In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, David sits down with Bonnie LePage — founder of The Maker, marketing, branding, and AI company — to talk about the power of storytelling, the courage to follow your intuition, and the importance of taking a leap of faith with your calling.

Bonnie shares her remarkable journey: from growing up in South Africa and adapting to a new life in the Midwest, to building a thriving marketing career, and then walking away from it all after a life-altering tragedy. She explains how grief became a catalyst for change, why she now builds brands around the person before the business, and how she helps founders share their genius with the world.

Together, David and Bonnie explore:

• Why intuition is one of the most underused tools for founders

• The role life-changing events play in sparking entrepreneurial leaps

• How telling your authentic story attracts your right people — and repels the wrong ones

• How vulnerability builds connection and attracts your community

• Why stepping away from “shoulds” can open the door to your true calling

• What makes microschools so powerful — for students and entrepreneurs

• How life’s hardest seasons can reveal the work you were made to do

• Practical ways to align your business with your deepest values

  
  

If you’ve been feeling a tug toward something more meaningful — or struggling to put your story into words — this episode is your permission to listen to yourself and take that first step.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to build work — and a life — that truly fits.

Guest Links:

• Connect with Bonnie LePage on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnielepage/

• Learn more about her work in marketing, branding, and AI: https://themakerai.com/

Resources Mentioned:

This Is Marketing by Seth Godin

In this powerful episode, David K. Richards sits down with Dr. Yazmene “Dr. Yaz” Thomas, an inspiring educator, coach, and Founder of Uhuru Pathways, a groundbreaking microschool serving teens and adults through an accelerated, trauma-informed high school diploma program.

A late-night scroll led Dr. Yaz to discover Changemaker Microschools—and what followed was a rapid-fire connection and a clear path to launching her vision: a flexible, culturally responsive online microschool for underserved learners. Together, they dive into:

• Why traditional high school systems are failing adult and alternative learners
• How Uhuru Pathways supports students aged 14 to 60+ with coaching, career readiness, and personal development
• The transformative “Dr. Yaz Method”: helping students get their I.S.H. (Intention, Skills, and Habits) together
• The role of trauma-informed, whole-person education in empowering long-overdue dreams
• What it means to transition from educator to entrepreneur—and why Dr. Yaz is just getting started

About Dr. Yaz:
Dr. Yazmene Thomas is a veteran educator, educational coach, and founder of Uhuru Pathways Learning Center. She holds decades of experience supporting learners across age groups, with a deep passion for unlocking the potential of people who've been left behind by rigid systems. Her work combines academic support, emotional coaching, and cultural truth to help learners finally thrive.

Links & Resources:
Learn more about Dr. Yazmene Thomas at DrYazMethod.org
Connect with Dr. Yaz & Uhuru Pathways
Changemaker Microschools

In this vibrant, soul-led conversation, David K. Richards, CEO of Changemaker Education, sits down with microschool Founder Christina “Pip” Pipkin, who’s launching a Changemaker Partner Microschool, the F.A.Y.E. Learning Center in Houston, Texas. As the first founder featured on the podcast, Pip shares her journey from classroom teacher and EdTech leader to becoming the architect of a personalized, project-based microschool rooted in family, equity, and student agency. They explore the challenges of surrender, self-trust, intersectionality, and stepping into visionary leadership while honoring intuition and faith.

This episode is a masterclass in courage, community, and co-creation—perfect for aspiring founders ready to move beyond the 9–5 and into deep purpose-driven work.

Memorable Quotes:

• “I jump and grow my wings on the way down.”
• “You all took away all my excuses.”
• “F.A.Y.E. is my baby. It’s fulfilling a promise—and a purpose.”
• “We are not just opening schools. We are transforming lives.”
• “It’s bigger than me. I’m just the vessel being used.”

Key Topics Covered:

• Pip’s background in classroom teaching, EdTech, and doctoral study
• The personal call to open a microschool and surrender control
• Founding F.A.Y.E. Learning Center—named after her grandmother
• The role of intersectionality as a Black, LGBTQ woman in Texas
• Balancing doctoral studies with launching a school
• Project-based learning, STEM focus, and family engagement
• Community-building and authentic recruiting
• Pip’s spiritual connection to the journey
• Reflections on cohort support, imposter syndrome, and transformational growth
• The long-term vision for expansion and impact

Approximate Timestamps:

• 00:00–10:00 – Pip’s background, family history, and path into education
• 10:00–22:00 – Founding F.A.Y.E. Learning Center and vision for students & families
• 22:00–38:00 – Discovery of Changemaker Education and alignment with purpose
• 38:00–56:00 – Surrendering control, spiritual connection, and finding support
• 56:00–End – Reflections on transformation, community, and future legacy