Positivity Matters

Retired police lieutenant and positive psychology practitioner David Berez, MAPP, DRE joins us to discuss how we can transform trauma into a catalyst for growth. David shares his journey from a 20-year career in law enforcement—where "resilience" meant simply bouncing back—to his development of "Courageous Optimism," a framework that empowers first responders to become "anti-fragile" in the face of chaos. By blending the science of human flourishing with the gritty reality of police work, David illustrates how storytelling and vulnerability can break the stigma of silence and save lives.
David Berez’s VIA Strengths: Honesty | Kindness | Curiosity | Perspective | Social Intelligence
Audio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com)
Recorded: January 7, 2026

Dele Davies, MD, Interim Chancellor at University of Nebraska Medical Center
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) = (Personal Competence = Self Awareness x Self-Management) x (Social Competence = Social Awareness x Relationship Management)
CliftonStrengths: Significance | Futuristic | Focus | Maximizer | Strategic | Learner | Achiever | Responsibility | Belief 
Recorded: January 8, 2026

Grant Stonebraker: Building a Pay-It-Forward Culture
Speaker, coach, and author Grant Stonebraker shares how his signature strengths of honesty, kindness, and love fuel both his entrepreneurial work and his grassroots kindness movement, Operation: Pay It Forward. Grant discusses how spirituality and creativity guide his approach to building authentic connections and inspiring others to make progress through simple, intentional acts of goodness. This conversation offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking to live their values and spark positive change in their community.
A visualization of the aggregated VIA Strengths of people who have been guests on the podcast after adding Grant’s top VIA Strengths: Honesty | Kindness | Love | Spirituality | Creativity
Audio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com/)
Recorded on: 11/20/2025

Jacob Kendall: Curiosity, Creativity, and Rethinking How We Grow Older
Dr. Jacob Kendall—gerontologist, social worker, and two-time open-heart surgery survivor—joins us to share a fresh lens for understanding health across place, and time. Drawing on his signature strengths of creativity, curiosity, and humor, Jacob challenges one-dimensional thinking about aging and advocates for a pro-aging mindset grounded in fairness and forgiveness. This conversation will transform how you think about growing older—and inspire you to approach life's challenges with both scientific rigor and deep humanity.
A visualization of the aggregated VIA Strengths of people who have been guests on the podcast after adding Jacob’s top VIA Strengths: Creativity | Fairness | Curiosity | Humor | Forgiveness
Audio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com/)Recorded on: 11/19/2025

Leo Louis II: Identity Formation, Community Building, and Cultural Transformation
Leo recently co-authored the book: The Grownfolks and the Magic Wand
Recorded: November 14, 2025