Leaders of Today: From Teens to Titans

From Challenges to Confidence: Josie Martinez’s Journey of Resilience and Empowerment In this inspiring episode, Josy Martinez shares her powerful story of overcoming adversity, embracing her heritage, and transforming her experiences into a mission to empower women and small business owners in managing their finances. Her journey from childhood trauma to a successful fractional CFO underscores th...

Most traditional schooling teaches success in black and white — but what if learning in color could unlock incredible potential? Ceana Santori, a dyslexic entrepreneur and founder of Category Minds, reveals how her color-coded mnemonic system turned her biggest challenges into her greatest strengths, paving the way for anyone to learn faster, remember longer, and succeed beyond limits. At just 13,...

In this episode of Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell sits down with licensed professional counselor and clinical supervisor Gayle Alexander to discuss the growing mental health challenges facing today's teens and young adults. Drawing from both her personal story and over 20 years of experience working with adolescents and families, Gayle shares how anxiety, perfectionism, social media, and overpr...

Fear doesn't just show up when we're speaking on stage. It shows up when we hesitate to share our ideas, walk into a new room, or allow ourselves to be fully seen. In this featured Speak Boldly Showcase talk, Hannah McMahon explores the fear of visibility and the ways we shrink ourselves to feel safer, more accepted, or less judged. Through personal stories, research, and practical tools, she remi...

What if the games kids play at recess are teaching some of the most important leadership skills they'll ever need? In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell sits down with Wallace Thompson, author of The Field Game Field Guide, to explore how playground games teach confidence, resilience, fairness, leadership, risk-taking, and problem-solving. Wallace shares lessons fr...

In this episode, Lorraine Connell sits down with Nadine Hill, founder of Balance In Your Business, LLC, to discuss how childhood experiences shaped her journey into business leadership, financial education, and event moderation. Nadine shares how growing up feeling unseen and unsupported taught her the importance of helping others feel confident, understood, and empowered. From overcoming struggle...

In this featured Speak Boldly talk, Karen Webb shares the powerful story behind “The Kitchen Table,” a reflection on the many different versions of ourselves we carry through life. Through humor, vulnerability, and storytelling, Karen explores identity, growth, fear, survival, confidence, and the internal voices that shape who we become. This episode is a reminder that we are not meant to stay one...

Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell sits down with Meg O’Neil, co-founder of Intuitive Marketing Collective, mother of three, and advocate for neurodiverse children. Together, they dive into the challenges and strengths of neurodiverse teens, the impact of leadership roles on personal identity, and the importance of fostering safe spaces for self-discov...

In this powerful episode of Teen to Titans, Lorraine Connell sits down with holistic transformation coach Allie Cass to talk about high achievement, self-abandonment, emotional healing, and learning how to reconnect with yourself after trauma. Allie vulnerably shares her experience navigating an emotionally abusive relationship as a teenager, the pressure of always being the “strong one,” and how...

In this episode, we sit down with Max Nadoraski, founder of Lead the Change, a student-led apparel brand spreading messages of empathy, inclusion, and positivity. What started as a simple idea has grown into a national movement, reaching customers across the country and creating real impact—donating a portion of proceeds to support individuals with disabilities. We talk about: Why you don’t need a...

In this episode, we sit down with Lisa Lisser, founder of LZL Coaching, to explore how early life experiences shape leadership, confidence, and the ability to ask for help. Lisa shares how growing up as a high-achieving “rule follower” led her to believe she had to figure everything out on her own and how that mindset followed her into adulthood. Through personal stories and real-life examples, sh...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, Lorraine Connell sits down with Erin Snow, founder of the Seacoast Listening Lounge, to discuss the importance of holding abusers accountable, self-acceptance, and creating safe spaces for healing. Erin shares her personal journey—from overcoming childhood abuse and struggling with self-worth to becoming a legal advocate and launching a professional liste...

In this episode, Lorraine Connell sits down with educational consultant Melissa Davis to explore the truth behind student behavior. Melissa shares her personal journey and how it shaped her approach to education, helping teachers and parents understand that behavior is often a form of communication—not defiance. She explains why many challenges stem from a lack of skills, not a lack of effort, and...

Jenny Dreizen grew up feeling overlooked — by teachers, advisors, and systems that didn't know what to do with a girl who was both creative and analytical, quiet but fierce. Today she's the co-founder and COO of Fresh Starts Registry, the world's first divorce registry, helping people navigate major life transitions with dignity. In this episode Jenny gets real about what it felt like to be passed...

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, we’re joined by Stephanie Malia Krauss, author, speaker, and strategist focused on helping young people truly thrive in today’s world. This conversation is powerful, honest, and incredibly relevant for anyone supporting teens. What we talked about Stephanie shares her personal story and how it shaped her work, along with what she’s seeing acros...

In this conversation, Lorraine Connell discusses her journey from being a classroom teacher to a leadership coach and author. She shares the inspiration behind her book, which aims to empower teachers and redefine leadership in the classroom. Lorraine emphasizes the importance of accountability, community, and recognizing the leadership potential in every student. Through personal anecdotes and le...

In this episode, Lorraine sits down with Steve Pappajohn, Director of the Dover Teen Center, to talk about the impact of mentorship, belonging, and leadership development in the lives of young people. Steve shares how his own experiences shaped the way he supports teens today, why acceptance matters first, and how creating safe spaces helps young people build confidence, connection, and leadership...

In this episode, Lorraine Connell talks with Lily Grace York, personal brand strategist and creative entrepreneur, about how her teen years shaped the leader she is today. Lily shares what it was like to be seen as the “perfect” student while quietly struggling with anxiety, self-pressure, and fear of making mistakes. Together, they explore perfectionism, confidence, leadership, and how finding yo...

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine sits down with Maria Natapov, a step-parenting and co-parenting expert and Vice Chair of the Sparrow Collective. Maria shares how her teen years, shaped by immigration and “stay small, stay quiet” messaging, impacted her confidence, intuition, and early relationships. She opens up about overcoming an unhealthy relationship and how thos...

What happens when a kid has to keep it together while their world falls apart? In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, host Lorraine Connell talks with Lynne Hughes—founder of Comfort Zone Camp, the nation’s first free bereavement camp for grieving kids. Lynne shares the moment her life changed forever: losing both parents young, walking into junior high the day after her father died...

Dr. Jennifer Edwards shares how early independence helped her build self-trust, follow her intuition, and become the kind of leader who listens inward first. We talk about the stories our minds create (lowercase truth vs capital T Truth), how quiet helps you hear your inner compass, and why there are no wrong choices, only next steps. Key Takeaways You don’t need a perfect plan. There are no wrong...

In this inspiring episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine speaks with Cassie Crosby, CEO of Iterata Solutions and founder of Vertex Leadership Lab. Cassie, a 24-year army veteran, shares her incredible transformation from a rebellious teenager to a powerful leader in both the military and the corporate world. With expertise in leadership development, Cassie now helps ambitious execu...

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell speaks with Josh Colwell, a leader in the recovery and criminal justice support space in New Hampshire. Josh shares what his teenage years were really like growing up in instability, entering the juvenile system, and navigating environments that didn’t feel safe. They explore how early experiences shape identity, the survival h...

In this episode, Lorraine Connell sits down with Rebecca Minor, a queer clinician, consultant, and educator, to discuss the complex interplay of trauma, gender, and sexuality. Rebecca shares her personal journey and professional insights, offering a compassionate perspective on supporting trans and gender nonconforming youth. Key Topics: Rebecca's early experiences with mental health and identity...

In this episode of Leaders of Today, Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell sits down with Jack O’Connor, a devoted dad of two and recovery advocate who has spent the last decade supporting individuals and families in New Hampshire. Jack shares his story from being a “middle of the pack” teen battling anxiety, to coping through substances, to hitting a turning point in college and eventually finding lo...