With Special Guest: Ken Hartley, Certified Speaking Professional and Author of Calling the Presidents

History doesn't repeat itself - but it does offer a playbook. In this episode of Ask for Change, Meridith welcomes speaker and author Ken Hartley, whose new book Calling the Presidents goes where most business books don't: straight into the leadership crucibles of every U.S. president to extract timeless lessons on navigating uncertainty, change, and crisis.

What made Washington lay down power when no one in history had done it before? What can Harry Truman's first days in office - inheriting a world war he knew nothing about - teach today's executives about leading blind? And what separated the presidents history remembers from the ones who became trivia questions?

Ken's answer is both simple and unsparing: the leaders who endure are the ones who serve the needs of their people at the moment that matters most, own their mistakes without flinching, and embrace change instead of retreating from it. This episode is a compelling reminder that uncertainty is not a new problem - and that the strategies to turn it into advantage are already written. Meridith and Ken close with a challenge every leader needs to hear: everything you've ever wanted as a leader is waiting on the other side of the fear and uncertainty you've been avoiding.

Ken Hartley:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-hartley/

https://www.facebook.com/kenhartley777

https://www.youtube.com/@kenhartleyspeaks

www.kenhartley.com

With Special Guest: Justin Jones-Fosu, Speaker, Author, and Founder of the Work Meaningful Foundation

Most leaders are chasing meaningful work. Justin Jones-Fosu argues they've got it backwards - meaningful work isn't something you find, it's something you create. In this deeply personal and strategically powerful episode of Ask for Change, Meridith sits down with speaker, author, and accidental foundation-starter Justin Jones-Fosu to explore what it actually takes to thrive - not just survive - in a world of relentless uncertainty and change. Justin's journey is anything but linear: from nearly getting fired while working in HR, to forgiving an absent father, to building schools in Ghana, he's a living case study in the power of choice, ownership, and intentional meaning-making. He introduces listeners to the research-backed framework of Job Crafting and his own "Choose, Commit, Cultivate" model - practical tools senior leaders can use to stop letting uncertainty happen to them and start creating outcomes with intention. This episode hits differently for leaders who feel the weight of what's happening in the world right now and are searching for a way to move forward with clarity and purpose. If you're tired of chasing and ready to start creating, this conversation is your next step.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/iworkmeaningful/ (Justin Jones-Fosu)

With Special Guest: Elke Rubach

Episode Description
Uncertainty has a way of paralyzing financial decisions, and doing nothing is often the most expensive choice. In this episode, Meridith Elliott Powell is joined by wealth strategist Elke Rubach to discuss how individuals and families can regain control of their financial future, even in volatile times.

Elke shares why clarity, ownership, and planning matter more than ever, and why wealth management is about far more than investments. From cash flow and risk protection to legacy planning and financial literacy, this conversation breaks down how to move from fear to confidence.

If uncertainty around money is keeping you awake at night, this episode delivers a grounded and empowering roadmap forward.

https://www.elkerubach.com/