Stephen Panus is a storyteller and mentor & coach at heart, one driven by purpose, resilience, and the unwavering belief that we can turn pain into positive change. As the author of the best-selling book “Walk On”, he shares his deeply personal journey following the tragic loss of his son, Jake, who was tragically and suddenly killed as a passenger in a reckless and senseless car crash at the tender age of sixteen in the summer of 2020. Stephen says: “Grief is his Shadow”. Through telling his story, inspirational speaking and leadership development training, Stephen inspires others to find strength, create meaning, and hold tightly onto hope in life’s most difficult moments.

Sherman Niamehr is an Italian-born American, former stockbroker, and memoir author whose life took a dramatic turn during a period of unexpected confinement at an IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) military base in Iran. His quiet act of inner defiance—refusing to march on the American and Israeli flags—led to brutal interrogations and a spiritual reckoning that shaped the rest of his life. His book called In The Shadows of the IRGC, is one of resilience, awakening, and the search for inner freedom amidst systems of fear and indoctrination. He’s now a family man building his life in the U.S., and he shares his story to encourage clarity, and freedom of thought in the face of oppression.

Jan Allen Ackley is an author, veteran, executive, and storyteller. Jan grew up in the hills of Appalachia, without a father and where his prospects to succeed were dim. His memoir, Searching for Change, is a deeply-human look at finding happiness in hardship and transforming adversity into purpose. His awakenings were meeting people that helped give him the courage and inspiration to succeed. With a voice that’s heartfelt with a touch of humor, Jan invites audiences to reflect, laugh, and ultimately believe in the power of personal change. Jan’s mission is simple: help people see the possibility of change—in their personal life, their mindset, or their business. His blend of real-world experience, Appalachian storytelling, & insight make him a compelling guest WHO dives into resilience, leadership, or reinvention.

Franke James' latest book, which represents her biggest awakening, is Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me. The memoir is about choosing her sister’s freedom over her family. Franke helped her younger sister with Down syndrome get out of a nursing home after being improperly admitted.. Then all hell broke loose. The two sisters had to stand together—against their siblings, the medical system, and the police—to defend the right to be free. Franke and her husband, Billiam James, helped Teresa regain her decision-making rights and get a public apology from the Ontario Minister of Health. The memoir has won thirty-four book awards.

Julian Raven is a British-born, Spanish-raised American artist, author, entrepreneur, & First Amendment activist. After being a U.S. Missionary & Bible student, Raven’s journey went from the pulpit to the Supreme Court. Raven made news when his Trump portrait was rejected by the Smithsonian in 2016, launching an eight-year legal battle reaching the Supreme Court and resulting in his becoming an official Smithsonian reformer. Representing himself through 2 federal cases, Raven’s challenge to government overreach landed him #4 on President Trump’s list of reasons to fire Kim Sajet, then Director of the National Portrait Gallery. He tells that full story in his book Odious and Cerberus: An American Immigrant’s Odyssey and His Free Speech Legal War Against Smithsonian Corruption.

John E. Goralski is an award-winning journalist & photographer, a publisher, and the father of a son, named Jack, with autism who was diagnosed in the early 2000’s. John’s book, "Parent in Crisis: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Special Needs Home" traces his journey from struggle to peace. The book explores what it feels like to be an overwhelmed parent, & he tries to offer insights into the unique insecurities, social problems, and obstacles that must be overcome by these families. The book explores the way his family navigated communication barriers, divorce, public education, vacations, puberty, love, & even the death John’s unique ability to combine his real-life experience and education with introspective thought-analysis, helps provide a smart and creative road map for living a peaceful and purpose-driven life despite the inevitable emotional hazards that special needs parents face

Koya M. Bakare, U.S. Queens Ambassador 2025. Koya is a force to be reckoned with—an educator, state and national pageant queen, and sought-after guest speaker who captivates with her powerful blend of wisdom, grace, and charm. Her journey is one of triumph - a survivor of sexual assault, bulimia, and two suicide attempts - having graced the pages of Vogue, Essence.com, InStyle, and numerous other publications, Koya will debut her first solo authored book, The Discipline of Love, a guide centered on intentional self-love and healing. Through her platform, she supports others to reclaim their stories with courage and grace. Her awakening began when she stopped hiding in silence and chose to stand fully in her truth. Koya no longer let her past define her; instead, she used it as a foundation for hope and healing. Her favorite proverb is : "If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do you no harm".

Robert Don’s memoir explores what he knows of his mother’s teenage life as a Schindler’s List survivor. The book also confronts Intergenerational Trauma (“Second Generation) and holocaust survivor trauma, manifested in hatred as a form of racism—how it can begin, what it can do to us and how we can reconcile even amidst the reach of darkness. Rob had a second awakening when his mother made Shimmas (meaning peace in Yiddish) with his German stepmother whom she hated, when his stepmom became his Mom’s primary caretaker on his Mom’s death bed, Rob believes that intergenerational trauma due to the holocaust may impacts of millions of people and that we can't change behavior unless we have an awareness of the behavior. everyday to want the following. He says "That What Brings Us Together Can Overcome What Pulls Us Apart."