This week on the Podcast, I visited with Kelly Koch!  She and her husband Thomas are the founders of a local music studio, Minds on Music. They decided later in life to change career directions to offer music options for local adults and children. This business has grown from home-based piano lessons to opening an amazing studio with so many musical opportunities. While they offer so many different things in the studio, the heart behind the why, is what has inspired me to visit with her. I can’t wait for you to hear about the science behind WHY music is so important for our brains and why I am so excited to have my kids involved at Minds On Music.

This week is all about getting to know me a little more!  Don't you want to know who you are listening to when you tune in? You will get a little taste of some of my favorite things and a little background as to how I got to where I am today!

I grew up in a small town in Arkansas that you probably have never heard of, Sheridan! While I always thought I would end up living in the beautiful natural state forever, God had other plans! I met Adam at college and decided to follow him down to the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida to help him chase his passion in a family business. I have tried my hand at a few different avenues for work over the years. Gymnastics Coach, Bookkeeper, Accountant, Graphics and Design on a minimal scale and had a health and wellness business for a while! Tune in to learn more!  

This week on the Podcast, I got to visit with such an inspiration! Tara Kamm is a wife to Johnny for 23 years, a mom to two teenagers Joshua and Kaitlyn and is a dental hygienist at the best office in town! Tara and Johnny are landlords, property managers, and project warriors. She is an artist at heart, and a cancer survivor!! But, above all of she is a lover of Jesus, and loves to share about how He has worked in her life and family! I can’t wait for you to get to hear more about Tara and her amazing journey.

Our guest today, Emily Smith, is so special to me. She is a mom of 5, wife to Brian of 21 years, advocate for adoption, and has partnered with one of my favorite companies. She partners with Artisan Businesses that share a passion for building a flourishing world. She helps develop these businesses through empowering them to grow sustainably and to create dignified jobs for people who need them. She is also on the board of Light Evangelism Ministry that shares the Gospel through evangelism and humanitarian efforts. I cannot wait for you to get to know Emily and how she has impacted my life!

In the latest episode of Ignite Impact, I got to visit with Tammy and hear the true heart behind her worship journey. She shared with me experiences that led to her growth as a worship leader, pastor, wife and friend. She has helped to teach me that true worship isn’t a single simple act of song or praise, just as it isn’t only an event that we attend on a Sunday morning. True worship is a lifestyle, to put it another way: our life is our worship. Worship doesn’t exist solely within the measures of a song, service, or an experience. Worship exists in our very DNA. We are always worshiping something.

You won't want to miss out on all the goodness in this episode! So much inspiration and encouragement

After visiting this week on the podcast with Rina Thoma, author and chef, I came to realize how often fear holds us back from propelling ourselves forward. Even in the midst of grief and a mental health journey, she chose to pour her attention and focus into something that once brought her joy.  Rina did not allow the lack of expertise in cooking detour her from following her passion that brought her so much joy as well as giving purpose and passion to others.  Her story has impacted me in many different ways and continues to do so as I get to “peel the Rina onion” every time I get to spend time with her.  I can’t wait to hear how her story impacts you. 

We don’t need to let our lack of expertise hold us back. It’s unfortunate, but many people believe that they need a degree and years of experience before they can start doing something important or stepping into their calling. I know a lot of people who had a passion for something, but were afraid to get started because they didn’t feel they were an “expert”. I also know people who didn’t know anything but were somehow gutsy enough to get started. The people who didn’t know anything, but took action anyways, are now called experts. How interesting.

Let’s strive to be an amateur. Not everything you do has to be good, especially at first.

Check out Rina’s cookbook at https://www.bushelsandfeasts.com/ . She has also put out a FREE dessert e-book at https://www.10glutenandgrainfree.com/

Meet Melissa Shoemaker, mom of 3, wife to Kylle and one of my best friends who inspires me in so many ways!  I can't wait to hear how she inspires and encourages you!

• Journey through adoption

Welcome to the IGNITE Impact podcast!  I am Tracy Purdy and I am so thankful that you have tuned in to check out our new little corner of the digital world!  A little about me…..I am a wife to Adam of 16 years and have 4 beautiful children that are true miracles. I am an Arkansas native, but we now live in one of the most beautiful places on the Earth, the Panhandle of Florida and we LOVE IT. This podcast has been a long time coming, though I was never really sure of the avenue to present this to the world.  A book, a blog, social media….I have had so many friends encouraging me to pursue something in this arena and even have friends who have podcasts that have truly inspired me along the way!

A little background on IGNITE Impact…..  Like I said in our intro…. I believe that people are placed into our lives at every step in our life journey to be an integral part of our story.  Here on the podcast we will talk with individuals who have Influenced me, helped me Grow, Nurtured me, Inspired me, Transformed my thinking and Enriched my life and will hopefully do the same for you!    We will be talking about a variety of subjects, Whether it be Marriage and Relationships, IVF and Infertility, Miscarriage, Parenting, Adoption, Faith, Talking about Difficult questions, Fitness and Health journey and more!  We will be covering it it all!

I heard a story this past week that helped confirmed the purpose behind this show.  It was about a professor that gave a balloon to all of his students, had them inflate it and write their name on it.  They then threw ALL of their balloons in the hallway.  The professor mixed up all the balloons.  The students were given 5 minutes to find their own balloon, in which, despite a hectic search, no one found their balloons….BUT THEN the professor told the students to take the first balloon that they found and hand it to the person whose name was written on it.  Within 5 minutes, everyone had their own balloon.  The professor then said to the students: “ These balloons are like happiness, influence and guidance.  We will never find it if everyone is looking for their own.  But if we care about other people’s journeys, we will find ours too.

I am on a mission to help wake up your senses to those people that are surrounding you on a daily basis that are placed in your life journey to make a huge impact in your life!  We are here to IGNITE that passion, inspiration, courage and hope in your life!  We are placed on this Earth for a purpose and go through situations in our lives that can teach so many others about how you learned to process hard, challenging things, how you developed the courage to take the next step forward and what you have learned from others. Let us be a faithful steward of the life God has given you. Let’s choose to Make the most of our experiences and Don’t keep them to ourselves. Let’s Be willing to share the lessons God has taught you.

Here, we will work to IGNITE that flame deep in your souls to become a light to shine to others in this world.  My friends and I will encourage you to challenge yourself,  to search for purpose, and passion to live the life that you are called to embrace.

The people on this show have certainly made an impact in my life and I am excited to see how they bless your lives as well.

I hope to have you join us next time! Until Then!