With Gratitude, Matt

Making Daily Choices and Knocking Out Anxiety, with Dr. John Delony

Dr. John Delony is a highly sought after best-selling author, mental health expert and show host covering relationships, mental health, anxiety, healthy leadership and emotional wellness. In other words, this episode is relatable to just about anyone aware of the opportunity to learn from adversity. John has been with Ramsey Solutions since 2020 and hosts the Dr. John Delony Show. Through his speaking and writing, he helps individuals work through past trauma and find a path forward. So ofte...

Finding Meaning in Life's Final Days, with Dr. Christopher Kerr

Dr. Christopher Kerr is an end life researcher, a hospice physician, CEO and Chief Medical Officer for Hospice and Palliative Care in Buffalo, NY, and the acclaimed author of Death is But a Dream. He provided hospice care for Matt Moran and his family in August, 2023. His extraordinary care and guidance was impactful and comforting for the family in the moment and in the grieving process that followed. As Matt would certainly would have wished and how he so often did with this podcast, we ar...

Celebrating Matt's Life, with Bill Moran and Dr. Roy Vongtama

SHOW NOTES: The world lost a positive force of nature, a friend, brother, a husband, and a father of two amazing girls on August 20, 2023, when Matt passed. Over the past 3 years while Matt lived with his cancer, he created 71 episodes of With Gratitude, Matt. During that time, he shined his light on many others and helped give a voice to stories filled with life lessons. He modeled how to live with gratitude every day and how to be a man for others. His earthly presence will be dearly misse...

Caring for Haiti's Children, with Danita Estrella-Watts

 Danita Estrella-Watts is the founder and President of Danita’s Children in Haiti which cares for orphaned children. Her vision began at the young age of 11 after a mission trip opened her eyes to all the suffering. Twenty-five years later she returned and by listening to God’s voice, she began to create tools to care for the children of Haiti. Today her organization is able to meet many physical, emotional and spiritual needs through a home which cares for 80 orphans, a school that educates...

Honoring Their Son and His Tragic Loss, With Tom and Stephanie Quehl

Stephanie and Tom Quehl are the proud parents of four boys. In September of 2021, they faced the worst tragedy when they lost their son, Jack, to a lethal dose of fentanyl-laced cocaine at the young age of 24. Jack was not an addict or a habitual drug user and had never intended to take fentanyl, but it unfortunately robbed him of his future. Jack’s background was filled with academic success, athletic achievement, family love, friends, and impact wherever he went (he was an avid traveler), ...

From Domestic Violence and Homelessness to Strength and Faith, with Jennifer

Jennifer’s story is heartbreaking yet also powerful as it provides a unique lens into domestic violence, homelessness, and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. 10 years into her marriage, she reached a breaking point after barely surviving an episode where she was beaten and almost set on fire. But it was the love of her son and eventually God’s spirit that put her on a long path of recovery towards finding a better life. Jennifer’s serendipitous encounter with Matt at the Logan In...

Faith and Work Coming Together, with Brett Smith.

Brett R. Smith, Ph. D. is the Founding Research Director of the the L.I.F.E Research Lab at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (L.I.F.E =Leading the Integration of Faith & Entrepreneurship). His program explores how spirituality and business can indeed be interwoven together for a more fulfilling professional and personal journey. The program’s birth at a public University was unlikely, but after hearing about Brett’s journey, his calling to teach, his deep faith, and the seeds that God plante...

Finding Purpose Everyday with Starbucks Former President, Howard Behar

In this insightful episode, we dive deep into the life of Howard Behar, the former president of Starbucks Coffee. As one of the founding leaders, he participated in expanding Starbucks from just 28 stores after joining in 1989 to over 15,000 stores in 5 continents after his 21 years of service ended. Since retiring, he has written 2 books It's Not About The Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks and The Magic Cup: A Business Parable About a Leader, a Team, and the Power of Pu...

Cultivating a Life of Listening and Paying Attention, with Jen Pollock Michel

Author Jen Pollock Michel has found that one of the keys to being a good writer is just paying attention and being curious about the world and your own questions. Many of her books are a reflection of her own human experience of faith and her journey to find purpose and where to lean among all the everyday challenges that we all face from our bills, loss we encounter, health obstacles and relationships. In her work as a talented writer, speaker, coach, and podcast host, she talks about relyi...

With Gratitude, Matt - Jen Pollock Michel

Learning to Live and Thrive with Disease, with Jon Dannemiller

In 1984, Jon’s life took an unexpected turn when the first symptoms of ulcerative colitis started to appear. In addition to the health hurdles, the disease brought with it various other social, athletic and just practical life challenges. Treatment options at that time were limited to steroids which brought such side effects as weight gain and trouble sleeping. Diet choices and awareness of the nearest restroom became part of the day. Jon initially kept his diagnosis private and he just trie...

Inspiring Lives and Winning Races at Age 91, with John Hurd

In the long list of published inspiring sport stories are great feats by well-known athletes from well-known teams from around the world. While John Hurd’s may not be as famous, his story is as uplifting as any and his achievements are beyond remarkable. John has won 169 gold medals, including 9 at the national level, in track and field. The amazing part of those achievements is that they all came after age 61 and continue today into his 91st year. His story is documented in his two books, J...

A Mother’s Love and Helping Others with Loss, with Barbara Legere

Author Barbara Legere lost her 29 year old son Kevin to suicide in 2020. Kevin had been fighting a drug addition and his mental health for 13 years and Barbara did everything she knew how to do to help him recover and just love him. His life and the lessons Barbara learned from it inspired her to write a book called, Kevin's Choice, A Mother's Journey Through her Son's Mental Illness, Addiction and Suicide. Her hope is that the book will help other parents and teens who are suffering, shine ...

Lessons from a Rekindled Relationship, with Andy Hill

Most any high school basketball player in the 1970s dreamed of the opportunity to play for Coach John Wooden, one of the most respected and successful coaches of all time. Andy Hill earned that chance on a UCLA team that won 3 straight National Championships from 1970-72 (part of a string of 7) along with such legends as Bill Walton, Henry Bibby and Jamaal Wilkes. The only issue for Andy was that he spent much of those 3 years as a reserve on the bench. After graduating, Andy carried some un...

On Call for the Bengals, Damar Hamlin, and his Family, with Dr. Bret Betz

Bret Betz MD is a physician at the University of Cincinnati Health specializing in orthopaedics, sports medicine, and emergency medicine. It was his interest in sports medicine that led him to become the team physician for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was on the field January 2 when Damar Hamlin went down and laid unconsciousness on the field as 23 million fans watched across the country. It was a moment he and his team were prepared for due to their game day routines, discipline, years of tra...

Doing Work That Will Last Beyond My Lifetime, with Brother Andrew Torrey

The work to become a priest is not easy but it is full of joy as you will see with this conversation with Brother Andrew. Brother Andrew Torrey is in his last year of 14 years of formation with the Legionaries of Christ in Rome. In the spring of 2024, he will be ordained and assigned to a parish somewhere else in the world.  For many of us, 14 years of religious study and the anxiety of an unknown future living location might seem overwhelming. But Brother Andrew is putting his trust in God ...

Being Single and Finding Joy Exactly Where You Are, with Hannah Schermerhorn

Newly published author Hannah Schermerhorn was two months away from her wedding day in 2014 when she ended the engagement. She was embarrassed, felt shame and was let down because she wanted all the richness and joy that comes from married life. Learning to embrace being single was a transition that was aided heavily by her faith and her strong upbringing. Her experience inspired her to write her first book for any others facing similar challenges. Hannah discovered countless lessons and too...

A Healed Brain and the Doors it Opened, with Chris Gathers

Chris Gathers is a brain cancer warrior and after the successful removal of his tumor, decided to do something to shake up his daily routine.  Inspired by a best friend, he started an Instagram page @culminationpoint in which he posts regular messages about surviving brain cancer, trauma and lessons learned about healing and growth. As the title of his page suggests, it came down to a choice of either status quo or shedding the past and recreating. As a Regional Vice President for Nationwide...

With Gratitude, Matt - The Gratitude Tribute Show, with Listeners and Past Guests

After releasing 56 shows over two and one-half years, the With Gratitude Matt show honors former guests by asking them to check in with their latest gratitude list and honors listeners by asking them to share highlights from past shows. With each episode, the intent is always to pass along life lessons, share stories that people can connect with, and talk about the power of gratitude, faith, and community in overcoming challenges. With this episode, we reflect on the show’s journey so far an...

Understanding, Accepting and Celebrating Andrew, with Kathy Leurck

Kathy and her husband Dave Leurck are the proud parents of 3 children, Andrew, Audrey, and Alexandra. As parents, we of course all hope that our children are born and develop perfectly. But sometimes God has other plans and our dreams change. In Drew’s early years, it was discovered he had special needs and his family did everything they could to understand his condition and “fix it”. However, as time passed and his growth and abilities were better understood, the family came to accept who D...

I Have Gratitude Because of My Hurdles, with Jonathon Sams

Jonathon Sams is no stranger to fighting adversity in his life. When he was 14 he was diagnosed with cancer the first time, then again when he was 39, and for a third time in the spring of 2022. He is a loving husband and father of 4 who sees overcoming cancer as one of his many roles in life. Now, after 3 battles with the disease, he is in a position where he can help others with fear when facing cancer treatment or any big life obstacle. His positive outlook is infectious and also just a c...

I Have Gratitude Because of My Hurdles, with Jonathon Sams

Jonathon Sams is no stranger to fighting adversity in his life. When he was 14 he was diagnosed with cancer the first time, then again when he was 39, and for a third time in the spring of 2022. He is a loving husband and father of 4 who sees overcoming cancer as one of his many roles in life. Now, after 3 battles with the disease, he is in a position where he can help others with fear when facing cancer treatment or any big life obstacle. His positive outlook is infectious and also just a c...

Inspiring Others by Walking Again and Fighting Everyday, with Chris Norton

Chris Norton’s story and the person he is today truly define inspiration. You can find details of his journey from many sources including NBC NEWS, People Magazine, or the film made about his achievements titled, “7 Yards” (on Netflix). In 2010, Chris suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury while playing football for Luther College his freshman year. Paralyzed from the neck down, he was given just a three percent chance of recovery. Not one to back down from a challenge, Chris chose to fi...

Friendship, Faith and Lessons Learned from the Journey, with Dan deStefano

Staying strong through a crisis is never easy. To endure and get to the other side of not one, but many hurdles, takes perseverance and the ability to lean on a solid foundation of character. For Dan deStefano, his strong upbringing where virtues where instilled by parents, friends, and the neighborhood and where a relationship with God was always part of the picture, he managed to sustain a series of hits and land in a better spot.  Dan is Co-Owner of West Chester Hardwood Flooring, Partner...

A Path of Perfection to a Path of Faith, with Susan Fulton, Life Coach

After graduation from college, Susan Fulton was searching, as many of us do, for purpose and a path to follow. While her faith had always been part of her life and been a foundation, it did not necessarily provide a light. She was a perfectionist in which fulfillment came more from order and control. But shortly into her marriage to Rich, she turned over control to God and allowed her faith to become more than just a spoke in the wheel, but rather the steering wheel. With this change, came m...

Nate the Golfer: Focusing on His Ability, Not His Disability, with Nate Forrestel

Nate Forrestel makes a decision everyday that he is going to find a way to inspire others. He does this as a content creator and a social media influencer on TikTok and Instagram for his growing audience of 36,000 followers. What makes Nate’s videos so unique is that he is a golfer who plays with cerebral palsy, a condition that was so severe at birth, that doctors expected he would only survive for 72 hours. Nathan beat the odds and continues to thrive today. As he hit his teen years, Nate ...

Life After a Near Death Experience, with Dr. Eben Alexander & Karen Newell

Dr. Eben Alexander spent over 25 years as an academic neurosurgeon, including 15 years at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital, the Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. In 2008, Dr. Eben Alexander suffered a bacterial infection that put him a week–long coma in which his brain should have been severely damaged. His story of recovery from the near-death experience (NDE) was featured in his first book, Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife (2012), which deb...

You are Worthy and Deserve Success, with Kate McKay

Kate McKay is a high-energy, results oriented success coach, business consultant, transformational speaker, best-selling author, executive entrepreneur, and ACE Certified Fitness & Health Coach. Her natural energy is contagious and no matter how you are feeling at this moment, this interview will lift you up. Kate’s wisdom and ability to help others comes from many lessons she has learned from climbing through her own obstacles, including the loss of her son Will in 2017. She shares many of ...

Measuring Success by How Many You Bless, with Rodney Blunt

Rodney Blunt’s mission every day is to help others. His foundation, City Streets to Students Athletes (CS2SA), focuses on deterring student athletes from drugs and crime. As a former running back at Clemson from 1989-1993 (he led the Tigers in rushing and touchdowns in 1991 and 1993), Rodney saw first hand the many temptations and challenges of being a student athlete. He then spent 18 years in law enforcement and saw how destructive drugs can be and decided this would be his focus area. His...

Strong Roots Now Bursting with Growth, with Mary Marantz

Author and podcast host Mary Marantz recognizes the beauty in her story and the gifts it has provided. But like many of us, it took time for her to see that beauty especially because she saw it as so different than what the “norm” is. Her journey starts modestly from her family’s trailer in West Virginia where she learned life lessons from her father, dealt with an absent working mother, and found blessings in her relationships with her grandmother as well as the occasional stray cat. She fo...

Honoring a Brother and a Legacy, with Pat Sgroi

Pat Sqroi is the President of Sgroi Financial, a firm started by his father Joe. The family business has grown significantly over its 50 plus years and helps countless families with their financial planning needs. Along the way, Pat has managed his way through plenty of obstacles but none perhaps more challenging than the loss of his brother, Jeff, to an aggressive skin cancer in 2016 followed by the loss of his father in 2017. Since Jeff’s passing, Pat helps honor his brother through the Je...

A Story of Recovery and Strength, with China Darrington

God’s plan for all of us is sometimes hard to see, but there is usually a purpose, no matter the journey traveled. China Darrington’s road started with obstacles many can hardly imagine. At a young age, some of her challenges included substance abuse, mental health issues, and human trafficking. After a 20 year battle, she entered recovery while pregnant and began rebuilding her story and her purpose. Her amazing strength and resilience helped her land at a place where she now helps others a...

When Strength is Your Only Choice, with Michael Merrigan

Adversity comes in many forms. We all have or will face an obstacle that seems daunting and overwhelming. Finding and developing the tools to cope sometimes takes a crisis for that needed strength to arrive. For Michael Merrgian, his adversity showed up on October 7, 2018 when he was struck by a car that nearly took his life. Shortly after being admitted in what would be a long hospital stay, Michael learned that doctors were unable to save his leg and he went home as an amputee. Rebuilding ...

Breaking Down Barriers with “Hello,” with Wayne Box Miller

Wayne Box Miller is an award winning media professional, communications veteran and diversity consultant. He is also the pre-game and post-game host for the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network, an author, and currently serving as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. Wayne’s philosophy is simple and effective, and sometimes is as easy as just saying “hello.” In his work with the Cincinnati Bengals, he also sees how sports can remove walls and c...

More on My Cancer Experience and How You Can Help, with Matt Moran

An unexpected illness has many effects, physically and mentally, on a patient and on loved ones who surround that patient. When kidney cancer came around for a 2nd fight in 2018 with Matt, he went searching for ways to cope. One of the most common attributes he found with those who were successfully fighting a disease or some type of adversity in their life, was gratitude. The gratitude stories inspired Matt to begin his own gratitude practice and to learn more about caring for what Dr. Roy ...

Reflections on 20 Years of Leadership as the Xavier University President, with Fr. Michael Graham

Fr. Michael Graham spent over 30 years at Xavier University in Cincinnati, first as an assistant history professor in 1989, then as the VP for University Relations in 1994, and lastly, from 2001 to 2021 as the longest-serving University President. Fr. Graham’s achievements as the XU president are far and wide and include expanding the campus 80 acres, raising 500 million for the university and joining the Big East conference to name a few. But what made Fr. Graham so effective as leader was ...

Caring for Your Marriage, with Dr Cara Hurley

 Dr. Cara Hurley is a licensed clinical psychologist whose practices includes a broad range of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, life transitions, parenting approaches, grief, and trauma. She has specialized in many areas including women’s health, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Health Psychology all which inform her integrative approach to working with each client. The conversation with Matt takes aim at relationships and how we can do the simple things daily to...

A Visit to Heaven and Back, with Paul and Beth Zucarelli

Whether it be running into an old friend, healing from a disease, or just a random song that shows up at the right time, we often attribute events in our lives to just an amazing coincidence.  Or could it be that these coincidences are God’s presence in our day and we just don’t see it? In this podcast, let your faith take a ride as Paul Zucarelli shares his story where he experienced death after he unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest and was revived through intercessory prayer by many. Le...

Finding Balance and Personal Fulfillment, with Dr. Tom Jenike

In 2011, Dr. Tom Jenike was a family practice physician in Charlotte raising his son and daughter. From the outside, you could see layers of success and achievement. But on the inside was a different picture. In the balancing of a grueling schedule, a commitment to patients and the demands of family, something wasn’t right and Tom realized he had found some blind spots that needed to be addressed. He began working with executive coach, Nicholas Beaman, and over the course of a year found a n...

Proof of Resilience and Love, with Mary Curran Hackett

Mary Curran Hackett is today a popular author of several novels and a highly sought after international ghostwriter. Her story to reach this point is inspiring and brave as she has risen up from a low point after surviving a rape over 20 years ago. This tragedy propelled her in many directions but it was these challenges that shaped many of her strengths today. In much of her writing and speaking engagements including this interview with Matt, she shares the wisdom from her journey and the f...

Playing Golf With Cancer, One Day and One Hole at a Time, with Brian Morris

Brian Morris is a loving husband and father of 5 and the head golf pro at Ocean View Golf Course in Bermuda. He grew up around golf and always hoped for a chance to play in a PGA event. However in 2019, the 54 year old was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. He is today being treated regularly for his esophageal and stomach cancer. But supporting this treatment plan is his incredible spirit and positive approach which is helping him battle like crazy to keep beating the odds. His family and frie...

Playing Golf With Cancer, One Day and One Hole at a Time, with Brian Morris

Brian Morris is a loving husband and father of 5 and the head golf pro at Ocean View Golf Course in Bermuda. He grew up around golf and always hoped for a chance to play in a PGA event. However in 2019, the 54 year old was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. He is today being treated regularly for his esophageal and stomach cancer. But supporting this treatment plan is his incredible spirit and positive approach which is helping him battle like crazy to keep beating the odds. His family and frie...

A Man of Character On and Off the Field, with Luke Kuechly

Luke Kuechly is considered to be one of the best NFL linebackers of all-time. He played 8 seasons with the Carolina Paranthers, beginning in 2012 when he led the league in tackles and won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In 2013, he became the youngest ever to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and began a streak of 6 straight Pro Bowl selections. Luke’s lists of awards piled up more each year including winning the NFL Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Winner in 2017 befo...

Teaching, Leading and Feeling Gratitude From the Playing Field to the Boardroom, with John Sabatalo.

John Sabatalo is a man full of charisma and kindness who cares deeply about others. Early on he was called to be a coach and those characteristics helped him succeed on the field and in the boardroom for many years and for many teams. He is currently the President of Planes Companies in Cincinnati, Ohio where since 1991 he has helped grow the business into one of the premiere moving, warehousing, transportation, and logistics firms. The Cincinnati Enquirer consistently rates them as one of t...

Teaching, Leading and Feeling Gratitude From the Playing Field to the Boardroom, with John Sabatalo.

John Sabatalo is a man full of charisma and kindness who cares deeply about others. Early on he was called to be a coach and those characteristics helped him succeed on the field and in the boardroom for many years and for many teams. He is currently the President of Planes Companies in Cincinnati, Ohio where since 1991 he has helped grow the business into one of the premiere moving, warehousing, transportation, and logistics firms. The Cincinnati Enquirer consistently rates them as one of t...

The Spirit That Drives a Paralympic Champion, with Blake Haxton

Blake Haxton is a world-class athlete and winner of the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Games in the sprint canoe. He graduated from Ohio State University with a finance degree in 2013 and a law degree in 2016 and now works for Diamond Hill Capital Management as a Research Analyst. Impressive achievements but even more impressive that this all occurred after contracting necrotizing fasciitis (more commonly known as the flesh-eating disease) and losing both of his legs during his s...

A Passion for Being Challenged, with Dr. Joseph Maroon

Dr. Joseph Maroon’s is a world-renowned neurosurgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His biography and lists of achievement are truly remarkable as a neurosurgeon, scientist, Ironman athlete, consultant, author, and advocate on healthy living and nutrition. Yet despite all this amazing accomplishments, Dr. Maroon has often felt he was an underdog battling his smaller height and weight, coming from a small town, and losing his father at an early age. At age 41, he battled depr...

A Monastic Path, A Family Life, and Timeless Lessons, with Neal Tew.

Neal Tew is a proud father of four kids living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the years, his brilliance and talent has helped him create many new ventures in his life including his own financial planning firm, a new boutique marketing firm called Brandstrength, a ground breaking youth squash association, and he is now the author of a new book titled, The Gospel Life: Three Years in a Monastery. On this episode, Matt discusses Neal’s faith and his longing to explore his spirituality which led him ...

Building a New Life After a Car Accident, with Will and Peter Smith

In 2011, the lives of Pete, Linda, Abbey and Will Smith were forever changed when on their way to Colorado in their rental RV their were struck by a truck driver who had fallen asleep. Several family members sustained injuries that they would be able to recover from but it was Will who suffered a brain injury and was left paralyzed. The recovery has been a challenge for all of them, but has been fueled by the dedication of father Peter who stepped down as the AD from Kenyon College to spend ...

Building a New Life After a Car Accident with Will and Peter Smith

In 2011, the lives of Pete, Linda, Abbey and Will Smith were forever changed when on their way to Colorado in their rental RV their were struck by a truck driver who had fallen asleep. Several family members sustained injuries that they would be able to recover from but it was Will who suffered a brain injury and was left paralyzed. The recovery has been a challenge for all of them, but has been fueled by the dedication of father Peter who stepped down as the AD from Kenyon College to spend ...