Intent on Purpose

What happens when someone discovers a problem and sets out to develop their talents to solve it not only for one person but for many? In this episode of Intent on Purpose , Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with dyslexia therapist and Certified Academic Language Therapist Faye Casell , who has devoted her talents, time, and energy to helping children experience the life-changing gift of reading. Faye...

Are you living by your own version of success, or are you operating on "borrowed beliefs"? In this episode of Intent on Purpose, host Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with women's advocate and mindset coach Isha Julka to discuss how women over 35 can reclaim their voice, agency, and self-trust. After leaving a career that looked perfect on paper but felt empty on the inside, Isha had to completely re...

Show Notes: Can you imagine being locked in a small building at the geographic South Pole for nine months straight, in 100-degree-below-zero weather, with 40 people you didn't choose? When friction inevitably happens, you can't walk away. This week, host Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with international peacebuilding expert and conflict mediator Shawn Dunning to explore how we can strategically dir...

In this episode of  Intent on Purpose,  host Laura Hansen Breksa welcomes Steven Michaels, a recently retired 29-year U.S. Navy Reserve veteran (O-6) and an accomplished engineer with a 35-year career in the communications and defense industries. Holding a master's degree in electrical engineering, a professional engineer license, a PMP certification, and serving as a certified Lean Six Sigma Mast...

What does Ukraine look like beyond the headlines? In a compelling new episode of Intent on Purpose , Ukrainian PhD, professor, and software engineer Natailia Lototska shares an authentic perspective on her homeland's history, culture, innovation, and resilience. Laura Hansen Breksa's conversation with Nataailia explores how Ukrainians continue to build businesses, educate future generations, suppo...

Most people fear conflict. Yvette Durazo says that’s exactly why we need to learn it. In this episode of  Intent on Purpose , we unpack why conflict starts shaping us before age seven, why workplaces keep getting it wrong, and how conflict management is an essential skill. From HR systems to power dynamics, mediation, anxiety at work, and the hidden cost of toxic culture — this conversation change...

Jenny Chapman’s interview was part crochet masterclass, part comedy hour, and part heartfelt ode to creativity. From the moment she confessed that crochet was just the “100th craft” she’d picked up, Jenny’s personality unraveled faster than a badly counted stitch. What started as a calming hobby during a stressful job became a full-blown passion involving blankets, bath mats, “yarn chicken,” and e...

What if healing your trauma isn’t about finding the right method—but finding the right support for you ? In this powerful episode of Intent on Purpose , Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with somatic coach Victoria Duarte to break down the truth about trauma, anxiety, and emotional healing. Together, they explore why cookie-cutter solutions often fail, how even small childhood moments can shape your a...

How do you handle tantrums? What do personality types reveal about family dynamics? And what can just 90 seconds teach us about behavior? In my conversation with parenting coach Mindy Green, we unpack it all—and you might just leave with a new mantra: keep calm and parent on. Get to know Mindy: Mindy Green is a Parenting and Family Communication Coach, former school social worker, and author whose...

Mindy Green believes she has the answers. This short reels reveals a lot of Mindy Green's beliefs, which she talks more of in her complete conversation on Intent on Purpose with Laura Hansen Breksa.

How Being Authentically Aligned with Your Values Brings Clarity & Momentum (And How to Find Yours) What if the reason you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or off-track… isn’t a lack of motivation—but a lack of alignment? In this powerful conversation, Joey Chandler breaks down how clarifying your  core values  can transform the way you think, act, and navigate challenges. Instead of forcing productivi...

How can families support a child learning English when private tutoring isn't an option? In this episode of Intent on Purpose , host Laura Hansen Breksa speaks with Catherine Wilkinson , a qualified teacher with over 10 years of experience. Catherine discusses the transition from 1-on-1 tutoring to creating The Online English Teacher (OETI) , a project where she develops affordable resources for y...

LAUGH! Don't wait to be entertained, use your own gifts to be the entertainer, with Jerry Caruso. A reminder by Jerry Caruso, founder of Comics for a Cure, to use our gifs! Full episode to air at a future date! Get to know Jerry: Comedian, Co-founder of "comics for a cure", Actor, Cable TV Talk Show host & Motivational Speaker. Jerry has brought laughter to audiences since 1993. He has shared...

Laura takes a moment during her conversation with Paula Johnson to share her experience with harsh criticism from a high school teacher and her developing understanding and perspective. #teaching #highschoolteachers

Susie McAlister, AKA Susie Bloom, sat down with Laura Hansen Breksa and shared her Blooming Together movement, how we can use gratitude to find peace and abundance... and so much more about blooming where we are! If you are feeling overwhelmed and troubled by your circumstances, listen to some great counsel on what to do to bring a bit of joy to your troubles. You can't get rid of them, but you ca...

Soft-spoken and reassuring, Rena Oord shares her experiences testifying of Jesus Christ in person in many places around the world, through technology, online courses, and on the printed page. She has established a Facebook community that strengthens and uplifts each other. She puts time, energy, and talents into what she believes. No matter what your feelings about God, listen in and be inspired b...

What do with the anger? There is an option you might not realize, listen to Victoria Duarte explain.

What does it take to lead at the highest levels—especially when you’re breaking barriers along the way? In this edited encore episode, Admiral Alma Grocki (U.S. Navy, Ret.) , a mechanical engineer and trailblazing leader who built a 35-year career in one of the most demanding, male-dominated environments: submarine repair and naval operations, talks about learning and leading. As a woman of color...

Jenny Chapman, and avid crocheter, shares with us how motivation helps when you take on a big project, the process of being in the middle of the process and "yarn chicken' towards then end. Ever have a new project that got a bit boring mid way through? Jenny would say, keep on going, remember the Chariots of Fire! And don't run out of yard.

In this powerful clip from the Intent on Purpose podcast episode, Barry Rellaford of The Empowerment Dynamic challenges us with a vital leadership question: 👉 Are you letting problems push you… Or letting a clear, desired outcome pull you forward? If you’re serious about outcome-driven leadership, this conversation is worth your time. Get to know Barry: Barry Rellaford has a gift of engaging lead...

In this episode, host Laura Hansen Breksa welcomes neurologist and advocate Dr. Julie Thompson-Dobkin to discuss her mission of demystifying epilepsy through the Hidden Truths Project. Dr. Thompson-Dobkin shares her unique journey from studying zoology to becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), a path shaped by her holistic approach to the human body and mind. She reveals the personal tu...

What happens to a man’s identity when he’s reduced to a number? In this episode, Big Anthony sits down inside Sister Hearts Thrift Store & Boutique — part of a decarceration program designed to help formerly incarcerated men rebuild their lives — and speaks with honesty about what prison really takes from a person. Not just time. Not just freedom. But name, identity, confidence… and sometimes...

What if the best years of your life aren’t behind you ? This episode introduces Cathryn Farr explaining her book, The Last Mile is Always Three . The book is about true stories of women over 40 who began hiking in midlife — and kept going into their 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s. A passion for pushing themselves to go further and to keep going, even through personal trauma. They bond together over c...

Big feelings can feel overwhelming — for our kids and for us as parents. Tantrums, emotional outbursts, defiance, and shutdowns often leave parents feeling exhausted, reactive, and unsure of what to do next. In this episode, certified coach and parenting expert Crystal Haitsma shares a compassionate, psychology-rooted approach to understanding and navigating big feelings — without shame, control,...

What if the problem isn’t the person, but the plan? In this episode of Know It, It , Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with board-certified behavior analyst Carolyn Rivera for a powerful conversation about compassionate care, autism, and what it truly means to meet people where they are. Drawing from her personal journey, professional experience, and deep empathy, Carolyn shares how learning history a...