Living with Purpose (Podcasts)

Dr Orn Supaphol is a scientist, sustainability leader and advocate for using knowledge and innovation to create a more sustainable future.With a PhD in soil science, Orn has built a career at the intersection of science, agriculture and sustainability. Her work explores how we can better understand and protect the resources that underpin our food systems, while finding innovative approaches to challenges such as soil health, water conservation and desertification.Her journey has taken her across science, research and business, giving her a broad perspective on how ideas can move from research into the real world. For Orn, knowledge has the greatest value when it can be shared, applied and used to create positive change.In this episode, we’ll explore Orn’s journey, her passion for sustainability and the experiences that have shaped her approach to leadership and impact. We’ll talk about curiosity, continuous learning and the importance of connecting knowledge with real-world solutions, before exploring what living with purpose means to Orn.

Perry Blake is the Founder and CEO of the 21UP Movement, a youth empowerment organisation dedicated to helping young people recognise their potential, develop new skills and create opportunities for themselves and their communities.Perry’s work is driven by a belief in what can happen when young people are given encouragement, guidance and the chance to discover what they are capable of. Through 21UP, he has created programmes spanning mentoring, music, careers, leadership and entrepreneurship, giving young people space to express themselves while building practical experience for their futures.His approach is also wonderfully resourceful. When funding was needed for a youth music programme, Perry created a snapback brand to generate the money to run it, turning an idea into a way of directly supporting young people. He has continued to find creative ways to develop opportunities and build a movement around youth potential.In this episode, we’ll hear more about Perry’s journey, what inspired him to dedicate his work to young people and the lessons he has learned through building 21UP. We’ll talk about confidence, creativity, opportunity and the importance of believing in what the next generation can achieve, before exploring what living with purpose means to Perry.

Cheryll Rogers is the Founder of Unicorn Collective, an impact-focused leader, coach and connector with a passion for creating opportunities that can make a lasting difference.Her work spans philanthropy, education, sport and social impact, with a particular focus on bringing people and organisations together around opportunities for women and young people. She has also played an important role in supporting women’s cricket through FairBreak Global, alongside her work with charities and community initiatives.At the heart of Cheryll’s approach is collaboration. She has built a remarkable network of people who share her belief in the power of opportunity, and she uses those connections to help turn ideas into action. Her involvement in education and social impact continues to open doors for the next generation, including her recent work supporting STEM and STEAM opportunities across Africa.In this episode, we’ll explore Cheryll’s journey, the people and experiences that have shaped her, and her belief in the power of bringing the right people together. We’ll talk about community, opportunity, women’s empowerment and the joy that can come from using your skills and connections to help others thrive.And, of course, we’ll discover what living with purpose means to Cheryll.

Bryan Rutberg is a motivational speaker, speechwriter and lifelong relationship builder with a passion for helping people create stronger, more meaningful connections.Through Bryan Rutberg Speaking & Speechwriting, he works with leaders and their teams to build relationships that inspire loyalty, encourage collaboration and bring people closer to the businesses and organisations they support. At the heart of his work is a simple belief: when we bring more care and connection into the way we communicate, everyone has the opportunity to thrive.Bryan has spent his career helping people find the right words, tell compelling stories and communicate with purpose. Alongside his professional work, he is also deeply committed to giving back to his local community, volunteering each week to serve meals and create a welcoming space for people in Seattle.In this episode, we’ll explore Bryan’s career, his belief in the power of human connection and the experiences that have shaped his approach to communication and service. We’ll talk about kindness, community, relationships and the ways we can make a positive difference through the way we show up for others.And, of course, we’ll discover what living with purpose means to Bryan.

Brooke Summerhill is the Founder and CEO of The Summerhill Firm, LLC and a Divorce Financial Analyst who helps people navigate the financial side of one of life’s biggest transitions.With a career focused on financial strategy, Brooke has developed a particular understanding of how money, relationships and major life decisions can intersect. Her work is about giving people the knowledge and clarity they need to understand their options and feel more prepared for whatever comes next.But Brooke’s perspective extends beyond the numbers. She understands that financial decisions are deeply personal, and that having the right information can give people greater confidence as they build the next chapter of their lives.In this episode, we’ll explore Brooke’s career journey, what drew her to this particular area of financial work and the lessons she has learned from helping people through periods of significant change. We’ll talk about independence, confidence, fresh starts and the importance of creating a future that reflects what matters most

Fortunato Vega is Founder of The 601 Club, a community built around bringing interesting people together and creating meaningful connections.Across his career, Fortunato has developed a real appreciation for the power of relationships and the opportunities that can come from simply putting the right people in the room. His work through The 601 Club reflects that belief, creating a space where people can share ideas, build friendships, learn from one another and open doors to new possibilities.There is a genuine sense of curiosity behind what Fortunato does. He is interested in people, their stories and what they are capable of when they have the right connections and encouragement around them.In this episode, we’ll hear more about Fortunato’s journey, what he has learned from a career in finance and community building, and why relationships have played such an important role in his life. We’ll talk about ambition, generosity, opportunity and the people who help shape our journey, before exploring what it means to Fortunato to live with purpose.

Lucinda Sowerbutts has built a career around communication, connection and creating opportunities for people to make a difference.As Head of OSCAR International, Lucinda has been closely involved with the organisation’s work supporting children and young people in India, helping to develop programmes including the UK School Tours, Child Sponsorship and the International Young Leader programme. She has also brought her background in PR and marketing to work across a diverse range of industries and social impact initiatives.But for Lucinda, this work goes beyond simply running programmes or raising funds. Her involvement with OSCAR has given her a front-row seat to what can happen when young people are given access to education, sport, mentorship and opportunities that allow them to see a different future for themselves.She is also passionate about opening doors for the next generation, from supporting young people with work experience and career development to mentoring women looking to build their own careers.In this episode, we’ll explore Lucinda’s journey, the experiences that have shaped her commitment to social impact, and what she has learned about the power of opportunity. We’ll talk about purpose, giving back and the responsibility we all have to create opportunities for others, before discovering what living with purpose means to Lucinda.

Nasha Fitter is an entrepreneur and rare disease advocate who has spent much of her career tackling difficult problems that affect people’s lives.Her path has taken her from investment banking and technology to education and, ultimately, into the world of rare disease after her daughter was diagnosed with FOXG1 syndrome. What began as a deeply personal challenge became a mission to change what was possible for families facing the same reality. Nasha went on to co-found the FOXG1 Research Foundation and is now helping build Citizen Health, creating technology designed around the needs of rare disease patients and caregivers.There is something particularly powerful about Nasha’s story because her work has not simply been about responding to a problem. It has been about refusing to accept that things have to stay the way they are. Her belief that patients and families should have a stronger voice in shaping the systems designed to support them runs through everything she does.In this episode, we’ll talk about the unexpected ways life can change the direction of your work, what happens when personal experience becomes a catalyst for action, and the lessons Nasha has learned about motherhood, resilience, leadership and building for a purpose bigger than yourself.Ultimately, we’ll explore what it means to find purpose not in the life you planned, but in the life you are actually living.

Ravi Vedula is a Corporate Vice President at Microsoft and the author of Hyderabad Days, bringing together a career in technology and leadership with a deep connection to storytelling and personal experience.His journey offers an opportunity to look at purpose from two perspectives: the professional path we build and the stories we carry with us along the way. Technology is constantly changing, but many of the questions around identity, ambition, belonging and what makes a life meaningful remain remarkably human.Through his career and writing, Ravi has explored different ways of making an impact, whether that is through leading at scale, sharing ideas or preserving the experiences that have shaped him.In this episode, we’ll delve into Ravi’s journey, the lessons he has gained throughout his career and what writing has taught him about memory, identity and perspective. We’ll also ask him how his understanding of purpose has evolved and what he believes makes a life well lived.

Vandana Mishra is the Founder and CEO of goEasy.kids, a platform built around helping children develop the confidence and skills they need to navigate the world around them.Her work is rooted in the belief that giving children the right tools early in life can have a lasting impact, not just on how they learn, but on how they see themselves and their potential.Building a business with a clear social purpose takes more than having a good idea. It requires persistence, curiosity and a willingness to keep asking what could be done differently. Vandana’s journey offers plenty to explore around those themes, as well as the motivations that sit behind the work she does.In this episode, we’ll talk about the experiences that have shaped Vandana, the lessons she has picked up along the way and what she has discovered about creating something that is both purposeful and practical. We’ll also explore the question at the heart of this podcast: what does it really mean to live with purpose?