Thinking That Matters with Elizabeth Mahusay

What happens when the path you worked so hard to build suddenly disappears? And how do you move forward when life forces a hard reset? In this episode of Thinking That Matters , I sit down with musician, educator, veteran, and entrepreneur Ron Jones to explore the mindset required to navigate disruption without losing purpose. Ron shares his journey from lifelong musician to U.S. Army helicopter p...

What happens when you stop asking “Why did this happen to me?” and start asking “Where am I standing right now?” In this episode, I sit down with technology leader, entrepreneur, and first-time author Paul Carlson for an honest conversation about self-talk, personal responsibility, faith, and the courage it takes to move forward before you feel ready. Paul shares the deeply personal journey behind...

Is it really too late or is that just a story you’ve been telling yourself? In this powerful episode of Thinking That Matters , I sit down with Dr. Oni, a family and obesity medicine physician and founder of Zelos Direct Primary Care, to explore how mindset, faith, and thinking patterns shape both our lives and our health. Dr. Oni shares her remarkable journey from Nigeria to Canada, the Caribbean...

Welcome to a special year-end episode of Thinking That Matters! In this episode, I’m reflecting on the Top 10 most-listened episodes of 2025. This isn’t just a countdown. It’s a look back at the conversations that resonated most deeply, stories of faith, resilience, purpose, leadership, and what it really means to live a life that matters. Below is a breakdown of each episode and when it appears i...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by rising health insurance costs or wondering if there’s a better option for you? In this episode of Thinking That Matters , I sit down with longtime friend and insurance expert Steve Stump to break down what’s really happening in the world of health coverage and what you can do about it. Steve shares his journey from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, including th...

What if the voice that keeps telling you “you’re not enough” has been wrong all along? In this episode of Thinking That Matters , Elizabeth sits down with Terri Martinez, a wife, mom, ya-ya, connector, entrepreneur, and community outreach leader. Terri shares her journey of rebuilding confidence, overcoming limiting beliefs, trusting God through dark seasons, and discovering her purpose through co...

What if the limitations you’ve believed about your age, body, or health were never true? In this episode of Thinking That Matters , Elizabeth sits down with Monica Steiner, fresh off her incredible performance at the 28th Miss Natural Olympia in Las Vegas, where she earned two gold medals and a silver. Monica shares her inspiring journey in natural bodybuilding and reflects on her decades-long inv...

What if the weaknesses you try to hide are where God wants to show His strength?  In this episode of Thinking That Matters , attorney Jin Shin shares his journey from South Korea to South Africa, through military service, law school, and into a calling much bigger than himself. Jin opens up about moving from fear to purpose, overcoming imposter syndrome, and learning to step into calling even when...

What happens when you combine a heart for people, a lifetime of hard work, and a belief that you’re capable of more than you think? In today’s episode of Thinking That Matters, I’m joined by my Leadership McKinney classmate and friend, Dana Stillwell, Senior Development Liaison for the City of McKinney- someone whose story reminds us what it looks like to lead with intention, humility, and purpose...

What does it take to move from potential to performance and lead with authenticity, not ego?  In this episode, Crispin Thompson, founder of The Leadership Studio , shares 30+ years of leadership experience, mindset shifts, and practical tools that turn good managers into impactful leaders. Learn how to overcome imposter syndrome, let go of perfectionism, and communicate with honesty and influence....

What would happen if you realized that everything you were chasing success, money, influence still left you empty inside?   In this powerful episode, Elizabeth sits down with Scott, a man who walked away from worldly ambition to pursue something eternal. From his early years in New Orleans to a life-altering moment at Texas A&M, Scott shares how he went from running from God to running toward Him...

What if the next step in your career isn’t up the ladder but down a few ranks ? In this powerful episode, Elizabeth Mahusay sits down with Sarah Neale, a 24-year veteran of the title industry, to unpack how she traded corporate titles and burnout for peace, purpose, and personal fulfillment. Sarah shares her journey from starting at the front desk to leading teams across Texas and how she discover...

What if your deepest pain became the path to your greatest growth? In this episode of Thinking That Matters , Elizabeth Mahusay sits down with Erica Vedane, insurance professional, small business owner, and community leader to share how faith, mindset, and courage helped her rebuild after tremendous loss. After losing her mother, grandmother, and brother within just two years, Erica faced a crossr...

What if the stories you tell yourself are holding you back from becoming who you’re meant to be? In this episode of Thinking That Matters , Elizabeth Mahusay sits down with DeAnna Stone, Executive Drama Director, community leader, and storyteller at McKinney’s historic Chestnut Square to explore how storytelling, self-awareness, and faith can help us move beyond limiting beliefs and live more auth...

What if creativity isn’t about paintbrushes or talent but about the choices you make every day?  In this inspiring episode, Elizabeth Mahusay sits down with mural artist and painter Andrea Holmes, whose vibrant works have transformed downtown McKinney and beyond. Together, they unpack what it really means to live creatively whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or simply learning to t...

What does it really mean to “take Jesus to school”? In this episode of Thinking That Matters , Elizabeth sits down with Dr. Jackie Minor—lifelong educator, trainer, and author of Taking Jesus to School: The Fruit of the Spirit on Display . Together, they unpack how Christian educators can live out their faith authentically in classrooms and leadership, even when cultural or institutional pressures...

What do you do when life shatters in an instant? In this powerful episode of Thinking That Matters , I sit down with Deanna Dotson, Banking Center Manager at American National Bank of Texas, to share her journey through unimaginable loss and the faith that carries her forward. Deanna opens up about losing her son, the raw emotions of grief, and the struggle between faith and human emotion. She als...

Ever felt stuck watching others move forward while you’re standing still?  In this episode of Thinking That Matters , I sit down with Katherine Gold, a private banker with Frost Bank, whose journey proves that success isn’t always linear. From burnout and closed doors to pastry school in Europe and back to banking, Katherine shares how pivotal moments, resilience, and mindset shifts helped her bui...

What happens when a 13-year-old’s life is turned upside down by long COVID, chronic illness, and uncertainty about the future? In this episode of Thinking That Matters, I sit down with Karis Hill and her mom, Laura Hill, for a raw, hope-filled conversation about resilience, faith, and reframing life’s hardest moments. Karis shares her four-year journey from being bed-bound and unable to hold simpl...

"The hardest things in my life, my dad’s death and my hearing loss, are the very things that make me passionate and successful. I consider them a gift." – Whitney Wolf What happens when you go from 5% hearing to 95% almost overnight? In this episode of Thinking That Matters, I sit down with Whitney Wolff, a special education teacher and mom whose journey with profound hearing loss led to an unexpe...

What does it take to thrive and lead in a male-dominated industry? In this episode of Thinking That Matters, Elizabeth sits down with Terri Graber, Vice President of Training and Development at TEXO, The Construction Association of North Texas. Terri shares her remarkable journey from project engineer to executive leadership, and how she’s helping 20,000+ members grow through professional developm...

Are you relying on a “checklist” approach to marketing only to wonder why the results never match your expectations? In this episode of Thinking That Matters, I sit down with Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer and owner of Market Surge, to unpack the truth about scaling a business in today’s digital world. Reed shares how his own entrepreneurial journey, from running a photography studio with his w...

What if finding the right place to serve was easier than you thought? In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Robinson, Executive Director of Volunteer McKinney, shares how her team connects passionate people with causes that matter. From helping high schoolers find meaningful volunteer hours to equipping nonprofit leaders with the tools they need to thrive, Volunteer McKinney is making service simple, imp...

What happens when you say yes to an opportunity you never planned for and decide to own it anyway? In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Jamie Ellis, co-founder of WG Title and Law, to unpack how she went from stay-at-home mom to receptionist to business owner in an industry she never imagined herself in. But this isn’t just a story of career shifts, it's a deeper look at how cultivating the...

What if the real transformation doesn't begin with action, but with how we think? In this powerful episode, I sit down with Samar Waqar—founder of Kind Theory—to unpack how one autism diagnosis changed everything. But not in the way you might expect. Samar shares her deeply personal story: from navigating multiple career shifts across continents, to the moment she realized her son’s diagnosis wasn...