Positive News Launches Video Podcast on Purpose-Driven Leaders

When the team at Positive News decided to create a video podcast, they had one rule: no polished leadership fluff. Instead, they wanted real conversations about what it actually takes to build businesses and organizations with purpose.

The result is The Purpose Pioneers, now streaming on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Host Sarah LaBrecque interviewed five founders and CEOs across sectors like nature restoration, ethical finance and disability inclusion, with new episodes releasing every Tuesday through mid-February.

The format stayed deliberately simple. Each conversation centered on three moments: what set the guest on their path, when they first saw real impact, and how they think about the future. That framework gave structure without feeling rigid.

One standout moment came from Stephanie Wheen, founder of Gympanzees, a play facility for children with complex needs. She described watching a child laugh for the first time while bouncing on a trampoline at one of their pop-ups. It was the kind of quiet, powerful moment that rarely makes it into business conversations.

The technical setup was surprisingly intimate. All interviews were recorded remotely, with LaBrecque filming on her phone's outward-facing camera. That meant she couldn't see her guests while they talked.

At first, that felt strange. But it forced her to listen more closely and let silences breathe naturally. The constraints became an unexpected advantage.

Why This Inspires

What made these conversations different was the upfront agreement to be candid. Guests knew they could talk openly about stress, doubt and difficult moments without it feeling like an ambush. That permission created space for honesty.

CEOs talked about career shifts, stress management and what they find genuinely difficult. A pattern emerged: nearly everyone found balance through outdoor activities like surfing, rock climbing or listening to birdsong. Small recalibrations that make ambitious work sustainable.

The podcast proves something important about storytelling. When you strip away the polish and create space for real moments, people show up authentically. Those are the stories that stick.

For a small team juggling multiple priorities, The Purpose Pioneers shows what becomes possible when you focus on what matters: honest conversations about the messy, complicated work of turning ideals into action.