Epic Exchanges

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

Today, we welcome Emily Scott back to the podcast.  Emily joined us twice in our first year to share about how she uses her art to tell her story and about looking at our life transitions as an adventure.  And now she’s back again – with a new name! – to talk about how diving into her story once again in order to share it in our book fast-tracked her through an incredible healing process.

Exchange Quotes:

“Today, again, I choose myself. My own pride. My own self-respect, my own well-being. I choose not to worry about what they will think. I choose not to worry about disappointing anyone. I choose myself.” - Magda Rose

“Sharing your story is a courageous step towards healing your own heart.” – Lynda Cheldelin Fell

Exchange Links:

Epic Exchanges on Facebook

@epicexchanges on Instagram Follow Emily on IG - @emilyscottartist

Emily’s website

We continue along our road to the release of the first Epic Exchanges collaborative book, The Gift In Your Story, with another one of the contributing authors.  This week we discuss exploring different ways to share our stories – in particular, through song with special guest, Kristin Ormiston

Exchange Quotes:

“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose.  That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words.  That is your role, your gift.” – Erin Morgenstern

“If your heart is broken, make art with the pieces.” – Shane Koyczan

Exchange Links:

Epic Exchanges on Facebook

@epicexchanges on Instagram

Last week kicked off a month of episodes on the power that comes in sharing our stories.  This week, we invite one of the authors in our new collaborative book, The Gift In Your Story, to share a little about what inspired her to share her story and how the experience was for her.  Welcome Tammy Haywood to the podcast.

Exchange Quotes:

“When we tell our stories in a safe community, all those things that separate us go away.” – Sarah Markley

“By coming forward and sharing your story, you don’t know the countless lives you change.” – Mariska Hargitay

Exchange Links:

Epic Exchanges on Facebook

@epicexchanges on Instagram

This episode begins a month of focusing on the power of sharing our stories in order to help and encourage others.  The past year has been one of incredible challenge and change, and speaking up to share our experiences, how we’ve risen above the difficulties, and how we’ve seen our dreams come to life has become more important than ever.

Exchange Quotes:

“Your heartache is someone else’s hope.  If you make it through, somebody else is going to make it through.  Tell your story.” – Kim McManus

“Tell the story of the mountain you climbed.  Your words could become a page in someone else’s survival guide.” – Morgan Harper Nichols

Exchange Links:

Epic Exchanges on Facebook

@epicexchanges on Instagram

The new year brings us many opportunities to look back over the previous twelve months and reflect on what changed or what we learned.  This past year in particular has brought significant changes and significant disruptions to our daily lives.  What are the biggest lessons we learned and that we can take forward into 2021? 

Exchange Quotes:

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Soren Kierkegaard

“The past is where you learned the lesson.  The future is where you apply the lesson.” – Dale Carnegie

Exchange Links:

Epic Exchanges on Facebook

@epicexchanges on Instagram

As we enter the holiday season in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, it's even more important that we find moments of joy, of laughter, of light and of peace.  Thus begins the season of giving.

Exchange Quotes:

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Sir Winston Churchill "For it is in giving that we receive." - St. Francis of Assisi

Exchange Links:

Your Story Your Strength on Facebook

Epic Exchanges Virtual Advent Calendar

In Episode 74, we talked about the dangers of being a people pleaser and letting that get in the way of taking care of ourselves.  The importance of this subject cannot be minimized so, in this week’s exchange, we welcome Dianne Maldonado Hill to talk about her experience with ignoring self-care and how it changed her life.

 Exchange Quotes:

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we had planned, so as to have the life that is waiting." — Joseph Campbell

"Change your energy, change your life" - Unknown

Exchange Links:

Your Story Your Strength on Facebook Women Wellness Warriors on Facebook

Dianne’s Website