Connecting With Purpose
Mark Griffin
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Top 10 Connecting With Purpose Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Connecting With Purpose episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Connecting With Purpose for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Connecting With Purpose episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Building Teams with Joy to Inspire Them to Achieve Great Things with Nigel Girgrah
Connecting With Purpose
09/27/23 • 43 min
Dr. Nigel Girgrah leads with vulnerability and courage. He quite simply wants to make people feel good. As Chief Wellness Officer to over 30,000 employees, he models behaviors that create an open, empathetic and accepting workplace, where people care for each other and collaborate to achieve great things. Dr. Girgrah shares his own mental health challenges, career highlights, challenges, philosophy of building trust and of course how purpose plays a role in people’s wellbeing and performance. This episode is a must watch! There are so many nuggets in here for organizational leaders to take away, to embrace wellness as a core component to employee engagement and performance.
Dr. Nigel Girgrah is an experienced Physician Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. Dr. Girgrah has become a national thought leader in the area of workforce well-being - an area he is passionate about and believes is fundamental to people’s engagement and performance. As Chief Wellness Officer at Oschner Health System, Dr. Girgrah oversees the wellbeing of over 30,000 employees and heath services providers who heal over 900,000 patients annually.
Dr. Girgrah has a strong healthcare services background with a Diploma focused in Managing Health Care Delivery from Harvard Business School. Prior to his current role, Dr. Girgrah held operational leadership roles including: Associate Medical Director of Medical Sub-specialties, Chairman of GI and Hepatology, and Medical Director Multi-Organ Transplant Institute.
Additional Resources
Connect with Nigel on Linkedin
Support Your People's Full Pie To Engage Your Team with Grace Zuncic
Connecting With Purpose
09/13/23 • 33 min
Grace Zuncic is Chief People and Impact Officer at the deeply purpose-driven adventure gear retailer, Cotopaxi. She sees it as her own purpose to help others be their best selves, which she's realized is something she can do at scale in HR roles. Now, she's helping Cotopaxi through a stage of rapid growth beyond its initial familial startup phase, to attract, develop, and engage employees
We discussed ways that employers can help their people identify and engage with their own individual purpose, even if the organization is earlier in its technical impact journey than Cotopaxi. Three levers came up to do this: first, building a culture with a growth mindset, questioning each other and established practices, and practicing radical candor. Secondly, doing human things that fit your organization's size and structure, like celebrating birthdays, sharing personal stories, or posting non-work inspiration photos on a corporate channel, like Cotopaxi's #inthewild Slack channel. And finally, helping people see and recognize the ways that the other pieces of their 'pie' can provide fulfillment, inspiration, and purpose - and supporting them to spend time and energy in those activities, not just at work.
Additional Resources
Can Work Provide Dignity? with Mark Atkinson
Connecting With Purpose
08/29/23 • 29 min
Mark Atkinson's purpose is to make work a source of dignity and self actualization. He's pursued that goal in a wide variety of roles and sectors, now as an entrepreneur and CEO of Mursion, Inc., a VR training platform for professionals to practice and master workplace skills. He's frustrated that we use creature comforts to entrap people in functions that don't elevate them to their full potential. We discussed how supported skill-building, stretch assignments, and rigorous measurement of progress can make work a source of dignity.
Additional Resources
- How Tech Will Help Solve the Human-Skills Shortage by Promoting Empathetic Leadership
- Ericsson Fosters Inclusive Behaviors through Immersive, Science-Based Learning Experiences
- Four criteria for building skills that support high-performance cultures
- Meet Learners Where They Are With Personalized Training
- Does Your Company Make You a Better Person?
- Learn more about PeopleForward Network
A Conversation with Mike Geddes, Chief Purpose Officer, Oakland Roots SC
Connecting With Purpose
08/29/23 • 60 min
In Connecting with Purpose Episode 5, we host Mike Geddes Chief Purpose Officer for the USA’s first professional sports team to be founded on purpose - the Oakland Roots Soccer Club. Don’t miss this conversation. Mike provides so many practical insights as to how the club have embedded purpose at the core of everything they do, from purpose driven stakeholders experiences, to departmental cohesion, commercial strategy and metrics. Most importantly, demonstrating care for their community who then in turn care for the team.
Learn more about the power of purpose
A Conversation with Wing Commander Matt Roberts, OBE DFC
Connecting With Purpose
08/29/23 • 27 min
What can you learn from this military leader on the power of purpose, leadership and performance?
Next up in the PurposeFused Connecting with Purpose series Neil talks with Wing Commander Matt Roberts OBE DFC. Matt is a squadron commander in the RAF’s Chinook helicopter force which is has its 40th anniversary of operational service this year.
Learn more about the power of purpose
Building, Learning and Growing with Scott Lewis
Connecting With Purpose
02/07/24 • 52 min
Spartan Investment Group is on a mission to improve lives through real estate. As co-founder and CEO, Scott Lewis is living his purpose through Spartan. There are few people with as diverse a background as Scott, which had included teaching English in Thailand, various positions in sales, strategic and project management for the federal government culminating at the GS 15 level, and being on active duty in the US Army as an Infantry Officer, making him an Iraqi Freedom combat Vet.
What’s the common theme through all of these? Scott’s desire to educate people and build them up so they can grow and thrive. That’s his purpose and he lives it every day, in a very practical way. Part of this process is educating himself so he can model not only the behaviors and enable Spartan to be successful but also offer the wisdom to others of what they can learn and how they can grow. For context - how many other leaders to you know who read 64 books last year? Scott did.
Listen into this episode to understand how to embed values authentically, how to inspire learning in others, how to serve with meaning, to make the impact you’d be proud to make.
Additional Resources
- Connect with Scott on Linkedin
- Learn more about Spartan Investment Group, LLC
- Learn more about PurposeFused
- Take the WIP (Wellbeing, Impact and Performance) Check-In Assessment
- Learn more about PeopleForward Network
Building Trust and Embracing Failure with Michael Bearup
Connecting With Purpose
01/19/24 • 40 min
In this conversation, Michael Bearup shares the insights from his 38 year long career with KPMG, within which he most recently held the following titles: Former Lead Partner for Culture at KPMG US, Lead Director KPMG US, Office Managing Partner KPMG Colorado. Michael Bearup's mission is to engage in conversations that bring out the untapped potential in individuals. He has discovered the key to this process and recognizes that a significant aspect of a high-quality life stems from the strength of your team. By prioritizing people and fostering trust through psychological safety, he creates an environment where individuals are gently challenged and supported, encouraging the sharing of ideas and open communication. Through incremental experiences, conversations, and challenges, a sense of unity and support among people is built. Michael is dedicated to establishing a culture that not only tolerates failure but openly embraces it as a crucial part of working towards a shared vision and achieving personal bests. As a true relationship-builder, coach, and servant leader, this episode is rich with simple yet powerful concepts that center around putting people first, as exemplified by one of the best in the field.
Additional Resources
- Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
- Learn more about PurposeFused
- Take the WIP (Wellbeing, Impact and Performance) Check-In Assessment
- Learn more about PeopleForward Network
Energy Exchange and Successful Leadership Transitions with Ophelia Byers
Connecting With Purpose
12/06/23 • 51 min
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Ophelia Byers, Founder and Principal at SitchRoom, speaking from the heart about the origins of her purpose, the importance of leadership training and the impact she has achieved as a former Chief Nursing Officer and continues via her transition into founding her own leadership development consultancy - SitchRoom. With a focus on the challenge for individual contributors transitioning into leadership, what’s missing? In healthcare and corporations it’s essentially the same - the mindset shift of the new leader and believing in themselves in their new capacity, combined with specific (and tailored) support via preparation for the leadership role and how that sits within the broader culture of the organization. We dive into the importance of care, creating beautiful experiences and making the leadership journey enjoyable and meaningful. Also, considering how every interaction, connection and experience is an "energy exchange" - we give and receive. Understanding this enables us to be intentional about our our time given energy is a multiplier of our time towards impact.
Additional Resources
- Connect with Ophelia on LinkedIn
- Learn more about StitchRoom
- Learn more about PurposeFused
- Learn more about PeopleForward Network
Living the (Rugby) Dream with Dallen Stanford
Connecting With Purpose
11/22/23 • 47 min
Do something you love and opportunities will continue to open up”. Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s Presidency in South Africa and his Nation’s historic Rugby World Cup victory which unified South Africa in 1995 (popularized beyond rugby circles via the movie: Invictus), Dallen Stanford’s energy was directed towards positive impact from that point on. From playing international rugby as a team mate, to coaching kids and college students, to broadcasting - now at the pinnacle of rugby commentary on a World stage - Dallen puts smiles and infuses positivity into people’s lives at scale. This episode is grounded in positive values, positive energy, positive intent and possibility. If you want some takeaways from someone who followed their passions to make their dream a reality- this one is for you!
Additional Resources:
- Connect with Dallen on LinkedIn
- Learn more about PurposeFused
- Learn more about PeopleForward Network
The Stories That Shape Us: Purpose, Perspective & Legacy with Don Yaeger
Connecting With Purpose
04/19/25 • 55 min
In this episode of Connecting with Purpose, we’re joined by Don Yaeger—hailed as one of America’s best storytellers, a twelve-time New York Times bestselling author, nationally recognized keynote speaker, and host of the top-ranked Corporate Competitor Podcast, which I’ve been hooked on since hearing Don speak in person just two months ago.
Don’s career spans decades of interviewing and working alongside extraordinary leaders and teams. From his time as Associate Editor at Sports Illustrated and Storyteller in Residence for National Geographic, to his current work as a coach helping executives build cultures of greatness, Don’s insights are rooted in deep curiosity and real-world experience.
In this conversation, Don shares three powerful “10 out of 10” life moments—from surviving cancer and embracing fatherhood later in life, to witnessing the radical power of forgiveness. He reminds us that life happens in seasons, and purpose is found not just in what we achieve, but in how we connect and contribute. We explore what it means to lead with intention, tell stories that matter, and make each day your masterpiece.
Key Takeaways:
— The Magic of Perspective: How a health crisis reframed Don’s entire outlook on life, purpose, and legacy.
— Forgive the Unforgivable: A powerful true story of healing through forgiveness—and the freedom that comes with letting go.
— Purpose in Storytelling: Don shares his framework of “story, lesson, application” and how storytelling builds trust, meaning, and connection.
— Living Your Legacy: Why intentionality, curiosity, and helping others share their story are key to lasting impact.
— Identity & Reinvention: What Don learned through major transitions—and how letting go of titles helps us step into new seasons of purpose.
🔗 Connect with Don:
— Website: donyaeger.com
— LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donyaeger
— Podcast: CorporateCompetitorPodcast.com
👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share for more purpose-fueled conversations about meaning, leadership, and impact.
#ConnectingWithPurpose #DonYaeger #StorytellingWithImpact #MakeEachDayAMasterpiece #PurposeFusedLeadership #Curiosity #Perspective #Forgiveness #LegacyBuilding #EliteAthletes
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FAQ
How many episodes does Connecting With Purpose have?
Connecting With Purpose currently has 36 episodes available.
What topics does Connecting With Purpose cover?
The podcast is about Purpose, Leadership, Development, Podcasts, Connection, Education, Leader, Business and Careers.
What is the most popular episode on Connecting With Purpose?
The episode title 'Building Trust and Embracing Failure with Michael Bearup' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Connecting With Purpose?
The average episode length on Connecting With Purpose is 43 minutes.
When was the first episode of Connecting With Purpose?
The first episode of Connecting With Purpose was released on Aug 29, 2023.
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