Speaking and Impact
Creating connection, clarity, and community through lived experience
How This Story Helps Others
I do not share my story because it is easy to tell. I share it because I know what it feels like to carry moments that change you and not always know how to move forward afterward.
At the heart of everything I speak about is one simple thing. My lived experience. Not polished answers. Not quick fixes. Just an honest walk through trauma, healing, identity, leadership, faith, and the slow work of rebuilding a life after everything changes.
I speak as someone still walking the road. Not someone who has arrived.
The Heart of What I Share
When I step into a room, I am not bringing a performance. I am bringing my story and the space it creates for others to breathe.
My greatest hope is that in sharing my journey, others feel less alone in theirs. That something in my story stirs recognition. That it offers permission to feel what has been held inside. That it provides encouragement in seasons that feel overwhelming, lonely, or uncertain.
These conversations are not about hype or motivation for motivation’s sake. They are about healing in real time. About naming what hurts. About discovering that forward often comes quietly, one small step at a time.
Core Themes I Return To
While every room is different, the heartbeat is always the same. The conversations I lead often revolve around:
Trauma and its lasting impact
Healing that does not follow a straight line
Identity after loss and change
Leadership rooted in humility, presence, and care
Faith in seasons of doubt and rebuilding
Mental health, shame, and the courage to speak honestly
Learning how to live again in a world that no longer feels the same
These themes are not taught from theory. They are lived.
Who These Conversations Are For
I speak to a wide range of audiences, including:
Schools and universities
Churches and faith communities
Book clubs
Conferences and professional organizations
Community groups and nonprofits
Teams, staff retreats, and leadership gatherings
Every space is different. Every audience carries their own stories. My role is not to fix, but to create space for reflection, honesty, and hope.
What People Experience When I Speak
People have shared that these conversations often leave them feeling:
Seen
Less alone
More willing to speak about what they carry
More patient with their own healing
More grounded in the truth that slow progress is still progress
This is not about walking out with all the answers. It is about walking out knowing you do not have to carry everything by yourself.
How This Ties to the Book
My speaking flows directly from my book, One Step at a Time. The book holds the fuller story. The stage holds the lived presence of that story.
Some audiences begin with the book and invite me to speak. Others hear me speak and later find the book. Both paths lead to the same place: a deeper conversation about healing, resilience, and what it means to keep going when life does not turn out as planned.
What This Work Creates
If any part of this story feels familiar, you do not have to carry it alone. These conversations are not about having everything figured out. They are about showing up honestly, listening well, and taking the next small step forward together.
And if you believe this story may serve your community, I would be honored to continue that conversation with you. Every space is different. Every gathering has its own needs. I approach each opportunity with care, flexibility, and deep respect for the stories already in the room.