The Determined People Podcast

It takes a rare kind of courage and integrity to walk away from a 30-year career and begin anew. But that's exactly what Dale Lykins did. Dale had been a pastor in a traditional church for 30 years, but when he noticed the church was becoming more and more interested in preserving and perpetuating itself rather than focusing on the teachings of Jesus, Dale decided it was time for him to go. D...

Our character flaws (we all have them) must be fixed from the inside out. Covering them up with bigger bank accounts, new homes or cool cars doesn't work.

We admire people of integrity. Why do we settle for less from corporations or politicians?

We need more courageous people in our world. Here's what courage looks like to me.

When you are speaking with another person, are you fully engaged or waiting for your opportunity to make a point. Here's a better way to connect.

Cancel culture is a threat, a credible threat to free speech. It needs to be canceled.

Rejection is part of life. It's never final or fatal, but that doesn't change the fact that it hurts. Move forward. And  learn   from rejection...

Joshua Shea lives in Maine. For years he was a successful businessman, City Council member, founder of a wildly popular film festival, and Joshua received the "Key to the City." In 2014, everything came crashing down. Josh was arrested for possession of child pornography, and he spent six months in jail. While behind bars, Josh wrote his autobiography, "The Addiction Nobody Will Tal...

Our lives are like movies, except we get to write the script.

In the past 15 months, mental health has been shredded due to isolation caused by the pandemic. We are almost out of the pandemic, but the mental health battle rages on. Reach out to friends and family, colleagues, acquaintances and see how they are doing. But also, how are you doing?

Life is full of problems. There is no avoiding them. But do you let them derail you from your bigger purpose, or do you focus on the solution? 

Be cautious of what you allow into your mind. Negative stimuli can impact us negatively, just as positive stimuli affects us positively. Choose positive...

I am infinitely curious about people: what motivates them, their backgrounds, family life, and their inner wounds. Podcasting is a perfect fit for me to share brief, inspirational thoughts along with interesting stories.

Greed can overtake human decency and the desire to do what is right. It's better to give away what you accumulated through selfish greed. You can build it back, and you can do it honorably.

George Siegal is a documentary filmmaker based in Tampa, Florida. His latest film, "The Last House Standing" examines what happens when disaster strikes. One of the most remarkable takeaways from the interview is, how many people believe "it will never happen to them." In our interview, we discuss this, FEMA, and resources he has placed on the film's website to help people...

In 2016, suicide became the #2 killer of our kids. Today, I had the honor and privilege to speak with a group of foster children. These kids, our most vulnerable citizens, deserve every chance to make it in this world. My message of growing up in a violent, fear-filled home allows me to connect with kids. I am forever grateful to God for putting me in the home he did, which gives me the ability to...

Life is hard. We live in an imperfect, broken world. But there is plenty of goodness to keep your focus on. 

We make grocery lists and to-do lists. Why don't we make lists of the interesting people we want to meet?

We only have so much time on this planet. Let's make it count!

The marginalized feel like they don't have a voice...like they aren't important. Everyone is important. Every life matters. Speak up for those who feel afraid to. They need us.

It's important to be truthful with others. It's even more important to be truthful with ourselves...

Parenting is hard work! If your child has autism, ADHD, or if they are a lazy student, parenting becomes even more challenging. Parents and children get frustrated with each other, and the student isn't thriving as he or she should.  Dr. Norrine Russell is a Consultant and Coach who takes a holistic approach to help struggling families, turning chaos into calm, providing hope where hope may b...

Do you want deeper, more meaningful conversations? If so, don't be afraid to let your guard down.

The Creator of the universe created you and me uniquely, for purpose. There has never been another you, and there never will be. Embrace and celebrate your unique qualities that make you who you are. 

Here's a few ideas to help get conversations started with strangers.