I Am Wiser Podcast with Dr. Laura Purdy

There’s a lot of noise around AI right now.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Junaid Kalia, neurocritical care physician and founder of SaveLife.ai, to talk about what actually matters when it comes to artificial intelligence in healthcare.We talk about the difference between hype and real value, why AI won’t replace clinicians, and how the right tools can expand access to care, not just in the U.S., but globally.But more than anything, this conversation is about responsibility.Because in medicine, the stakes are simple: you either help people or you hurt them.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jan Jaffer — dentist, entrepreneur, and CEO of TREC Dental — to talk about what it really means to build something that lasts.We talk about health beyond dentistry, the role of technology in patient care, and why impact isn’t measured by how many people you see — but by how long you care for them.But what stayed with me most is this: if we want to help others, we have to start by being healthy, grateful, and willing to take small steps that make a difference.This conversation is about building a life — and a business — that gives back. 

What if the thing that’s keeping you stuck isn’t what you’re going through — but how certain you are that it won’t get better?In this episode, I sit down with Johnny Crowder, mental health advocate, musician, and founder of COPE Notes, to talk about hope, recovery, and what it actually looks like to move through difficult seasons.This isn’t a conversation about forced positivity. It’s about something much more practical: being open to the possibility that you might be wrong about how things will turn out.And sometimes, that’s enough to keep going.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Melissa Turner to talk about teledentistry — but what we really explore is how change actually happens inside traditional industries.Melissa is a hygienist, founder, consultant, and the first Chief Hygiene Officer in dentistry. She thrives at what she calls the intersection of tradition and innovation. We talk about increasing access to care, supporting clinicians, navigating AI, and what it takes to move an entire industry forward.Her advice is simple and practical: just take a small step.If you’ve been hesitant to adopt something new — in your practice or your life — this conversation is for you.

What happens when you’re reported to the medical board — even when you believe you’ve done nothing wrong?In this episode, I share one of the most difficult and disorienting experiences of my career — being reported to a state medical board and having to defend my medical license.What started as a disagreement over telemedicine turned into a formal investigation, a court hearing, and a chain reaction across multiple states that impacted my licenses, my practice, and my life.This is not just a story about regulation. It’s about what it feels like to go through it — and what I learned along the way.In this conversation, I walk through what happened and what it actually means to navigate a situation like this.Consider subscribing for more conversations like this. You can also share this with someone in healthcare who may need to hear it.#Telemedicine #Healthcare #MedicalBoard #Entrepreneurship #HealthcareLeadership

What would you do if the FBI showed up at your door and told you that you were being investigated for fraud?In this episode, I share one of the most stressful and unexpected experiences of my career — the day the FBI came to my home and asked to meet with me about a Medicare fraud investigation.At the time, I had no idea what they were talking about.What I eventually learned was that my identity had been used in a large-scale billing scheme without my knowledge — and that someone else had been submitting claims and receiving payments under my name.In this conversation, I walk through what happened and what I learned along the way.Consider subscribing for more conversations like this. You can also share this with someone who may need to hear it.

We talk a lot about purpose. About mission. About the why.But eventually, a more important question emerges: so what?In this first episode of the I Am Wiser podcast, I share why this podcast exists and what I hope it becomes. This isn’t a space for collecting information or showcasing credentials—it’s a place for lived experience, earned insight, and the wisdom that only comes from walking the path.I talk about healthcare innovation, leadership, and the lessons I’ve learned by building, failing, adapting, and listening. More than anything, this episode sets the tone for conversations that go beyond theory—toward impact, reflection, and becoming wiser together.At its core, this podcast is about legacy. Capturing wisdom so it doesn’t disappear. Sharing lessons so others don’t have to learn everything the hard way.