The Stories That Shape Us: Purpose, Perspective & Legacy with Don Yaeger
Release Date: 04/19/2025
Failing Forward: Jacob Brown's Journey of Resilience and Purpose
Connecting With Purpose
In this powerful episode of Connecting with Purpose, Jacob Brown shares his transformative life story of overcoming adversity and developing a "fail forward" mindset. From being cut from the NFL to battling personal challenges including alcoholism, Jacob demonstrates how resilience and intentional living can turn setbacks into stepping stones. Highlights include: —His emotional moment at 25 when his father first expressed love and pride —The life-changing decision to become sober on August 25, 2021 —Writing his book "Fail Forward" as a way to inspire others —The importance of...
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The Stories That Shape Us: Purpose, Perspective & Legacy with Don Yaeger
Connecting With Purpose
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...
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The Courage to Adapt & Elevate with John Register: Season 3, Episode 5
Connecting With Purpose
Today’s guest is all about inspiring people to rise above adversity and move beyond fear. He believes that when our truth outweighs our fear, we can commit to living a courageous life. John Register is a true example of resilience. A combat Army veteran and two-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the hurdles, John’s life changed forever after a traumatic misstep resulted in the loss of his left leg—ending both his Olympic dreams and military career. But through his own reckoning, revision, and renewal, John redefined what it means to be resilient. Since his amputation, John has gone on...
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Beyond the Scoreboards: Performance, Resilience & Growth with Gina Tucci
Connecting With Purpose
In this episode of Connecting with Purpose, we’re joined by Gina Tucci, founder of Beyond the Scoreboards, licensed counselor, and mental performance coach. With a lifelong passion for sports and athletic competition, Gina helps athletes, coaches, executives, and teams overcome mental roadblocks and elevate their performance. Drawing from her background in sports psychology and mental health counseling, Gina creates customized programs that build resilience, shift mindsets, and enhance peak performance. She specializes in equipping high performers with mental fitness tools to manage...
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Purpose-Driven Leadership and Ethical AI with Dr. Adam Russell
Connecting With Purpose
In this episode of Connecting with Purpose, we’re joined by Dr. Adam Russell, Chief Vision Officer for the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute and Director of the AI Division at USC’s Information Sciences Institute. With an impressive background spanning DARPA, IARPA, and ARPA-H, Adam shares his journey through groundbreaking research in AI, human behavior, and national security. Adam reveals how embracing failure, leaning into fear, and cultivating an explorer mindset have shaped his purpose-driven career. We also dive into his work building leaders, teams, partnerships, and...
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Competitive Greatness: Winning Life Through Purpose and Resilience with Carlette Patterson
Connecting With Purpose
Turning Challenges into Purpose and Winning Life Beyond the Game In this episode of Connecting with Purpose, we’re joined by Carlette Patterson—CEO and Founder of Patterson Sports Ventures, where she pioneers Sports Life Coaching to help athletes and leaders navigate transitions with purpose and resilience. Inspired by her journey as a mother to three daughters, Carlette built a legacy of turning challenges into opportunities for growth, coaching, and purpose-driven impact. From the lessons of elite sports to embracing grief and self-discovery, Carlette reveals how staying...
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Navigating Change and Unlocking Potential: The Elite Athlete Opportunity with Digit Murphy
Connecting With Purpose
Pioneering Change and Opportunity in Women’s Sports In this episode of Connecting with Purpose, we sit down with Digit Murphy—a trailblazer in women’s sports and leadership. Digit’s career spans decades as a coach, executive, and advocate, dedicated to creating opportunities for women using sports as a leadership platform. From her transformative role as the first full-time women’s hockey coach at Brown University to co-founding the Pay It Forward Sports Foundation, Digit’s mission is clear: elevate women’s voices and amplify their impact. We explore her “Magic Moments,”...
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Building, Learning and Growing with Scott Lewis
Connecting With Purpose
is on a mission to improve lives through real estate. As co-founder and CEO, 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...
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Building Trust and Embracing Failure with Michael Bearup
Connecting With Purpose
In this conversation, 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...
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Energy Exchange and Successful Leadership Transitions with Ophelia Byers
Connecting With Purpose
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Ophelia Byers, Founder and Principal at , 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...
info_outlineIn 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
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