In this powerful episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, host Kimi Walker welcomes Laura Bratton, speaker, coach, author, and resilience advocate. Laura shares her remarkable journey of navigating life after losing her vision as a teenager due to a rare retinal eye disease. With candor and compassion, Laura discusses the emotional and practical challenges that came with her transition to blindness—highlighting the critical roles of family, friends, and community support in her healing and adaptation process.

The conversation dives deep into the themes of resilience, self-advocacy, and navigating change with courage and gratitude. Laura opens up about becoming the first blind student to receive a Master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, tackling both internal and external obstacles along the way. She breaks down her trademarked approach of “Experiencing Grit and Gratitude” and offers listeners tangible strategies for facing setbacks, validating emotions, and moving forward moment by moment. Whether you’re grappling with change or helping others through life’s storms, this episode is a testament to the strength we find when we accept both the grit and the grace within ourselves. As Laura reminds us, “You are enough—right now, as you are.”

Topics Covered in This Episode

• Laura’s personal journey through vision loss and her path to resilience
• The transformative power of supportive relationships during major life transitions
• Advocating for yourself and adapting to new environments, like graduate school
• The true definition of grit and gratitude in facing adversity
• Practical steps to ground yourself during setbacks or major changes
• Rethinking resilience: validating emotions and taking small steps forward

About Laura Bratton

Laura Bratton was diagnosed with an eye disease at the age of nine and, over the next decade, faced the difficult transition to life without sight. Despite these challenges, she graduated with a BA in psychology from Arizona State University and went on to become the first blind student to earn a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Laura is the author of Harnessing Courage and the founder of Ubi Global, where she provides speaking and coaching to empower people to overcome obstacles with grit and gratitude

Connect with Laura Bratton

• Website: https://www.laurabratton.com/
• Email: laura@laurabratton.com

Connect with Kimi Walker:

• Visit: earlyaccountability.com
• LinkedIn: Kimi Walker
• Facebook: Kimi Walker
• Instagram: Kimi Walker
• YouTube: Kimi Walker

In this moving episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, host Kimi Walker welcomes Jamal Powell, Christian rap artist turned author and motivational speaker. Jamal shares his deeply personal story chronicled in his book A Marriage Broken by Covid, taking listeners through the heartbreak and resilience his family experienced when the pandemic turned his world upside down. As Jamal recounts the separation and reconciliation in his marriage, the terrifying battle his wife faced with Covid-19, and the sudden demands of new fatherhood—all experienced amidst uncertainty and grief—he also traces how faith, persistence, and reframing hardship as opportunity became his most powerful tools.

Listeners will be inspired by Jamal’s “diamond mindset,” his commitment to turning pain into purpose, and how visibility and storytelling can foster healing. Jamal opens up about the practical and spiritual disciplines that helped him endure prolonged adversity and transform brokenness into renewed strength and deeper gratitude. This episode is a testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of social support, and never giving up, no matter how bleak life may seem—a radiant reminder that diamonds truly are forged under pressure.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• Turning loss and hardship into lessons of resilience and hope
• The transformative power of faith during times of crisis
• Embracing the “diamond mindset” to emerge stronger from adversity
• The role of accountability, visibility, and community in personal growth
• Practical spiritual and mindset disciplines for enduring tough times
• The importance of sharing your story to inspire and help others

About Jo’mel Williams Powell

Jo’mel Williams Powell is a Detroit-based author, speaker, and former gospel rap artist whose story is as powerful as it is redemptive. When his pregnant wife contracted COVID-19 in 2021, Jo’mel was suddenly thrust into single fatherhood as she remained in long-term care. Out of this life-altering hardship, he discovered what he calls the “Diamond Mindset”—a belief that life’s pressure can reveal hidden strength, purpose, and spiritual clarity. Today, Jo’mel shares his story to help others transform pain into power. He is the author of A Marriage Broken by COVID Produced Diamonds for You and speaks to audiences about resilience, faith, and healing through adversity.

Connect with Jo’mel Williams Powell

• Linktree (book, socials, and more): https://linktr.ee/AMarraigeBrokenCovid
• Instagram: @jomelwilliams
• Facebook: facebook.com/share/1A4EySpqzg
• TikTok: @diamondsforyou85
• Email: JomelWilliams85@gmail.com

Connect with Kimi Walker:

• Visit: earlyaccountability.com
• LinkedIn: Kimi Walker
• Facebook: Kimi Walker
• Instagram: 

In this inspiring episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, host Kimi Walker welcomes Mitchell Osmond, high-performance coach and founder of Dad Nation, a transformative movement and podcast empowering career-driven men to reclaim their home, health, and happiness. Mitchell opens up about his powerful personal journey—growing up in a dysfunctional family, grappling with self-sabotage, and facing financial, marital, and health crises, only to transform his life and now uplift thousands of men through his mission-based community and coaching practice.

Throughout the conversation, Kimi and Mitchell dive into the challenges that high-performing individuals face when trying to balance professional ambition with personal relationships and self-care. Mitchell shares the practical frameworks he uses, including the Life Report Card, boundary setting, and his “four Cs” of leadership: community, clarity, consistency, and confidence. Whether discussing how to define success on your own terms, strategies for creating lasting habits, or the importance of modeling legacy for your family, Mitchell offers actionable wisdom and a reminder that true impact starts at home—and that intentionality, accountability, and grace are the keys to lasting change.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• Reclaiming home, health, and happiness through intentional accountability
• The “Life Report Card” and redefining balance across life’s seasons
• How to set clear boundaries and prioritize what truly matters
• The four pillars of leadership: community, clarity, consistency, and confidence
• Building legacy by modeling behaviors and breaking generational cycles
• Systems, time-blocking, and the Eisenhower Matrix for focus and impact

About Mitchell Osmond

Mitchell Osmond is a leadership consultant, executive coach, and host of the Dad Nation Podcast, which reaches over 34,000 monthly listeners. With more than 15 years of senior leadership experience, Mitchell is passionate about helping high-performing individuals thrive not just in their careers, but also in their homes and personal lives. Through coaching, speaking engagements, and his digital presence, Mitchell empowers men to lead with purpose, balance success across all areas of life, and build lasting legacies. His mission is clear—help leaders win at work without losing at home.

Connect with Mitchell Osmond

• Instagram: @dadnationco
• Email: mitchell@dadnationco.com

Connect with Kimi Walker:

• Visit: earlyaccountability.com
• LinkedIn: Kimi Walker
• Facebook: Kimi Walker
• Instagram: Kimi Walker
• YouTube: Kimi Walker