I Am Wiser Podcast with Dr. Laura Purdy

In this episode, I sit down with Corey Feldman, entrepreneur, veteran, EMT, and CEO of Protego Health, to talk about healthcare, AI, military service, and what changes when life forces you to rethink what matters. On paper, this conversation spans denied claims, startup growth, emergency medicine, and combat experience. But underneath all of it is a much simpler question: What does it mean to figh...

In this episode, I sit down with Mfon Akpan, accounting professor, mentor, and lifelong learner, to talk about career paths, confidence, and the surprising power of trying things before you're sure they're right for you. What stood out to me most about this conversation is how often our assumptions turn out to be wrong. We think we know what we'll enjoy. We think we know what we&apo...

In this episode, I sit down with Brian Colao, attorney, advisor, and one of the leading experts on healthcare and dental service organization compliance in the country. While much of our conversation focuses on healthcare regulations, corporate practice laws, and business structure, the deeper lesson is much broader than compliance. It's about discipline. Brian has spent decades helping organ...

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Sharp, CEO of Shared Practices Group, to talk about leadership, culture, healthcare, and what it really takes to build something that lasts. Alex leads a rapidly growing dental organization spanning more than 20 states, but what stood out to me wasn't the business strategy. It was the philosophy. Because according to Alex, there's a big difference be...

In this episode, I sit down with Nabeel Siddiqui, AI leader, product strategist, and Head of Tech and Automation at SAP Digital, to talk about one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding AI today. Most people think AI is the solution. Nabeel believes that's the wrong place to start. What matters first is understanding the process, the people, and the problem you're actually trying to s...

In this episode, I sit down with Nathan Manzotti, technology strategist, AI advisor, educator, and founder of Tech Ramen to talk about what founders often learn the hard way: Not everyone offering help is actually helping you. What starts as a conversation about AI, healthcare technology, and fractional CTO services quickly becomes a much deeper discussion about trust, ethics, leadership, and how...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Dar Radfar — dentist, sleep health advocate, and founder of Rad Sleep — to talk about something we all think we understand, but probably underestimate: Sleep. What started as a conversation about sleep apnea quickly became a much deeper discussion about mental health, mindset, parenting, longevity, and what it actually takes to feel well. Dar’s perspective is s...

In this episode, I sit down with Bruce D. Randall — AI advisor, business strategist, and author of The AI Human Paradox — to talk about something I didn’t expect this conversation to become about: Human intuition. Yes, we talk about AI, automation, and where technology is headed. But underneath all of that is a much more human conversation about decision-making, awareness, and what happens when we...

There’s a lot of noise around AI right now. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Junaid Kalia, neurocritical care physician and founder of SaveLife.ai, to talk about what actually matters when it comes to artificial intelligence in healthcare. We talk about the difference between hype and real value, why AI won’t replace clinicians, and how the right tools can expand access to care, not just in th...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jan Jaffer — dentist, entrepreneur, and CEO of TREC Dental — to talk about what it really means to build something that lasts. We talk about health beyond dentistry, the role of technology in patient care, and why impact isn’t measured by how many people you see — but by how long you care for them. But what stayed with me most is this: if we want to help others...

What if the thing that’s keeping you stuck isn’t what you’re going through — but how certain you are that it won’t get better? In this episode, I sit down with Johnny Crowder, mental health advocate, musician, and founder of COPE Notes, to talk about hope, recovery, and what it actually looks like to move through difficult seasons. This isn’t a conversation about forced positivity. It’s about some...

What would you do if the FBI showed up at your door and told you that you were being investigated for fraud? In this episode, I share one of the most stressful and unexpected experiences of my career — the day the FBI came to my home and asked to meet with me about a Medicare fraud investigation. At the time, I had no idea what they were talking about. What I eventually learned was that my identit...

What happens when you’re reported to the medical board — even when you believe you’ve done nothing wrong? In this episode, I share one of the most difficult and disorienting experiences of my career — being reported to a state medical board and having to defend my medical license. What started as a disagreement over telemedicine turned into a formal investigation, a court hearing, and a chain reac...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Melissa Turner to talk about teledentistry — but what we really explore is how change actually happens inside traditional industries. Melissa is a hygienist, founder, consultant, and the first Chief Hygiene Officer in dentistry. She thrives at what she calls the intersection of tradition and innovation.  We talk about increasing access to care, supporting clini...

We talk a lot about purpose. About mission. About the why. But eventually, a more important question emerges: so what? In this first episode of the I Am Wiser podcast, I share why this podcast exists and what I hope it becomes. This isn’t a space for collecting information or showcasing credentials—it’s a place for lived experience, earned insight, and the wisdom that only comes from walking the p...