Bountifull Podcast

This week on the Bountifull Podcast, we’re joined by Dirk Philipsen, Duke professor, economic historian, and one of the world’s leading thinkers on capitalism and well-being. In a world where burnout, inequality, and the pressure to grow at all costs feel ever-present, this conversation gives voice to so many of the questions we quietly carry—but don’t always have the words for.

Together, we explore what capitalism really is—beyond just markets and money—and how it subtly shapes our relationships, our work, our sense of self, and our definition of success. Dirk offers a thoughtful, grounded lens on how we got here, why the system demands constant growth, and how we can begin to imagine and live into something more bountiful.

If you’ve ever felt worn down by the grind or wondered whether there’s another way to measure meaning, this episode offers radical hope, practical insight, and a reminder that a better future is possible—even within the system we live in now.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

📚 What Capitalism Actually Is – Dirk breaks down the origins of capitalism, why it depends on endless growth, and how it became the dominant system shaping our world.

🧠 How Capitalism Impacts Well-Being – From loneliness to burnout to housing insecurity, Dirk explains the subtle and not-so-subtle ways our economic system affects our health and relationships.

💬 Why GDP Is a Terrible Measure of Success – A closer look at Dirk’s book The Little Big Number and why GDP rewards destruction but ignores care, joy, and community.

🌱 What It Means to Thrive – How we can move beyond survival and into dignity, security, and contribution—not just individually, but as a collective.

📊 Alternative Models and Practical Ideas – From 15-minute cities to public goods, Dirk shares real-world examples of systems that prioritise well-being over profit.

💛 How to Align Your Life with Your Values – Tips on redefining success, spending intentionally, and reconnecting with what really matters.

🌍 Radical Hope and the Possibility of a Post-Capitalist Future – Why abundance isn’t about having more—it’s about sharing more, caring more, and reimagining what we’re here for.
Guest Bio:

Dirk Philipsen teaches economic history at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and the Duke History Department. He also serves as Senior Fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics, director of the Regenerative Futures Lab, and founding associate of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance.

Dirk’s work focuses on the intersection of history, economics, and ethics, with a passion for making complex ideas accessible. His book The Little Big Number critiques GDP as a measure of progress and explores how we can shift toward systems that prioritise people and planet. As a teacher, writer, and thought leader, Dirk is committed to helping us understand the structures we live in—and empowering us to imagine something better.

The Bountifull Podcasts explores what it means to live a bountiful life with extraordinary from diverse backgrounds one conversation at a time.

Hey friends, Welcome to Season Three of the Bountifull Podcast. This season, we’ve got eleven incredible episodes that help us explore what it means to live a bountiful life—through themes like contribution, depression, gratitude, culture and identity, entrepreneurship, passive income, social connection, exercise, and even capitalism.

My goal, as always, is to bring you conversations with extraordinary people from all walks of life, who share real stories and practical wisdom. And honestly, I think you’re going to love these guests as much as I did recording with them.

Over the last few seasons, a few core themes have started to emerge: contribution beyond ourselves leads to greater fulfillment and happiness, joy is a choice, and we need to learn how to thrive within the systems we’re in—even when they challenge our values. That last one is exactly what we’re exploring in today’s episode.

We’re kicking off with a conversation on how to live a bountiful life in a capitalist world. Because like it or not, this is the system we’re in—and understanding how to navigate it is key to building a more joyful and sustainable life.

Thanks for being part of the Bountifull community. I’m so excited to dive into this new season with you.

#Podcast #PersonalGrowth #podcastlife #joyfulliving #spotify #gratitudeattitude #inspiration 

"You don’t have to believe in energy for it to affect you. You’ve walked into a room and felt tension. You’ve met people who drain you, and others who light you up. We are all picking up on energy, whether we realize it or not."

This week on the Bountifull Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Rick Leskowitz, a Harvard-affiliated psychiatrist, researcher, and expert in pain management, energy healing, and consciousness. With over 25 years of experience at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Rick has spent his career exploring the connection between mind, body, and energy—long before mainstream medicine began catching up.

In this episode, we dive into the #science of energy and its impact on our health, relationships, and collective well-being. Rick shares his research on phantom limb pain, group energy fields, and how our focus and intention influence both physical and emotional healing. We also explore why Western medicine has overlooked energy as a key part of #healing, and what happens when we begin to see ourselves as more than just physical bodies.

If you’ve ever wondered why some places "feel different," why some people leave you feeling drained while others lift you up, or how energy plays a role in our everyday lives, this episode offers a fascinating and practical perspective.

Episode Highlights:

💡 How Energy Shapes Our Everyday Interactions – Why we feel drained by some people and uplifted by others, and what this tells us about how energy works.

⚕️ What Phantom Limb Patients and Nature Reveal About the Body’s Energy Field – How people feel sensations in missing limbs, and what this teaches us about energy beyond the physical body, and our biofield.

🔬 Lessons from Meditation on the Mind-Body Connection – Rick’s personal insights on how meditation shapes awareness, regulates emotions, and supports healing.

📍 "There’s Something in the Air"—How Energy Exists Beyond the Body – Understanding why certain places feel different, how energy moves beyond our physical selves, and the idea of consciousness as a broader field.

🛠️ Practical Ways to Set Intentions and Shift Energy – How awareness, breathwork, and visualization can help you become more intentional about how you show up in the world.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Rick Leskowitz and his work at the intersection of medicine and energy
04:12 – How Western medicine has overlooked energy in healing, and why that matters
07:20 – Understanding the biofield and the science behind phantom limb pain
12:45 – How emotions, trauma, and energy are linked in the body
18:30 – The mind-body connection: why meditation, hypnosis, and intention can influence healing
22:40 – Group energy in sports and society: how collective focus can shift outcomes
29:15 – The surprising findings of research on meditation, consciousness, and crime rates
35:50 – Why certain places feel different: exploring Earth energies and vibrational fields
42:10 – Simple ways to become more aware of your energy and the energy around you
48:30 – How to clear stuck energy and reset your focus for better well-being
56:15 – Reflections on what it means to live a bountiful life through greater energy awareness

Guest Bio:

Dr. Rick Leskowitz is a Harvard-affiliated psychiatrist, pain management specialist, and researcher who has spent over 25 years at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital studying the intersection of medicine, energy, and consciousness. His work explores how mind-body practices like meditation, hypnosis, and energy psychology influence healing, and he has extensively researched the biofield and phantom limb pain.

Rick has written multiple books, contributed to over 50 scientific publications, and produced the PBS documentary The Joy of Sox, which examines the impact of group energy on sports teams. His research challenges conventional medical thinking by bridging the gap between science and the unseen forces that shape human experience.

#mindfulness #meditation #energy

🌟"Most people can do anything, but a lot of people interpret that to mean they can do everything. And that’s just not true. You have to choose." 🌟

The startup world is filled with big dreams, bold bets, and the constant pressure to be right. But what if the secret to success isn’t about always getting it right, but learning how to be wrong? Rowan Simpson has spent decades at the heart of New Zealand’s most successful tech companies—Trade Me, Xero, Vend, and Timely—and his journey is a testament to the power of making mistakes, adapting, and building things that last.

In this episode, we talk aboutthe real startup journey—the messy, unpredictable, and often misunderstood reality of building great companies. Rowan shares his philosophy onfailure, investment, and decision-making, why he challenges the way we think about success, and how his book,How to Be Wrong, offers a fresh perspective on navigating uncertainty. Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or just someone figuring out whatenough looks like, this conversation is full of insights that will reshape the way you think about risk, ambition, and growth.

Episode Highlights:

💡The Myth of Doing It All: Why success isn’t about doingeverything, but about makingthe right choices.

🚀Behind the Scenes of New Zealand’s Biggest Startups: The untold stories from Trade Me, Xero, Vend, and Timely.

📉Failure as a Superpower: Why being wrong isn’t the problem—not learning from it is.

🏆What Really Makes a High-Performing Team: The crucial early hires that shape a company’s future.

💰Investment & Growth: The difference between a startup that thrives and one that stalls.

🎯Finding Enough: How Rowan defines success beyond financial gain and whybalance is harder than it sounds.

📖How to Be Wrong: The key takeaways from Rowan’s book and why every founder should embrace uncertainty.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Rowan Simpson and his journey through New Zealand’s startup world
04:08 – What does living a bountiful life mean to Rowan? A fresh take on success andenoughness
07:20 – The startup myth: What people get wrong about success, failure, and overnight wins
13:33 – Trade Me’s early days and the lessons learned from scaling a high-growth company
18:03 – Why Rowan doesn’t call himself an "angel investor" and his philosophy on investing
24:50 – The reality of startup failure and the moments that almost broke now-famous companies
31:17 – The personal sacrifices behind high-growth ventures—finding the balance between work and life
39:47 – High-performing teams: What makes or breaks an early-stage startup?
45:03 – Money and meaning: How Rowan’s relationship with wealth has evolved
49:57 – The discontent that drives ambition—and whether the grass is really greener on the other side
58:25 – Founders get too much advice—how to filter the right guidance for you
1:05:43 – Final thoughts and where to find Rowan’s bookHow to Be Wrong

Guest Bio:

Rowan Simpson has been at the heart ofNew Zealand’s most successful technology companies, playing pivotal roles inTrade Me, Xero, Vend, and Timely. As anentrepreneur, investor, and advisor, he has witnessed first-hand how great companies are built—and how easily they can fail. Now, through hiswriting and investments, he’s helping shape the next generation of high-growth businesses. His book,How to Be Wrong, challenges the way we think aboutstartups, failure, and success, offering a refreshing and sometimes provocative take on what really matters.

📖Learn more about Rowan’s work and his book:
👉Website |How to Be Wrong |Buy the Book |LinkedIn

The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through stories of wellbeing, resilience, connection and creativity. Bountifull emerged out of a simple yet profound desire to see more joy in the world.

Join the joy channel:

www.bountifullworld.com/subscribe/⁠#startup #decisionmaking #enough #podcast #decision-making

"I try to squeeze every last drop out of life that I can. If I could have two or three shots at it, I would. There's just so much to explore."

Ever feel like you're too old to start over? Think again.

Some people tiptoe through life—Lindsay Kaldon is not one of them. A NASA project manager, nuclear engineer, Air Force officer, pilot, and mother of four, she radiates energy and curiosity, always looking for the next frontier to push, the next challenge to tackle. From working on nuclear reactors that could power lunar and Martian bases to encouraging people of all ages to pursue their dreams, Lindsay embodies a life lived to the fullest.

Lindsay got her pilot's license at 41. She earned her master's degree in nuclear engineering while raising four children, studying until 2 or 3 AM every night after putting them to bed. She's still applying to be an astronaut despite rejections, because as she puts it: "Until somebody tells me I'm literally too old, I'm going to keep trying." Her journey took her from growing up as a military brat to working on U-2 spy planes in the Air Force, to Navy warships defending against electromagnetic pulse attacks, and finally to NASA's Glenn Research Center where she now manages the Fission Surface Power project—developing the nuclear reactors that will power humanity's return to the Moon.

In this episode, we talk about big dreams, bold risks, and the mindset that turns the impossible into reality. Lindsay shares her philosophy of "dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith"—a quote from the Wright Brothers memorial at Kitty Hawk that has become her life mantra. We explore how she makes decisions using her "no regrets" framework, why she believes it's never too late to pursue a new career or learn a new skill, and her "zigzag approach" to overcoming obstacles (if one door closes, find another way in).

We also dive into the incredible work she's doing at NASA on the Artemis missions, why nuclear power is essential for establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon, and what a thriving lunar economy might look like. Lindsay explains how small nuclear reactors could enable everything from mining lunar resources to 3D printing supplies on the Moon's surface, and why this technology represents a game-changing advancement not just for space exploration but for energy independence here on Earth.

Whether you're considering a career change at 40, feeling like you've missed your chance, struggling with work-life balance, or just need a reminder that reinvention is possible at any age, Lindsay's story will inspire you. This is a conversation about living without regrets, staying curious, and proving that age is not a limit—it's just a number. If you've ever thought "I'm too old for that," this episode is for you.

Guest Bio:

Lindsay Kaldon is the Fission Surface Power Project Manager at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, leading efforts to develop nuclear reactors that will power future space missions. With over a decade of experience in military defense, nuclear engineering, and aerospace, her career spans roles in the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Defense, and now NASA. She holds degrees in electrical engineering, systems engineering, and nuclear engineering, and is also a Captain in the Air Force Reserves.

Beyond her work, Lindsay is a passionate advocate for STEM education, a private pilot, and a mother of four. Her infectious enthusiasm for life and learning makes her a true force of nature—one who believes that no dream is too big and no path is ever closed.

📖 Learn more about Lindsay’s work:
🔗NASA Glenn Research Center

The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through stories of wellbeing, resilience, connection and creativity. Bountifull emerged out of a simple yet profound desire to see more joy in the world.

www.bountifullworld.com/subscribe/⁠

🌟 "I don’t think bountiful always has to mean money. It doesn’t always have to mean success in the world’s eyes. Bountiful to me is that my kids want to talk to me every day, that I have love in my life, and that I’m in a place where I don’t have to worry anymore." 🌟

What does it really mean to live a bountiful life? For Jessica Mogford, it’s not about status or wealth—it’s about resilience, love, and the small, everyday moments that make life meaningful. A mother of four, Jessica’s journey has been anything but conventional. From navigating a turbulent childhood to becoming a teen mom and later founding a maternity home for young mothers, she has turned hardship into purpose. In this episode, she shares the lessons she’s learned about forgiveness, independence, and the power of transparency in parenting and relationships. If you’ve ever faced adversity, questioned your own strength, or wondered how to rewrite your story, Jessica’s wisdom will stay with you long after this conversation ends.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

💛 What It Means to Live a Bountiful Life: Jessica shares why true abundance isn’t about money or status but about connection, love, and creating a life where you feel at peace.

🌿 Overcoming Hardship and Finding Strength: From losing her mother at 15 to navigating life as a teen mom, Jessica reflects on the resilience it took to rewrite her story.

🔄 Breaking the Cycle and Building a Future: How she moved away from a troubled environment to create a stable, loving home for her children.

💫 The Power of Forgiveness and Letting Go: Jessica opens up about healing from childhood trauma, making peace with the past, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

👩‍👧‍👦 Parenting with Honesty and Trust: Why transparency, respect, and unconditional love are the foundation of her approach to raising strong, independent kids.

🏠 Creating Hope for Young Mothers: The story behind Hope House, the maternity home she co-founded to support teen moms in need.

❤️ Finding Love Again and Blending Families: How reconnecting with her high school sweetheart brought a new perspective on love, trust, and second chances.

🌟 Life Lessons on Strength, Gratitude, and Living with Purpose: Jessica’s reflections on resilience, kindness, and embracing life’s challenges with an open heart.

Detailed Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Jessica Mogford and her journey of resilience, motherhood, and overcoming hardship.
03:20 – What it means to live a bountiful life and why Jessica believes it’s about connection, not money.
07:15 – Growing up in a turbulent home and navigating childhood trauma.
13:40 – Losing her mother at 15 and the impact of sudden loss on her path forward.
18:10 – Becoming a teen mom at 16 and the challenges of raising a child with little support.
24:45 – How Jessica built a life of stability, moved away from her past, and broke the cycle of hardship.
30:20 – The creation of Hope House and her passion for helping young mothers find support.
35:10 – The power of forgiveness, letting go of resentment, and healing from the past.
40:25 – Parenting with transparency and why honesty is key to building trust with children.
44:30 – Finding love again, blending families, and learning to trust after hardship.
50:00 – Life lessons on resilience, gratitude, and embracing joy in everyday moments.

Guest Bio:

Jessica Mogford is a hospitality and real estate professional with over a decade of experience in creating exceptional service experiences. As Manager at Lyric Works, she is dedicated to fostering environments where collaboration and community thrive.

The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through stories of wellbeing, resilience, connection and creativity. Bountifull emerged out of a simple yet profound desire to see more joy in the world.

Join the joy channel:

www.bountifullworld.com/subscribe/⁠

🌟 “Belonging isn’t something you achieve; it’s something you discover within yourself and nurture in the communities around you.” 🌟

This week on the Bountifull Podcast, I sit down with David Spinks, community builder, coach, and author of The Business of Belonging, to explore the intricate interplay of community, belonging, and self-discovery. From his journey of building CMX, a global community of over 20,000 professionals, to stepping back and rediscovering his own “enoughness,” David shares his wisdom on why true belonging starts from within.

If you’ve ever struggled with chasing external validation, wondered how to create meaningful connections, or felt the tension between ambition and alignment, this episode offers deeply personal insights and practical lessons for creating a more fulfilling life.

For the community managers, facilitators, and builders among you, this episode is a must-listen. David and I unpack what it really means to build thriving communities, starting with the idea that communities are complex, emergent systems—not something to control or predict, but something to nurture. We explore how to create the container for what people are yearning for and how, when done right, community will naturally fill that space. We also discuss the concept of community member fit, the value of running experiments to learn and adapt, and why conscious, intentional leadership is so critical—especially during transitions.

Episode Highlights:

🌱 The Journey to Enoughness: David shares his personal struggles with anxiety, burnout, and the constant chase for external success—and how he found a new path.

🌟 What Belonging Really Means: Insights on the difference between fitting in and true belonging, both in personal life and community spaces.

🛠️ Practical Tools for Inner Work: From meditation and coaching to breathwork and nature, David offers practical ways to uncover your own sense of enoughness.

🌍 Building and Nurturing Community: Lessons from leading CMX on how communities thrive when rooted in connection and purpose.

💡 Balancing Ambition and Well-Being: Why aligning your actions with your values creates lasting success and joy.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to David Spinks and his journey as a community builder.

05:15 – Defining belonging: What it is and why it matters.

10:30 – The difference between enoughness and chasing success.

18:20 – Tools and practices David used to reconnect with himself.

25:00 – The role of community in personal and professional growth.

32:45 – How to build healthier, more aligned relationships with work and life.

40:10 – Reflections on resilience, family, and the meaning of a bountiful life.

47:30 – Final thoughts on discovering enoughness and nurturing belonging.

About David Spinks:

David Spinks is a coach, writer, and community builder dedicated to helping people navigate life’s transitions and uncover their own sense of enoughness. As the co-founder of CMX, he created a global network of over 20,000 community professionals, which was later acquired. David is the author of The Business of Belonging, a comprehensive guide on building thriving communities.

After stepping back from his leadership role, David embarked on a personal journey to find balance and meaning in his life, overcoming burnout, anxiety, and personal challenges along the way. Today, he supports individuals in aligning their actions with their values through coaching, writing, and speaking. When he’s not working, you can find David exploring the woods, meditating, reading, or enjoying time with his wife, parents, and children.

https://davidspinks.com/The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through stories of wellbeing, resilience, connection and creativity. Bountifull emerged out of a simple yet profound desire to see more joy in the world.⁠https://www.bountifullworld.com/subscribe/⁠#joy #podcast #enough #community #belonging #selfcare #selflove #wellbeing

#love #mindfulness

🌟 “Money touches every part of our lives—it’s not just numbers. It’s emotional, personal, and deeply connected to our values.” 🌟

Money shapes so much of our lives, from the decisions we make daily to the conversations we have (or avoid) with our loved ones—and even the internal dialogue we have with ourselves. For many of us, it’s tied to ingrained habits, childhood experiences, and relationship dynamics that influence how we spend, save, and plan for the future.

This week on the Bountifull Podcast, I sit down with Bari Tessler, financial therapist and author of The Art of Money, to explore how we can better understand and transform our money stories. Bari shares practical tools for recognizing the emotional patterns tied to money, tips for having more open and productive conversations with your partner, and how to align your financial decisions with your values. She also dives into healing financial shame and developing a new, empowering money identity.

If you’ve ever felt tension around money, struggled with financial shame, avoided debt discussions, or wondered how to create a healthier relationship with money—for yourself or as a couple—this episode is packed with grounded, actionable advice to help you move forward.

Episode Highlights:

🌱 Understanding Your Money Story: Bari explains how early life experiences and cultural influences shape your relationship with money.

🧠 Money and Emotions: Exploring the emotional side of finances and why financial shame often holds us back.

🛠️ The Art of Money Framework: Bari introduces her three-step process: Money Healing, Money Practices, and Money Maps.

🌟 Values and Spending: How to align your financial decisions with your deepest values for a more meaningful life.

🛠️ Practical Tools for Financial Clarity: From body-based practices to budgeting techniques, Bari offers actionable steps to build confidence with money.

✨ The Role of Money in Living Bountifully: Why understanding and improving your financial life contributes to overall abundance and fulfillment.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Bari Tessler and her journey to financial therapy.
04:30 – The origins of your money story and its lasting impact.
10:15 – Why financial shame is so common—and how to begin addressing it.
18:40 – Bari’s three-step Art of Money Framework: Money Healing, Money Practices, Money Maps.
27:10 – Aligning spending with values: What does financial alignment look like?
34:20 – Tools for financial clarity: Budgeting, tracking, and mindfulness techniques.
42:05 – The connection between money, emotional well-being, and living a bountiful life.
50:00 – Final reflections and Bari’s advice for transforming your financial journey.

About Bari Tessler:

Bari Tessler, M.A., is a Financial Therapist, author, and the founder of The Art of Money, a year-long financial therapy program that has guided thousands of students worldwide. With a background in somatic psychology and financial education, Bari specializes in helping people transform their relationship with money through a compassionate and practical approach. Her work has been featured in major outlets like Oprah.com, Inc.com, and MindBodyGreen. Bari is the author of the best-selling book The Art of Money: A Life-Changing Guide to Financial Happiness. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband, son, and their many cats.

https://baritessler.com/

The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through stories of wellbeing, resilience, connection and creativity. Bountifull emerged out of a simple yet profound desire to see more joy in the world.

Join our community and opt in to joy, positivity, serenity and abundance https://www.bountifullworld.com/subscribe/

#joy #podcast #motivation #life #inspiration #education #happylife #selfimprovement #money #finance #financialindependence #freedom #healing #love #selflove

🌟 “If you want to live a happy life, don’t focus on finding your own happiness—focus on serving others, and you’ll wake up one day and realize you’re happy.” 🌟

This week on the Bountifull Podcast, we’re joined by Adam Wardel, a lawyer, leader, father, and self-described work-in-progress who lives (quite literally) in Bountiful, Utah. In this refreshingly practical conversation, Adam talks about the value of asking for what you want, balancing life’s many demands, and choosing service over self-focus. As we kick off the new year, this episode offers a timely reminder to show up intentionally and take small steps toward a more meaningful, bountiful life.

Episode Highlights

🌟 The Power of Asking: Adam shares how asking for what you want—whether at work or in life—can lead to unexpected opportunities.

🛠️ Balancing It All: Insights on managing career, marriage, parenting, and personal growth without dropping the ball.

🌱 Organized Chaos: Adam’s perspective on embracing life’s struggles and why joy often comes from showing up intentionally, even when it’s hard.

💡 Service Over Self-Focus: Why prioritizing the happiness of others ultimately leads to your own fulfillment.

🏡 Breaking Roles and Expectations: A practical look at redefining family roles and making decisions that serve the household as a whole.

✨ Living a Bountiful Life: How Adam integrates purpose, patience, and faith into his daily choices.

Detailed Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Adam Wardel and his take on a bountiful life.
03:45 – Adam’s upbringing, career as a lawyer, and shift to in-house roles.
08:07 – Living in Bountiful, Utah, and the role of service in finding happiness.
16:17 – Adam’s views on pushing his kids to embrace independence and uncertainty.
20:45 – The power of asking for what you want—and saying yes to opportunities.
25:12 – Practical tips for remote work and creating flexibility in a demanding career.
37:12 – Balancing family and career: setting expectations and calendaring life.
42:13 – Redefining family roles: transparency, honesty, and doing what works for your household.
47:19 – Final reflections: faith, service, and being intentional about happiness.

Guest Bio

Adam Wardel is a Fractional General Counsel, Board Member and World traveller. He's held senior legal roles in numerous businesses across the United States often building the legal team from the ground up, he has also led multiple acquisitions. With over a decade of experience across law, technology, and banking, Adam has become a trusted advisor to businesses navigating growth and risk. Beyond his impressive career, Adam’s greatest joy comes from his family and serving others. He splits his time between Bountiful, Utah, and Paris, France, embracing a life of intentionality, adventure, and “organized chaos.”

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamwardel/

The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through stories of wellbeing, resilience, connection and creativity. Bountifull emerged out of a simple yet profound desire to see more joy in the world.

Join our community and opt in to joy, positivity, serenity and abundance https://www.bountifullworld.com/subscribe/

#joy #podcast #motivation #life #inspiration #education #happylife #selfimprovement

"Purpose needs to be actionable, aligned, and authentic. It's not about lofty ideas; it's about how you live on a Wednesday afternoon."

Feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to find your purpose? You're not alone.

In this episode, I sit down with Nell Derick Debevoise—speaker, coach, and best-selling author—to explore how to find purpose in your life without the crushing weight of perfectionism or unrealistic expectations. Whether you're navigating a career transition, feeling directionless, or burnt out from trying to do it all, Nell offers practical frameworks to help you discover meaning in what you're already doing.

Nell's approach is refreshingly different: she "depressurizes" purpose, making it about small, intentional actions rather than grand gestures or saving the world single-handedly. Through her work with everyone from MBA students to senior executives to parents re-entering the workforce, she's developed a universal framework that works for anyone, anywhere.

What You'll Learn:

The 3 A's of Purpose – Why purpose must be Actionable (what you do daily), Aligned (to your actual position and resources), and Authentic (makes you feel alive)

Stop "Shoulding" Yourself – How to recognize when you're living by orthodoxy or external pressure instead of authentic values

You're Already Contributing – A powerful exercise to recognize the positive impact you're already making in six key life areas

The Me/We/World Framework – How to map your contributions across self-care, relationships, work, community, and money

Burnout Prevention – Why burnout often comes from trying to fix problems outside your sphere, and how to stay in your own "patch"

Purpose vs. Contribution – Understanding the difference and why focusing on concrete contributions is more sustainable than chasing abstract purpose

Getting Present – Nell's three-step process: get mindful, observe your life, and feel what brings you alive (no meditation required)

Values Refinement – How to move beyond generic values like "honesty" to actionable statements that guide daily decisions

Nell shares her own journey from nonprofit CEO to business school to purposeful leadership work, her recent car accident that crystallized what really matters, and why she believes everyone has "bounty" right now—even when life feels hard. Her message is clear: you don't need to have it all figured out, be perfect, or change the world. You just need to show up authentically in your own life.

This conversation is for anyone who feels the weight of "finding their purpose," struggles with perfectionism, or wonders if they're doing enough. Spoiler: you probably already are.

Guest Bio:Nell Derick Debevoise is a speaker, coach, and international best-selling author dedicated to helping individuals and organizations align purpose with action. As founder of the Purposeful Growth Institute and partner at PurposeFused, she brings practical wisdom to purposeful leadership. With experience spanning four continents, a Harvard degree, and decades working with diverse teams, Nell's frameworks make purpose accessible, grounded, and real.

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nellderickdebevoise/⁠

The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through stories of wellbeing, resilience, connection and creativity. Join our community: ⁠https://www.bountifullworld.com/subscribe/