Professional Speakers Bureau International

Stephen Panus

TOPICS - • Adversity • Grief • Inspirational • Motivation

• Purpose • Resilience • Spirituality

stephen panus - PROGRAMS

  • From Pain to Purpose
  • Walk On
  • Overcoming Adversity
  • Resilience is a muscle
  • Dare to be Kind
  • Grief, Loss & Life
  • Becoming the Best Version of Yourself

“Stephen Panus shares with shocking detail a father’s palpable sorrow in the aftermath of the tragic loss of a son. You feel the weight of the journey towards peace in every word.”

— Marty Smith, ESPN Reporter, New York Times Best-Selling Author of “Never Settle: Sports, Family, and the American Soul.
“This is a story of unimaginable hurt, but inspiration, courage, gratitude and the reminder to always be present and live in the moment.”

— Jim Rome, Hall of Fame Radio Personality
“The promise and hope of Panus’s words are an inspiration. I hope that they might reach all who are facing the need to cope with personal tragedy.”

— Harris Pastides, president emeritus at University of South Carolina

“Stephen Panus is an inspiration. It’s impossible to understand the pain of losing a child..he transforms his ever-present sadness to make a true difference in the lives of young men and women in his son’s name. Jake Panus is watching with pride, as his legacy burns brighter through his father’s love.”

— Mark Hilinski, cofounder of Hilinski’s Hope with his wife, Kym, and father to Kelly, Tyler, and Ryan

“Stephen Panus’s vulnerability relating his experience as a parent who has suffered the most tragic loss is shocking and transformative. His storytelling about navigating a new normal you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy grabs you by the collar.”

— Lindsay Czarniak, Fox Sports

“Stephen Panus will inspire and fill you with hope.”

— Kyle Brandt, NFL Network, CBS Sports

“Stephen Panus walks us through the journey no parent would ever want and then never allows us to wallow in it. The passing of his son, Jake, is not an anchor that brings us down but a buoy that helps us float.”

Stephen Panus - BIOGRAPHY

Stephen Panus has been a publicist, sports agent, artist, attorney, author, sports marketing executive, and motivational speaker. He’s represented an NFL Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl champion, a multiple-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and Season 5 “Dancing with the Stars” champion, international star tennis players, and more. Yet, the only title that’s ever mattered to him has been being a father. 


When his elder son, Jake, was tragically and suddenly killed as a passenger in a reckless car crash at the tender age of sixteen in the summer of 2020, Stephen’s life imploded. From the depths of darkness and his greatest loss, emerges an intimate, candid and raw story of a father’s search for meaning and an emotionally powerful message about love, loss, and life. Drawing upon wisdom, leadership, and a natural optimistic nature, Stephen Panus provides inspiring real-world application of indispensable values and traits that illuminate a dynamic pathway for turning pain into purpose, overcoming adversity, and becoming the best version of ourselves. 


Stephen’s debut book (Walk On) has been met with critical acclaim, including being selected by "Good Morning America" as a featured GMA Book Club Buzz pick. Moreover, the most trusted, authoritative and influential voice in the publishing world, Kirkus Book Reviews, proclaims Walk On to be "a raw, moving memoir that deftly explores grief and hope in equal measure ... It is Panus’ unique and sometimes poetic turns of phrase, however, that truly bring Jake’s story to life ... The author’s acknowledgment that grief is an 'unwelcome topic in our society' makes his willingness to tackle it head-on even more admirable."


In today’s world, grief and adversity are seemingly everywhere, more so than ever. These universal concepts cause many to suffer and lose hope. Stephen teaches that the answers towards leading a life filled with purpose and meaning reside within you. 


He offers audiences tailored messages of hope and resilience, leadership and integrity, and purpose and passion. In confronting his own adversity, he discovered the connectivity between agony and optimism, despair and self-awareness, forgiveness and accountability, and beauty and suffering. The line separating each is much finer than you may think. His powerful story-telling ability and uplifting emotional narrative will inspire you to not waste another day of your life. Ultimately, every challenge in your life comes to make you or break you. The choice is yours whether you become a victim or the victor.



And no matter what happens to you, you vow to never give up hope. You accept that you conquer by continuing, lead by loving, and win by walking on. 


What are you willing to risk to achieve what you want from life? 

More Testimonials...

“Stephen Panus walks us through the journey no parent would ever want and then never allows us to wallow in it. The passing of his son, Jake, is not an anchor that brings us down but a buoy that helps us float.”

— Ian Rapoport, NFL Network Insider

“This is a heartbreaking and powerfully raw testimony to the strength of the human spirit and the everlasting bond of a parent to their child.”

— Monti Carlo, food TV personality

“It’s how you emerge from tragedy that helps define you. And that’s what Stephen courageously demonstrates to all of us.”

— Chris Fallica, Fox Sports

“Stephen Panus brings us closer to his story of devastating loss and heartbreak to create a guiding light toward hope and restoration. No matter the challenges you face in life, he will help you reframe your mindset and bring you closer to the life you were meant to lead with great intent and purpose.”

— Lauren Sisler, ESPN sports reporter and inspirational speaker

“Stephen Panus has somehow used the tragedy to gift the world with life lessons that you need to stop and digest now. Do not walk off without Walk On in your hand.”

— Darren Rovell, sports business reporter

“Stephen Panus takes us on a very emotional and inspirational ride… teaching us what true adversity is and how to fight on and live your best life after unimaginable loss.”

— Mike Repole, food and beverage entrepreneur

“Stephen Panus’s story grips your soul and forces you to feel deeply. The ability to turn the ultimate loss into a strong motivational impact reveals Stephen’s courage, faith, and resolve. It is a brilliantly delivered lesson in love and hope.”

— Holly Cain, veteran sports journalist and author

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Stephen panus - MEDIA

WALK ON

The most trusted, authoritative and influential voice in the publishing world, Kirkus Book Reviews, raves about Walk On proclaiming it to be "a raw, moving memoir that deftly explores grief and hope in equal measure . . . It is Panus' unique and sometimes poetic turns of phrase, however, that truly bring Jake's story to life . . . The author's acknowledgment that grief is an "unwelcome topic in our society" makes his willingness to tackle it head-on even more admirable."

In today's world, grief and adversity are everywhere, causing many to suffer and lose hope. From the depths of darkness and greatest loss emerges an intimate, candid, and raw story of a father's search for meaning following tragedy. Walk On is a resilience-centered guidebook for overcoming struggle while teaching that the path to a purposeful life filled with kindness, compassion, and service resides within all of us.

Drawing upon his wisdom and leadership experience, Stephen Panus provides real-world applications of indispensable values and traits for becoming the best version of ourselves. We all suffer in some manner, but no matter what happens or how it happens, we all must Walk On.

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