James J. Sydnor is a native Washingtonian and a product of the DC public school system, graduating from Calvin Coolidge High School in 1980. Sydnor then achieved a Master’s in Homeland Security degree from the University of the District of Columbia in 2018.

Serving his community, James was a prior Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner representing Single Member District 4B04 and the Ward 4 Committeeman as a member of the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee. He is now serving as At-Large Committeeman. Sydnor’s service to the community extends to veterans and military families. James is the former Chair of the Veterans and Military Families Caucus on the DC Democratic State Committee; current Chief of Staff of the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 341; member of Kenneth Nash American Legion Post 8; and a public member of the Mayor’s Advisory Board on DC Veterans Affairs.

Lance Corporal Sydnor began his career in the United States Marine Corps as a mortarman with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines – 1st Marine Division.

Corporal Sydnor became one of the last active Cadre Instructors on Submarine Base Kitsap. There, he and a team of Marines maintained the base’s Auxiliary Security Force, instructing sailors on base defense tactics and deployment of tactical weapons.

Sergeant Sydnor transitioned from active duty to the reserves as a Landing Support Specialist where Staff Sergeant Sydnor deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II as an Embarkation Chief.

Continuing his career, Gunnery Sergeant Sydnor became an Individual Marine Augmentee in support of exercise Key Resolve held by U.S. Forces Korea with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.

Having obtained the rank of 1st Sergeant, James retired after 22 years of military service.

My guest Shaman Durek is a 6th generation shaman, author of best seller "Spirit Hacking: Shamanic Keys to Reclaim Your Personal Power, Transform Yourself, and Light Up the World," and a visionary for the Now Age. His online Shaman School and Healing Temple are instrumental in helping people tap into their personal power and unblocking negative patterns that have prevented them from reaching optimal human performance. Durek’s teachings have impacted thousands of people from diverse public figures like Nina Dobrev and Gwyneth Paltrow to Bio Hacking giants like Dave Asprey. In his recurring role on the show, 'The Doctors' he aided guests in overcoming challenges between their emotional/physical well-being. Profiled in People Magazine, Durek’s work has been recognized globally by major mainstream publications like Elle, Marie Claire, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, You Magazine, The Times and featured on Netflix's Bling Empire. 

MaKenzie, the host of Raw Thoughts Podcast, possesses a remarkable ability to delve into sensitive topics by engaging with individuals who have firsthand experiences in various challenging areas. Her podcast specializes in offering a platform to first responders facing frontline struggles, women dealing with postpartum depression, individuals living with Bipolar disorder, Veterans who have survived suicide attempts, and others who have navigated life through daunting challenges.
 

With an exceptional level of compassion, MaKenzie creates a safe and nurturing space for each guest to openly share their life experiences. She encourages vulnerability, allowing these individuals to share their stories with the world, fostering a sense of commonality among all listeners. Throughout these heartfelt discussions, she skillfully intertwines her own life experiences, forging genuine connections with her guests.

Natalie Graves, AM, LCSW, CADC

Natalie Graves has a private practice specializing in athletes’ mental health & wellness. She received her master’s degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and her Bachelor’s degree from Chicago State University. She was a visiting student at the University of Maryland where she studied abroad in London, England in the Sport, Commerce, and Culture in the Global Marketplace Program. Natalie also completed an Addictions Studies Program at City Colleges of Chicago Kennedy-King College. 

Natalie has worked in social service agencies for many years and has also worked in Illinois School Districts in the role of a school social worker. As part of her private practice she now consults with schools, social service agencies, organizations and sports teams. She also created the only one of its kind sport social work clinical supervision group. Here, Natalie meets with social work students and professionals to discuss sport social work cases and best practices.Natalie also works with athletes individually with issues that affects them on and off the field.

Natalie is a member of the University of Michigan's Social Worker and Sports Association.Natalie is also the founder and president of the 1 in 4 PROJECT. This organization is comprised of social workers focused on bringing awareness of mental health and wellness to the sport community. Natalie is a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Social Work.

In April 2018 the NBA asked Natalie to present on mental wellness to their the players in a new gaming league. In New York City, she presented three days at their rookie transition program on mental health, self-care and goal setting.

Natalie was interviewed by the magazine Social Work Today for their 2014 July/August article Youth Athletes off the Field.Natalie speaks throughout the United States and England on topics relating to mental health and sports. She has been a guest on several radio shows discussing various issues within sports. Natalie Graves is a Certified School Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Natalie has two published magazine articles on mindfulness and runners. 

Info:

Email: socialworkandsports@gmail.com

Blog: nataliethesocialworker.blogspot.com 

Twitter: natalie_graves1 

My guest Matthew James Bailey stands at the intersection of universal consciousness, innovative technology, and systemic global change. Renowned for pioneering advances in Ethical Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Smart Cities, he is a luminary in his field. He’s featured in Who’s Who in Artificial Intelligence, nominated for a World Technology Award, and recognized by the U.S. government as a Person of Extraordinary Ability as being in the top 1% in the world. His research has earned him a Visiting Scholar position with the National Institute of Aerospace and NASA. Matthew is the author behind "Inventing World 3.0 – Evolutionary Ethics for Artificial Intelligence™." His work has been experimented by world leading research organizations such as NASA and by leading conservation organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute. Matthew has advised Fortune 100 companies and global policymakers, including prime ministers and G7 representatives. He's had the privilege of engaging with iconic figures like Professor Stephen Hawking, Steve Wozniak, Sir David Attenborough, and John P. Milton. A sought-after keynote speaker, Matthew has also lent his expertise to platforms including BBC Radio and is currently filming a new series with Gaia TV. 

    John Hadity is the Executive Vice President of Incentive Operations and oversees the film financing
subsidiary of Entertainment Partners, the global leader in entertainment payroll, residuals, extras casting, tax
incentives, finance and other integrated production management solutions. Mr. Hadity specializes in the
monetization of tax credits and Minimum Guarantees. Projects recently financed include Oliver Stone’s
SNOWDEN, Spike Lee’s CHI-RAQ, Doug Liman’s AMERICAN MADE, Jim Jarmusch’s PATERSON,
Peter Sollett’s FREEHELD, and Kitty Green’s THE ASSISTANT.
 

   Prior to joining EP, Mr. Hadity was the President and CEO of Hadity & Associates, Inc., a consultancy firm
that specializes in risk management and production finance for film and television. With over 20 years of
studio experience, Mr. Hadity previously served as the Executive Vice President of Motion Picture &
Television Production Finance for Miramax Films. During his 12-year tenure with the company he was
responsible for a portfolio of production budgets valued in excess of $4 Billion. Mr. Hadity oversaw the
strategic planning, risk management, labor relations, business affairs, tax, government relations and financial
reporting for over 250 production entities, as well as managed all of the parent company’s structured finance
and off balance sheet transactions. He has worked closely with government policymakers on the regional,
state, provincial, and international levels to incentivize the movement of production to these areas, resulting
in over $250 Million being brought back into the studio while supporting inward investment in those
territories. In addition to his corporate responsibilities at the company, Mr. Hadity also served as production
rep on several Miramax releases including Academy Award winners SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, THE
ENGLISH PATIENT, EMMA and RESTORATION.
 

     Mr. Hadity began his film career at Orion Classics, a division of Orion Pictures Corp., where he served as
technical and administrative director on art and specialty film acquisitions including Gabriel Axel’s Oscar
winning BABETTE’S FEAST, Stephen Frears’ MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE, Akira Kurosawa’s
RAN, Jean-Paul Rappeneau’s CYRANO DE BERGERAC, Pedro Almodovar’s WOMEN ON THE VERGE
OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, Bruno Nuytten’s CAMILLE CLAUDEL, Richard Linklater’s
SLACKERS, Claude Berri’s JEAN DE FLORETTE and MANON OF THE SPRING, Wim Wenders’
WINGS OF DESIRE, several films by Eric Rohmer, and the re-release of Louis Malle’s MURMUR OF
THE HEART.
 

    Mr. Hadity departed Orion during its financial restructuring to join indie producer Donna Gigliotti at
Universal Pictures where he managed Ms. Gigliotti’s independent production company, Tempesta Films.
Projects originally developed and packaged under the Tempesta banner include the film adaptation of Walter
Mosley’s acclaimed novel DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS and first-time director Dan Algrant’s NAKED IN
NEW YORK executive produced by Martin Scorsese. Immediately prior to joining Miramax in 1993, Mr. Hadity was with The Kennedy/Marshall Company, the independent production concern of former Amblin Entertainment producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall.
 

    Mr. Hadity is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), is a Chair Emeritus of the Producers Guild of America East, and has served on the PGA’s National Board of Directors. His non-
profit roles include Hamilton College (Trustee; President Emeritus, Alumni Association; Chair Emeritus, Alumni Council), Tectonic Theater Project (Board Chair), NY LGBT Center (Board of Directors), Independent Filmmaker Project (Advisory Board), New York Production Alliance (NYPA Board of Directors), and has served on the MPAA’s Worldwide Production and International Tax Committees. 

   He is a member of New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT), is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the
film program at Brooklyn College’s Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema and is a former adjunct at
Columbia University’s School of the Arts. He is a graduate of Hamilton College.

Multiple award-winning singer songwriter, entertainer, author, and teacher, to name a few.  John Michael Ferrari writes emotional storytelling cross-genre songs about life’s experiences with touches of sophistication and childlike wonder.  There is no place he would rather be than "on stage". His favorite saying is "There's never a stranger in the audience." 

At the end of 2022, alone, John Michael was named "Performer of the Year" at the eZWay Golden Gala 2022, his song "Masquerading in the Night" was voted "Best Song Production 2022" at the Museboat Live Channel, and John Michael was awarded “Outstanding Male Singer Songwriter 2022" by the Nashville Music Foundation, 

John Michael Ferrari and Pepper Jay, his music producer for over 3 decades, split their time between Nashville and their ranch in Pahrump, Nevada.  

John Michael Ferrari writes, arranges, and performs his original country pop crossover jazz gospel songs.  For his perceived lack of respect for musical genres, John Michael Ferrari was named “Crossover Artist of the Year” by the New Music Weekly Awards 2021.  John Michael's songs have landed on Top 40, Country, and Gospel radio charts and playlists . An example is “Paint You a Love Song,” penned for his friend's wedding, as of December 2022 is several weeks at #1 on the Country Radio Chart and the Mainstream Radio Chart on the Independent Music Network.  

To date, all reviews of John Michael Ferrari's songs have been 100% positive. 

Pepper Jay has produced three albums for John Michael Ferrari on their independent label “Cappy Records”: “My Early Life” (1994), “Be the Smile on Your Face” (2020), and “My Heart Can’t Breathe” (2022). The two recent albums were recorded at Larry Beaird Music Group, Nashville. Presently in production is their next album, a pop crossover album tentatively titled “I Keep Dreaming”.  Pepper Jay was named “Outstanding AC Music Producer of the Year” (2022) for “My Heart Can’t Breathe” by Producers Choice Honors. “Be the Smile on Your Face” was named “Triple A Album of the Year 2021” also by the Producer’s Choice Honors.

Also recently, New Music Weekly named John Michael Ferrari Adult Contemporary Breakthrough Artist of the Year 2022, John Michael Ferrari was voted “Fan Favorite 2022” for his song “My Heart Can’t Breathe” by the Independent Music Network, he was twice the winner of the United Kingdom Radio contest Ignition Country Radio in 2022, he was also voted “Rising Star 2021” at the eZWay Magazine Gala, was awarded “Best Peace Song” 2020 at the Hollywood Tribute to the Oscars by Art 4 Peace for his song “Like a Rock n Roll Band,” and was named Singer Songwriter of the Year 2019 at the Fame Awards.

John Michael Ferrari has been honored to have graced the covers of several magazines in the past couple of years including New Music Weekly, Hollywood Weekly Nashville, and eZWay Magazine. 

Trivia: John Michael Ferrari was awarded the Quilt of Valor for his military service in the United States Army.

Trivia: John Michael Ferrari and Pepper Jay are teachers and the authors of "Dynamic Song Performance, The Singer's Bible.” John Michael is also the author of “Acting with Your Eyes”.

For further info about their music, please visit https://johnmichaelferrari.com/