"The present moment is the most powerful part of our daily life that we don't spend a lot of time with. But that's where the change is: the awareness of the present moment, and from that is born so much of the power that you need to go on." —Billy Mandarino

What does true present moment awareness actually feel like — and why does it matter more than any meditation technique you've tried?

In this episode of The Purpose in Progress Podcast, Dr. Jim Price sits down with Billy Mandarino, author of The Nowist, to unpack the difference between trying to be peaceful and learning to simply be peace.

Billy traces his path from a chaotic childhood divorce to a terrifying bout of Guillain-Barré syndrome that left him fully paralyzed during COVID lockdowns — and how choosing to serve his doctors and nurses from a hospital bed became the turning point in his recovery. He shares the exact mindset shift that happened just months ago: moving from years of chanting, meditating, and praying for peace to simply becoming it, and how that shift opened doors emotionally, financially, and physically. The conversation also covers prayer as a felt experience rather than a repeated ritual, the concept of unrealized childhood trauma quietly sabotaging adult lives, and Billy's upcoming feature film built around that very theme.

If you've ever felt like you're doing all the "right" spiritual practices without feeling different, this conversation offers a real reframe. Tune in, subscribe, and let this conversation move you one step closer to living intentionally: https://tinyurl.com/24yjtt9g

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Chapters:

03:39 Meet Billy Mandarino: The Nowist

06:34 Prayer as a Feeling, Not Just Words

09:24 Paralyzed by Guillain-Barré Syndrome During COVID

12:17 Serving Others From a Hospital Bed

14:37 The Shift From Being Peaceful to Being Peace

18:55 Making Inner Peace Part of Your Everyday Life

20:31 New Film Explores Unrealized Childhood Trauma

24:22 Where to Find Billy Mandarino

25:30 Closing Reflections on Purpose and Progress

Resources:

Movies

📽️For Now— The Movie

Books

📖The Nowist: Finding the Signs to Your Ultimate Desires in No Time by Billy Mandarino

📖 The Adventures of Harold from the Hood Book Series by Jim Price:

🚙A Trip to the Park

🤝🏽Friends Like Different Things

🍟 Fun Time Lunch Time

😤 When I Feel So Annoyed

Meet Billy:

Billy Mandarino is a Santa Barbara, California-based author, speaker, and Now-ist whose bestselling book, The Now-ist, teaches readers how to embrace present moment living and discover the spiritual gifts hidden in everyday life; drawing on decades of personal growth through a large, multi-divorce family upbringing and deep study of diverse religious and spiritual practices, Billy Mandarino shares life-changing wisdom, mindfulness insight, and practical guidance for awakening spiritual awareness, and today lives with his wife, Desa Marie, and daughter, Gianna, continuing to inspire readers worldwide through his transformative teachings on presence, purpose, and self-discovery in The Now-ist.

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The Nowist Book

"There are two things you can always say to yourself: 'it's not always going to be this way' and 'this is not the end of the story; it's only part of the story." —Don Wood

Turning trauma into purpose sounds impossible until you hear how one man explains how he did it.

In this episode of Purpose in Progress, Dr. Jim Price sits down with executive advisor and podcast host Don Wood, who grew up in an alcoholic household, learned to survive his father's violence before he was ten, and later lost his mother to cancer during his final semester of college.

Don shares how that loss sent him toward the same coping mechanism his father used — until his mother's dying wish pushed him into rehab and, eventually, 32 years of sobriety. From there, the conversation moves into the moment Don and his own mother delivered a stranger's baby on a rural roadside, and how an 18-month medical ordeal involving 11 surgeries convinced him that surrendering control — not fighting for it — is where real purpose begins. Don now channels all of it into his new book, Forged, and his work helping executives move past hidden burnout toward genuine wellness.

This is a conversation about what it actually looks like to turn pain into service, one honest story at a time. Listen to the full episode and hear how Don Wood built a life of purpose out of the parts of his story he never chose: https://tinyurl.com/24yjtt9g

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Chapters:

03:14 Growing Up in an Alcoholic Household: Don Wood's Origin Story

07:00 College Rejection, Grief, and the Start of 32 Years Sober

10:46 Finding Purpose Through Faith After Addiction

12:45 The Night He Helped Deliver a Baby on Labor Day

16:42 Surviving 11 Surgeries

19:10 Helping Executives Heal From Hidden Burnout

19:32 Where to Connect With Don Wood

Resources:

📖 The Adventures of Harold from the Hood Book Series by Jim Price:

🚙A Trip to the Park

🤝🏽Friends Like Different Things

🍟 Fun Time Lunch Time

😤 When I Feel So Annoyed

Meet Don:

Don Wood is an executive advisor, speaker, and host of Men's Leadership God's Way, where he equips leaders to manage stress, burnout, and pressure through faith-centered, practical strategies. Drawing on his background in corporate leadership, athletic training, and over 32 years of sobriety, Don helps executives and high-achieving men strengthen self-awareness, deepen their relationship with God, and lead with greater purpose and resilience.

A survivor of childhood trauma, addiction, and a life-threatening 18‑month medical journey that included 11 surgeries and open-heart surgery, Don shares hard-won lessons on courage, character, and calling. He is the author of Forged: How Surviving the Unthinkable Taught Me About Leadership and works with individuals and groups through Don Wood Advisory, guiding them to live lives of wellness, impact, and intentional faith.

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Connect with Men's Leadership God's Way:

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"Let people know they're not alone, and that everything is possible for them if they will just give themselves a 'yes' to themselves, to their own life." —Michele Blood

Finding your purpose in life rarely happens on your own timeline — sometimes it takes a crisis to crack it open.

In this episode of The Purpose in Progress Podcast, Dr. Jim Price talks with Michele Blood, creator of Magnet to Success and co-creator of over 80 books and audio programs on meditation and mindset, about the near-fatal truck accident that ended her seven-year touring run and started a very different journey.

Michele explains why her biggest achievement isn't the products or the global audiences — it's the 14 years she spent searching for, and eventually finding, an enlightened teacher who guided her through a decade-long awakening. She breaks down her core philosophy: that people stay stuck not because change is impossible, but because they haven't given themselves permission to want it. Michele also shares two practical entry points anyone can use today — decluttering physical space to quiet mental noise, and a 21-day no-complaining practice that resets your ability to notice opportunity. Along the way, she talks through her True Prayer app, her Miracle Frequency Podcast, and the live retreats she's bringing back this fall.

This is a conversation about what actually shifts after the breakthrough moment — and what daily practice looks like once it does. Listen to the full episode now: https://tinyurl.com/24yjtt9g

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Chapters:

02:38 Meet Michele Blood: From Touring Rock Star to a Near-Fatal Crash

08:05 Her Real Achievement: A 14-Year Search for an Enlightened Teacher

11:39 Her Core Philosophy: Give Yourself a Yes to Your Own Life

14:53 Inside the True Prayer App

16:44 The Miracle Frequency Podcast and Upcoming Live Retreats

20:17 Declutter Your Space, Then Try a 21-Day No-Complaining Reset

23:35 Connect with Michele Plus Free Gifts

Resources:

🎁Free Gift

Michelle is giving away gifts to the loyal listeners of The Purpose and Progress Podcast!! Grab yours now: http://micheleblood.com/purposeandprogress/

📱Apps

Download Michele's Apps here: https://tinyurl.com/2ba4hosd

📖 The Adventures of Harold from the Hood Book Series by Jim Price:

🚙A Trip to the Park

🤝🏽Friends Like Different Things

🍟 Fun Time Lunch Time

😤 When I Feel So Annoyed

Meet Michele:

Michele Blood is a successful, multi-talented lady. Michele was a successful songwriter and rock singer in Australia, and after a near-fatal car accident, while in hospital with many serious injuries, she created positive Affirmation Songs, which not only helped heal her body but also took her to worldwide success.

These Affirmation Songs affect both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, lyrics engaging the left hemisphere, and melody and music engaging the right, so the new, positive messages go straight to the subconscious mind. This is why millions of people worldwide have downloaded Michele's Affirmation Power Songs. These songs cover healing, success, money, joy, and confidence, and they immediately uplift the listener.

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"Don't try to follow what other people are doing… You have to find your own uniqueness and your own path…. Do what makes you happy, and what actually works out for you." —MariaCrystal Melo

Building an acting career without a guaranteed map is the central thread of this week's episode. Dr. Jim Price talks with award-winning actress, writer, producer, and director MariaCrystal Melo about the years she spent navigating commercial casting before deciding to write her own opportunities instead of waiting for one to appear. MariaCrystal opens up about the early frustration of being typecast, the turning point when she realized representation alone wasn't enough, and how her first short film, The Healer, made entirely without a budget, somehow earned her a film festival interview in the UK. She traces her growth from there: Homebound's screenings in Toronto and a finalist placement at the Athens International Film Festival, Blood Money's run in an actual Cineplex theater, and her latest film Angel landing three nominations at the Toronto Nollywood International Film Festival, including Best Director and Best Actress. She also speaks candidly about the unglamorous side of producing — budgets, locations, distribution — and how she's learned all of it on the job.

Her takeaway for anyone chasing a creative path is one most people need to hear: the road that worked for someone else isn't necessarily yours to follow. Listen to the new episode now and hear exactly how Maria carved her own way forward, one project at a time.

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Chapters:

01:45 Meet MariaCrystal Melo: Writer, Actress, Director

05:49 Getting Boxed In by Commercial Casting

07:00 The Decision to Write Her Own Work

10:04 Maria Crystal's Films Reach International Audience

15:04 Why There's No Single Right Path

19:39 Connect with MariaCrystal Melo

Resources:

📖 The Adventures of Harold from the Hood Book Series by Jim Price:

🚙A Trip to the Park

🤝🏽Friends Like Different Things

🍟 Fun Time Lunch Time

😤 When I Feel So Annoyed

Meet Maria:

Mariacrystal Melo is an award-winning actress, writer, producer, and director based in Toronto. Beginning her journey in high school theatre, she has steadily built a versatile career across stage and screen, driven by a passion for nuanced storytelling and complex, character-driven roles.

After years of working as an actor, Mariacrystal expanded into writing and producing to create the kinds of roles and narratives she didn't see available in traditional casting. Her first short film, "The Healer," gained international attention through the Liftoff Global Network as a first-time filmmaker. She went on to co-create "Homebound," a short film exploring homelessness that was screened in Toronto, became a finalist at the Athens International Film Festival in Greece, and drew interest from local venues and curators.

Her work as a filmmaker further evolved with "Blood Money," a short she wrote, produced, directed, and starred in, which was screened on the silver screen at a Cineplex theater and later picked up by a streaming platform. Her latest film, "Angel," directed by Lefty Quicken and co-written and co-produced by Mariacrystal, has been accepted into the Toronto Nollywood International Film Festival, where it has been nominated for Best Director, Best Experimental Short Film, and Best Actress.

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"If you truly believe in the product and service that you're delivering in the company, and how you help and serve your clients, then you get to really step into that role of worthy intent, where you truly desire to make a difference." —Lynn Whitbeck

Sales is an act of service — and Lynn Whitbeck has been proving that since she was a Girl Scout, outselling everyone at the grocery store entrance. In this episode of The Purpose in Progress Podcast, Lynn, founder and CEO of Strategic Sales Queen, breaks down the mindset shift that separates salespeople who grind from those who grow: worthy intent.

Lynn shares the hard lesson she learned about customer repair — that fixing a problem isn't enough if the client never got to feel heard first. She introduces her proprietary Voice of the Client framework, a seven-interview process that pulls the exact language, emotions, and motivations from your best clients and puts them at the center of every piece of your sales strategy. She also gives a preview of her upcoming book, Joyful Sales, and names failure to follow up as one of the deadliest sins in sales — because when you don't follow up, you're handing that deal directly to your competition.

Whether you're building a business from scratch or looking to sharpen a system that's already running, this conversation is packed with practical, immediately applicable strategies for selling with confidence and integrity.

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Chapters:

02:41 Meet Lynn Whitbeck: From Girl Scout Cookies to Sales Strategist

07:27 The Customer Repair Lesson That Changed How Lynn Sells

11:37 10 Years in Business: What She's Most Proud Of

13:50 Practical Wisdoms at Work — Sales Advice for Career Women

15:30 Joyful Sales and the Worthy Intent Framework

17:15 The Seven Deadly Sins of Sales: #2 Failure to Follow Up

20:20 Voice of the Client: Stop Projecting, Start Interviewing

25:41 How to Get Lynn's Free Get More Clients Checklist

Resources:

📖 The Adventures of Harold from the Hood Book Series by Jim Price:

🚙A Trip to the Park

🤝🏽Friends Like Different Things

🍟 Fun Time Lunch Time

😤 When I Feel So Annoyed

📋Get Lynn's Get More Clients Checklist at: http://p2q.link/checklist

📖Practical Wisdoms @ Work: Navigating the Present with a Plan for the Future by Lynn Whitbeck, Rachel Whitbeck, and Kristina Olson

📖 Joyful Sales: A Better Way to Sell by Lynn Whitbeck (Coming Soon!)

📖The Seven Deadly Sins of Sales by Lynn Whitbeck (Coming Soon!)

Meet Lynn:

Lynn Whitbeck, the Queen of Sales and Founder & CEO of Strategic Sales Queen, helps business owners and entrepreneurs end sales chaos, increase client retention, and unlock hidden profits through strategic sales consulting. With a career spanning small business sales to corporate VP of Global Sales — and coverage in USA Today, HuffPost, and the Chicago Tribune — Lynn translates Fortune 500 sales strategies into accessible, actionable systems built for entrepreneurs.

Her show, Get More Clients, reaches over 169 million monthly viewers across premier streaming platforms, and her reputation as a sought-after national and international sales growth expert and speaker is well earned. Lynn's proven, layered strategic sales process moves businesses from chaotic and stuck to consistently converting — because she genuinely gives a damn about your growth. Bottomline: Lynn will ignite your sales and unleash lasting profits.

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"Do what you need to do, scared or not, knowledge or not. We live in an information world now; you can find out how to do anything. Practice makes perfect. When you put those two things together, and you continue to push, there's nothing that's going to stop you." —B. Danielle Watkins

Dr. B. Danielle Watkins didn't plan to become an award-winning writer, director, and network executive — she was supposed to be a school psychologist. In this episode of The Purpose and Progress Podcast, Dr. Jim Price sits down with Danielle to trace the winding, unplanned path that took her from childhood writing in Buffalo winters to becoming the first Black woman to write, star, and produce in an original series on a television network.

Danielle gets real about what it actually costs to build something in the film industry — lost money, unprofessional collaborators, and a phone call she had to make returning thousands of dollars to a distribution company when a project fell apart. She also talks about what kept her moving: not fearlessness, but the refusal to let fear make decisions for her.

Key takeaways:

• Unprofessionalism in collaborative industries isn't just annoying — it can put your livelihood at risk, and learning to navigate that is part of the job.

• Danielle cashed in her 401k to film Season 1 of her show 3030, which went on to become the #2 show on the network in its first year.

• Her closing advice is specific and earned: do the work scared, use the information available to you, and keep going anyway.

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Chapters:

03:38 Meet Danielle: Background and Early Journey

07:09 Transition From Corporate America to the Entertainment Industry

10:48 Challenges and Obstacles in the Entertainment Industry

14:12 Navigating the Publishing World

17:31 Inspirational Projects and Achievements

21:16 Future Projects and Upcoming Work

24:49 The Importance of Pushing Through Fear

28:06 Connect with Danielle

Resources:

📖 The Adventures of Harold from the Hood Book Series by Jim Price:

🚙A Trip to the Park

🤝🏽Friends Like Different Things

🍟 Fun Time Lunch Time

😤 When I Feel So Annoyed

Meet Danielle:

B. Danielle Watkins is a two-time bestselling author, internationally award-winning filmmaker, and actress making history at the intersection of Black and LGBTQ+ storytelling. A Buffalo, New York native and graduate of HBCU Winston-Salem State University and The Los Angeles Film School, she became the first and only African American filmmaker to write, produce, and star in a REVRY original series (3030) — and the first to have her work showcased at Cinema Systers, the first all-lesbian film festival in the United States.

With films streaming on Peacock, Prime Video, and Apple TV+ and reaching audiences across more than 100 countries, Watkins has built a truly global footprint. Her LGBTQ+-centered film The Calling premiered on NBC's Peacock network; her field-producing credits include TV One's top-rated true crime series Fatal Attraction, and she now serves as Vice President of Media and Film at Squirrel Vision TV. A Woman in Media award winner, Rising Star honoree, and International Impact Author Award recipient, she is one of the most versatile and sought-after voices in independent film, television, and literature — and she is just getting started.

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"When we place ourselves through service and helping other people, inspiring other people, it's interesting how everything our hearts desire, and the wishes that we want fulfilled can actually come onto our doorstep and into our life." —John Masiulionis

What happens when a cancer diagnosis, a grandmother's passing, and a cross-country move during a pandemic become the exact ingredients for your life's purpose? That's the real story behind PR from the Heart founder John Masiulionis — and it's one worth sitting with.

In this episode, Dr. Jim Price sits down with award-winning children's author and PR publicist John Masiulionis to trace the winding path from wrestling radio host to champion of children's literature. John opens up about losing his identity, rebuilding from financial ruin, and the spiritual shift that redirected everything — the move from "me" to "we."

Key moments include:

• How testicular cancer became John's catalyst for self-love and purpose-driven work

• Why relocating from Buffalo to San Diego during COVID was a non-negotiable act of faith

• The Dr. Wayne Dyer principle that changed how John defines success: when you serve others, your own needs get handled

The takeaway is concrete and hard-earned: John stopped performing for approval and started operating from overflow — and that's when PR from the Heart became something genuinely meaningful.

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Chapters:

01:36 Meet John

05:01 Journey and Early Career

09:19 Transition to Children's Literature

13:04 Personal Challenges and Spiritual Awakening

16:23 Overcoming Obstacles and Embracing Change

20:52 The Role of PR From The Heart

32:31 The Importance of Staying Connected to Your Mission

Resources:

📖 The Adventures of Harold from the Hood Book Series by Jim Price:

🚙A Trip to the Park

🤝🏽Friends Like Different Things

🍟 Fun Time Lunch Time

😤 When I Feel So Annoyed

📖 Walking Each Other Home— Zachary's Mission: A Hospice for Children by John Masiulionis

Meet John:

John Masiulionis is the founder of PR From The Heart LLC—a leading KidLit public relations firm—the host of The Children's Books Spotlight Series, one of the longest-running podcasts in children's literature—and a certified animal communicator. Driven by a passion for storytelling and a commitment to helping children and families navigate life's toughest challenges, he wrote his award-winning children's book, Walking Each Other Home— Zachary's Mission: A Hospice for Children, and is on a mission to bring a children's hospice to San Diego—a sacred space that will carry forward a legacy of strength, love, and lasting inspiration.

John's work is shaped by the memory of his late grandmother and by connecting hospitalized children with professional wrestlers while hosting the award-winning radio show Monday Night Mayhem. He lives in San Diego with his beloved Shih Tzu/Maltese, Little Forrest.

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"When you're prepared and you're really hungry and ready for something, you will make way to make those things happen." —Dr. Jim Price

What does it really take to find your purpose and keep moving forward when life doesn't go as planned?

In this first episode of the Purpose and Progress Podcast, Dr. Jim Price shares the real story behind his journey: from struggling in school and walking away from a dead-end job to becoming a school counselor, award-winning children's book author, and advocate for youth development.

Dr. Price opens up about how his work with children shaped his purpose, why self-worth and self-care are non-negotiable, and how small, consistent steps can lead to meaningful progress. He also introduces what listeners can expect from the podcast: honest conversations with educators, creators, and everyday people who have faced challenges and found a way forward.

If you're trying to figure out your next step, rebuild confidence, or stay committed to your goals, this episode sets the foundation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How purpose is built through real-life experiences

• Why self-care is essential for growth and resilience

• The power of small steps and consistent progress

• Lessons from working with children on self-worth and social skills

• What to expect from future episodes and guest conversations

About the Podcast:

The Purpose and Progress Podcast is where purpose becomes action and growth never stops. Each episode brings real stories, practical insights, and conversations designed to help you move forward with clarity and intention.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement today.

Chapters:

01:22 Meet Your Host: Dr. Jim Price

04:30 Lessons from The Adventures of Harold from the Hood

10:10 Ready and Prepared to Step Into Purpose

16:27 The Snail: Lessons About Social Skills

19:47 Great Things Take Time

22:49 Dr. Jim's Purpose

Resources:

📖 The Adventures of Harold from the Hood Book Series:

🚙A Trip to the Park: https://bit.ly/40Lvv6h

🤝🏽Friends Like Different Things: https://bit.ly/4ocAQxq

🍟 Fun Time Lunch Time: https://bit.ly/4odUCJ1

😤 When I Feel So Annoyed: https://bit.ly/4l6WSPt

Meet Your Host:

Dr. Jim Price was born and raised in Springfield Massachusetts. This is the same city as another famous children's book author in Dr. Suess. He is a former basketball player who was a member of a basketball state championship team at Springfield Central High and was nominated Junior College All American for basketball at Springfield Technical Community College. His basketball Jersey number was retired at Springfield Technical Community College. In 2017 he was inducted into the Springfield Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame for basketball.

Jim earned his Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Springfield Technical Community College where he also made the National Dean's List Publication. Jim earned his bachelor's degree in Psychology from Western New England University. He earned both his master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in School Counseling from Springfield College. He currently is a candidate for Doctor of Education at American International College. When not writing he enjoys helping mentor the youth in any way he can though coaching the youth in basketball and with the work he does as a school counselor in the public-school setting.

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