Discover The Joy: The Purdy Podcast

Joy Purdy
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Uplifting. Encouraging. Inspiring life stories. Empowering information sparked by true tales of triumphs -- and trials. Some have been overcome. Others are overwhelming. But what we learn from each other’s stories can help us, Discover the Joy. And some guests have me delving deeper, using podcast EXTRAS to bring you free insights and advice from top rated experts, specialists, and influencers!

  1. Creativity Has an Address. Step Inside DREW HUNTER'S 'Drewseum'

    OCT 21

    Creativity Has an Address. Step Inside DREW HUNTER'S 'Drewseum'

    Meet DREW HUNTER — award-winning artist, designer, and mastermind behind one of the most wildly creative homes you’ll ever see! From dark rides and haunted attractions to his self-built sanctuary inspired by The Addams Family, Drew reveals how he’s turned a lifelong dream into a living, breathing work of art. ➡️ You’ll tour rooms brimming with oddities, hear intriguing stories from his career in themed entertainment, and discover what it looks like to live inside your imaginaton. ✨ 🎥 Don’t miss the full home tour in the second half (24:42) — it’s pure magic!

    59 min
  2. Inside a Stroke: Frue McAvoy & Rachel Leaptrott Share Their Life-Changing Story

    OCT 7

    Inside a Stroke: Frue McAvoy & Rachel Leaptrott Share Their Life-Changing Story

    Fitness enthusiast Frue McAvoy and his fiancée Rachel Leaptrott share painfully personal details about the terrifying day that nearly ended their future together. Just months after getting engaged, Frue suffered multiple strokes within hours, triggered by something simple — choking on a piece of cheese. From emergency surgery and forced paralysis… to the long road of rehabilitation, Frue and Rachel take us inside the moment-by-moment reality of surviving a stroke. They share details rarely heard outside a hospital room — the failed extubation, the tracheostomy, the mental battles, and the fragile victories like Frue learning to brush his teeth and walking again. But this is also a story of resilience, love, and faith. Rachel’s unwavering support, their community’s embrace, and Frue’s determination to fight back have transformed their tragedy into testimony. 🙌🏼 👀 NOTE: Their story may be difficult for some to hear and their recorded videos of their health scare, hard to see … whether you’ve lived through a health crisis, know someone who has, or simply want to understand what stroke recovery really feels like. 🙏🏼

    39 min
  3. FERNANDO & ADRIANA PADRON, Rebuilding Smiles & Giving Back

    SEP 30

    FERNANDO & ADRIANA PADRON, Rebuilding Smiles & Giving Back

    Meet Adriana & Fernando Padron — a powerhouse prosthodontics team turning some of the toughest dental challenges into life-changing success stories. They describe delicate cases, full-mouth reconstructions, plans to expand with cutting-edge treatments — even pro bono work that gave my very first podcast guest a brand-new smile after diabetes robbed him of nearly all his teeth. See the Padrons give Matt his surprise gift! (32:31) Along the way, the couple reveals how they juggle marriage, family, and running a practice rooted in faith and community. #prosthodontics #discoverthejoy #dentalcare #inspiringstories #restoringsmiles

    36 min
  4. The Fiery Cooks: Rachel & Julio on MasterChef, Gordon Ramsay & the New Live Tour!

    SEP 16

    The Fiery Cooks: Rachel & Julio on MasterChef, Gordon Ramsay & the New Live Tour!

    🔥 Meet The Fiery Cooks! Rachel Sanchez & Julio Figueredo — finalists on the hit TV show MasterChef: Dynamic Duos (Season 15).  The world finds out tomorrow whether they win this season of MasterChef!  Today — the couple joins me to “dish” on life after impressing Gordon Ramsay and the judges. From their whirlwind MasterChef All-Stars Live! Tour (35 cities in 45 days!), Julio and Rachel discuss how they discovered their joy for cooking, building their brand, and inspiring future chefs. Plus — you’ll hear how to snag tickets to their upcoming Jacksonville show! 🎟️

    38 min
  5. CHELSEA FITZSIMMONS: Destress Your Life With Organizing + Free Giveaway!

    SEP 9

    CHELSEA FITZSIMMONS: Destress Your Life With Organizing + Free Giveaway!

    Clear the clutter, clear your mind! (FOR FREE! 😉) Professional organizer CHELSEA FITZSIMMONS joins me on this podcast episode to share how organizing your home can transform your life — less stress, more peace, and even better sleep.Chelsea reveals her simple process (free consultations, smart systems, & lasting results) and gives us a tour inside her own organized home. 🎁 EXCUSIVE GIVEAWAY! To top it off, Chelsea's company Let's Go Organize is giving away 4 FREE hours of organizing (a $300 value!) to one lucky podcast viewer. 👉 Rules + how to enter this contest are on my website: joypurdy.com! And if you're enjoying my podcasts, please tap the FOLLOW button -- Thank you! 😃

    29 min
  6. A Very Special PODCAST EXTRA. Remembering My Mom.

    SEP 2

    A Very Special PODCAST EXTRA. Remembering My Mom.

    I can’t believe it’s been 1 year since the rock of our family left us. During my mom's funeral, it was incredible to hear new stories about her life from people for whom mom was a mentor, advocate, friend… In this special Podcast Extra are 3 women who spoke at my mother's funeral — each connected to her in a different season of her life. JILL PAKMAN, a lifelong family friend, recalls my mom’s early years and the bond that tied our families together across generations. CAROL KIVLER, once mom’s student and later a close friend, describes how my mom’s encouragement shaped Carol's career and faith. NIKKI CELSO, my mom’s caregiver in her final years, shares memories of resilience and dignity, and the lessons Nikki learned while walking beside mom through dementia. Their reflections have taught me so much more about the woman who inspired others through her teaching career, faith, and strength. Thanks for joining me in celebrating the beautiful life my mother lived. ✨

    40 min
  7. Astronaut WINSTON SCOTT: Life Lessons from Space and Earth’s Struggles

    AUG 12

    Astronaut WINSTON SCOTT: Life Lessons from Space and Earth’s Struggles

    What’s it like to see Earth from space — and then come back home to tackle some of our planet’s toughest challenges? Retired astronaut Winston Scott takes us on an amazing journey, from piloting Navy jets, to floating in space on two NASA missions, and now inspiring visitors every day at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories of rocket launches, the daily life of an astronaut, and the breathtaking “overview effect” that changes how you see the world forever. But then… in the last 10 mins. our conversation takes an unexpected turn. Winston talks — passionately and personally — about race relations, fairness, and the fight for equality. He speaks candidly about dealing with injustice, and encouraging young minorities to persevere, stand tall, and never let the past define their future.

    43 min
  8. PART 3 OF 3: Parenting Through Trauma -- Real Talk with Mom CAROLE GARDNER & a Child Psychologist

    AUG 5

    PART 3 OF 3: Parenting Through Trauma -- Real Talk with Mom CAROLE GARDNER & a Child Psychologist

    What does it take to support a child through unimaginable trauma? In Part 3, the final episode of our Discover the Joy: The Purdy Podcast special series, CAROLE GARDNER — mother of sex trafficking survivor Heather Wingate — shares a deeply emotional and honest account of what it’s like to parent through chaos, confusion, and heartbreak. From missed signs to misplaced guilt, Carole gets real about the pain behind closed doors—and the healing that eventually came. (30 mins) Also in this episode: Child psychologist DR. GERILYN WORTHY-THAYER who specializes in treating trauma, gives parents and caregivers powerful insight into how to help children cope. She shares how parents can spot subtle warning signs, support children who can’t always put feelings into words (or won’t), and use authoritative (not authoritarian) parenting to build trust and resilience. (30 mins.) 🎙️ Such an eye-opening conversation for parents, caregivers — even adults still healing from their own childhood wounds.

    59 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Uplifting. Encouraging. Inspiring life stories. Empowering information sparked by true tales of triumphs -- and trials. Some have been overcome. Others are overwhelming. But what we learn from each other’s stories can help us, Discover the Joy. And some guests have me delving deeper, using podcast EXTRAS to bring you free insights and advice from top rated experts, specialists, and influencers!

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