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_outlineCari Kenzie is trailblazer in the fields of leadership, resilience and personal transformation. As a dynamic speaker, coach and entrepreneur, Cari has dedicated her life to empowering others to rise above their circumstances and lead with purpose. In 2013, Cari’s life took an unexpected turn when she survived the Boston Marathon bombing. This harrowing experience became a pivotal moment, reshaping her understanding of resilience, leadership and the power of choice. Rather than being defined by the trauma, Cari chose to transform it into a source of strength and inspiration. Her story is not just about surviving adversity - it’s about using that adversity as a catalyst for profound personal and professional growth. Before becoming the renowned speaker and coach she is today, Cari was at the helm of a multi-million-dollar marketing agency. Her leadership guided the company to great success, culminating in a strategic acquisition that allowed her to transition into a new chapter - one that would focus on helping others navigate their own paths to success. This transition was not just a career shift but a calling, leading Cari to co-found iShift, a movement designed to challenge the status quo and awaken the leader within every individual.
About Cari Kenzie: As a dynamic speaker, coach and entrepreneur, Cari Kenzie joins program host Dr. Chris Meek on Next Steps Forward to speak about dedicating her life to empowering others to rise above their circumstances. The harrowing experience of surviving the 2013 Boston Marathon prompted her to transform the experience into a source of strength and inspiration instead of being defined by the trauma. Cari was also previously at the helm of a multi-million-dollar marketing agency. Her leadership guided the company to great success, culminating in a strategic acquisition that allowed her to transition into a new chapter - one that would focus on helping others navigate their own paths to success. The audience will find Cari’s mission to be clear: to help guide others to make the powerful choice to wake up not to the shadows of the past but to the limitless possibilities of the future. She will discuss why curiosity is the first step to true leadership, the importance of asking the right questions even in the midst of chaos, and her belief that every individual has the potential to lead with authenticity and strength.