Nov 14, 2023
This week on “Next Steps Forward,” host Chris Meek speaks with Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo, director of medical virtual reality at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies, about BraveMind, the virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy program Rizzo created to successfully treat post-traumatic stress (PTS) in veterans. Aside from discussing that groundbreaking technology and treatment in-depth, Rizzo will also touch on how other revolutionary medical technology advancements are paving the way we address mental health. Joining the conversation is Chris Merkle, a 14-year U.S. Marine combat veteran who has directly benefited from the BraveMind technology during his own experiences with PTS. Merkle will also introduce ways that we can all work to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and speak on the feelings of empowerment that volunteering in his own community has afforded him.
Personal empowerment, commitment to our own well-being and the motivation to achieve more than we ever thought possible are the ingredients of a better life. And, they’re all within our reach. Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek delves into the keys to adding energy, excitement, direction and purpose to everything that we do. The program hosts mental health advocates and medical experts, frontline voices on human trafficking and social justice issues, familiar faces from the worlds of entertainment and sports, and leading entrepreneurs to engage in thought-provoking discussions that inspire the audience to take their own next steps forward to better themselves and their communities. Next Steps Forward is intended to be a source of empowerment that many around the world are in need of now more than ever. For guests who join the program, Chris cultivates a space where honest, quality conversations thrive and are not only meant to educate and inform but inspire action, introspection and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Next Steps Forward with Dr. Chris Meek is an informative, uplifting hour every Tuesday at 1 PM Eastern Time/10 AM Pacific Time that’s certain to inspire you to take that important next step forward, too.