GSD Factor Podcast

Powerfully Choosing to Change the Narrative of Disabilities with Renee Bruns, Brooke Eby, and Stacie King

Introducing our powerhouse panel for 2024: Renee Bruns, Brook Eby, and Stacie King.  Each one of these incredible GSD women are influential leaders living a life of confidence and resilience.  They utilize their voices for good and impact around the world.  They are advocates for those with disabilities and continue to push the boundaries for what individuals with disabilities can do.  
Guinness World Record Holder Renee Bruns is a former insurance executive who left her role at a Fortune 500 on a mission to see the world and reshape her views of humanity.  After a life of living with an undiagnosed physical disability that caused her to use a wheelchair full-time, she set out on a solo trip to find her place in this world.  Through her travels to 124 countries, all 7 continents, and all 50 states, she became a Guinness World Record Holder of the most countries visited in one year.  She is a life coach helping those who are looking to restructure their lives and helps guide and advocate for those navigating undiagnosed medical conditions.
Brooke Eby was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal, debilitating disease with no cure, at the age of 33 after four years of confusing symptoms.  She’s spent the last year sharing her story through outlets like The Today Show, as well as on social media with her over 100,000 followers.  She’s fundraised nearly $1 million for ALS research.  With the support of her friends and family, she’s been able to laugh in the face of ALS.
Stacie King is Senior Vice President of NowCerts, in addition to being the Founder & CEO of Stacie King & Company, LLC, a boutique digital marketing agency, and Culture is King, a digital publication that focuses on sharing the expertise and stories of leaders to create diverse and inclusive organizations & communities.  Stacie has always been very open about her life as a disabled woman, and she shares her story about life as a self-proclaimed “Wobbly Girl” in her personal podcast called “This Wobbly Life.”  She also works tirelessly to raise awareness for people with disabilities.
Connect:
Renee Bruns on LinkedIn
Brooke Eby on LinkedIn
Stacie King on LinkedIn
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Powerfully Choosing Reinvention with Catherine Traffis

As a writer with 20+ years of experience, Catherine Traffis is a champion of economical expression. She is currently one of the busiest writers in the content studio of an influential software company. Writing about cutting-edge technology gives her the perfect outlet to express her infectious optimism for the future.
Catherine is a Canadian content writer and editor who currently works in the Writers Studio at Microsoft. In 2011, a distracted driver caused an accident that left her with a serious spinal injury called a “Hangman’s Fracture.” Devastated and in agony, Catherine knew she had to get well for the sake of her three young boys. When her neurosurgeon told her she would never work again, she quietly resisted.
After a year of convalescence and with the support of her husband, Ray, Catherine began taking back her career. While she still manages chronic pain, she has recovered to an extent that her doctors call “miraculous.” Catherine credits remote work and flexible hours as keys to her success and is always happy to trade strategies with others who need modified environments to thrive.
Connect on LinkedIn with Catherine Traffis
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Powerfully Choosing Joy with Rachel Joy Baribeau

Rachel Joy Baribeau joins us on the GSD Factor podcast to talk about how she is powerfully choosing JOY to change the narrative.  She is an award-winning Storyteller, Inspirational Speaker, Author, Changing the Narrative Founder, Transformative Coach, Host of the Joystarters™ Podcast, First Female SiriusXM ESPNU Host (College Sports Nation), and Former National Sportscaster.
Rachel developed the #ImChangingtheNarrative movement with lost souls and student-athletes in mind and a belief that one crooked course made straight is everything. Rachel uses powerful stories with refreshingly raw vulnerability from her own personal journey to show others they have the power to change the narrative and find their purpose in life.
When she's not speaking or on tour promoting her most recent book, Relentless Joy: Finding Freedom, Passion and Happiness (Even When You Have to Fight for It), she enjoys working to help others find their own Passion, Purpose, Platform & Freedom to change the narrative and life a life of Relentless JOY!
Visit: https://www.rachelbaribeau.com/
 
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Get STUFF Done - Powerfully Choosing to Mentor and Invest in Others with Deanna Meador

Meet one of my shero's, Deanna Meador, CEO of tech company Couture Technologies and apparel brand Freedom Company, as well as the co-founder and CEO of Chalk Coaching.
 
She began Couture Technologies to empower apparel companies with virtual fitting technology, 3D garment creation services, and enhanced data analytics designed to reduce returns. Couture Technologies was recognized as one of the Top 9 tech startups in the world during the Olympics of Tech, the 2023 Most Innovative Apparel E-Commerce Tech Solution, 2022 Most Innovative Apparel Sales Software Company in the World, and one of the Top 3D Companies in Tennessee.
 
Deanna is a successful serial tech entrepreneur that describes herself as never meeting a challenge she didn’t like. She started her first company during graduate school and grew it to multiple locations until it was acquired by a larger company. After selling this company, she developed a paperless data collection system for collecting assessment and observational data. This system was adopted by universities across the U.S., South Africa, Portugal, Australia and Sweden. In 2017, she joined 3 other inventors to develop Chalk Coaching, a tool for improving classroom experiences for preschool and kindergarten children through collaborative, data-driven coaching.
 
On March 8th, 2023, International Women’s Day, Deanna made history when she became the first woman to raise $1.5M in 8 hours. She intentionally structured her raise in this way to start to change the narrative around the lack of funding for women-owned companies.
 
Deanna was the recipient of the Unsung Hero award for her work with underserved youth, as well as the Young Alumni Achievement Award from her undergraduate university for her innovations (the highest honor the university bestows on alumni under the age of 40, out of over 400 nominees).
 
Deanna was part of the founding team that started the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt University’s Innovation Center. Through her role as the former Deputy Director, she taught over 17 cohorts of aspiring entrepreneurs and mentored over 600 teams as they evaluated new technologies and launched new ventures. She is a certified national instructor for the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program and in this role, she leads entrepreneurial training cohorts for teams from across the country. Deanna really enjoys working with creators, inventors, and entrepreneurs that dedicate their lives and talents to making a positive impact in the world.
Connect with Deanna Meador on LinkedIn
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Powerfully Choosing to Celebrate the Losses with Nick Woodard

What you see is what you get… a hard working, forward thinking, experienced 15 year veteran realtor that genuinely cares for his clients.  Nick Woodard is genuine and authentic.   
Growing up in the Nashville area has provided him a vast knowledge and love for “The 615.” Understanding that he was extremely fortunate to be raised in such an incredible area, he has made it his passion to help others call Middle Tennessee “home.” Nick is married to his beautiful wife Kathryn and is the proud father of 3.
Nick specializes in assisting individuals and families transition between homes. Whether that is purchasing or selling, Nick has 20 years of experience and a vast knowledge of helping his clients on both sides of the equation. Customer service is his top priority. That is why you see many of his clients come back to him multiple times in their lifetime.
When he is not helping clients, you can find Nick on the sideline coaching youth football or kayak fishing on one of our many beautiful Middle Tennessee  streams.
IG: @nickwoodardrealtor
Youtube:  www.youtube.com/@nickwoodardrealtor
LinkedIn: Nick Woodard
www.nickwoodard.com
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Powerfully Choosing Patience with Qualia Hendrickson

What does it take to dream big? Sometimes our dream big requires patience. Knowing when to DO and when to BE, that's what it means to be a GSDer.  
Qualia C. Hendrickson, Esq., known creatively as Q, is an attorney, writer, and book publishing coach. In 2021, she started Q Writes A Book to document her journey with writing and publishing her first book and to help other writers learn about the publishing industry. Having earned degrees in Creative Writing, Economics, Publishing, and Law, Q's approach to writing is holistic - taking into account a writer's personal and professional goals to provide education and guidance on the journey to publishing and the many avenues one can take to achieve their dream. 
Q is part of my team, my dream big team.  As my book Coach and Editor-In-Chief across all my writing projects she challenged me, encouraged me, and helped me to see my dream big become a reality.  
Connect with Qualia Hendrickson on LinkedIn
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Powerfully Choosing to Speak with Confidence with Michael Davis

Michael Davis works with speakers and business leaders to increase their influence and impact with more meaningful presentations, stories, and speeches.  
He is passionate about creating effective communication, but that wasn’t always the case. His journey started with a humiliating experience in front of his first-grade class. That kept him from voluntarily speaking in front of groups of any size for the next 25 years.  
Then a threatened job loss motivated Michael to deal with his fear.  
So, he received help from world-class speakers who taught him the skills and tools to become an influential speaker, trainer, and coach. 
Michael has helped speakers, business leaders and TEDx speakers on five continents deliver presentations that have been viewed over five million times. He’s the author of seven books on storytelling and speaking, and is the founder of Speaking CPR. 
Connect with Michael Davis on LinkedIn
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Powerfully Choosing B.A.M.F. with Meredith Patrick

Meredith Patrick's version of B.A.M.F. is bold, authentic, magnetic, flourishing. She does this through her work of supporting female solopreneurs as they get shit done.
 
After 15 years of working as an operational and administrative specialist for top-ranked companies like Mayo Clinic, Meredith kept wondering, "Is this all there is?" and finally ditched the traditional track to create her dream career as an entrepreneur.
Now she helps female business owners conquer their to-do list, providing efficient backend relief by taking projects they've been putting off for months and getting them to the finish line ahead of schedule. She is passionate about helping her clients achieve their dreams through collaboration and inclusion—being the exact support they need, exactly when they need it most.
 
Connect with Meredith Patrick on LinkedIn
Learn more about Vinsko Jacobs
 
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Get STUFF Done - Powerfully Choosing Female Entrepreneurship with Kellie Geisel

On this special Get STUFF Done episode, meet my mentee through the Wond'ry, Vanderbilt's Entrepreneur and Innovation Center, Kellie Geisel, female founder multiple times who is confidently leading this next generation of female entrepreneurs with innovating solutionists ideas that will help new working moms and beyond.
Our hope is that this raw and authentic conversation will provide inspiration and encouragement to fellow female entrepreneurs listening.
From Charlotte, NC, Kellie is currently a Supply Chain Consultant at EY (Ernst & Young) and has been In the consulting world since graduating from her Masters Degree in International Business and Emerging Markets at The University of Edinburgh. Kellie holds a BS from Wake Forest University In Business Management. She Is also the founder of the Tea with Kellie G podcast, a podcast that talks about fun local entrepeneurs In and around the North Carolina/South Carolina area.
Connect with Kellie Geisel on LinkedIn
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Powerfully Choosing Stillness with Ashley Brooke James

Ashley Brooke James kicks off our episode with a breathing and mindfulness meditation, a first for the GSD Factor podcast, but totally in alignment as we discuss the importance of stillness in our busy lives.
 
Ashley Brooke James, a distinguished leader in Nashville's Black business community, serves as the Co-Founder of TRILUNA while also making her mark as a dynamic public speaker and a certified yoga instructor with 300 hours of training. Known for her captivating speaking style, Ashley Brooke addresses a range of topics, including Intentional Mindfulness, Business/Entrepreneurship, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Her notable achievements include serving as the emcee for the TEDx Nashville Women's Conference in 2023. Ashley Brooke has also been featured as a keynote speaker for the Good American Pop experience, where she presented "Intentionally 'Good': Diversity in Wellness.
 
Connect with Ashley Brooke James on LinkedIn
 
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