At a time that many think that our nation has submerged itself in such racially polarizing indulgences that there is no way out, there is yet a smoldering spark of fresh hope. This interview gives all of us marching orders toward a more unified existence without ignoring the difficulties that must be reversed! It’s a very thoughtful discussion for the betterment of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/humanity/">#humanity</a>! The conversation deserves our attention! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/thethirdoption/">#thethirdoption</a>

This conversation between these two was originally recorded at Dr. Hybel’s 2016 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Creek_Association#The_Global_Leadership_Summit">Global Leadership Summit</a>, an annual training event that aims to transform Christian leaders around the world with an injection of vision, skill development, and inspiration.&nbsp;<br>Together, they hit a range of topics and address Bishop’s philosophy on Leadership. Bishop also leans in on some of the hard truths of leadership; how he balances his life and reconciles the dropping of balls; and lastly, he speaks openly about racial reconciliation within the Church and the Community.&nbsp;

What a tremendous privilege it was to welcome Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia, to MegaFest. President Sirleaf is the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Her rise to power against incredible odds, and the lasting impact she has made on her country and the African continent is a powerful story that I'm thrilled to share here in the Village.

I was recently asked to sit down and have a wide ranging conversation with ATT CEO Randall Stephenson to talk about how corporations like his can tap into Faith based organizations like The Potter's House Church. It was a joy to have this opportunity to discuss some cutting edge ideas about how corporations and churches can work together to change lives and make people and our society stronger and better.

A Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Health Coach, Charlie Jordan Brookins has been passionate about health and fitness since the age of 13 – when she became consumed with dance and how nutrition and fitness impacted her body. Since that "awakening," Charlie has been a student, teacher and "passionista" of all things related to the field of whole body health.<br><br>A native Chicagoan and graduate of Northwestern University (B.S. – Radio-TV-Film) and U.C.L.A.’s Anderson Graduate School of Management (M.B.A.), Charlie also sowed seeds in Hollywood – directing two feature films, and serving in various executive capacities in Marketing, Development and Original Programming. Charlie also served on the dance ministry leadership team of her home church, Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, CA for over a decade. A proud wife and mother of two sons, Charlie is on a spirit led mission to bring her multi-faceted expertise, creativity and passion to take the weight off of weight loss and ignite the power of transformational change in the lives of those she touches<br><br>

Tom holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, a Bachelor’s degree in Business, and a C-MAT certificate in Drugs &amp; Alcohol. As a young man, Tom became a successful entrepreneur with a proven track record in small business ventures in the greater New York area. About 20 years ago, Tom started to spend less time in the business world and more time helping those who suffered, as he did, from negative childhood messages. He is a regular on many radio stations and on the TBN television network, and has appeared on other networks as well. He is the best-selling author of <em>The Problem Was Me</em>, with Dr. Abraham Twerski, and <em>Don’t Put Your Crap in Your Kid’s Diaper</em>. His expertise is teaching a methodology which has helped many individuals, couples, and parents build healthier relationships with themselves and each other. His work comes from his experiences in overcoming his own issues, which revealed the process for self-improvement. His obstacles began in childhood when he turned to bullying as an outlet and as an adult, toward addiction. After sabotaging intimate relationships in his own life, Tom realized he had to fix the damage within himself in order to fix the damage he caused in his relationships.

Tom holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, a Bachelor’s degree in Business, and a C-MAT certificate in Drugs &amp; Alcohol. As a young man, Tom became a successful entrepreneur with a proven track record in small business ventures in the greater New York area. About 20 years ago, Tom started to spend less time in the business world and more time helping those who suffered, as he did, from negative childhood messages. He is a regular on many radio stations and on the TBN television network, and has appeared on other networks as well. He is the best-selling author of <em>The Problem Was Me</em>, with Dr. Abraham Twerski, and <em>Don’t Put Your Crap in Your Kid’s Diaper</em>. His expertise is teaching a methodology which has helped many individuals, couples, and parents build healthier relationships with themselves and each other. His work comes from his experiences in overcoming his own issues, which revealed the process for self-improvement. His obstacles began in childhood when he turned to bullying as an outlet and as an adult, toward addiction. After sabotaging intimate relationships in his own life, Tom realized he had to fix the damage within himself in order to fix the damage he caused in his relationships.

The man behind ”Say Increase!”, Johnny Wimbrey is a speaker, author, trainer, and motivator working with sales teams, high-profile athletes, politicians, and personalities around the world. After leaving behind a world of drugs and crime at 18, Johnny redirected his entire life and began a professional career in Insurance and Motivational Speaking. He has since launched three companies (Wimbrey Training Systems, Wimbrey Global, and Royal Success Club International) and heads a sales team of thousands in more than 30 countries, overseeing an active customer database of half a million families. Johnny continues to traverse the globe, sharing his powerful message through speaking engagements and products.<br><br>His incredible rags-to-riches story has resonated with audiences all over the world, from Africa to Australia, India to Italy, and Sweden to Spain. His unique high-energy style has made him an incredibly sought-after speaker, and he has shared the stage with legendary personal development gurus, such as Les Brown and the late greats Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar, just to name a few. His blunt honesty motivates people to stop thinking and start doing. With his best-seller, <em>From the Hood to Doing Good,</em> on the shelves, and his <em>Journey to Wealth</em> training available to everyone, Johnny continually inspires and coaches people to greatness. He also has a wide media following and has appeared as a guest expert and panelist on day-time television segments and court shows, including the <em>Steve Harvey Show</em>, <em>E! News</em>, and <em>Today</em>.<br><br>

This episode is special to me. I'm reminded of just how lucky a daddy I am! My kids are the greatest gift God's given me. Sarah and I hit a range of topics and talked about life, including what it was like "growing up Jakes!" Enjoy part one of this two part series!&nbsp;

Dr. Archer is a bestselling author, business executive, NFL consultant, military leadership consultant, corporate leadership trainer, presidential advisor, and TV Pundit, and he serves as an envoy to Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Korea. He is also the leader of a global human rights movement throughout Africa and Latin America. Dr. Archer was awarded the Martin Luther King Leadership Award for his work in developing the hearts, hands, and habits of third world leaders to transform their nations from chaos to collaboration. Ron Archer has cultivated an extensive following, reaching more than 250,000 people a year through speaking engagements alone, and over a million through satellite simulcasts. Dr. Archer is not your traditional keynote lecturer. He will educate, energize, entertain, and empower you with his personal transparency.

The man behind ”Say Increase!”, Johnny Wimbrey is a speaker, author, trainer, and motivator working with sales teams, high-profile athletes, politicians, and personalities around the world. After leaving behind a world of drugs and crime at 18, Johnny redirected his entire life and began a professional career in Insurance and Motivational Speaking. He has since launched three companies (Wimbrey Training Systems, Wimbrey Global, and Royal Success Club International) and heads a sales team of thousands in more than 30 countries, overseeing an active customer database of half a million families. Johnny continues to traverse the globe, sharing his powerful message through speaking engagements and products.<br><br>His incredible rags-to-riches story has resonated with audiences all over the world, from Africa to Australia, India to Italy, and Sweden to Spain. His unique high-energy style has made him an incredibly sought-after speaker, and he has shared the stage with legendary personal development gurus, such as Les Brown and the late greats Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar, just to name a few. His blunt honesty motivates people to stop thinking and start doing. With his best-seller, <em>From the Hood to Doing Good,</em> on the shelves, and his <em>Journey to Wealth</em> training available to everyone, Johnny continually inspires and coaches people to greatness. He also has a wide media following and has appeared as a guest expert and panelist on day-time television segments and court shows, including the <em>Steve Harvey Show</em>, <em>E! News</em>, and <em>Today</em>.<br><br>

Dr. Eddie Connor is a bestselling author, minister, international speaker, college professor, and radio/TV correspondent. He is a survivor of stage 4 cancer and empowers people to overcome obstacles. As an author of 7 bestselling books, Dr. Connor has been featured and hosted segments on BET, CBS, FOX News, NBC, PBS, The Steve Harvey TV Show, The Tom Joyner Show, and The Word Network. Dr. Connor is the CEO of the mentoring organization, Boys 2 Books, which empowers young males via literacy, leadership, and life skills enrichment. The program became the impetus for President Barack Obama’s, My Brother’s Keeper initiative. Dr. Connor is a recipient of The President’s Volunteer Service Award and The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from The White House. He is recognized as one of the Top 35 Millennial Influencers in America, listed in the Top 100 leaders in Who’s Who in Black Detroit, and named to Michigan Chronicle’s ”Top 40 under 40”. Dr. Connor speaks extensively and works in communities, extending throughout Jamaica and South Africa. Dr. Connor grew up in Kingston, Jamaica and is a proud resident of Detroit, Michigan.

Dawn R. Shestko founded DRS Performance Solutions, LLC in 2014, with the vision of partnering with organizations to focus on and invest in their greatest resource: their people. Dawn is deeply passionate about developing human potential and sees every opportunity as a privilege. She works with individuals and organizations to take performance to the next level. She provides executive coaching and consulting to enhance leadership, and team coaching to increase overall effectiveness. Dawn specializes in customized workshop design and facilitation. She serves as a solutions-focused life coach who helps people by encouraging them to widen their scope; to see and consider all available options; to focus time and energy on solutions; and to actively participate; and to be a leader in their own lives. Her coaching program is a partnership that helps clients clarify their best outcome, create a plan, and take action.<br><br>Dawn received her Bachelor of Science in organizational communication. She loves the opportunity to blend what she learned academically with her real-life, in the trenches business experience, so that she makes the biggest possible difference in the lives of her clients.<br><br>

<br><a href="https://www.cvent.com/events/megafest-2017/registration-caa4977798534a09ae947ef2cf42ef04.aspx?fqp=true"><figure class="attachment attachment-preview" data-trix-attachment="{&quot;contentType&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:1000,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http://www.mega-fest.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/05/IG_Promosarahjakescoleman.png&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:1000}" data-trix-content-type="image"><img src="http://www.mega-fest.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/05/IG_Promosarahjakescoleman.png" width="1000" height="1000"><figcaption class="caption"></figcaption></figure></a>Cora Coleman serves as the Executive Director of the Destiny World Children’s Ministry at The Potter’s House of Dallas. However, her reach extends well beyond the four walls of the church. Cora has a way with words and an openness that makes her a much sought-after speaker and writer. She also has a vibrant Social Media presence that was born out of her personal battle with infertility. Never one to back down from a fight, Cora decided to use her personal struggles and triumphs to inspire others by starting her blog,&nbsp;<em>Fertility Faith, </em>a place where readers can find inspiration to fight for their God-given promise, no matter how ”dead” their situation might appear. Her first book, <em>Faithing It</em>, hit book shelves on November 17th. Cora is committed to helping YOU bring YOUR purpose back to life. Family is extremely important to Cora, so it’s no surprise that her greatest personal joy comes from being a wife to her wonderful husband, Brandon, and mother to her beautiful daughter, Amauri. She is also the eldest daughter of Bishop T. D. Jakes and Mrs. Serita Jakes, as well as a devoted sister to four amazing siblings.<br><br>

The political divide in America got center stage treatment at the first Global Think Tank of this year's International Pastors &amp; Leadership Conference. Four spiritual leaders, who have had the ears of U.S. Presidents, joined White House correspondent April Ryan for a discussion about issues, solutions, and the role of the church in the future of our country. It got real. It got animated. Even Bishop Jakes went from audience member to VERY active participant in this all too critical conversation.

The political divide in America got center stage treatment at the first Global Think Tank of this year's International Pastors &amp; Leadership Conference. Four spiritual leaders, who have had the ears of U.S. Presidents, joined White House correspondent April Ryan for a discussion about issues, solutions, and the role of the church in the future of our country. It got real. It got animated. Even Bishop Jakes went from audience member to VERY active participant in this all too critical conversation.

Monique Pressley wears many hats: lawyer, entrepreneur, minister. She's a strong advocate for justice reform and believes strongly in empowering women with a spirit for being their own boss. Our far-ranging conversation covers her rise to fame as part of Bill Cosby's legal team to her role as a minister and entrepreneur.

April Ryan has spent her career as a journalist and White House correspondent bringing the news to her readers. But lately she has been in the news quite a bit as a subject, not the creator. In this conversation TD Jakes and April Ryan cover everything from her recent altercations with Sean Spicer, to how she is managing to raise young, capable, black girls in today's society.

Patrick Winfield, Senior Pastor of The Potters House of Fort Worth, sits down with Bishop T.D. Jakes for a masterclass on leadership and entrepreneurship.&nbsp; <br>---<br><br>Find the audience survey at <a href="http://survey.panoply.fm/">survey.panoply.fm</a>

This episode, Bishop Jakes sits down with Meagan Good and Devon Franklin.&nbsp;

This episode, Bishop Jakes sits down with Meagan Good and Devon Franklin.&nbsp;

One bullet physically divided a community and ripped it apart but for Robbie that bullet represented something else. He was one bullet away from fulfilling his lifelong dream to become a professional baseball player and unknowingly one bullet away from his destiny to become an international figure of social justice. Sometimes destiny surprises us in ways we would have never imagined.

Jon Klein, formerly the President of CNN/U.S.,&nbsp; is the co-founder and CEO of TAPP Media, a cutting-edge subscription video platform for over-the-top (OTT) channels centered on personalities with highly engaged fans. Jon talks with T.D. Jakes about the state of the established media and the growing credibility gap. Klein argues in a recent op-ed in the New York Times that today,&nbsp; 'Cable news panels are ritualized cage matches — the WWE in loafers.' Jon says that the growing divide between the mainstream media and the public has real consequences that not only threaten media's bottomline but also our democracy as a whole.&nbsp;

This conversation between these two was originally recorded at Dr. Hybel’s 2016 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Creek_Association#The_Global_Leadership_Summit">Global Leadership Summit</a>, an annual training event that aims to transform Christian leaders around the world with an injection of vision, skill development, and inspiration.&nbsp;<br>Together, they hit a range of topics and address Bishop’s philosophy on Leadership. Bishop also leans in on some of the hard truths of leadership; how he balances his life and reconciles the dropping of balls; and lastly, he speaks openly about racial reconciliation within the Church and the Community.&nbsp;

Pastor Steven Furtick and I discuss bridging the cultural gap in Church and uniting ALL people. It’s a provocative and timely conversation given the current events of our Nation. We hit a range of topics from the pros/cons of Pastor Furtick’s multi-facility church model; mentorship and how to be an effective mentee; and the importance of dialogue and not monologue.&nbsp;

Sustaining Transformation: Faith, Food, and Fitness. This is about <em>your </em>commitment to a lifestyle-transformation. It’s about accountability, incremental gains, and continual transformation throughout the year.&nbsp; It’s about keeping the momentum going when “life’s winds stop blowing.”<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

One of my passions right now is bringing the generations together.&nbsp; There is a considerable gap, made even wider by the illusion of being “connected” via social media when we are not truly reaching out to each other.&nbsp; Making an effort to genuinely connect will empower our younger generation to face the societal challenges of today with the wisdom of those who fought the great fight before them.<br><br>In this episode, I speak with my friend and spiritual father, Bishop Sherman Watkins. Bishop Watkins was a critical influence in my life upon the premature death of my Dad when I was 16. His watchful eye and consistent tutelage during those formative years were the catalyst through which I escaped being a statistic too often seen in underserved communities. His marriage of 43 years inspired me as a husband and gave me the perseverance needed in rearing my children. Our intergenerational experiences have helped many today to identify voids and fill them when found.<br><br>Mentorship is important and can be the deciding factor between a young person achieving greatness and feeling lost without purpose.

One of my passions right now is bringing the generations together.&nbsp; There is a considerable gap, made even wider by the illusion of being “connected” via social media when we are not truly reaching out to each other.&nbsp; Making an effort to genuinely connect will empower our younger generation to face the societal challenges of today with the wisdom of those who fought the great fight before them.<br><br>In this episode, I speak with my friend and spiritual father, Bishop Sherman Watkins. Bishop Watkins was a critical influence in my life upon the premature death of my Dad when I was 16. His watchful eye and consistent tutelage during those formative years were the catalyst through which I escaped being a statistic too often seen in underserved communities. His marriage of 43 years inspired me as a husband and gave me the perseverance needed in rearing my children. Our intergenerational experiences have helped many today to identify voids and fill them when found.<br><br>Mentorship is important and can be the deciding factor between a young person achieving greatness and feeling lost without purpose.

One of my passions right now is bringing the generations together.&nbsp; There is a considerable gap, made even wider by the illusion of being “connected” via social media when we are not truly reaching out to each other.&nbsp; Making an effort to genuinely connect will empower our younger generation to face the societal challenges of today with the wisdom of those who fought the great fight before them.<br><br>In this episode, I speak with my friend and spiritual father, Bishop Sherman Watkins. Bishop Watkins was a critical influence in my life upon the premature death of my Dad when I was 16. His watchful eye and consistent tutelage during those formative years were the catalyst through which I escaped being a statistic too often seen in underserved communities. His marriage of 43 years inspired me as a husband and gave me the perseverance needed in rearing my children. Our intergenerational experiences have helped many today to identify voids and fill them when found.<br><br>Mentorship is important and can be the deciding factor between a young person achieving greatness and feeling lost without purpose.

One bullet physically divided a community and ripped it apart but for Robbie that bullet represented something else. He was one bullet away from fulfilling his lifelong dream to become a professional baseball player and unknowingly one bullet away from his destiny to become an international figure of social justice. Sometimes destiny surprises us in ways we would have never imagined.

I Can Relate

In this episode, I spoke with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and had an enlightening&nbsp; conversation about key issues that continue to plague our nation. From economic opportunity, criminal justice, national security, and the public’s view towards the increasing racial and political polarization of America.&nbsp;<br><br><br>This is the first in an ongoing series of discussions that I will have throughout the year that we are calling “Conversations With America.”&nbsp;<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

A candid and frank discussion with the&nbsp;<strong>NAACP President, Cornell William Brooks&nbsp;</strong>that covers everything from social justice and why it is vitally important that everyone gets out to VOTE!&nbsp;

The T. D. Jakes podcast will be a series of on-going conversations with celebrities, authors, political leaders, and&nbsp; experts from all walks of life with an underlying mission to educate, empower, and entertain. . Subscribe now to get all of the episodes of T. D. Jakes podcast.&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br><br><br><br><br>

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br><br><br><br><br>

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br><br><br><br><br>

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Listen to Bishop T.D. Jakes from The Potter's House.