From Virus Research to Medical Thriller: The Scientist Behind the Goldilocks Genome

Job Security is a Myth

What happens when the life you worked so hard to build suddenly disappears? In this episode, Ann M. Mracek welcomes author and financial freedom educator Paris Woods for a powerful conversation about money, identity, resilience, and what it really takes to create security in an unpredictable world. Paris shares her personal journey from growing up in a working-class family in St. Louis, to attending Harvard, to building a career in education, to facing a sudden pandemic layoff that confirmed what she already knew: job security is never guaranteed. But this conversation is not just about money. It is about dignity. Choice. Preparation. And learning how to build a life that does not collapse when one paycheck ends. Paris is the author of The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom and The Student’s Guide to Financial Freedom. Her work helps women, teens, and young adults break free from debt, understand money, build wealth, and make financial decisions with clarity instead of fear. Ann and Paris talk about: • Why education alone does not guarantee financial security • The emotional weight of growing up with financial struggle • How debt can hide beneath success • Why young people need money education earlier • How women can reclaim financial power without shame • The connection between self-worth, choice, and financial independence This episode is for anyone who has ever looked successful on the outside while quietly wondering, “Why do I still feel behind?” Listen in for a grounded, honest conversation about rewriting your money story and creating your next chapter with more confidence, preparation, and freedom. Learn more about Paris Woods and her books: The Students Guide to Financial Freedom: www.amazon.com/dp/1737606623 Connect with Paris Website: https://pariswoods.com/ Connect with Ann: Email:  ann@annmracek.com Website: https://annmracek.com Subscribe for more conversations with extraordinary guests. Ann's book "Unpacking the Attic" is available on Amazon www.amazon.com/dp/0976648873 Ann's book Symphony of Self: Compose Your Life is coming soon Disclaimer: This podcast is intended solely for entertainment and educational purposes, opinions shared by the guest are their personal views. We do not intent to defame or harm any person/ brand/ product/ country/ profession mentioned in the podcast. Our goal is to provide information to help audience make informed choices.

Experience The Change - Creativity with Purpose becomes Symphony of Self

Your life is not random noise. It is a symphony waiting to be conducted. Welcome to the Symphony of Self Podcast, hosted by author, composer, and transformational guide Ann M. Mracek. In these podcasts, Ann explores how creativity, healing, and personal growth come together to form the unique composition of a human life. Every experience becomes a note. Every challenge becomes a key change. And every act of courage becomes a new movement in the music of who we are. Formerly known as Creativity with Purpose, the podcast is evolving into Symphony of Self to reflect a deeper message: #that each of us has the power to compose a life filled with meaning, resilience, and harmony. Through conversations, stories, and insights, this podcast invites you to: • Discover the creative force within your life • Transform adversity into growth • Reconnect with your authentic voice • Conduct your life with intention and purpose If you believe creativity can heal, transform, and illuminate the human journey, you are in the right place.

VACU Leadership - STOP Burnout

How do leaders build resilience in a volatile and uncertain world? In this episode of Creativity with Purpose, we talk with Dr. Lisa Patierne, leadership expert and coach with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals and organizations overcome limiting beliefs, build resilience, and lead with confidence. Dr. Patierne works with leaders, first responders, healthcare professionals, educators, and teams to strengthen leadership, prevent burnout, and thrive in today’s VUCA world (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous). Through her RESPONSIVE Leadership framework, she shares practical tools that help people lead authentically and create lasting personal and organizational success. Dr. Patierne is also a contributor to the book Women Who Shine, a collection of inspiring stories that encourage readers to discover their core essence—their inner light—and live their life’s purpose. The book shares the journeys of women who overcame challenges, embraced authenticity, and found the courage to rise and make a positive impact in the world. Topics in this episode • Leadership in a VUCA world • Preventing burnout and vicarious trauma • Building resilience in high-stress professions • Discovering your inner light and life purpose • Authentic leadership and personal growth Connect with Lisa Website: https://lisapatierne.com/ Connect with me: Email: ann@annmracek.com Website: https://annmracek.com Subscribe for more conversations with extraordinary guests. Ann's book "Unpacking the Attic" is available on Amazon www.amazon.com/dp/0976648873 Ann's book Symphony of Self: Compose Your Life is coming soon Disclaimer: This audio is intended solely for entertainment and educational purposes, opinions shared by the guest are their personal views. We do not intent to defame or harm any person/ brand/ product/ country/ profession mentioned in the audio. Our goal is to provide information to help audience make informed choices.

From Virus Research to Medical Thriller: The Scientist Behind the Goldilocks Genome

What happens when a biomedical anthropologist leaves academia and becomes a global pharmaceutical strategist… then writes a medical thriller? In this episode of Creativity with Purpose, Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Aden shares her remarkable journey from hepatitis B research in the South Pacific to Senior Vice President of Global Strategy for a major Swiss pharmaceutical company. Her work spans epidemiology, immunology, virology, and personalized medicine, and her experiences inspired her debut medical thriller The Goldilocks Genome, where science and suspense collide. We also explore her upcoming nonfiction book Mud, Microbes, and Medicine (2026), which recounts her field research in Vanuatu, where hepatitis B was endemic and where Nobel Prize–winning research shaped modern understanding of the virus. If you love conversations about science, global health, creativity, and the stories behind groundbreaking careers, this episode is for you. 📚 Pre-order Betsy’s upcoming book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FD46QV76 Connect with Elizabeth Website: https://elizabethreedaden.com/ FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth-reed-aden-author-100105132420558 Instagram: https://instagram.com/elizabeth_r_aden/ X: https://x.com/eliz_reed_aden LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-redd-aden Connect with me: Email: ann@annmracek.com Website: https://annmracek.com Subscribe for more conversations with extraordinary guests. Ann's book "Unpacking the Attic" is available on Amazon www.amazon.com/dp/0976648873 Ann's book Symphony of Self: Compose Your Life is coming soon Disclaimer: This audio is intended solely for entertainment and educational purposes, opinions shared by the guest are their personal views. We do not intent to defame or harm any person/ brand/ product/ country/ profession mentioned in the audio. Our goal is to provide information to help audience make informed choices.

Perimenopause: What's Happening to Me?

Perimenopause symptoms explained. Author Karen A. Herrera joins Creativity with Purpose to discuss hormonal changes, emotional shifts, and how women can navigate this stage of life with clarity. Our guest today is Karen A. Herrera the author of Perimenopause Clarity and a writer who believes that laughter is medicine, honesty is power, and that sharing our stories, especially the messy middle parts, can help others feel less alone. A 1997 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Karen has been writing off and on for years, but her lifelong “someday” dream of being an author didn’t fully move from intention to action until March of 2025. She hasn’t looked back. Perimenopause Clarity is her first full book, born from her own search for answers during a confusing and often isolating phase of life. What started as a witty essay she was writing in her spare time, a career pivot in midlife caused her to reassess her own goals. What started as personal research quickly became a mission to help women navigate hormonal shifts with humor, hope, and a healthy dose of science. Her goal is simple: help women feel seen, supported, and empowered to take charge of their health and happiness. But Perimenopause Clarity is just the beginning. Through her publishing imprint, Studio Infinity Publishing, Karen plans to release more books that uplift, entertain, and spark real-life change. A serial entrepreneur, she loves freedom to explore her own path. Her writing blends warmth, wit, spirituality, and relatable life insights, inviting readers to laugh out loud one moment and feel deeply understood the next. Her future work isn’t limited to women’s issues; it’s rooted in the universal human experiences that shape us, the humor that keeps us grounded, and the resilience that helps us rise again and again. Karen writes to connect, to comfort, and to challenge readers to see themselves with a little more compassion, depth, and a lot more clarity. If she’s learned anything so far, it’s that a good laugh and a spark of truth can take you a long way. Get the Book: 📖 Perimenopause Clarity — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FW5Q767F Connect with Creativity with Purpose: ✨ Subscribe to find your creative spark. 🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Podbean 💬 Leave a comment: How do you listen to your body and heal yourself? Connect with Karen Website: https://karenaherrera.com FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenAHerreraAuthor/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/karenaherrera.author X: https://x.com/KarenAAuthor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenaherrera/ Connect with me: Email: ann@annmracek.com Website: https://annmracek.com Subscribe for more conversations with extraordinary guests. Ann's book "Unpacking the Attic" is available on Amazon www.amazon.com/dp/0976648873 Ann's book Symphony of Self: Compose Your Life is coming soon Disclaimer: This audio is intended solely for entertainment and educational purposes, opinions shared by the guest are their personal views. We do not intent to defame or harm any person/ brand/ product/ country/ profession mentioned in the audio. Our goal is to provide information to help audience make informed choices.