Discover The Joy: The Purdy Podcast

Two Navy doctors… One shared mission, but a different (and increasingly popular) way to care for people. Meet SAMANTHA & KYLE MIKALS — spouses, and both former military doctors who walked away from traditional medical care to build something more personal and purpose-driven. From treating wounded warriors to practicing medicine overseas, their journey led them to create a direct primary care m...

DR. CHARU RAHEJA is a high-achieving entrepreneur; CEO & co-founder of telehealth company TriageLogic .  She’s also a stroke survivor who lost her memory, forgot who she is — she couldn't even speak English anymore.  Dr. Raheja explains how hard she fought to ignore the warning signs that this massive stroke was coming, and shares how her darkest moment revealed her greatest purpose.  What...

What does it really take to build a social media brand from scratch — while raising young children and protecting your peace? In this episode of Discover the Joy, viral content creator Real Ronsina (Ray) and her husband Arsenio join me for a real, funny, honest conversation about family, fame, autism parenting, trolls, mental health, and what’s next — including brand-new opportunities even many of...

At just 22 years old, Ericksen McConnell may be the youngest licensed funeral director in Florida — and he’s found purpose in one of life’s most sacred callings. In this intriguing conversation, Ericksen shares how faith, mentorship, and a childhood vision led him into the funeral profession, how he comforts families in their hardest moments, and why serving others brings him true joy. Outfitted f...

If you’ve ever wondered why successful people walk away from stable, high-paying careers… this conversation is for you. In this episode, Psychologist and Navy veteran DR. JUSTIN D'ARIENZO breaks down the real psychology behind career transitions — from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to the “hedonic treadmill,” fear, identity, and the search for purpose. You’ll also learn practical tools to manage...

What if that quiet voice telling you ‘there’s more’, won’t go away? In this encouraging new-year conversation, meet ELLY LIAO and LETISHA BEREOLA — two women who walked away from six-figure corporate careers to pursue purpose-driven coaching businesses. They open up about fear, identity, financial security, and courage to take aligned action before everything feels “perfect.” If you’re feeling stu...

What if DNA could do more than confirm identity. What if it could help suggest an identity when investigators have no leads? Meet DAVID & KRISTEN MITTELMAN , co-founders of Othram, the forensic DNA technology company helping law enforcement identify victims and suspects using forensic-grade genome sequencing and genetic genealogy. 😅 We talk about how their team works cases with barely-there e...

The questions you asked — answered. After Lori and Roz openly shared their menopause experiences in my last podcast episode, it was time to build on their stories with expert medical insight. In this Podcast Extra, Mayo Clinic menopause specialist DR. STEPHANIE FAUBION breaks down what women really want to know — hormone therapy safety, the many symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, and honest...

Menopause isn’t whispered about in this conversation — it’s faced head-on. In this first episode of the new year, 2 accomplished women, Lori Wagner and Roz Bridges , open up about the real physical, emotional, and mental changes menopause brought into their lives — from sleepless nights and hot flashes to memory loss, body aches, and self-doubt. This is an honest, empowering conversation about adv...

In this last podcast episode of 2025 -- Jacksonville mom JANIS HARPER gave herself permission to pause. Here’s what we can learn from her honest and refreshing “mom-cation” experience — her solo, budget-friendly trip to Disney World taken during an emotionally challenging year. Her story opens the door to a deeper, much-needed conversation about stress, self-care, and mental health during the holi...

Meet MARY FORD FITZJURLS — the senior soccer standout who also happens to be her high school’s football kicker AND the newly-crowned Homecoming Queen! In this inspiring conversation, Mary Ford and her parents share how an eighth-grade spark turned into a barrier-breaking high-school journey. From field goals to AP exams, onside kicks to college commitments, get ready to meet this multi-talented yo...

I rejoin my very first podcast guest MATT HARMS , who lets us follow the first day of the rest of his life — from pre-op jitters to dental implants placed. Undiagnosed diabetes led to Matt's leg amputation (and nearly took his life). It also robbed my coworker & friend of nearly all his teeth. I quietly asked a dentist friend if anyone could help — Prayers answered! A husband-and-wife pros...

Here’s what happens when a professional organizer turns chaos into calm—right inside a contest winner’s home!🏡✨ In this Podcast Extra, I check back in with pro organizer Chelsea Fitzsimmons and contest winner Melissa Warren to reveal the amazing transformation of Melissa’s overstuffed office space! From sorting and decluttering to using what she already owned, Melissa gained a functional, refres...

Meet DREW HUNTER — award-winning artist, designer, and mastermind behind one of the most wildly creative homes you’ll ever see! From dark rides and haunted attractions to his self-built sanctuary inspired by The Addams Family, Drew reveals how he’s turned a lifelong dream into a living, breathing work of art. ➡️ You’ll tour rooms brimming with oddities, hear intriguing stories from his career in t...

Fitness enthusiast Frue McAvoy and his fiancée R achel Leaptrott share painfully personal details about the terrifying day that nearly ended their future together. Just months after getting engaged, Frue suffered multiple strokes within hours, triggered by something simple — choking on a piece of cheese. From emergency surgery and forced paralysis… to the long road of rehabilitation, Frue and Rach...

Meet Adriana & Fernando Padron — a powerhouse prosthodontics team turning some of the toughest dental challenges into life-changing success stories. They describe delicate cases, full-mouth reconstructions, plans to expand with cutting-edge treatments — even pro bono work that gave my very first podcast guest a brand-new smile after diabetes robbed him of nearly all his teeth. See the Padrons...

🔥 Meet The Fiery Cooks ! Rachel Sanchez & Julio Figueredo — finalists on the hit TV show MasterChef: Dynamic Duos (Season 15).  The world finds out tomorrow whether they win this season of MasterChef!  Today — the couple joins me to “dish” on life after impressing Gordon Ramsay and the judges. From their whirlwind MasterChef All-Stars Live! Tour (35 cities in 45 days!), Julio and Rachel discu...

Clear the clutter, clear your mind! ( FOR FREE! 😉) Professional organizer CHELSEA FITZSIMMONS joins me on this podcast episode to share how organizing your home can transform your life — less stress, more peace, and even better sleep. Chelsea reveals her simple process (free consultations, smart systems, & lasting results) and gives us a tour inside her own organized home. 🎁 EXCUSIVE GIVEAWA...

I can’t believe it’s been 1 year since the rock of our family left us. During my mom's funeral, it was incredible to hear new stories about her life from people for whom mom was a mentor, advocate, friend… In this special Podcast Extra are 3 women who spoke at my mother's funeral — each connected to her in a different season of her life. JILL PAKMAN , a lifelong family friend, recalls my m...

What’s it like to see Earth from space — and then come back home to tackle some of our planet’s toughest challenges? Retired astronaut Winston Scott takes us on an amazing journey, from piloting Navy jets, to floating in space on two NASA missions, and now inspiring visitors every day at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories of rocket launches, the daily l...

What does it take to support a child through unimaginable trauma? In Part 3, the final episode of our Discover the Joy: The Purdy Podcast special series , CAROLE GARDNER — mother of sex trafficking survivor Heather Wingate — shares a deeply emotional and honest account of what it’s like to parent through chaos, confusion, and heartbreak. From missed signs to misplaced guilt, Carole gets real about...

HEATHER WINGATE  didn’t just survive sex trafficking—she’s  using it to help others find freedom and healing. In  Part 2  of this powerful 3-part series, Heather opens up about her darkest moments and how she found the courage to reclaim her life. Heather battled trauma, placed her child up for adoption, and is now working at the multi-state addiction treatment centers of  Harmony Health Group. ✨...

From addiction and abuse… to healing and a life of purpose. In Part 1 of this gripping 3-part series on Discover the Joy: The Purdy Podcast , meet AJ Morrow who describes surviving childhood molestation, years of substance abuse, prison time, and nearly losing everything before choosing a different path. Now a guiding force at the multi-state addiction treatment centers of Harmony Health Group , A...

Get your kids school-ready with expert advice! — even if the audio’s a little wonky! 🤷🏽‍♀️ ICYMI: This special LIVE episode of Discover the Joy: The Purdy Podcast was recorded at the Clay County Chamber’s Health Expo — right in the middle of the Orange Park Mall! The sound isn’t perfect… but the expert advice absolutely is. ✨ What a great opportunity to connect you with a pediatrician, child ps...

She’s back—and this time, she’s wearing the crown! In her second appearance on Discover The Joy, Paris Richardson returns with a title, boosting her powerful purpose. Last time she joined us, Paris was preparing to compete for Miss Florida. Now, she’s your newly crowned queen and she’s giving us the inside scoop on exactly how she did it. Paris recaps her intense year of preparation—from public sp...