Trusting the Path: Faith, Purpose, and the Power of Saying Yes with Dr. Ryan Corte

Dr. Jon Crum on Soulmates, Survival, and the Life That Comes After Pain

In this deeply personal and emotional episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with longtime friend and optometrist Dr. Jon Crum for a heartfelt conversation about healing, resilience, faith, personal growth, and the unexpected ways life can come full circle. The episode begins with reflections on their shared history, including opening an optometry practice together in Chino Hills in the early 1990s and navigating the difficult realities of an abusive relationship that deeply impacted not only family life, but also the workplace, staff, and patients around them. With honesty and vulnerability, Katie revisits the life changing events of November 1st, 2001, the moment both she and Jon made decisions that ultimately transformed the trajectory of their lives. Katie reflects on leaving an abusive marriage and expresses deep gratitude toward Jon for encouraging her to take the difficult but necessary steps to protect herself and her daughters. From there, the conversation evolves into a thoughtful exploration of healing, identity, and personal growth over time. Both guests reflect on how experiences such as divorce, faith, parenthood, and aging reshape priorities and deepen perspective. Jon shares his excitement about entering a new chapter of life, including finding love again later in life and preparing for a future engagement after enduring a difficult divorce. Katie reflects on redefining herself beyond past trauma, learning to trust her own voice, and embracing a more grounded and authentic approach to life. Throughout the episode, themes of forgiveness, emotional safety, healthy relationships, faith, and second chances are woven together with warmth, humor, and deep mutual respect. This episode is a powerful reminder that healing is possible, growth can emerge from pain, and life can still surprise you with joy, purpose, and meaningful connection, even after the hardest seasons.   Key Takeaways Healing often begins with difficult decisions Both Katie and Jon reflect on the painful but necessary choices required to leave unhealthy situations and create space for healthier futures. Growth changes what we value most Life experience shifts perspective toward emotional safety, faith, authenticity, family, and meaningful connection over external appearances or expectations. Second chances are possible at any stage of life Finding peace, love, and fulfillment is not limited by age or past experiences. Healing and joy can still emerge after life’s hardest chapters.   Quotes from the Episode “I’m living my best life now.” “There’s always that one person out there that you’re destined to be with.” “The only way you move to the next level is to see what wisdom comes from the experience.”   About Dr. Jon Crum Dr. Jon M. Crum is a principal of Crum Optometric Group, Inc. and a stakeholder in Total Vision Holdings, LLC, with more than three decades of experience in optometric leadership and business management. Born in Fullerton, California, Jon attended University of California, Los Angeles, earning a degree in Psychobiology in 1986. He later received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry in 1990 and has practiced in the same Chino Hills location for more than 33 years. Beyond optometry, Jon is deeply committed to genealogical research and American historical preservation. He is an active member of several lineage based organizations, including the Sons of the American Revolution, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Jamestowne Society, and The Order of the First Families of Maryland. He is also involved with Wreaths Across America and collaborates with the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum on educational outreach efforts for the America 250 semiquincentennial initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence.   Connect with Dr. Jon Crum Website https://drjoncrum.com/ [https://drjoncrum.com/]

Why We Do What We Do: Purpose, Patients, and Life’s Defining Moments with Tony Sommer

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu welcomes back repeat guest Tony Sommer for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about authenticity, growth, fear, family, and the wisdom that comes through life experience. Recorded once again in Atlanta, the episode reflects the comfort and familiarity that has developed since their first conversation months earlier. What begins with lighthearted discussions about pollen, travel, and Disney gradually unfolds into a meaningful exploration of identity, grounding, and what it truly means to live authentically. Tony shares his deep connection to the field of myopia management, revealing how his own experience with progressive myopia prevented him from becoming a fighter pilot after attending the Air Force Academy. What initially felt like a personal loss ultimately became the driving force behind his passion for helping clinicians protect children’s vision and future opportunities. The conversation also dives into vulnerability and fear. Tony openly shares his lifelong fear of heights despite serving in the military and becoming a parachutist in an effort to confront that fear directly. Katie reflects on her own journey toward authenticity, explaining how she has stopped trying to remove her conversational quirks and instead embraced simply being herself. Together, they discuss the wisdom that comes from life’s trials, including parenting adult children, healing from childhood trauma, learning patience, and releasing the need to control every outcome. Katie speaks candidly about learning disabilities and the coping mechanisms she developed from childhood experiences, while Tony reflects on the growing importance of family, grounding, and multigenerational connection in his life. Throughout the episode, both return to one central truth: growth does not come from avoiding challenges. It comes from remaining grounded, present, and authentic while moving through them. This episode is a warm, vulnerable, and deeply human reminder that wisdom is not about having everything figured out. It is about continuing to learn, adapt, and show up honestly as yourself.   Key Takeaways Authenticity creates freedom and connection Both Katie and Tony reflect on how embracing quirks, fears, and imperfections creates deeper connection and removes the exhaustion of constantly performing different versions of yourself. Wisdom is built through life experience and reflection Parenting, trauma, career pivots, setbacks, and personal challenges all become opportunities for growth when approached with reflection and openness. Fear does not have to stop action Despite a lifelong fear of heights, Tony became a military parachutist and continues pushing himself outside his comfort zone. Courage is action despite fear, not the absence of it.   Quotes from the Episode “Authenticity is critical… you can’t be different people all the time.” “I’m not late, I’m on time. I’m safe and I’m present.” “The only way you can move to the next level is to see what wisdom comes from the experience.”   About Tony Sommer Tony Sommer brings more than two decades of leadership experience in specialty vision care and medical technology, combining commercial strategy with a deeply purpose driven approach to innovation. Most recently, Tony served as General Manager, Americas, for CooperVision Specialty EyeCare, where he led growth across the United States, Canada, and Latin America while advancing specialty lens adoption and myopia management initiatives. Prior to CooperVision, he served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Visioneering Technologies, helping launch and scale the NaturalVue portfolio and build the company’s U.S. commercial infrastructure from the ground up. Earlier in his career, Tony led the U.S. Vision Care Sales organization at Bausch + Lomb, guiding teams through major periods of market transformation and growth. Before entering the eye care industry, Tony served as a U.S. Air Force officer and combat veteran, deploying in support of Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. His military experience shaped the leadership philosophy he carries today: mission driven, team focused, and centered on meaningful outcomes. Tony lives near Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and their three children. He continues to advocate globally for access to vision care and for developing the next generation of leaders who serve both patients and purpose.   Connect with Tony Sommer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsommerjr [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsommerjr] Latest Project | Treehouse Eyes: https://www.treehouseeyes.com/ [https://www.treehouseeyes.com/]

Faith Beyond the Walls: Purpose, Leadership, and Trusting God’s Direction with Torrian Scott

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with executive coach, leadership advisor, minister, and author Torrian Scott for a powerful and deeply faith centered conversation about purpose, identity, leadership, and trusting God through life’s unexpected transitions. Torrian shares his journey from growing up in Houston, Texas, raised by a devoted family despite early hardships, to becoming a leader who has coached CEOs, entrepreneurs, NBA coaches, and business owners around the world. At the center of his story is a lifelong passion for helping people recognize their purpose, develop their potential, and lead with intention. The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Torrian reflects on one of the biggest shifts of his life, closing the church he pastored for nearly a decade after sensing God redirecting him into a new season. He opens up about wrestling with identity after spending more than 20 years primarily known as “Pastor Torrian,” and learning that titles and positions do not define who he is. Katie shares her own parallel journey, realizing that her optometry practice, podcast, and storytelling work are all forms of ministry beyond the walls of a church. Together, they explore how faith shows up not only in traditional ministry, but also in leadership, business, kindness, healthcare, coaching, and everyday human connection. Throughout the episode, themes of courage, action, and trust are woven into every story. Torrian speaks passionately about the danger of allowing fear, people pleasing, or self doubt to prevent someone from becoming who they were created to be. Both he and Katie reflect on learning to quiet outside noise and fully trust God’s direction, even when the next step feels uncertain. This episode is a powerful reminder that faith is not passive. It requires movement, courage, and the willingness to step boldly into the purpose God has prepared for you.   Key Takeaways Titles and roles do not define identity Stepping away from familiar roles can reveal that identity is rooted in who God says we are, not in titles, positions, or seasons of life. Faith requires action, not just belief Faith is not passive hope. It is moving forward despite uncertainty and trusting God through every step of the process. Purpose is fulfilled through serving others Whether through ministry, business, healthcare, coaching, or storytelling, purpose ultimately comes down to helping people and bringing light into their lives.   Quotes from the Episode “The greatest tragedy is meeting the person you should have been.” “Faith is action. It’s not wishing and hoping.” “Roles don’t define me. Titles don’t define me. God defines me.”   About Torrian Scott Torrian Scott is an executive leadership advisor, speaker, entrepreneur, and faith driven leader with more than 20 years of experience helping leaders and organizations unlock their full potential. As the founder of Mastery Advisory Group and Masters in the Marketplace, Torrian equips executives, entrepreneurs, and high performing leaders to discover purpose, develop their potential, and create meaningful impact through leadership. His work spans corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, where he coaches decision makers to lead with clarity, conviction, and strategic execution. Torrian is passionate about helping people move beyond fear, embrace purpose, and lead from a place of authenticity, courage, and faith.   Connect with Torrian Scott Website: https://www.torrianscott.com [https://www.torrianscott.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torrianscott [https://www.linkedin.com/in/torrianscott] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/OfficialTorrianScott [https://www.instagram.com/OfficialTorrianScott] Instagram | Men’s Leadership: https://www.instagram.com/lionsleadinglions [https://www.instagram.com/lionsleadinglions]

Failure Isn’t Final: The Resilience Behind Building Something Bigger with Dr. Jennifer Tabiza

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with optometrist, entrepreneur, consultant, and innovator Dr. Jennifer Tabiza for a high energy and deeply insightful conversation about resilience, reinvention, entrepreneurship, and the courage to keep evolving. Dr. Tabiza shares her journey from traditional practice ownership into building multiple businesses, including Dr. Contact Lens, Techifeye, and a thriving medical spa focused on aesthetics, biohacking, dry eye, and wellness services. Along the way, she opens up honestly about the realities of entrepreneurship, including failed partnerships, difficult investments, burnout, and the emotional weight that often comes with building something new. The conversation explores the rapidly evolving intersection of aesthetics, technology, and eye care. Jennifer passionately advocates for education, intentional partnerships, and due diligence in an increasingly crowded marketplace. She emphasizes that successful innovation is not just about adopting new technology, but understanding how it impacts the patient experience, team culture, and long term business sustainability. Beyond business, the episode takes a reflective turn as Katie and Jennifer discuss identity, self worth, and the challenge of balancing ambition with fulfillment. Jennifer shares powerful insights about separating personal value from business outcomes, while Katie reflects on redefining herself beyond the traditional “white coat” identity after decades in practice. Together, they unpack themes of expansion, enoughness, time management, coaching, work life balance, and the importance of investing not only financially in a business, but emotionally and strategically in personal growth. This episode is a powerful reminder that growth is rarely linear, resilience is built through setbacks, and the people who create the biggest impact are often the ones willing to reinvent themselves over and over again.   Key Takeaways Entrepreneurship requires resilience and reinvention Building something meaningful comes with setbacks, uncertainty, and difficult lessons. Success often comes from the willingness to adapt, evolve, and keep moving forward. Expansion requires intentional investment of time and energy Long term business growth requires stepping out of constant survival mode and intentionally creating space for strategy, leadership, and vision. Identity evolves beyond professional titles Both Katie and Jennifer reflect on the importance of staying connected to who they are beyond their careers, through creativity, entrepreneurship, education, and personal evolution.   Quotes from the Episode “It wasn’t that we were failures… we were trying something we had never done before.” “You have to slow down in order to speed up.” “I felt like if I wore a white coat, I was losing part of who Katie is.”   About Dr. Jennifer Tabiza Dr. Jennifer Tabiza is a business consultant, entrepreneur, and optometrist who helps doctors grow through dry eye consulting, medspa launches, and aesthetics integration across medical specialties. She began her career by opening a boutique eye care practice with a vision of delivering exceptional patient care while building a meaningful business. Over time, she recognized the growing overlap between aesthetics, wellness, and eye care, which led her to expand beyond traditional optometry into a full scale medical spa model. Through strategic growth and innovation, she transformed her business into Total Body Aesthetics, integrating aesthetic services while maintaining her optometry foundation. Within one year, the expansion increased revenue by 300 percent. Dr. Tabiza also co founded Dr. Contact Lens and Techifeye, gaining extensive experience in marketing, branding, sales, technology integration, and scaling businesses. Today, she helps professionals across healthcare and aesthetics confidently launch and grow new ventures, guiding them through everything from branding and design to marketing, operations, equipment selection, and business strategy.   Connect with Dr. Jennifer Tabiza Business Coaching & Consulting https://jenntabiza.com [https://jenntabiza.com] https://linkedin.com/in/jenntabiza [https://linkedin.com/in/jenntabiza] Medical Spa | Total Body Aesthetics https://totalbodyaesthetics.com [https://totalbodyaesthetics.com] https://eyecareandaesthetics.com [https://eyecareandaesthetics.com] https://instagram.com/eyecareandaesthetics [https://instagram.com/eyecareandaesthetics] Dr. Contact Lens https://drcontactlens.com [https://drcontactlens.com] https://instagram.com/drcontatlens [https://instagram.com/drcontatlens] Techifeye https://techifeye.com [https://techifeye.com] https://instagram.com/techifeye [https://instagram.com/techifeye]

Trusting the Path: Faith, Purpose, and the Power of Saying Yes with Dr. Ryan Corte

In this episode of Chu on This!, Dr. Katie W. Chu sits down with optometrist and practice owner Dr. Ryan Corte for an engaging and reflective conversation that blends storytelling with meaningful self exploration. Recorded in Tampa during a professional training event, this episode follows the podcast’s signature “soft shoes and hard shoes” format, guiding both guests through questions that uncover identity, growth, purpose, and defining life moments. Dr. Corte shares his journey from growing up in the Midwest to building a multi location practice in North Carolina. He reflects on the leap of faith it took to leave what was familiar and step into something uncertain, as well as the early experiences that shaped his leadership mindset. One pivotal moment came during optometry school, where losing a leadership role challenged his assumptions and pushed him to embrace preparation, humility, and personal accountability. Katie shares her own deeply personal reflections, particularly around her evolving sense of purpose later in life. She speaks openly about navigating uncertainty, redefining what her next chapter looks like, and building a purpose driven ecosystem that extends beyond patient care into storytelling, faith, and creative impact. Together, they explore how life’s challenges shape identity, from career decisions to personal struggles. The conversation highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with positive energy, embracing vulnerability, and recognizing that growth often comes from moments of discomfort, humility, and risk. At its core, this episode is about becoming intentional, choosing growth over comfort, and trusting that even uncertain steps can lead exactly where you are meant to be.   Key Takeaways Growth often begins with humility and self awareness Early challenges can reveal blind spots and create the opportunity to develop discipline, preparation, and a stronger leadership mindset. Purpose evolves and requires intentional action Finding meaning is not a one time decision. It is an ongoing process that often requires stepping into new roles and redefining impact over time. Taking risks leads to growth Whether it is moving, investing in a business, or starting something new, the moments that feel uncertain often become the most defining.   Quotes from the Episode “I can’t keep going on just expecting things… I need to put in the work.” “I realized I needed to figure out what my purpose in life is.” “Sometimes it’s a leap of faith… and you trust that it’s leading you where you’re meant to be.”   About Dr. Ryan Corte Dr. Ryan Corte is the owner of Reflect Vision Care, a multi location optometry practice serving Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina. He is known for integrating the latest contact lens technology and delivering high quality care to patients of all ages. Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Corte actively supports other eye care professionals in growing and strengthening their practices through education, training, and mentorship. He is a speaker and educator within the optometric industry, contributing to training programs, podcasts, product launches, and doctor led sessions focused on innovation, practice growth, and patient care. As the founder of Ryan Reflects, he is passionate about both doctor and consumer education, helping people better understand eye health and the business of optometry. Outside of work, Dr. Corte enjoys working out and spending time with his wife, children, family, and friends   Connect with Dr. Ryan Corte Website https://www.ryancorte.com/ [https://www.ryancorte.com/] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryancorte/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryancorte/] Instagram https://instagram.com/RyanReflects/ [https://instagram.com/RyanReflects/]