My name is Theo, but that nickname started in the 6th grade. My full name is derived from my grandmothers, Thelma + Elizabeth = Thelizabeth.

After 30 years, I moved back to my hometown in Whitney, Texas. In this photo, I am standing in front of the hospital where I was born 50 years ago to two of the most beautiful people I will ever know.

I’m just a farmgirl that loves to write. Most of all, I love sharing the story of a farmer, his wife, and their life. It’s beautiful. It’s broken. It’s complete. It’s a sweet life with a most tragic end. They lived in extraordinary ways and died in extraordinary ways. But just because some stories don’t have happy endings doesn’t mean the characters don’t live happily ever after.

I write so people can feel what I feel, see what I see, and love what I loved.

Dena Ali is a battalion chief in the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department with 15 years of service. She has a master’s in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Toni King is an author, columnist and radio and TV personality, and has spent more than 27 years as a top sales leader in the Medicare and health insurance fields. She has also conducted “Confused about Medicare “ workshops throughout Texas and the southeastern United States. In 2009, Toni was holding a Medicare workshop in Greenville, Mississippi, when a member of the audience asked a question about his not needing Medicare Part B. Toni met with the gentleman after the workshop and it didn’t take her long to find out that he had received wrong information from his local Social Security office. It took a couple of days to get this overwhelming problem straightened out and get him his Medicare Part B. When it was all finished, her role as an insurance agent had changed to that of advocate for people on Medicare. It was then that she took the Medicare and You handbook and put it into “people terms” so the average person could understand Medicare.

Whether Toni is consulting with a client in the office or giving a “Confused about Medicare” workshop to hundreds of people, she emphasizes her mottos: “Medicare is NOT Cookie-Cutter” and “What You Don’t Know WILL Hurt You!” Not understanding the rules and guidelines of Medicare can cause you to make costly mistakes that will last a lifetime. Whether you are helping your parents understand Medicare or choosing a plan for yourself,  let Toni show you how to navigate your way through what has become the Medicare maze!

Patrick is a consultant specializing in political campaigns, advocacy and small business development. He previously served as the Executive Director of the District of Columbia Republican Committee, America’s only fully urban state GOP organization. The first Republican ever elected to the DC State Board of Education, Patrick represented Washington, DC’s, most racially diverse ward for a full four year term.

A staunch advocate for parental choice in education, he was the Board’s sole representative to the National Association of State Boards of Education’s Government Affairs Committee where he helped shape national education policy. Long active in politics, Patrick ran for DC Council and served as an Alternate Delegate (2008) and Delegate (2012) at two Republican National Conventions. With over two decades of campaign experience, Patrick has worked and volunteered on dozens of campaigns at the local, state, Congressional and Presidential levels. Earlier in his career Patrick worked on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator; at the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as a contractor; and later lobbied both the Legislative and Executive branches of the Federal government on behalf of technology, education and energy clients.

Patrick currently serves on the Washington Latin Public Charter School Board of Governors which is among DC’s highest performing schools. Before earning an entrepreneurship-focused MBA from Babson College, Patrick graduated from Marist College with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Political Science. He is past President of the Marist College Alumni Executive Board and past Board of Trustees alumni representative. Patrick and his wife live in the Randle Highlands neighborhood of Washington, DC with their two young sons.

A former award-winning sports reporter and communications coordinator for the Houston Texans, who also happens to be the niece of country superstar, Dierks Bentley. Brooke Bentley is familiar with the toxicity of sports culture. In her timely debut novel Sideline Confidential (summer 2023), Brooke explores the challenges and discrimination women face in the male-dominated world of professional sports. I hope you’ll consider Brooke for interview this fall. She can discuss her own experiences facing sexual harassment while working in sports and with the NFL -- from being forced to ride a separate bus to not being allowed to interview players in the locker room to having a consensual relationship with a high-profile figure weaponized against her. I'm sure you can imagine that Brooke is comfortable in the broadcast arena.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From former sports anchor and award-winning sports journalist Brooke Bentley comes Sideline Confidential – a behind-the-scenes peek at the obstacles and double standards facing women in the male-dominated space of sports journalism. 

When young sports journalist Blake Kirk lands her dream gig – working as a reporter for her hometown’s pro football team – she anticipates many of the challenges that accompany the gig – long hours in the office and on the field, many days of travel, immense pressure to succeed as a woman in sports journalism. What she doesn’t expect are the double standards and old-school entitlement that trip her up at every turn. From day one, Blake faces off with her boss who does everything in his power to make her job difficult—from forcing her to ride a separate bus to the games; to blocking her from interviewing players in the locker room; to pushing her to “network” with colleagues at a strip club. As suggestive notes appear on her desk and a consensual celebrity hookup is weaponized against her, Blake’s dream devolves into a nightmare, and she is forced to choose between her dignity and her career.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brooke Bentley is a former television anchor and award-winning sports reporter. After graduating with a master’s in journalism from the University of Southern California, she spent two years working for the Houston Texans as a media personality and over a decade working in sports journalism. Brooke now devotes her time to championing local nonprofits, including Homemade Hope, where she served as the development director. She and her husband live in Houston and are raising two young boys. 

Sideline Confidential is Brooke’s debut novel, where she shares her firsthand knowledge of the challenges women professionals face in the male-dominated world of professional sports.

Dr.Mawusi Arnett is a physician-entrepreneur with a background in health disparities research and Board-certifications in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine. Dr. Arnett earned a BA from Princeton University, a MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and a MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. After completing her residency training at Northwestern Family Medicine, she served the region as a Northwestern Medicine Hospitalist during the first phases of the pandemic. Dr. Arnett is the Founder/CEO of bytewellness.com

Dr. Bridgette Arnett is an MD/PhD with more than 20 years of experience and Board-certifications in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology and Sleep Medicine. She earned her B.A. in Neurobiology and Physiology from Northwestern University, a PhD in Neurobiology from the University of IL at Chicago, and her M.D. from the University of IL College of Medicine. Dr. Arnett completed her residency and fellowship training in Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology with an emphasis in Epilepsy at Rush University. She is also the Clinical Advisor of bytewellness.com, a text message-based wellness learning community for Black women looking to shift habits, cut disease risks, and boost wellbeing.

Yvonne E.L. Silver - Confidence Catalyst and CEO of Women & Wisdom Media – for women entrepreneurs seeking to Flourish!. She's a sought-after Speaker, Bestselling Author and Coach/Mentor - an Expert in Confident Conversations, increased Sales Velocity and Leading to Empower for a purposeful, sustainable life, with more fun and family beach time.  Yvonne draws on 30-years of business success with 8 start-ups, and as an Evolutionary Business Council Member and Radio Show Host which has a combined reach of over 500 million. Yvonne is a Certified Executive Coach, and Mentorship Chair, who was recognized with a "Women of Inspiration" Award.

She shares her wisdom blending her Reiki Practitioner and spiritual practices with designations of Certified Executive Coach, Chartered Professional in Human Resources, and is also a BANK IOS 6-Intelligences Certified Coach/Trainer and Certified EQ-i Consultant. She has been featured on CNTV, In The Limelight TV, on Sustainable Success - Voice America, League of Giants TV, The Winners Circle Podcast, and on WINGS of Inspired Business. 

Growing up in England with a father who returned from World War 2 with PTSD, she watched him drain the dignity out of her Mum, until she became a fragile shell of the professional woman she once was - she lost her voice and her power. After suffering from his abuse too, she rose up to help women to stand up, be heard and use powerful language to succeed in life and business.           

As the mother of a special needs son, Yvonne supports women who struggle with balancing their success with having a joy-filled, family life of freedom, to leave a proud legacy. Her son is now 26 and while he has accomplished great things so far in life, Yvonne's resilience evolved while advocating for his rights and needs, to become an Artist with a Cause, paying for 5 Operation Smile surgeries with artwork sales. https://globalnews.ca/video/2632388/painting-a-brighter-picture-calgary-artist-brings-hope-with-every-brushstroke

David Berez is a retired Police Officer and Drug Recognition Expert, having served more than 20 years with the East Windsor Police Department and a total of 33 years in Emergency Services. Mr. Berez is the President and Founder of Six4 Consultants, a Public Safety Consulting Firm. Mr. Berez is also a published author, featured columnist, guest speaker and panelist on a variety of Public Safety discussions. Mr. Berez is a Resiliency Program Officer and Master Master Resiliency Trainer. He is a facilitator for "Resilient Minds on the Front Lines," "The Power of our Story," and a consultant for NJ's State Resilience Program for LE. In 2022, Mr. Berez was named to the Law Enforcement Advisory Counsel for Citizens Behind the Badge. Mr. Berez is currently earning his Masters of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

His experiences in the inner sanctums of academia (George Washington University), institutions (the World Bank), business (CEO, USA International), civil sector (founder, International Child Art Foundation), and government (by virtue of residing in DC since 1975), have contributed to Dr. Ishaq’s unique perspective and activism.

Dr. Ishaq has examined and judged more children’s artworks than anyone else. For him, child art is the most honest and purest form of human creative expression. He believes that our future depends on what children imagine to be possible and how they work together to make it happen.

He organizes the Arts Olympiad (a school art program that has grown over time into the world’s largest), produces the World Children’s Festival (held every four years since 1999 at The National Mall across the U.S. Capitol as the “Olympics” of children’s imagination), and publishes the ad-free ChildArt magazine for young readers’ creative and empathic development.

His research and writings have appeared in the Institutional Investor, IMF’s Finance & Development, the Journal of Conflict Resolution, Arts&Activities, SchoolArts, UNESCO Observatory Journal, National PTA’s Our Children, The State Education Standard, The Lancet, Cybertherapy and Rehabilitation Journal, and Dynamische Psychiatrie. He co-authored a book on small-scale enterprises published by the Oxford University Press in 1987. His recent book, The Creativity Revolution, is available on Amazon. He is writing his third book to encapsulate his vital experiences.

Ellie Irwin is a neo-folk/country singer-songwriter known for her lyrical awareness & heartbreaking melodies. Originally from Pennsylvania, Ellie believes that her “Appalachian roots” seem to seep their way into her music through intimate feelings of warmth and nostalgia.

Currently based in Boston, MA, Ellie studies songwriting at Berklee College of Music. Continuing to find inspiration in timeless artists such as James Taylor & Carole King, Ellie hopes that her music holds the power to connect & bring together whoever may listen.

As a professional musician performing as a flutist, pianist, and Celtic harpist, Catherine Thompson has performed over four decades with numerous ensembles (orchestras, ballet companies, radio, TV, and film) in the cities of New Orleans, New York, Boston, Detroit and in the greater Los Angeles area.

In addition to living her life as a musician, she is passionate about sharing the life-enhancing and healing aspects of music and art, as well as teaching the next generation of musicians. She has been very fortunate to have studied with some of the best musicians in the world at The Juilliard School, Loyola University’s College of Music (New Orleans, LA), and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada.

Her earlier work as an accompanist at New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) was her first experience working with a vast array of urban youth and noticing how music and dance changed their lives for the better. Because of that experience, she was motivated to earn her master’s degree in Expressive Arts (Lesley University, Cambridge, MA) so she could work using the healing aspects of art modalities with various populations such as: veterans, hospice patients, disabled children, as well as people with addictions and psychological challenges which was an intense awakening to the power of the arts to transform lives.

Due to life-changing events in the mid 1990s, she moved into the demanding business management environment of the music manufacturing industry and artist promotion for 13 years in the cities of Detroit and Los Angeles. In 2004, she returned to teaching, performing, lecturing and providing workshops. She has witnessed how connecting people to the arts; no matter what their level of skill, has a deep impact that empowers them.

Currently, she brings her authentic experience as a musician and music business professional to the community, classroom, or any setting to help people connect to the power of beauty. In addition to playing Classical music and accompanying other musicians she enjoys improvising ceremonial, healing, and ambient music to assist people to be present in the moment, or support them in life transitions, and embrace the healing principles of beauty and arts in their lives.

Catherine is an active member of the Music Teacher’s Association of California (MTAC), The American Federation of Musicians, The National Flute Association, as well as other music and spiritually affiliated organizations. She also is an instructor of music appreciation and art history classes at Pasadena City College’s Continuing Education Center (Pasadena, CA) for more than 15 years.

Roy Gibbon works in the Education Department of Shumei America, writing, teaching, lecturing, and leading workshops. He is the co-author (with Atsushi Fujimaki) of An Offering of Light: Healing with Jyorei, Natural Agriculture, and Art. And he is currently working on a new book called: Handbook for the Soul: Exploring Meishusama’s Teachings on Health,  Happiness, and Spiritual Development.

As the visionary CEO/Founder of StreetLigion Productions LLC, StreetLigion Nation Radio, StreetLigion Nation TV, and I Am the Change Nonprofit Organization, Cedric provides a platform for independent artists to make waves in the industry. Additionally, he serves as the Marketing Chair with Putt A Way Cancer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals battling cancer.

Cedric 'Legacy City' Bellamy is an unstoppable force in the music industry, leaving an indelible mark as a multi-platinum executive producer and artist. With an innate talent for words and a passion for battle rapping, he laid the groundwork for his extraordinary career. Boasting an impressive discography of seven officially released albums and a vast collection of songs, Legacy City has solidified his position as a prominent figure in the music scene.

His latest single, "Perfect Timing," is a testament to his continued growth and boundless creativity, captivating listeners on all streaming platforms. But Cedric Bellamy's impact extends far beyond his musical achievements. Having experienced the hardships of homelessness as an Army Veteran, he transformed his struggles into a driving force for positive change.

Legacy City's success as an Executive Producer is unparalleled, earning him six Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) platinum certifications and two platinum albums of his own. His talent has also garnered recognition on the iTunes Top 100 Hip Hop Charts, where he has charted an impressive four times.

Cedric 'Legacy City' Bellamy's journey is a testament to his unwavering determination, resilience, and unwavering passion for music. Through his artistry, production prowess, and philanthropic endeavors, he continues to inspire and uplift others in the industry, leaving an indelible legacy that will stand the test of time.

Cedric Bellamy can be reached at cedric.s.bellamy@gmail.com or streetligionnationradio@gmail.com.
 

As a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse, a Certified Medical Intuitive Practitioner (CMIP), Certified Healing Touch Practitioner (CHTP), Advanced Mind-Body-Spirit Energy Coach, and Mindful Eating Coach, Sandy brings more than twenty-five years of experience to her practice. She offers a variety of sessions to assist in restoring balance and energetic flow in the body, creating the opportunity for the mind and body to heal naturally. Sandy also has training in mindfulness-based stress reduction, guided imagery, aromatherapy, breathing/stretching/relaxation and yoga.

Presley Tennant 

Bio 👇

Some artists perform, but Presley Tennant shines whether it be on stage, in the writing room or on your radio. Radiant and fearless, Presley is a quintessential vocal powerhouse – captivating with a golden persona and unequivocal talent. Rooted in the classics, it’s no surprise the Horsetown, USA (aka Norco, CA) native immersed herself in Country Music.

Presley astonished the country with her velvety, soul-filled vocals and ‘it girl’ image as a member of Team Kelly on Season 16 of The Voice at 16 years old; an experience resulting in adoration from viewers who became loyal fans and a direct path to her dream. 

Determined to make her own way in the industry, she teamed up with esteemed producers, including Kent Wells and Buddy Hyatt, to create her own version of California-Country, melding together western lifestyle, traditional roots and a modern energy.

A born entertainer, Presley has not only performed at multiple Staples Center halftime shows in front of 15,000, but has shared the stage with musical heroes like Tim Mcgraw, Kelly Clarkson, Brantley Gilbert, Tyler Rich John Michael Montgomery and more. Making 2022 the best yet, Presley Tennant will not only be opening for artists like Carly Pearce, Blake Shelton and Brett Young, but is slated to release her newest single “Gamble On You” this Spring.

Radiant and fearless, Presley Tennant is the result of unequivocal talent and California ease. Dubbed a “vocal powerhouse” by Taste of Country, People Magazine states Presley is “quickly proving that she is a wild card in the country music industry.”

Rooted in the classics, the Horsetown, USA (aka Norco, CA) native immersed herself in Country Music following her national appearance on The Voice at just 16 years old. 

In 2016 on a quiet Friday afternoon, on a pavement just yards from a busy suburban town centre, Natalie’s ‘safe’ middle-class world, in which she was 8 months pregnant with her third child and about to start maternity leave from her executive role in the pharmaceutical industry, completely blew apart.

So, what do you do when in a blink of an eye, everything you believed in and understood to be your ‘normal’ world is ripped away from you literally, and you are left fighting for your life at the hands of your ‘loving’ partner who left for work as normal that morning? Surviving one of the UK’s worst attempted domestic homicides was just the start of Natalie’s inspirational journey.

Since her attack and recovery from being stabbed 24 times over 9 minutes, mum of three Natalie has gone on to understand the effects of trauma, becoming a qualified specialist in trauma-informed practice and working with gangs and youth violence (OCN Level 3).

Her hard-hitting story has been shared with young people from a variety of backgrounds across the UK, and is always received with the same shock and respect. Young people sit mesmerised as she takes them through the day of her attack, how she was the last person she ever expected to become a knife victim, her extensive injuries both short and long term – physical and emotional, before rounding up with a positive empowerment piece about how any of us can get back from anything, even when the world around us is extremely negative. In addition, Natalie’s true passion now lies around education of young people on the impact of trauma and how they can overcome it.