinical practice, Doctor McConville is a consulting psychologist to Hathaway Brown School and University School, both in the Cleveland area.