Shows
PurposeCast with Dr. Vic StrecherEpisode 9: The Power of Community, with Charles VoglIn this PurposeCast, international bestselling author Charles Vogl joins purpose expert Vic Strecher to share their stories and time-tested wisdom and principles on creating a culture of belonging. They will share how and why you should tap into the power of social connection for greater happiness and improved health and wellbeing.Key takeaways from this PurposeCast.Leveraging shared purpose to initiate and sustain meaningful social connectionsFundamental principles of community building from the wisdom of previous generationsPractical tips for growing your connections and building more meaningful relationships at work and in life
2026-02-1230 minPurposeCast with Dr. Vic StrecherEpisode 8: Unlocking Greater Resilience, with Dr. Michael UngarEvery person on this planet encounters loss, stress, challenges, and fear. People who are more resilient bounce back from life’s adversities quicker and find ways to achieve fulfillment and joy more often. Science tells us that resilience isn’t a special trait you have or don’t have. It’s a skill anyone can learn that can be practiced and strengthened over time.Join Dr. Vic Strecher and world-renowned resilience expert Dr. Michael Ungar as they discuss new approaches to defining and strengthening resilience.
2026-01-0928 minPurposeCast with Dr. Vic StrecherEpisode 7: Energize Your Life, with Dr. Jim LoehrIn this PurposeCast, Dr. Vic Strecher explores personal energy management with Dr. Jim Loehr: world-renowned performance psychologist, author, and coach. Dr. Loehr has written over 17 books, including the national best-seller The Power of Full Engagement. Co-founder of the Human Performance Institute, he has helped hundreds of top performers in sports, business, and medicine. In this conversation, you’ll learn why Dr. Loehr says, “The ultimate measure of our lives is not how much time we spend on the planet, but rather how much energy we invest in the time that we have.”
2025-12-1525 minPurposeCast with Dr. Vic StrecherEpisode 6: The Power of a Growth Mindset, with Dr. Heidi GrantMindset is what we feel and believe about our talents and capabilities and has a profound effect on how we lead our lives.Coined and researched by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, there are two distinct mindsets we employ when faced with challenges: growth vs. fixed. The fixed mindset views challenges as obstacles to avoid, while the growth mindset embraces them as opportunities to learn. It turns out that the growth mindset is more valuable in challenging times, like a pandemic, and can lead to what’s known as post-traumatic growth.In this PurposeCast, Heidi Grant, Ph...
2025-12-0528 minPurposeCast with Dr. Vic StrecherEpisode 5: The Power of Purpose, with Dr. Anthony BurrowToday’s guest is Dr. Anthony Burrow, professor of psychology at Cornell University and a nationally recognized expert on the science of purpose in life. His research explores how having a sense of purpose influences identity development, resilience, motivation, and overall wellbeing.In this PurposeCast "The Power of Purpose," Dr. Vic Strecher and Dr. Anthony Burrow explore the science of purpose, ways you can live with greater purpose, and multiple pathways to help listeners uncover their purpose.
2025-11-2031 minPurposeCast with Dr. Vic StrecherEpisode 4: Food, Joy, and Connection, with Adam DeVitoWhile it's true that we need food to survive, cultivating a joyful and healthy relationship with food helps us to thrive. Historically, humans have deepened social connection, and celebrated joyous occasions, in the sharing of meals. In this PurposeCast, Dr. Vic Strecher and Monj CEO Adam DeVito explore our relationship with food to boost joy and connection this holiday season.
2025-11-1831 minPurposeCast with Dr. Vic StrecherEpisode 3: Taming Your Inner Voice, with Dr. Ethan Kross Today’s guest is Dr. Ethan Kross. Ethan is a professor at the University of Michigan and director of the Emotion & Self-Control Laboratory. An award-winning psychologist, he is the author of the bestsellers Chatter and Shift, exploring the science of introspection and emotion regulation to enhance wellbeing and performance.
2025-11-0726 minPurposeCast with Dr. Vic StrecherEpisode 2: Leading with Service and Humility, with Ari Weinzweig Today’s guest is Ari Weinzweig — writer, thinker, and co-founder of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ari’s story isn’t just about building a beloved local deli into a nationally admired family of businesses — it’s about creating a community rooted in purpose, humility, and genuine care for people. From his early days behind the counter to his decades of writing on leadership, vision, and meaningful work, Ari has become a voice for leading with authenticity and heart.
2025-10-3117 minPurposeCast with Dr. Vic StrecherEpisode 1: What We Value, with Dr. Emily FalkToday's guest is Dr. Emily Falk, a psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania. Emily studies how our brains decide what matters, and how aligning choices with our values can change our lives. Her new book is What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change.
2025-10-2428 min
The Coursera PodcastThe Power of Purpose with Dr. Vic StrecherWe sat down with Dr. Vic Strecher, professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and the founder of Kumanu, a company focused on building purposeful cultures in organizations, to discuss transformative power of purpose and resilience.
In this episode, Vic and Arunav cover:
🧠 The physiological and psychological benefits of having a purpose
📋 Strategies to cultivate purpose, build resilience, and set meaningful goals
⚙️ How leaders can build purposeful, resilient teams in the workplace
🤖 How AI is reshaping the way we think about purpose and work
2024-09-2532 min
MPodsE18: Finding Purpose: Victor Strecher on Mental Health, AI, and Intentional LivingIn this episode, Victor Strecher, founder and CEO of Kumanu and professor at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health, discusses his journey in creating a mental health app to help people find meaning and purpose. He emphasizes the importance of living purposefully, which leads to better health and overall well-being. He shares his personal story of overcoming grief after the sudden loss of his daughter, which inspired him to develop Kumanu. It uses AI to guide users in identifying their strengths and values, helping them become more intentional and focused on what truly matters.
2024-06-2147 min
The Health Literacy 2.0 PodcastEpisode 33 - Transforming Health and Wellness: How Digital Platforms are Redefining Support and Engagement - with Sushant Gupta, Eric Zimmerman, and Tom ChamberlainIn this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner is joined by Tom Chamberlain (CEO of EdLogics), Sushant Gupta (Co-Founder & CEO of Meomind), and Eric Zimmerman (Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Commercialization Officer at Kumanu) to talk about the role of digital platforms in educating and guiding individuals through transitions, particularly in the healthcare and mental health landscape. The episode delves into how these digital platforms address health literacy, engage users in mental health support, and leverage technology to drive impact and engagement.In a wide-ranging conversation, Tom, Sushant, Eric, and Seth discuss:
2024-04-0141 min
Aligned and Thriving Podcast | Strategies for Work Life BalanceHow the values of Gen X support our approach to work life balance with Marlo NewtonSend us your questions.Welcome to the Aligned and Thriving podcast. In this episode, host Judith Bowtell is joined by Marlo Newton, a Senior Manager of Major Gifts at the Alfred Foundation. Marlo is an accomplished fundraiser, manager, educator, performer, public speaker, and author. She shares her insights on how the values of Gen X support their approach to work-life balance. The discussion explores the influence of early life experiences and family values on work life balance.Podcast Episode SummaryThe episode explores how the values of Gen...
2024-01-2138 min
Self Smarter#89: The Damn Truth About Work-Life BalanceFor this episode of Self Smarter, we are mixing it up and reintroducing a hot topic that’s still relevant today – work-life balance. As much as we wish the idea of this concept would go away, the feeling is here to stay. Listen back to what Dan’l and Megan had to say about the damn truth behind this notion, and ways leaders can get their arms around it by reframing their mind and restructuring conversations. Learn how we can put down the perception of having a perfectly balanced life, and instead, work toward giving ourselves the grace to find p...
2023-11-201h 04Self Smarter#69: The Damn Truth About Work Life BalanceIn today’s episode of Self Smarter, we are re-surfacing a past episode because the topic is still so relevant! Dan’l shares the damn truth about “work-life balance” and gives us all a new way to frame what “balance” really means. Learn how we can put down the perception of having a perfectly balanced life and work toward giving ourselves the grace to find passion in both.Show notes:Defining Work-Life Balance: Energy is the Missing Ingredient article – Kumanu10 Myths About Work-Life Balance and What to Do Instead article – EntrepreneurJeff Bezos doesn’t like the idea of ‘...
2023-07-031h 05
Connections In FlightPurpose - With Victor StrecherWe know we can live a fulfilled life when we find our Purpose. So why is it so hard to find it? In this beautiful and inspiring episode, Erika and Sarah sit with Victor Strecher to discuss Purpose. Vic is a visionary leader and expert in behavior change, digital communication, and well-being. He's the Founder & CEO of Kumanu, a next-generation wellbeing company, a Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and a renowned researcher, educator, speaker, and author. His work has touched and helped thousands of people find Purpose in their lives. Bu...
2023-05-2447 min
Revolutionize Your Retirement RadioOn Purpose: Lessons in Healthy Retirement with Vic StrecherThe importance of purpose in life to well-being in retirement is considered. Long-held assumptions and beliefs about health and change are reconsidered. Using his book, On Purpose: Lessons in Life and Health from the Frog, the Dung Beetle, and Julia, Dr. Strecher takes us on a journey through ancient and modern philosophy, literature, psychology, genetics, and neuroscience. Healthy retirement through "repurposing" is the theme of this interview.In this episode, you will discover:A better understanding of the science and philosophy of purpose in life.Health benefits of purpose in life in retirement.How...
2023-01-311h 01
Let Them LeadVic Strecher | Let Them Lead Episode 26Vic Strecher is a professor of public health at the University of Michigan, where he started Health Media in 1998, a pioneering, web-based, “digital health coach.” His life changed when his younger daughter, Julia, contracted chicken pox at one, and required two hear transplants. When she passed away at 19, Strecher did some serious soul-searching, and emerged with a new focus: Living on Purpose. He has explored the power of purposeful living in his books, and his new company, Kumanu. His take-aways include: 1-This is not practice. Your life is happening now. You could die today. A sense of urgency helps. 2-
2022-03-301h 02
The Growth CollectiveThinking Outside the Box to Support Resilience: A conversation with Promedica’s Kate Sommerfeld and Randy OostraApproximately 40-60% of our current state of health is driven by non-clinical factors. How much money we have in the bank, the depth and breadth of our social support network and the stress of finding reliable childcare all have impact on our health and risk for disease. Organizations looking to improve the health of their workforce would be wise to keep this in mind – understand and address basic need challenges exist among your workforce – before focusing on improvement of individual health risk factors. My guests for this episode understand the power of helping individuals meet basic needs. Kate Som...
2021-11-0948 min
Break Away: Leadership For A Sound Mind And BodyHow do you find meaning in life through the guidance of purpose?In this episode of “Break Away”, Jacque Young, a senior on the University of Michigan’s women's golf team, interviews Vic Strecher, a visionary leader and expert in the fields of behavior change, digital communication, and wellbeing. He’s Founder & CEO of Kumanu, a next-generation wellbeing company, Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, renowned speaker, and author. The two explore how to find one’s own purpose and how to find meaning in life through the guidance of purpose.
2021-06-1036 min
The Evolved Caveman: Stress, Relationships, and Emotional Mastery for MenYour Meaning Fuels Your Happiness w/ Victor StrecherPurpose is critical for a thriving life. As an example, Viktor Frankl lived through three concentration camps during WW II. He endured these concentration camps as the physician for the prisoners. One thing that he discovered was that if you weren't shot or starved outright by the Nazis, purpose was a big predictor of whether you would survive. If a prisoner lost their purpose, they would start getting sick and, soon, start dying. That was really profound to him. So much so that he wrote, "Woe to him who saw no more sense in his life, no aim, no purpose...
2021-03-2252 min
thehollowtube's podcastLife on Purpose with Victor Strecher, PhDHave you ever asked yourself, “What's my purpose in life? Why am I here? Is this all there is?” Every summer, for at least the past ten years, I take my son Parker for a father-son-trip to Seattle, Washington to visit good Ol' Uncle Pat. It’s sort of a tradition we call the “The Seattle Download.” Because it’s our chance to pour every bit of advice, wisdom, fight and adventure story, bad mistake and lesson learned, we’ve got into him. He’s ours for a week and we don’t hold anythin...
2019-07-171h 25