Show Highlights

· Guest Host- Dr. Renee Toppin: The Founder of Black Women Who Want More has a sit-down conversation with India Archie, Owner "Insights With India" CJ Johnson - Author "Prophetic Parenting" and Gloria Bradley - Author "How To Revive Your Dreams

· The advantages and disadvantages of "ditching the 9-5" and keeping your dream alive

· Stability vs. Fulfillment

· Fear of Risk vs. Fear of Regret

· Identity and Self-Worth

· The Possibility of Balance

Summary:

How do you transition from being a 9-5 Employee to being a fully independent profitable business owner?

Is it worth the risk? How do you know when to make that move ? Do you rely on Faith or do you need a solid plan? Many people feel stuck or unfulfilled working a job that does not align with their purpose or give them that internal satisfaction that they are doing the "thing" for which they were created. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of "ditching the 9-5" and keeping your dream alive. From Employee To Entrepreneur. The path to purpose.

Biography

Dr. Renee Toppin the Founder/CEO of Black Women Who Want More Academy is a highly accomplished Whole Life Empowerment Coach with more than 25 years of experience transforming lives through her distinctive coaching and training approach. As a dynamic professional public speaker, she motivates audiences worldwide and maintains a global social media presence exceeding 700,000 followers, with strong engagement across the United States, Nigeria, South Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean.

She has appeared on CNN as a surrogate for a former U.S. President and has been featured on numerous radio, television, and talk shows. Renowned for her powerful communication and impactful delivery, Ms. Toppin attracts women from around the globe to her online programs, classes, and courses.

As a licensed Evangelist, Ms. Toppin integrates biblical principles and the Word of God into her Life Coaching Academy, empowering women to pursue holistic personal growth—spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially. Through multiple successful business ventures, she has expanded into global markets, ensuring sustainable growth and broad impact. She leads a team of elite coaches specializing in finance, health and wellness, accountability, spiritual awareness, book writing and publishing, and essential life coping skills.

Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Show Highlights

· Dr. James JC Cooley along with Co-Host Dr. Michael Mantell- renowned and esteemed mental health architect and prolific author have a sit-down conversation with

Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA – Military Veteran, Practicing Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Physician, and a Certified Executive Coach

· Leadership inspired by caring creates cultures where people can thrive personally and professionally.

· Leading from a place of caring is evidence-based leadership

· Leading from a place of caring is not soft.

· Leading with care can be learned and intentionally implemented.

Summary:

According to Dr. Joshua Hartzell, caring should be the foundation that drives how we lead others, shaping cultures where individuals can truly thrive both personally and professionally. Leadership rooted in caring is not just an idealistic approach but an evidence-based one, consistently linked to higher engagement, stronger performance, and improved well-being. Far from being “soft,” caring leadership requires courage and discipline, as it involves holding high standards, making tough decisions, and providing honest feedback while maintaining respect and empathy. Importantly, leading with care is not an innate trait reserved for a few—it is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and intentionally implemented through self-awareness, consistent behaviors, and a genuine commitment to valuing people.

Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA

Biography

Joshua D. Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA is a retired Army Colonel who spent 25 years in military medicine. Dr. Hartzell has held numerous leadership positions throughout his career including being Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency and Assistant Chief of Graduate Medical Education at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Assistant Dean for Faculty Development at the Uniformed Services University. He deployed as a Battalion Surgeon with the 82nd Airborne Division to Afghanistan. Dr. Hartzell is also faculty at the MGH Institute of Health Professions where he teaches leadership development. A practicing Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Physician, he has devoted the last decade to developing leaders training and teaching thousands of students, residents, and faculty within healthcare. Dr. Hartzell has delivered over 100 talks on leadership development and has written numerous papers on the topic. Dr. Hartzell is a Certified Executive Coach and holds additional coaching certification in the Leadership Challenge 360. He combined his years of boots on the ground leading in medicine with his research to teach other leaders practical strategies about how to sharpen their leadership skills in his book, A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership: Building a Culture of Compassion and Excellence.

Website: https://joshuahartzellmd.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshhartzellmd

Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Show Highlights

· A sit-down conversation with Dr. Michael Mantell- renowned and esteemed mental health architect and prolific author

· How we disturb and upset ourselves

· The key thoughts we use to sweat the small stuff

· Self-rating is harmful

· Stress… its negative impact on our lives

SUMMARY:

We often disturb and upset ourselves not because of events themselves, but because of the way we think about them. When we “sweat the small stuff,” it is usually driven by key thoughts such as demanding perfection, assuming minor problems are catastrophic, or believing that mistakes define our worth. This leads to harmful self-rating, where we judge our entire value as a person based on single outcomes or flaws rather than viewing ourselves as complex and constantly developing individuals. These patterns of thinking fuel stress, which can negatively impact our mental focus, emotional well-being, relationships, and even physical health. By recognizing and challenging these unhelpful thoughts, we can reduce unnecessary stress and respond to life’s challenges in a healthier, more balanced way.

Biography

Dr. Michael Mantell, a renowned and esteemed mental health architect, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 and his MS in Clinical Psychology in 1972 from Hahnemann Medical College. He guides clients to disturb themselves less, by identifying, challenging, and restructuring irrational beliefs, helping them build a reliable foundation of rational, flexible thinking, and adopt healthier behaviors and attitudes. His expertise bridges the art and science of mental health, empowering clients to disturb themselves less and construct a mindset that enables them to respond to life’s challenges with resilience, acceptance, and self-compassion.

Throughout his career, Dr. Mantell has held various prestigious positions, including Chief Psychologist for Children's Hospital of San Diego, Chief Psychologist of the San Diego Police Department, and Chief Behavior Science Consultant for the American Council on Exercise. He was a co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Plus Size Certified, Inc. and is a member of the Science Advisory Council of the International Council on Active Aging. In addition, he served as Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD Medical School, where he taught the Doctor-Patient Relationship course. He brings a specialty focus on physician wellbeing, physician burnout and elevating the patient experience. He has lectured at Pt. Loma Nazarene University and has provided a yearly 3-day Physician Wellness Studio for the American Society of Hematology. He is an invited guest instructor at Harvard University.

Dr. Mantell is a prolific author with four books to his name, including his recent work, "The Link is What You Think," "Ticking Bombs: Defusing Violence in the Workplace," and his iconic 1988 original "Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff PS: It’s All Small Stuff" and its 25th Anniversary Edition. Dr Mantell has been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1981, Chair of its Election Committee and Vice-Chair of the Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee. He was elected to the Board of SAG-AFTRA San Diego in September, 2025. He’s been bringing psychology to the broadcast media for decades including regular appearances on Good Morning, America, Oprah Winfrey and weekly spots on local and nationwide news.

You can follow his free daily “MantellPoints2Ponder” on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.