HOPEfull Conversations with Kari Eckert

My guest today is Natalie Pennington.  Natalie Pennington is an Assistant Professor in the Relating and Organizing Area with specific interests in interpersonal communication and the use of communication technology. Dr. Pennington’s research focuses primarily on meeting social connection needs and friendship. Currently she is part of an international team of experts who are helping to develop publ...

My guest today is Kathleen Yopp.  Kathleen is a pediatric occupational therapist with over 28 years of experience and the founder of Helping Hands Therapy in Virginia Beach, VA. Kathleen’s passion is helping parents and children achieve positive growth and development. Helping Hands Therapy Services, PLLC, (HHTS) is a privately owned pediatric therapy practice providing physical therapy, occupatio...

My guest today is Karen Malka.  Karen is a parent advocate coordinator at Pacer Center, which has the mission to improve educational opportunities and enhance the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families. PACER Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults with disabilities and their families thro...

My guest today is Maryann Hesse, an Embodied Authority Architect and the creator of the Authority Recalibration Method.  She has worked with high-achieving women for 30 years, diagnosing and helping them recalibrate the invisible internal dynamics that determine how power reponds to them, at the identity, nervous system, and energetic signal level. Subconscious release in psychology refers to tech...

In a world often clouded by mental health challenges, the power of creativity can serve as a beacon of hope. In this episode of Hopeful Conversations, host Kari Eckert speaks with Oliver Stephen, a multi-disciplinary artist from Wrexham, whose work not only captures the essence of his community but also reflects his personal journey with mental health.  Olly’s story is the story of someone who spe...

My guest today is Amanda Hardin is a Registered Nurse and nationally certified firearms instructor with over a decade of experience in firearm safety, emergency response, and personal defense education. Her work sits at the intersection of healthcare, public safety, and prevention, with a focus on practical education, ethical decision-making, and real-world application. As the Executive Director o...

My guest today is Devin Daniels, the Director of Adolescent Services at Cenikor Foundation in Houston, Texas.  More than 2 million teens in the US abuse drugs once every month. Teen substance use can quickly disrupt dreams before they even begin. The earlier we intervene, the better the outcome. Early intervention services are designed to catch the warning signs of substance use and behavioral con...

My guest today is Sarah Frank, an author and founder of the non-profit Simple Studies.  Simple Studies was founded in order to combat education inequity, especially in light of virtual learning in the midst of a global pandemic. The idea was, and still is, to provide students with free resources created for and by students. Lack of resources is one of the main pillars, but education inequity exist...

My guest today is Stacy Schaffer, an author and therapist, with over twenty years of experience helping children navigate emotional and behavioral challenges. Specializing in both grief and Synergetic Play Therapy, Stacy creates a safe and nurturing place where people can take a deep breath. She also leads youth and family programs at The Refuge, a non-profit community center dedicated to healing...

My guest today is Lauren Beane, an author, keynote speaker, TEDx speaker and podcast host.  Laurent is the mom of two children and a Boston Terrier.   Lauren helps audiences take the leap and believe they are ready enough by offering tools, coaching, and her personal stories so they can embrace and own their unique talents. Too often, she found herself not taking action on her goals unless she fel...

My guest today is Amy Bryant, author of Let Them Play and owner of Bryant College Coaching.  Amy has spent over 20 years coaching in the NCAA.  Amy is a mother of two student athletes and in her free time enjoys hiking and traveling.   Let Them Play offers practical advice for parenting athletes, emphasizing fun, balance, and personal growth over pressure and success. It guides parents to nurture...

My guest today is Bella Wright, co-writer & producer of The Gardening Club, a new pop rock musical that debuts in London this coming Thursday.  Bella was the winner of Robbie’s Hope’s Hall of Personal Expression in 2020 as a junior in high school.   Bella is an actress, musician, composer, musical director and producer from Missoula, Montana, now based in Liverpool, England. After completing her h...

My guest today is Rebecca Heiss, author of Instinct and an Evolutionary Biologist and Stress Physiologist.  Her book reveals the science behind our behaviors that affect our productivity, success, and ultimate happiness. “Our instincts were developed hundreds of thousands of years ago t help us survive a world ruled by scarcity and danger.  But they are devastatingly mismatched to our current envi...

My guest today is Abby Moore, an inspiring young Crossfit athlete who is on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.  Abby started participating in Crossfit at age 11 when her parents joined a local gym.  In the last 7 years she has participated in the Crossfit Open 5 times and qualified to attend the Crossfit Games twice.  In 2021 she was ranked 11th in the world. Abby is currently a seni...

My guest today is Kate King.  Kate is an author and Licensed Professional Counselor and a Board-Certified Art Therapist.  Kate’s book is titled  The Radiant Life Project, Awaken Your Purpose, Heal Your Past, and Transform Your Future.  This book is based on Kate’s clinical psychotherapy career and her own humble life learnings.  Kate’s mission is to create a ripple effect of well-being. Her book i...

My guest today is Kat Zempolic.  Kat is a Co-Founder, Board Member, Vice President, co-host of The Mental Matchup and Director of Podcasting for Morgan's Message. She grew up in northern Virginia and attended Duke University. She was a member of the Duke Women’s lacrosse team with Morgan. She graduated from Duke’s Trinity College in 2018 with a B.A. in Public Policy, certificate in Markets and Man...

My guest today is Bryn Miller is a adolescent psychotherapist who turned parent coach after a decade of working with adolescents with eating disorders.  She loves working with adolescents and with parents.  She believes in involving parents in the treatment of teens for the best outcomes (with research to support the findings).  Bryn brings high energy and a bit of humor to her work.  Her signatur...

My guest today is Allison Mallory.  Allison is a Mental Performance Consultant and case manager at Colorado University in Boulder, CO.  She works in the Psychological Health & Performance Department with D1 student athletes.   Alli is also working with Boulder Buffs a student-athlete peer advocacy group for mental health.  Boulder Buffs promotes mental health and wellness through education and sup...

My guest today is Andrea Davis.  Andrea Davis is a former secondary ed teacher turned screen-time navigator and youth advocate. She is the founder of Better Screen Time, where she shares family-tested ideas from the tech trenches as a mom of five. Her mission is to help parents take the slow tech road. Andrea is the author of Creating a Tech-Healthy Family and is certified by the Digital Wellness...

My guest today is David George Brook.  David – That Gratitude Guy, has been a speaker, coach, and best-selling author for over 25 years.  He is a former Nordstrom store manager and managed in the corporate world for over 30 years.  His published works include “That Gratitude Guy’s Daily Gratitude Journal”, “Monday Morning Minutes: 100 Messages of Gratitude”, “Six-Word Lessons to Embrace Gratitude”...

My guest today is Renee Middleton, the Executive Director of the Cheynne Frontier Days Foundation.  Renée has thirty years of experience in both marketing and management with Taco John’s International, Unicover Corporation and Sierra Trading Post. In addition to her marketing career, Renée has been in the field of nursing since 2018. She is a RN who works on the Oncology Floor at Cheyenne Regional...

My guest today is Laura Mahony, a specialist in Neurofeedback.  Laura's educational background includes a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling and is Board Certification in Neurofeedback. She has undergone extensive mentorship under esteemed figures such as Jay Gunkelman and John Demos, further enhancing her expertise. Notably, Laura's commitment extends beyond professional milestones; s...

My guest today is Michelle Maikoetter, Director of Special Projects at Neurosequential and Chief Program Officer at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch.  For over 30 years, she has worked with youth and families in various settings including domestic violence/sexual assault, juvenile justice, after school programming, and wilderness programming.  Since 2007, Michelle has been a leader at Cal Farley’s Boys Ran...

My guest today is Emily Cherkin, a former middle school English teacher and parent of two, Emily Cherkin, MEd., The Screentime Consultant, witnessed the simultaneous rise of technology use for school, and smartphone and social media use for kids. Today, Emily consults with parents, offers school presentations and professional development training, and writes about parenting and screentime to bring...

My guest today is Rae Thomas, a licensed professional counselor specializing in eating disorders and body related distress. She has worked within the body image and eating disorder field for 8 years now at varying levels of care. Recovery from eating disorders, body image distress, and unhelpful learned narratives are her passions!” Feelings Found bridges a gap in the mental health field by design...