Powerful On Purpose

What happens when a successful doctor loses everything to addiction, dishonesty, and the consequences of his own decisions?

Dr. Jack Manzella, known as the Rock Bottom Doc, joins Leslie Capps to share his journey from a thriving medical career to prison and the long road of addiction recovery, accountability, and rebuilding his life.

Dr. Jack had the career, family, and community standing that looked like success from the outside. Behind the scenes, alcohol and drug dependency, illegal prescriptions, and a growing web of lies were destroying everything he'd built. When he was arrested, he lost his medical license, his freedom, and much of the life he'd known.

Now, after approximately 15 years of sobriety, Dr. Jack is using his experience to help others recognize when they're heading toward a crisis. We talk about why successful professionals struggle to ask for help, how fear keeps people trapped in destructive patterns, and why telling the truth can be the hardest and most important step toward change.

This conversation is about more than addiction or prison. It's about what happens when the life you planned is no longer possible, and you have to decide what comes next. Dr. Jack reminds us that rebuilding doesn't happen overnight. Sometimes it begins with one honest decision.

Learn more about Dr. Jack and his work at https://rockbottomdoc.net

🎙️ Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for honest conversations about purpose, resilience, and using your experiences to make a difference.

#powerfulonpurposepodcast #addictionrecovery #rockbottom #secondchances #personalgrowth

Chapters:
00:00 — Meet the Rock Bottom Doc
01:10 — When Success Hides Addiction
03:30 — Losing Everything After Arrest
05:50 — Finding Hope in Prison
08:00 — Why Lies Make Things Worse
10:30 — Accepting a Different Future
13:00 — Building Habits for Recovery
15:40 — Recognizing the Warning Signs
18:10 — Helping Professionals in Crisis
21:45 — Stop and Take One Step

Why does women's health research still leave so many women feeling overlooked? And what happens when doctors blame the patient instead of questioning whether the treatment is right for her body?

In this episode of Powerful on Purpose, Leslie Capps talks with Shereen Kassam, a stand-up comedian, TEDx speaker, and entrepreneur who went from working at Deloitte, Amazon, and Disney to founding wellness businesses, including Brown Body Reset.

Shereen shares how corporate burnout, workplace bullying, and unexplained health challenges changed the direction of her life.

After struggling with her own health and experiencing unexpected results from a GLP-1 weight-loss treatment, Shereen began questioning how medical research accounts for differences among populations. She shares what she discovered about gaps in research involving South Asian women and why those experiences inspired her to build a wellness brand focused on communities she believes have been overlooked.

We also get into the courage it took to leave a secure corporate career, why Shereen hired a coach just to help her quit, and how stand-up comedy became part of her journey toward living life on her own terms. There are plenty of laughs along the way, including how her parents reacted when they discovered she was a comedian.

The takeaway: You don't have to keep living by someone else's definition of success. Ask better questions, advocate for your health, and build a life that works for you.

Connect with Shereen and Brown Body Reset:https://brownbodyreset.com

Brown Body Reset is preparing for a 2027 launch. Visit the website to join the waitlist for updates, launch offers, and a free gift.

Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for conversations with women who are challenging expectations, sharing their stories, and creating meaningful change.

This conversation shares personal experiences and perspectives, not individualized medical advice.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Shereen Kasam
01:30 When Corporate Success Isn't Enough
03:25 Choosing Family Over Your Job
05:50 Turning Workplace Stress Into Change
08:15 Building a Business Before Quitting
10:45 Leaving Corporate Life Behind
13:00 When Stress Affects Your Health
15:40 Questioning One-Size-Fits-All Healthcare
18:00 Why Brown Body Reset Exists
23:40 Advocating for Your Own Health

#powerfulonpurposepodcast #womenshealth #healthadvocacy #womenentrepreneurs #corporateburnout

Why are mothers of only children so often judged for a deeply personal decision—or circumstance—that other people know nothing about?

Chef, author, and entrepreneur Sofya Stearns knows firsthand how assumptions about women, motherhood, infertility, family size, and career can shape the way people are treated.

In this episode of Powerful on Purpose, Sofya joins Leslie Capps to share the unexpected path that took her from pre-med and finance to creating Izabella’s Gourmet Chow, a cooking school that uses food, language, culture, music, and movement to bring people together.

Sofya also shares the personal experiences that inspired her book, The One and Only: By Fate or By Choice. After experiencing judgment about having one child, she interviewed 40 other single-child families and discovered how much can be hidden behind a family’s circumstances, from infertility and illness to adoption and other deeply personal experiences.

We talk about the assumptions we make about other people, why kindness matters when we don’t know someone’s full story, and how Sofya brings those values into her work with children, adults, and people with disabilities.

And because food is at the center of so much of Sofya’s work, we also talk about cooking as a creative and therapeutic experience—including one very pink solution for helping a picky eater become more adventurous with food.

Connect with Chef Sofya Stearns:[WEBSITE]

Find The One and Only: By Fate or By Choice:[AMAZON/BOOK LINK]

Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for more conversations with women using their stories, expertise, and purpose to make a positive impact in the world.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Chef Sofya Stearns
02:48 One class becomes a business
05:31 From pre-med to entrepreneurship
06:30 Being judged by assumptions
08:20 Judgment after becoming a mother
09:20 Why she wrote The One and Only
11:25 Creating spaces without judgment
14:28 Cooking as connection and healing
18:14 Helping picky eaters experiment
21:48 The One and Only
22:17 Choose kindness over judgment

#powerfulonpurposepodcast #onlychild #motherhood #kindness #womenentrepreneurs

What if struggling to write your book or complete something important in your business isn’t a discipline problem?

What if the system simply doesn’t fit the way you work?

In this episode of Powerful on Purpose, Leslie Capps explores friction as useful information.

Sometimes friction tells us we’re pursuing the wrong thing. Other times, the goal is right, but the process we’re trying to force ourselves through was never designed for our brains, energy, or way of creating.

Leslie shares how talking through her ideas helped her write a book in 30 days, while another author chose to give herself a year and why neither approach is wrong. She also explains how connecting ChatGPT to her CRM eliminated at least 10 hours of administrative work each week while removing an even greater amount of mental clutter.

You’ll hear:
• Why “just start writing” doesn’t work for everyone
• How to recognize when the process, not the person, is the problem
• Why generic books and generic AI both create more noise
• How giving AI a clear job produces better results
• Why your voice, judgment, expertise, and humanity still matter
• The questions Leslie uses to identify friction and design a better system

AI should not replace the human. A writing system shouldn’t force every author into the same box. The goal is not to make humans better at serving systems. It’s to create systems that better serve humans.

If you’re experiencing friction around writing your book or somewhere in your business, reach out. Let’s have a conversation about what’s driving you nuts, what needs to happen instead, and whether AI or a different system could make the process easier.

Connect with Leslie: [email protected]

Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for conversations about writing the right book, using AI intentionally, and building systems that fit the humans using them.

CHAPTERS

00:00 When the system doesn’t fit
01:20 Friction is useful information
02:10 Different people need different systems
03:00 Finding a writing process that fits
04:10 Eliminating the administrative drain
05:10 Why generic AI falls short
06:25 Give AI a specific job
08:00 Give your book a job
09:35 Find your biggest friction points
12:10 Protect your human creativity

#PowerfulOnPurpose #NonfictionWriting #AIForBusiness

How do you find your voice and develop the confidence to express who you really are? Intuitive voice coach, singer-songwriter and workshop facilitator Aideen Ni Riada believes our voices can become a powerful path to greater self-trust, confidence, authenticity and self-expression.

In this episode of Powerful on Purpose, Aideen joins Leslie Capps to explore the connection between voice, singing, confidence, vulnerability, creativity and personal growth—even for people who believe they “can't sing.”

Aideen shares how her own journey began when someone asked about her dream and she answered, “I want to be a singer, but I can't do that.” Years later, her desire to sing evolved into work helping others strengthen their voices from the inside out.

We talk about why using your voice can feel so vulnerable, how singing can help us access parts of ourselves we've kept hidden, and why finding your authentic voice can affect far more than music. Aideen shares how that deeper self-trust can carry into business, communication, relationships and the courage to express what matters to you.

We also explore the role music can play in shifting our energy and emotions, why small steps toward a dream still matter, and Aideen's reminder that no one else gets to be you—and your presence in the world matters.

🎁 Aideen's Free 10-Day Mantra Meditation Journey: USE code 2026FREEACCESS
https://aideen-ni-riada.simplero.com/cart/213111-10-Day-Meditation-Journey

Explore mantra meditation and learn to use your own voice and sound as a practice for connecting with yourself and supporting your nervous system.

Connect with Aideen Ni Riada: https://confidenceinsinging.com

Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for more conversations with brilliant women using their stories, expertise and purpose to make a positive impact in the world.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Aideen Ni Riada
01:40 “I can't be a singer”
04:10 Your voice changes you
06:15 Singing builds self-trust
08:10 Move beyond self-consciousness
10:15 Give your dreams room
13:20 Small steps create momentum
15:25 Don't diminish your progress
17:35 Let music support you
20:00 Choose what you bring forward
22:15 Your voice matters
23:20 Aideen's meditation gift

#powerfulonpurposepodcast #findyourvoice #selfexpression #confidence #personalgrowth

Trauma healing, nervous system regulation, neuroplasticity, and faith come together in this conversation with Wilma Kinsman, an RN and Christ-centered trauma coach who grew up Amish and ultimately had to learn how to understand—and work with—the effects trauma had on her brain and body.

Wilma shares the pivotal childhood moment that made her decide she would eventually leave the Amish community, the impact of being repeatedly told she was “too sensitive,” and how spiritual approaches that didn't account for trauma initially left her feeling even more broken.

Everything began to shift when she learned more about the brain, nervous system, and neuroplasticity. Wilma explains how the amygdala can continue sounding an alarm even when we intellectually know we're safe, why empathetic relationships can be an important part of healing, and what it means to build new pathways back to regulation and joy.

We also talk about faith, forgiveness, shame, learning to listen to your body's responses instead of judging them, and the possibility of moving from a life driven by fear and survival toward one shaped by identity, desire, love, and choice.

One of Wilma's most important reminders: you can change. Your past may have shaped your nervous system, but it doesn't mean you're destined to stay there.

🎁 Wilma's Free Grounding Exercise: a free video grounding exercise incorporating prayer, singing, and being present with yourself.
Visit https://WilmaKinsman.com and scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up and access the video.

📕 Wilma is also the author of Dancing on the Dumpster, published under the pen name Willie J.

Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for more conversations with people turning their experiences, expertise, and stories into meaningful work in the world.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Wilma Kinsman
01:32 Growing up Amish
03:30 The moment everything changed
05:02 Questioning what she'd been told
07:00 How trauma changes the brain
09:47 Finding a pathway back to joy
12:05 Creating safety after trauma
13:51 Rebuilding your sense of self
15:53 The power of empathetic connection
19:44 Working with your nervous system
21:44 Wilma's grounding exercise
22:29 Why change is possible

#powerfulonpurposepodcast #traumahealing #nervoussystemregulation #neuroplasticity #christianhealing

What makes a family recipe unforgettable? Often, it’s not just the food—it’s the person who made it, the memories around the table, and the connection we felt while sharing it. In this episode of Powerful on Purpose, Leslie Capps talks with chef and author Josh C. Epstein about his book, The Company We Keep, a collection of meaningful recipes and personal stories that celebrates food, family, friendship, and human connection.

After losing his father, Josh wanted to honor the people who supported him through a difficult time. He invited 35 people in his life to contribute recipes that meant something to them, along with the stories behind those dishes. Josh then added his own memories of each person, creating a book that blends cookbook and memoir.

We talk about the chicken piccata recipe Josh’s son chose, the family kitchens that shaped his love of cooking, and why sharing a meal can bring us back to one another in a disconnected world. Josh also shares what it took to finish his first book while balancing a busy work schedule—and why he had to stop tweaking it and let it be done.

The takeaway: You don’t need an elaborate menu or a special occasion to reconnect. Invite someone over, make a meal together, or call the person you’ve been meaning to catch up with. As Josh puts it, “Food is the excuse. Connection is the point.”

📕 Josh’s book: The Company We Keep: Stories and Recipes from People I’ll Never Forget is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Company-We-Keep-Stories-Recipes/dp/B0HB72XJZH

🎁 One-copy book giveaway: Josh has offered to give away one complimentary copy of The Company We Keep. If you’re interested, reach out to Josh and ask about the book giveaway. https://www.facebook.com/joshcepsteinchef

Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for more conversations with authors and people using their stories, expertise, and experiences to make an impact.

Chapters
00:00 Meet chef and author Josh
01:50 Why Josh wrote his book
03:02 Recipes with personal stories
03:57 The recipe his son chose
05:35 What’s inside the cookbook
07:05 Why food creates connection
08:20 Where his cooking began
09:30 Finishing a first book
12:45 Bring people back to the table
16:15 Start with one shared meal
20:05 A cookbook meets memoir
22:35 Reconnect with someone you love

#powerfulonpurposepodcast #familyrecipes #foodandconnection #cookbookauthor #thecompanywekeep

Returning to work after a career break can bring questions about confidence, identity, skills, and whether your experience still counts. Dr. Ann Marie Peters, executive coach, leadership strategist, and author of We’ll Be Right Back, wants women to understand something important: a career pause doesn't erase the experience, talent, or value you already have.

In this episode of Powerful on Purpose, Ann Marie shares her own journey from a Fortune 500 career through part-time work, full-time caregiving, entrepreneurship, and eventually earning her PhD. Her doctoral research became the foundation for We’ll Be Right Back, a book for women finding their way back to meaningful work after a career pause.

We talk about the identity shifts that can happen when women step away from paid work, the grief that can accompany changing roles, and why women often overlook the valuable skills they've developed while caregiving, volunteering, managing families, and contributing to their communities.

Ann Marie also shares what surprised her most in her research: many of the women she studied weren't ultimately hired through some faraway opportunity—they were recognized and pursued by people already in their communities who had seen what they were capable of.

Whether you're preparing to return to work, reconsidering what you want your next chapter to look like, or wondering whether you're still the capable woman you were before your pause, this conversation is a reminder that your first landing place doesn't have to be your final destination.

📕 Get We’ll Be Right Back
We’ll Be Right Back launches September 16, 2026 and helps women reconnect with who they were, recognize what they've gained during their pause, and move confidently toward whatever they choose next.

Learn more and get the book:
https://annmariepeters.com

🎁 Companion Workbook
A companion workbook to help readers capture their reflections and work through the questions and exercises in We’ll Be Right Back.

Get it inside the book or here:
https://www.annmariepeters.com/book-well-be-right-back

Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for more conversations with brilliant women using their stories, expertise, and experience to create meaningful impact.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Dr. Ann Marie Peters
01:52 Choosing a career pause
04:56 Your unpaid work still counts
07:32 Reframe your career gap
09:08 Why women's stories matter
12:31 Reconnect with who you are
13:27 The hidden grief of change
15:02 From pause to leadership
18:05 Inside Will Be Right Back
19:23 Where opportunities really come from
21:09 Your next chapter may be best

#powerfulonpurposepodcast #careerbreak #returntowork #womeninleadership #careercomeback

What makes a TEDx talk or keynote speech powerful enough that people actually remember it? Speaker coach and longtime keynote speaker Mimi Donaldson knows that great public speaking isn't about cramming more information into a presentation—it's about knowing your message, understanding your audience, and communicating in a way that holds their attention.

Mimi Donaldson has spent decades speaking on major stages alongside names including Maya Angelou and Suze Orman. Today, she coaches business owners, keynote speakers and TEDx speakers, with 30 clients taking TEDx stages since 2018. In this episode of Powerful on Purpose, Mimi shares what she's learned from a career spent studying audiences from the stage.

We talk about why great speakers “show them the movie and let them in on the jokes,” why shorter stories can be more powerful, and why knowing your message matters before you ever start worrying about delivery. Mimi also shares her fascinating “legacy speech” exercise: if you had only 15 minutes left to speak to the entire world, what would you absolutely need to say?

Whether you're preparing for a TEDx talk, building a keynote, speaking about your business, or simply trying to communicate your expertise more effectively, Mimi's advice comes down to understanding what your audience needs—and then having the confidence to own what you know.

🎁 Mimi's Free Gift: 30-Minute Speaker Strategy Call
Meet one-on-one virtually with Mimi to talk about your speaking goals, and what could make your message stronger. https://www.mimidonaldson.com/speech-coach/

Connect with Mimi:
https://mimidonaldson.com

Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for more conversations with brilliant women turning their expertise, stories and experience into work that makes an impact.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Mimi Donaldson
02:05 From performer to educator
04:15 Becoming a speaker coach
06:40 Show them the movie
08:25 Breaking onto big stages
11:05 Why TEDx changed speaking
13:25 Build a TEDx-worthy message
16:10 Your 15-minute legacy speech
19:25 Own your expertise
23:15 Lead with their need

#powerfulonpurposepodcast #publicspeaking #tedxtalk #speakercoach #keynotespeaker

How do you market your nonfiction book after launch without turning social media into another full-time job?

Social media strategist Karlyn Ankrom joins Leslie Capps to talk about book marketing, social media for authors, personal branding, storytelling, and how to keep your book working for you long after launch day.

Karlyn is the founder and lead strategist of Oh Snap! Social and creator of the Fan Firestarter Framework. After years of working with authors and thought leaders, she saw a common problem: authors put enormous energy into writing and launching their books, but often aren't sure what comes next—or how to consistently market their expertise online.

In this episode of Powerful on Purpose, Karlyn shares a simple way to turn the content already inside your book into social media posts using her One Page, One Line, One Post method. We also talk about choosing the platforms where your actual audience spends time, creating a marketing strategy that fits you, and why your expertise should keep working even when you're not physically in the room.

We also get into storytelling in the age of AI—and why your lived experience, perspective and meaning are what make your content yours. If you're a nonfiction author overwhelmed by the idea of marketing your book, this conversation will help you simplify the process and start with the person who matters most: your reader.

🎁 Karlyn’s Free Gift: One Page, One Line, One Post
https://resources.ohsnapsocial.com/111

Subscribe to Powerful on Purpose for more conversations about writing, publishing, book marketing, and turning your expertise into a book that can make a bigger impact.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Karlyn Ankrom
01:25 Marketing after book launch
04:10 Know where readers are
05:45 One page, one line, one post
08:05 Make your expertise work harder
10:20 Find the right people
12:35 Your story deserves marketing
14:15 What AI can't replicate
17:15 Stop speaking to everyone
19:40 Simplify your book marketing
21:15 Karlyn’s free author resource

#powerfulonpurposepodcast #bookmarketing #nonfictionauthors #authormarketing #socialmediamarketing