In this powerful conversation on I Am Refocused Radio, Dr. Olaf Kroneman joins Shemaiah Reed to discuss his novel Detroit Heroic, a story rooted in the turbulent world of 1967 Detroit and shaped by questions of medicine, race, gender, dignity, and justice. Dr. Kroneman remains in private medical practice in the Detroit area, a city whose resilience and character sit at the heart of his writing.

The conversation explores how the novel confronts systemic inequities in healthcare, the treatment of women in medicine, the historical shadow of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, and the experiences of patients whose symptoms and suffering may be dismissed or misunderstood. Dr. Kroneman also discusses Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, gender bias in healthcare, APOL1-associated kidney disease, and racial disparities in medicine, connecting history with questions the medical system is still wrestling with today.

At the center of Detroit Heroic is a larger question: What happens when medicine loses sight of the human being in front of it? Through fiction, medical experience, and advocacy, Dr. Kroneman challenges readers to examine where healthcare has been, where inequities remain, and what a more compassionate future could look like.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the health of a democracy depends not only on its laws and institutions, but also on the kinds of people its culture helps form?

In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed sits down with Joe Elefante, writer, educator, musician, and author of An Endless Knot: How Democracies Form the Citizens They Need. Published in May 2026, the book examines democracy through the lens of human formation, asking how qualities such as attention, listening, compassion, reflection, cooperation, and mutual respect influence civic life.

Rather than centering the conversation on political parties or election battles, Elefante explores a deeper question: How are citizens formed in the first place?

Drawing from his experience in education and music, along with ideas from philosophy, religion, the arts, and contemplative traditions, Joe argues that democratic life is shaped by everyday habits and relationships as much as by formal institutions. His work considers how people learn to listen across differences, cooperate with others, examine their own assumptions, and participate responsibly in a shared society.

The conversation also explores the role of music and arts education, and why practicing attention, interpretation, collaboration, and empathy can have implications far beyond the classroom or rehearsal room. Elefante’s broader argument is that individuals shape systems while systems simultaneously shape individuals, creating the “endless knot” at the center of the book.

This is a thoughtful conversation about education, character, community, citizenship, music, reflection, and what it takes to live together despite our differences.

Topics include: democracy and citizenship, education, human formation, listening, compassion, critical thinking, music and the arts, philosophy, civic responsibility, community, reflection, and respectful disagreement.

https://jelefante.com/

#JoeElefante #AnEndlessKnot #Education #Democracy #Citizenship #MusicEducation #Philosophy #HumanFormation #CivicLife #IAmRefocusedRadio

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does Christianity actually look like in Türkiye, and how can authentic stories challenge generations of misunderstanding?

In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed sits down with John Cerniglia, President of SAT-7 USA, to discuss faith, media, Christian identity in the Middle East and North Africa, and how SAT-7 is using television and digital platforms to reach people in places where traditional ministry can be difficult.

John brings 32 years of global missions leadership across 45 countries to his role at SAT-7 USA. His experience spans Christian missions, humanitarian aid, children’s welfare, philanthropy, and international ministry development.

A major part of the conversation explores Türkiye, where Christians represent a small minority and can face misunderstanding, isolation, and stereotypes. SAT-7 TÜRK’s program Believe if You Can takes a different approach by combining candid interviews, music, humor, personal testimony, and conversations about everyday life to present Christian faith in a relatable way.

Rather than presenting faith as something distant from everyday life, the program introduces viewers to Turkish Christians working as educators, musicians, scientists, journalists, pastors, technology professionals, and more. Its goal is to create understanding by allowing people to encounter Christians through their real experiences and stories.

John also shares the larger mission behind SAT-7, which uses satellite television and digital media to provide Christian programming across the Middle East and North Africa. SAT-7 currently produces programming in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish and uses media to provide biblical teaching, encouragement, discipleship, and community to viewers throughout the region.

The impact is reaching beyond television. SAT-7 reports that episodes of the Turkish program have generated hundreds of thousands of online views, creating conversations among people curious about Christianity and the lives of Turkish believers.

This conversation is about faith beyond stereotypes, the power of authentic storytelling, Christians living as minorities, and how modern media can create connection where physical barriers remain.

Topics include: Christianity in Türkiye, SAT-7 USA, Christian media, global missions, religious stereotypes, Turkish Christians, digital ministry, satellite television, faith and culture, discipleship, storytelling, and the Middle East and North Africa.

https://www.sat7usa.org/

#JohnCerniglia #SAT7 #SAT7USA #TurkishChristians #Christianity #Türkiye #ChristianMedia #GlobalMissions #Faith #MiddleEast #IAmRefocusedRadio

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if our emotions are doing far more than simply making us feel happy, angry, afraid, or sad?

In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed sits down with Doug Johnston, author of Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart, for a fascinating conversation about emotional literacy, human behavior, and the hidden emotional sfile:///Users/shemaiahreed/Music/doug%20headshot.jpgtates that influence how we think, communicate, work, lead, and live.

Drawing from more than 3,000 years of recorded thought, Johnston’s research examines 272 emotional states across psychology, philosophy, science, linguistics, art, spirituality, and more than 30 faith and philosophical traditions.

Johnston explains why our traditional vocabulary around emotion may be far too limited and explores several major ideas from the book, including emotions as an internal “Operating System,” the “Gears of Life” that translate feelings into behavior, and a kind of emotional “Rosetta Stone” that can help bridge cultures, disciplines, and human experiences.

The conversation also explores why emotions such as admiration, confidence, procrastination, and zeal deserve closer examination, how language shapes our understanding of what we feel, and whether becoming more emotionally literate can help us make better choices instead of simply reacting.

Choosing Emotions has ranked among Amazon’s Top 10 titles in categories including Positive Psychology, Emotions & Mental Health, and Adult & Continuing Education.

If you have ever wondered why you feel what you feel, how emotions influence your decisions, or whether we can become more intentional about the emotional states guiding our lives, this conversation opens a much bigger door.

Topics include: emotional intelligence, emotional literacy, psychology, human behavior, decision-making, philosophy, mental health, leadership, communication, self-awareness, and the science of emotion.

https://choosingemotions.com/

#DougJohnston #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #EmotionalLiteracy #Psychology #HumanBehavior #SelfAwareness #MentalHealth #Leadership #IAmRefocusedRadio

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when two people can come from the same environment, face many of the same hardships, and still end up on completely different paths?

In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, Shemaiah Reed sits down with Donald Williams, educator, author, and co-author of Born of Nothing: From White Trash and Lintheads to Purpose Across Generations, for a powerful conversation about poverty, identity, faith, discipline, education, and the choices that can change a family’s future.

Donald grew up in a South Carolina mill village surrounded by generations of cotton mill workers known locally as “lintheads.” His family did not have much financially, but faith, family, and hard work shaped the foundation of his life.

He would go on to become the first person in his family to graduate from college, earn a Doctor of Education, teach thousands of students, and work in education across the United States, South Korea, and Japan.

But Donald’s story is also one of sharp contrast. He grew up alongside people he loved whose lives eventually led to prison and even death row. Those experiences gave him a firsthand view of how decisions, opportunity, discipline, education, faith, and environment can shape lives across generations.

Through Born of Nothing, Donald examines what it takes for families to move beyond poverty and inherited circumstances while remaining honest about where they came from.

In this conversation, Donald shares why where you begin does not have to determine where you finish, how education became a turning point in his life, the role faith played in shaping his direction, and what it really means to build a legacy that future generations can stand on.

This is a conversation about more than escaping poverty. It is about changing the trajectory of a family.

Topics include: generational poverty, breaking cycles, faith, education, discipline, family legacy, personal responsibility, identity, perseverance, purpose, opportunity, and the choices that shape our future.

http://www.iamdonaldwilliams.com/

#DonaldWilliams #BornOfNothing #BreakingGenerationalCycles #Faith #Education #Poverty #FamilyLegacy #Purpose #PersonalGrowth #IAmRefocusedRadio

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when the business is winning, but your life is paying the price?

George Rivera, founder of the Buy Back Time Formula, joins I Am Refocused Radio to unpack the hidden cost of being the founder who is always available. After helping generate hundreds of millions in online sales, including scaling a brand from zero to more than $200 million, George realized that success on paper did not automatically create freedom at home.

In this conversation, George shares how he moved from being a constantly-on founder to becoming a Father-First Owner, redesigning his leadership through stronger operators, simpler systems, and clearer decision-making. Today, his work helps 7- and 8-figure founders escape “founder prison,” reclaim 10–20 hours each week, and build companies that can grow without sacrificing family, health, or faith.

We also explore the Two-Week Vacation Test, why constantly being available can weaken both leadership and family relationships, what your children will ultimately remember, and how entrepreneurs can buy back their time without shrinking their ambition.

This conversation challenges one of entrepreneurship’s biggest myths: success isn’t just about building a business that needs you. It may be about building one that can thrive without you.

https://buybacktimeformula.com

Leo's Interviews:

https://leointerviews.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British independent filmmaker Gregory Mallard joins I Am Refocused Radio to discuss the story behind his feature film Masters and Vices (2025), a project that explores porn addiction and the impact it can have on motivation, anxiety, reputation, relationships, and a person’s sense of self.

Gregory shares why he chose to tackle such a difficult and often uncomfortable subject, what he learned while writing, directing, and producing the film, and the challenges that come with bringing an independent feature from an idea to the screen.

We also explore the responsibility filmmakers carry when addressing sensitive topics, the realities of producing outside the traditional studio system, and Gregory’s interest in self-improvement and using storytelling to start conversations people may otherwise avoid.

This is a conversation about filmmaking, addiction, consequences, personal growth, and having the courage to tell stories that challenge the audience.

Watch Masters and Vices (2025) | Full Movie | HD | Gregory Mallard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxq6v-3PcTY

Subscribe to Gregory's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Gregory_Mallard

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when leaders stop performing, take the mask off, and start doing the deeper work?

On this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, we sit down with Trevor Bryce Stevenson, Human Dynamics & Experience Specialist, executive coach, retreat facilitator, adventure guide, and founder of FUNdaMENtal Leadership.

Trevor’s background is anything but conventional. Before spending more than two decades coaching leaders, he guided expeditions across four continents, including wilderness adventures, paddling experiences, overland journeys, and ocean crossings. Those experiences taught him how to read people under pressure, build trust, balance challenge with play, and create environments where people can move beyond what they thought was possible.

For the past 21 years, Trevor has coached executives and teams in emotional intelligence, nervous system regulation, conscious leadership, and human dynamics across public service, healthcare, education, and the private sector. Today, he combines that leadership work with adventure and experiential learning to help people become healthier, more connected, and more effective leaders.

Through his work, Trevor designs and facilitates leadership retreats for EO, YPO, TEC, MacKay CEO Forums, leadership teams, and independent peer groups, blending deep conversations, leadership development, adventure, connection, laughter, and reflection into experiences built to create lasting change.

Trevor is also the founder of FUNdaMENtal, a brotherhood for men who are ready to stop performing, connect more honestly, carry less, and create healthier impact in their lives, families, relationships, and work. The community includes regular conversations, outdoor experiences, retreats, and opportunities for deeper personal growth.

In this conversation, we explore authentic leadership, emotional intelligence, vulnerability, brotherhood, nervous system regulation, leadership under pressure, adventure, joy, relationships, burnout, personal freedom, and why some of the most powerful breakthroughs happen when people finally feel safe enough to be themselves.

https://fundamentalleadership.ca/home

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.