Never Ever Give Up Hope

2020 was a record year for suicides of police officers in America. There were 236 suicides and approximately 170 inline duty deaths. Officers know the risks of the job but suicide should NOT be one of them. Scott Medlin has worked as a Police Officer since 2007. Prior to that, he was in the United States Marine Corps. He was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2005. After an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he earned his Bachelor's degree and entered law enforcement. Both as a police officer and a Marine, Scott had to face huge struggles including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction. In order to save his marriage, Scott had to resign from his job as a K9 officer which caused him deep resentment and despair - feeling like he lost his identity. Since the lockdown, there has been an upsurge of mental health challenges in general, but also among police officers. Scott faced these challenges and now teaches others how to become aware of them and overcome them. He has helped fellow officers keep marriages together, pull through during hard financial times, overcome depression, and provide encouragement when needed. In Scott's interview, he shares the struggles and the triumphs of our law enforcement officers but also how we can use the same principles for better mental health no matter what our occupation.

Shawn Anderson is the leading voice on the power of the 'go the extra mile' message. Shawn is a #1 ranked motivational author and international keynote speaker. He is a lifetime entrepreneur with a track record of raising performance and passion in others. Shawn is a seven-time author and the creator of "Extra Mile Day." A day declared by 512 cities on November 1, 2020, recognizing extra mile heroes in local communities. Shawn walks the talk. He's built a million-dollar company, pedaled a bike 4,000 miles across the US (twice), run a 100-mile race, and created adventures in more than fifty countries including having walked across seven countries since 2014. In his interview, Shawn how we can change our world by going the extra mile. One. Step. At. A. Time.

When the planes hit the Twin Towers, Christina Ray Stanton's life changed forever. As the new dawn of terrorism began, the Manhattan resident and her husband fearfully witnessed the impact just six blocks away from Ground Zero. As toxic dust spread into the air, the Stantons boarded a boat off the island and into the unknown. 9/11 totally reset the course of our lives. In the years since the attacks, interest in 9/11 has waned and education about it has been lacking. The 20-year anniversary of the worst attack on US soil is this year. Christina wants to re-engage the public with information about 9/11 via a new, unique voice and from a different perspective than typically offered. Christina is a 9/11 historian, and Financial District resident who lived six blocks from the attacks, and an NYC licensed tour guide who has been giving tours of the World Trade Center complex since 1995. Christina Ray Stanton is an award-winning author of two books and several articles and is a professional speaker who has appeared on TBN, Fox, CBN, and others. She is a licensed NYC tour guide of 25 years who specializes in 9/11 history. She and her husband founded Loving All Nations, a nonprofit organization that helps the world's poor and marginalized. In March 2020, Christina caught a near-fatal case of COVID-19. This could be from a compromised immune system stemming from the 9/11 fallout. These two calamities have left Christina with long-term health issues and were mentally challenging to overcome. But her faith provided strength and sustained her. Christina wants to re-engage the public with information about 9/11 via a new, unique voice and from a different perspective than typically offered. Listen to Christina's amazing story here:

Paul Merritt was born with cystic fibrosis. He has not lived his life as a victim of disease but, rather, someone who has a passion for science, faith, and helping others to succeed - especially in the face of adversity. Paul has had to overcome many challenges and much hardship just to survive. His motto in life is "Never let your obstacles become boundaries." Paul is an author of two books, The Best of Disease and Simple Ways to Improve, and his memoir Lifelong Turbulence: Calming the Storms of Life with God, Faith, Scripture, and Medicine. Paul is a small business owner/operator and has a certificate in infectious disease and infection control. In his interview, Paul shares the keys to getting over adversity in our lives - no matter what it may be. "The size of the fight in the dog is what gets you there." Living beyond expectations, Lifelong Turbulence is a story of adversity - thirty plus years of living with a chronic illness called Cystic Fibrosis – a genetic disease caused by inheriting mutated genes from parents, which affects 30,000 children and adults in the United States alone, along with numerous issues in those thirty years. A struggle against living in poverty and even molestation. A powerful story that can motivate and show how to overcome the struggles of life by calming those storms with God, faith, scripture, and medicine.

Kim "Kid" Curry was a high school junior when his father, the radio newsman, asked him to babysit for his boss at the radio station. Kim assumed it was to babysit the boss' kids but it was to 'run' the actual news show. The radio station played the local church services from the previous week and no one wanted the job. From that moment, Kim knew what he wanted to do as a career and has been a broadcaster for 33 years. Then a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis changed his life. After eight years of failing health, modern science gave him hope by halting the progression of the disease. At the height of popularity for radio stations and DJs in the 70s and 80s, Curry blazed a trail for himself as "Kid" Curry. His iconic, "Bed Check" segment, helped propel him to star status in Miami and it followed him during his over the 20-year path to the dream job of Major Market Program Director. The perks of the job, including hanging out with music legends, being invited to the White House, meeting Johnny U and a Watergate burglar, traveling around the world to find the next "Number One" song and, the best part, helping listeners in need. Life was on track, but, Multiple Sclerosis had other plans. Curry dismissed the early signs of the disease and continued with his optimistic outlook until a fateful round of golf led to the diagnosis that halted a lifelong career and extinguished his dreams. But attitude is everything. With the love and support of his incredible (Cuban) wife and her assurance of, "We Got This Papi," Curry embraced this new challenge and shows us that life can be good even in the face of adversity. This is his story. One that will encourage and inspire you to Never Ever Give Up Hope:

Michael R. DeLeon, a successfully acclimated ex-offender who after nearly 8 years of drug addiction and gang involvement, spent 12 years in state prison and halfway houses for a gang-related homicide. But that is NOT where his story ended. His story will inspire, motivate and challenge you. We all know someone who has been affected by drug abuse or violence. You will definitely want to share Michael's story with everyone. Finding the Purpose for your life is the key ingredient to overcoming trauma and the adverse childhood experiences so many of us endure. Having a relationship with God, who GAVE me that purpose, is why I stand here today. Since Michael's release from prison, he has earned 3 Associates Degrees, a Baccalaureate Degree in Business Management, a minor in Criminal Justice, and a CADC Educational Certificate. Michael is now in the process of obtaining his Masters's Degree in Addictions Counseling at Liberty University as well as pursuing his LCADC. Michael has spoken to over ten million students and young adults as a motivational speaker in many facilities delivering evidence-based student programs around the country. He has presented in centers and schools in all 50 states in America. "For most of my life, since age 11, I was part of the problem. In my own life, I was the problem. After 12 years in prison, I wanted to be the solution—so I dedicated my life to this purpose." During his riveting interview, Michael discusses how we can help fight the main cause of death and destruction of life in America. Michael is the founder of Steered Straight, Inc. A non-profit organization formed in 2000 designed with the intention of carrying a prevention message to youth and young adults regarding the extreme dangers of drugs, gang involvement day-to-day, and criminal activity. Michael has spoken to over ten million students and young adults as a motivational speaker in many facilities delivering evidence-based student programs around the country. He has presented in centers and schools in all 50 states in America. Michael speaks and presents to youth, parents, educators, law enforcement, medical professionals, and community groups throughout the country. He presents to in excess of 1.5 million people each year. He created two additional educational arms of Steered Straight: Recovery Army and Faithing Addiction, both of which target specific audiences throughout America to educate and prevent addiction and build and support Recovery. Michael is developing Steered Straight by stressing the importance of young men and women making sound, rational decisions in their day-to-day lives. Michael is an award-winning filmmaker and has directed and produced four documentaries on addiction, focusing on the opiate and heroin epidemic in America, marijuana legalization, and Addiction Recovery. Michael also founded the Project Pride Program while incarcerated in prison. After pitching the idea for this program to then-Commissioner Jack Terhune, he worked to develop the message that consequences can be severe and life-lasting. Project Pride is still in existence at the New Jersey Department of Corrections and is the largest prison outreach program in America.

Ginny Brant's cancer diagnosis sent her on a quest to discover what caused a health nut to contract a deadly and aggressive form of breast cancer. What she found may surprise and inspire you. Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power of Washington D.C. She has served as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. She served as a trustee of the Baptist International Mission Board for eight years, and she and her husband participated in mission work in Yemen, Gaza, the Czech Republic, Russia, China, and Romania. Brant's award-winning book, "Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World," was endorsed by the late Chuck Colson.

Dustin Rivenbark has dealt with addiction firsthand, seen the devastating effects of infidelity in a marriage, lost what he thought was his livelihood, lost a daughter to Potter syndrome, lost a mother to drug addiction, and dealt with ongoing health issues. All of this took the wind out of his sails, and he found himself broken, lost, and afraid. Rivenbark wanted to fight through the scars and the pain of life, but he needed a system that would give him a road map to freedom. His powerful story of overcoming fear, adversity, and tragedy is one with a life-changing impact. More than ever, our youth needs strong leaders to help them be the best version of themselves – no matter their circumstance, obstacles, or background. Dustin Rivenbark is taking his passion to motivate young people by using stories of inspiration in order to better prepare them for tomorrow. Dustin Rivenbark spent 10 ½ years climbing the ladder in the oilfield industry, having the bottom fall out of the market and starting over, only to have the hardest year of his life with the loss of his daughter, his mom (to a drug overdose) and his grandmother all in the same year. In Courage and Redemption, he shares how the six key battle principles from the story of Joshua helped lay the groundwork for him to turn tragedy into triumph. Through his personal story, he tells how the pains of the past don't have to be crippling; he offers testimony that through all the trials and tragedy, he has witnessed God's power in many ways. Courage and Redemption narrates that not only has Rivenbark dedicated his life to being the hands and feet of Christ but he's also committed to motivating people to never settle with the status quo. Be determined to succeed. Be passionate. Believe in yourself.

EVERYONE loves a story. Real-life stories, even more. Sam Thiara has mastered the art of storytelling and has also done two TEDx talks on the subject. In his interview, he will show us how to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Sam Thiara is a speaker, storyteller, writer, educator, mentor, coach, entrepreneur, problem solver, and community activator. He developed CARE to show us how we can help others - especially during this pandemic. There is a need for us to CARE CARE stands for Collaboration, Adaptability, Resilience, and Empathy Collaboration – we are not in this by ourselves – look around how you can support others and they can support you Adaptability – we must be willing to change – we have all needed to change, how are you being adaptable to thrive and not only survive Resilience – we are in a marathon and we need to build our stamina to get through the pandemic Empathy – showing care and compassion to each other – we have no idea what people are going through so let's be kind Sameteaches at the Beedie School of Business and is Founder and Chief Motivating Officer at Ignite the Dream Coaching and Consulting. He engages individuals in personal and professional development. He has worked with more than 45 non-profits and organizations on alignment. An expert in career coaching he has helped over 5,000 people ranging from 15 to 40 year-olds.

Shelley Buck was born into a creative family in the Midwest and moved to California after college to follow her dream of working for Disney. It was there she met and fell in love with her husband, Chris, who worked in animation and would one day direct the Oscar-winning movie, FROZEN. After they married and had their first child, Ryder, she stayed home to be a full-time mom to him and the two brothers who followed. When her 23-year-old son, Ryder was diagnosed with cancer her journey went to unimaginable places. Rock musician and songwriter Ryder Buck was 23 years old, with an unstoppable dream to life people up through his music. But a life-threatening cancer diagnosis showed that life had other plans. While the disease should have beaten him, Ryder rose above it all to live from a place of passion and purpose. THEN....fate stepped in. Though it wasn't cancer that took Ryder, it was the experience that helped him grow into the shining light he became. His story of love, hope, and truth will show you that there is no hardship big enough to keep you from putting your special touch on the world...if you simply leave your light on!