Locker Room for Growth

They may call European football, or soccer, The Beautiful Game, but in America, the sport that owns that title in soul and spirit is baseball. Anyone who has ever attended a game in person, whether it was double A, triple A, or professional – every experience has one thing in common: atmosphere. Ken Smoller has spent a lifetime capturing the sights and smells of over 2,350 stadiums in 48 states and 24 countries. But it is Chicago and Comiskey Park that holds a special place in his heart. Not just because it’s his home, where he grew up a White Sox fan, but it’s the history, the character, and the romance of a place where baseball has lived its greatest and darkest moments in time. A photographer, writer, and founder of the sports travel website, Stadium Vagabond, Smoller has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and serves as General Counsel for a major real estate developer in New England. While he may live in Massachusetts, the spirit of Chicagoland and Comiskey Park has called upon him to chronicle the imagery for the documentary The Last Comiskey, about the final 1990 season of the original stadium which was written, directed, and produced by Matt Flesch. Smoller has subsequently published a book capturing these iconic images as a love letter to this baseball legacy and the White Sox franchise. Smoller’s mantra, and through his images, is that the best way to understand the culture and fabric of a place is through its sporting arenas and stadiums. CONNECT WITH KEN ONLINE: stadiumvagabond.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-smoller-2786bb1/ www.lastcomiskeybook.com Book Trailer https://youtu.be/qofWJZxdMQ8 Doc Trailer https://youtu.be/zdlipIWGQr0

He flew over 3,750 fighter hours with 1,240 arrested landings on multiple aircraft carriers. He completed five tours at the Pentagon. Former Top Gun fighter pilot and Retired Two-Star Admiral Mike Manazir spent 36 years in the United States Navy with 15 overseas deployments. His duties included Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfighting Systems. Today, Manazir is Vice President of Navy Systems, Government Operations for The Boeing Company. He’s also a sought-after speaker. His book: Learn How to Lead to Win, is a collection of stories and lessons from his tenure in the U.S. Navy. Communications is a key component when managing high performance teams in chaotic environments and risky operations, such as a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier like the USS Nimitz or commanding an F-14 squadron. Manazir has seen it all and then some. What he does with his books, speaking, and message is teach others how to lead from their heart and not their title. CONNECT WITH MIKE ONLINE: https://mikemanazir.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemanazir/ https://www.facebook.com/mikemanazir/ https://www.instagram.com/ mikemanazir.com What an arrested landing looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STVAM85y3i0

Transgender and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights have been front and center of political dysfunction for generations. Society’s hypocrisy and hate is blasting in bright pink neon if you look at pop culture and revered characters over the years. Tim Curry in the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire, Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie, and several Halloween costumes to name a few. Savannah Hauk is a non-binary TEDx speaker, author, podcast host, and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate. They know what it is like to live a dual life. Crossdressing is how they manifest their gender identity. Hauk is a previous guest and so much has transpired socially and politically since that interview. While where one lives has always had an impact on how one is treated socially, today there is a disturbing and hateful trend to erase a community’s human rights in a war-like fashion. Understanding, education, and tolerance are needed to combat the misconstrued messaging being spewed by a minority group still trying to hold onto power. We may not solve society’s issues but it’s a discussion we need to keep shining a light on. These are our neighbors, our children, our siblings, and friends. We owe it to everyone to work towards making this world more inclusive. Meanwhile, Hauk’s book, Living with Crossdressing – The New Normal, is available on Amazon and other book platforms. CONNECT WITH SAVANNAH ONLINE https://livingwithcrossdressing.com/ Facebook @livingwithcrossdressing Facebook @savannah.hauk Instagram @savannahhauk https://www.amazon.com/Living-Crossdressing-Defining-New-Normal-ebook/dp/B078K3GCJL/

When looking at his childhood, it’s no surprise that D’Angelo Stefani’s life morphed into a statistic. From living with drug addicted parents in an abusive household, to being shuffled through the foster care system, to being homeless at age 11, drugs and crime are almost inevitable if there are no capable adults in the room to guide you. It was after he served ten years in prison for a bank robbery that Stefani opted to create a better life. He doesn’t sugarcoat his past, especially his soon to be published memoir: On My Own. As Stefani leads his audiences on a trip through his journey of survival, he reminds us that it’s resilience that lets us discover our true selves and reinvent our lives to what makes us whole. CONNECT WITH D'ANGELO ONLINE https://dangelostefani.com/ https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CZCVNBD4 https://www.facebook.com/Boston2Tulsa/ https://www.tiktok.com/@dangelo.boston Please subscribe and thank you for viewing. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/debbieelicksen

It was a global pandemic that the world was unprepared for. Millions died. Many millions more still suffer from long-term effects. At the time, we were shocked by the images, and scared. One could say the epicenter of Covid-19 was New York City, where the dead overwhelmed the morgues. Who could forget the images of the trucks lined up outside hospitals to stockpile the bodies? Nobody was immune and everyone had a story. Lorraine Ash is a journalist who documented some of these accounts in her book: Corona City: Voices from an Epicenter. She anthologizes stories from some of the people who worked on the frontlines of the pandemic, who were sick and survived, and how this moment in history shaped our new normal. It’s important to note that 100 percent of the book’s proceeds go towards hunger relief. This is the third book for the award-winning Ash, who is a book editor and author coach. She has covered stories about the White House, homeless shelters, disaster zones, psychiatric wards, and more. Her stories provide a raw, unfiltered look at life at its most vulnerable moments. CONNECT WITH LORRAINE: https://lorraineash.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorrainevash/ https://www.facebook.com/LorraineAshAuthor/ https://muckrack.com/lorraine-ash Please subscribe and thank you for viewing. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/debbieelicksen

Dan Henk defines the term warrior. You could say that his chosen genre of dark sci-fi horror defines his life. If dark science fiction looks unflinchingly at things that make us uncomfortable without a sugarcoat, then that would amply describe the plot twists that this artist and writer have experienced. Like an HBO drama series, Henk has seen his fair share of villains. Experiencing homelessness and societal rejection are one thing. Surviving a violent car crash, only to have a thumb tendon severed by a gun-wielding crackhead is another. But that’s not all. Diagnosed with brain cancer in 2001, surviving surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, Henk married three months later, only to lose her when she was killed on a motorcycle by a hit and run driver. Still, no matter what dark energy life tries to throw at him, Henk survives and puts a large stamp on life. He is a well-known tattoo artist, painter, and the author of several books. He hosts the podcast series Skull Session, which interviews authors and artists about their methodology and project development. Henk’s art is extraordinary. His gift has decorated the covers of several metal bands, the pages of independent magazines, and book covers. His books are like putting his artwork into words. With rave reviews in Amazon, his stories are every bit as compelling as his art. CONNECT WITH DAN: https://danhenk.com/ https://abyssartstudio.com/dan-henk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-henk-27775214/ https://www.facebook.com/deadguyllc/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dan-Henk/author/B005Q4RQ8Y?r https://www.youtube.com/@danhenk https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/skull-session-with-dan-henk/id1650150411 https://www.tiktok.com/@danhenk

Have you ever been in a funk where life has gotten stale, and you’re unsure of the direction you want to take. Or maybe you were laid off from a long-term corporate job and are having a hard time finding a decent paying non-service industry job that isn’t physically taxing. Maybe you’ve had enough of a toxic workplace but don’t know how to move on. Do you need to reinvent yourself? Having the nice job and doing everything right doesn’t always lead to fulfillment. Chazz Scott has been there – burnt out, where everything felt like a chore. Working harder wasn’t the answer. Like all of us, he needed more. Scott studied neuroscience, meditation, and learned how to tap into the human potential. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and a Master of Science degree in Cyber Security. He was named a BE Modern Man by Black Enterprise, was selected as Top 30 Under 30 by (historically black colleges and universities) HBCU Buzz, and a recipient of The Positive People Award by The Baltimore Times. Scott is also the author of Success Starts Within: Achieve Your Potential through Radical Self-Care. CONNECT WITH CHAZZ: www.chazzscott.com https://www.facebook.com/ChazzCScott http://instagram.com/chazzcscott https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesscott15/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxOzahJTsJHYbWe10_ey_WQ Please subscribe and thank you for viewing. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/debbieelicksen

Are you happy? Well, there is a scientific measurement that can confirm how happy you really are. There are statistics to show that happiness practices in the workplace increase productivity, innovation, lower sick leave, and reduce turnover. Dr Alphonsus Obayuwana was a medical student in 1979 when he was awarded a national research grant and SmithKline Medical Perspective Fellowship. The task at hand was to develop an instrument for measuring human hope, to detect hopelessness early on so assistance could be offered in time to prevent suicide. The grant resulted in the Hope Index Scale, which has been used by Fortune 500 companies and global institutions. He has taught and mentored medical students, resident physicians, nurses and fellows in the art and science of caring for and promoting happiness for themselves and their patients. A physician-scientist from Ohio, Dr. Obayuwana is the founder and CEO of Triple-H Project LLC, an entity that trains and certifies happiness coaches. He is also a retired major in the United States Air Force (Reserve). The Happiness Formula is a scientifically proven unit of measurement, a five-minute tool that can accurately identify and differentiate happy and unhappy people from various scales, but it’s more than just a mathematical equation and the good doctor will explain. https://triplehproject.com/ https://www.facebook.com/triplehprojectllc https://www.linkedin.com/in/alphonsusobayuwana/ https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Formula-Scientific-Groundbreaking- Please subscribe and thank you for viewing. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/debbieelicksen

Anna Storm represents every young girl who was ever picked on in school and bullied by her peers. She shows them it is possible to find acceptance, to gain confidence in yourself, and prove to everyone that you can live your best life and slay. Storm learned to develop her confidence through performing and music. Since leaving her hometown, she has never looked back. She is an Emmy Award winning popstar and social media influencer. Two of her songs are on Lizzo's TV series "Watch Out For The Big Grrrls" and one of those songs is also featured on "The Real Housewives of Dubai." Her Versace Shade Unplugged music release features Wes Scantlin from Puddle of Mudd and her new pop single "Clown Tears" is finding heaps of online traction, including countless TikTok duets. Her voice is Britney Spears meets Taylor Momsen meets Amy Winehouse. Storm recently signed her first music publishing deal. Her popular Instagram account landed her a spot on alongside Vivica A. Fox on her national television show, Face The Truth. She opened for comedian Red Grant and won a Royal Wolf Film award as best supporting actress for a role in Anna Nicole, her first feature film. An entertainment brand, social media personality, radio host, artist, and performer, Storm is on a mission to empower others to live their best lives authentically and unapologetically, owning the hashtag #ISlayLife. www.instagram.com/itsannastorm www.tiktok.com/itsannastorm www.facebook.com/annastormslaylife https://open.spotify.com/artist/6u7sUNaaWSW0wsZKXeSPX1?si=AVRy4YxsQkqNEO-pp5jnDA www.youtube.com/@itsannastorm Please subscribe and thank you for viewing. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/debbieelicksen

Those of you who grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada may remember him as Allan Cabral. Allan Blitz has since been pumping out great rock tunes. Blitz is a Brazilian-Canadian 2SLGBTQI+ singer-songwriter based in Toronto. He previously worked for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and today is a photographer and digital content creator for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. His latest song, Alien, is a Pride hard rock anthem for the 2SLGBTQI+ community. He also has a thing or two to say about policies that discriminate against marginalized communities, especially the 2SLGBTQI+. Across North America, there are conservative politicians who feel the need to rally hate against a group of people who have largely been in hiding most of their life – and only coming out into the light when they felt safe in their own circles. https://open.spotify.com/artist/3EJflOdhUNh3DUxnDY9CeK https://www.youtube.com/user/allancs2005 https://www.tiktok.com/@allanblitz https://www.linkedin.com/in/cabraldesaa/ https://www.instagram.com/allan.blitz/ https://www.threads.net/@allan.blitz https://www.facebook.com/cabraldesaa https://open.spotify.com/track/1qwQBE0v8UybW3OfIlJDQa (Alien) Policy changes targeting 2SLGBTQI+ youth: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/danielle-smith-unveils-sweeping-changes-to-alberta-s-student-gender-identity-sports-and-surgery-policies-1.7101053 The Trevor Project reveals: Suicide is the second leading cause of death for age 10 to 14. 2SLGBTQI+ are four times more likely to attempt suicide. In the United States, at least one suicide attempt is made every 45 seconds. Resources (Note there are even more resources inside these websites): egale.ca rainbowrailroad.org thetrevorproject.org glaad.org ok2bme.ca pridecentreofedmonton.ca lbtqiahealtheducation.org pflagcanada.ca e2s.ca gsanetwork.org Please subscribe and thank you for viewing. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/debbieelicksen

Under the musical imprint of G'sta, Sean Self is a rapper, producer, and record-label owner whose journey includes loss, survival, and Hurricane Katrina. Self is the owner and CEO of SoStimulus Entertainment and Productions. He has collaborated with influential producers and harnessed their energy to infuse his own art with renewed creativity. His contributions helped reestablish New Orleans on the hip-hop map by introducing the next generation of emerging talents. His versatile discography includes R&B, movie soundtracks, and blues artists. In his own live performances, G'sta is said to have a magnetic stage presence. http://www.sostimulusent.com http://www.soundcloud.com/gsta-g http://www.reverbnation.com/Gsta https://www.facebook.com/GstaOfficialPage https://www.twitter.com/Gsta_G https://www.youtube.com/user/7GstaG https://www.instagram.com/gsta_g Please subscribe and thank you for listening. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/debbieelicksen

Sonia Satra is a soap opera star, award-winning mind-body coach, and motivational speaker. She knows first-hand about the ups and downs in both entertainment and entrepreneurship. You might have seen her as Lucy Cooper Spaulding on the longest running daytime soap, the Guiding Light. She also portrayed Psycho Nurse Barbara on One Life to Live. The founder of Moticise, Satra helps people find their purpose and create a blueprint to follow. She is certified as a life coach, holistic health coach, hypnotist, and Neurolinguistic Programming Practitioner. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0766346/ https://www.soniasatra.com/ https://www.facebook.com/soniasatramoticise https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi5HYKY0jbN7A2oigFT_kIQ https://www.instagram.com/soniasatra_moticise https://twitter.com/soniasatra Please subscribe.

You may not know Tom Fletcher as a household name, but you have seen his work. In single-handedly transforming the way we watch sports; he is the man behind the unique camera angles you see in every sports broadcast because of his genius at using robotic cameras. Here are a few: Above the rim and behind the backboard in basketball Behind-the-net and inside the net in hockey Center ice speed shot for hockey Center scoreboard camera in hockey and basketball Low-Home - Baseball (MLB) Dug out cameras and low-home cameras in major league baseball The NFL goal post camera The NASCAR speed shot Given how much we take these innovative camera shots for granted, it’s no surprise that Tom Fletcher has been named to the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2023. He also has five national EMMYs for the application of robotic cameras in sports broadcasting. Fletcher is the president and founder of Momento, a company that provides game attendees camera captures of themselves as a gameday keepsake. He has been the director of marketing, Optical Devices Division, at Fujifilm since 2016. https://mymomento.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tfletch1225/ Please subscribe.

She's a long time Washington State lawmaker with her name on too many bills to mention. Senator Karen Keiser represents Washington’s 33rd Legislative District, which includes Seattle and Kent. She has championed working families, improving economic security for women, worked on reforming Washington’s healthcare system, helped pass paid family and medical leave, and so much more. A former broadcast journalist, Senator Keiser saw an opportunity to help future lawmakers navigate the ugly world of politics to succeed and make a difference once they reach office. Her book, Getting Elected is the Easy Part: Working and Winning in the State Legislature, is the playbook needed to thrive in politics at any level, especially for women and BIPOC individuals. https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/keiser/ https://www.karenkeiser.org/ https://twitter.com/KarenKeiser1 https://www.facebook.com/karen.keiser https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Elected-Easy-Part-Legislature/dp/1638640114 Please subscribe.

It’s sadly all too common to hear homophobic and racist slurs inside every hockey dressing room across all levels. Former professional hockey player Brock McGillis knows this all too well. He came out as gay in 2016 after his retirement, and since then has been on a mission to fight homophobia in hockey. McGillis provides inclusivity training for organizations while also encouraging and educating hockey influencers to humanize the 2SLGBTQ+ community to make the game a welcoming space. In 2022, The Hockey News recognized him as one of the 100 most influential people in hockey for his efforts to shift the conversation around sports and the 2SLGBTQ+ community. He is an international speaker and hosts a digital series with World of Wonder, the creator of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Recently kicking off his Culture Shift Tour, where he will visit 100 Minor Hockey Teams in 100 Days, his mission is to change the narrative from both inside and outside the locker room, so that hockey can truly be for everyone. https://www.brockmcgillis.com/ https://www.facebook.com/brock.mcgillis https://www.instagram.com/brockmcgillis33 https://www.tiktok.com/@brockmcgillis33 https://twitter.com/brockmcgillis33/ Please subscribe.

Two leading Black Sox Scandal scholars Jacob Pomrenke and Dr. David Fletcher edited a new release called: Joe Jackson, Plaintiff, v Chicago American League Ball Club, Defendant: The Never-Seen-Before Trial Transcript. It is the full testimony from Shoeless Joe Jackson’s 1924 courtroom trial against the Chicago White Sox and team owner Charles Comiskey when he sued for breach of contract after the baseball fixing trial. In 1919, the Chicago White Sox lost to the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver, and six more teammates were accused of accepting bribes from gamblers to intentionally throw the Series. White Sox owner Charles Comiskey suspended Jackson and two pitchers after they confessed their involvement to a grand jury. The accused players were acquitted in a high-profile trial; however, the newly hired baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis permanently banned the Black Sox players from professional baseball. Jackson and three other players had signed long-term contracts with the White Sox before they were banned. They subsequently sued to recover some of their lost salaries. Only Jackson’s case went to trial. Shoeless Joe sought $16,000 in damages for the three-year contract he had signed before the 1920 season. He never received the money. Dr. Fletcher is the founder of the Chicago Baseball Museum and the President, CEO, and Chief Medical Director of SafeWorks Illinois. Jacob Pomrenke is the Director of Editorial Content for the Society for American Baseball Research. He is the editor of Scandal on the South Side: The 1919 Chicago White Sox and the Eight Myths Out project. https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/joe-jackson-vs-chicago-american-league-baseball-club-never-before-seen-trial-transcript/ https://ffpcreative.com/joe-jackson-trial-transcript-book/ https://chicagobaseballmuseum.org/ https://www.facebook.com/shoelessmuseum https://www.instagram.com/shoelessmuseum https://drfletcherexpertwitness.com/ Please subscribe.

Celebrity culture goes as far back as ancient Greece where live theater was all the rave. During times of struggle, entertainment is an escape that allows us to disappear from the realities of life, if only for just a short while. Samita Nandy is a filmmaker, actor, author, and broadcast journalist with a doctorate in celebrity culture from the Department of Media at Curtin University in Australia. She is the director of the Centre for Media and Celebrity Studies and a cultural critic on fame. The Centre is an international organization and research network on celebrity culture. It also bridges the gaps in higher education and media by coordinating research, publications, creative productions, and media to restore artistic and ethical acts for social change. Nandy has appeared in numerous international media, including CBC National, Global National, Telegraph, VICE, Flare, Chatelaine, and more. linkedin.com/in/samitanandy https://www.facebook.com/samitanandy/ samitanandy.com cmc-centre.com instagram.com/famecritic Please subscribe.

Csongor Daniel is one of the first officially recognized bioenergy healers and the author of four books, including Bioenergy Healing – Simple Techniques for Reducing Pain and Restoring Health through Energetic Healing. Among those who have sung his praises, one reader said it’s the best healing book they’ve ever bought. He defines human energy from the quantum physical point of view. His practical applications help others to manipulate energy and matter to stop headaches and pain. Because his sessions don’t require touch, he has become a master of long-distance healing. Daniels is also an engineer, master marksman, motorcycle builder and rider. He speaks several languages, is the first honorary president of the International Biotherapy Association, based in the UK, and the CEO of Kanyarfoto, a photography site for motorcycle enthusiasts. One of his goals is to teach others how to heal themselves. https://www.csongordaniel.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/csongordaniel/ https://www.instagram.com/csongordaniel/ Please subscribe.

Greg Thomas was born in Texas but received an athletic scholarship to the University of Arkansas and became the first Black starting quarterback. Under the guise of coach Ken Hatfield, with the Razorbacks, Thomas amassed 3140 combined yardage and 23 career touchdowns. The team earned a winning record in his four seasons. His book: No Doubting Thomas “Hawg Whisperer” My Arkansas Memoirs chronicles his time with the Division I team. Besides coaching basketball, Thomas has suited up as a truancy specialist to re-engage students to finish school and he is also a substance abuse/at risk counselor. https://www.facebook.com/hawgwhisperer/ linkedin.com/in/gregory-thomas-284536253 https://www.amazon.ca/No-Doubting-Thomas-Whisperer-Arkansas/dp/1977250351 Football contributions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNHRjgh_IqU Football highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3re_PXNGFr4 Game winning TD pass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPKM52w40TM https://www.amazon.ca/No-Doubting-Thomas-Whisperer-Arkansas/dp/1977250351 Please subscribe.

Sophia Dias is a speaker, fashion designer, music artist, and chef, but she also has a significant insight on isolated partners who are brought into a foreign country and who experience domestic violence. Hers is a story of trauma, survival, and finding the light towards freedom. From Goa, India to Chicago, Illinois, Dias has become a one-woman army who built a thriving career, which includes writing a book, producing a film and album, and creating a worldwide high-end fashion. She’s an activist who supports numerous deprived, destitute, and homeless people across the globe. http://www.sophiadias.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-dias-b60a2872 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086484499891 https://www.youtube.com/@sophiadiasmusic https://www.instagram.com/diasdesignfashion1 Please subscribe.