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What's Your Purpose?

What's Your Purpose?

By: John Quinton-Barber
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About this listen

What’s Your Purpose is a podcast about the driving forces behind people’s lives—what motivates them, what shaped them, and what they believe they’re here to do. Hosted in locations that hold deep personal meaning to each guest, every episode is a journey into the heart of purpose and passion.


From household names like TV architect George Clarke—who revisits a National Trust property in Northumberland that sparked his love for architecture—to incredible people doing extraordinary things in their workplaces and communities, this show blends inspiration, reflection, and just the right touch of humour.


With a warm, casual tone, What’s Your Purpose invites listeners to pause and consider their own “why,” all while discovering the stories behind others’.


New episodes drop twice a month across all major podcast platforms and YouTube.


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John Quinton-Barber Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Episode 3: Mary Parsons

    Episode 3: Mary Parsons
    Jun 24 2025
    In this deeply moving episode, we meet Mary Parsons, Regeneration and Partnerships Director at Lovell, in a quiet library in Birmingham—a redeveloped space where she worked as a teenager after the sudden loss of her mum. That space, once a refuge, becomes the setting for a heartfelt conversation about grief, growth, and purpose. Mary shares how that early experience shaped her unwavering commitment to people and communities. As one of the UK’s leading voices in placemaking, she speaks passionately about why regeneration must be rooted in empathy, and how truly great places are built not just with bricks, but with care. From community-led design to the small human details that make neighbourhoods thrive, this is an inspiring and grounded look at why where—and how—we live matters. Mary’s story reminds us that purpose can emerge from the hardest moments, and go on to shape better futures for others.

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    22 mins
  • Episode 2: Dan Smith

    Episode 2: Dan Smith
    Jun 10 2025
    In this episode, we sit down at the well-worn kitchen table of Dan Smith—better known as Dan the Adventure Man. Surrounded by maps, coffee, and the quiet hum of anticipation, Dan shares the stories behind his wild journeys, including the epic Paddle of Britain in 2018. Now, he’s planning a solo 500km canoe expedition down the remote Hess River in the Yukon, where he’ll face rapids, isolation, and the occasional grizzly bear. But Dan’s real journey began much earlier—as a kid, staring out the classroom window, dreaming of faraway places. We talk about what drives him to push his limits, the power of curiosity, and why adventure doesn’t always have to mean danger. This is a conversation about purpose, imagination, and the quiet places where big dreams begin.

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    22 mins
  • Episode 1: George Clarke

    Episode 1: George Clarke
    May 27 2025
    In this special episode, we sit down with renowned architect and TV presenter George Clarke inside the historic Cragside estate in Northumberland—specifically, in a grand bedroom once reserved for royalty. But for George, this isn’t about luxury; Cragside is where his dream to become an architect was born, during a school trip as a young boy. We talk about that formative moment, and trace his journey back to his roots on a council estate in Washington, Tyne and Wear—one of the first post-war new towns. George speaks candidly about growing up proud of where he came from, and why high-quality design and social housing matter now more than ever. This is a conversation full of passion, place, and purpose—as well as a powerful reminder that inspiration can strike anywhere, even in the quiet awe of a boy looking up at a beautiful building.

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    19 mins
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