Discover The Joy: The Purdy Podcast

Breaking fingers, collar bones- whatever painful infliction a New York gang ordered for their foes, it was GARLAND SCOTT’s job to do it. And he says he enjoyed being “the enforcer” -- until a hit was put on his own life, then a deadly attack on a close friend. Garland details his friend's murder and how that motivated Garland himself to do a 180, immediately dedicating his life to helping othe...

She was stabbed by her ex-boyfriend 17 times at the end of her junior year of high school and left partially paralyzed from the chest down. But recent high school graduate MADISON SCHEMITZ defied the odds -- walking across her graduation stage this past Spring, 2024 to receive her diploma. She shares her incredible story of courage during and after the near-fatal attack, and her determination to r...

Do cold, winter-like temperatures have you dreaming of visiting a warm, sunny beach? Then it's the perfect time to hear KYM CASTILLO share her joy in life: Saving sea turtles! Like other vacationers visiting Hilton Head Island this past summer, my husband and I were captivated when we came upon Kym and her coworkers, rescuing 2 hatchlings from the bottom of their nest. After returning home, I was...

How did the slowest kid on his track team become one of the fastest teenagers in the nation? After not being selected for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in France, CHRISTIAN MILLER decided to skip traditional college and go "pro as a sprinter. The recent high school graduate shares his goals for the 2028 Olympics in L.A., the faith that keeps him grounded, and his workout secrets that got him here....

President-Elect Donald Trump has just chosen Susie Wiles to be his incoming Chief of Staff; the first time a woman has ever held that job. Wiles, who lives just outside Jacksonville, Florida in St. Johns County, will now be Mr. Trump's closest advisor. Two former Jacksonville mayors say they're overJOYed that their friend and strategist, who helped them during their own administrations, has reache...

How cool would it be to be a movie star for a week? KENNY KREBS from St. Johns County, FL and his family found joy in making that dream a reality, knowing nothing about movie making. The family owns a manufacturing business that supplies materials for construction work. They spent $3-Million dollars of their own money on a film they wrote, produced and starred in. Shot in South Africa so the scene...

He first came to the U.S. as an undocumented migrant worker from Mexico. Today, DR. ALFREDO QUINONES-HINOJOSA (Dr. Q) is the head of neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Hear how he journeyed from the fields of California, to becoming an American citizen and graduating from Harvard Medical School. He's found joy helping cancer patients; operating on their brains -- while they're awake....

Her husband Greg Burton suffered a life-threatening stroke, and had to step down from his job as the Duval County Schools Police Chief. As his main caregiver, his wife LAKESHA BURTON also stepped away from her high-profile job in the Mayor's Cabinet. For the first time since that medical crisis 1 year ago, Lakesha details their journey; from Greg's emergency surgery and paralyzed right side, to hi...

Could diabetes drugs like Ozempic help battle Alzheimer's disease? That's discussed about 15 minutes into this podcast episode. What about a virtual reality headset that assesses your mental function by tracking your eye movement? That's discussed about 32 minutes in. These are just some of what researchers worldwide are working on, and it's STEFANIE WARDLOW's job to help communities across Florid...

If both of your parents died of Alzheimer's disease, would you want to know whether you're predisposed to having it? When mother and grandmother VENA PATTON noticed changes in her memory and abilities, a medical test confirmed her suspicions. But after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, she is thriving with the help of new treatments and is eager to share how she discovers joys in life...

Instead of discovering joy in it, I'm discovering the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) makes many people nervous. How much do any of us truly know about how computers and machines "learn"? University of North Florida Political Science Professor DR. JOSHUA GELLERS understands quite a bit. He's an expert with the Global AI Ethics Institute, and wrote a book exploring "how [legal] rights can be...

They weren't even looking for a cure for cancer when University of North Florida researcher DR. BRYAN KNUCKLEY stumbled on a way to "turn off" cancer cells.  He and DRS. FATIMA REHMAN & COREY CAUSEY explain how their creation causes cancer cells to explode -- there's a video clip of it in this podcast episode on YouTube! Their find also showed no effect on healthy cells, which potentially mean...

Will police be called?  Will I be separated from my children?  How long can I stay in this safe space?  These are questions many have when they show up at a domestic violence shelter -- women AND men.  Hubbard House CEO GAIL PATIN talks me through the experience from the time a domestic violence survivor arrives at the Jacksonville facility's doors for help, to the time they're ready to leave and...

BARBARA WALKER was stabbed 17 times by her estranged husband with their 4 young children just feet away.  She lost 30 to 40 percent of her blood but survived.  Barbra is sharing details about that night in May of 2022, helping listeners recognize the signs of an unhealthy relationship, and explaining her efforts to change laws to better protect domestic violence survivors.

Everyone could use some help when caring for an ailing loved one.  But not everyone has access to or wants such help, compounding the stress caregivers experience.  Whether your loved one is in the hospital, a nursing home, or living with you, Baptist Health licensed clinical social worker YESSICA MARSHALL shares stress-relievers she's used to help families throughout her 15 year career.

NIKKI CELSO has been a caregiver for 25 years, helping people who are experiencing physical and/or mental decline.  She has helped me with my mother the past 4+ years.  My mom was diagnosed with dementia 6 years ago. Nikki has important insight about finding a great caregiver you can trust with your loved one.  How much does home health care cost?  What important questions should you ask when inte...

After my coworker Matt Harms detailed his recovery from a surprise leg amputation in my first podcast episode, Wounded Warrior Project connected me with Retired Army Veteran Dan Nevins, a double amputee and nationally renowned motivational speaker.  Baptist Health also put me in touch with Licensed Mental Health Counselor Carol Visconti.  Together, these two have encouraging insight for anyone hea...

My coworker MATT HARMS went into a hospital with an infected cut on his foot, and left with his leg amputated above the knee.