In early March 2020, Dr. Cleary, a board-certified general, colon and rectal surgeon in Ann Arbor Michigan, had just received a warning from a colleague in Seattle about the rampant COVID-19 cases. He and his team quickly put a plan together to manage their cancer patients and cancel elective surgeries. But within days, Dr. Cleary had come down with COVID-19 that began to infect his lungs and landed him in the ICU for 12 days. During those 12 days, he knew he was close to death and prepared good...
Apr 19, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Deb and Terry Norton are the loving parents of 3 children whose lives changed when their son, Chris, suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury while playing football for Luther College his freshman year. Paralyzed from the neck down, he was given just a three percent chance of any kind of recovery. Not one to back down from a challenge, Chris chose to fight and slowly regained feeling in his limbs and made walking his goal. Just 5 years later, he walked across the stage to accept his college di...
Apr 05, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 19
It’s easy to feel invincible especially in the early years of our lives and especially when you are healthy, strong and thriving. But cancer and so many other diseases are unpredictable on when and who they pick. March is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, bringing attention to the 68,000 new kidney cancer cases and 14,000 deaths that will hit in the United States alone this year, making it the 6th most common cancer among men. Join Matt as he shares many of the personal details of his kidney cancer...
Mar 22, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 18
March is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, spotlighting a disease which is among the 10 most common cancers for men and women in the United States. Dr. Bradley McGregor, one of the doctors on the forefront of finding ways to fight and manage kidney cancer, sees March as a great opportunity to bring more attention to the research needed to find more effective treatment options. Dr. McGregor is a Medical Oncologist specializing in genitourinary malignancies at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and ser...
Mar 08, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Author and professional speaker, Andy Hill, grew up in Westwood CA and his basketball talents got the attention of the great UCLA coach John Wooden. He was recruited and was part of three National Championship teams from 1970-72. Perhaps a starter on many college teams, Andy rode the bench at UCLA and this coaching decision left a mark. Andy graduated and found success elsewhere as President of CBS Productions and Channel One News. But something in his heart triggered him to reach back out to Co...
Feb 22, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Professional speaker and author Woody Sherwood took his experiences from over 20 years as a NCAA D1 Coach and has created corporate, school/parent and individual programs to develop stronger leadership skills and better work cultures for people to thrive. Listen in as Woody shares many stories from his extensive background of working through challenges with athletes and students and the universal lessons he pulled from this time. The conversation is one you won’t forget. This podcast may also se...
Feb 08, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 15
For Coleman Ruiz, taking advantage of opportunities and walking through open doors seems second nature to him. But the doors have opened because Coleman prepared himself for the path he chose, created the openings, and committed himself to do what he needed to succeed. Coleman’s military path began in the Naval Academy which led to 13 years of service as a U.S. Navy SEAL where he participated in hundreds of operations across the globe including deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq until becoming ...
Jan 26, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Success can come in many different shapes and forms. For Victor Prince, early success landed him in various high-level leadership roles at major corporations and in the federal government. But faced with personal challenges and a call to find the next phase of his life, Victor set out to walk the Camino Way, an ambitious month long journey across Spain. It is here that Victor began to realize his love for teaching and used his writing and communication gifts to launch his career as an author, sp...
Jan 11, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Born in Nigeria, Fr. Peter Bassey never planned on ending up in Buffalo, but he listened and followed his calling and well, learned how to handle the cold. He was ordained in 2018 amongst many challenges in the Catholic Church. Fr. Bassey focuses on serving Jesus first and doing all the work of the Church in the spirit of love. He is a great example of the good work many young Catholic priests are doing to rebuild the image of the Church while leading, inspiring and serving so many others. Liste...
Dec 28, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Rashmi Airan grew up making good choices, excelling in school, and eventually becoming a successful attorney and investment banker. However, through a combination of factors driven by her desire to succeed, some blind spots were created while working with a new real estate client engaging in questionable practices. Her dealings led to her spending 6 months in prison for bank fraud. The experience enhanced her faith and laid the groundwork for needed change, peace and forgiveness. She now shares ...
Dec 14, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 11
It has likely either happened to you or someone you know, the dark, heavy thoughts show up or just feelings of being hurt that cloud the mind and eat away at you. It could result in moodiness or a loss of meaning and purpose or it might be diagnosed as anxiety. Mental health struggles are common and we all need to be aware of how to best manage the challenge. Our guest Mike Dayem says, “it is not something to shun, silence, or ‘cure’; but something to respect, listen to, and understand.” Our awa...
Nov 30, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Too often we all focus on our perceived faults and get caught thinking we are not good enough – as a parent, as an employee, or as a friend. Author, blogger and speaker Laura Smith reminds us that none of this is true because we were created in the likeness of God and that every stitch of us was created for a purpose. As she advises her kids before a sporting event, know that no matter what happens today, you are beautiful creations in Christ and you are loved for who you are. Listen in to hear ...
Nov 16, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 9
It is the setbacks that often set us forward. The evidence of this is embedded in the story of Kristi Laun. As a teenager, Kristi started as a competitive gymnast and transitioned to competitive diving where she was a member of the Junior Olympic Team and competed at the University of Pittsburgh. This all came to a halt after being diagnosed with a severe and debilitating form of Lyme disease. It is this set back that brought lessons of humility, perseverance, whole body wellness and Pilates int...
Nov 02, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Author and motivational speaker Kevin Brown is an extraordinary person who chose not to be ordinary. His life got sidetracked in his teenage years and he ended up living in his car in his early 20s. On his path he found David, a mentor who helped him step into franchise development and counseled him to let go of his past. From there he built enormous success in business and started a family but the challenges weren’t over. He and wife Lisa discovered their son Josh was autistic which would pave ...
Oct 14, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In 2004, Dick Lyles lapsed in a coma and his last rites were administered. But it wasn’t his time and while surrounded in prayer, a miraculous recovery followed. The event inspired a more purposeful mission and gratefulness with this 2nd chance. Listen in as Dick shares his journey from the Naval Academy to Vietnam to CEO of Origin Entertainment. Along the way, he authored 9 books including, Answer Your Call , about discerning your purpose and he most recently produced the feature film, Fatima ,...
Oct 05, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Jenny Severson shares her story from teacher to principal to traveling the world as a professional speaker and author and the lessons she has learned from life’s many curve balls. Facing her own health crisis and a loss in the family, Jenny talks with Matt in this episode about how she stepped forward through this time and how she now structures her days and prioritizes her time. You can also learn more in her new book, The Educator’s 180-Day Gratitude Turnaround available on her website, jennys...
Sep 21, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Being a world record mountain climber and an internationally known inspirational speaker who has touched countless lives is an amazing achievement. But what really makes Todd Huston special is that he accomplished this after losing his leg in a boating accident at age 14 and was born with a speech impediment. Listen in as Todd shares his journey and insights on how to fight fears and use love, humor, and gratitude to power his days.
Sep 07, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 4
If you do enough research on happiness, a common message will eventually surface - give and be there for others and your path will be better. Many learn this message early, but it might not take its true form until later in life. For John Ravenna, he embodies the phrase, “a man for others.” This wisdom came from some bumps and hits early on, but he has since been striving to continue to learn and grow with this mission driving him forward. Tune in to learn more about John’s story at St Xavier Hi...
Aug 24, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Erik Zimmerman was born with cerebral palsy, but since then, it is rarely brought up as a way to define him. He has never thought himself as a victim but instead has lived his life as one full of opportunity. Hear how Erik pushes himself mentally and physically as an active real estate manager and coach using gratitude, laughter and positive mental habit to drive his days. His one-of-a kind smile really says it all.
Aug 10, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 2
With Gratitude, Matt host Matt Moran is interviewed by show producer Mike Nead and shares some thoughts on why he started the show, a typical guest profile, what listeners can expect to hear, and then plays a few sound bites from the first 5 shows. Listen in to preview what’s ahead and learn more about the show With Gratitude, Matt in this behind the scenes interview.
Jul 30, 2020•8 min
Dr. Roy Vongtama is an actor, author, physician (Board certified Radiation oncologist) who shares his journey, life lessons and the obstacles along the way to finding his path and many careers. Tune in to learn about how the Four Houses of Health: Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual; are all so very connected and how he has helped so many.
Jul 17, 2020•37 min•Season 1Ep. 1
