Dr. Eben Alexander spent over 25 years as an academic neurosurgeon, including 15 years at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital, the Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. In 2008, Dr. Eben Alexander suffered a bacterial infection that put him a week–long coma in which his brain should have been severely damaged. His story of recovery from the near-death experience (NDE) was featured in his first book, Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife (2012), which deb...
Aug 01, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Kate McKay is a high-energy, results oriented success coach, business consultant, transformational speaker, best-selling author, executive entrepreneur, and ACE Certified Fitness & Health Coach. Her natural energy is contagious and no matter how you are feeling at this moment, this interview will lift you up. Kate’s wisdom and ability to help others comes from many lessons she has learned from climbing through her own obstacles, including the loss of her son Will in 2017. She shares many of ...
Jul 18, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Rodney Blunt’s mission every day is to help others. His foundation, City Streets to Students Athletes (CS2SA), focuses on deterring student athletes from drugs and crime. As a former running back at Clemson from 1989-1993 (he led the Tigers in rushing and touchdowns in 1991 and 1993), Rodney saw first hand the many temptations and challenges of being a student athlete. He then spent 18 years in law enforcement and saw how destructive drugs can be and decided this would be his focus area. His org...
Jun 13, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Author and podcast host Mary Marantz recognizes the beauty in her story and the gifts it has provided. But like many of us, it took time for her to see that beauty especially because she saw it as so different than what the “norm” is. Her journey starts modestly from her family’s trailer in West Virginia where she learned life lessons from her father, dealt with an absent working mother, and found blessings in her relationships with her grandmother as well as the occasional stray cat. She found ...
May 30, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Pat Sqroi is the President of Sgroi Financial, a firm started by his father Joe. The family business has grown significantly over its 50 plus years and helps countless families with their financial planning needs. Along the way, Pat has managed his way through plenty of obstacles but none perhaps more challenging than the loss of his brother, Jeff, to an aggressive skin cancer in 2016 followed by the loss of his father in 2017. Since Jeff’s passing, Pat helps honor his brother through the Jeff M...
May 16, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 46
God’s plan for all of us is sometimes hard to see, but there is usually a purpose, no matter the journey traveled. China Darrington’s road started with obstacles many can hardly imagine. At a young age, some of her challenges included substance abuse, mental health issues, and human trafficking. After a 20 year battle, she entered recovery while pregnant and began rebuilding her story and her purpose. Her amazing strength and resilience helped her land at a place where she now helps others as th...
May 02, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Adversity comes in many forms. We all have or will face an obstacle that seems daunting and overwhelming. Finding and developing the tools to cope sometimes takes a crisis for that needed strength to arrive. For Michael Merrgian, his adversity showed up on October 7, 2018 when he was struck by a car that nearly took his life. Shortly after being admitted in what would be a long hospital stay, Michael learned that doctors were unable to save his leg and he went home as an amputee. Rebuilding his ...
Apr 18, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Wayne Box Miller is an award winning media professional, communications veteran and diversity consultant. He is also the pre-game and post-game host for the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network, an author, and currently serving as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. Wayne’s philosophy is simple and effective, and sometimes is as easy as just saying “hello.” In his work with the Cincinnati Bengals, he also sees how sports can remove walls and conne...
Apr 04, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 43
An unexpected illness has many effects, physically and mentally, on a patient and on loved ones who surround that patient. When kidney cancer came around for a 2nd fight in 2018 with Matt, he went searching for ways to cope. One of the most common attributes he found with those who were successfully fighting a disease or some type of adversity in their life, was gratitude. The gratitude stories inspired Matt to begin his own gratitude practice and to learn more about caring for what Dr. Roy Vong...
Mar 07, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Fr. Michael Graham spent over 30 years at Xavier University in Cincinnati, first as an assistant history professor in 1989, then as the VP for University Relations in 1994, and lastly, from 2001 to 2021 as the longest-serving University President. Fr. Graham’s achievements as the XU president are far and wide and include expanding the campus 80 acres, raising 500 million for the university and joining the Big East conference to name a few. But what made Fr. Graham so effective as leader was his ...
Feb 21, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Dr. Cara Hurley is a licensed clinical psychologist whose practices includes a broad range of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, life transitions, parenting approaches, grief, and trauma. She has specialized in many areas including women’s health, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Health Psychology all which inform her integrative approach to working with each client. The conversation with Matt takes aim at relationships and how we can do the simple things daily to make...
Feb 07, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Whether it be running into an old friend, healing from a disease, or just a random song that shows up at the right time, we often attribute events in our lives to just an amazing coincidence. Or could it be that these coincidences are God’s presence in our day and we just don’t see it? In this podcast, let your faith take a ride as Paul Zucarelli shares his story where he experienced death after he unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest and was revived through intercessory prayer by many. Let his...
Jan 24, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In 2011, Dr. Tom Jenike was a family practice physician in Charlotte raising his son and daughter. From the outside, you could see layers of success and achievement. But on the inside was a different picture. In the balancing of a grueling schedule, a commitment to patients and the demands of family, something wasn’t right and Tom realized he had found some blind spots that needed to be addressed. He began working with executive coach, Nicholas Beaman, and over the course of a year found a name ...
Jan 10, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Mary Curran Hackett is today a popular author of several novels and a highly sought after international ghostwriter. Her story to reach this point is inspiring and brave as she has risen up from a low point after surviving a rape over 20 years ago. This tragedy propelled her in many directions but it was these challenges that shaped many of her strengths today. In much of her writing and speaking engagements including this interview with Matt, she shares the wisdom from her journey and the found...
Dec 27, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Brian Morris is a loving husband and father of 5 and the head golf pro at Ocean View Golf Course in Bermuda. He grew up around golf and always hoped for a chance to play in a PGA event. However in 2019, the 54 year old was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. He is today being treated regularly for his esophageal and stomach cancer. But supporting this treatment plan is his incredible spirit and positive approach which is helping him battle like crazy to keep beating the odds. His family and friends ...
Dec 13, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Luke Kuechly is considered to be one of the best NFL linebackers of all-time. He played 8 seasons with the Carolina Paranthers, beginning in 2012 when he led the league in tackles and won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In 2013, he became the youngest ever to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and began a streak of 6 straight Pro Bowl selections. Luke’s lists of awards piled up more each year including winning the NFL Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Winner in 2017 before r...
Nov 29, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 35
John Sabatalo is a man full of charisma and kindness who cares deeply about others. Early on he was called to be a coach and those characteristics helped him succeed on the field and in the boardroom for many years and for many teams. He is currently the President of Planes Companies in Cincinnati, Ohio where since 1991 he has helped grow the business into one of the premiere moving, warehousing, transportation, and logistics firms. The Cincinnati Enquirer consistently rates them as one of the t...
Nov 15, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Blake Haxton is a world-class athlete and winner of the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Games in the sprint canoe. He graduated from Ohio State University with a finance degree in 2013 and a law degree in 2016 and now works for Diamond Hill Capital Management as a Research Analyst. Impressive achievements but even more impressive that this all occurred after contracting necrotizing fasciitis (more commonly known as the flesh-eating disease) and losing both of his legs during his senio...
Nov 01, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Dr. Joseph Maroon’s is a world-renowned neurosurgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His biography and lists of achievement are truly remarkable as a neurosurgeon, scientist, Ironman athlete, consultant, author, and advocate on healthy living and nutrition. Yet despite all this amazing accomplishments, Dr. Maroon has often felt he was an underdog battling his smaller height and weight, coming from a small town, and losing his father at an early age. At age 41, he battled depressi...
Oct 18, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Neal Tew is a proud father of four kids living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the years, his brilliance and talent has helped him create many new ventures in his life including his own financial planning firm, a new boutique marketing firm called Brandstrength, a ground breaking youth squash association, and he is now the author of a new book titled, The Gospel Life: Three Years in a Monastery. On this episode, Matt discusses Neal’s faith and his longing to explore his spirituality which led him down...
Oct 04, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In 2011, the lives of Pete, Linda, Abbey and Will Smith were forever changed when on their way to Colorado in their rental RV their were struck by a truck driver who had fallen asleep. Several family members sustained injuries that they would be able to recover from but it was Will who suffered a brain injury and was left paralyzed. The recovery has been a challenge for all of them, but has been fueled by the dedication of father Peter who stepped down as the AD from Kenyon College to spend ever...
Sep 20, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Jessica Hanna has a faith that is truly inspiring. It’s this faith that has guided her and given her the strength to overcome many hurdles including a breast cancer diagnosis in 2020 right after learning she was pregnant with her 4th child. While she sought out and has been working with dedicated and talented physicians, it was her decision to truly be an advocate for her own health, which included doing research, getting 2nd opinions and ultimately trusting her heart and God, that led to the su...
Sep 06, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 29
At the age of 9, John O’Leary was in his garage playing with matches and gasoline and accidentally created a massive explosion that burned 100% of his body. His injuries were so severe that doctors only gave him a 1% chance to live. He battled through many surgeries and years of physical therapy and did indeed survive. In 2006, his story was detailed in his parent’s book, “ Overwhelming Odds ,” which laid the groundwork for John embracing and sharing his story. He now travels and speaks at event...
Aug 09, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Monica is the mother of 2 girls, a loving wife to her husband Lance of 7 years, an accomplished photographer, and just an amazing, strong women. Those traits were always there, many passed on by her father, Dr. Bob Cleary, a guest on WGM. Dr Cleary shared his COVID19 recovery story in episode 20. Prior to her relationship with husband Lance, Monica found herself in an abusive relationship that was violent and stressful. She managed her way through this time and is now sharing her story and helpi...
Jul 26, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Listening to this young women talk about her challenges and hurdles, it is hard to believe she is just a senior in college. Life lessons and maturity have arrived for Danielle at an early age. She is an inspiration in how she handled and overcame the bullying she experienced in high school as well as the 2 knee injuries she fought through that kept her off the basketball court. With her faith leading the way, Danielle’s strength has put her in a spot where she can help others with what’s she lea...
Jul 12, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Todd Durkin’s energy is contagious and you will feel his presence and fire come through the airwaves in this interview. When his dream for a professional football career was cut short because of a back injury, it was his ability to motivate, educate and train others that led him to become an internationally known strength, speed and conditioning coach, personal trainer, body worker, motivational speaker, and author. He is the founder of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA and has trained many high...
Jun 28, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Natalie Hoerner felt that there had to be a better way. She was giving so much to others but just wasn’t feeling fulfilled. Then she started journaling about her days and opening her eyes to all the things she was thankful for and noticed a change. The change was dramatic enough that she began sharing her story and the journals with others. A new path was created and Natalie became certified and licensed in Positive Psychology, the study of what makes people happy. She now leads workshops and re...
Jun 14, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Failing Forward is a podcast started by native Cincinnatian, Sarah Brown, that focuses on stories of people who have overcome failure and have found life lessons as a result of the experience. Her guests have inspired many people with their stories and it has been a great landing spot for Sarah and her career. She is an amazing guide but what really drives her is the connection in the experience on the show and with her clients. She recently designed a program to help people overcome limiting be...
May 31, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Professional speaker, researcher, and author Andy Core has figured out the key to changing lives and that is to start by changing your day. Andy sees people getting too focused on the end result of a goal and getting stuck versus just focusing on executing in the moment and then creating a path. He has spent twenty years studying human behavior and peak performers and now coaches individuals and organizations on how to develop great attitudes, achieve huge accomplishments, and improve wellness a...
May 17, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Love one another, be the best you can be, and lean on one another when times get tough are 3 things Coach Steve Specht reminds his players to focus on before every game. Teaching these life lessons through football is one of the reasons Coach Specht has had so much success coaching football since 2003 for St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He cares deeply about his players, their well being, and their futures. His teams have captured four Ohio state championships (2005, 2007, 2016, 2020...
May 03, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 21
