Discover The Joy: The Purdy Podcast

JESSIE CLIFTON was just a little girl in 1998 when her younger sister Maddie vanished from their quiet neighborhood in Jacksonville, FL. As the minutes ticked into hours, panic set in. What followed was horrific — a massive police search, a media frenzy, and finally a devastating discovery: 8-year-old Maddie had been murdered. Her killer? A 14-year-old boy from their own neighborhood. Jessie opens...

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!! 🥳🇺🇸I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to show off a tour BRAD SATCHER gave me of "The Patriot's Barn" in Clay County, FL. The passionate woodworker's unique man cave is filled with handcrafted treasures — including a special firebox and a piano with a story... But the highlight? --- A one-of-a-kind flag made from 200 feet of reclaimed wood from the famous...

Get ready for an episode that dives deep into a remarkable careers in law enforcement! 💪🏼👮‍♂️ I sit down with SHERIFF BILL LEEPER of Nassau County, Florida , who brings nearly five decades  of real-world experience to the mic— ➡️ From Baseball Dreams to Blue Lights  – You’ll hear how young Bill Leeper went from chasing fly balls in the minor league to chasing justice, inspired by his police off...

What would you do if you saw an SUV engulfed in flames—2 people trapped inside—and time running out? 30-year veteran firefighter MATT KENNEDY and his wife CHERYL, a seasoned nurse of 26 years, ran toward the fire. It was a fatal motorcycle crash. A head-on collision. Flames. Screams. Then action:  Shoot out the glass in a race against the fire. The couple’s teamwork saved both victims just seconds...

When MELISSA WARREN — who works at her family’s popular coffeehouse Urban Bean in Orange Park, Florida — went in for her routine mammogram at age 44, she never expected to hear the words “you have triple-negative breast cancer.”  Melissa had no symptoms, signs, or family history, but the tumor — found while at the doctor’s office — was growing rapidly.  Doctors quickly chased it with months of int...

It started as a peaceful afternoon in a hammock but in  seconds became a life-changing moment for FSU student LAUREL DAY . In the latest episode of Discover the Joy: The Purdy Podcast , Laurel shares her firsthand account of being on campus — at Landis Green, during the FSU shooting ; how she mistook the gunfire for construction noise, then sprang into action to warn others, and run for safety. Sh...

In this Memorial Day episode of Discover the Joy: The Purdy Podcast , meet the JACKSONVILLE LADIES — a group of dedicated volunteers who ensures no veteran is buried alone at the Jacksonville National Cemetery. 🎧 First — Here’s my short news story about the incredible impact this group has had:  https://tinyurl.com/2024JacksonvilleLadies After their story aired on TV (News4Jax), it won a Regional...

The University of North Florida cancer researchers are back, as you've been with me through 1 YEAR of uplifting and inspiring stories on Discover the Joy: The Purdy Podcast.  🤩✨ The innovation and determination of DRS. BRIAN KNUCKLEY, FATIMA REHMAN & COREY CAUSEY gained 14,000+ VIEWS when they explained 10 month ago, how their creation selectively causes cancer cells to explode with little t...

“It’s not a death sentence.  It’s a life sentence!"  That’s what VENA PATTON told me last year about her diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s.  Since then – she’s been living life to the fullest. To mark 1 year of bringing you uplifting and inspiring stories through  Discover the Joy: The Purdy Podcast ,  I’m catching up with several of my most popular guests.  Vena has been boldly navigating life...

It’s May — Happy 1 Year Anniversary to “Discover the Joy: The Purdy Podcast”! 😃🥳🎉🎊🍾 Almost 370 subscribers?!? -  THANK YOUUU !!!  🙏🏼🤩 To mark the milestone, I’m giving you an update about several of my guests  you  liked most, beginning with my very first podcast guest — my coworker and friend, MATT HARMS . Last May, Matt shared his surprise, learning he had diabetes  after  a cut on his f...

What if a second chance at life came with a full support system—housing, therapy, education, job training, and a community that actually believes in you?  Meet REBECCA DAVIS , the founder of R.E.S.T.O.R.E., a nonprofit transforming the lives of formerly incarcerated women. After being laid off from her own job with a major insurance company, Rebecca didn’t just pivot—she launched a movement, build...

This was a deeply moving conversation with podcast host and Jacksonville, FL community voice  SUZIE POLLAK BECKER  that will surely  stay with you long after you listen . In recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day this week (Yom HaShoah, April 23-24, 2025), Suzie & I explore the haunting terror of the Holocaust through intimate details about her family’s unbelievable journey, which includes t...

Sparkle and smarts?  Paris Richardson has that, and then some!  🤩🌟 She’s Miss Gainesville.. a future healthcare powerhouse.. and about to be awarded her Master’s Degree in Health Administration at the University of Florida. ( Go Gators! 🐊) From dreaming of healthcare solutions at the age of seven (yes, SEVEN!), to creating the “Ribault Get Raw” healthcare club in high school, she was on a missi...

We are MOVIN’ with ALLEN WEISS, a Certified Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapist, and co-owner of Preferred Physical Therapy in Clay County, FL as he drops game-changing advice for staying healthy and injury-free! 🔥💪 After Olympic Skateboarder Poe Pinson talked about her injuries and arthritis with me in my last podcast episode, I was excited to meet with Allen who’s found his joy spreading some...

This one was fun so hold onto your boards! 🛹✨ I’m talking to the one and only POE PINSON, right near the beach. 🏖️ 🤩 Poe is an Olympian skateboarder who’s crushing it on the ramps – and she’s sharing her speedy journey to international stardom with all of us! From the first time she ever stepped onto the newly named Poe Pinson Skate Park in Fernandina Beach, FL (where I met her to record this e...

Ever wonder what it really takes to adopt a child? How foster parents often become forever families? Or what support is available for those opening their hearts and homes? In this podcast EXTRA, we sit down with LAUREN GUION, an adoption supervisor at The LJD Jewish Family and Community Services, to pull back the curtain on the adoption process. Servicing 500 children in out-of-home care—300 of th...

When mother of 3 LONDESHUA KENDRICK adopted her 7 nephews, she transformed her life overnight to give them a stable, loving home -- keeping the 7 boys out of the foster care system. Londeshua shares what it takes to run such an energetic household, from early mornings and tight schedules to the deep joy of seeing her children thrive. She opens up about the challenges of adoption, the power of fait...

Get ready to unleash your inner boss as we continue celebrating Women's History Month! In this Podcast Extra, DR. ERIN JOY -- a business psychologist with 30+ years of experience -- reveals why midlife women entrepreneurs have a unique edge in business, whether they're just starting out or ready to grow their career. Some of what you’ll learn:🤝 Building Your Dream Team: The importance of...

What a way to recognize Women's History Month -- sharing a very personal and revealing conversation with Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) COMMANDER ERICA WEBER who oversees the Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Training Center. That's where you'll find several thousand law enforcement officers and recruits receiving all kinds of specialized training. Cdr. Weber details her 19-y...

What really makes a marriage endure? In this week’s Podcast EXTRA, licensed mental health counselor JENNIFER FORTUNE dives into the keys to long-lasting love, in light of my previous podcast episode featuring the Balankys -- an inspiring couple married for 70 years! Jennifer shares that strong marriages are built on daily commitments and small actions; not always grand gestures. She also discusses...

It’s a Valentine's Day love story for the ages — 70 years of marriage! While some of us can’t even commit to a Netflix series, PAT and DAVID BALANKY have been navigating life together since going to the movies only cost 20 cents. A piece of the Balankys' most solid marriage advice? -- See life’s twists and turns as adventures to tackle side by side, transforming even the toughest moments into memo...

Baseball, frisbee, wakeboarding -- CAELEB DRESSEL says as a kid he tried it all. Fortunately for America, swimming brought him the most joy, ultimately collecting 10 Olympic medals in his career; 9 of them Gold. As we wait to see Caeleb race at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (likely his last Olympic Games), Caeleb's celebrating the upcoming birth of his 2nd child, reflecting on his ex...

Get ready for an adrenaline-packed ride through 40+ years of unforgettable sports photography with RANDY LEFKO! Randy has seen—and shot—it all. He shares his journey from sports editor to seasoned photographer, revealing insider tips on camera techniques, professionalism, and his inspiring recovery from a heart attack. From a perfect Blue Angels shot to an emotional water surfing moment, Randy’s s...

Nothing says 'Merica like a barn full of handcrafted wooden American flags. That's the joy you'll find BRAD SATCHER creating in the coolest man cave there is! After building a wooden flag for himself so the symbol of America wouldn't fade, tear or become tattered, friends wanted them too. Just one social media post, suddenly had everyone from politicians to military members, first responders to no...

PODCAST EXTRA: After dedicating his life to helping people escape gang life, former gang member GARLAND SCOTT takes us on a tour of the beautiful safe house he and his wife built, as they also search for the next generation of rescuers! The Noah's Ark Project comes complete with computers, a barber's chair, workout equipment -- even a state-of-the-art recording studio! ** NEW FOR 2025 ** -...