In this powerful clip from the Intent on Purpose podcast episode, Barry Rellaford of The Empowerment Dynamic challenges us with a vital leadership question:

👉 Are you letting problems push you… Or letting a clear, desired outcome pull you forward?

If you’re serious about outcome-driven leadership, this conversation is worth your time.

Get to know Barry:

Barry Rellaford has a gift of engaging leaders and teams in a meaningful, engaging, and actionable way. He has worked with leaders and teams from over 140 countries. Barry’s

recent clients include Graphic Packaging, Caprock, Michelin, and Canyon Lake Dental.

His vocation of awakening people to purposeful work began in his youth in Paradise, California. From high school (where he engaged the student body as varsity mascot), through his undergraduate degree in Human Resource Development at Brigham Young University, and on to a master’s degree from Ohio State’s business school, Barry continues to uplift and encourage everyone he encounters.

Barry is the founder of The Strength of 10, a consultancy focused on inspiring individuals and organizations to perform purposeful and sustainable work. He was a co-founder and master facilitator in FranklinCovey’s Speed of Trust practice and co-authored the business

parable, A Slice of Trust. Additionally, Barry is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, 3 Vital Questions facilitator, and is authoring the forthcoming book, Being True.

His favorite work roles now focus on developing the next generation of emerging leaders. He is the Executive Leadership Coach at the Sorensen Center for Moral & Ethical Leadership as well as a strategic advisor to the

Waterford Project and Cumorah Academy in the Czech Republic.

Barry and his wife, Lorilee, live in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains with their family. Barry's interests outside of work include family activities, music, reading, inspirational writing, and people development.

The Empowerment Dynamic https://lnkd.in/gd7M-DTD

hashtag#LeadershipDevelopment
hashtag#ExecutiveLeadership
hashtag#OrganizationalCulture
hashtag#StrategicThinking
hashtag#IntentionalLeadership

In this episode, host Laura Hansen Breksa welcomes neurologist and advocate Dr. Julie Thompson-Dobkin to discuss her mission of demystifying epilepsy through the Hidden Truths Project.

Dr. Thompson-Dobkin shares her unique journey from studying zoology to becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), a path shaped by her holistic approach to the human body and mind. She reveals the personal turning point that led her to epilepsy advocacy: diagnosing her own son’s seizures after they were missed by his school.

Together, they discuss how art serves as a "tacit form of knowledge"—a bridge that communicates the complex emotional and physical realities of chronic conditions that words often fail to describe. Whether you are a caregiver, a patient, or someone interested in the power of creative expression, this conversation offers a deep look into resilience, community, and the beauty of neurodiversity.

Learn more about the Hidden Truths Project:

https://hiddentruthsproject.com/

Support Epilepsy Awareness: https://www.epilepsy.com/

00:00 – Intro: Describing the Indescribable

01:05 – Dr. Thompson-Dobkin’s Path to Medicine & Osteopathy

03:32 – Neurology as a Puzzle: The Power of Listening

04:36 – A Mother’s Intuition: Diagnosing Her Son’s Epilepsy

06:40 – The Birth of Hidden Truths Project

08:42 – The 5 Categories of Epilepsy Art

11:24 – Laura’s Journey: Living with a "Family Disease"

13:10 – Combatting Stigma Through Education and Art

17:53 – The Hidden Anxiety of Chronic Dependency

23:05 – Neurodiversity: Embracing a Perfectly Imperfect World

28:45 – Cultural Perspectives and the Future of Hidden Truths

37:55 – 5 Key Takeaways on Growth and Resilience

Get to know Dr. Thompson-Dobkin:

Board-certified neurologist with a career spanning clinical neurology, academic research, and advocacy. Early work focused on cerebrovascular disease and translational research in leading academic centers. Later expanded into community-based care, freestanding clinical trials, and

global outreach. Founder of Hidden Truths Project, a nonprofit transforming awareness and inclusion through creative engagement.

Founder & CEO — Hidden Truths Project | Newport Beach, CA | 2012 – Present

Developed a nationally recognized arts-based initiative raising awareness about epilepsy and

other hidden disabilities. Partnered with neurologists, artists, educators, and nonprofits to create inclusive, empowering platforms.

St. Anthony’s Foundation Volunteer

Mission is to feed, heal, shelter, clothe, lift the spirits of those experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty

Senior Fellow in Education & Director of Curriculum Studies — The Kant Institute Newport Beach, CA

Leads strategy and program development for an education-focused think tank addressing learning disparities and equity.

Skills & Focus Areas

Cerebrovascular disease | Epilepsy | Sleep disorders

Clinical trials design & oversight

Public engagement through art & education

Mentorship and youth neuroscience programming

Nonprofit leadership & fundraising

Curatorial Direction & Thematic Programming

Creative Collaboration across Disciplines

Art-Driven Advocacy & Public Engagement

What happens to a man’s identity when he’s reduced to a number?

In this episode, Big Anthony sits down inside Sister Hearts Thrift Store & Boutique — part of a decarceration program designed to help formerly incarcerated men rebuild their lives — and speaks with honesty about what prison really takes from a person.

Not just time.

Not just freedom.

But name, identity, confidence… and sometimes fatherhood.

Anthony shares what it felt like to memorize his prison number — and how hard it was to let it go. He talks about the shock of making everyday decisions again after years of having every choice made for him. The hidden pressure of “adulting” after incarceration. The quiet blow to a man’s self-esteem when autonomy disappears. And the overwhelming responsibility of coming home to a daughter who barely knows you.

For women in midlife — mothers, grandmothers, partners, community members — this conversation offers something important: a window into the emotional reality of men coming home from prison. Not the headlines. Not the stereotypes. The human side.

You’ll hear:

• Why prison can be easier to adapt to than freedom
• How institutional habits follow people home
• The link between overwhelm and recidivism
• What actually builds confidence after incarceration
• Why community acceptance matters more than we realize
• The impact of incarceration on children — especially daughters
• What decarceration means beyond re-entry housing and jobs

Anthony speaks candidly about shame, self-worth, masculinity, and the courage it takes to say, “I was incarcerated” without lowering your head.

This episode isn’t about excusing crime. It’s about understanding consequences — and what it really takes for someone to rebuild.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Can people truly change?
• What does accountability look like after punishment ends?
• How can a community help break the cycle?

This conversation will stay with you.

Because punishment has a limit. Consequences do not.
And restoration requires more than release papers.

Listen in.

sisterhearts.org

What if the best years of your life aren’t behind you?

This episode introduces Cathryn Farr explaining her book, The Last Mile is Always Three. The book is about true stories of women over 40 who began hiking in midlife — and kept going into their 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s.

A passion for pushing themselves to go further and to keep going, even through personal trauma. They bond together over common issues among women, The women support each other, both physically and emotionally.

These are not elite athletes. They are ordinary women doing hard things, hiking long miles through the mountains while navigating aging bodies, joint pain, asthma, vertigo, injuries, fear, and doubt.

Together, they explore what it really means to age strong, adapt as the body changes, and keep showing up — even when, time and time again, they know the last mile of the 20 miles hike will feel like three.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about:

• Hiking later in life and why it’s never too late to start
• Staying active after 40 with joint replacements and chronic conditions and other tales of grit
• Why doing hard things improves mental and emotional health
• The power of female friendships and community in midlife
• How the mountains become a metaphor for aging, resilience, and purpose

Am I too old? Too broken? Too late?

The answer, again and again, is no.

If you’re navigating aging, change, or the quiet question of what’s next, this episode — and the book it’s drawn from — will remind you that strength doesn’t disappear with age. Sometimes, it finally shows up.

Women over 40 aren’t done yet.
The mountains are still calling.

Get to know Cathryn:

Cathryn Farr homeschooled her children for 15 years and completed her Bachelor of English at BYU-I at age 53. During Covid, she spent a challenging year in England studying for a Masters in Biography and Creative Non-fiction. Despite what seems to be a glaring oxymoron, her writing demonstrates how non-fiction can be factually creative. Cathryn’s first book, The Last Mile Is Always Three. This memoir is packed with the adventures and photos of a group of intrepid women hikers who have traversed the Teton range every Tuesday for 35 years.

LifeWritingCathryn.com.

1. women over 40
2. middle aged women
3. aging well as a woman
4. hiking over 40
5. older women hiking
6. doing hard things
7. women and aging
8. hiking for mental health
9. active women over 50
10. women supporting women

Big feelings can feel overwhelming — for our kids and for us as parents. Tantrums, emotional outbursts, defiance, and shutdowns often leave parents feeling exhausted, reactive, and unsure of what to do next.

In this episode, certified coach and parenting expert Crystal Haitsma shares a compassionate, psychology-rooted approach to understanding and navigating big feelings — without shame, control, or punishment.

We explore why traditional parenting strategies often fall short, how emotional triggers are rooted in shame and unmet needs, and how parents can respond with calm, connection, and confidence instead of reactivity.

✨ In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why big feelings are signals, not problems to fix
• How shame and emotional triggers shape parent reactions
• Practical ways to pause and regulate before responding
• What gentle parenting really means (and what it doesn’t)
• How your nervous system impacts your child’s emotional safety
• Why inner work is the foundation for effective, connected parenting

Crystal explains how self-awareness, mindfulness, and compassion help parents shift from control to connection — creating secure, trusting relationships with their children while also cultivating inner peace.

This episode is for parents who want to:
✔ Respond instead of react
✔ Break cycles of shame and frustration
✔ Feel calmer and more confident in emotional moments
✔ Build deeper connection with their children
✔ Redefine success as inner peace and authentic presence

🌱 Key takeaway:
When parents learn to listen to their own triggers and emotions with compassion, they model emotional safety for their children — and create lasting change from the inside out.

You are not failing. You are human. And it’s never too late to begin again.

🎧 Listen in and take the next step toward calmer, more connected parenting.

#gentleparenting #emotionalintellence #parenting

Get to know Crystal:

Crystal is a Certified Life Coach and homeschooling mom of 4. She combines her background in Psychology with intuition, somatic work and emotional processing to help change habitual patterns of being. When she’s not in transformation-mode, you can find her travelling, reading a good book and playing board games with her kids.

What if the problem isn’t the person, but the plan?

In this episode of Know It, It, Laura Hansen Breksa sits down with board-certified behavior analyst Carolyn Rivera for a powerful conversation about compassionate care, autism, and what it truly means to meet people where they are. Drawing from her personal journey, professional experience, and deep empathy, Carolyn shares how learning history and environment shape behavior, why plans must work even on our worst days, and how progress looks different for everyone. This episode is a moving reminder that people are not problems to be fixed—they are humans to be understood, supported, and seen.

#CompassionateCare #AutismAwareness #Empathy #austimfamilies

Get to know Carolyn:

Carolyn Rivera is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) committed to compassionate, family-centered care. A California native now living in Texas, she brings a thoughtful, values-driven approach to her work, with a focus on meeting individuals and families where they are and honoring what matters most to them. Her faith is an important grounding influence in her life and informs her commitment to dignity, empathy, and purposeful support. Carolyn is a wife, a proud pet mom, and believes meaningful progress begins with understanding, respect, and goals that align with each family’s priorities.

https://www.autism-foundation.org/

https://autismsociety.org/

✨ Do you know a Mom?. ✨

What if motherhood isn’t about “doing more,” but about thinking differently? In this energizing episode of Know It, Live It., Laura sits down with Regan from Momivate to talk about joy, confidence, and why moms already have way more power (and professional skills) than they realize.

We dive into Regan’s SMILE framework, a practical mental health toolkit designed to help mothers reclaim maternal joy—no matter what kind of day their kids are having. From the power of support systems, using music to shift the home atmosphere, finding laughter in the messy moments, and stepping into true empowerment, this conversation reminds moms that joy is not dependent on perfect parenting.

Then we flip the script on work and motherhood with the RAISE Certification, a genius way to translate everyday mom-life into resume-worthy skills. Think relationships, schedules and systems, financial stewardship, emotional resilience, and energy management—because yes, motherhood absolutely prepares you for leadership, the workforce, and beyond.

Along the way, we unpack powerful truths like:

• Why maternal instinct doesn’t automatically equal confidence
• How motherhood is a mindset, not a location
• Why giving yourself mercy matters when kids have their own agency
• And how the doula connection proves that most of motherhood happens “above the shoulders”

We close this episode of Know It, Live It. with a simple but world-shifting challenge:

💛 “Show a little mercy for a mom.”
Yourself. Your mother. Or the stranger in the grocery store.

Because empowered motherhood starts with compassion—and this episode of Know It, Live It. is your reminder that you’re already doing more right than you think.

#KnowItLiveIt #MomEmpowerment #ModernMotherhood #MercyForMoms #MentalHealthMatters

Education Initiative for the United States Central Area. If you haven't heard about this wonderful program to help high school students and undereducated adults, listen to Diligent and Dedicated Learning with Paula Johnson! it is an amazing program and Paula is a wonderful member of it's board.

Covered in this delightful conversation are the power of sports, music, friends, formal, and curiosity in individual learning and education. Tune in and be inspired to pick up that book (or Google search) to learn about that thing you always wanted to know more about!

#BYUIdaho #education #englishinstruction

Get to know Paula:

I came to teaching later after having studied business and textiles at Ricks college were I earned an Associate of Science degree, which was followed by Brigham Young University. I got married and had six beautiful children and then decided to go back to school. I completed a Bachelor's of Arts in English education and was hired out of my student teaching to teach Language Arts at the junior high school in my community. Seven years later I was transferred to the high school in the same school district where I taught basic, regular and Advanced Placement English and writing. I retired from formally teaching in 2020; however, within three days I was invited by BYU-Idaho to supervise student teachers. Since then I have added teaching Institute for BYU-Pathway and seminaries and institutes. Currently, along with those two assignments, I have assignment for the Education Initiative for the United States Central area.

Start 2026 knowing how to get along with others! Enjoy this encore episode with Shawn Dunning and listen as he explains Collaborative Problem Solving.

#civility

https://www.shawnmdunning.com/

In this conversation, Laura Hansen Breksa speaks with Sean Dunning about collaborative problem solving, its importance in conflict resolution, and the role of leadership in fostering collaboration. Sean shares his experiences in various conflict resolution scenarios, including his work with diverse groups and his political aspirations. He emphasizes the need for leaders who can facilitate collaboration and the challenges faced in achieving a collaborative world. The discussion also touches on personal journeys, mentorship, and the significance of communication in problem-solving.

Get to know Shawn

Shawn Dunning has spent over 25 years pursuing his passion for collaborative problem-solving toward a vision of a world that works for everyone.

Previously the Global Director of Leadership & Training for the international nonprofit Search for Common Ground and COO for the corporate leadership development firm, Adventure Associates Incorporated, Shawn is now the United States South Pole Station Team Trainer.

In his spare time, he runs for local office in Richmond, California to bring collaborative leadership into local politics.

Shawn’s work and passion has taken him to 49 states and 60 countries, and he’s proud to be raising two fierce

daughters.

Takeaways

-Collaborative problem solving aims for win-win solutions.

-Leadership plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration.

-Conflict resolution requires understanding underlying needs.

-Experiences in diverse settings can inform collaborative practices.

-A vision of a world that works for everyone is possible.

-Challenges in politics often hinder collaborative efforts.

-Effective communication is essential for collaboration.

-Personal journeys can shape one's approach to problem-solving.

-Learning from obstacles is key to growth.

-Collaboration requires inviting diverse perspectives to the table.

Encore! Encore! Encore! We need to hear from Karrie again!

Before you fill in those vision boards...listen for possibilities!

Listen and learn from Karrie's example of stepping away from what was expected and following her own way. Hear how she set her purpose on joy. Catch her counsel on how you can live a live of purpose and joy!

In this encore episode of "Know It Live It," host Laura Hansen Breksa engages with the dynamic Karrie Mitten, the visionary CEO and founder of Up Level Your Life Consulting. Karrie unveils her transformative journey from the corporate world to becoming a life mastery consultant, highlighting the profound impact of gratitude, vision, and personal growth. Discover how Carrie empowers individuals to unlock their potential and embrace a life of abundance and joy. Tune in to explore the empowering principles that guide her mission and learn how you can apply them to your own life.

• Gratitude is a key principle for living a life of abundance.
• Being a person of increase means leaving a positive impact.
• Living by a vision guides personal and professional growth.
• Fear should be embraced as a sign of growth, not a barrier.
• Aligning with universal laws can simplify life and increase joy.
• Authenticity and self-expression are crucial for personal fulfillment.
• Asking 'What would I love?' opens up possibilities and opportunities.
• Life coaching can help uncover one's true purpose and potential.
• The importance of finding and nurturing the 'seed of good' in every situation.
• Living a life of design rather than default leads to true happiness.