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The Soul Behind Good Leadership with James Shin What if the moments that shape us into leaders are happening in ordinary conversations, quiet walks, and decisions no one else sees? In this episode of It Just Takes One, Kelli talks with James Shin, author of The Leader’s Soul: 52 Reflections for Unlocking Your Inner Leader. James brings more than 25 years of global leadership experience to the conversation, but his message reaches far beyond corporate titles and business results. James shares how his experiences growing up in South Korea, building a career in the United States, and working with people across different cultures changed the way he thinks about leadership. Over time, he learned that good leadership requires more than expertise. It asks us to stay curious, pay attention to the people around us, and be willing to learn from the moments that don’t go as planned. James brings thoughtfulness and humor to a subject that can often feel overly formal. His approach reminds us that leadership is deeply personal. It lives in the way we listen, how we respond under pressure, and whether people feel valued after spending time with us. Listen in for a conversation that may have you thinking differently about the people you lead and the kind of leader you want to become. Connect with James Shin Website: BlueKoiGlobal.com LinkedIn: James J. Shin Instagram: @james.j.shin

Finding Joy When Life Changes the Plan with Julie Boden Schmidt What happens when someone who has spent much of her career working in healthcare suddenly finds herself searching for answers about her own health? In this episode of It Just Takes One, Kelli welcomes Julie Boden Schmidt back to the podcast. Julie is the author of the children’s book Woody’s Leap of Faith and a contributor to HER Legacy: A Tribute to Elaine LaLanne’s Impact on Health, Wellness, and Empowerment. Her chapter, “Finding Joy in My Struggle to Find Health and Meaning,” shares a personal side of her story that many listeners will understand. Julie talks openly about the frustration of knowing something isn’t right, searching for answers, and learning that health can affect far more than the body. It can change the way you see yourself, the choices you make, and the things that bring meaning to your days. The conversation also explores the difference between having medical knowledge and becoming the person who needs care. Julie’s professional background gave her a clear understanding of the healthcare system, but her personal experience required patience, self-advocacy, and a willingness to keep asking questions. Through it all, Julie found ways to hold on to humor and joy. Her story reminds us that joy doesn’t have to wait until every problem has been solved. It can be found in small moments, meaningful relationships, and the decision to keep participating in your own life. Listeners who remember Julie’s earlier conversation about Woody’s Leap of Faith may notice a familiar thread. Sometimes life asks us to leave what feels safe, trust ourselves, and take the next step before we know exactly where it will lead. Julie’s children’s book carries a message about courage and believing in yourself, and those same lessons take on new meaning in her own health journey. Listen in for an honest, thoughtful conversation about health, purpose, and finding reasons to laugh along the way.

Braving Life’s Hardest Chapters with Vicki Cable What happens when life changes in a moment and then asks you to begin again? In this episode of It Just Takes One, Kelli talks with Vicki Cable, author of Braving the Journey: Raising Above Life’s Challenges. As a two-time cancer survivor, Vicki knows what it feels like to face fear, uncertainty, and the difficult process of finding your way back to life after treatment. Vicki shares how her experiences led her to write a book that feels like a conversation with a friend who understands the hard days. Her message is honest without losing hope. She talks about the role faith played in her life, the importance of laughter, and the people who helped remind her that she didn’t have to face everything alone. The conversation also explores what comes after survival. Vicki explains that finishing treatment doesn’t always mean everything immediately returns to normal. Healing can include learning to trust your body again, creating a new vision for your life, and deciding how you want to use what you’ve lived through. Her career as a teacher, coach, and school administrator prepared her to encourage others long before she knew where her own story would lead. Today, she works with people affected by cancer through Hopeful Horizons Cancer Coaching, helping them move toward a future filled with purpose and possibility. This episode isn’t only for someone who has faced cancer. It’s for anyone who has received news they never expected, walked through a hard season, or wondered how to take the next step when the road ahead feels uncertain. Listen in for a conversation filled with heart, humor, and the reminder that even during life’s darkest chapters, your story is still being written. Connect with Vicki Cable Website: Hopeful Horizons Cancer Coaching Instagram: @vic_cable Facebook: Hopeful Horizons Cancer Coaching

From Bedtime Story to Award-Winning Adventure with Stephanie Filicsky Muir Some stories begin with a carefully planned outline. Stephanie Filicsky Muir’s story began at the edge of her children’s bed. In this episode of It Just Takes One, Kelli talks with Stephanie, author of Hollows of the Oak: The Key, about the bedtime story that grew far beyond those quiet evenings with her family. What started as a tale created for her own children continued to grow as they asked for more, wondered what would happen next, and became part of the creative process. Stephanie doesn’t usually describe herself as a writer. She thinks of herself as a storyteller, and that comes through in the way she talks about her book. Her characters, Gwen and Monty, live in a world filled with family secrets, old treasures, and a hidden place waiting to be discovered. Beneath the mystery and magic is a story about siblings facing fear while trying to understand what is happening around them. Stephanie shares what it was like to take a story that belonged to her family and turn it into a published book that other children could hold in their hands. She also talks about allowing the story to unfold in its own way rather than having every detail planned from the beginning. The conversation is a lovely reminder that an idea doesn’t have to arrive as a complete manuscript. Sometimes it begins with a child asking, “What happens next?” Now a Pen to Prose Award winner, Hollows of the Oak: The Key is only the beginning. Stephanie has already begun working on the next book in the series, with another story waiting behind it. Listen to this episode and discover how one bedtime story found its way from Stephanie’s imagination to the bookshelf. About Stephanie Filicsky Muir Stephanie Filiesky Muir is hesitant to call herself a writer or an author. Instead, she prefers to call herself a storyteller. She has been making up stories spontaneously for her children for many years. The story told in this book began one night when her son requested for her to tell them a story made up just for him and his sister. They loved it so much that every night, she had to add more to the story until it became what it is today. After living and traveling the country in an RV, Stephanie, along with her husband, son, daughter, and dog, in an interesting twist of life imitating art, now live in an old farmhouse that is over a hundred years old in a rural town in Indiana. Connect with Stephanie Filicsky Muir Follow Stephanie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/muir_moments, where she shares her family’s travels across the United States, life on the road in their fifth wheel, homeschooling moments, and updates about her books.

What does it really mean to live generously? In this episode of It Just Takes One, Kelli sits down with Mary Elizabeth “ME” Sadd, author of Living a Generous Life: Learning, Earning, and Returning. What begins as a conversation about her book becomes a warm and entertaining look at the small choices that shape the people around us and the legacy we’re creating along the way. ME shares how her family history and more than 30 years working with leaders helped form her belief that generosity reaches far beyond money. It can be found in the time we give, the knowledge we share, the doors we open, and the way we make another person feel seen. Kelli and ME also talk about the experience of writing the book, learning from the people who came before us, and recognizing that each season of life gives us something new to offer. ME brings humor, honest stories, and a fresh way of looking at leadership that makes this conversation easy to enjoy and hard to forget. Listen in and consider this question: What if your legacy is already being written through the way you treat the next person who crosses your path? You may finish this episode ready to be a little more generous with your time, your attention, and the gifts only you can share. --------------- About Mary Elizabeth “ME” Sadd Mary Elizabeth Sadd’s inspiration for learning and giving stems back many generations to the legacy left by her Great-Great-Grandfather who prioritized teaching over preaching, with the foresight that education can change lives and generations. Her lifelong appetite for learning led to a craving to give, so she prioritizes giving time, wisdom, and resources to help people become the next best version of themselves. As a seasoned business professional, she brings a unique perspective to the subject of generosity. She has spent the last several decades in the Executive Search industry helping to match corporations and individuals in support of profitable business growth and personal fulfillment. Mary Elizabeth is particularly aligned with her clients that also share her passion for giving back. She lives in Johns Creek, Ga with her husband and has three sons. Connect with Mary Elizabeth Sadd Website: https://www.maryelizabethsadd.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryelizabethsadd) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MESadd/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryelizabethsadd/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MaryElizabethSadd Mary Elizabeth also shares articles, leadership insights, and information about Living a Generous Life through her website.

In this heartfelt episode, Kelli sits down with Janelle Trujillo, one of the co-authors of HER Legacy: A Tribute to Elaine LaLanne’s Impact on Health, Wellness, and Empowerment. Janelle’s chapter, “Resilience Rewritten: Faith, Fitness, and the Ripple Effect,” shares her powerful personal journey through an eating disorder, depression, healing, and faith. During the conversation, Janelle speaks with honesty, courage, and grace about the struggles she faced and the resilience it took to come through them. Her story is deeply personal, but also deeply hopeful. She reminds us that healing is possible, that strength can be rebuilt, and that our hardest seasons can become part of the impact we have on others. This episode is an honest conversation about faith, fitness, identity, and the ripple effect of choosing to keep going. Janelle speaks straight from the heart, and her message will resonate with anyone who has ever walked through a difficult season and wondered if they could find their way forward. -------------------- About Janelle: As a young adult, the scales of this world – success, appearance, approval – measured Janelle’s worth. Desperate for validation, she spiraled into dangerous cycles of striving for perfection. An honor student, she chased the world’s acceptance, believing a size 0 and less than 100 pounds would finally make her enough. Even at her thinnest, shame consumed her. Weight fluctuations triggered self-hatred; she felt she would never be enough. The darkness led to depression’s lowest point – a suicide attempt that, by the grace of God, she survived. That turning point became her calling. Janelle vowed to help others discover what she learned the hard way: true health and happiness isn’t your jeans size or a competition trophy. It’s the daily habits that heal the mind, strengthen the body, restore the spirit, and silence the inner critic for good. From turning five failing personal-training departments into profit engines to building Janelle4Health into a six-figure online coaching system, Janelle has coached hundreds to sustainable transformation. Today, she works exclusively with CEOs and executives, delivering signature nine-month programs that integrate sleep mastery, strategic nutrition, movement that restores rather than punishes, and mindset rituals rooted in faith and gratitude. Her message is simple yet revolutionary: stop chasing perfection. Start building habits that let you thrive – at work, at home, and in the quiet moments when only you and God know the victory. It is never too late to rewrite your story and live strong, healthy, and free – not just for a season, but for a lifetime.   Connect with Janelle: Instagram: @Janelle4health Facebook & LinkedIn: Janelle Trujillo

In this episode, I sit down with Connie Franklin, author of Senior for Seniors, for a lively conversation about aging with strength, purpose, and joy. Connie shares her remarkable journey from growing up in the U.S. to following her passion for basketball around the globe. As a former professional basketball player and 2012 Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Connie’s love of movement has shaped her life in powerful ways. That passion eventually led her overseas, where she settled in Austria and now helps seniors stay healthy, active, and engaged. In Senior for Seniors, Connie offers practical wisdom for anyone entering or living in their golden years. Through personal stories, helpful guidance, and real-life insight, she encourages readers to stay mentally sharp, adapt to physical changes, build meaningful connections, explore new hobbies, and continue living with confidence. What I loved most about this conversation was Connie’s exuberance, humor, and spunky spirit. She reminds us that aging does not mean stepping away from life. It can be a new chapter filled with movement, purpose, connection, and possibility. Listen in as Connie shares her story, her heart, and her encouragement for seniors who want to keep moving and keep living fully.   ----------------- Connie V. Franklin is a former pro athlete, educator, sport coach, personal trainer, and business owner. In 2012, she was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame. With decades of hands-on experience, Connie has guided clients through the challenges and opportunities of aging which inspired her to write this book. As the first to introduce cutting-edge fitness regimens to Austria, she consistently stays at the forefront of the industry. Staying ahead of trends and pioneering new approaches set her apart, fueling her remarkable success. Driven by a strong passion for enhancing both physical and mental well-being, she continues to inspire others. Connie resides in Vienna, Austria, where she carries on her mission to empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives.   You can purchase her book here.   You can follow Connie at: Website: https://connie-franklin.com/ Social Media: IG: @ConnieFranklin FB: @Connie_Franklin.775 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/connie-franklin-519a0a2b

In this episode, I sit down with Dave Seitter to talk about his book, Quiet Plans, Exciting Results. We discuss the importance of planning ahead, especially when it comes to business continuity, succession, and long-term legacy. Dave shares practical wisdom from decades of experience helping business owners think through the decisions that often get delayed, avoided, or left unspoken. This conversation is a reminder that strong planning is not just about protecting a business. It is about protecting people, relationships, value, and the future you have worked hard to build. The book is available on Amazon. Learn more at www.davidseitter.com.

In this episode of It Just Takes One, we celebrate Tracy Markley, winner of the 2025 Scriptor Publishing Group From Pen to Prose Book Award in Non-Fiction: Fitness for her book, The Stroke of an Artist. Tracy shares the story behind her work with Gary, a stroke survivor, and how that experience became the foundation for her first book. The conversation highlights the power of sharing meaningful work, the impact one story can have on readers, and Tracy’s continued mission to educate, encourage, and support others through fitness, stroke recovery, and the written word. The Stroke of an Artist, and Tracy's other books are all available on Amazon. You can find them on her bookshelf here.  Website: www.tracymarkley.com Social Media: @TracyLMarkley IG: @motivate_healthyfit

In this episode, I sit down with Brady Hutchins for a conversation about pain, purpose, identity, and the search for what is true. Brady shares the story that changed his life at sixteen, when a devastating accident forced him to grow up far too soon and carry responsibilities no young man should have had to bear. Our conversation explores the heart of his book, which blends memoir with spiritual insight and personal growth. We talk about the difference between chasing approval and living from a deeper sense of truth, what it means to find your True North, and how stillness, solitude, and honest self-examination can shape stronger leadership. Brady also reflects on masculinity, healing, faith, and the inner work required to stop performing for the world and start living in alignment with who you really are. This episode is for anyone who has been asking bigger questions about success, meaning, and purpose, and for those ready to consider that what they have been searching for may have been within them all along. ------------- Brady Hutchins is a coach, writer, and founder of Sentinel, a community for men integrating strength with spirit. What started as fitness coaching evolved into guiding men back to themselves, integrating body, mind, and spirit into one grounded practice. He holds a Kinesiology degree from Cal State Fullerton and has a decade of experience in personal training, body work, and mindset coaching. His deepest education, however, came from lived experience: transmuting pain into purpose, building a business through a pandemic, and discovering that healing the body is just the beginning Brady lives in Southern California, where he continues training, writing, and hosting retreats to help others walk the path between strength and surrender. Follow Brady at: IG: BradyLhutchins  FB: Brady Hutchins Website: Hutchfitcoaching.com ---------- You can purchase his book here.

It’s always a pleasure to sit down with a friend, and this episode is exactly that. I had the chance to talk with Lizzie Merritt, who co-directs the Todd Durkin IMPACT Life Coaching Certification with me. She recently released her second bestselling book, LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss, and we talk about the book along with the deeper work behind it. Lizzie is a weight loss coach who has spent years studying the psychology behind lasting change. In LIGHT, she offers a new way to approach weight loss by helping you rebuild self-trust and work with your brain instead of fighting it. With a mix of warmth, humor, and research-backed insight, Lizzie shares her L.I.G.H.T. Method, a practical framework to shift your mindset and move past the patterns that keep you stuck. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: Let go of guilt and focus on what actually works Work through challenges like perfectionism, emotional eating, and self-sabotage Use simple experiments to build momentum Stop postponing happiness and start living your life now This is not a typical diet conversation, and Lizzie is not a typical coach. She brings a grounded, honest approach that helps you get back on your own side.   ----------- Lizzie Merritt is a Certified Life Coach specializing in weight loss and helping people stop thinking that they are the problem. She believes that diets are just the worst, that the only way to lose weight is imperfectly, and that weight loss is much more about how you think than what’s on your plate.    Lizzie is the author of You Are a Miracle and LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss. Her books feel like chatting with a smart, funny friend over coffee. The kind of friend who finally helps you understand why weight loss has been so freaking hard…and what to do instead. She’s also a military spouse, cries at cheesy commercials, and is a proud Marvel nerd. ----- You can purchase a copy of LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss here.   And check out Lizzie's podcast (The Confident Body Podcast) here.

In this episode, I sit down with Bobby Kelly, recent Amazon bestselling author of The Next Chapter Starts Now: A Playbook for Reinvention, Renewal, and Real Life Progress. Bobby is focused on helping capable people stop drifting through the next stage of life and begin shaping it with intention. We talk about what it looks like to recognize when something needs to change and how many people feel that pull but aren’t sure where to begin. Bobby shares how his work through coaching and speaking helps people get clear, take ownership of where they are, and define what they truly want next. His book offers a step-by-step process to move from uncertainty into clarity. It guides readers to face the gap between where they are and where they want to be, then begin making decisions that align with that next chapter. This conversation is grounded in real-life application, focused on helping you take action and move forward with purpose.   ------ Bobby Kelly has spent more than three decades helping people become the strongest, healthiest, most confident versions of themselves—long before “transformation” became a buzzword. As the founder of Results Only Fitness first in Washington D.C. then in Phoenix, Arizona, Bobby built one of the most respected community-driven training studios in the country, serving tens of thousands of clients from Washington, D.C. to the desert Southwest. Known for his blend of humor, strategy, and no-nonsense coaching, Bobby has made a career out of cutting through the noise and helping people make real, lasting change. Whether in the gym, on a podcast, or on a stage, his message remains the same: you don’t need perfect conditions to change your life—you just need your next step. Connect with Bobby Website: www.bobbykelly.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: IG: @resultsonlyfitness FB: @resultsonlyfitness Linked-in: @resultsonlyfitness YT: @resultsonlyfitness -------- Purchase Bobby's book on Amazon here.

It was such a pleasure to interview Dino Kalush for this episode, and you will see why as soon as you press play. We talk about his recent Amazon bestselling book, The Global Nomad: Addressing the Adventures, and he shares how real growth is shaped in moments of pressure, not comfort. Dino tells stories from his military experience and about the incredible number of places he has traveled and lived in the world. And he does it all with a mix of honesty and humor that is uplifting. His life story demonstrates how even the hardest situations can teach you how to stay grounded and move forward. Our conversation explores how perspective shifts when you step outside your normal environment, and how those experiences begin to shape your identity over time. What stood out most is the reminder that who you become is built through the choices you make and the way you respond to challenges. And through it all, it’s the relationships and connections you build along the way that matter most.   ------- The Global Nomad is a wild, reflective, and deeply human journey through the addresses—and adventures—that have shaped Dino’s extraordinary life. Each chapter is a place he’s called home—and every one comes with a story: hilarious, heartwarming, sometimes chaotic, but always real. Packed with inspiration, wisdom, and unforgettable characters, The Global Nomad is your reminder that life’s not about perfection—it’s about participation. So, get in, buckle up, and fly free. Because when it’s all said and done, there’s only one thing that matters: That you come to the end of your life knowing that you fully lived.  Available on Amazon.   ----- Dino Kalush is an accomplished aviation professional with over three decades of hands-on experience spanning military, government, and civilian aerospace operations. Currently serving as a Modification Project Technical Specialist for the MH-139A at Boeing, Dino is widely respected for his deep technical expertise, regulatory insight, and leadership in airworthiness, aircraft maintenance, and FAA certification. Throughout his expansive career, Dino has held key roles including Chief Program Mechanic, GenFam Instructor, FAA Part 145 Chief Inspector, Director of Maintenance, and Field Service Representative for both the MV-22 and MH-139A platforms. He has been a pivotal force behind the launch of new aircraft programs, FAA repair station operations, and aviation training systems. His work has earned him recognition as a subject matter expert in avionics systems, quality control, and maintenance program development. A U.S. Navy veteran and proud graduate of the University of New York (now Excelsior College), Dino also holds multiple FAA and FCC licenses, including Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic and Private Pilot certifications. His passion for aviation has always been matched by a love of travel. Dino has lived and worked in locations across the U.S. and Europe—experiences that have given him a global perspective and a deep appreciation for cultural diversity. His time abroad, particularly during military service and international field assignments, shaped not only his professional approach to complex technical challenges but also his personal philosophy of adaptability, continuous learning, and human connection. Fluent in German and French, Dino is as comfortable troubleshooting aircraft systems as he is navigating new locations or engaging with colleagues from around the world. His journeys have not only informed his career but have also broadened his worldview—fueling his commitment to excellence, his curiosity, and his desire to leave a meaningful impact in the world. Dino and his wife, Sharon, now call Myrtle Beach, South Carolina home, where they enjoy the coastal lifestyle and continue to explore new destinations together whenever they can.

Jordan Delks is one of the most inspirational speakers you will hear. His enthusiasm for life and for the work he does with basketball athletes is unmatched. In this episode, we meet Jordan to discuss his new book, The Compete Mentality: Keys to Realize Your Purpose and Maximize Your Potential.  In our most challenging moments, we often discover the greatest breakthrough! And that is exactly how The C.O.M.P.E.T.E Mentality was born. In his book you’ll read how God’s whispers spoke to Jordan Delks to help him understand what it means to compete — both on the court and in life! Jordan took that message and transformed it into a lifestyle — something you can engage in from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed at night. Competing is about exercising your mind, body, and spirit every day. It’s about thinking right, doing right, and feeling right in order to give you an edge in life. And it’s about listening to God’s calling for you and being courageous enough to follow His plan. Jordan inspires you to look at your life and see where you can improve, what you can do to step up your “game,” and how you can become all that God is calling you to be. It all begins by learning how to C.O.M.P.E.T.E.!   ------- Jordan Delks started training basketball players in 2011 and always dreamed of owning a barn in the countryside of Indiana where players of all levels would come to train. In 2015, he and his wife Courtney, started Compete Training Academy. In 2017, they took the next step of their dream as they bought a former dairy barn that they transformed into a one-stop shop for a basketball player. Now, you can come by the barn at any time of the day and see basketball players of all levels, from preschool to professionals, being taught what it means to COMPETE in the barn! Jordan has trained hundreds of players of all ability levels, from youth to Big Ten, ACC, WNBA and NBA hoopers. Come to the barn in Marion, IN or bring in Jordan to your location to train you on the court and in your mindset! It is Jordan’s life purpose to help people of all ages and industry to realize their purpose and max out their potential! www.competetrainingacademy.org FB and IG: @competetrainingacademy   The book is available on Amazon.

This week on It Just Takes One: Coaching Greatness, we hear from Jen Simpson, author of the chapter “Burnout to Burning Bright.” Jen shares the honest truth about what happens when your dream business starts to dim your inner flame — and what it takes to light it back up again. A seasoned fitness professional, studio owner, and Todd Durkin IMPACT Life Coach, Jen opens up about the moment she realized she couldn’t coach others until she coached herself. Her story is packed with practical tools, hard-won insights, and a message of hope for anyone feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. Connect with Jen here: https://www.justgetfit.fitness/ Instagram: @Justgetfittlh Facebook: facebook.com/justgetfitTLH ------------------- About the Series – Coaching Greatness This special season of It Just Takes One celebrates the coaches behind the book Coaching Greatness. Over the next 22 weeks, we’re shining a spotlight on the authors who shared their stories, strategies, and insights about what it really takes to be a great coach. Whether you’re just getting started or have decades of experience, these conversations will remind you that greatness is not a destination. It’s a daily choice fueled by heart, courage, and a refusal to settle. Visit Our Website: https://scriptorpublishinggroup.com/ ------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Social Media Instagram:   / scriptorpublishinggroup   Facebook:   / scriptorpublishing   Twitter:   / scriptorpublish