In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Cini Shaw—Chief Recovery Officer at The Lighthouse Recovery Services, recovery coach, educator, and advocate—for a powerful conversation about addiction, trauma, self-compassion, and what it truly means to heal.

With decades of professional experience and her own journey in long-term recovery, Cini has dedicated her life to helping individuals and families navigate substance use disorders, mental health challenges, grief, and lasting transformation. Her approach is rooted in compassion, connection, and the belief that recovery isn't about fixing what's broken—it's about recognizing that we were never broken to begin with.

Together, Adam and Cini explore the relationship between childhood trauma and addiction, the weight of shame, the importance of self-compassion, and why healing begins when we learn to speak to ourselves with the same kindness we offer others. They also discuss the role of recovery communities, mindfulness, purpose, parenting, grief, and how lived experience can become one of our greatest gifts.

Whether you're in recovery, supporting someone you love, or simply learning how to treat yourself with greater compassion, this conversation offers practical wisdom and a hopeful reminder that healing is possible for all of us.

About Cini Shaw

Cini Shaw is the Chief Recovery Officer at The Lighthouse Recovery Services, where she helps individuals and families navigate recovery through coaching, education, and compassionate care.

A woman in long-term recovery herself, Cini combines lived experience with decades of professional training in addiction recovery, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and family support. She has been recognized as Addiction Professional of the Year and is a respected leader throughout Connecticut's recovery community.

Her work centers on helping people reduce shame, build resilience, cultivate self-compassion, and create sustainable lives in recovery.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Growing up in a home impacted by alcoholism

• The connection between childhood trauma and addiction

• Why shame keeps people stuck

• Self-compassion as the antidote to shame

• The power of recovery communities

• Recovery coaching and peer support

• Building emotional resilience

• Mindfulness and Buddhist principles in recovery

• Healing through vulnerability and connection

• Parenting, forgiveness, and breaking generational cycles

• Grief, loss, and choosing compassion

• Why accountability creates freedom

• Learning to change your inner dialogue

• Discovering purpose through service

• Helping others heal through lived experience

Connect with Cini

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cini1121/

The Lighthouse Recovery Services https://www.instagram.com/thelighthousect/

Production Partner

This episode was produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.

If you're looking to launch a podcast, create high-impact content, or elevate your brand through storytelling, visit:

https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors Relive the Moments

https://www.relivethemoments.com/

Relive the Moments is redefining how memories and experiences are shared through innovative NFC tap technology, interactive event experiences, and customizable marketing solutions.

SweatHouz Westport

https://sweathouz.com/westport-book-now/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic

📞 (203) 571-3334

SweatHouz Westport offers private contrast therapy suites featuring infrared sauna, cold plunge, and vitamin-C showers designed to help you recover faster, reduce stress, improve circulation, optimize performance, and prioritize your overall wellness.

Tweeds Custom Suits

https://www.tweedssuitshop.com/

Instagram (Seth Stahlmann – Tweeds Rye) https://www.instagram.com/sethwithtweeds/

Tweeds Custom Suits creates premium custom menswear for professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to elevate their confidence through intentional style. Whether you're preparing for a wedding, a career milestone, or simply investing in yourself, Tweeds delivers a personalized experience tailored to your lifestyle and goals.

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com

Instagram (Adam) https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Instagram (Finding Purpose Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and realign their lives with who they truly are—not just who they've been conditioned to be.

In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Stephanie Hazard—recovery coach, speaker, author, and advocate—for a deeply moving conversation about addiction, trauma, healing, and what it truly takes to build a recovery that lasts.

With more than 26 years of sobriety, Stephanie has dedicated her life to helping individuals and families navigate recovery through compassion, curiosity, and sustainable change. Drawing from her own lived experience with childhood trauma, an eating disorder, alcohol use disorder, and decades of personal growth, she believes recovery isn't simply about abstaining from substances—it's about creating a life rooted in purpose, wellness, and self-worth.

Together, Adam and Stephanie explore the connection between trauma and addiction, why shame loses its power when it's brought into the light, the importance of recovery coaching, and how healing extends far beyond sobriety itself. Stephanie also shares the inspiration behind her upcoming book, Making Sobriety Stick, and why sustainable recovery begins by asking not only what we're recovering from—but what we're recovering toward.

Whether you're in recovery yourself, supporting someone you love, or searching for a deeper understanding of healing, this conversation offers hope, practical wisdom, and a reminder that our greatest struggles can become our greatest source of purpose.

About Stephanie Hazard

Stephanie Hazard is a Certified Professional Recovery Coach, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, eating disorder recovery coach, speaker, and author of the upcoming book Making Sobriety Stick: A Recovery Coach's Guide to Sustainable Change.

For more than two decades, Stephanie has helped individuals and families navigate recovery through personalized coaching rooted in trauma-informed care, compassion, and sustainable wellness. Her approach empowers clients to build meaningful lives by strengthening every dimension of recovery—not simply achieving sobriety, but creating lasting transformation.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Living with over 26 years of sobriety
• The connection between childhood trauma and addiction
• Healing shame through vulnerability and connection
• Why sustainable recovery is about more than abstinence
• Recovery coaching and how it differs from therapy and sponsorship
• The Eight Dimensions of Wellness
• Recovery capital and building a meaningful life
• Trauma-informed healing and nervous system regulation
• Reclaiming identity after addiction
• The importance of boundaries in long-term recovery
• Supporting families through the recovery process
• Faith, purpose, and finding meaning through adversity
• The inspiration behind Making Sobriety Stick
• Why healing is a lifelong journey

Connect with Stephanie

Website https://www.pathtowardrecovery.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stephaniehazard_/

Pre-Order Making Sobriety Stick https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-sobriety-stick-stephanie-hazard/1150265768?ean=9798895151006

Subscribe to Stephanie's Substack https://stephaniehazard.substack.com/

Production Partner

This episode was produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.

If you're looking to launch a podcast, create high-impact content, or elevate your brand through storytelling, visit:

https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors Relive the Moments

https://www.relivethemoments.com/

Relive the Moments is redefining how memories and experiences are shared through innovative NFC tap technology, interactive event experiences, and customizable marketing solutions.

SweatHouz Westport

https://sweathouz.com/westport-book-now/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic

📞 (203) 571-3334

SweatHouz Westport offers private contrast therapy suites featuring infrared sauna, cold plunge, and vitamin-C showers designed to help you recover faster, reduce stress, improve circulation, optimize performance, and prioritize your overall wellness.

Tweeds Custom Suits

https://www.tweedssuitshop.com/

Instagram (Seth Stahlmann – Tweeds Rye) https://www.instagram.com/sethwithtweeds/

Tweeds Custom Suits creates premium custom menswear for professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to elevate their confidence through intentional style. Whether you're preparing for a wedding, a career milestone, or simply investing in yourself, Tweeds delivers a personalized experience tailored to your lifestyle and goals.

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com

Instagram (Adam) https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Instagram (Finding Purpose Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and realign their lives with who they truly are—not just who they've been conditioned to be.

In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Prantik Kundu—neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and founder of EyeThree AI—for a fascinating conversation about the human brain, identity, ADHD, mental health, neuroscience, and the future of self-understanding.

Prantik's journey began as the son of first-generation Indian immigrants, navigating questions of identity while growing up in Queens, New York. After overcoming academic challenges related to ADHD, the loss of his father at a pivotal point in his career, and witnessing the events of September 11 firsthand, he ultimately found his calling through neuroscience and research.

Today, Prantik is on a mission to make cutting-edge brain science accessible to everyone. Through EyeThree AI, he is transforming decades of neuroscience research into practical tools that help people better understand how their brains work, identify their strengths, and make more intentional decisions about their lives.

Together, Adam and Prantik explore the neuroscience behind depression, ADHD, addiction, trauma, identity, purpose, and why understanding your brain may be one of the most powerful investments you can make in your personal growth.

Whether you're interested in mental health, human performance, recovery, or simply becoming more self-aware, this conversation offers an incredible look into the science behind what makes us who we are.

About Prantik Kundu

Prantik Kundu is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and founder of EyeThree AI, a company dedicated to making advanced brain imaging and neuroscience accessible to individuals seeking greater self-awareness, performance, and personal growth.

Following research appointments at the National Institutes of Health, the University of Cambridge, and leading academic medical centers, Prantik has spent more than fifteen years advancing the science of functional brain imaging and artificial intelligence.

Today, EyeThree AI combines neuroscience, MRI technology, and AI-powered insights to help individuals better understand their cognitive strengths, emotional patterns, and brain function through personalized brain mapping.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Growing up as a first-generation Indian American
• Finding identity while navigating two cultures
• Living with ADHD and discovering hidden strengths
• Witnessing September 11 and how it changed his perspective
• Why purpose often finds us before we recognize it
• The neuroscience behind identity and self-awareness
• Understanding depression through brain science
• ADHD, dopamine, and attention regulation
• Addiction, recovery, and the brain
• PTSD, trauma, and emotional resilience
• Why your brain is constantly processing your sense of self
• The future of AI and neuroscience
• How EyeThree AI is changing the future of mental health
• Practical ways to improve self-awareness and brain health
• Why understanding your brain can change your life

Connect with Prantik

Website https://www.eyethree.ai/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/prantik59076/

Production Partner

This episode was produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.

If you're looking to launch a podcast, create high-impact content, or elevate your brand through storytelling, visit:

https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors Relive the Moments

https://www.relivethemoments.com/

Relive the Moments is redefining how memories and experiences are shared through innovative NFC tap technology, interactive event experiences, and customizable marketing solutions.

SweatHouz Westport

https://sweathouz.com/westport-book-now/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic

📞 (203) 571-3334

SweatHouz Westport offers private contrast therapy suites featuring infrared sauna, cold plunge, and vitamin-C showers designed to help you recover faster, reduce stress, improve circulation, optimize performance, and prioritize your overall wellness.

Tweeds Custom Suits

https://www.tweedssuitshop.com/

Instagram (Seth Stahlmann – Tweeds Rye) https://www.instagram.com/sethwithtweeds/

Tweeds Custom Suits creates premium custom menswear for professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to elevate their confidence through intentional style. Whether you're preparing for a wedding, a career milestone, or simply investing in yourself, Tweeds delivers a personalized experience tailored to your lifestyle and goals.

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com

Instagram (Adam) https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Instagram (Finding Purpose Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and realign their lives with who they truly are—not just who they've been conditioned to be.

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6925152b-0258-832a-b644-5dea0b6507f9-32" data-turn-id-container= "request-6925152b-0258-832a-b644-5dea0b6507f9-32" data-testid= "conversation-turn-308" data-turn="assistant">

In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Dr. Robert Kipp—chiropractor, entrepreneur, real estate investor, and owner of Pro Health Chiropractic—for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, health, entrepreneurship, and the power of taking action.

With more than 25 years of experience helping people move better and live healthier lives, Dr. Kipp has built a career centered on one simple philosophy: if you give your body what it needs and remove what it doesn't, it has an incredible ability to heal. But his story extends far beyond chiropractic.

After a life-changing injury in college altered his career path, Robert went on to build a thriving practice while navigating major personal and financial setbacks, including rebuilding his life following divorce and starting over multiple times in new cities. Throughout every chapter, he discovered that purpose isn't something you stumble upon—it's something you build through the decisions you make every day.

Together, Adam and Robert explore the importance of self-care, happiness, relationships, entrepreneurship, work-life balance, and why taking decisive action is often the first step toward creating the life you truly want.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, rebuilding after adversity, or simply looking for practical ways to improve your health and mindset, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that growth begins with movement—both physically and mentally.

About Dr. Robert Kipp

Dr. Robert Kipp is a chiropractor with more than 25 years of clinical experience and the owner of Pro Health Chiropractic in Southport, Connecticut.

Known for his patient-centered, results-driven approach, Dr. Kipp helps individuals restore movement, reduce pain, and live healthier, more active lives. In addition to his chiropractic practice, he is an entrepreneur, real estate investor, operations manager for Vital Infusions, and co-founder of the upcoming Second Wind IV Therapy at Mohegan Sun—a wellness concept designed to help people recharge, recover, and perform at their best.

His work is rooted in helping others build healthier lives while creating lasting impact through service, leadership, and intentional living.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• How a life-changing injury redirected his purpose
• Building a career rooted in helping others heal
• Starting over after personal and professional setbacks
• Why you can't think your way out of every problem
• The importance of taking decisive action
• Building happiness through intentional daily habits
• Self-care beyond diet and exercise
• The relationship between movement and long-term health
• Why work-life balance matters more than hustle
• Building businesses that create freedom
• Entrepreneurship, leadership, and systems thinking
• The power of relationship capital
• Reinvention after divorce and finding love again
• Working alongside your spouse in business
• Creating meaningful patient relationships
• Launching Second Wind IV Therapy
• Why purpose continues to evolve throughout life

Connect with Dr. Robert Kipp

Website https://yourprohealth.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourprohealth/

Production Partner

This episode was produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.

If you're looking to launch a podcast, create high-impact content, or elevate your brand through storytelling, visit:

https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors Relive the Moments

https://www.relivethemoments.com/

Relive the Moments is redefining how memories and experiences are shared through innovative NFC tap technology, interactive event experiences, and customizable marketing solutions.

SweatHouz Westport

https://sweathouz.com/westport-book-now/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic

📞 (203) 571-3334

SweatHouz Westport offers private contrast therapy suites featuring infrared sauna, cold plunge, and vitamin-C showers designed to help you recover faster, reduce stress, improve circulation, optimize performance, and prioritize your overall wellness.

Tweeds Custom Suits

https://www.tweedssuitshop.com/

Instagram (Seth Stahlmann – Tweeds Rye) https://www.instagram.com/sethwithtweeds/

Tweeds Custom Suits creates premium custom menswear for professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to elevate their confidence through intentional style. Whether you're preparing for a wedding, a career milestone, or simply investing in yourself, Tweeds delivers a personalized experience tailored to your lifestyle and goals.

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com

Instagram (Adam) https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Instagram (Finding Purpose Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and realign their lives with who they truly are—not just who they've been conditioned to be.

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6925152b-0258-832a-b644-5dea0b6507f9-5" data-turn-id-container= "request-6925152b-0258-832a-b644-5dea0b6507f9-5" data-testid= "conversation-turn-288" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Fashion, Confidence, and Authenticity with Alyson Iarrusso, Seth Stahlmann, and Tanya Meyers

In this special edition of the Purpose Panels, Adam brings together three leaders in the fashion and style space for a conversation about confidence, self-expression, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and the deeper role fashion plays in helping us become who we're meant to be.

Featuring Alyson Iarrusso, founder of Cove Fine Jewelry, Seth Stahlmann, Regional Director and custom clothier with Tweeds, and Tanya Meyers, founder of Mode T, this discussion explores how style extends far beyond clothing and accessories. At its core, fashion is about identity, self-worth, confidence, and the stories we tell ourselves and the world around us.

Throughout the conversation, the panel shares their personal journeys, the challenges of entrepreneurship, the lessons they've learned while building businesses, and how authenticity has become the foundation of their success.

Together, they discuss the intersection of fashion and purpose, why confidence is an inside job, and how personal style can become a powerful reflection of who we are rather than who we think we're supposed to be.

This conversation is a reminder that the way we present ourselves to the world isn't about perfection—it's about alignment, authenticity, and having the confidence to fully step into our own story.

About the Panelists Alyson Iarrusso

Alyson Iarrusso is the founder and designer behind Cove Fine Jewelry, a luxury jewelry brand known for creating timeless pieces that celebrate individuality, craftsmanship, and meaningful personal expression.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/covefinejewelry/

Seth Stahlmann

Seth Stahlmann is the Regional Director for Tweeds and a respected custom clothier who helps professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders build confidence through personalized style and intentional presentation.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sethwithtweeds/

Tanya Meyers

Tanya Meyers is the founder of Mode T, a fashion and styling brand focused on helping individuals discover confidence, authenticity, and self-expression through personal style.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mode_t_/

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The relationship between style and confidence
• How fashion influences personal identity
• Entrepreneurship and building a brand from the ground up
• The role authenticity plays in personal style
• Why confidence starts internally
• Self-expression through clothing and accessories
• The psychology behind first impressions
• Building trust through personal presentation
• Fashion as a tool for empowerment
• Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome
• Personal branding in business and leadership
• The evolution of style throughout different life stages
• Entrepreneurship, resilience, and creative risk-taking
• Creating meaningful customer experiences
• How purpose influences professional success
• Why authenticity is the foundation of lasting confidence

About Purpose Panels

Purpose Panels is a live event series created by the Finding Purpose Podcast that brings together leaders, entrepreneurs, creators, and experts from a variety of industries to explore meaningful conversations around growth, purpose, leadership, wellness, business, and personal development.

Designed to foster connection, community, and real-world learning, Purpose Panels creates opportunities for audiences to engage directly with thought leaders while discovering practical insights that can be applied to their own lives.

Production Partner

This episode was produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.

If you're looking to launch a podcast, create high-impact content, or elevate your brand through storytelling:

https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors

Relive the Moments https://www.relivethemoments.com/

Relive the Moments is redefining how memories and experiences are shared through innovative NFC tap technology, interactive event experiences, and customizable marketing solutions.

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com

Instagram (Adam) https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Instagram (Finding Purpose Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and realign their lives with who they truly are—not just who they've been conditioned to be.

Subscribe to the Finding Purpose Podcast and follow along as we continue bringing together remarkable individuals whose stories remind us that purpose can be found in every profession, every challenge, and every season of life.

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6925152b-0258-832a-b644-5dea0b6507f9-0" data-turn-id-container= "request-6925152b-0258-832a-b644-5dea0b6507f9-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-278" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant">

In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Robidio Palencia to talk about discipline, entrepreneurship, creativity, community, and the journey of building a life from the ground up. This conversation explores immigration, resilience, financial responsibility, faith, family, and what it takes to turn a passion into something bigger than yourself.

Born in Guatemala and arriving in the United States at just eight years old, Robidio's story is one of perseverance and determination. Raised by hardworking immigrant parents alongside four siblings, he learned early that success would require sacrifice, consistency, and an unwavering belief in himself.

From working long hours as a child and saving toward his dream of homeownership, to becoming the youngest service advisor hired at Mercedes-Benz and eventually purchasing his first home at twenty-five, Robidio has spent his life building momentum through discipline and hard work.

Alongside his professional career, he has built a thriving presence in the music industry as a DJ, entrepreneur, and founder of Tropique Entertainment. What started as small gatherings in his backyard evolved into sold-out events in New York City, performances at premier venues, and a growing community centered around music, culture, and connection.

Throughout this conversation, Robidio shares lessons on resilience, faith, family, competition, entrepreneurship, and why purpose is often found through the commitments we make to the people we love.

About Robidio Palencia

Robidio Palencia is an entrepreneur, DJ, event producer, and founder of Tropique Entertainment.

A graduate of UConn and a top-performing service advisor at Mercedes-Benz, Robidio has spent more than a decade building both a successful professional career and a rapidly growing presence in the music industry.

Through Tropique Entertainment, he creates experiences that bring together music lovers, creatives, and communities across Connecticut and New York. His events have sold out major venues and helped establish a loyal following built on authenticity, consistency, and community support.

His story is a reflection of hard work, sacrifice, faith, and the belief that success is built one step at a time.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Growing up as an immigrant and adapting to life in the United States
• Learning resilience through family and adversity
• The importance of work ethic and discipline
• Buying a first home at twenty-five years old
• Financial literacy and building a strong foundation
• Entrepreneurship and creating opportunities from scratch
• Building Tropique Entertainment from the ground up
• Turning a passion for music into a thriving business
• Why community is the foundation of long-term success
• Faith, setbacks, and trusting the process
• Learning from failure and overcoming rejection
• The power of consistency and delayed gratification
• Creating momentum through small daily actions
• Balancing career, business, family, and personal goals
• Finding purpose through service, family, and creativity

Connect with Robidio

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/robidiopalencia/

Tropique Entertainment https://www.instagram.com/tropique.us/

Production Partner

This episode was produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.

If you're looking to launch a podcast, create high-impact content, or elevate your brand through storytelling:

https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors

Relive the Moments https://www.relivethemoments.com/

Relive the Moments is redefining how memories and experiences are shared through innovative NFC tap technology, interactive event experiences, and customizable marketing solutions.

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com

Instagram (Adam) https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Instagram (Finding Purpose Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and realign their lives with who they truly are—not just who they've been conditioned to be.

In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Claude Silver—the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, bestselling author of Be Yourself at Work, and one of the leading voices in emotional intelligence and heart-centered leadership.

Known for helping scale VaynerX from roughly 400 employees to more than 2,000 across 11 countries, Claude has built a career centered around a powerful belief: humanity and high performance are not opposites—they belong together.

But Claude's path to leadership was anything but traditional.

From struggling with dyslexia as a child and battling deep self-doubt, to leaving college, completing a 93-day Outward Bound wilderness leadership program, launching an outdoor adventure company after 9/11, and eventually helping redefine workplace culture alongside Gary Vaynerchuk—Claude's story is one of resilience, reinvention, vulnerability, and service.

Throughout the conversation, Claude opens up about self-worth, optimism, emotional intelligence, parenting, leadership, purpose, and the importance of changing the internal narrative we tell ourselves every single day.

This episode is about learning to lead yourself before you lead others—and understanding that the most powerful cultures are built through trust, safety, empathy, and human connection.

What We Discuss

• Growing up between New York City and Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Being diagnosed with dyslexia and how it impacted her self-worth
• Why emotional intelligence became her greatest strength
• Struggling with confidence, identity, and belonging as a young adult
• Leaving college and feeling lost early in life
• Completing a 93-day Outward Bound wilderness leadership program
• The life-changing lesson of "changing the song in your head"
• How internal narratives shape our lives and self-perception
• Limiting beliefs, imposter syndrome, and emotional resilience
• The importance of optimism and believing in new beginnings
• Why vulnerability is an act of courage
• Emotional intelligence in leadership and workplace culture
• Building psychological safety within teams
• The difference between managing people and truly leading them
• How to create trust, resilience, and belonging inside organizations
• Why the best leaders lead through empathy and consistency
• Working alongside Gary Vaynerchuk and helping shape VaynerX culture
• The role AI will play in the future of work and leadership
• Motherhood, patience, and what parenting taught Claude about herself
• Why joyful service is at the center of purpose

About Claude Silver

Claude Silver is the Chief Heart Officer of VaynerX, where she leads the company's people and culture initiatives across a global organization of more than 2,000 employees.

A pioneer in emotional intelligence and human-centered leadership, Claude has become widely recognized for her work helping organizations prioritize empathy, trust, belonging, accountability, and psychological safety in the workplace.

Before joining VaynerX, Claude built a diverse career spanning digital strategy, leadership, entrepreneurship, outdoor education, and global agency work in both the United States and London.

She is also the bestselling author of Be Yourself at Work, a book focused on authentic leadership, emotional resilience, and creating healthier workplace cultures rooted in humanity and self-awareness.

Through her speaking, writing, leadership, and mentorship, Claude continues to inspire individuals and organizations around the world to lead with more courage, compassion, and heart.

Connect with Claude

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/claudesilver/

Website https://www.claudesilver.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/casilver/

Book Be Yourself at Work by Claude Silver

Purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Be-Yourself-Work-Groundbreaking-Standing/dp/0063392437

Production Partner

This episode was produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.

If you're looking to launch a podcast, create high-impact content, or elevate your brand through storytelling:

https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors

Relive the Moments https://www.relivethemoments.com/

Relive the Moments is redefining how memories and experiences are shared through innovative NFC tap technology, interactive event experiences, and customizable marketing solutions.

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com

Instagram (Adam) https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Instagram (Finding Purpose Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and realign their lives with who they truly are—not just who they've been conditioned to be.

In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Kelly Towart—content creator, former licensed therapist, foster and adoptive mother, and advocate for intentional family-centered living—for a deeply honest conversation about motherhood, identity, faith, anxiety, adoption, and learning to slow down enough to hear what truly matters.

Known for her authentic approach to motherhood, family life, and storytelling online, Kelly has built a platform rooted in vulnerability, connection, and purpose. But long before social media partnerships and content creation, Kelly spent years working as a therapist—helping others navigate anxiety, identity, relationships, and emotional healing. Eventually, becoming a mother shifted everything.

After experiencing difficult pregnancies and emotional burnout from balancing therapy with motherhood, Kelly made the difficult decision to walk away from counseling and fully embrace a new season of life centered around raising her children with intentionality and presence. What began as a creative outlet through fashion and blogging unexpectedly evolved into a thriving digital platform and career.

The conversation also explores Kelly and her husband's foster and adoption journey, including the heartbreak of reunification, opening their home again after loss, and eventually adopting their son Quinn after he was safely surrendered as an infant. Through it all, Kelly shares a powerful perspective on brokenness, redemption, faith, and the belief that purpose is often revealed through love, sacrifice, and service to others.

This episode is about slowing down, trusting God, embracing the unexpected, and understanding that some of the most meaningful versions of life are the ones we never originally planned for.

What We Discuss

• Growing up in Pennsylvania and eventually moving to Connecticut
• Living with ADHD and how Kelly's mother normalized self-advocacy early on
• Anxiety, control, and learning to regulate anxious thought patterns
• The role faith played in overcoming anxiety and finding peace
• What purpose means through the lens of faith and service
• Why purpose evolves throughout different seasons of life
• Kelly's difficult pregnancies and becoming a mother
• Balancing therapy, burnout, and motherhood
• Leaving her career as a licensed therapist to prioritize family
• How fashion blogging unexpectedly became a career in content creation
• Building an authentic online platform rooted in family and connection
• The reality behind influencer partnerships and brand collaborations
• The emotional reality of foster parenting and reunification
• Opening their home again after heartbreak and loss
• Adopting their son Quinn after he was safely surrendered
• Raising adopted children with honesty, intentionality, and openness
• Supporting children through anxiety and emotional regulation
• Nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and parenting tools
• Introducing faith to children through relationship instead of pressure
• Why slowing down is essential for finding purpose
• Learning to live intentionally instead of reactively

About Kelly Towart

Kelly Towart is a Connecticut-based content creator, former licensed therapist, foster and adoptive mother, and advocate for intentional family-centered living.

Through her platform, Kelly shares authentic glimpses into motherhood, parenting, adoption, travel, lifestyle, and everyday family life—creating content that resonates because of its honesty, warmth, and vulnerability.

Before transitioning into content creation full time, Kelly worked professionally as a therapist, an experience that continues to shape how she approaches parenting, emotional wellness, and relationships today.

Alongside her husband Justin and their three children, Kelly uses her story and platform to encourage deeper connection, intentional living, and embracing the beauty that can exist within imperfect stories.

Connect with Kelly

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kellytowart/

Production Partner

This episode was produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.

If you're looking to launch a podcast, create high-impact content, or elevate your brand through storytelling:

https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors

Relive the Moments https://www.relivethemoments.com/

Relive the Moments is redefining how memories and experiences are shared through innovative NFC tap technology, interactive event experiences, and customizable marketing solutions.

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com

Instagram (Adam) https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Instagram (Finding Purpose Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and realign their lives with who they truly are—not just who they've been conditioned to be.

In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Giovanny Ramirez—transformational coach, speaker, strategist, and founder of the Center for Human and Soul Enhancement—for a deeply reflective conversation on spirituality, identity, emotional healing, and what it truly means to align your life with purpose.

Before stepping into the world of coaching and transformation, Giovanny built a successful career in finance and business leadership, rising quickly through the corporate world at a young age. But in the midst of outward success, everything eventually collapsed.

After losing his career, relationship, health, and nearly his life following a violent assault, Giovanny found himself in a place of complete hopelessness—so disconnected from himself that he describes life losing its color entirely.

What followed was not just recovery, but awakening.

Through spirituality, emotional work, meditation, and a commitment to understanding the deeper meaning behind human experience, Giovanny began rebuilding his life from the inside out. Today, his work is centered on helping people reconnect with themselves, break through limiting beliefs, and understand that purpose is not something you chase—it's something you align with.

This conversation explores emotional regulation, soul growth, identity, AI and the future of purpose, spirituality versus religion, self-worth, healing, and why joy may be one of the most important things we can pursue in this lifetime.

This is a conversation about remembering who you truly are beneath the noise.

What We Discuss

• Giovanny's early success in finance and business leadership
• Losing his career, relationship, health, and identity during the financial collapse
• Surviving a violent assault and reaching emotional rock bottom
• The moment he contemplated ending his life and what changed everything
• Why shutting down emotions disconnects us from life itself
• Emotional regulation and learning to feel again
• The relationship between fear, jealousy, and personal growth
• "Lifegasms" and intentionally pursuing joy-filled experiences
• Why your environment and tribe shape your energy
• Spirituality versus religion and finding your own connection to God
• Meditation, soul work, and near-death-like spiritual experiences
• The concept that "the journey is for the soul"
• AI, identity loss, and the future of human purpose
• Why many people confuse their careers with who they are
• Self-worth, self-belief, and remembering your value
• The importance of taking action and "betting on yourself"
• Letting go of the stories and weights holding you back
• The vision behind the Center for Human and Soul Enhancement
• Why purpose often finds you before you fully understand it

About Giovanny Ramirez

Giovanny Ramirez is a transformational coach, speaker, strategist, and founder of the Center for Human and Soul Enhancement.

With more than 15 years of experience across finance, business operations, career development, and AI strategy, Giovanny blends analytical precision with deep emotional and spiritual insight to help individuals reconnect with themselves and create aligned, purpose-driven lives.

He currently serves as an Assistant Vice President of Closings while also leading AI initiatives at an alternative investment firm. In addition, he hosts the Breakthrough Lab Podcast, where he creates space for conversations centered around growth, identity, healing, and transformation.

Through coaching, speaking, and community building, Giovanny's mission is to help people remember who they truly are—and step fully into the next version of themselves.

Connect with Giovanny

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theworldofgio/

Website https://www.giovannyramirez.com/

Production Partner

This episode was produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.

If you're looking to launch a podcast, create high-impact content, or elevate your brand through storytelling:

https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors

Relive the Moments https://www.relivethemoments.com/

Relive the Moments is redefining how memories and experiences are shared through innovative NFC tap technology, interactive event experiences, and customizable marketing solutions.

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com

Instagram (Adam) https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Instagram (Finding Purpose Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and realign their lives with who they truly are—not just who they've been conditioned to be.

In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Eddie Huezo to talk about faith, purpose, leadership, community, and how service to others can transform your life. This conversation explores identity, resilience, entrepreneurship, emotional healing, and what it means to lead with humility in a world that often rewards ego.

Eddie Huezo is a husband, father, financial professional, speaker, and founder of Worship & Network — a growing community focused on bringing entrepreneurs, creatives, leaders, and faith-driven individuals together through intentional connection and shared purpose.

Raised in the Bronx by a young single mother from El Salvador, Eddie opens up about growing up without a father figure, navigating adversity, and learning how faith helped him rebuild his identity and discover a deeper purpose rooted in service. Throughout the conversation, Eddie shares powerful lessons on surrender, leadership, emotional growth, and why community can change the direction of your life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Finding purpose through faith and service
• Growing up in the Bronx in an immigrant household
• Overcoming adversity and identity struggles
• The importance of mentorship and community
• Leadership humility and emotional intelligence
• Entrepreneurship loneliness and self-belief
• Letting go of control and trusting God's plan
• Building Worship & Network and creating meaningful connection

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 02:18 Growing Up in the Bronx and Early Identity 09:42 Life Without a Father Figure 17:05 Faith Adversity and Emotional Growth 26:11 Entrepreneurship and Feeling Lost 34:27 Why Community Changes Everything 42:15 Leadership Humility and Service 51:44 Building Worship & Network 59:28 Letting Go of Control and Trusting God 01:07:10 Finding Purpose Through Serving Others

Connect with Eddie Huezo

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eddiehuezo_/

Worship & Network https://www.instagram.com/worshipandnetwork/

Connect with Adam

Website https://www.adamvohra.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/

Finding Purpose Podcast https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

Adam works privately as a Recovery and Purpose Development Coach, helping individuals break old patterns, build resilience, and reconnect with who they truly are.

Subscribe to the Finding Purpose Podcast for real conversations about healing, personal growth, spirituality, recovery, leadership, mental health, resilience, and transformation.

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