Author: Paul Gichia

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Rewriting My Inner Script

Diana Lee:

Rewriting My Inner Script

After a tough divorce, Diana found herself questioning her worth and seeking validation from every direction. But through a surprising tool and some deep inner work, she started to see herself differently—and everything began to shift.

Bio

Diana Lee is a dynamic strategist, speaker, and AI advocate who empowers individuals and organizations to leverage artificial intelligence to achieve clarity, strategic confidence, and meaningful impact. With her intuitive yet practical approach, Diana transforms complexity into simplicity, guiding audiences toward actionable insights and streamlined solutions.

As a resilient entrepreneur, devoted mom, and passionate community advocate, Diana’s personal journey from adversity to empowerment resonates deeply. She inspires audiences to align authentically with their purpose, embracing innovation to confidently navigate the digital age.

Topics

  • How AI became a mirror for self-reflection
  • Shadow work for high-achievers
  • Breaking free from external validation
  • Healing after divorce: the unexpected journey
  • Rebuilding self-worth in a startup world
  • Boundaries, burnout, and business
  • Redefining relationship-based business models
  • The emotional toll of constant networking
  • Women and the myth of “starting from scratch”
  • Why doing business should honor your body and energy

Guiding Questions

  • What inspired your journey into inner work after your divorce?
  • How did you start using AI tools like ChatGPT for self-reflection?
  • What role has shadow work played in your healing process?
  • What was the biggest mindset shift you had in the past year?
  • How did you start recognizing your own worth outside of external validation?
  • What do you now believe about career pivots and “starting over”?
  • How has your approach to doing business changed as a result of this inner work?
  • Can you share a moment where your body told you to slow down—and you listened?
  • What’s been the hardest part of balancing emotional growth with entrepreneurial ambition?
  • If someone feels stuck in proving themselves to the world, where would you tell them to start?

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Healed But Not Hidden

Jenny Burba:

Healed But Not Hidden

Two devastating losses changed everything Jenny thought she knew—first, the loss of a child, and later, her husband. What followed was a slow rebuilding process marked by faith, healing, and rediscovery.

Bio

Life threw me curveballs that could have broken me—teen motherhood, the heartbreak of a late-term pregnancy loss, and the devastating loss of my husband. But with faith as my anchor, I weathered every storm.

Today, I’m a proud mom to 10 beautiful children (5 boys, 5 girls, ages 3-25), a graphic designer, and owner of a thriving crafts and gifts business. After 14 years as a homeschooling mom, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about avoiding life’s challenges—it’s about rising through them.

God blessed me with a second chance at love with an amazing man who embraced my children as his own. Now, I’m passionate about helping women who’ve walked similar paths.

If you’re wondering if you’ll ever see sunshine after the storm… If you’re questioning whether your story can have a beautiful next chapter… If you’re ready to transform your pain into purpose…

I’m here to tell you: it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

Let’s connect and journey forward together. ✨

Topics

  • Navigating faith through personal tragedy
  • Healing after pregnancy loss
  • Widowhood and rebuilding your future
  • Transforming grief into growth
  • The emotional impact of emotionally abusive relationships
  • Parenting through pain and healing
  • When your identity is tied to someone else—and how to reclaim it
  • Rediscovering purpose through creativity and entrepreneurship
  • Using storytelling as a form of healing
  • Finding strength in second chances and new love

Guiding Questions

  • Can you take us back to the moment when everything changed?
  • How did your faith evolve in the midst of your losses?
  • What did you learn about grief the second time around that you didn’t know the first?
  • How did becoming a widow affect your sense of identity and stability?
  • Can you share how your creative work—crafting, graphic design—played a role in your healing?
  • What was it like navigating your first marriage, especially as a teen mom?
  • How did the transition into your second marriage challenge or comfort you?
  • What advice do you have for someone who feels like they’re drowning in grief?
  • How did you move from silence to sharing your story publicly?
  • If you could go back to the woman you were before these losses, what would you tell her?

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Secrets of Negotiation

Terry Tucker:

Secrets of Negotiation

What does it take to talk someone down from the edge? Former hostage negotiator Terry Tucker dives into the communication tactics, psychological insights, and high-stakes decisions that can mean the difference between life and death.

Bio

Terry Tucker is an author, speaker, and podcast guest on the topics of motivation, mindset, and self-development. He has a business administration degree from The Citadel (where he played NCAA Division I college basketball) and a master’s degree from Boston University. Among his diverse professional roles, Terry has been a marketing executive, a hospital administrator, a SWAT Hostage Negotiator, a business owner, and for the past thirteen years, a cancer warrior (which saw the amputation of his foot in 2018 and his leg in 2020). He is the author of the book Sustainable Excellence, Ten Principles To Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life, and a featured author in the book Perspectives On Cancer, Stories Of Healing, Hope, & Resilience. Terry has been published in Authority, Thrive Global, and Human Capital Leadership magazines, along with being quoted and highlighted in the books, Your Blueprint for Purpose by John Creekmur and Audaciousness, Your Journey To Living A Bold And Authentic Life by Maribel Ortega and Helen Strong.

Topics

  • The Science of Persuasion in Crisis Situations
  • Tactical Empathy: How to Build Trust Under Pressure
  • The 7-38-55 Rule: Why Words Matter Less Than You Think
  • How Law Enforcement Negotiation Tactics Apply to Everyday Life
  • De-escalation Strategies from a Hostage Negotiator
  • The Psychology Behind High-Stakes Decision-Making
  • How to Stay Calm and Think Clearly in Intense Situations
  • The Role of Tone and Body Language in Communication
  • Lessons from Negotiating with People on Their Worst Day
  • Why “Why?” is the Worst Question to Ask in a Crisis

Guiding Questions

  • What led you to become a hostage negotiator, and what was the training like?
  • What was one of the most intense or memorable negotiations you were part of?
  • Can you explain the 7-38-55 rule and how it applies in crisis situations?
  • How does tactical empathy help de-escalate tense situations?
  • What are some common mistakes people make when trying to persuade or negotiate?
  • How did technology, like cell phones and encrypted communication, change hostage negotiation?
  • How can business leaders or everyday people apply hostage negotiation skills in their own lives?
  • What’s the difference between negotiating with a criminal and negotiating in a boardroom?
  • What role does emotional intelligence play in negotiation?
  • If someone wants to improve their negotiation skills, where should they start?

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A Chance Meeting

Jordan Aspen:

A Chance Meeting

She came to network, to build relationships, to serve others—but what she found was something far greater. A conversation that began with no agenda evolved into a partnership that defied expectations, proving that sometimes, the best opportunities come when you least expect them.

Bio

Jordan Aspen resides in the beautiful Texas Hill Country with her husband Paul and their four young children. After losing everything to toxic mold including her health, Jordan seeks to build a world where everyone has a community of companions to help them rise, whether they feel beaten-down or ambitious.

She founded Modern Agora to teach skills and provide technology for leaders to connect authentically and communicate effectively with each other first, and then their audiences.

Topics

  • The power of divine connections in business and life
  • How to recognize and nurture meaningful professional relationships
  • Why kindness in networking leads to unexpected opportunities
  • The intersection of faith and entrepreneurship
  • How automation and AI can enhance—not replace—human connection
  • The challenges and rewards of partnering with someone outside your industry
  • Lessons from stepping into a room you’re “not qualified” to be in
  • Building authentic business relationships as an introvert
  • The role of intuition in making business decisions
  • How small, consistent touchpoints create lasting connections

Guiding Questions

  • Can you walk us through the moment you realized this connection was going to change your path?
  • What made this particular encounter stand out from other networking experiences?
  • How did your faith play a role in recognizing and embracing this opportunity?
  • Why do you think kindness is such a powerful business tool?
  • What advice would you give to someone struggling to build meaningful professional relationships?
  • Can you share more about your philosophy of “finding business community” and what that means to you?
  • What challenges did you face in forming this unexpected partnership, and how did you overcome them?
  • How do you balance being an introvert with a passion for building connections?
  • How do you see AI and automation supporting, rather than replacing, real human relationships?
  • What’s one takeaway you hope listeners get from your story?

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Fearless Beyond Failure

Danette Greer:

Fearless Beyond Failure

After setbacks, struggles, and even moments of homelessness, Danette Greer discovered that fear was no longer an obstacle. She shares how taking one risky leap reshaped her career, her mindset, and her impact on others.

Bio

Danette is driven to democratize opportunity – whether scaling tech for SMBs or mentoring the next generation of founders. A dynamic executive with a 25+ year track record of scaling businesses, driving exponential revenue growth, and delivering investor returns through strategic innovation and operational excellence, she is a serial winner adept at turning vision into reality across tech, venture studios, and global enterprise ecosystems.

Danette is leader who doesn’t just promise outcomes—she engineers and delivers them.

Topics

  • Reinventing Yourself After Unexpected Setbacks
  • The Power of Taking Bold Leaps
  • Navigating Career Pivots with Confidence
  • Lessons from Overcoming Financial Hardship
  • Single Motherhood and Ambition
  • How Faith and Community Can Change Your Path
  • The Role of Technology in Business Transformation
  • Women in Tech: Breaking Barriers and Thriving
  • The Psychological Shift from Fear to Fearlessness
  • The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Scaling and Exiting Businesses

Guiding Questions

  • Can you take us back to the moment when you realized your dream of being an Air Force pilot and engineer wouldn’t happen?
  • How did you process the identity shift from a top student to waiting tables as a single mom?
  • What gave you the courage to take that first leap into tech despite having no background in it?
  • What was your biggest fear when moving to Kansas City alone with your kids?
  • How did experiencing homelessness shape your perspective on resilience?
  • What key lessons did you learn from working in technology that helped you later as an entrepreneur?
  • How do you guide business owners who feel stuck and afraid to take risks?
  • What role has faith played in your journey, and how did it help you in difficult times?
  • Looking back, do you think not becoming an engineer was actually the best thing that could have happened to you?
  • What advice would you give to someone facing an unexpected career or life detour?

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Rebuilding with AI

Diana Lee:

Rebuilding with AI

A turbulent divorce and career uncertainty left Diana Lee at a crossroads. Instead of following a traditional path, she used AI as a guide to redesign her life. What she found wasn’t just a new career—it was a whole new way of thinking.

Bio

Diana Lee is a dynamic strategist, speaker, and AI advocate who empowers individuals and organizations to leverage artificial intelligence to achieve clarity, strategic confidence, and meaningful impact. With her intuitive yet practical approach, Diana transforms complexity into simplicity, guiding audiences toward actionable insights and streamlined solutions.

As a resilient entrepreneur, devoted mom, and passionate community advocate, Diana’s personal journey from adversity to empowerment resonates deeply. She inspires audiences to align authentically with their purpose, embracing innovation to confidently navigate the digital age.

Topics

  • Using AI for self-reflection and personal growth
  • How ChatGPT helped me redefine my purpose
  • The emotional impact of divorce and rebuilding from zero
  • Overcoming fear of judgment and embracing authenticity
  • Ikigai and how to align passion with career
  • The role of AI in career transitions
  • From pharmacist to software engineer to entrepreneur—career reinvention stories
  • How AI can support teachers and education reform
  • The spiritual side of finding purpose through technology
  • How AI can be a tool for breaking societal conditioning

Guiding Questions

  • What was the moment you realized you needed a fresh start?
  • How did ChatGPT become such a pivotal tool in your self-discovery process?
  • Can you walk us through how you used AI as a life coach?
  • What were some of the biggest fears or doubts you had to overcome?
  • How did this journey change your perspective on work, purpose, and success?
  • What role did external validation play in your past, and how did you break free from it?
  • How do you now help others leverage AI for personal or business growth?
  • What surprised you most about the process of redesigning your life?
  • How do you balance your passion for education reform and content creation?
  • What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck in their career or personal life?

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Nature’s Healing Code

Amy Olmedo:

Nature’s Healing Code

After a series of life-altering setbacks, Amy sought solace in the shifting tides of the Cape Fear River. What started as a simple escape became a profound journey of self-discovery, resilience, and unexpected opportunities.

Bio

Hi, I’m Amy. Do you have a minute to listen to what is in my heart? When I was young, I dreamed of the perfect life: marrying the best man, raising three beautiful children, becoming a doctor, and living happily ever after. But life had different plans. At first, I thought I had it all. But, the person in the mirror did not look familiar to me. I no longer recognized myself, or at least the version of myself I had created.

In my mid-thirties, I sat by the pool with friends, watching our children play. According to everyone, we were living “the life.” Yet, an overwhelming dread washed over me. I thought, “If this is life, I don’t want it anymore. You can keep it for yourself.” I had been enduring emotional abuse, and I knew I needed to leave my marriage. But, I did not know how. When I finally gathered enough strength to leave, the devastation that was thrust upon me was unimaginable.

Then, a car accident nearly killed me, leaving me with Traumatic Brain Injury and intense physical pain, yet I appeared fine. I had to fight, while hiding my struggles, to protect my children. Over the years, I did my best to rebuild my life, but a second car accident left me broken and suffering, yet again. My body was physically and emotionally shutting down as I developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In my forties, I longed for peace, wishing to reconcile the pain. Then, a spiritual renewal brought me back to life. Through arduous struggles, I rediscovered my purpose. Nature has always been my sanctuary and is where I feel closest to God. I knew I needed a fresh start. But where and with who? In my fifties, I discovered everything in life has led me to this moment in time, my time.

White Heron, A Creation Story is the result of my embracing all of who I am and all of my experiences through my journey. It is my story and a faithful companion for anyone on their own journey of self-discovery, healing and transformation. Come, take my hand, I am waiting for you.

Topics

  • How nature became her greatest teacher after personal crisis
  • Recognizing the patterns of adversity and taking ownership of change
  • The role of intuition and listening in healing and personal growth
  • Learning from the tides: how the shifting river mirrored her own transformation
  • The power of solitude and reflection in rebuilding after setbacks
  • Working with a shaman and the lessons it taught her
  • Ancient healing practices and their relevance in modern times
  • The emotional and physical connection in trauma recovery
  • How she transitioned from personal healing to creating a retreat for others
  • The unexpected opportunities that emerged when she surrendered to change

Guiding Questions

  • You’ve experienced multiple life-altering setbacks—what was the moment that made you realize something needed to change?
  • Can you share how your time in nature and discovering fossils became a turning point for you?
  • What did the shifting tides of the Cape Fear River teach you about life and resilience?
  • You mentioned working with a shaman—how did that shape your healing process?
  • How do you differentiate between adversity that is simply hard and adversity that carries a deeper lesson?
  • What role did self-love and self-discovery play in your healing journey?
  • You talk about the emotional-physical connection in trauma—how can people begin to untangle that for themselves?
  • What inspired you to create a retreat to help others through adversity?
  • Can you share an example of someone you’ve helped and the transformation they experienced?
  • What advice would you give to someone currently facing a life upheaval and feeling lost?

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Cycling Through Resilience

Melo Calarco:

Cycling Through Resilience

When all his friends backed out, Melo Calarco embarked on a two-year solo journey, cycling across the world and living with indigenous communities. From near-death experiences to life-changing revelations, he discovered the power of the mind in overcoming adversity—wisdom he now brings to leaders and high performers.

Bio

As a TEDx Speaker and multi award-winning author, Melo loves sharing his passion with the world speaking about wellbeing, high-performance, resilience, mindfulness, mental health and so much more.

His workshops and keynotes have been described as ‘truly transformational’ drawing from his unique life lessons while cycling over 30,000km across five continents, where Melo learned to manage stress, build mental endurance, and overcome many challenges, including near-death experiences.

He now shares this profound experience with global companies and high performers to help them operate at their best, without the risk of burning out.

Topics

  • How extreme travel tests and builds resilience
  • Mindfulness techniques for navigating high-stress situations
  • Lessons from living with indigenous communities and monks
  • Overcoming burnout before it takes over your life
  • How to reframe adversity into personal growth
  • The connection between physical endurance and mental strength
  • Lessons from solo travel that apply to leadership
  • Meditation as a tool for survival and success
  • The psychology of risk-taking and high performance
  • Finding purpose through extreme challenges

Guiding Questions

  • What motivated you to embark on a solo cycling journey around the world?
  • Can you share one of the most intense moments where your resilience was tested?
  • How did living with indigenous communities and monks shape your perspective on life?
  • What role did mindfulness play in helping you navigate extreme situations?
  • How do the lessons from your travels translate into the corporate world?
  • What’s a common misconception people have about burnout and resilience?
  • Can you walk us through the storm incident where meditation saved your life?
  • What advice do you have for high achievers who ignore early signs of burnout?
  • What did you learn about fear and decision-making when faced with life-threatening situations?
  • How can someone incorporate resilience-building practices into their daily routine?

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When Business Falls Apart

Jordan Aspen:

When Business Falls Apart

Jordan Aspen and her husband built a thriving virtual events business in response to the pandemic, but when life and circumstances changed, their entire livelihood was at stake. Facing the reality of shutting down their business, they had to redefine success, identity, and trust in what was next.

Bio

Jordan Aspen resides in the beautiful Texas Hill Country with her husband Paul and their four young children. After losing everything to toxic mold including her health, Jordan seeks to build a world where everyone has a community of companions to help them rise, whether they feel beaten-down or ambitious.

She founded Modern Agora to teach skills and provide technology for leaders to connect authentically and communicate effectively with each other first, and then their audiences.

Topics

  • Navigating business closure and identity shifts
  • The emotional toll of letting go of a business
  • Entrepreneurship as a family: balancing business and home life
  • Adapting to changing market trends and economic shifts
  • The rise and fall of virtual events post-pandemic
  • Trusting faith and intuition in career transitions
  • Overcoming financial uncertainty as an entrepreneur
  • Lessons learned from building a business during crisis
  • Pivoting gracefully when things don’t go as planned
  • The unexpected silver linings of failure

Guiding Questions

  • What was the driving force behind starting your virtual events business?
  • When did you first realize that the business model was no longer sustainable?
  • How did it feel to let go of something that had become part of your identity?
  • What were the biggest challenges you faced in making the decision to shut down?
  • How did your faith guide you through this transition?
  • What lessons did you learn about resilience and adaptability?
  • How did this experience change your perspective on success and failure?
  • Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
  • What advice do you have for entrepreneurs facing major pivots in their business?
  • What’s next for you, and how has this experience shaped your future plans?

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Owning My Freedom

Carol Williams:

Owning My Freedom

Carol Williams shares how she escaped a toxic marriage, navigated years of legal battles, and rebuilt her life as a single mom and business owner.

Bio

Hard work has driven my success, from excelling in school to running half marathons, fighting wildfires, and building a business during a recession. Recently, I’ve combined intuition with productivity, reflected in my Productivity Cake—a framework for balance and success. Listening to the Voice Within—God—is life’s greatest secret.

My purpose is helping others uncover their talents and live their purpose. As “Courageous Carol,” I empower clients to achieve the impossible, creating ripple effects of success. I believe life, like a cake recipe, evolves with added and subtracted ingredients, but core values remain, making success a continuous, transformative process.

Topics

  • Recognizing toxic patterns and breaking free.
  • Lessons learned from living in a constant state of fear.
  • The shadow side of resilience: when persistence works against you.
  • The emotional journey of starting over.
  • Building a support system as a single mom.

Guiding Questions

  • What was the turning point that gave you the courage to leave your marriage?
  • How did the constant fear shape your approach to life and work?
  • How did your perception of resilience change throughout this journey?
  • What role did self-care play in your transformation?
  • How has your experience shaped your coaching philosophy?

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