Epic Exchanges

Day 11 of the Nature and Nurture Project with the second of our discussions and stories on generosity.  How do we become generous - or is it an innate quality we are born with?  Today we explore the 'nurture' side of this topic. Exchange Quote: "Everyone can experience the joy and blessing of generosity, because everyone has something to give." - Jan Grace Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 10 of the Nature and Nurture Project with the first of two discussions on generosity.  How do we become generous - or is it an innate quality we are born with?  Today we explore the 'nature' side of this topic. Exchange Quote: "The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward." - Carol Ryrie Brink Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 9 of the Nature and Nurture Project and today it's all about horses and horse racing and likely the most 'famous' family member.  Exchange Quote: "The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears." - Bedouin Proverb Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 8 of the Nature and Nurture Project and today it's all about rollercoasters - actual rides and the rollercoaster that is life.  How are you at riding your rollercoasters? Exchange Quote: "Life is like a roller coaster.  You can either scream every time there is a bump, or you can throw your hands up and enjoy the ride." - Unknown Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 7 of the Nature and Nurture Project and today's story is all about the games we would play on rainy days - and how we come to some of those favourite pastimes. Exchange Quote: "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." - Randy Pausch Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 6 of the Nature and Nurture Project and Kelly dives into where her love - and talent - for music comes from while sharing the amazing memories that we all have surrounding our favourite music! Exchange Quote: "Music is life itself." - Louis Armstrong Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 5 of the Nature and Nurture Project explores whether some things are just innate or if they are learned - or is it a combination of both? - with a simple shoe story (or two) Exchange Quote: "Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world." - Marilyn Monroe Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 4 of the Nature and Nurture Project continues on with yesterday's topic of investments and how we 'know' when it comes to those instincts or gut feelings. Exchange Quote: “Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.” – George R. R. Martin Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 3 of the Nature and Nurture Project introduces how we learn about the concepts of money and investing - is it innate?  Or is it learned through experience?  Or is it both? Exchange Quote: “Wealth, like a tree, grows from a seed.  The sooner you plant that seed, the sooner shall the tree grow.” – George S. Clason Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 2 of the Nature and Nurture Project provides a little framework for the month to come.  Kelly introduces us to her family members who represent both the 'nature' and the 'nurture' sides of her experience. Exchange Quote: “It takes a village to raise a child.” – African Proverb Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram Link to story about the fire rescue

Welcome to the Epic Exchanges Nature and Nurture Project where Kelly shares some of the personal stories and people that shaped who she is today.  The purpose of this project is to demonstrate that we are a complex combination of both nature and nurture - and discover what makes us who we are today. Exchange Quote:“The phrase ‘nature and nurture’ is a convenient jingle of words, for it separates under two distinct heads the innumerable elements of which personality is composed.  Nature is all that [we] bring into the world; nurture is every influence that affects [us] after birth.”  Francis Galton Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram  

Are you aware that many of the beliefs you hold about other people are mainly the result of stereotypes that you have gathered over the years from family, friends, media and in other unexpected ways.  However, the answer to breaking down these stereotypes is actually easier than we think.  That’s what we’re going to talk about today. Exchange Quotes: “We all use stereotypes, all the time, without knowing it.  We have met the enemy of equality, and the enemy is us.” – Annie Murphy Paul “A stereotype may be negative or positive, but even positive stereotypes present two problems: they are clichés, and they present a human being as far more simple and uniform than any human being actually is.” – Nancy Kress Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

What are the costs of the past year in your life?  How much have you lost?  Income?  A job?  Freedom?  Social functions on the calendar?  Vacations? Celebrations?  Maybe pets or people you cared about?  This pandemic has taken a lot from us all.  But what has it left you with?  That’s our topic for today. Exchange Quotes: “Taking chances is scary but there is something that should scare you far more than anything: missing out on something truly wonderful because you were scared.” – Katherine Matheson “For a long time, it seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life.  But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid.  At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.  This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness.  Happiness is the way.  So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.” - Souza Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epice

Our ability to communicate well has become more important than ever during a time when we can’t gather together in person.  Seeing someone on a screen or listening to them through a phone is only part of all the ways we learn about and understand one another.  Add in different communication styles and the possibility of being misunderstood goes up exponentially.  This week we welcome author Angel Baney to the podcast to talk about how understanding HOW we communicate is a huge piece of the puzzle. Exchange Quotes: “Fostering communication with a child promotes positive self-esteem and leads to a continuing relationship in adolescence and into adulthood.” – Nancy Kelly “You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” -Winnie the Pooh Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram Angel’s Website On IG: @angelmbaney

The past year has been one of incredible change and re-evaluation for all of us.  However, the way things started is not what we are experiencing now.  That’s where this week’s podcast comes in as we get back to asking ourselves how we can help? Exchange Quotes: “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” – Ronald Reagan “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – Maya Angelou Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

This week we welcome guest Becky Jones to the podcast.  Becky shares her own experiences around how becoming more vulnerable and authentic in her personal relationships led to a huge change in how she interacted with her clients in her photography business, and the key piece she wants everybody to know. Exchange Quotes: “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” ~ Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection “A good man does not worry about being known by others, but rather is concerned about not knowing them.” – Confucius Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram Becky’s Website On IG: @beckyjonesbranding

This week we welcome guest Julie Allen to the podcast.  Julie is the CEO of Mary Rose NW Boutique and the founder of the Mary Rose Foundation.  Julie’s story is the perfect example of how our experiences often shape our passions and direction in life.  Of how our stories actually point to our strengths.  Exchange Quotes: "Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph of it" Nelson Mandela “I’ve never met a strong person that didn’t have a difficult journey to get there” – Bear Grylls Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram Mary Rose NW Boutique Mary Rose Foundation

When you’ve braved all the fear, the imposter syndrome, the rejection and everything else that often holds all of us back from sharing our stories and gone ahead and done it anyway, first there will be a high.  Because you’ve done it.  Because you’ve connected on a deeper level.  Because you’ve made a difference.  But then you hit the low.  That low is the vulnerability hangover and we’ll be talking about that (and what to do when it sets in) today! Exchange Quotes: “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable selves to be deeply seen and known.  - Brené Brown “True belonging doesn’t require that we CHANGE who we are; it requires that we BE who we are.” – Brené Brown Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Over the past 6 months, we worked with eleven amazing women to help them share their stories with the world in our first collaborative book project – The Gift In Your Story.  Throughout this process, there were certain milestones that every author encountered – on today’s episode, we take you through each one. Exchange Quotes: “So step into that place of discomfort and write the words that will bring freedom and meaning to your life. – Claire DeBoer “Vulnerability is terrifying.  The courage it takes to reveal your heart is one of the most daunting…and yet rewarding experiences in life.  It will set you free.” – The Better Man Project Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

We are now just over a week from the release of the first Epic Exchanges collaborative book, The Gift In Your Story.  In order to publish this first book in the Epic Exchanges collaborative series, we partnered with Influence Publishing to help guide us through the process.  Today, we welcome Julie to the podcast, the founder of Influence, for a conversation about the extended benefits of doing an anthology like this as a community. Exchange Quotes: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller “Sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people.” – Elizabeth Green Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram