From the writer of two Oscar winning movies through to an animal rights vigilante who ended up spending six months in a Japanese maximum security prison, join Emmy winner Richard Janes as he invites guests to tell their story about Finding Passion and Purpose. 

Be sure to like, subscribe, and share.  As well as leaving us review.

We look forward to spending time with you.

On August 19, 1958, 7-year-old Ayanna Najuma, and a group of 12 students together with a High School teacher named Clara Luper, set the stage for a civil rights protest that would sweep the nation in the 1960’s and continues to resonate in modern America through movements such as Black Lives Matter and #MeToo.

Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and his practice of nonviolent protest, the plan was simple. The students would occupy the ‘white’ only lunch counter of a drug store called Katz and ask ask to be served a hamburger and a coca-cola. When they were inevitably denied service on the grounds that the lunch counter was for ‘whites only’ they would refuse to leave and stay seated in their seats until closing.

This sit-in protest was one of the first in the civil rights movement, happening 18 months before black college students took seats at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Over the next six years, Ayanna and her fellow civil rights demonstrators, led one of the longest nonviolent sit-in protests in the United States desegregating almost every eating establishment in their home city of Oklahoma’s capital.

Ayanna was just 7-years-old when on a hot august day she took her place on a stool embracing a passion and purpose that would not only have an impact on her life, but arguably the life of every American who has come after.

This is her story.

Host: Richard Janes

Guest: Ayanna Najuma

Joe Hewitt has worked in some of Rio’s most dangerous favelas helping at-risk youth through soccer.  He is the CEO and founder of The Sports Creative: a non-profit, creating sports programs and partnerships around the world for at-risk youth.  Through his work, he has seen the devastating effects that homelessness brings to people, which led him to discover his unique purpose.

Host: Richard Janes

Hollywood screenwriter Jordan Roberts is probably best know for writing the 2005 Oscar winner for best feature documentary March of Penguins, or perhaps you’ll have watched his 2014 Best Animated Feature Film Oscar Winner Big Hero 6. 

When we talk about purpose, it’s often thought that a true purpose needs to be grander than oneself, to serve a bigger cause. But what could set a greater example to the world than the compassionate healing of ones own soul so that it may shine bright for others experience. This is the domain of the artist. This is the domain of screenwriter, turned director, Jordan Roberts whose work has impacted millions of people all over the world with, as one film critic put it, a compassionate and healing voice for those who are suffering or going through tremendous struggle. She said of one of his movies: "It is like he’s giving a huge hug that can be felt through the screen".

Host: Richard Janes

Pete Bethune has been shot at, stabbed with a machete, and held captive in a maxim-security Japanese prison. All in the pursuit of his unique passion and passion. 

Pete is what is known as an animal rights vigilante and he travels the world helping to protect the globes endangered animals. From performing citizens’ arrests in Japan to rappelling from helicopters in Costa Rica, Pete's story is one of extremes.

Find out how Pete found his passion and purpose later on in life and why most of us will never have the courage to do the same.

Host: Richard Janes

Have your parents ever tried to live vicariously through you?  For our guest today, that was what most of his early-life was controlled by: another person's desires.  Ian Winer is an investment expert and a frequent contributor on CNN Money, Fox Business, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times.  He took his skills in the hockey rink to WestPoint and was eventually led all the way to Wall Street.  In this episode, we talk about how Ian was able to reclaim his identity, and what it actually means to be successful, by embracing fear and setting out on an adventure of self-discovery that gave him a new perspective and purpose in life. 

Chris Strompolos is the star of a fantastic new Netflix documentary  called "Raiders: The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made". His story has Passion & Purpose written all over it.

At the age of 11, after seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark, Chris decided to remake the film shot for shot and dedicated the next 8 years of his life to achieving his goal. And then... He grew up. Moving on to more adult pursuits such as getting a job, getting married, having a baby. Until a tape emerged of his little fan film and it ended up being seen by the likes of Harry Knowles, Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth, and the grandmasters: Steven Spielberg and George Lucas themselves.

And suddenly, Chris found himself putting the costume on once again and diving back into his childhood passion. But as Chris learned, returning to your original childhood passion isn't all roses. 

Philip Folsom is one of America’s top corporate cultural development experts. His journey to finding Passion & Purpose began at the age of 5 when his parents moved his family to a commune in the back woods of Washington.

Today, he helps leading organizations such as Apple, Google, Red Bull, and Snapchat, build healthy, high-performing environments through inspiration and innovation.  Also known as, “The Tribe Guy”, what makes him different in the world of team development is his unorthodox methods which include Tibetan death cave meditations through to equestrian therapy.