Driven by Purpose

More than 133 million Americans live with chronic illness, yet most people don’t understand what that life actually looks like. In this episode of Driven By Purpose, we sit down with Nitika Chopraon, founder of ChronicCon, to break down the real experience of living with chronic illness. From being diagnosed at age 10 to spending years in constant pain, Nikita shares what people get wrong and what...

What does it take to turn $3,000 and a home kitchen into a multi-million dollar brand? In this episode of Driven By Purpose, we sit down with Drew Davis and Josh Wagner, the team behind Crippling Hot Sauce, to break down how they built a massive business using social media, consistency, and purpose. This isn’t a story about luck. It’s about volume, iteration, and understanding how to win in today’...

What happens when someone refuses to be defined by their condition? In this episode of Driven By Purpose, we sit down with Drew Davis, creator, entrepreneur, and founder behind STACKED, to talk about the real story behind his rise. From growing up as the only disabled student in his school to losing over 100 pounds and building a multi-million dollar brand, Drew’s journey is raw, unfiltered, and p...

Dr. Jeffrey Moore has helped raise more than 40 children, most with disabilities. But his impact does not stop at home. As a professor at Anderson University and a leading researcher in inclusive employment, Dr. Moore has studied what actually happens when companies hire people with disabilities at scale. The results are not charity driven. They are business driven. In this episode of Driven By Pu...

In 2008, Ian Mackay hit a tree while cycling and suffered a C2 C3 spinal cord injury. Paralyzed from the neck down and on a ventilator for a year, his future looked nothing like the one he had planned. Today, he has traveled more than 36,000 miles in a mouth controlled power wheelchair. In this episode of Driven By Purpose, Ian shares how he went from deep depression to building Ian’s Ride, a nonp...

What would you do if someone told you to your face that you would never be promoted or paid fairly because you’re blind? That’s exactly what happened to Jeremy Grandstaff. Instead of backing down, he used it as fuel. In this episode of Driven By Purpose, Jeremy shares his powerful story of resilience, leadership, and why hiring people with disabilities is not charity. It’s culture changing work. N...

Most of us take sight for granted. Now hundreds of business leaders in Bentonville are about to give it up for 75 minutes. Dining in the Dark is one of the most powerful events of the year. Executives are blindfolded for an entire meal to experience what life without sight feels like. It is uncomfortable. It is eye opening. And it changes people. This year’s event, presented by Walmart, goes beyon...

If your child has learning challenges, the IEP process can feel overwhelming and adversarial. In this episode of Driven By Purpose, educational therapist Karina Mamoon shares nearly two decades of experience helping families secure the services their children are legally entitled to. Karina breaks down how parents can prepare for IEP meetings, advocate effectively, and avoid common mistakes that d...

In this episode of Driven By Purpose, Evan Rosenblum and Isaac Shapiro unpack what it means to be accidentally offensive in the disability community. Through real stories involving their families, they explain why well-meaning comments can still cause harm, how to redirect conversations respectfully, and how education can turn uncomfortable moments into genuine connection. From talking about someo...

In this inspiring episode of Driven By Purpose, hosts Evan Rosenblum and Isaac Shapiro sit down with Dr. Kirk Adams, former CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind, to explore his remarkable journey from childhood blindness to national leadership. As the successor to Helen Keller’s iconic organization, Dr. Adams shares how purpose, resilience, and inclusion can transform both lives and workpl...

In this episode of Driven by Purpose, Isaac, Evan, and Mike continue their candid discussion on what it really means to run a purpose-driven business. This second half of the conversation goes deeper into how to build a team that reflects your values, scale impact without losing your mission, and stay true to your “why” even when the pressure hits. Whether you're running a brand or just getting st...

Hiring people with disabilities is not charity. It is a competitive advantage. Tom Gustafson shares how he launched disability hiring initiatives at Sephora, Bed Bath and Beyond, and now Dollar Tree. We unpack what actually moves leaders off the fence, how to partner with state agencies and consultants, and the metrics that prove this works. If you need a first step and a clear why, this episode g...

In this episode of Driven by Purpose, Isaac, Evan, and Mike sit down for a behind-the-scenes conversation about what it means to truly build a purpose-led business. From hiring and marketing to scaling and storytelling, they pull back the curtain on their own experiences and reflect on what’s working, and what’s not, in today’s landscape of impact-driven brands. This episode kicks off a special tw...

In this episode of Driven by Purpose , Evan, Isaac, and Mike are joined by Jason Frazier—former ESPN producer, CEO of MindsEye Radio, and beat baseball coach—to spotlight one of the most incredible adaptive sports in the world: Beep Baseball. Designed for athletes with visual impairments, beep ball is baseball reimagined with blindfolds, buzzing bases, and players who hit and sprint without sight....

In this episode of Driven by Purpose , Evan, Mike, and Isaac kick off the new year with guest Mitch Harrison—father, leader, and changemaker—who shares how personal tragedy led him to redefine success, masculinity, and purpose. As many set goals for the year ahead, Mitch offers a powerful reminder: purpose isn’t a resolution, it’s a way of life. This conversation is raw, reflective, and filled wit...

In this episode of Driven By Purpose , Evan, Mike, and Isaac sit down with Dr. Leigh Richardson—licensed counselor, neurotherapist, and founder of the Brain Performance Center. She shares her inspiring personal journey from ICU patient to brain health expert, and gives three practical tips to improve your brain’s performance starting today. Dr. Leigh also opens up about helping her son overcome AD...

In this episode of Driven by Purpose, the hosts go deep on one of the most emotional challenges they’ve faced as parents: raising “typical” children alongside a disabled sibling. Evan, Mike, and Isaac open up about what it means to parent with empathy, communicate complex realities early, and create a home where no child feels unseen. With humor, heart, and powerful vulnerability, they explore how...

In this episode of Driven by Purpose, Evan, Mike, and Isaac dive into the hidden financial, emotional, and long-term costs of caregiving for a child with disabilities. From six-figure accessibility upgrades to navigating broken systems, the hosts open up about the real price of care—and the heavy toll it takes on families. This raw and honest conversation sheds light on what most people never see...

In this episode of Driven by Purpose, Evan, Mike, and Isaac sit down with Tom Gustafson—VP of HR at Dollar Tree Supply Chain and a leading force behind inclusive employment. Tom shares how a single moment of inspiration led him to champion disability hiring across major brands like Sephora, Bed Bath & Beyond, and now Dollar Tree. This isn’t charity—it’s smart business. He reveals how hiring pe...

It’s the most chaotic—and potentially magical—time of year. In this holiday episode of Driven by Purpose, the team unpacks how stressful mall visits can be for families of people with disabilities, especially when meeting Santa. They share heartfelt stories, hilarious mall mishaps, and practical tips for Santa’s helpers and allies alike. From wheelchair jousting to grabbing Santa’s beard, this one...

In this episode of Driven by Purpose, Evan, Mike, and Isaac dive into the challenges of air travel for people with disabilities, especially families flying with kids who use wheelchairs. From TSA mishandling to inaccessible planes and hotels, the hosts share deeply personal stories and offer practical solutions. They also spotlight a game-changing wheelchair-accessible seating initiative on planes...

In this episode of Driven by Purpose , we sit down with Jenn Thompson—Senior HR Manager at VF Corp (Vans, The North Face, Dickies, Timberland)—who's become an “accidental advocate” for hiring people with disabilities. What began as a practical HR decision turned into a powerful movement. Jenn shares how she built an inclusive culture that not only improves lives, but outperforms traditional workfo...

In this episode of Driven by Purpose, we sit down with Jerrit Davis, Vice President of Merchandising at Walmart, to explore what it means to lead with purpose at one of the world’s largest companies. Jerrit shares how Walmart is opening doors for purpose-driven brands and creating real opportunities for individuals with disabilities. From supply chain challenges during COVID to championing inclusi...

Burnout doesn’t just happen in the office. For many of us, it’s a full-body experience—mental, emotional, physical—that builds quietly until we crash. In this powerful episode of Driven by Purpose , burnout coach Mitch Harrison joins the team to break down the real causes of burnout, what recovery actually looks like, and how to refill your tank before it's empty. From his own experience as a lead...

In this episode of Driven By Purpose , the team shares an inside look at Dining in the Dark , a groundbreaking sensory event in New York City where business leaders, nonprofit heads, and government officials gathered blindfolded to experience life from a different perspective—and to launch the Inspiration Foundation Seal. They discuss the vision behind the seal, the emotional power of the event, h...