What if the quality of our lives is shaped by the quality of our thoughts?

In the newest episode of Intent on Purpose, I sit down with Dr. Wayne H. Bowen to explore how our thoughts, choices, and education influence the way we navigate life.

Drawing from the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic philosophers, we discuss a powerful reminder: we cannot control everything that happens around us—but we can choose how we respond.

This conversation invites us to reflect:

💭 Are we focusing our energy on what we can control?
💭 How are our thoughts shaping our happiness?
💭 How can education expand our perspective and prepare us for change?

Dr. Bowen shares how education is about more than career preparation. It helps us understand ourselves, see the world with greater perspective, adapt to change, and become lifelong learners.

In a world that is constantly changing, perhaps one of the greatest skills we can develop is the ability to think well, choose intentionally, and keep growing.

Listen to the latest episode of Intent on Purpose and consider: What thoughts are you choosing today—and where are they leading you?

Get to know Dr. Bowen:

Wayne H. Bowen is Professor of History and Interim Dean for the College of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Central Florida. He received a B.A. in History from the University of Southern California, an M.A. and Ph.D. in European History from Northwestern University, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. He has authored eleven books, seven on Spanish history, and more than two dozen journal articles, work that has been published in ten countries and translated into Spanish, Polish, French, and Turkish. Bowen served 30 years in the Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel.

#IntentOnPurpose #PersonalGrowth #LifelongLearning #Leadership #Mindset #Education #PurposeDrivenLife

We’ve all been there. You look at your to-do list, and every single item is screaming for your attention. It’s all an "A1" priority. For the creators, the leaders, and the drivers, this is where the wall of decision fatigue hits hard. You want so desperately to move forward, but the sheer volume of the noise leaves you completely paralyzed.

In a world that tells us to do everything all at once, how do we find stillness?

In the latest episode of the podcast, author Ramona Siddoway shared a beautifully simple, grounded approach to reclaiming your schedule—not by doing more, but by investing your time where it truly matters. Instead of letting fear or overwhelm dictate your day, she relies on two powerful, intentional concepts:

• The "Next Right Thing" Mantra

• The Power of the Sprint

True time management isn't about doing everything—it's an intentional act of alignment. It is about taking deliberate baby steps in the direction of your core values, your mission, and the person you are striving to become.

What is the "next right thing" on your list today?

Listen to the full conversation with Ramona Siddoway now.

#IntentionalLiving #Leadership #DecisionFatigue #Productivity #TimeManagement #Podcast

What happens when someone discovers a problem and sets out to develop their talents to solve it not only for one person but for many?

In this episode of Intent on Purpose, Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with dyslexia therapist and Certified Academic Language Therapist Faye Casell, who has devoted her talents, time, and energy to helping children experience the life-changing gift of reading.

Faye explains why dyslexia is not a measure of intelligence, why many bright children are overlooked, and why waiting until third grade to seek help can have lifelong consequences. After years of working with struggling readers—and navigating learning differences in her own family—she created affordable tools that empower parents to help their children learn to read at home.

This conversation is about far more than reading. It's about recognizing a need, using your gifts to serve others, and giving children the confidence to believe, "I'm not broken. My brain just learns differently."

In this episode you'll learn:

• The remarkable strengths many dyslexic thinkers possess
• Why early intervention matters
• How parents can become confident reading coaches
• Why reading struggles never define a child's intelligence
• How one educator transformed decades of specialized training into a mission to serve thousands of families

If you've ever wondered how your talents could make a lasting difference in someone else's life, this conversation will inspire you.

Connect with Faye Casell
• https://homereadingcoach.com/
• Teach My Child to Read (YouTube)
• Free Dyslexia Roadmap for Families

If this episode encouraged you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a parent, teacher, grandparent, or friend who loves helping children succeed.

Intent on Purpose is a podcast about investing your time, energy, and talents where they matter most—and learning from people who are doing exactly that.

Meet Faye:

Faye is a Dyslexia therapist and Certified Academic Language Therapist. Through e-courses, parent coaching, socials & You Tube, Faye empowers parents to teach their dyslexic child to read at home.

#Dyslexia #ParentingTips #TeachYourChildToRead #ReadingHelp #SpecialEducation

Are you living by your own version of success, or are you operating on "borrowed beliefs"?

In this episode of Intent on Purpose, host Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with women's advocate and mindset coach Isha Julka to discuss how women over 35 can reclaim their voice, agency, and self-trust.

After leaving a career that looked perfect on paper but felt empty on the inside, Isha had to completely repaint her identity on a blank slate. She shares her powerful journey of breaking free from cultural and parental "good girl" conditioning, unlearning the habit of silencing her voice to make others comfortable, and shifting from survival mode to thriving.

Tune in to learn how to retrain your nervous system for safety, break old neural pathways, and use energy embodiment to literally step into the future you want to create today.

✨ Connect with Isha:

• Instagram: @theemboldenedvoice
• LinkedIn: Isha Julka (Search by name)
• Keep an eye out for Isha’s upcoming book and soul-searching PDF guide!

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction: Reclaiming your voice and agency after 35

0:53 - The illusion of outward success & feeling empty at the top

2:30 - Losing a corporate identity and facing the "blank slate"

4:00 - Performance vs. Love: Overcoming the need to prove your worth

5:10 - What are "borrowed beliefs"?

6:44 - Why we silence our voices to make others comfortable

7:59 - Embracing the "difficult woman" label

8:35 - Cultural conditioning, fear vs. respect, and the "operating system" of the mind

11:32 - What is nervous system safety and how to build it

13:14 - The neuroscience of breaking old habits and forming new neural connections

15:10 - How to shift from survival to thriving using the mind-body connection

16:05 - What is "Energy Embodiment" and our 29 senses?

19:06 - Giving your body a taste of the future today

21:20 - The power of a daily gratitude practice

24:00 - Where to find Isha, her upcoming book, and coaching options

Intent on Purpose Podcast, Laura Hansen Breksa, Isha Julka, Mindset Coach for Women, Reclaiming Your Voice, Nervous System Regulation, Mind Body Connection, Energy Embodiment, Good Girl Conditioning, Personal Growth After 35, Corporate Burnout, Rewriting Your Identity, Overcoming People Pleasing, Women Empowerment.

Are you living by your own version of success, or are you operating on "borrowed beliefs"?

In this episode of Intent on Purpose, host Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with women's advocate and mindset coach Isha Julka to discuss how women over 35 can reclaim their voice, agency, and self-trust.

After leaving a career that looked perfect on paper but felt empty on the inside, Isha had to completely repaint her identity on a blank slate. She shares her powerful journey of breaking free from cultural and parental "good girl" conditioning, unlearning the habit of silencing her voice to make others comfortable, and shifting from survival mode to thriving.

Tune in to learn how to retrain your nervous system for safety, break old neural pathways, and use energy embodiment to literally step into the future you want to create today.

• Instagram: @theemboldenedvoice
• LinkedIn: Isha Julka (Search by name)
• Keep an eye out for Isha’s upcoming book and soul-searching PDF guide!

0:00 - Introduction: Reclaiming your voice and agency after 35

0:53 - The illusion of outward success & feeling empty at the top

2:30 - Losing a corporate identity and facing the "blank slate"

4:00 - Performance vs. Love: Overcoming the need to prove your worth

5:10 - What are "borrowed beliefs"?

6:44 - Why we silence our voices to make others comfortable

7:59 - Embracing the "difficult woman" label

8:35 - Cultural conditioning, fear vs. respect, and the "operating system" of the mind

11:32 - What is nervous system safety and how to build it

13:14 - The neuroscience of breaking old habits and forming new neural connections

15:10 - How to shift from survival to thriving using the mind-body connection

16:05 - What is "Energy Embodiment" and our 29 senses?

19:06 - Giving your body a taste of the future today

21:20 - The power of a daily gratitude practice

24:00 - Where to find Isha, her upcoming book, and coaching options

Intent on Purpose Podcast, Laura Hansen Breksa, Isha Julka, Mindset Coach for Women, Reclaiming Your Voice, Nervous System Regulation, Mind Body Connection, Energy Embodiment, Good Girl Conditioning, Personal Growth After 35, Corporate Burnout, Rewriting Your Identity, Overcoming People Pleasing, Women Empowerment.

Show Notes: Can you imagine being locked in a small building at the geographic South Pole for nine months straight, in 100-degree-below-zero weather, with 40 people you didn't choose? When friction inevitably happens, you can't walk away.

This week, host Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with international peacebuilding expert and conflict mediator Shawn Dunning to explore how we can strategically direct our time, energy, and talents to solve big, messy problems instead of letting them fester.

Shawn takes us on a fascinating ride through his 25-year career—sharing how he discovered his unique talent as a teenager in the principal's office, why he took a 50% pay cut to chase his purpose, and how he uses high-adventure challenges to kinesthetically teach Israelis, Palestinians, and corporate executives how to get along.

1. How do you know when it’s time to pivot your talents away from a practical career (like engineering) toward work that genuinely impacts others?
2. Why is avoiding a problem harder than collaborating, and how does "escape" drain our energy over time?
3. What is the structural difference between a compromise and a win-win solution, and how do we co-create them in our own backyards?

Hit play to learn how to stop sitting in conflict, start uncovering underlying needs, and begin investing your energy where it makes the highest impact.

https://shawnmdunning.com/

• The Principal's Office / First Mediation Story

  (00:25) "I think if I were to go back to a point where that started, it's probably my junior or senior year in high school..."

• The South Pole Crew Training Story

  (03:48) "And you asked me about the South Pole crew. So that's one of my more interesting clients. I'm now in the 11th year..."

• The Croatia Mountain Storm / Israeli & Palestinian Expedition Story

  (11:15) "I'll give you an example. A few years ago... when I was working with the Israelis and Palestinians, there was one very, very challenging experience that we had one time in Croatia..."

In this episode of Intent on Purpose, host Laura Hansen Breksa welcomes Steven Michaels, a recently retired 29-year U.S. Navy Reserve veteran (O-6) and an accomplished engineer with a 35-year career in the communications and defense industries. Holding a master's degree in electrical engineering, a professional engineer license, a PMP certification, and serving as a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Steven brings a massive wealth of leadership and technical expertise to the table.

Yet, despite his highly decorated military and engineering background, Steven reveals that his true calling has always been music. Reflecting on his roots growing up in a working-class neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago surrounded by steel mills, he explains how he navigated a practical career path to fuel his lifelong musical passion. Now a semi-professional keyboardist, guitarist, and singer with nearly 50 years of stage experience under his belt, Steven details the rigor it takes to perform at a professional level, the unique joy of playing timeless 70s and 80s anthems like "Hotel California" in his current Eagles cover band, and how music acts as a truly universal language that bridges cultures.

Closing out the interview, Steven shares his deeply personal life philosophy: Carpe Diem (Seize the Day). Inspired by his parents—both Army veterans—and shaped by a deployment to Afghanistan that left him with long-term health challenges, Steven discusses his determination to live intentionally. From hauling heavy band gear to serving as a neighborhood captain in Arizona, Steven proves that no matter what life throws at you, it’s never too late to invest your talents where they are matter most.

Learn more about Steven at https://stevendeyoungmusic.com/

• 00:05 – Welcome & Introduction
• 00:34 – The Decorated Background: Military & Engineering Credentials
• 01:13 – The Real Calling: Choosing a Day Job to Fund Music
• 02:51 – The Physical Reality of the "Weekend Warrior" Lifestyle
• 03:38 – Playing Keyboards & Harmonies in an Eagles Cover Band
• 04:11 – The Evolution of Live Sound: 1980s Analog vs. Modern Digital
• 06:37 – "Hotel California" & Seeing a Sea of Phone Lights in the Audience
• 07:06 – Rewinding to 1978: The First Gig at Age 14
• 08:17 – The Ageless Appeal of 70s & 80s Rock as a Universal Language
• 09:54 – Words for the World: The "Carpe Diem" (Seize the Day) Philosophy
• 10:30 – Walking Into the Recruiter's Office & Navigating the Navy Career
• 11:57 – Managing Afghanistan-Related Lung Issues While Carrying Heavy Gear
• 12:54 – A Tribute to Army Veteran Parents & Closing Remarks

• #BalancingADayJobWithMusic
• #WeekendWarriorMusician
• #IndependentMusician
• #SemiProMusician
• #MusicianLife

What does Ukraine look like beyond the headlines?

In a compelling new episode of Intent on Purpose, Ukrainian PhD, professor, and software engineer Natailia Lototska shares an authentic perspective on her homeland's history, culture, innovation, and resilience.

Laura Hansen Breksa's conversation with Nataailia explores how Ukrainians continue to build businesses, educate future generations, support communities, and preserve hope while living through ongoing conflict.

This episode provides a timely and deeply human perspective that helps international audiences better understand Ukraine beyond news coverage.

Get to know Natailia:

Nataliia Lototska is a Ukrainian PhD, university associate professor, and software engineer at an international company, successfully balancing her academic career with the global tech industry. A proud wife and mother of two, she blends her professional and scientific expertise with a deep passion for her country's heritage. She is dedicated to sharing Ukraine’s rich history, vibrant traditions, and modern innovative spirit with the world. Through this episode, she aims to give global audiences a closer look at her homeland, showcasing why Ukraine is truly "More Than War."

#IntentOnPurpose #Ukraine #Leadership #Resilience #Innovation

A few facts about Ukraine:

• Home to more than 40 million people before the full-scale invasion
• Kyiv is among Europe's oldest cities
• Approximately one-quarter of the world's black soil reserves are located in Ukraine
• The Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych wrote the original version of "Carol of the Bells"
• Ukraine has one of Eastern Europe's strongest technology sectors
• Ukrainian-founded innovations include globally used platforms such as Grammarly and GitLab
• Ukraine is recognized for advanced digital government services
• The country's history spans more than a thousand years

Most people fear conflict.

Yvette Durazo says that’s exactly why we need to learn it.

In this episode of Intent on Purpose, we unpack why conflict starts shaping us before age seven, why workplaces keep getting it wrong, and how conflict management is an essential skill.

From HR systems to power dynamics, mediation, anxiety at work, and the hidden cost of toxic culture — this conversation changes the way you think about human behavior.

Conflict isn’t the enemy.

Avoiding it badly might be.

🎧 Listen now.

Get to know Yvette:

Yvette Durazo, MA, PCC, is a workplace conflict strategist and founder of Unitive Consulting. She helps organizations navigate high-stakes conflict, leadership strain, and cultural breakdowns before they become costly or damaging. A first-generation professional, Yvette brings lived experience, mediation expertise, and her proprietary Conflict-IQ® methodology to support leaders in building trust, accountability, and resilient workplace cultures. She is the author of Conflict-IQ® and In the High Heels of a Smart Negotiator, and a longtime instructor in conflict resolution and leadership development.

#WorkplaceDrama
#LeadershipTok
#CareerGrowth
#OfficePolitics
#ConflictManagement
#HumanBehavior
#ProfessionalDevelopment
#HealthyWorkplace
#BusinessPodcast
#SelfAwareness
#TeamCulture
#DifficultConversations

• conflict resolution
• workplace conflict
• toxic workplace culture
• HR and conflict
• mediation skills
• alternative dispute resolution
• emotional intelligence

Jenny Chapman’s interview was part crochet masterclass, part comedy hour, and part heartfelt ode to creativity. From the moment she confessed that crochet was just the “100th craft” she’d picked up, Jenny’s personality unraveled faster than a badly counted stitch. What started as a calming hobby during a stressful job became a full-blown passion involving blankets, bath mats, “yarn chicken,” and enough acrylic yarn to survive the apocalypse.

Jenny spoke lovingly about learning crochet from her Grammy, who passed down both the skill and the creative spark that now fuels Jenny’s life as a teacher, theater lover, audiobook addict, and self-proclaimed “hooker” — in the crochet sense, of course. She explained how repetitive stitches can calm an overactive brain, why lockdown brought fiber arts roaring back into style, and how she once mailed handmade blankets to flight attendants who bribed her with airplane snacks.

Between stories about theater, teaching high school English, and intimidating lacework projects, Jenny’s real message was simple: make things, share them, and don’t hide what brings you joy. Whether she’s crafting blankets for graduating students, donating handmade gifts, or teaching teens to perform Antigone, Jenny stitches warmth into everything she touches — one row at a time.

More about Jenny:

Jenny has been crafting since the age of 5 and has hand made over 100 blankets as of today. She always has a craft in hand while traveling and can always recommend a great audiobook to listen to while crafting.

#ADD #ADHD. #Crochet