Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek

Dr. Chris Meek
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

Personal empowerment, commitment to our own well-being and the motivation to achieve more than we ever thought possible are the ingredients of a better life. And, they're all within our reach. Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek delves into the keys to adding energy, excitement, direction and purpose to everything that we do. The program hosts mental health advocates and medical experts, frontline voices on human trafficking and social justice issues, familiar faces from the worlds of entertainment and sports, and leading entrepreneurs to engage in thought-provoking discussions that inspire the audience to take their own next steps forward to better themselves and their communities. Next Steps Forward is intended to be a source of empowerment that many around the world are in need of now more than ever. For guests who join the program, Chris cultivates a space where honest, quality conversations thrive and are not only meant to educate and inform but inspire action, introspection and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek is an informative, uplifting hour every Tuesday at 1 PM Eastern Time/10 AM Pacific Time that's certain to inspire you to take that important next step forward, too.

  1. 6d ago

    Learning to Hear, Learning to See: Eli Steele On Deafness, Documentaries, and the American Dream

    Filmmaker Eli Steele has built a career on the conversations most people would rather avoid: race, identity, culture, and opportunity. Born profoundly deaf into a family whose heritage spans Black, Jewish, white, and Native American traditions, Eli grew up outside the categories America uses to sort people. In this wide-ranging conversation with host Dr. Chris Meek, he opens a window into a world few listeners have ever considered: how a deaf child learns that objects have names, how reading happens without sound, and how someone comprehends the very concept of sound having never heard one. He also revisits his decision at twenty-five to undergo cochlear implant surgery, chronicled in the film Eli's Story: Learning to Hear, including the day his implants were activated, the first sound he remembers, and why hearing more didn't change who he was. From there, the conversation turns to the camera. Eli discusses how growing up deaf sharpened him as an observer, the responsibilities that come with documentary filmmaking, and whether objectivity is even the goal. He talks candidly about his father, the influential writer and thinker Shelby Steele, how their relationship evolved from father-and-son into creative collaboration, and how he works to remain distinctly his own person. And he takes on the films themselves: What's Bugging Seth, How Jack Became Black, the controversy surrounding What Killed Michael Brown? and its temporary removal from Amazon, and his newest project, What Killed the Dream? Along the way: whether the marketplace of ideas is opening or narrowing, where editorial judgment ends and censorship begins, what threatens the American Dream, and what stories, if any, can still unite us. About Eli Steele: Eli Steele is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer, storyteller and president of Man of Steele Productions. He has devoted his career to exploring some of the most difficult and important conversations in America: race, identity, culture and opportunity. Born profoundly deaf and raised in a family whose heritage spans Black, Jewish, white and Native American traditions, Eli brings a perspective shaped by experiences that don't fit neatly into society's labels. His documentaries, including How Jack Became Black and What Killed Michael Brown?, have sparked national conversations and challenged audiences to reconsider some of the assumptions that shape modern American life.

  2. Aug 11

    The Power of Mattering w/ Dr. Zach Mercurio

    What if the deepest human need isn't success, but the certainty that we matter? This week, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with researcher, speaker, and author Dr. Zach Mercurio, whose work on purposeful leadership and meaningful work began, improbably, with a conversation in the back of a Washington, D.C. taxi. That exchange with a driver who understood something profound about human significance became the seed of Mercurio's latest book, The Power of Mattering. Together, Chris and Zach explore why feeling seen, heard, valued, and needed is a fundamental human requirement rather than a luxury and what happens psychologically when that need goes unmet. They unpack the great paradox of our age: how a world more technologically connected than ever has left so many people, including the outwardly successful, feeling invisible. They examine why the next promotion, title, or award so rarely satisfies, whether we've begun confusing attention with connection, and how a smile or a thank-you from a stranger can change the course of someone's day or life. About Dr. Zach Mercurio: Zach Mercurio, who earned a Ph.D. in Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change from Colorado State University, believes one of the greatest human needs is not simply to be successful, but to know that we matter. He is a researcher, speaker, and author whose work focuses on purposeful leadership, meaningful work, and the science of helping people feel seen, heard, valued, and needed. His latest book, The Power of Mattering, explores how leaders, families, educators, and communities can create cultures where people thrive because they know they make a difference.

  3. Aug 4

    Chasing Happiness, Missing Joy w/ Dr. La'Tesha Sampson

    What's the difference between happiness and joy and why do so many of us spend a lifetime chasing one while missing the other? This week, host Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Dr. La'Tesha Sampson, a nationally recognized educator, licensed psychotherapist, author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader. A New Jersey native, Dr. Sampson has spent more than two decades helping individuals and communities overcome adversity, improve mental health, and build lives filled with purpose. She is the founder of Great Joy Counseling and Consulting Services, executive director of the Great Joy Community Development Corporation, and director of the Master of Social Work and Master of Public Administration programs at Seton Hall University. Dr. Sampson opens up about the childhood trauma and periods of homelessness that shaped her early years, the moment she realized her circumstances didn't have to determine her future, and the people who helped her believe in herself along the way. She and Chris explore why joy can coexist with grief and uncertainty, why mental health has long been difficult to discuss openly in communities of color, and whether America is facing a genuine mental health crisis or simply a new awareness of old problems. The conversation also takes on a provocative question raised recently in The New York Times: are we pathologizing ordinary life? Plus: faith and healing, service as leadership, entrepreneurship with a mission, and what today's young leaders are getting right. About Dr. La'Tesha Sampson: Dr. La'Tesha Sampson is the epitome of academic, philanthropic, and social service excellence. A proud Roselle, New Jersey native, she has devoted over 27 years to serving disenfranchised individuals and communities, guided by her belief in helping others transform their thinking to transform their lives. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, professor, author, grant writer, corporate and nonprofit trainer, program facilitator, media personality, and serial entrepreneur, Dr. Sampson wears many hats but each is rooted in a singular purpose: to cultivate healing, leadership, and sustainable joy. She is the Founder and President of Great Joy Counseling and Consulting Services, a thriving multi-state group practice where she and her team provide psychotherapy and life coaching to thousands of individuals, couples, families, and groups each year. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Great Joy Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing health, wellness, and quality of life for disenfranchised communities globally. In higher education, Dr. Sampson has taught and mentored future change agents at the University of New England, Rutgers University, the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, and Kean University. She now serves as Director of the Master of Public Administration Program and MSW Practicum Education at Seton Hall University, where she combines her passions for scholarship, leadership, and service. A committed philanthropist, Dr. Sampson sponsors scholarships for New Jersey high school students and supports nonprofit initiatives across Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Ghana, Mexico, and Egypt. She has trained leaders from more than 200 organizations, colleges, and universities and currently serves on national and local boards, including NASW-PACE and the NJ Association of Black Social Workers. Her thought leadership has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Star Ledger, Thrive Global, The Huffington Post, NBC News 4, and TV One's Fatal Attraction. She is also gearing up to be a TEDx speaker on the topic "Rejecting Happiness, Cultivating Joy."

  4. Jul 28

    From Tragedy to Unity: David Paine and Jay S. Winuk on Building 9/11 Day

    This week on Next Steps Forward, program host Dr. Chris Meek is joined by the co-founders of 9/11 Day, David Paine and Jay S. Winuk. Together, they share the remarkable story behind how a day of national tragedy was transformed into a federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance, now inspiring tens of millions of Americans to honor those lost in the September 11 attacks through acts of kindness, volunteering, and community service. David and Jay discuss the origins of the movement, the deeply personal loss that shaped its mission, and how service became a unifying force across the country. They also explore the ambitious vision behind the 25th anniversary of 9/11 Day, which aims to mobilize the largest day of service in American history through nationwide volunteer initiatives, education programs, and cross-sector partnerships. At a time of increasing division, this conversation highlights the enduring power of service to bring people together, strengthen communities, and reaffirm shared humanity. About David Paine: David Paine is the co-founder and president of 9/11 Day, the nonprofit organization that led the formal establishment of September 11 as a federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. Over the past 24 years, 9/11 Day has inspired tens of millions of Americans to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 through acts of kindness, volunteering, and charitable giving—transforming a day of tragedy into a powerful annual moment of unity and service across the country. For the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Paine and his co-founder Jay Winuk are leading an ambitious national effort to organize what is expected to be the largest day of service in American history. The initiative will feature 50 large-scale, multi-city service projects focused on critical needs such as hunger relief, alongside expanded education programs and grantmaking to support schools, nonprofits, and youth organizations nationwide. This historic effort is powered by an extraordinary coalition of influential partners — including the NFL, Major League Baseball, National Governors Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors, America250, AmeriCorps, Points of Light, and many others — and is supported by more than 600 corporate partners, including Delta Air Lines, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., JPMorgan Chase, American Express, Citigroup, Pfizer, Blackstone, The Coca-Cola Company, Starbucks, and many other leading corporations committed to advancing service and unity nationwide. At a time of deep division, Paine is advancing a bold, unifying vision for civic engagement — one that invites Americans of all backgrounds to join together in shared purpose through service. His work is rooted in the belief that even in the face of profound loss, acts of compassion can help bridge divides, strengthen communities, and reaffirm our common humanity. Through his leadership, he has helped build a lasting national movement grounded in empathy, unity, and the enduring idea that doing good for others is one of the most meaningful ways to remember.  About Jay S. Winuk: Jay S. Winuk is co-founder and executive vice president of 9/11 Day, the nonprofit organization that began and annually organizes the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. On September 11, 2001, Jay's brother Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney, volunteer firefighter and EMT, was killed in the line of duty at the World Trade Center. Inspired by his brother's lifelong devotion to community service and courageous actions, Jay joined David Paine in 2002 as co-founder in helping to build and lead the 9/11 Day observance. Jay is a frequent public speaker and a leading national voice about volunteerism, charitable service, terrorism, individual empowerment and his own experience as the brother of a murdered 9/11 first responder. His work, commentary and personal story have been featured in major news media reports, documentaries and books throughout the nation and world. Jay was a featured speaker at the nationally televised ServiceNation "Presidential Candidates Forum" at Columbia University, representing the 9/11 family community and delivering his remarks just prior to those of candidates U.S. Senators Barack Obama and John McCain. Since co-founding the nonprofit 9/11 Day organization with David Paine, Jay has spoken about charitable service and volunteerism before dozens of audiences – including at national conferences, corporate and annual meetings, press conferences with national legislative leaders, charitable events, on Capitol Hill, at colleges and high schools and more. In addition to his leadership role for 9/11 Day, Jay serves as president of Winuk Communications, Inc., the public relations agency he founded in 1994. He and his firm have won numerous national public relations awards, including multiple Silver and Bronze Anvils from the Public Relations Society of America, the industry's highest honors.  In this capacity Jay has provided PR support to many of the nation's leading corporations, nonprofits and other organizations.

  5. Jul 21

    Leadership, Resilience, and Never Forgetting w/ Boomer Esiason

    What does it take to lead under pressure: on the field, in the broadcast booth, and in the most personal corners of family life? In this episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with NFL legend and MVP quarterback Boomer Esiason for a wide-ranging conversation about resilience, identity, purpose, and what it means to use your platform in service of others. Boomer led the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance and earned league MVP honors in 1988 across a 14-year career. But his story didn't end with retirement. When his son Gunnar was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, Boomer channeled his competitive drive into founding the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for research, education, and care. He also became a powerful voice for ensuring that the September 11, 2001 attacks are never forgotten, especially by the one-third of Americans who were too young or not yet born to remember that day. In this episode, you'll hear Boomer discuss: What it was like to play as a left-handed quarterback in an overwhelmingly right-handed league The belief and mindset that fuels comeback resilience, even when a team is down 31 points at halftime Receiving Gunnar's cystic fibrosis diagnosis and what it demanded of him as a father and an advocate Where he was on September 11, 2001, and why keeping that memory alive has become a personal mission About Boomer Esiason: Boomer Esiason is one of the most accomplished NFL quarterbacks of his era. He's best known for leading the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance and earning league MVP honors in 1988. Boomer Esiason's football career spanned 14 years, but his story extends far beyond the game. Following his playing career, he became a respected broadcaster and a passionate advocate for those in need. After his son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, Boomer founded the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which raised hundreds of millions of dollars to support research, education, and care for those living with the disease. Throughout his life, Boomer Esiason has used his platform to serve others by advancing medical progress, supporting families, and helping ensure that future generations understand the significance of moments like 9/11 that have shaped our nation.

  6. Jul 14

    Unhide & Seek w/ Ruth Rathblott

    Program host Chris Meek is pleased to welcome Ruth Rathblott back to Next Steps Forward to further speak on issues of inclusion and diversity, the freedom of accepting your differences and rising above life's challenges. Ruth, a licensed social worker, TEDx speaker, award-winning former CEO and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion expert and strategist, was born with a limb difference and is now committed to creating inclusion for all. In this appearance, Ruth will also focus on her most recent book "Unhide & Seek" which offers a blueprint for uncovering the person you are meant to be - both in your career and in your personal life. The book focuses on embracing your differences, performing at your best, building meaningful connections and becoming a leader. If you feel as though your true potential has yet to be discovered, this is a conversation you won't want to miss!

  7. Jul 7

    The Responsibility to Remember w/ Andrew H. Card Jr and Leon Panetta

    In this milestone 250th episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek is joined by two of the most consequential public servants of our time: Andrew Card and Leon Panetta. In a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, these former White House Chiefs of Staff reflect on lives shaped by service, leadership under pressure, and a shared commitment to preserving the lessons of September 11, 2001. From Leon Panetta's upbringing as the son of Italian immigrants and his journey through Congress, the CIA, and the Department of Defense, to Andrew Card's path from the Merchant Marine Academy to the highest levels of government, including his pivotal role on 9/11, this episode explores what truly forms a leader. The discussion spans decades of American history and civic life: the moral weight of leadership decisions, the value of military and public service, lessons learned from presidents across party lines, and the growing challenges facing democracy in an era of polarization. Card and Panetta also offer candid advice to young Americans considering public service today and reflect on whether unity and the political "center" can be restored. The second half of the episode is devoted to September 11, 2001 and its enduring legacy. Together, Card and Panetta recount the facts of that day, share firsthand experiences and behind-the-scenes moments, and examine how 9/11 reshaped national security, diplomacy, intelligence, and preparedness. As members of The 9/11 Legacy Foundation, they explain why remembrance must remain nonpartisan, why education is essential for future generations, and what lessons from 9/11 are most at risk of being forgotten as the 25th commemoration approaches. This landmark episode is a powerful reflection on leadership, memory, unity, and responsibility, and a reminder that remembering 9/11 is not just about honoring the past, but about shaping the future we choose to build. About Andrew H. Card Jr: Known for his calm, disciplined leadership and deep sense of duty, Andrew Card has spent decades in high-level roles in the public and private sectors. Among his roles during three administrations was his service as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and Chief of Staff for President George W. Bush during one of the most consequential periods in modern American history, including the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  About Leon Panetta: Leon Panetta is one of America's most experienced public servants. A former member of Congress, he has also served as White House Chief of Staff, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Director of the CIA, and later as the United States Secretary of Defense. He also founded the Panetta Institute for Public Policy to inspire civic engagement and educate future leaders.

  8. Jun 30

    What We Leave Behind w/ Col (Ret) Allison Black

    She never asked for the nickname "Angel of Death." But when General Abdul Rashid Dostum taunted Taliban fighters over the radio on the first night of combat operations after 9/11, warning them that America had sent its women to fly bombers and kill them, Allison Black became part myth, part warning, part green laser dot in the dark. This week on Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Colonel (Ret) Allison Black, one of the first women to fly combat missions in Afghanistan, a veteran of the AC-130 gunship and the elite U-28 Draco community, and a leader who spent decades helping younger service members find their footing and their purpose. Col. Black grew up in suburban Long Island with no military background and no master plan. A late-summer TV commercial and a phone book changed everything. What followed was a career defined not by the nickname she never wanted, but by the quiet, deliberate work that the public rarely sees: hours of observation, precise coordination, and the moral weight of decisions made thousands of feet above the ground. In this conversation, she explores what it means to serve with purpose when public support fades, how 9/11 remained her anchor through 20 years of war, and what she carried home from her first trip back to New York City in February 2002, including a handful of spent brass she brought to the firehouses still grieving their own. They also talk about legacy: not the kind etched in medals, but the kind measured in greasy fingerprints; the small, indelible marks people leave on your life, and the ones you leave on theirs. Humble. Credible. Approachable. It's on the edge of her challenge coin. And it's the throughline of everything she has to say. About Col (Ret) Allison Black: Allison Black is a retired United States Air Force Colonel with a distinguished 32-year military career. She enlisted in 1992 and served as a SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, & escape) specialist for over six years. Allison earned her undergraduate degree from Wayland Baptist University and was commissioned in 1998. She served the next 24 years of her career in USSOCOM & Air Force Special Operations (AFSOC).She has flown a total of over 3,400 hours  with 2,000 combat hours in the AC-130H Spectre Gunship & U-28A Draco. In 2001, Allison deployed in support of TF Dagger as the initial response to the attacks on September 11th, earning the moniker "Angel of Death" for the decisive battlefield effects of the AC-130 crew. Allison has commanded at all levels of leadership and culminated her career as the Commander of the 1st Special Operation Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. She's a native of East Northport, New York and has a Strategic Communications master's degree from George Mason University and master's in security studies from National Defense University. Allison lives in Navarre, Florida with her husband Ryan and two sons Connor and Cooper.

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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Personal empowerment, commitment to our own well-being and the motivation to achieve more than we ever thought possible are the ingredients of a better life. And, they're all within our reach. Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek delves into the keys to adding energy, excitement, direction and purpose to everything that we do. The program hosts mental health advocates and medical experts, frontline voices on human trafficking and social justice issues, familiar faces from the worlds of entertainment and sports, and leading entrepreneurs to engage in thought-provoking discussions that inspire the audience to take their own next steps forward to better themselves and their communities. Next Steps Forward is intended to be a source of empowerment that many around the world are in need of now more than ever. For guests who join the program, Chris cultivates a space where honest, quality conversations thrive and are not only meant to educate and inform but inspire action, introspection and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek is an informative, uplifting hour every Tuesday at 1 PM Eastern Time/10 AM Pacific Time that's certain to inspire you to take that important next step forward, too.

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