Dr. Kristen Williamson is a licensed professional counselor, neurodivergent advocate, and proud ringleader of a “neurospicy” family. Her life is a mix of late-night epiphanies, juggling mental health myths, and a daily dose of laughter as she navigates autism, ADHD, and parenting kids who keep her on her toes (and sometimes hiding snacks). Here’s the deal: growing up, she always felt like she was dancing to her beat, but nobody gave me the playlist. It wasn’t until adulthood that she realized she was neurodivergent, and suddenly, her quirks and challenges made sense. That “ah-ha” moment didn’t just change her life—it gave her a mission to help others embrace their differences and thrive. Now, she blends humor, personal stories, and practical advice to tackle big topics like: 1) Why neurodivergent brains are the secret weapon every workplace needs. 2) How to turn “chaotic energy” into a leadership superpower. And, 3) Why mental health isn’t all doom and gloom (yes, we can laugh about it sometimes!). When she’s not counseling clients or speaking on neurodiversity and DEIB, you’ll find her debating the merits of pineapple on pizza, struggling to perfect her meme game, or plotting her next adventure with her husband and kids. She keeps it real, relatable, and a little ridiculous—because who says growth can’t be fun? Her style is conversational and insightful, empowering, and sprinkled with humor. Together, we can make brains, belonging, and breakthroughs the most entertaining part of your home, workplace, and/or show! You can learn more about Dr. Kristen Williamson at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkristenwilliamson/ and https://www.instagram.com/empowermindsolutionsllc/.

Janet Sherlund chronicles her life as an adopted child. Being adopted made her feel as though she was living a “borrowed life,” undermined her sense of trust and personal value, and impacted every decision she made. It also led to a lifelong quest to find her biological mother, with the hope of finally feeling a tether to this world, a sense of belonging, and ultimately, herself. Adoption is often painted as a happy, inspirational act - a baby finds a family and lives happily ever after. But the truth is that adopted children experience displacement and rupture from their mothers, which can affect them for lifetimes and can result in depression, behavioral issues, anger, anxiety, PTSD, higher suicide rates, and more. Adoption is a trauma and a lifelong journey that is often overlooked and not honestly talked about. She raised her family and served on nonprofit boards in education, health, and the cultural arts before writing her memoir Abandoned at Birth. Her single most significant life event was being given up for adoption at birth. Her memoir fulfills a lifelong dream of becoming a published author, as well as raising awareness about loss and grief in adoption, and why it takes more than love to survive that trauma. A graduate of Colgate University, Janet lives on Nantucket Island off the Massachusetts coast with Rick, her husband of 45 years. You can learn more about Janet at https://www.abandonedatbirthbook.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/janetsherlundofficial/.

Dr. Kristen Williamson is a licensed professional counselor, neurodivergent advocate, and proud ringleader of a “neurospicy” family. Her life is a mix of late-night epiphanies, juggling mental health myths, and a daily dose of laughter as she navigates autism, ADHD, and parenting kids who keep her on her toes (and sometimes hiding snacks). Here’s the deal: growing up, she always felt like she was dancing to her beat, but nobody gave me the playlist. It wasn’t until adulthood that she realized she was neurodivergent, and suddenly, her quirks and challenges made sense. That “ah-ha” moment didn’t just change her life—it gave her a mission to help others embrace their differences and thrive. Now, she blends humor, personal stories, and practical advice to tackle big topics like: 1) Why neurodivergent brains are the secret weapon every workplace needs. 2) How to turn “chaotic energy” into a leadership superpower. And, 3) Why mental health isn’t all doom and gloom (yes, we can laugh about it sometimes!). When she’s not counseling clients or speaking on neurodiversity and DEIB, you’ll find her debating the merits of pineapple on pizza, struggling to perfect her meme game, or plotting her next adventure with her husband and kids. She keeps it real, relatable, and a little ridiculous—because who says growth can’t be fun? Her style is conversational and insightful, empowering, and sprinkled with humor. Together, we can make brains, belonging, and breakthroughs the most entertaining part of your home, workplace, and/or show! You can learn more about Dr. Kristen Williamson at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkristenwilliamson/ and https://www.instagram.com/empowermindsolutionsllc/.

Mike Burnop is Virginia Tech’s Hall of Fame network analyst and the two-time Virginia Sportscaster of the Year (2019, 2023). He attended Roanoke Catholic High School, where he is a Hall of Fame inductee. Mike was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. Mike enters his 42nd season in the Hokies’ football booth. In addition to his role as an analyst, Mike handles all postgame interviews from Virginia Tech’s locker room. Mike was a star tight end at Virginia Tech during his playing days. He held the Hokies’ single-season tight end records for receptions (46) and receiving yards until both feats were ultimately surpassed by Bucky Hodges (2013-16). Mike’s versatility at the microphone is nearly unparalleled in collegiate athletics, as he also serves as the analyst for Virginia Tech men’s basketball broadcasts. He is one of only a few nationwide announcers who analyze both sports. Away from his broadcasting duties, Mike owns New River Office Supply, a Virginia business operating in Blacksburg, Pearisburg, and Salem. He is a prominent member of the Blacksburg community, frequently lending his time, voice, and talents to philanthropic causes. You can learn more about Mike Burnop at https://hokiesports.com/staff/mike-burnop and https://x.com/search?q=Mike%20Burnop&src=typed_query.

Jo Whipp is freer now than she has been in her past. She is still healing, grasping what she thought her life was supposed to look like while pretending it’s something it isn’t. She committed to stopping living in the past and starting to create her future. Life, the journey, is a forever-growing, forever learning, forever-unfolding experience. She thinks the analogy of the butterfly works so well. Some struggle to overcome more than others. There were moments when she longed for the ultimate freedom. Freedom to be in the arms of Jesus and be finished with the pain of life on earth. However, she learned she was meant to complete a mission on earth. She now feels her sense of calling. Through her past, she has learned she can not only fulfil her calling but also do it in strength and with her God-given right to boundaries. Jo is documenting her life experiential learning in her upcoming book, Crave a Greater Impact. The publishing date has not yet been determined as of this writing. You can learn more about Jo Whipp at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZTc-_fhKts,\.

Austin Davis is a visionary leader in teenage behavioral health and addiction treatment. He has spent the past 15+ years committed to transforming the lives of teens and their families. He uses the power of faith in the recovery process to help his clients grow into healthy and happy members of their community. His dedication to teen mental health makes him a driving thought leader in the industry. He has spoken to parents, community health professionals, educators, and teens nationwide—sharing insights on effective treatment methodologies, the importance of mental health awareness, and the power of faith in the recovery process. Austin earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University in Cleveland, TN. He furthered his education with a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary. This education laid the foundation for his professional journey in clinical counseling and church ministry. His book My Kid, My Crisis dives into the inspiring journeys of families who have faced mental health challenges and substance abuse issues with their teens. He is the founder and CEO of Clearfork Academy. You can learn more about Austin at https://clearforkacademy.com/blog/the-benefits-of-adventure-therapy-for-teen-mental-health/ and https://parentingteensandtweens.com/author/austin-davis/.

Jacques Delorme is a farm kid raised in rural Saskatchewan and currently residing in Regina with his two children. He completed a Bachelor of Education degree in Chemistry, physical education, and general science in 1990 and became a master teacher and coached volleyball, curling, badminton, softball, and track and field. He is a science educator who dedicated the past 10 years of his life to personal development including training as a Shaman. With a deep interest in helping others through writing and public speaking, Jacques is developing an online support program for those recovering from trauma using the concepts taught in his book, Driving Out of Darkness: Self-Care Strategies for Trauma Recovery. You can learn more about Jacques at https://www.linkedin.com/in/powerfulimpact/?originalSubdomain=ca.

Joan Quinlan has overcome multiple life traumas brought about by her early lifestyle. Her family culture was one of working beyond any life adversities rather than finding anyone who could empathize with her. That culture caused her to repress many of her early life anxieties, which led her to excessive alcohol consumption. The term for this was formerly alcoholic. The accepted term now is substance use disorder (SUD). She explains she still has moments that can activate (the term more accepted than “triggered”) past recollections of behavior. Because she has primarily overcome these previous traumas, she is helping others overcome their traumatic behaviors. You can learn more about Joan and her work at https://womenforsobriety.org/.