Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming is beyond eclectic. He was an award-winning Hamlet, and he had his own talk show. He shot a video portrait with Robert Wilson, and recorded a duet with Liza Minnelli. He made films back to back with Stanley Kubrick and the Spice Girls. He wrote a Sunday Times best-selling novel, and has an award-winning signature fragrance. He has played Dionysus, the Devil, the Pope and was shot...

Alyssa Milano

Actress Alyssa Milano has spent almost her entire life in the public eye. A famous child actor, Alyssa has continued to work throughout her adulthood in both television and film. Alyssa has a history of starring in long running successful television series. She most recently starred on the hit WB series "Charmed" for nine years. The series' debut was the highest-rated premiere in the network

Andre Agassi

Upon retiring from tennis on September 3, 2006, after losing in the U.S. Open third round, Andre Agassi received an eight minute standing ovation. His closing remarks will be remembered as one of the most inspirational and loving messages to fans ever: "Thanks. The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. And over the last 21 years, I have...

Andy Andrews

What could this one man possibly have to say that is important enough for the Commander of the Allied Air Forces to ask his help? Why did every senior leader the United States Air Force has in Europe and the Middle East recently assemble in one room—at one time—to listen? Who is this man who walked the golf course with Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez as she played her last tournament as a touring...

Anthony E. Zuiker

As the creator and executive producer of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, one of the highest-rated dramas in television history, Anthony E. Zuiker is tuned-in to America's steep consumer expectations. Not only did Zuiker develop a blockbuster television series; he built an entertainment empire that transformed television programming and advertising. A world-wide phenomenon, the CSI franchise ...

Aron Ralston

Pinned in a 3-foot wide slot canyon near the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park south of Moab, Utah, Aron Ralston cut through his own arm below the elbow to escape, applying a tourniquet and administering first aid before rigging anchors and fixing a rope to rappel to the bottom of Blue John Canyon and hiking out to meet rescuers.

Ashley Rhodes-Courter

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAID, " At the tender age of 22, Ashley Rhodes-Courter is living a pretty fantastic life. She's attractive, well-spoken and college-educated, with doting parents and a newly published memoir that's generating national buzz. But how she got there is the real story, vividly chronicled in a book that recounts her journey from neglected, abused orphan stuck in Florida's...

Atoosa Rubenstein

Atoosa Rubenstein started Big Momma Productions, Inc. in December 2006 after a prominent, thirteen-year career with Hearst Magazines. Her most recent position was as editor-in-chief of Seventeen. Prior to that, at age 26 she founded and served as the editor-in-chief of CosmoGIRL! This made her the youngest editor in Hearst Magazine's 100-year history. Her new ventures will expand her...

Barbara Mandrell

Barbara Mandrell has everything. She really does. In this chaotic world where we strive to juggle career, family and spirituality, this superstar is managing to do just that. She has worked hard through life's trials to create a loving and supportive atmosphere in which to raise her children, to be a good wife, and of course to be a high-quality performer and nurture her ever-evolving...

Bear Grylls

Thirty-two year old, Bear Grylls is one of the best known young adventurers in the world. At just 23 years old, he became The Youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest. In August 2003, he led the first crew to cross the Atlantic via the Arctic Circle in an open rigid inflatable boat. His television debut was on Ch 4's, Escape to The Legion and his latest series, Stranded for Ch 4 and Discovery USA.

Benjamin Zander

Benjamin Zander is the brilliant and acclaimed British-born conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. Bringing his insights as the conductor of a major symphony orchestra to leaders involved in transformation and change, Benjamin Zander has become a much sought-after speaker to major organizations all over the world including Shell, IBM, Arthur Andersen, KPMG, Sprint, NASA and the US Army. Ben

Bo Eason

Runt of the Litter: When Bo Eason was weighed and measured for his high school football team, he was told he was too small. But they forgot to measure his heart, and he forgot to listen to the naysayers on his way to making his dream a reality. In his high energy, hilarious and inimitable style, Bo inspires us all to make our heart and passion our biggest asset

Bobby  Valentine

As one of the most popular and colorful managers in the game today, Bobby Valentine has found success at all levels. Currently, he is in his 6th season as manager of Japan League’s Chiba Lotte Marines. In 2005, he led the Marines to a Japan Series Championship win, equivalent to a World Series championship in the MLB. Prior to the Marines, Valentine was most well-known for his revival of the...

Brad Lamm

Brad Lamm is the Founder and President of Intervention Specialists, a family education and crisis intervention group that helps family and friends get loved ones to accept help and begin lasting change. From the foundation of his work with various intervention models, Brad developed the Invitation2Change method of intervention. Brad believes that an identified loved one's support group is...

Brian Cashman

The 2009 New York Yankees won an unprecedented 27th World Championship, the most in any professional sport, behind clutch hitting, accurate pitching and key decision making in the front office. The team became the 4th World Series champion assembled by Senior Vice-President and General Manager Brian Cashman. His 12 years in that role also includes 10 division titles and 6 American League...

Buzz Aldrin

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed their Lunar Module on the moon's Sea of Tranquility and became the first two humans to walk on the moon. This unprecedented heroic endeavor was witnessed by the largest worldwide television audience in history. He was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor amongst over 50 other distinguished...

Charles Platkin

Charles Stuart Platkin is one of the country's leading nutrition and public health advocates, whose syndicated health, nutrition and fitness column, The Diet Detective appears in more than 100 daily newspapers nationally, including the The Buffalo News, the Honolulu Advertiser, Rochester Democratand Chronicle, The State, Omaha World Herald. Platkin is the host of WE tv's new original series...

Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate has endeared herself to audiences and received accolades for her strength and versatility in theatre, film and television. With her recent People’s Choice nomination for “Favorite TV Female,” and her recent Emmy Award nomination for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy" for Samantha Who?...

Cindy Crawford

Cindy Crawford is one of the most recognizable faces in the world, having appeared on over 600 magazine covers worldwide. Crawford’s reputation as being both a smart and savvy businesswoman has allowed her the opportunity to foray into many different aspects of commerce. Crawford’s name and face have been responsible for launching numerous new brands, as well as repositioning such classic...

Connie Chung

An award-winning investigative reporter/anchor and one of the most recognizable faces on American television, Connie Chung has been a powerful force in the news industry for more than 35 years. On the lecture stage she draws on her unique experiences as a working mother in addressing the challenges today’s women face, advocating diversity in the workplace, and inspiring younger journalists...

Dan Aykroyd

Daniel Edward Aykroyd is an Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award winning actor, comedian, screenwriter, and most recently business entrepreneur. He attended Carleton University in Canada, but dropped out before receiving his degree. He veered away from his study of criminology in college in order to pursue his interest in acting. He began as a comedian in various Canadian nightclubs and went...

David Blaine

Called a "modern-day Houdini" by The New York Times, David Blaine made himself a household name with TV special David Blaine: Street Magic -- shedding the sweeping glitz and drama of other TV magic programs in favor of a simple premise: illusions done right on the street, in front of handheld cameras and speechless passersby. With Buried Alive, Blaine was entombed underground for seven days...

David Feherty

David Feherty was born in the seaside town of Bangor in Northern Ireland. He grew up with aspirations to become an opera singer, until he discovered he had the knack for hitting a golf ball. He jokes about his career change, "I was always interested in music from a very early age. But when I turned pro at age 17, I haven't sung a note since. Now, I only sing to punish my children."

Dean Karnazes

TIME magazine named Dean Karnazes as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World.” Men’s Fitness hailed him as the fittest man on the planet. An internationally recognized endurance athlete and bestselling author, Dean has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. Among his many accomplishments, he has run 350 continuous miles, foregoing sleep for three nights. He’s run...

Deepak Chopra

Acknowledged as one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind body medicine and leadership, Deepak Chopra, M.D. continues to transform our understanding of the meaning of health, leadership and healing. Through his creation of The Chopra Center for Well Being in California in 1996, Chopra established a formal vehicle for the expansion of his healing approach using the integration of...

Diana Ross

In a remarkable career spanning over 30 years, Diana Ross has proven herself the consummate music artist as well as the most successful female singer of all time. In the 1960s as lead singer of the pop group The Supremes, she achieved the unprecedented feat of fourteen consecutive number one hit records, rivaling The Beatles for the position of most successful recording act of that generation.

Diem Brown

Whether inspiring those who watched her public battle with Ovarian Cancer on MTV’s Real World/Road Rules Challenges, or motivating those around her to change the communities in which they live, Diem is a role model for strength, perseverance and good will. Having a life full of struggle and heartache has not dulled this shinning, charismatic and enlightened young lady. At the early age of...

Donald Trump

Real estate magnate, best selling author, philanthropist and most recently executive producer of the smash television hit The Apprentice, Donald J. Trump has epitomized success in America for more than three decades. To the lectern he brings his unquenchable entrepreneurial spirit, legendary financial acumen and signature charismatic flair, in sharing the secrets behind his many achievements in...

Duke Stump

A spirited and dynamic brand leader, speaker, teacher and blogger with an unbridled passion for creating what could be. Duke is Principal and Chief Architect of The Northstar Manifesto. A dynamic and progressive brand strategy studio focused on cultivating and nurturing cultural shifts in the world of sustainability. Over the past year, Duke has collaborated with a variety of luminary and...

Earvin Magic Johnson

Earvin Johnson, Jr. may best be known for his winning ways during his illustrious 13-year NBA career, but today the basketball legend directs his efforts toward his growing business and philanthropic empire, Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE).

Ed Viesturs

On May 12, 2005, Ed Viesturs summitted Annapurna and stepped into history books, becoming the 1st American, and only sixth person in the world to summit all fourteen 8000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. His 16 year long project, Endeavor 8000, was finally complete. Yet even before he accomplished this, Ed was considered by many to be "America's foremost high altitude mountaineer."

Elizabeth Vargas

As an award-winning anchor and correspondent, Vargas has traveled the world covering breaking news stories, reporting in-depth investigations and conducting newsmaker interviews. During the historic Iraqi elections in December 2005, she anchored World News Tonight from Baghdad. She anchored for both World News Tonight and 20/20 from the U.S. Gulf Coast, covering Hurricane Katrina's devastation.

Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn’s illustrious career encompasses film, stage, and television. In 1975, she became only the third woman in history to win both the Tony Award and the Academy Award in the same year, for her work in Bernard Slade’s Same Time, Next Year on Broadway and in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, for which she also received a Golden Globe nomination and a British Academy...

Erin Gruwell

Nothing could have prepared Erin Gruwell for her first day of teaching at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. A recent college graduate, Erin landed her first job in Room 203, only to discover many of her students had been written off by the education system and deemed "unteachable." As teenagers living in a racially divided urban community, they were already hardened by first-hand...

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes captured the attention of moviegoers in a small, but pivotal role in the critically acclaimed film, Training Day. Since then, Mendes has proved she is adept in both comedic and dramatic roles. In a very short time, she has had the fortunate and unique opportunity to work with such esteemed directors as Carl Franklin, Robert Rodriguez, Antoine Fuqua, the Farrelly Bros. and John Singleton

Francois Pienaar

François Pienaar was centre-stage in one of the most enduring images of the modern era: when he received the Webb Ellis Trophy from state president Nelson Mandela when South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 1995. It was a triumph for their nation and also for their charismatic captain. During his acceptance speech, Pienaar made it clear that the team had won the trophy not just for the 60,000...

Gabby Reece

At 6' 3", Gabrielle Reece possesses a look that conveys both athleticism and feminine beauty. Gabby's road to fame and fortune owes as much to her athletic prowess as it does to her looks and stature. She was a star volleyball player at Florida State University and started modeling a year into her college studies, quickly becoming a sensation for her unique, athletic look.

Geena Davis

Whether motivating audiences with her passionate message of why gender equity is empowering for both men and women, encouraging them to stand up for Title IX legislation prohibiting gender discrimination in educational institutions, or urging them to aim high in their personal and professional lives, Geena Davis is a powerful speaker whose appearances never fail to enlighten, entertain and inspire

Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons co-founded KISS 35 years ago. KISS continues to be the juggernaut of licensing/merchandising, with over 2,500 licenses. KISS has broken box office records set by the Beatles and Elvis and continues stronger than ever. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, KISS has been America’s number one gold record award winning group of all time. Gene Simmons has several...

Giuliana Rancic

Giuliana is co-anchor of E! News, E!'s flagship show, with Ryan Seacrest. In 2005, Giuliana was appointed solo anchor and managing editor of E! News and, within 6 months, the show went from the lowest rated on the network to #1. Giuliana is also a producer under a new banner with her husband, Bill Rancic, called You & I Productions. She is the creator and executive producer of CELEBRITY RAP...

Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan, an international superstar, is one of the most recognized artists in the world. With five Grammy Awards and more than seventy million albums sold world-wide, Estefan is the single most successful crossover performer in the history of Latin music.

Grant Achatz

Grant Achatz is the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef of 2008. His restaurant, Alinea, was named “Best Restaurant in America” by Gourmet Magazine. After opening, Alinea rapidly garnered top ratings from Mobil, AAA, Zagat, the Chicago Tribune, Time Out, Gayot, and was named to the Top 50 Restaurants in the World by Restaurant Magazine, UK.

Greg Norman

Greg Norman was born February 10,1955. He decided to give golf a try as a 15-year-old and just two years later, at his first day at Virginia Golf Club in Brisbane, Australia, he was a scratch player. He has won 86 professional events around the world, including two British Open Championships and 20 U.S. PGA Tour titles. The culmination of an astounding golfing career came Nov. 11, 2001, when..

Hilary Swank

“Your mind can be the hugest obstacle or tool, depending on how you choose to use it. And I find that a lot of people who are successful in life say, 'I can do this, and I will do this.' Their minds don't get in their way; whereas people who wake up and say, 'Oh, I can't,' their mind is in their way, and it's going to stop them from doing what they need to do to achieve their dream.”— Hilary Swank

Ishmael Beah

Ishmael Beah was born in Sierra Leone on November 23, 1980. When he was eleven, Ishmael’s life, along with the lives of millions of other Sierra Leoneans, was derailed by the outbreak of a brutal civil war. After his parents and two brothers were killed, Ishmael was recruited to fight as a child soldier. He was thirteen.

Jack Canfield

As the beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Jack Canfield fostered the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre - and watched it grow to a billion dollar market. As the driving force behind the development and delivery of over 100 million books sold through the Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise, Jack Canfield is uniquely qualified to talk about success.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis is an award winning actress and critically-acclaimed and best-selling author of seven books: Is There Really a Human Race?, It's Hard to Be Five, I'm Gonna Like Me, Where Do Balloons Go?, Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born, When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Olds Memoir of Her Youth, and Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day, which was NY Times bestseller for...

Jay Manuel

Jay Manuel is no stranger to "the business of managing the esthetic", as he calls it. With an eye for creating stunning conceptual direction, Jay has spent more than a decade in the world of high fashion and beauty, both in front of and behind the cameras. Jay can currently be seen as Creative Director on the CW Television Network reality series America's Next Top Model and as the Host of the...

Jean Chatzky

Jean Chatzky, award-winning journalist, best-selling author and motivational speaker, has created a global platform that is making significant strides to help millions of men and women battle an epidemic with a devastating impact - debt. Jean is the financial editor for NBC’s Today, a contributing editor for More, a columnist for The New York Daily News, a contributor to The Oprah Winfrey Show...

Jeff Zaslow

Jeffrey Zaslow is a columnist for The Wall Street Journal and in 2009/2010 was the author or coauthor of three bestselling books. The Last Lecture, written with Randy Pausch, has been translated into 46 languages, and was #1 on best-seller lists worldwide. There are 5 million copies in print in English alone, and the book has remained on The New York Times best-seller list for more than 100...

Jenny Sanford

Jenny Sullivan Sanford was born and raised in Winnetka, Illinois. A graduate of Georgetown University, she worked for six years at the Wall Street investment banking firm Lazard Freres & Co. in New York before moving with her then-husband, Mark Sanford, to South Carolina, where she quickly gained another kind of business experience as manager of his successful political campaigns...

Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels is one of the leading health and wellness experts in the country. Perhaps considered one of the most demanding people on television for her role as trainer and life coach on the two NBC hit series, The Biggest Loser and Losing It With Jillian, Michaels has created a brand name for herself. Every week she motivates nearly 13 million TV viewers of The Biggest Loser, and almost...

Jim Abbott

Born, Sept.19, 1967, in Flint, Michigan without a right hand. He was an All-America hurler at Michigan; won Sullivan Award in 1987; threw 4-0 no-hitter for NY Yankees vs. Cleveland (September 4, 1993). Jim played for 10 seasons on four different teams and ended his big league playing career in 1999. Today, in addition to being a Pitching Instructor for the Los Angeles Angels, Jim Abbott is a...

Jim Moret

Jim Moret is chief correspondent for Inside Edition. Based in Los Angeles, Moret covers human interest stories as well as high profile celebrity news stories, from Mel Gibson and Lindsay Lohan's legal troubles, to the Tiger Woods scandal to the death of Michael Jackson. A lawyer and gifted commentator, Moret is constantly in demand to provide legal analysis for a variety of news outlets...

Joe Torre

Joe Torre was named manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 1, 2007, becoming the 26th manager in team history. In his First Season with Los Angeles, Torre guided the Dodgers to a Division Title, cementing his reputation as one the great managers of the game. Prior to the joining the Dodgers, Torre spent the past 12 seasons as manager of the New York Yankees.

John Calipari

On April 1, 2009, John Calipari was named Head Coach of the University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball team – one of the most storied programs in all of college sports. It is another stop on what has been a highly successful coaching career for Calipari. Taking the reins at a prestigious program such as Kentucky is a first for Calipari – who has spent the bulk of his coaching year’s turning...

John Cleese

Best known for his brilliant humor and classic TV and film performances, John Cleese is also an extraordinarily popular lecturer who enthralls packed audiences worldwide. Often named the funniest man alive, John Cleese is both a versatile comedic actor and a leading business motivator.

Josh Bernstein

International explorer, photographer, author, and television host Josh Bernstein has traveled more than 500,000 miles by train, plane, bus, bike and camel to over 40 countries, exploring the biggest mysteries of our planet in pursuit of knowledge and discovery.

Kara DioGuardi

While you may know her as the American Idol judge who sits between Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres, Kara's songs have appeared on more than 150 million albums, and she remains one of the industry's most sought after songwriters and producers. Kara is a Grammy nominated hitmaker, 2007 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year, 2007 SOCAN Award winner, and has been awarded 15 BMI Awards for co-writing .....

Katie Couric

Katie Couric is anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, 60 Minutes correspondent and anchors CBS News primetime specials. Couric is the first female solo anchor of a weekday network evening news broadcast.

Keith Black, MD

“If you want to understand the artist, you study his art. If you want to understand God, you study the anatomy of the brain. Art is a discipline that is practiced with passion and science is a passion that is practiced with discipline. ” - Dr. Keith Black

Keith Harrell

Known across corporate America for his energetic, innovative presentations, Keith's unique style of delivery, solid content, and practical application, spiced with the right amount of humor, leaves his audiences ready to take action! Keith speaks from his own leadership experience and what he has gleaned through his interaction with some of the world's most respected business leaders...

Ken Burns

An award-winning documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns has directed film projects such as The Civil War, Baseball, The West, and 2005's hit Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, all of which were developed for PBS. His highly anticipated new series, World War II, will air in September 2007. The late historian Stephen Ambrose said "more Americans get their history from Ken...

Ken Dychtwald

Over the past 30 years, Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., has emerged as North America's foremost visionary and original thinker regarding the lifestyle, marketing and workforce implications of the "age wave." He is a psychologist, gerontologist and author of fourteen books on aging-related issues, including Bodymind, Millennium: Glimpses into the 21st Century, Healthy Aging, Age Wave, and Age Power: How...

Kevin Carroll

Kevin Carroll is the founder of Kevin Carroll Katalyst/LLC and the author of three highly successful books published by ESPN, Disney Press and McGraw-Hill. As an author, speaker and agent for social change (a.k.a. the Katalyst), it is Kevin’s “job” to inspire businesses, organizations and individuals - from CEOs and employees of Fortune 500 companies to schoolchildren - to embrace their spirit...

Kevin Spacey

For the past five years Kevin's main focus has been to serve as the Artistic Director of London's Old Vic Theatre Company. Since launching this new company in 2004 he has appeared in productions of National Anthems, The Philadelphia Story, Richard II (directed by Trevor Nunn) and Moon For The Misbegotten, directed by Howard Davis, which transferred to Broadway last year.

Laird Hamilton

Laird Hamilton is known as the guiding genius of crossover board sports, and he is truly amazing in the water. As the son of 60's surfing legend Bill Hamilton, hailed as the world’s greatest big-wave surfer, Laird grew up around the last of the original big-wave pioneers on Oahu’s NorthShore, and is himself a throw back to the time when surfers prided themselves on being all-around watermen...

Laura Day

New York Times bestselling author Laura Day has been featured on Oprah, Good Morning America, The View, Public Eye, and other national television shows. She has been training intuitives and healers for nearly thirty years, ushering intuition skills into the mainstream of practical daily life, and emphasizing that everyone is capable of harnessing their own ability to grow and change...

Marcellus Wiley

Former All-Pro defensive end Marcellus Wiley joined ESPN in 2007, primarily appearing as a studio analyst on First Take, NFL Live, ESPNEWS and Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio. He also contributed to ESPN’s weeklong coverage of Super Bowl XLII. In addition to his NFL responsibilities, Wiley was named a game analyst for ESPN’s second season of Arena Football League telecasts in...

Marcus Buckingham

Marcus Buckingham has dedicated his career to helping individuals discover and capitalize on their personal strengths. Hailed as a visionary by corporations such as Toyota, Coca-Cola, Master Foods, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, and Disney, he has helped to usher in the “strengths revolution,” persuasively arguing that people are dramatically more effective, fulfilled and successful...

Mark Boal

Filmmakers have long been inspired by the work of investigative reporters, as was Oscar-winner Paul Haggis when he adapted Mark Boal's Playboy Magazine article "Death and Dishonor," the true story of a father who searches for his missing Iraq war veteran son. The film, "In the Valley of Elah," earned its star Tommy Lee Jones an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Truly uncommon, however, is...

Mark W. Moffett

One of only a handful of people to earn a Ph.D. under the world's most respected ecologist, E.O. Wilson, Mark Moffett has written and photographed more than two dozen articles for National Geographic. He is a modern-day explorer with more than a little luck on his side, having accidentally sat on the world's deadliest snake, battled drug lords with dart guns, and scrambled up a tree to escape...

Marshall Goldsmith

Recently, the American Management Association named Dr. Goldsmith as one of 50 great thinkers and leaders who have influenced the field of management over the past 80 years and Business Week listed him as one of the most influential practitioners in the history of leadership development. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources – America’s top HR honor. His work has been...

 Matisyahu

Matisyahu, born Matthew Paul Miller, is an American reggae musician. Known for blending traditional Jewish themes with reggae and rock sounds, Matisyahu is most recognizable for previously being a member of Chabad-Lubavitch, a chassidic group of Judaism. As such, Matisyahu stands out for wearing the traditional clothing of Hasidic Jews and not performing on the Sabbath. Since 2004, he has...

Matt Harding

Recently named as TIME magazine’s “#1 Viral Video of 2008,” Matt Harding’s inspiring, universally appealing videos have reached over 30 Million viewers around the globe. At 26, Matt Harding quit his job as a videogame designer and spent his life savings on a trip around the world. He took a friend’s suggestion to perform his terrible dancing techniques in the various exotic settings he...

Matthew Lillard

Constantly delivering memorable performances, Matthew Lillard is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents. Lillard will soon be seen in the comedy The Groomsmen opposite Edward Burns and John Leguizamo. The film, directed by Burns, follows the groom and his four attendants as they wrestle with issues related to friendship and maturity a week before the big day. In a...

Michael W. Smith

Michael Whitaker Smith was born October 7, 1957 to Paul and Barbara Smith in Kenova, West Virginia. A sister named Kim would follow. Michael was a typical boy - active in baseball, his family's church activities, and playing piano. But in not-so-typical fashion, he wrote his first song at age five. At the age of ten, he made a decision to give his life to Christ. He dreamed of playing...

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee became Governor of Arkansas on July 15, 1996. He moved up from lieutenant governor following the resignation of Gov. Jim Guy Tucker. Huckabee became Arkansas' 44th elected governor after winning the November 1998 election with the highest percentage of the vote ever received by a Republican gubernatorial nominee in Arkansas. He was elected to another four-year term in November...

Olivia Newton-John

Actress, singer, songwriter, devoted mother, humanitarian and cancer survivor, Olivia Newton-John is a beloved figure to millions of people worldwide. On stage she is a profound and inspiring speaker no matter what the topic-the future of our children, the importance of raising breast cancer and AIDS awareness, environmental conservation, or animal rights. Her appearances always...

Oscar de la Hoya

The only fighter to win eleven world titles in six different weight classes, and as CEO of Golden Boy Promotions the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional firm, Oscar de la Hoya is one of the most charismatic and beloved figures in the history of the sport. From the podium he recounts the thrilling story of his journey from a scrawny, bullied child in East Los Angeles to Olympic...

Patricia Heaton

Mother of four, award-winning actress, and pro-life Republican in Los Angeles, Patricia Heaton is one of the most unusual and refreshing voices in Hollywood. Never one to shy away from controversial topics, Heaton has made a name for herself by excelling at her craft and raising eyebrows among her peers.

Patrick Lencioni

Pat Lencioni is the founder and president of The Table Group, a firm dedicated to providing organizations with ideas, products and services that improve teamwork, clarity and employee engagement. The wide-spread appeal of Lencioni’s leadership models have yielded a diverse base of speaking and consulting clients, including a mix of Fortune 500 companies, professional sports organizations, the...

Robert Ballard

Dr. Robert D. Ballard, best known for his 1985 discovery of the Titanic, has succeeded in tracking down numerous other significant shipwrecks, including the German battleship Bismarck, the lost fleet of Guadalcanal, the U.S. aircraft carrier Yorktown (sunk in the World War II Battle of Midway), and John F. Kennedy's boat, PT 109. In addition to being a National Geographic Society explorer in...

Rudy Crew

Former Superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools and former Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools, Dr. Rudy Crew has made it his mission to overhaul and strengthen the educational system in America. From the podium he draws on his 25 years as a professional educator to galvanize teachers and students to reach for the stars - and grasp them.

Sam  Childers

Rev. Sam Childers is the founder and leader of the Children’s Village in Southern Sudan. Years after Sam turned his life around, he was exposed to the atrocities towards children in the region. After running a successful construction company for several years, Sam gave up his business to dedicate himself to the full time rescue and rehabilitation of children. His wife Lynn and two daughters...

Scott Hamilton

The most recognized male figure skating star in the world, Scott Hamilton has won 70 titles, awards and honor including an Emmy Award nomination, induction into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and a privileged member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame...

Sebastian Junger

Sebastian Junger is the author of the international best-seller The Perfect Storm and Fire, a collection of his most compelling magazine articles from his travels throughout the U.S. and around the globe. As a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and as a contributor to ABC News, he has covered major international news stories in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Shaun Alexander

The NFL’s Most Valuable Player for the 2005 season, Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander has gained a reputation that’s one for the record books. And now in his inspiring autobiography Touchdown Alexander: My Story of Faith, Football, and Pursuing the Dream Shaun shares his amazing journey to success both on and off the field.

Shaun White

Shaun White is many things but most notably he's driven. He holds many of the highest accolades within snowboarding and skateboarding. An X Games double threat with medals in both snowboarding and skateboarding, as well as gold medals from the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, Shaun possesses insane skills and instantly recognizable looks. This amazing combination has made him one of the most...

Shawne Merriman

Shawne Merriman turned the “Lights Out” on the opposition in 2006. Merriman wreaked havoc on the NFL, leading the league with a career-high 17 sacks. He had at least one sack in nine different games, including a career-high 3.5 at Seattle on Dec. 24, and three against both Oakland on Sept. 11 and St. Louis on Oct. 29. Merriman capped off this stellar season with his second-straight Pro Bowl

Sidney Poitier

Academy Award-winning actor, writer, director, and diplomat (he serves as the Bahamas’ ambassador to Japan and UNESCO), Sidney Poitier has been a political and artistic trailblazer for more than half a century. On the lecture stage he recounts the uplifting story of his life from his childhood as the son of poor tomato farmers to his pioneering cinematic career in inspiring audiences to pursue...

Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek teaches leaders and companies how to inspire people. He is leading a movement to find, celebrate and encourage the next generation of great leaders. He writes, consults and speaks all over the world about the concept of Why - the purpose, cause or belief that drives every one of us. Having a clear sense of Why is the one common factor that all great leaders, those able to inspire...

Sissy Spacek

In a legendary career spanning four decades, Academy Award-winning actress and singer Sissy Spacek has repeatedly proven herself one of the greatest talents in Hollywood and a woman capable of transforming herself into any character, no matter how challenging the role. From the podium she reveals the secrets to her success as an actress, as a woman and as a mother, in fascinating lectures

Stacy London

Stacy London is one of America’s foremost fashion experts. She is currently the co-host of TLC’s hugely popular show, What Not To Wear. In 2005 Stacy joined The Today Show on NBC as a style correspondent and has regularly appeared on Access Hollywood as a fashion expert. Previous to a career in television, Stacy developed her keen sense of style in fashion editorial. A true arbiter of...

SuChin Pak

SuChin Pak joined the MTV News Team as a correspondent in May of 2001. Over the years, she’s interviewed everyone from P. Diddy, to Jane’s Addiction to Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Billy Idol, Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani, just to get started. She’s co-hosted the Video Music Awards, the Movie Awards and Grammy Pre-shows.

Summer Sanders

Summer Sanders was the most decorated swimmer at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, winning two gold, a silver and a bronze medal. Since then, Summer has remained in the spotlight as a primetime TV sports commentator and a media celebrity. In her compelling memoir, Champions Are Raised, Not Born: How My Parents Made Me a Success, Summer discusses what gave her the drive to consistently give all...

Tad Agoglia

When a natural disaster hits, Tad Agoglia is one of the first to arrive at the scene. As the founder of The First Response Team, Tad works with his four-man cleanup crew to provide emergency aid to disaster victims by whatever means necessary. Whether it is using a crane to open up the road for Emergency service trucks, navigating his hovercraft through floods for water rescues and repairs, or...

Taylor Hicks

With his raspy, soulful voice and salt-and-pepper hair, Taylor Hicks was one of the unlikeliest contestants to make it to the final round of American Idol, but his quirky charm and rousing delivery of songs like Takin' It to the Streets won Hicks a devoted legion of fans called the Soul Patrol and the title of the fifth-season American Idol. Born in Birmingham, AL, and raised in Hoover...

TD Jakes

Ministerial and business visionary, entrepreneurial trailblazer, altruistic philanthropist, and spiritual shepherd to millions around the globe, Thomas D. Jakes, Sr. has become one of America's best-known Pentecostal evangelical ministers, and was even dubbed "America's Best Preacher" by Time Magazine. He founded The Potter's House, a multiracial nondenominational church in 1996, with about...

Terry Tamminen

“Arnold Schwarzenegger may have signed the world's toughest anti-global-warming law, but it is Terry Tamminen, his environmental adviser, who is emerging as the state's real [global warming] Terminator.” (TIME Magazine, April 9, 2007). “Terry Tamminen...is probably the most brilliant guy around when it comes to the environment,” says Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, (Outside Magazine, April...

Thomas Kinkade

Twenty-five years have passed since Thomas Kinkade and his bride, Nanette, put their entire savings into his first lithograph printing in 1984. Thom found that he was inspired not by fame and fortune, but by the simple act of painting straight from the heart, putting on canvas the natural wonders and images that moved him most. It is this devotion and singular-minded focus on the...

Tommy Lasorda

Regarded by many as baseball's most popular ambassador, Tommy Lasorda begins his 56th season in the Dodger organization proudly serves as Special Advisor to the Chairman. He was named Vice President in July 1996 after retiring as manager, a position he held for the previous 20 seasons. Lasorda assumed all player personnel responsibilities when he was named the Dodgers' interim General Manager...

Tony Hawk

Even though he has been retired from competition since 1999, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk is one of extreme sports’ most recognizable and celebrated athletes in the world. Tony Hawk was nine years old when his brother changed his life by giving him his first skateboard. By twelve, Tony had national sponsors, by 14 he had turned pro, and by age 16 Tony Hawk was the best skateboarder...

Trisha Ashworth & Amy Nobile

I'd Trade My Husband for a Housekeeper -- Best-selling authors Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile brought sweet relief to moms with their first book, I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids. Here they return with a frank, yet encouraging look at marriage post-tots. They set out to discover if parenthood has to be incompatible with conjugal bliss—and if so, how to change that. To find out, they...

Victoria  Labalme

Performing Artist & Communications Expert Victoria Labalme is known throughout the business community as a dynamic and motivation catalyst for dramatically improving and transforming people's presentation and communication skills...

Wade Davis

Anthropologist Wade Davis is perhaps the most articulate and influential western advocate for the world's indigenous cultures. His stunning photographs and evocative stories capture the viewer's imagination. As a speaker, he parlays that sense of wonder into passionate concern over the rate at which cultures and languages are disappearing -- 50 percent of the world's 6,000 languages, he says...

Yul Kwon

Anyone who’s ever watched a reality show knows not all winners are deserving. But it’s hard to find much bad to say about Yul Kwon, who took home the million on Survivor: Cook Islands. Yul admitted he had manipulated and deceived people, but smartly pointed out that this is how the game has played, and he’d managed to do his manipulation while staying as loyal and honest as possible.

El DeBarge

“Making this album, I felt like I was seeing a flower or feeling the sun shine for the first time,” says El DeBarge. “I feel like a brand new artist, like I just came out to Hollywood from Grand Rapids, Michigan and I’m looking for a record contract—and I’m just as hungry as I was when I started out.”...