Creativity With Purpose

What happens when the life you worked so hard to build suddenly disappears? In this episode, Ann M. Mracek welcomes author and financial freedom educator Paris Woods for a powerful conversation about money, identity, resilience, and what it really takes to create security in an unpredictable world. Paris shares her personal journey from growing up in a working-class family in St. Louis, to attendi...

Your life is not random noise. It is a symphony waiting to be conducted. Welcome to the Symphony of Self Podcast, hosted by author, composer, and transformational guide Ann M. Mracek. In these podcasts, Ann explores how creativity, healing, and personal growth come together to form the unique composition of a human life. Every experience becomes a note. Every challenge becomes a key change. And ev...

How do leaders build resilience in a volatile and uncertain world? In this episode of Creativity with Purpose, we talk with Dr. Lisa Patierne, leadership expert and coach with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals and organizations overcome limiting beliefs, build resilience, and lead with confidence. Dr. Patierne works with leaders, first responders, healthcare professionals, educa...

What happens when a biomedical anthropologist leaves academia and becomes a global pharmaceutical strategist… then writes a medical thriller? In this episode of Creativity with Purpose, Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Aden shares her remarkable journey from hepatitis B research in the South Pacific to Senior Vice President of Global Strategy for a major Swiss pharmaceutical company. Her work spans epidemiol...

Perimenopause symptoms explained. Author Karen A. Herrera joins Creativity with Purpose to discuss hormonal changes, emotional shifts, and how women can navigate this stage of life with clarity. Our guest today is Karen A. Herrera the author of Perimenopause Clarity and a writer who believes that laughter is medicine, honesty is power, and that sharing our stories, especially the messy middle part...

What happens when a Microbiologist/Historian and a high-level CEO decide to see the world together? You get a masterclass in living an exhilarating life. In this episode of Creativity With Purpose, we are joined by the incredible mother-daughter duo, Evelyn Kelly, PhD, and Natalie Kelly, MS. Together, they have trekked across all seven continents, visited 88 countries, and explored every single US...

Hi, Or guest to day is Dr. Amelia Scott Barrett, MD — a Stanford-trained neurologist, founder of Migraine Relief Code, and a lifelong advocate for true, root-cause healing. During her years in private practice treating headaches and migraines, patients kept asking a question that mainstream medicine couldn’t fully answer: “Why am I having these headaches in the first place?” Dr Barrett was taught...

In this heartfelt episode of Creativity with Purpose, we welcome journalist, award-winning writer, and passionate storyteller Carol Patton. Carol’s labor of love, The Adventures of Mo, is more than a children’s book series—it’s a bridge between storytelling, global awareness, and compassion. Inspired by her beloved family dog, Mozart, an American Eskimo with a big personality (and an even bigger l...

Our guest author Virginia Taft believes that memories connect us to the past, bring us to who we are and help define what we want to become. Those unique individuals with all their quirks and events that shaped us were opportunities to learn life lessons. Virginia is available to guest on your podcast, video or article discussing how helping people capture their life stories, or those of loved one...

Our guest today is Ruth Manthei Wilkey who lives with her Alaskan mountain-man husband and their furry dog friends in a cozy cottage in the woods of northern Michigan. Ruth’s degree in Education equipped her to teach English, Spanish, Drama and Music before she embarked on a lengthy career of teaching piano from her in-home studio. She has enjoyed the pleasure of working with many fascinating chil...

Luke Mickelson grew up a hardworking farm kid in the small town of Kimberly, Idaho, where community, character, and service were simply a way of life. An avid athlete and lifelong competitor, he poured his energy into youth programs, coaching, and mentoring—developing both a passion for people and a natural talent for leadership.     That same drive carried into his professional career in business...

He never expected this diagnosis. Dr. Kadar was accustomed to caring for patients—not becoming one. Just as he began a new marriage, a few episodes of minor chest pain led to a shocking diagnosis: severe heart disease requiring immediate open-heart surgery. In Getting Better, he candidly chronicles his unexpected descent from excellent health into life-threatening illness, blending medical experti...

Todd J. Griffee grew up in Niles, Michigan, in the shadow of Notre Dame’s Golden Dome. Inspired at age ten to pursue a life of service, he combined his love of history, military tradition, and Notre Dame athletics into a focused plan that led him to become a two-time All-American fencer and Army ROTC graduate. Todd went on to serve as an Army Reserve officer, Indiana State Trooper, St. Joseph Coun...

Teach Your Family to Love Our guest is Nick Sevens from his teens, he made a hobby of fatherhood and family. When  he lost a daughter to an avalanche in 2008, he realized his knowledge and  experiences needed to be shared with other men. For over eighteen years  now, he has led men’s ministries and spoken about fatherhood. He loves  guiding fathers and grandfathers into how to build spiritual and...

No Degree Required - The human face of tecnology in an AI world. Today with are speaking with Phil Jaderborg. Phil's perspective, shaped by his unique experiences and outlook on Life, highlights that qualities like persistence, patience, a positive attitude, and strong client management skills are paramount for success in this career field, viewing the profession as a continuous journey toward exc...

Creativity With Purpose - Author Douglas L. Schmidt is a dynamic leader and educator, passionately inspiring others to reach their full potential. With an MBA and a strong educational background, he blends academic insight with real-world experience to provide actionable leadership, learning, and personal growth strategies. His approach highlights the power of connections, fostering collaboration...

Creativity with Purpose - Our guest today is Robin A Wages a Native of Columbia SC, Daughter, Sister, Mother, Minister and Overseer of her own Outreach Ministry is now an Author of a Best Seller entitled, “Resurrection from Death to Life” (A book of HEALING). She fulfills her heart’s desire to help those in need that she encounters by providing education, a safe place shelter, clothing, meals tran...

Creativity With Purpose. Out guest today is Jasmin Jahal.    Jasmin is known as a Dancer’s Dancer and a Teacher’s Teacher.      She has performed and taught throughout North America, Europe, and the Middle East.      Her style is reminiscent of the most elegant oriental dance legends. As an instructor,      she has been called an “encyclopedia of dance knowledge.” Jasmin nurtures her      students...

Creativity With Purpose. Our guest is Kathy Sechrist, a survivor of domestic violence and a dedicated advocate for those who have experienced similar trauma. Through her powerful and honest writing, she shares her journey of healing and resilience, offering hope and support to others. Kathy is passionate about raising awareness of the prevalence of abuse and breaking the cycle of silence that ofte...

Creativity With Purpose. Our guest is All Kaluzhny.  Her first book, "Turning The Pages. How exploring my past lives led me on the journey of healing memories and what I leaned while traveling back in time," is available on Amazon. Alla immigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union. She holds two Master's degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy and Spiritual Psychology with an Emphas...

Creativity With Purpose. Our guest is Natasha Tynes, a Jordanian-American author, journalist, ghostwriter, and a book coach based in Washington, D.C.  With over two decades of experience in storytelling across platforms, she brings a unique blend of media savvy, cultural insight, and narrative expertise to everything she does. As the founder of Suburban Media Group, a boutique digital media agency...

Music is a Gift - World Class Jazz Performer and Composer An intimate conversation with a humble jazz pianist who’s played with legends and now shares his talent with the next generation. Pianist Nick Schlueter is a staple of the St. Louis music scene and is known both throughout the US and internationally for his dynamic accompaniment and improvisational creativity. Nick utilizes his extensive kn...

Creativity With Purpose. Our guest is James B. Flaherty, the 89-year-old author, that challenges readers (and friends) to ask themselves why can’t they be more like him and never wake up depressed, but embrace every day as a gift, an opportunity to achieve their purpose for living. His book LOVING LONGEVITY is a punchy, even humorous at moments, wake-up call for You to Face Reality with satisfacti...

Creativity with Purpose - Jocelyn King - "The Queen of Online Safety". Jocelyn is the CEO and Founder of Smarter Online Safety, dedicated to empowering and equipping individuals and organizations with the knowledge to protect themselves in today’s evolving AI-driven cybercrime world. A renowned safety expert and educator, she has been recognized as a “Top 10 Woman in Cybersecurity”. As the creator...

Creativity With Purpose - Kathi Sohn is a transformational coach, award-winning author, and speaker who helpsmothers of teens break the genrational cycle of parenting from pain. Through her signature program, Break the Cycle, Build a New Legacy, she guides mothers to heal their own emotional wounds, regulate their nervous systems, and reconnect with their children with presence and purpose. Her wo...