In this episode of The Hope Matrix Podcast, host Kathryn Goetzke sits down with Elad Talmor, a cognitive behavioral psychologist based in Israel, to discuss his work in empowering and teaching teens about Hope amidst challenging circumstances, like war. Elad shares insights from his experience working with teenagers in Israel, who are grappling with the aftermath of the October service massacre and ongoing tensions in the region.

Through his workshops and counseling sessions, Elad helps these young people cultivate hope by teaching them practical skills to navigate stress and adversity. He emphasizes the importance of personalized goal-setting and resilience-building techniques, highlighting the positive impact it has on the teenagers he works with,

Join Kathryn and Elad as they explore the power of hope in the face of adversity and the transformative potential of empowering youth to create change in their own lives and communities.

Learn about the Hopeful Minds Program at https://hopefulminds.org/.

Get a copy of the Hopeful Minds Teen Hopeguide: https://theshinehopecompany.com/teen-hopeguide/

This is a special episode of The Hope Matrix Podcast featuring Zoya Awan, Director of Public Affairs at Walmart. Zoya Awan directs the strategic outreach and engagement strategy for Walmart’s strategic partnerships within multicultural and minority communities including People with Disabilities, Native Americans, and Emerging Generations across communities.

In this episode, Zoya and Kathryn Goetkze had a Chai Chat, and shared the progress of the International Day Of Hope and discussed its significance in promoting mental well-being. They also discussed how to Shine Hope, and why it is important to activate in diverse communities.

This recording was done in partnership with Walmart's #CreateSparks, which is a platform imagined by Walmart to inspire leaders to take action.

Recorded at the Sam’s Club Home Office Studio, we extend our gratitude to Sam’s Club for making this episode possible, along with our appreciation to Zoya and Walmart for their invaluable contributions to activating hope, both within their workplace and on the International Day of Hope.

More about Zoya Awan:

Prior to Zoya’s work at Walmart, Zoya worked at Microsoft in Government Affairs, in the State Department’s office of the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and various non-profits. Zoya has an MBA from Georgetown University and her B.A. in International Affairs and Communication Studies from American University.

Zoya is a proud Pakistani-American Muslim woman and an explorer who loves to travel and explore all things in the world. Zoya is passionate about giving a voice to the voiceless and building partnerships to work across sectors to make an impact in communities. Born and Raised in Long Island, New York a longtime Washingtonian Zoya currently resides with her family in New York.

Discover more about Walmart and Sam's Clubhouse initiatives:

• Walmart: corporate.walmart.com
• Sam's Clubhouse: corporate.walmart.com/about/samsclub/clubhouse

Join the movement and activate hope with the International Day of Hope:

• https://internationaldayofhope.org/

In this episode of The Hope Matrix Podcast, we explore the inspiring journey of Grace Ramirez, a chef, dedicated humanitarian, educator, author, and TV personality.

Chef Grace Ramirez takes us on a captivating journey from her humble beginnings to becoming a trailblazer in higher education representation with Latina Cuisine. She shares her experiences, highlighting the importance of trust, perseverance, and seizing unexpected opportunities. Emphasizing mentorship, divine inspiration, and inclusivity, Chef Grace reveals how she creates space at the table for others.

Discover Chef Grace's remarkable story of hope, determination, and unwavering commitment to making a difference. Through her work, she not only transforms recipes but also lives, empowering individuals to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.

Host Kathryn Goetzke reflects on the significance of Chef Grace's narrative in activating hope and empowering individuals, particularly young Latina women. Tune in to uncover the transformative power of passion, purpose, and unwavering belief in making a positive impact on the world.

Chef Grace was part of the production team behind the first-of-its kind Day of the Dead celebration at Times Square, and was awarded the “Excellence in Philanthropy” recognition at the Grace Awards 2023 by St. Anne’s Corner of Harm Reduction. She was also featured by CherryBombe's 100 most Influential Women in Hospitality, People En Español’s Most Powerful Latina in 2021, recognized as a Covid-19 Hero by the City of New York, and honored by the Puerto Rican Bar Association with the Distinguished Latina Star Award for volunteer efforts with World Central Kitchen.

Find out more about Chef Grace Ramirez: www.chefgraceramirez.com

Get a copy of her Cookbook: https://amzn.to/4d19iFA

Learn more about World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

Join host Kathryn Goetzke as she explores the profound areas of hope and empathy in this latest episode of The Hope Matrix Podcast.

Joining Kathryn is Dr. Crystal Bryce, the Associate Dean, Student Affairs, University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine and the Director of Research at The Shine Hope Company.

Dr. Crystal Bryce is a distinguished expert in hope, whose insights shed light on the intricate dynamics of hope and empathy.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Bryce masterfully dissects the nuances of empathy, and compassion, and their profound implications across various facets of life. Drawing from her extensive background in empathy training, she highlights the critical importance of self-empathy and navigating the challenges of sustaining empathy, particularly in the demanding landscape of the medical field.

Listeners gain invaluable insights into the significance of normalizing empathy and hope, especially in medical education, where emotional resilience is critical. Dr. Bryce and Kathryn delve into practical strategies for replenishing our "empathy tanks" and nurturing a culture of empathy and hope in our daily lives.

Tune in to The Hope Matrix Podcast for a thought-provoking discourse on empathy, hope, and their transformative potential, featuring the invaluable wisdom of Dr. Crystal Bryce, Ph.D.

Learn more about Dr. Crystal Bryce, Ph.D., and her work:

https://medicine.uttyler.edu/student-affairs/faculty-and-staff/c-bryce/
https://theshinehopecompany.com/our-team/crystal-bryce/

Join host Kathryn Goetzke in a thought-provoking conversation with esteemed psychologist, professor, speaker, and the author of the book ‘Learned Hopefulness’ and ‘The Positivity Effect’, Dr. Dan Tomasulo, as they explore the transformative power of hope in personal growth and societal change.

In this enlightening podcast episode, Dr. Dan Tomasulo draws from his extensive expertise and credentials, including a PhD in psychology, an MFA in writing, and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. As the Academic Director at the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, Teachers College, Columbia University, Dr. Tomasulo shares insights gleaned from his work in alleviating depression with positive psychology and hope, inspiring audiences worldwide.

The discussion delves into the role of hope in therapy, where Dr. Tomasulo reveals the surprising finding that a therapist's hope for the patient can be more influential than the patient's hope. They discuss practical strategies for cultivating hope, such as gratitude, forgiveness, and mindfulness, which can empower individuals to face adversity with resilience.

Dr. Tomasulo and Kathryn discuss the broader societal implications of fostering hope, particularly in times of difficulty. They emphasize the teachability of hope and the importance of intentional practice in building resilience and fostering positive change. By sharing insights from his books, Dr. Tomasulo invites listeners to explore practical ways to infuse hope into their lives and contribute to a more hopeful world.

Listeners are encouraged to engage with Dr. Tomasulo's work and incorporate hope-promoting practices into their daily lives, recognizing hope as a powerful force for personal and collective transformation.

More about Dan Tomasulo:
https://www.dantomasulo.com/

Dan Tomasulo’s new book here:
https://amzn.to/3IPIASw

In this compelling episode of the Hope Matrix Podcast, host Kathryn Goetzke sits down with Scarlett Lewis, the inspiring founder of the Choose Love Movement. Scarlett shares her deeply personal journey and the transformative power of choosing love in the face of tragedy.
Scarlett Lewis founded the nonprofit Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement in honor of her son, Jesse, who tragically lost his life during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012.
Scarlett's profound grief led her to become a beacon of hope, turning her pain into purpose by dedicating herself to building a culture of love, resilience, forgiveness, and connection in communities worldwide.
As the Chief Movement Officer of the Choose Love Movement, Scarlett is a passionate advocate for character social-emotional development (CSED) in schools and beyond. She created the Choose Love For Schools program, a comprehensive, no-cost initiative designed to teach children how to respond thoughtfully with love in any situation, using the Choose Love Formula: Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion-in-Action.
Throughout the episode, Scarlett and Kathryn discuss the impact of the Choose Love Movement, which extends far beyond the classroom into homes, communities, athletics, and workplaces. With programs accessible in all 50 states and 120 countries, the Choose Love Movement has reached over 3 million children, empowering them to navigate adversity, engage in courageous conversations, and respond with love.
Listeners will be inspired by Scarlett's resilience and her unwavering commitment to creating positive change in the world. Join Kathryn and Scarlett on the Hope Matrix Podcast as they explore how choosing love can spark a global movement of compassion and kindness.

To learn more about Scarlett Lewis and the Choose Love Movement, visit chooselovemovement.org.

With an undeniable, unique perspective on Hope, this week’s episode of the Hope Matrix features Luis Gallardo. As a true wealth of knowledge and wisdom, Luis provides an enthralling viewpoint on Happiness and Hope.

Luis is a social innovator and entrepreneur with the higher purpose of elevating the vibration of the planet by developing ideas, connecting thought leaders, activists, and communities, and increasing awareness on the science of happiness, holistic education, and smart innovation. For Luis, Happiness is a human right and a life choice, an enabler of human development and social innovation.

In this episode of The Hope Matrix, Luis speaks about his experience with Happiness and Hope. In sharing the importance of contemplation, he gives us an understanding of one of his Stress Skills. He discusses using his Stress Skills and Happiness Habits to remain in a place where Happiness and Hopefulness are abundant, providing insight into staying calm, collected, and in your upstairs brain.

Luis is a true innovator and his philosophical, calm interview on this week’s episode provides great wisdom in approaching the confusion of the world. He and Kathryn talk about different mindsets and states and how to approach these. To hear more about Luis and his perspectives on Hope and Happiness, and hear his advice, view the full episode of this week’s podcast at thehopematrix.com, or on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

To find out more about the World Happiness Foundation, visit: https://worldhappiness.foundation/

To find out more about projects being done by the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression, visit: https://www.ifred.org/

Given his history, he should be dead. Or incarcerated. He grew up in Las Vegas in a broken family of eight. In a true story of Hopelessness to Hope, Grant Denton is this week’s guest on The Hope Matrix.

Grant Denton burned through jobs. He became addicted to heroin and crystal meth. He married and divorced twice, having two sons. Because of his addiction, he lost his job and his family, intermittently living on the street from 2007 to 2013.

In 2013, Grant was arrested on burglary charges that could have sent him to prison for five to seven years. The judge gave him a choice: enter drug court and rehab or go to prison. On Dec. 28, 2014, Grant used illegal drugs for the last time. He moved to Reno for a sober living fresh start, working in a homeless shelter, for the Downtown Reno Business Improvement District, and in an addiction treatment center, where he formed a crew of community volunteers that lead to the Karma Box Project.

Today, Karma Box has grown from its namesake mission to become an umbrella organization that “partners with homeless people, meeting them where they are,” Grant says.

This partnership ranges from safe restrooms to counselors in emergency rooms, from secure and sanitary tent communities to helping people obtain identification documents so they can access social services on their journey from homelessness.

In this episode of The Hope Matrix, Grant speaks about his unique experience dealing with Hope and Hopelessness. Kathryn and Grant discuss the stress response, skills, and weaknesses when coming out of the stress response, and how one cannot possibly access their higher-order thinking when in a stressful situation. Coming from a place of such extreme Hopelessness, Grant came into a new place where he activates Hope in those same communities from which he came. His work with the Karma Box Project helps to make Reno the first-ever Hopeful City as part of the Hopeful Cities Project.

You can learn more about Hopeful Cities at https://hopefulcities.org/.