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Dream Makers Talk

Empowering Voices, Inspiring Communities

Featured Episodes

The three most recent episodes from each featured channel, refreshed automatically every week.

The Science of Gratitude

@TheScience-of-Gratitude

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Oct 14, 2026

WHEN YOUR BODY STOPS LISTENING (PART 2) || DR. VALERIE MUKANGA || CHARLENE MOULY

The surgery was over. But Charlene's journey was far from finished. After losing the ability to walk, she now faced the long road to recovery. Learning to move again required patience, consistency, physical therapy, and faith through days when progress wasn't always easy to see. In Part 2 of this conversation, Charlene takes us deeper into her recovery journey and the lessons she learned along the way. From moving out of a wheelchair to taking steps again, she shares why the smallest victories became some of the biggest moments of hope. But her recovery wasn't just physical. Charlene also reflects on the power of the words we speak, the importance of protecting our environment, and the decision to focus on God's promises even when circumstances look frightening. How do you keep believing when you don't know how long the journey will take? How do you celebrate progress when you still have so far to go? Charlene's testimony reminds us that recovery is a process, faith can sustain us through uncertainty, and sometimes the smallest sign of progress gives us the strength to take the next step. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charlene is a wife and mother, has a full-time career in Finance and Human Resources and is a woman of faith who has undergone a life-changing journey of an unexpected injury, loss of mobility, recovery, and profound transformation. 9 months ago, following a sudden and unexplainable spinal cord compression injury that left her unable to walk and with significant loss of sensation and mobility, Charlene underwent emergency spinal surgery and then began her road of rehabilitation and recovery. What followed next was not only a journey of physical healing but a journey of restoration of her mind, body, and soul. She gained peace, joy, unwavering faith and gratitude alongside the ability to walk again and the restoration of her physical capabilities through putting trust in God one day at a time. Through her recovery, Charlene has discovered that healing is often a process rather than a single moment. Her experience has changed the way she sees life, relationships, purpose, faith, and the things that truly matter. Today, she shares her story to bring hope to others who are walking through difficult seasons and to remind them that setbacks don’t have to be the end of the story. Progress happens one day at a time and one step at a time and that hope can be found even in the hardest chapters. Her message is one of faith, resilience, gratitude, hope, and trusting God through the unknown. --------------------- **The Science of Gratitude (TSG)** YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheScience-of-Gratitude TikTok: @the.science.of.gr Email: [thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com](mailto:thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com) Thank you for watching. Like, share, comment, and subscribe. #TheScienceOfGratitude #WhenYourBodyStopsListening #Faith #Healing #Testimony #Hope #Gratitude #TrustGod #ragebait

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Oct 7, 2026

WHEN YOUR BODY STOPS LISTENING (PART 1) || DR. VALERIE MUKANGA || CHARLENE MOULY

What happens when your body suddenly stops listening to you? For Charlene, it happened faster than she ever could have imagined. In just a matter of weeks, she went from being healthy and active to losing the ability to walk and even losing feeling in her body. Then came the fear, the uncertainty, and the discovery that would change everything. But somewhere in the middle of that frightening season, something happened that gave her a reason to keep believing: **“I can feel my toes.”** Those four words became a moment of hope in a journey filled with uncertainty. Charlene opens up about the physical and emotional battle she faced, the emergency surgery, the role of prayer and worship, and the small victories that eventually took her from a wheelchair to walking again. Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes progress doesn't look like a giant breakthrough. Sometimes, it looks like feeling your toes again. And sometimes, the smallest sign of hope is enough to keep you moving forward. -------------------------------------------------------------- Charlene is a wife and mother, has a full-time career in Finance and Human Resources and is a woman of faith who has undergone a life-changing journey of an unexpected injury, loss of mobility, recovery, and profound transformation. 9 months ago, following a sudden and unexplainable spinal cord compression injury that left her unable to walk and with significant loss of sensation and mobility, Charlene underwent emergency spinal surgery and then began her road of rehabilitation and recovery. What followed next was not only a journey of physical healing but a journey of restoration of her mind, body, and soul. She gained peace, joy, unwavering faith and gratitude alongside the ability to walk again and the restoration of her physical capabilities through putting trust in God one day at a time. Through her recovery, Charlene has discovered that healing is often a process rather than a single moment. Her experience has changed the way she sees life, relationships, purpose, faith, and the things that truly matter. Today, she shares her story to bring hope to others who are walking through difficult seasons and to remind them that setbacks don’t have to be the end of the story. Progress happens one day at a time and one step at a time and that hope can be found even in the hardest chapters. Her message is one of faith, resilience, gratitude, hope, and trusting God through the unknown. --------------------- **The Science of Gratitude (TSG)** YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheScience-of-Gratitude TikTok: @the.science.of.gr Email: [thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com](mailto:thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com) Thank you for watching. Like, share, comment, and subscribe. #TheScienceOfGratitude #WhenYourBodyStopsListening #Faith #Healing #Testimony #Hope #Gratitude #TrustGod

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Sep 30, 2026

Hoping Against The Impossible || Dr. Valerie Mukanga || Ernest Balezi

What do you do when it feels like everything is saying no? For Ernest Balezi, the road to dentistry was anything but straightforward. His journey from Congo to the United States came with uncertainty, vision challenges, long commutes, difficult decisions, and moments when the future was anything but clear. And then came another obstacle: how would he afford dental school? With major changes to federal student loans creating a serious funding gap, Ernest was faced with a decision that could have changed everything. For a moment, the dream seemed out of reach. But sometimes what feels like a closed door isn't the end of the story. In this conversation, Ernest shares what it looked like to trust God when he couldn't see the next step, and how mentors, unexpected connections, volunteering, clinical experiences, prayer, and people who showed up at the right time helped him keep moving forward. He also talks about something we don't always recognize as provision: not just money or material things, but peace, direction, breath, wisdom, and the right people appearing when you need them most. His story raises a question many of us face at some point: **What if God is asking you to wait when everything around you is telling you to give up?** This is a conversation about faith, purpose, provision, and learning to keep going when the path ahead isn't clear. **The Science of Gratitude (TSG)** YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheScience-of-Gratitude TikTok: @the.science.of.gr Email: [thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com](mailto:thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com) Thank you for watching. Like, share, comment, and subscribe. #gratitude #christianpodcast #WhenGodSaysWait #Faith #TrustGod #GodsProvision #purpose #Dentistry #FaithJourney #Hope #TheScienceOfGratitude -------------------------------------- Ernest Balezi is a dedicated community leader, mentor, and aspiring healthcare professional with a passion for service and leadership. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he is pursuing his education at the University of Washington while actively investing in the next generation through mentorship, community outreach, and nonprofit work with Cocreative Culture. Driven by his Christian faith and a heart for making a lasting impact, Ernest is committed to empowering others through education, service, and leadership. His journey reflects resilience, purpose, and a desire to inspire people to pursue excellence while serving their communities with compassion.

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The Rising & Thriving Podcast

@TheRisingAndThrivingPodcast

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Jun 5, 2026

Veterans Disability Appeals: You Can Win, But at What Cost?

Veterans benefits appeals, VA disability claims, legal judgment, veteran mental health, and disability claim backlogs are at the center of this conversation with attorney Michael S. Just. Most people think law is about one thing: winning. But what if winning the case is not the same as helping the person? In this 5-minute section of The Rising and Thriving Podcast, I sit down with Michael S. Just, a veterans benefits appeals attorney, to talk about the moral judgment behind legal decisions. The Department of Veterans Affairs reported that it processed more than 3 million claims in fiscal year 2025 and more than 1.5 million claims halfway through fiscal year 2026. But thousands of disability and pension claims remain backlogged, and appealed claims are tracked separately. Behind those numbers are real people. Veterans waiting for decisions may also be dealing with homelessness, lack of medical care, addiction, mental health struggles, and family pressure. That is why Michael says lawyers cannot only think about whether a case can be won. They also have to ask: What will this decision cost the client? In this clip, we talk about: Why law is not only about rules Why judgment matters more than certainty Why a legal win can still carry a human cost Why veterans benefits appeals require more than technical knowledge Why attorneys must consider the person behind the case This conversation is part of Season 1 of The Rising and Thriving Podcast, where we explore how people think and make decisions when the stakes are high. If this conversation is helpful, subscribe to the podcast so you are notified when a new episode is released. #veteransbenefits #VADisabilityClaims #VeteransAppeals #veteranmentalhealth #legaljudgment #decisionmaking

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May 27, 2026

How Lawyers Make Hard Decisions When the Answer Isn’t Clear | with Michael Just S01EP02

Decision-making under pressure, legal judgment, leadership, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and responsibility when there is no clear answer and the outcome affects other people. What do you do when you have to make an important decision, but you do not have all the information you need? In this episode of The Rising and Thriving Podcast, My guest, Michael S. Just, and I explore what it means to think carefully when experiencing pressure and making decision that may affect the people around us. The conversation examines the difference between following rules and using judgment, the risk of leaving stability to build something of your own, and the way responsibility can shape how you lead at work, at home, and in your community. In this episode, we talk about: • Making decisions when there is no clear answer • Understanding the human cost behind professional choices • Leaving stability and accepting the risk of building something new • Leadership that adapts to different people and situations • Fatherhood, responsibility, and creating opportunities for young people • Learning to live with decisions when the outcome is uncertain This conversation is part of Season 1 of The Rising and Thriving Podcast, where we explore how people think and decide when the stakes are high. Subscribe to follow the full season. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Guest Michael S. Just is an attorney and the founder of Just Law. His work focuses on veterans’ benefits appeals. He has also taught law, supervised future attorneys, and founded the AAU basketball program Hoops Army. Website: https://www.mjustlaw.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Host My name is Yves Mukanya. I am a therapist, transformational coach, and host of The Rising and Thriving Podcast. I focus on helping individuals navigate identity, pressure, and decision-making in moments that shape the direction of their lives. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_neighberhood_therapist/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@urneighberhoodtherapist LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvesmukanya/ Website: https://www.yvestmukanya.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hashtags #DecisionMaking #Leadership #LegalJudgment #Entrepreneurship #Fatherhood #Mentorship #HighStakesDecisions #RisingAndThrivingPodcast ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:06 Judgement Vs Certainty 05:22 Sustained Pressure and Burnout 17:10 Decison-Making Under Pressure With A Teaching Lens 30:56 Fatherhood and Long-Term Responsibility 39:00 Moral Weight And Reflection 43:10 Closing Reflection 44:31 Final Question To Close 46:14 Sign-OFF + Call To Action -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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May 11, 2026

Where This Conversation Is Going Identity, Pressure, and the Decisions We Make S01EP01

Decision-making under pressure, identity, leadership, and high-stakes choices. How do people think and decide when the path is not clear and responsibility cannot be avoided? What happens when the direction of your life changes and the decision in front of you is not as clear as you want it to be? This episode introduces Season One of The Rising and Thriving Podcast and the question behind this season: How do people think, decide, and become who they are when pressure forces them to act? This is not about quick answers. It is about understanding how decisions are made when: information is incomplete time is limited responsibility is real Subscribe to follow the full season. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Host My name is Yves Mukanya. I am a therapist, transformational coach, and host of The Rising and Thriving Podcast. I focus on helping individuals navigate identity, pressure, and decision-making in moments that shape the direction of their lives. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me: Instagram: www.instagram.com/your_neighberhood_therapist/ Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@urneighberhoodtherapist LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yvesmukanya/ Website: www.yvestmukanya.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hashtags #DecisionMaking #IdentityUnderPressure #leadershipthinking ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:32 The Shift 01:10 The New Direction 01:59 What High-stakes Means Here 02:35 The Lens I Bring 04:04 What This Season Will Explore 04:35 Who Is This For 05:03 Closing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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OYL Podcast

@dr.valeriemukanga

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Oct 19, 2026· Short

What If GOD Is Using Your STORM to Strengthen You? #motivation #storm #challenge

Storms aren’t always our enemies. Just as strong winds cause roots to grow deeper, life’s challenges can strengthen our faith, build our character, and make us stronger. Don’t just pray for the storm to pass. Ask God to help you grow through it. Stay rooted. Stay strong. Keep growing. #storm #strength #challenges #WordOfTheWeek

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Oct 16, 2026· Short

HOW TO PREVENT CAVITIES #cavities #dentalcare #dentistnearme

If you're experiencing any of these signs, it's time to talk to a qualified dentist. 📍 In the Arlington area? Healing Wings Dental is accepting new patients! Book your appointment through the link in our bio or call us at [(972) 213-0202]. Your smile deserves the right care. 🦷 #dentistsnearme #dentalcare #teethcare #healingwingsdental

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Sep 24, 2026

Overcoming Procrastination | Dr Valerie Mukanga | Coach Dara Bell

Why do we procrastinate? Sometimes it’s not laziness. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s overwhelm. And sometimes, when you’re already carrying a lot emotionally, even the simplest things can feel impossible to start. In this conversation, Dr. Valérie Mukanga sits down with educator and coach Dara Bell to look at what may really be behind procrastination—and what it takes to get unstuck. Dara shares practical ways to move forward without beating yourself up: creating routines, working with your natural energy, breaking big tasks into smaller steps, journaling, and giving yourself permission to begin again. They also talk about the connection between procrastination, fear, depression, overwhelm, and the pressure we put on ourselves to get everything right. And through it all is a faith-centered reminder: being behind does not mean you have failed. Sometimes you don't need to figure everything out. You just need to take the next small step. If you've been stuck in the cycle of “I'll do it later,” this conversation may help you understand what's really happening—and how to start moving again. The Science of Gratitude (TSG) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheScience-of-Gratitude TikTok: @the.science.of.gr Email: thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com Follow Dara Bell and learn more about From Stuck to Started through the information shared with this episode. Thank you for watching. Like, share, comment, and subscribe. #TheScienceOfGratitude #Procrastination #Fear #Overwhelm #Depression #Faith #MentalHealth #Purpose #growth --------------------------- Dara Bell is an educator, tutor, and coach with more than 25 years of experience in public education and over a decade of one-on-one coaching. She has worked with students, adults, and medical residents, helping them overcome procrastination, executive skill challenges, overwhelm, and the feeling of being stuck. Through her faith-based approach, Dara helps people understand what may be underneath their procrastination—from fear and overwhelm to uncertainty about where to begin—and offers practical tools to help them move forward with greater structure and grace. She is also the author of *From Stuck to Started*, a faith-based guide and workbook designed to help people shift their mindset and develop healthier habits. Her work is centered on helping people take small, meaningful steps toward becoming unstuck and moving forward.

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Dream Makers Talk

@dmact243

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Oct 17, 2026

Série IA CBNEXT × CDMA · Session 5 : Écrire avec l'IA (séance complète)

Session 5 de la série IA CBNEXT × CDMA, samedi 17 octobre 2026. Écrire avec l'IA : à partir de notes en vrac en français, ChatGPT écrit un CV d'une page en anglais pour Maman Grâce, sans inventer de diplôme ni de date. Puis on lui demande de tout expliquer ligne par ligne, il pose ses questions et corrige le CV. Ce que l'on vérifie avant de signer : diplômes, dates, chiffres, langues. Les témoignages de Stéphanie et de Maman Wivine, la question de Marcus sur les tokens. Puis, pour les 55 ans du Dr. Muswamba Mwamba, président du conseil, la classe écrit une chanson avec Claude, Gemini et Suno. Ouverture par le Dr. Muswamba. Chapitres 0:00 Introduction 0:32 Le Dr. Muswamba ouvre la séance 2:22 Une inscription record en RDC 4:51 Les sessions 1 à 4, et le certificat 9:17 Écrire un CV avec l'IA 11:38 Le devoir, les quatre parties d'un prompt, vérifier 18:37 La question de Stéphanie 22:14 Maman Wivine : un groupe d'étude en famille 27:29 Marcus : pourquoi l'IA s'arrête, les tokens 35:11 L'exemple du Dr. Muswamba 37:06 Démonstration A : le CV de Maman Grâce 45:19 Démonstration B : explique-moi ligne par ligne 52:32 Ce que l'on vérifie, et la règle 55:18 Le devoir, la session 6, le certificat 1:00:53 Joyeux anniversaire, Dr. Muswamba 1:04:58 Claude écrit les paroles avec la classe 1:15:42 Gemini compose une première version 1:21:38 Suno, et Claude aux commandes 1:34:01 Les réglages de Suno 1:37:23 La version 2 de la chanson 1:42:15 Réactions et au revoir 1:46:53 Prochaine séance Seize samedis, gratuit. Le certificat demande 10 séances sur 16. Dernier jour pour entrer et y arriver encore : 31 octobre. Prochaine séance : Session 6, samedi 24 octobre, 10h00 heure de Dallas. L'IA pour les visuels. Pensez à un événement qui aurait besoin d'une affiche. La page de la session 5, avec les prompts à copier : https://dmact.org/fr/ai-series/session-5/prep Inscription : https://dmact.org/fr/ai-series Session 4, moments forts : https://youtu.be/7lSKa4lBNd8 Session 4, séance complète : https://youtu.be/9c4CdEf8dhQ Certains écrans partagés sont floutés pour protéger des informations personnelles. Quelques passages ont été coupés, et des précisions sont affichées à l'écran : le certificat demande 10 séances sur 16, et il faut rejoindre la série au plus tard le 31 octobre pour y arriver. Maman Grâce est un personnage fictif.

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Oct 17, 2026

Série IA CBNEXT × CDMA · Session 5 : Écrire avec l'IA (moments forts)

Les moments forts de la Session 5 de la série IA CBNEXT × CDMA, samedi 17 octobre 2026. L'IA écrit vite. C'est vous qui signez. Un CV d'une page à partir de notes en vrac, l'IA qui explique ce qu'elle a écrit, et une chanson d'anniversaire composée avec toute la classe pour le Dr. Muswamba. Chapitres 0:00 Introduction 0:32 Bienvenue à la cinquième session 1:29 La question de Stéphanie 2:07 Un groupe d'étude en famille 3:40 Pourquoi mon IA s'arrête ? 4:29 Le CV de Maman Grâce 5:05 Explique-moi ligne par ligne 5:39 L'IA pose ses questions 6:34 Not yet certified 6:58 Ce que l'on vérifie 7:44 L'IA vous aide à comprendre 8:44 Dans le chat 8:58 Quel style, docteur ? 9:34 On la compose ensemble 10:30 Claude prend les commandes de Suno 11:16 La version 2 11:58 C'est dans l'éternité 12:33 Prochaine séance Seize samedis, gratuit. Le certificat demande 10 séances sur 16. Dernier jour pour entrer et y arriver encore : 31 octobre. Prochaine séance : Session 6, samedi 24 octobre, 10h00 heure de Dallas. L'IA pour les visuels. Pensez à un événement qui aurait besoin d'une affiche. La page de la session 5, avec les prompts à copier : https://dmact.org/fr/ai-series/session-5/prep Inscription : https://dmact.org/fr/ai-series Session 4, moments forts : https://youtu.be/7lSKa4lBNd8 Session 4, séance complète : https://youtu.be/9c4CdEf8dhQ Certains écrans partagés sont floutés pour protéger des informations personnelles. Quelques passages ont été coupés, et des précisions sont affichées à l'écran : le certificat demande 10 séances sur 16, et il faut rejoindre la série au plus tard le 31 octobre pour y arriver. Maman Grâce est un personnage fictif.

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Oct 17, 2026

Docteur Wumela (version 2) | Mbotama elamu Docteur Muswamba (55 ans)

Mbotama elamu, Docteur Muswamba! Joyeux 55e anniversaire. Une rumba congolaise composée avec l'IA par les participants de l'AI Series de CDMA, pour célébrer notre Président le samedi 17 octobre 2026. Né tôt le matin, sa maman l'avait dit dès le premier jour, « cet enfant sera un travailleur ». Elle avait vu juste. Wumela, Docteur! Community Dream Makers - CDMA https://dmact.org

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What Is Dream Makers Talk?

A Stage for Every Story

Dream Makers Talk is a vibrant community media platform created to amplify the voices of our members and celebrate the stories that shape our community. Inspired by the spirit of TED Talks, this program provides a stage where individuals can share their experiences, ideas, and dreams — fostering connection, discovery, and collective growth.

We believe every person carries a story powerful enough to inspire others. Dream Makers Talk exists to make sure those stories are seen, heard, and valued.

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Our Purpose

Through Dream Makers Talk, We Aim To

This is where the community learns from the community — one voice at a time.

Highlight the diverse and inspiring stories of our members

Foster a supportive environment where ideas can flourish

Provide opportunities for individuals to gain community recognition and support

Encourage personal growth, innovation, and collaboration

This is where the community learns from the community — one voice at a time.

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@dmact243

Série IA CBNEXT × CDMA · Session 5 : Écrire avec l'IA (séance complète)

Série IA CBNEXT × CDMA · Session 5 : Écrire avec l'IA (moments forts)

Docteur Wumela (version 2) | Mbotama elamu Docteur Muswamba (55 ans)

Théa (Trente ans) | Rumba moderne

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Dream Makers Talk Is a Movement

Not just a platform — it's a space where your voice matters and your story inspires.

CDMA Community Event
CDMA Members
CDMA Team
CDMA Connect
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Our Mission

To empower Community Dream Makers members through education, innovation, and cultural preservation — uniting Congolese excellence with collective empowerment.