Ann Marie Cook, President & CEO of Lifespan of Greater Rochester, reveals why America's aging population crisis is bigger than most people realize, and what needs to change now. In this powerful conversation, Ann Marie shares insights from leading a $22 million organization serving older adults for nearly three decades. She discusses the uncomfortable truth about elder abuse, the explosion of financial scams targeting seniors, and why the "silver tsunami" will reshape everything we know ...
Foster care alumni to nonprofit CEO leading 16,000 lives toward healing. In this powerful episode, Efrain sits down with Merideth Rose, President and CEO of Cornerstones of Care, to discuss her transformation from a foster kid expelled from school to a leader revolutionizing trauma-informed care across Missouri and Kansas.
From Sunday school questions to boardroom solutions. Angela Hood, Chief of Staff at Detroit Parent Network, shares how growing up in Flint, Michigan shaped her commitment to amplifying parent voices in education. Discover why degrees don't define expertise, how to challenge systems without getting shut out, and the real meaning of "no money, no mission."
Dr. Karen DeCocker, Vice President of Clinical Services at Stella Mental Health, shares how she transformed from delivering babies to revolutionizing trauma treatment through innovative mental health care. Learn about the stellate ganglion block, a two-minute procedure with an 80% success rate in resetting the nervous system's trauma response.
Katie Welsh from the Women's Center for Advancement reveals the harsh reality most attorneys won't tell you about domestic violence cases. In this episode, Efrain discusses how legal advocacy becomes the bridge between crisis and self-sufficiency for survivors who can't afford traditional representation.
How does a 63-year-old nonprofit stay innovative while serving those who need care most? In this episode, Efrain sits down with Justin Harland, CEO of Kansas Christian Home, to explore the intersection of elderly care, technology, and mission-driven leadership.
Ken Huey, CEO of The Hope Group, shares how childhood trauma shapes mental health—and what it takes to break the cycle. In this powerful conversation, Efrain explores specialized trauma care for adoptees and foster youth, the groundbreaking ACEs research, and why understanding trauma at its root changes everything.
Most mental health advice treats symptoms—Michael Gershenzon is treating the brain like the organ it is. In this episode, Efrain sits down with the CEO of Stellar Mental Health to discuss how interventional psychiatry is revolutionizing treatment for depression, anxiety, and PTSD without relying solely on traditional therapy or medication.
Dr. Raymond Garcia, Chief Medical Officer at Rosecrance, reveals how psychiatry transformed from pure science into the art of storytelling and human connection. In this conversation, Efrain explores how augmented intelligence is revolutionizing behavioral health while keeping humanity at the center of care.
Brandi Pretlow, VP of Community Initiatives at Active Minds, shares how one college student's grief transformed into a national movement mobilizing youth to change mental health culture on campuses nationwide.
Kristin Lamendola, Vice President of Business Development at Partnership to End Addiction, shares how personal tragedy transformed her career path and why delaying youth substance use by even one year dramatically reduces addiction risk. In this conversation, Efrain discusses the critical shift from corporate sales to mission-driven work, the truth about prevention versus scare tactics, and how families, not institutions, are the most powerful force in ending the addiction crisis.
AnnMarie Churchill from Stepped Care Solutions shares how technology can transform mental health access without replacing human connection. Efrain explores the balance between AI-powered support and authentic therapeutic relationships.
Steve Page walked away from investment banking to build psychiatric hospitals where none existed. Now, SUN Behavioral Health operates multiple facilities serving thousands of patients whom others had given up on.
Jill Nosach, CEO of SOS Children's Villages USA, reveals how one trusted adult can rewire a child's brain and break generational trauma cycles. In this powerful conversation, Efrain discusses the neuroscience of healing, the critical gap in foster care systems, and why keeping siblings together changes everything.
Angie Manson went from facing 10 years in prison to building one of California's most innovative addiction treatment centers. In this raw conversation, the CEO of Elevate Addiction Services shares how personal struggle became her greatest leadership asset.
Four exam failures. Three young kids. One marriage falling apart. Rachel Watson's path to VP wasn't what anyone expected. In this episode, Efrain discusses how failure redirected Rachel into autism services leadership and why Interactive Kids is building community instead of just treating clients.
Marjorie Kreppel, Owner and Director of The Counseling Center Group, shares how she transformed from marketing executive to mental health entrepreneur—building a 7-state therapy practice that prioritizes patient outcomes over profit. Learn how she's fighting private equity's takeover of mental healthcare while scaling evidence-based treatment.
From top real estate producer to nonprofit founder, Megan Schomer shares how her son's rare brain malformation led her to create Rays for Rare—an organization now serving over 220 families with medically fragile children across Idaho. Learn how she challenged healthcare systems, revolutionized pediatric palliative care, and built a tech-startup approach to nonprofit work that's changing lives.
From answering a newspaper ad to leading 80 locations serving thousands, Jessica Smart's journey into nonprofit leadership proves that passion beats planning. In this episode, Efrain discusses compassion-driven leadership and mission sustainability with Jessica Smart, CEO of Clearbrook. Learn how one leader is transforming care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Chicagoland.
What happens when a healthcare CEO prioritizes culture over everything else? Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of NCH Healthcare System, reveals the unconventional strategies that are transforming healthcare in Southwest Florida.