In a world increasingly fascinated by the intersection of science and spirituality, one man’s groundbreaking discovery has captured global attention. Kevin L. McCrudden—”America’s Chief Motivation Officer,” congressional honoree, and award-winning filmmaker—has emerged as the visionary who found what many are now calling “the light of God” within the light of man. As discussions about scientists discovering light emanating from humans spread across the internet, McCrudden’s pioneering work stands as the definitive exploration of this profound phenomenon.
Through his internationally acclaimed documentary “The Light of Man,” congressional recognition, and revolutionary theories that challenge decades-old psychological frameworks, McCrudden has spent his career illuminating the extraordinary potential within every human being. His journey from the son of Irish immigrants to the man who scientifically connected the divine spark at conception represents one of the most compelling stories of our time.
The Making of a Visionary: From Athletic Dreams to Divine Discovery
Kevin L. McCrudden’s extraordinary path began in a household that embodied both the American dream and extraordinary determination. As the youngest son of Irish immigrants who instilled in him a profound appreciation for America, he grew up among seven siblings, including four older brothers who had become professional athletes—three professional soccer players and one professional boxer.
“Growing up as the youngest son of extraordinary athletes put both pressure and motivation on me,” McCrudden reflects. “I expected to follow in their footsteps, but unfortunately, the soccer leagues they played in went out of business during my junior year of college, ending my professional soccer aspirations.”
This early disappointment might have derailed others, but McCrudden’s resilience—a quality that would later define his groundbreaking philosophy—guided him toward his true calling. A pivotal internship with New York State Assemblyman John L. Behan exposed him to extraordinary determination. Behan, the first Marine recruit off Parris Island in 1967, lost both legs stepping on a mine in Vietnam in 1968, yet thrived to become a Wheelchair Olympian and respected state legislator.
“Despite his injuries, he thrived,” McCrudden recalls. “His perseverance and determination had a lasting impact on my belief system.”
Equally influential was McCrudden’s twin sister Karen, hearing impaired since early childhood. “Despite having only 10% hearing in one ear, she was never labeled as ‘deaf’ or ‘handicapped’ in our household,” he explains. “She fought to live a mainstream life and worked as a job coach helping others for 20 years. Her strength made me aware of how I needed to improve myself.”
These personal influences converged with national tragedy when the 9/11 attacks shook America’s foundations. While witnessing the devastation like millions of others, McCrudden also observed something profound—an unprecedented unity of purpose among people from all backgrounds coming together to help those in need.
This observation sparked a vision that would lead to one of his most significant early achievements: the establishment of National Motivation & Inspiration Day®, recognized by the United States Congress as January 2nd of each year. “It passed through committee quickly and was approved as House Resolution 308 on December 18, 2001 and was later passed by New York State, establishing January as Motivation & Inspiration Month®.”
Becoming the first motivational and leadership speaker in American history to establish such recognition through Congress marked just the beginning of McCrudden’s journey toward his most profound discovery.
Revolutionizing Human Understanding: Beyond Maslow’s Pyramid
Long before McCrudden would discover the divine light within humanity, he was already revolutionizing how we understand human motivation and potential. His most significant theoretical contribution came through fundamentally reexamining Abraham Maslow’s iconic Hierarchy of Needs—a framework that had remained virtually unchanged for six decades.
“After developing ‘University’ training initiatives for major media firms using Maslow’s Hierarchy as a foundational component, I began feeling uncomfortable with certain aspects of it,” McCrudden explains. His discomfort crystallized into a pivotal question: “How can a one-dimensional model represent the complexities of a multidimensional human experience? And why was Maslow’s Hierarchy referred to as a ‘pyramid’ when it was one-dimensional?”
These questions led to McCrudden’s creation of the “21st Century Multidimensional Hierarchy of Needs” in his first book, “Who Are You? Become the Very Best U That U Can Be,” which he describes as “Maslow 2.0.” Recognizing the significance of challenging such established theory, McCrudden sought validation from renowned experts in the field.
Dr. Arthur Ciaramicoli, Clinical Psychologist and Harvard Medical School Instructor, wrote: “Kevin McCrudden’s new book revises and revitalizes Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs… His book is insightful, innovative and in tune with the rapid changes in our society… I think Dr. Maslow would welcome Kevin’s creative manuscript.”
Brian Tracy, a towering figure in motivational speaking, observed: “Ever since the Delphic oracle said, ‘Man, know thyself,’ self-knowledge and self-understanding have been essential to inner happiness and outer achievement. Kevin’s book shows you how to gain the inner awareness that can change your life.”
Such endorsements confirmed that McCrudden had created what has been called “one of the most significant additions to [Maslow’s] theory in 60 years”—a framework that would prove to be preparation for his most profound discovery yet.
The Divine Discovery: Finding God’s Light in Human Life
If reimagining Maslow’s Hierarchy represents McCrudden’s theoretical revolution, his discovery of the divine light within humanity represents his spiritual and scientific breakthrough. This groundbreaking revelation, explored in his internationally acclaimed documentary “The Light of Man,” emerged from a deeply personal journey that would ultimately change how we understand the very essence of human existence.
“‘The Light of Man’ has transformed me and my life,” McCrudden shares. Raised Irish Catholic, he eventually began questioning aspects of traditional religious doctrine, particularly the exclusivity implied by various faiths: “If God created everything, how could only 2 billion followers matter while 5 billion others wouldn’t? We are all equal in the eyes of God, aren’t we?”
The pivotal moment came when McCrudden’s son experienced a Near Death Experience (NDE). This profound event prompted a revelatory question that would launch his most important work: “If there is light and love at life’s end, there must be light and love at the beginning? And perhaps we should not ask ‘Who is God?’ but rather ‘What is God?’”
This conceptual reframing launched McCrudden on an extraordinary journey to explore the intersection of religion, spirituality, consciousness, quantum physics, and science. His theory, which he began developing in 2008, centered on a revolutionary idea: that the same divine light present in Near Death Experiences might also be present at the moment of conception.
Then came the validation that would establish McCrudden as the man who found the light of God in the light of man.
“In 2016, an OBGYN scientist from Northwestern University discovered a ‘spark of light’ at conception,” McCrudden explains. “Being a scientist, she called it a ‘Zinc Spark.’ I call it ‘God’ or Higher Power.” This scientific discovery provided the empirical foundation for what McCrudden had theorized eight years earlier.
As discussions about scientists finding light that emanates from humans now spread across the internet, McCrudden’s pioneering work stands as the definitive exploration of this phenomenon. He believes he is “the first person in history to scientifically connect the ‘spark of light at conception’ with God/Higher Power”—a connection that unites spiritual and scientific worldviews in unprecedented ways.
A Documentary That Illuminates Divine Truth
The development of “The Light of Man” documentary seemed almost divinely orchestrated, with world-renowned experts materializing “almost magically” for interviews. The film features luminaries including His Holiness The Dalai Lama, film clips from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Reverend Dr. Bonnie Hofer (who combines expertise as a Reverend, Psychologist, and Neuroscientist), Dr. Raymond Moody (the preeminent global expert on Near Death Experiences), and Dr. John Hagelin (a globally respected physicist specializing in consciousness and Transcendental Meditation).
The film’s reception has been remarkable. Dr. Hagelin stated, “‘The Light of Man’ breaks new ground. It uses cutting-edge physics to unravel profound spiritual enigmas and simultaneously addresses some of the most pressing challenges of our time. He skillfully weaves scientific and spiritual truths together to form a unified, paradigm-changing view of reality.”
The New York Film Awards called it “a love letter to the world, which promotes original thinking about the power of connection between human beings.”
As internet discussions about the light emanating from humans continue to grow, McCrudden’s documentary stands as the comprehensive exploration of this divine phenomenon—bridging ancient spiritual wisdom with cutting-edge scientific discovery.
Leadership Wisdom for a New Generation
Beyond his revolutionary discoveries about the divine light within humanity, McCrudden has established himself as a sought-after executive coach and leadership expert. His diverse experiences—from athletics to politics to media—allow him to connect authentically with leaders across industries and demographics.
McCrudden identifies a particularly pressing contemporary leadership challenge: the generational disconnect between today’s young workers and traditional organizational structures. “We’re at an interesting generational crossroads,” he observes. “Young adults who’ve taken ‘leadership programs’ in high school and college often emerge believing they should immediately occupy leadership positions—not based on experience or expertise, but simply from exposure to these programs.”
Drawing on his sports background, McCrudden offers powerful insights for organizational leaders: “Success isn’t about paying the most for top talent—it’s about creating a positive, winning culture with the talent you have. If candidates prioritize minimal office time, maximum compensation, and extensive time off, they’re not a good fit regardless of credentials.”
His leadership philosophy emphasizes making tough decisions with both courage and compassion: “Making tough decisions not only shapes the direction of the mission but also establishes trust, drives accountability, and demonstrates a leader’s commitment to achieving the greater good, even when faced with difficult choices.”
Transcending Adversity: The Crucible That Forged a Visionary
Behind McCrudden’s extraordinary discoveries lies a personal journey marked by profound challenges that shaped his understanding of human suffering and potential. With remarkable candor, he acknowledges that his “failures and rejections, rather than successes, have shaped me most significantly.”
These include devastating personal setbacks: a high school coach telling him he’d “amount to nothing”; his college sweetheart divorcing him after two years of marriage; infidelity in his second marriage while running for public office; and the painful end of his third marriage after 11 years, leaving him crushed and suicidal.
“These personal relationships, along with disrespect from family members and former friends, have caused immeasurable suffering but taught me resilience, perseverance, and determination,” McCrudden reflects. “They’ve given me insight into others’ difficulties. While people see my successes—the books, TV appearances, documentary—few know the pain and rejection I’ve had to overcome.”
These experiences profoundly inform McCrudden’s compassionate approach to understanding the human condition. He often references Robin Williams’ insight: “Be Kind. You never know what someone else is going through”—words that carry particular weight coming from someone who discovered divine light within human darkness.
To maintain equilibrium and forward momentum, McCrudden relies on a combination of goal-setting, meditation, and prayer. “About 20 minutes of morning meditation and prayer, followed by tracking goals on my Simple Goals app” brings balance to a life once defined by intensity. “When younger, focusing solely on achievements made me intense, anxious, angry, and frustrated—a walking time bomb! Meditation and prayer, along with age and experience, have given me balance and perspective.”
Guiding Humanity Toward Its Divine Potential
As McCrudden continues promoting “The Light of Man” globally, he remains focused on helping others recognize the divine light within themselves. His message to emerging leaders emphasizes balancing authenticity with responsibility: “While ‘authenticity’ is frequently emphasized today, ‘Do what you love and the money will follow’ remains powerful advice. Pursuing your passion provides the energy, perseverance, and determination required for success.”
However, McCrudden cautions that authenticity shouldn’t undermine professionalism. “Being ‘authentic’ doesn’t mean abandoning professional standards,” he insists. “Even Mark Zuckerberg wears a suit when meeting Congress, Presidents, or the Pope out of respect.”
His guidance distills decades of experience into essential wisdom: “Be authentic and professional. Take your responsibility seriously without taking yourself too seriously. Show respect to those willing to listen to you or buy your products. Respect diverse traditions worldwide. Be authentic, patient, diligent, professional, and maintain your integrity.”
Illuminating Humanity’s Future
Looking toward humanity’s future, McCrudden expresses both excitement and concern about emerging technologies. While celebrating AI’s potential benefits, he worries about its impact on human creativity and the divine spark of imagination that makes us uniquely human.
“Why spend weeks creating a painting when AI can generate one instantly? Why compose a genuine song when AI can mimic the Beatles in seconds?” he asks. These questions reflect his deeper mission to preserve what Einstein valued: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.”
Despite these concerns, McCrudden remains fundamentally optimistic about human potential, particularly as we explore the frontiers where science and spirituality converge. Building on his research for “The Light of Man,” he believes “there’s another level of human development waiting to be unlocked—one that unites science, faith, quantum physics, and spirituality.”
This vision of human potential—one that recognizes the divine light within every person—perhaps best captures McCrudden’s unique contribution as the man who found the light of God in the light of man. As internet discussions about light emanating from humans continue to grow, his groundbreaking work provides the definitive exploration of this profound truth.
On June 22, 2023, his hometown of Kings Park-Smithtown, New York declared “Kevin L. McCrudden Day” to coincide with the global theatrical release of “The Light of Man”—a fitting recognition for the visionary who scientifically connected humanity’s divine spark with the God/Higher Power that unites us all.
In an age where science and spirituality often seem at odds, Kevin L. McCrudden stands as living proof that the greatest discoveries come when we dare to explore the sacred intersection of both. He didn’t just find the light of man—he found the light of God within us all.
