Cesar Millan has spent decades working with dogs. What he's really learned is how humans behave.

In this episode of Celebrate Your Story, Cesar shares why dogs reflect our emotional state, why leadership begins with calm confidence, and why loyalty is stronger than love. We discuss the hidden hierarchy inside every pack, the mistake families make when they lead with affection, and how discipline and trust create freedom — on and off the leash.

From his early years in Sinaloa to walking dogs through South Central Los Angeles, Cesar's story is about more than animal behavior. It's about education, responsibility, and becoming the kind of person others — human or canine — want to follow.

If you've ever owned a dog, raised a child, or tried to lead a team, you'll recognize yourself in this conversation. And you may never look at your dog the same way again.

What happens when heartbreak becomes clarity, and resilience becomes a calling?

In this episode of Celebrate Your Story, Emily Goodson shares the journey that led her from a childhood brain injury to becoming an author and advocate for disability inclusion. She reflects on what it meant to grow up in a body that felt different, the years she spent wrestling with self-doubt, and the moment she chose to speak openly about dating.

Her Los Angeles Times essay about dating as a disabled woman sparked a powerful response and ultimately became a book that is already resonating with readers who see themselves in her story. Emily talks openly about the work of self-acceptance, the courage it takes to be vulnerable in relationships, and the responsibility she now feels to be the voice she once needed.

This conversation also speaks to the universal desire to be valued and understood. It reminds us that purpose often grows from the experiences that challenge us most.

If you've ever wondered whether your own experiences could help someone else, you'll find encouragement here. Emily's story is a reminder that when we show up honestly, we give others permission to do the same.

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This special Valentine's episode explores the deeper meaning of love, connection, and appreciation through the stories shared by the Celebrations Pulse community. Jim McCann reflects on how small, thoughtful gestures can make a difference, especially during moments of griefor uncertainty.

You'll also hear Jim's personal reflections on relationships and the widening scope of Valentine's, which is now a season that reaches beyond romantic love to honor the connections we share with family, friends, coworkers, and our wider communities. At its heart, this episode is an invitation to act on your thoughtfulness, invest in your relationships, and use your power to help someone feel seen, valued, and appreciated.

In this episode of Celebrate Your Story , I sit down with Ed Mitzen, founder and CEO of FingerPaint Group and Business for Good Foundation for a conversation about what it takes to build a company that lasts.

Ed walked away from a stable career at 30, with young children at home and no guarantees ahead. He started his business in a basement, pushed through years of uncertainty, burnout, and personal loss, and ultimately built FingerPaint into an 800-employee company serving some of the largest healthcare organizations in the country.

Along the way, he learned lessons many entrepreneurs discover the hard way — that the work never truly shuts off and that success often comes at a personal cost.

We talk about the parts of entrepreneurship people don't always share: starting over after divorce, carrying the weight of payroll and responsibility, and finding perspective after years of effort. Ed also shares how advances in AI are reshaping healthcare and the workforce, and why those changes have made questions of access, opportunity, and dignity even more urgent.

That urgency led Ed and his wife to create the Business for Good Foundation, using their business skills and resources to invest in workforce development, housing, and entrepreneurship in underserved communities. It's a reminder that while business can be demanding, it can also be a powerful tool for lifting others. What do you think? Share your thoughts and stories with me here.

What if the real secret to happiness isn't success, money, or achievement—but love, relationships, and how we show up for one another?

In this episode of Celebrate Your Story, I sit down with Professor Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor and behavioral scientist who has dedicated his life to studying what makes people happy. Arthur is a best-selling author and one of the most thoughtful voices on happiness, faith, and meaning today. Our conversation goes far beyond theory. We discuss family, marriage, faith, money, purpose, and why many high-achieving individuals still feel empty.

Arthur shares insights from decades of research, including why chasing "the number" never works, why love must come before ambition, and how happiness is built through enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning—not fleeting feelings. We explore the science behind relationships, the role of faith and prayer, the importance of commitment, and why serving others is the surest path to a meaningful life.

As someone who's spent nearly 50 years in the business of helping people express love through flowers and gifts, this conversation deeply resonated with me. It's a reminder that while products may change, relationships are everything.

If you've ever questioned what success is really for, how to live with greater purpose, or how to turn your life into something that truly matters—this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

In this special Celebrate Your Story, I revisit my early years working at St. John's Residence for Boys, a home for boys who couldn't safely live with their families. It was a place where structure created stability and relationships created possibility.

At the time, I was a young counselor, learning the job alongside the boys themselves. My days were shaped by schedules, shared meals, hard conversations, and small moments of trust earned over time. St. John's showed me how much consistency matters, and how powerful it can be when a young person knows someone will show up for them, day after day.

In this episode, I share stories from life inside St. John's, including the boys who taught me resilience, the mentors who modeled patience and leadership, and the experiences that revealed how belief and guidance can shape a young person's future. These relationships left a mark on me and influenced how I think about responsibility and leadership to this day.

This episode reflects on service and the role we each play in creating environments where people can grow. It's a reminder that our stories are formed through relationships — through the people we support, the lessons we pass on, and the communities that help us become who we're meant to be.

As the holiday season unfolds, we're reminded that the most meaningful traditions are often the simplest ones.

In this Holiday Edition, I share heartfelt stories from our community about ornaments passed down through generations, small rituals that spark laughter, and traditions born from love, creativity, and sometimes even necessity.

These moments, whether painted by little hands, forgotten cranberry sauce, or a New Year's fairy known only to one family, remind us that holidays aren't about perfection. They're about connection, memory, and the power we all have to create traditions that can last far beyond us.

December birthdays come with their own unique challenges — and their own unexpected joys. It's a month when celebrations can feel overshadowed by holiday plans, winter weather, and the rush of the season.

In this special episode of Celebrate Your Story , Jim reflects on the notes and memories Celebrations Pulse readers have shared about what it's really like to have a birthday in December.

Community members share how they learned to embrace the timing, carve out their own traditions, and appreciate the way a December birthday can bring everyone a little closer. From feeling lost in the swirl of "birthmas" gifts to discovering the perks of a season already filled with warmth and togetherness, these stories show that meaning comes from the people who make space for us.