Live Your Purpose

My guest is Jennifer Eckert, who is currently serving as the Director of Development for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, which has as its mission to lead a network that provides nutritious food and pathways to self-sufficiency for people facing hunger. Jennifer also offers strategic planning and external grant review services for national grantmaking foundations as an independent consultant. F...

My guest is Ariel Moore, who is the Senior Director for the Center for Social Innovation at Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City, where she helps to lead individuals out of adverse backgrounds, such as involvement in the criminal justice system, poverty, trauma, substance abuse, and many other barriers, and into new enriching lives, full of purpose and hope. Her personal journey has been one...

My guest is CJ Lance, who is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband, office manager, and oftentimes, an aspiring comedian. Living in Oklahoma City most of his life, comedy has been more of a passionate pursuit, than a feasible career. Nonetheless, the enjoyment of creating laughter has encouraged him to continue writing and performing. Aside from comedy, CJ works as an office manager at Lettering Exp...

My guest is Crista Graham McCann, who is an art teacher in the public school system and an adjunct art professor at Oklahoma State University. She’s also the owner of Crista McCann Art and Photography, which features her original work and photos. You can find out more by visiting her website cristacreates.com. 2020 marked a year of hardship for Crista. It required her to step out of the boat and f...

My guest is Dar Yasseri, who currently serves as the Vice President of Student Experience at Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City. In this role, he has the privilege to serve, lead, learn with, and support essential campus elements and critical teams that engage and grow student experiences. His aim is to assist each student in academic achievement, career success, and the realization of life...

My guest is Seattle native Wyjuana Montgomery, who is an International Speaker and 2X award-winning author and the personality behind WYJUANA SPEAKS. She holds a B.A. in African & African-American Studies from Duke University and a M.A. in Organizational Management from Ashford University. Fueled by her passion for mentoring, she founded Reach Forward in 2014, which is now Reach Forward Founda...

My guest is Kirk Morrison, who enjoys volunteering for Parents Helping Parents, a nonprofit organization that provides education, resources, shared experiences, and support to parents whose children, no matter the age, are struggling with substance use disorder. Kirk’s career was in commercial construction, having worked for Timberlake Construction & Concrete Enterprises. He is also a cofounde...

My guest is Graciela Lopez, who is a Family Advocate at Sunbeam Family Services in Oklahoma City. She’s originally from Mexico City and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Sociology degree in Human Services, along with minors in both Leadership and Modern languages. Graciela is passionate about advocating for the interests of the people in her community, and strives to establi...

My guest is Muhammet Ali Sezer, who is the Executive Director of Dialogue Institute Oklahoma and Raindrop Turkish House Oklahoma. Muhammet graduated from Suleyman Demirel University with a degree in Mathematics. He also earned a College Counseling Certificate from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA Extension). Muhammet is an alumnus of Leader Tulsa Class 58. He serves on the Oklahoma G...

My guest is Blythe Donovan, who is a serial entrepreneur and Independent Insurance Agent. She has a background in marketing, psychology and education, which she uses to help small businesses grow and flourish. If she had to sum up what she wants to do with her life, it would be "To spread joy and take care of people." Fortunately, insurance allows her to do that. Blythe has been a single mom to 2...

My guest is Thomas Hill, who serves as CEO of Kimray, a leading manufacturer of valves and controls for oil and gas production. His grandfather, Garman Kimmell, founded the company in 1948. Today it employs more than 500 people at its production facility in Oklahoma City and store locations throughout the United States. Having grown up in the company, Thomas has worked in virtually every departmen...

My guest Derek Talkington, who is a licensed addiction and mental health therapist in Oklahoma. He is a skilled program director and clinician with experience in various outpatient and residential addiction treatment centers. His work has included outpatient adult, adolescent and family treatment and intensive family and individual therapy in several residential settings.  Derek previously sa...

My guest is Dr. Jeff King, who is the Executive Director of the University of Central Oklahoma’s Center for Excellence in Transformative Teaching and Learning (CETTL). His research and application interests have long focused on use of engaging educational strategies and activities, on how faculty can help students learn and be motivated toward deep learning processes, and on the ways faculty and i...

My guest is Denise Shaw, who is a certified yoga instructor and owner of You Power Yoga in Edmond, Oklahoma. She is passionate about sharing the physical, mental, and spiritual improvements yoga brings. Her wish is to help others experience the joyful, lasting transformation of yoga. Connect with my guest: You can contact Denise Shaw through her website http://youpoweryoga.com/contact-us/ . Resour...

My guest is Matthew Goodwin, who is the Executive Director of Bella SPCA, which is an Oklahoma City based non-profit that assists with the cost of veterinary bills for those who can’t afford them, and that also seeks to find permanent loving homes for rescued animals. In addition, Matt currently serves as a City Councilman for Ward 2 in the City of Bethany.  His current passion project is cul...

My guest is Jay Sheldon, a professional cinematographer, host of the Miscellaneous Important Stuff podcast, and fellow all around creative. After receiving a video camera for Christmas at the age of 14, Jay decided that he wanted to pursue a career in film and video. He went on to earn degrees in both Film and Video Production and Graphic Design from Oklahoma City Community College. Jay has honed...

My guest is Dean Imel, an Oklahoma City kinetic artist who crafts moving copper wind sculptures of all shapes and sizes. Dean has been a regular at the Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts for years, and was selected as the 2020 Featured Artist by the Oklahoma City Arts Council. Although this year’s festival has been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, his art continues to move. Join me as I lear...

My guest is Kyearra Morris, who was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK. After graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma with her BA in Mass Communications & minor in Marketing & Business, Kyearra pursued her MBA at the University of Oklahoma. She has over 15 years of experience in Marketing & Business Development, with the past 7 years being dedicated specifically to the add...

My guest is Cristy Gosset, who uses music as a medium to make meaningful connections with children of all ages. Her desire is to help children discover that music has a place in their lives and can make a positive difference. Her first inspirations were her own Elementary Music teacher, her piano teacher, and her voice teacher when she was young. Since she was a teenager, she has also used her voi...

My guest is Ernest Odunze Jr., the Director of Restore OKC. He was born and raised in Oklahoma City and has been known to say ‘one day his bones will be covered in red clay.’ He received his B.A. from the University of Central Oklahoma and plans to pursue a Masters in Divinity soon.  After poor life choices led to a felony, Ernest was mentored and began serving in a small local church plant w...

My guest is Brian Warfield, who has been a hospital chaplain for over 8 years and absolutely loves it. He’s had the chance to work at Baptist Medical Center, Spencer Mental Health, and most recently at Southwest Medical Center as Pastoral Care Manager. What he loves most is meeting people who are in a difficult crisis and providing a caring presence to support them. He tries to be a warm, engaging...

My guest is Senator Carri Hicks, who is a mother, an educator, and a lifelong Oklahoman. The daughter of a public school teacher, she graduated with degrees in Mass Communications and Political Science, as well as Master's Degrees in both Leadership Management and Early Childhood Education. Hicks currently serves as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University, and in 2019 was named a Gaylord-...

My guest is Jeremie Kubicek, who is the CEO of GiANT - the leader in Scalable People Development. Through the GiANT TV platform, GiANT has created the 100X People System, which has been called the "Netflix meets Peloton for Adult Learning." Additionally, Jeremie is a best-selling author and a sought after international speaker. He has lived in Moscow, Atlanta and London and currently speaks to org...

My guest is Dr. Imam Imad Enchassi, who grew up in Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon. His experiences as a child surrounded by war and conflict have shaped his passion as an adult for promoting unity and understanding. Imam Enchassi is the senior religious leader at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, and he has received much recognition for his efforts to encourage dialogue,...

My guest is Carey Cronin, who is the founder of Reaching For Recovery, an organization that offers self-help resources and advocacy for eating disorders, mental health, suicide prevention, and education. Carey has 7 years in recovery from an eating disorder, and is passionate about helping others who are seeking relief from disordered eating. She volunteers for the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Associ...