Leaders of Today: From Teens to Titans

Stephanie Malia Krauss on Why Kids Are Struggling (and How We Help Them Thrive)

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, we’re joined by Stephanie Malia Krauss, author, speaker, and strategist focused on helping young people truly thrive in today’s world.

This conversation is powerful, honest, and incredibly relevant for anyone supporting teens.

What we talked about

Stephanie shares her personal story and how it shaped her work, along with what she’s seeing across schools and communities today.

One thing is clear:

Young people aren’t lacking potential… they’re navigating overwhelming environments.

She describes the “modern-day pressures” kids face:

• constant stress and time pressure
• overwork and burnout
• comparison through social media
• a lack of true rest and connection

What actually helps

Instead of quick fixes, Stephanie emphasizes something deeper:

Kids need real, human connection.

Not just one supportive adult, but a network of people who:

• see them
• support them
• believe in them
• give them space to grow

She also highlights how powerful it is when young people are given the chance to lead, contribute, and matter to others.

That’s where confidence and real transformation begin.

Learn more from Stephanie

https://www.stephaniemaliakrauss.com/
https://www.instagram.com/stephaniemaliakrauss/

https://www.rehumaning.com/

How We Thrive
https://www.corwin.com/books/how-we-thrive-290839?srsltid=AfmBOopCjNK-qtX4m7p9VEcFWBLcoNS6A24GcHef9gZcop8qEOril3xC

A Teacher's Story How One Act of Leadership Inspired Many

In this conversation, Lorraine Connell discusses her journey from being a classroom teacher to a leadership coach and author. She shares the inspiration behind her book, which aims to empower teachers and redefine leadership in the classroom. Lorraine emphasizes the importance of accountability, community, and recognizing the leadership potential in every student. Through personal anecdotes and lessons learned, she encourages educators to believe in their students and create an inclusive environment where all voices are valued.

takeaways

• Lorraine's journey began during COVID when she sought a hobby.
• She transitioned from teaching to leadership coaching to empower others.
• Teaching is not just about delivering information; it's about collaboration.
• Every student has value and can be a leader in their own way.
• Teachers often feel isolated and need community support.
• Vulnerability and accountability are crucial for effective teaching.
• The book provides practical examples for empowering students.
• Leadership can be redefined beyond traditional expectations.
• Educators should believe in their students' potential.
• The workbook complements the book for practical application.

Buy the Book A Teacher's Story How One Act Of Leadership Inspired Many

Buy the Workbook - Your Voice Matters Uncovering Your Unique Leadership

 

Learn more about Peers not Fears

How Mentorship and Safe Spaces Help Teens Become Leaders with Steve Pappajohn

In this episode, Lorraine sits down with Steve Pappajohn, Director of the Dover Teen Center, to talk about the impact of mentorship, belonging, and leadership development in the lives of young people. Steve shares how his own experiences shaped the way he supports teens today, why acceptance matters first, and how creating safe spaces helps young people build confidence, connection, and leadership skills. This conversation also explores risk-taking, peer influence, and the power of helping teens feel seen, supported, and valued.

How to Connect With Steve:
To learn more about the Dover Teen Center or connect with Steve Pappajohn, families and teens can visit the Teen Center at the McConnell Center in Dover, New Hampshire, during afternoon hours, or connect through a school counselor or teacher familiar with the program.

From Perfectionism to Personal Brand: Lily Grace York on Finding Her Voice

In this episode, Lorraine Connell talks with Lily Grace York, personal brand strategist and creative entrepreneur, about how her teen years shaped the leader she is today. Lily shares what it was like to be seen as the “perfect” student while quietly struggling with anxiety, self-pressure, and fear of making mistakes. Together, they explore perfectionism, confidence, leadership, and how finding your voice can change everything.

What they cover:

• Perfectionism and pressure as a teen

• Anxiety and fear of speaking up

• The importance of adults normalizing mistakes

• Finding confidence in college and beyond

• How Lily’s teen experiences shaped her work in branding and storytelling

How to Connect with Lily Grace York

• Instagram: @rapport.by.lilygrace

• Website: lilygraceyork.com

• Podcast: Rapport by Lily Grace

Follow Lily Grace on Instagram or visit her website to learn more about her work in personal branding, marketing, and storytelling.

From Silence to Strength: Building Emotionally Safe Homes with Maria Natapov

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine sits down with Maria Natapov, a step-parenting and co-parenting expert and Vice Chair of the Sparrow Collective.

Maria shares how her teen years, shaped by immigration and “stay small, stay quiet” messaging, impacted her confidence, intuition, and early relationships. She opens up about overcoming an unhealthy relationship and how those experiences led her to support families navigating conflict, divorce, and blended family dynamics.

In this conversation, Maria discusses personal leadership, the impact of parental conflict on children, the difference between co-parenting and step-parenting, and her Be H2O framework designed to help families create stronger communication and emotionally safe homes.

She closes with advice for teens who feel disconnected from their voice: create small moments to listen inward and trust your intuition.

Connect with Maria:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianatapov/
Website: https://synergisticstepparenting.com/
Be H2O Information: https://whitsonlaw.kartra.com/page/MLf1616

Maria also offers complimentary clarity calls and a Be H2O drop-in class for parents seeking guidance and support.

Taking Off the Mask: Lynne Hughes on Grief, Courage, and Comfort Zone Camp

What happens when a kid has to keep it together while their world falls apart? In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, host Lorraine Connell talks with Lynne Hughes—founder of Comfort Zone Camp, the nation’s first free bereavement camp for grieving kids.

Lynne shares the moment her life changed forever: losing both parents young, walking into junior high the day after her father died, and learning to “blend in” behind a mask. That same experience became the seed of her mission—creating a place where grieving kids can take the mask off, feel normal again, and finally be understood.

You’ll hear how Comfort Zone Camp works (weekend camps, “big buddy” mentors, Healing Circles, and real tools kids can use outside camp), why our culture is “death avoidant,” and how a tragedy like 9/11 unexpectedly expanded CZC’s reach across the country.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why grief often becomes invisible—especially in teens

• What “death avoidance” looks like (and how it isolates kids)

• How Comfort Zone Camp helps kids feel safe, seen, and supported

• Why healing is a choice—and how community makes it faster and less lonely

How to Connect with Lynne / Comfort Zone Camp

• Website: https://comfortzonecamp.org/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfortzonecamp/

• LinkedIn (Lynne Hughes): https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynne-hughes-443b6240/

Trusting Your Inner Compass with Dr. Jennifer Edwards

Dr. Jennifer Edwards shares how early independence helped her build self-trust, follow her intuition, and become the kind of leader who listens inward first. We talk about the stories our minds create (lowercase truth vs capital T Truth), how quiet helps you hear your inner compass, and why there are no wrong choices, only next steps.

Key Takeaways

• You don’t need a perfect plan. There are no wrong choices, only next steps.

• The stories in your mind may feel true, but they are not always the truth.

• Intuition gets quieter when life gets louder. Silence matters.

• Growth is rarely linear. Like a sailboat, you may zigzag and still arrive.

• Leadership starts with self-trust before it ever shows up in titles or roles.

How to Connect with Jennifer Edwards

• E-book: 3 Keys to Rediscovering Joy and Happiness
  https://drjenniferedwards.aweb.page/p/a8fc77ae-8723-4f4e-b462-ff7ba9de081c

• Website: www.drjenniferedwards.com

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drjenniferedwards

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenniferedwards

From Rebel to Resilient Leader: Cassie Crosby's Journey to Empowering Change

In this inspiring episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine speaks with Cassie Crosby, CEO of Iterata Solutions and founder of Vertex Leadership Lab. Cassie, a 24-year army veteran, shares her incredible transformation from a rebellious teenager to a powerful leader in both the military and the corporate world. With expertise in leadership development, Cassie now helps ambitious executives build confidence, master organizational dynamics, and cultivate their executive presence.

Join us as Cassie recounts her journey, including overcoming early challenges, navigating male-dominated leadership arenas, and learning that leadership is not a title—it’s a behavior and responsibility.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Cassie’s Teenage Years: From a “rebel without a cause” to a determined leader, Cassie shares the defining moments that led her to join the army and start her path toward leadership.
• The Power of Nurturing Potential in "Disruptive" Kids: Cassie and Lorraine discuss the importance of believing in kids who may be overlooked, a trait often seen in successful individuals.
• Navigating Leadership as a Woman in Combat: Cassie talks about her time in the military and the challenges she faced as a woman in traditionally male roles, from logistics to combat positions.
• The Evolution of Self-Confidence: From shy beginnings to becoming a confident leader, Cassie discusses how therapy, a shift in mindset, and the influence of compassionate leaders helped shape her journey.
• Leadership and Decision-Making: Explore how Cassie’s leadership philosophy evolved from strict military hierarchy to a focus on collaboration, questioning, and understanding the “why” behind decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is a skill that can be cultivated—it's about behavior and willingness to take responsibility.
• Teenagers with rebellious or disruptive behaviors may have untapped potential—it's crucial to have someone believe in them.
• Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s developed through self-reflection and surrounding yourself with strong leaders.
• Good leaders empower others, and leadership decisions should always have clarity and purpose behind them.

Resources Mentioned:

• Cassie Crosby’s Leadership Development Firm: Vertex Leadership Lab
• Iterata Solutions: Iterata Solutions Website

 

From Unsafe to Unstoppable: Josh Colwell’s Journey From Survival to Service

In this episode of Leaders of Today: Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell speaks with Josh Colwell, a leader in the recovery and criminal justice support space in New Hampshire. Josh shares what his teenage years were really like growing up in instability, entering the juvenile system, and navigating environments that didn’t feel safe.

They explore how early experiences shape identity, the survival habits teens develop, and what it takes to rebuild trust, purpose, and leadership later in life. Josh also opens up about the turning point that led him into long-term recovery and how he now creates safe spaces for others through advocacy and recovery support.

In this episode, we cover:
• Josh’s teenage years behind the scenes
• When systems meant to help cause harm
• Survival mode and identity
• The shift that led to recovery and leadership
• Why finding the helpers changes everything

Hear more of Josh’s story:
“From Chaos to Purpose: Josh Colwell’s Journey from Biker Gangs and Addiction to Leading a Life of Impact” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4xZqoxvGI6A8VvAGL7Ghg9?si=csqv8-7YS_aZiP4E19apPQ

Connect with Josh:
Email: Josh@BrighterDayRecovery.com
Website: www.brighterdayrecovery.com

Navigating the Intersection of Trauma, Gender, and Sexuality with Rebecca Minor

In this episode, Lorraine Connell sits down with Rebecca Minor, a queer clinician, consultant, and educator, to discuss the complex interplay of trauma, gender, and sexuality. Rebecca shares her personal journey and professional insights, offering a compassionate perspective on supporting trans and gender nonconforming youth.

Key Topics:

Rebecca's early experiences with mental health and identity The founding of Prism Therapy Collective The importance of trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming care Challenges faced by trans and gender nonconforming youth How parents can affirm and support their children

Guest Bio: Rebecca Minor is a gender specialist dedicated to creating spaces where young people feel seen and heard. As a published author and lecturer, she brings both personal truth and professional expertise to her work.

Resources Mentioned:

Prism Therapy Collective Rebecca's upcoming book: "Raising Trans Kids: What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting This"

Follow Rebecca on Instagram: @Gender.Specialist

Subscribe to our podcast for more insightful conversations and visit our website for additional resources.

#TraumaInformedCare #GenderDiversity #LGBTQSupport