Saloni is known as the ‘girl in the white headphones’ because she is happiest when she is sitting in a corner, noise canceling headphones playing classical music, writing. Those close to her will tell you that she lives life in techni-color and feels everything deeply so it’s hard not to listen when she begins to tell you about it. In her own words - “Don't be fooled by the big personality because deep down inside I'm still the shy introverted kid who used to stammer in public. Stories find me and then I find the courage to tell them.” She has been writing for years but began sharing her stories on stage last year. Since then, she’s performed at various platforms like The Moth, Fresh Ground Stories, 7 Stories, Story Sphere and was recently featured on the Story Collider podcast. 

Gretchen Douma spent 30+ years becoming an advertising and marketing maven. Here in Seattle, she has worked with many of Seattle’s premiere cultural organizations including Seattle Opera, the UW World Series at Meany Hall, The 5 th Avenue Theatre, and Bloedel Reserve. But her first and longest love is theater. She is a playwright and actor who has performed on stages in Seattle, New York, and the Twin Cities, as well as on TV, radio, and online. When theaters shut down during COVID, she began exploring storytelling. Since then, she has told her stories at Fresh Ground Stories, Story Collider, Untold Stories, Bar Stories, Under the Rainbow, and more. Online, her
work can be heard on the Risk! podcast “Face It!” and the Story Collider podcast “Pain.”
She is thrilled to join this group of brave souls tonight to share stories of discovery and resilience.

Carol Rhodes volunteers as a lead presenter in the NAMI Ending the Silence program. Originally from Kansas, she has lived in Tacoma for the past 20 years. She is a proud mother of two adult children. A professional engineer, she has a 30 year career in managing  projects. She enjoys spending her free time outdoors enjoying the beautiful Pacific NW.

Ashley G. runs PrimaryGoals.com, which makes it easier for businesses to make and fulfill commitments that lead to growth. When the wheels are about to fall off from excessive change and chaos, she puts tools and systems in place to maintain sanity. The tool that makes the most impact is always more effective communication. She has a Master's degree in Applied Behavioral Science, is a certified Notion consultant, and has a background in software development for direct-response advertising.   She's a frequent storyteller at The Moth and Fresh Ground Stories.  On sunny days, she'll fly over Issaquah in a paraglider or engage in other adventure sports that are so overwhelmingly dangerous that it's amazing she's still here.

Todd Crooks - Executive Director, Co-Founder of Chad's Legacy Project

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Mr. Crooks is the Executive Director of Chad's Legacy Project (CLP), established late in 2016. Along with his wife and CLP co-founder, Laura, they were bestowed the 2018 Hero Award by the Washington Council for Behavioral Health for CLP's comprehensive work in the improvement of the Washington Mental Health System. He currently also serves on the national Advisory Board for the Mental Health Literacy Collaborative, an organization dedicated to advancing mental health education in schools across the country. In 2023, he served on the School-Based Behavioral Health & Suicide Prevention Legislative Subcommittee for Washington State while also leading a state-wide effort to mainstream the Washington Mental Health Advance Directive. In late 2023, he was bestowed the Public Service Award from NAMI Washington.”

Paul hosts and produces Fresh Ground Stories, Seattle’s longest-running storytelling open mic. He spent 13 years as a standup comedian telling jokes around the country and now happily stays close to home telling stories and helping others learn how to tell their own. Everyone now and then you might hear him on NPR. He loves introducing people to the art of personal storytelling and how it can change lives.

He shared his personal story at the first Brainpower Chronicles and was a speaker coach at the second.