Challenge Your Thinking with Dr. Linda Tucker

Alicia Watkins is a retired Air Force staff sergeant and survivor of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the Pentagon who deployed to both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and now battles traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and post traumatic stress. Alicia was the principal guest on the twenty-fifth final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show in the episode “American War Heroes: Why Are These Women Homeless?” She now proudly serves as an ambassador for veterans, traveling the world to speak on behalf of the needs of wounded warriors, female veterans, and homeless veterans. She was nominated as L’Oreal’s 2013 Woman of Worth for her 9/11 empowerment drive foundation, which assists the survivors of 9/11 and wounded warriors as they recover from their injuries.  Her goal, is to prevent the financial loss and pay errors that occurred to her as warriors recover from their combat injuries. Alicia is currently a sophomore at Harvard University, with a goal to earn a doctorate in psychology and law. She is currently the reigning Ms. Maryland America, a certified volunteer docent for the 9/11 memorial in New York, who is mentored by famed horse whisperer and former guest of mine Mr. Monty Roberts, who developed equine therapy. Alicia has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Australia’s Seven Network, and the Oprah Winfrey Network. Additionally, she has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Washington Times, the Boston Globe, and Ebony magazine.  She has an amazing story to tell, an incredible amount of strength and dignity to share and I guarantee you will be inspired by listening to her.   

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Alicia_Watkins.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Bonnie Bruckheimer began her cinematic career at Columbia Pictures and became known as one of Hollywood’s most successful producers. In 1985 she formed All Girl Productions, with partner Bette Midler, and made her debut as a film producer on Beaches. She is known for her work on Big Business, Hocus Pocus, Beaches, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, to name a few. She has worked with some of the best in Hollywood and has been nominated for two Emmys. She is currently an adjunct professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she teaches. She has also been a long-time volunteer and grief counselor at Our House and is the mother two.  When I asked Bonnie if it took luck to succeed in show business this is only a part of what she believes it takes..."there is definitely a bit of being in the right place at the right time, but it’s much more about hard work and determination and deciding it’s something you want to do and nothing’s going to be able to stop you, and I tell my students now that if you are not passionate and you don’t have the feeling that you’ll die if you don’t get to do this, you won’t get to do it. Success is about determination."  Bonnie is full of insight and wisdom.  I hope you will join us for this weeks interview.  

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Bonnie_Bruckheimer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:05am EDT

Peter S. Cohan is a millionaire with poet’s heart.  He has very insightful ideas and is the kind of person who continues to question things.  For instance, he questions how money and the pursuit of money can be a futile kind of activity and that success may just be controlling how we spend our time.  In our interview Peter discusses what standing still will get you.  He says, “Don’t be afraid to act, because you’re not going to get it right the first time. Just make your best shot. Have enough confidence to accept the fact that your first try might not work. Your second try might not work. But also be intellectually curious enough to want to learn the lessons from what worked and what didn’t work and apply them and try again. And you’ll get closer and closer.”  Those insights and many more are a part of this interesting interview that will not only keep you thinking but encourage you to move forward.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Peter_S_Cohan.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:17am EDT

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