About this episode:

Join us for a powerful and deeply human conversation with Stevie Ward—keynote speaker, freedom coach, and former professional rugby league captain—who now dedicates his life to helping leaders and teams unlock extraordinary performance while experiencing deep, lasting wellbeing.

Stevie’s journey is anything but ordinary. Once a rugby star and captain living his boyhood dream with the Leeds Rhinos, winning three Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, and eventually captaining the side. But when a serious brain injury brought his playing career to an unexpected halt at just 27, he faced his toughest opponent yet—himself.

Through that life-altering turning point, Stevie discovered a powerful truth: that real strength comes not just from physical prowess, but from presence, vulnerability, and radical self-awareness.

During this interview we will discuss his hard-won insights that emerged from his personal reinvention and how to inspire outlandish team spirit, ignite purpose, and foster a freedom to be your absolute best.

More about Stevie Ward:

Stevie Ward is a keynote speaker and freedom coach, helping leaders and teams unlock their highest levels of performance while experiencing deep, sustainable wellbeing.

He grew up laughing at Ricky Gervais and Peter Kay, rocking out to Linkin Park and Nine Inch Nails, and living his childhood dream of playing for his beloved hometown team, the Leeds Rhinos—winning three Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, and eventually captaining the side.

A brain injury brought his career to an early end at 27, creating space for a new mission: guiding teams and individuals through the authentic formula he’s lived and developed—one that conjures outlandish levels of team spirit and the freedom to be your absolute best.

About this epsiode:

In this powerful episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper speaks with Brian Gallagher – former CEO of United Way Worldwide and current Founder of the Leargas Group – about one of today’s most pressing questions: Is capitalism good?

Drawing on a life journey from humble beginnings in a steel town to leading one of the world’s most influential non-profits, they discuss insights on inequality, planetary health, and the urgent need to rebuild social capital in our digital age.

With deep experience in systems thinking, impact investing, and philanthropy, Brian offers a rare, honest perspective on how we can realign economic models to serve both people and planet.

This conversation isn’t just about business – it’s about humanity, purpose, and the kind of future we want to co-create.

Essential listening for leaders, changemakers, and anyone committed to meaningful change.

More about Brian Gallagher:

Brian Gallagher is the Founder and CEO of the Leargas Group, an economic and social impact firm focused on creating social capital using digital technology, racial justice and equity, and impact investing.

Gallagher co-founded the Abundance Circle. Working with a group of partners, the Abundance Circle led a design process to create a multi-sector approach to impact investing. The Abundance Circle is an initiative with the purpose of developing a true multi-stakeholder approach to collective impact, through systems thinking, using conscious capital, through a biomimicry lens, and putting people and planet at the center.

Gallagher also co-founded Donorful. Donorful is a company working with commercial donor advised funds and wealth advisors and their clients to match their philanthropy with results-oriented non-profits and initiatives through an effective and trusted “Smart Network” of local United Ways and Community Foundations.

Gallagher had a long career with United Way. He served as the United Way Worldwide CEO for 19 years. He is responsible for several advancements at United Way. He established new membership standards that required internal consistency and public transparency in financial reporting. Under Gallagher’s leadership United Way became the largest privately supported non-profit in the world, and one of the non-profit sectors’ most valuable brands. United Way is now active in 40 countries around the world as a single brand.

About this episode:

In this uplifting episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by Luke Ketterhagen—yoga teacher, wellness guide, blueberry farmer, and faculty member at the Himalayan Institute.

From a childhood in rural Wisconsin to studying under a Himalayan master, Luke has spent over two decades teaching yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques around the world.

Chris and Luke explore how simple daily practices can transform anxiety into purposeful action, and why now—more than ever—we must tap into our innate tools to regulate our nervous systems, expand awareness, and contribute to a better world.

Expect practical wisdom, experiential breathing, and reflections on community, culture, and the joy of picking blueberries. A heartfelt conversation on human potential and amplifying good.

More about Luke Ketterhagen:

Luke was raised in rural WI by his parents - a couple of ex hippies – an educator and a nurse. Their home was imbued with a passion for spirituality and wellness, driven by a longing to create a community of like-minded people.

This love of knowledge and all things natural was a catalyst for Luke. After graduating magna cum laude with a degree in biomedical sciences from Marquette University, Luke immersed himself in the studies and practices of the Himalayan Tradition. He spent seven years in residence at the Himalayan Institute to study with his teacher, yoga and meditation master Pandit Rajmani Tigunait. This fueled Luke’s passion to share this powerful knowledge with others. Trained in the yoga teacher program in August of 1999, Luke became part of the teaching faculty at the Himalayan Institute.

Luke and his wife, Kourtney proceeded to open yoga studios in Dallas, TX, the Hudson Valley in NY, and in Venice, CA, where they hosted traditional fire offerings (havan) to support the propagation of benevolent forces throughout the world. Luke continued to travel and train teachers internationally, from the Grand Cayman Islands and Dominican Republic to Brussels and the UK. Inspired by his first visit to India during the Maha Kumbha Mela, Luke founded Experience India, a cultural and spiritual excursion to help others to see outside of their world, expand their view, and create an understanding of the connection we have with people all over the world. A founding teacher on the platform, Luke has created content for YogaInternational.com since 2007 and has amassed a library of 100+ yoga classes, guided relaxations and meditations and workshops.

In addition to leading retreats at the Himalayan Institute, Luke facilitates yoga teacher training programs to help studios build community. His website, www.LukeKetterhagen.com has a relaxation you can download for free.

Luke and his wife Kourtney live on their organic blueberry farm in southwest Michigan. Each summer they help continue the family's 57 year legacy of delivering “little drops of blue medicine” to the world while their two young adult children attend college and strive towards their dreams.