Inspirational Journeys: Stories that Matter

This week, my special guest describes how she honored her mother and kept her legacy alive by completing her novel and getting it published. I’ve included Emily’s bio and that of her mother, because they wrote the book together in a way.

Marilyn was born in Southern California but spent her formative years in the San Francisco Bay Area with her parents and older sister.  She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Sociology and received an advanced degree in Elementary Education.  After moving with her husband to Aspen, Colorado Marilyn spent the next 20 years as a public-school teacher and elementary education consultant and lecturer.  She and her family moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina in 1996 and shortly thereafter was diagnosed with breast and advanced ovarian cancer.  She began writing The Bird of Paradise as a life gift for her daughter, Emily.  She passed away in 2012 leaving the novel unfinished – for Emily to complete.

Emily was born in Aspen, Colorado where she enjoyed skiing, dancing ballet and playing golf. At the age of 13, she and her family moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina. She attended UNC-Chapel Hill and graduated with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. She currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband and son. Emily enjoys playing golf, running, kickboxing, reading, and spending time with her family. Finishing her mother’s work has been one of the greatest honors of her life.

Purchase Bird of Paradise at the following link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZYX339Z

Connect with Emily at the following links:

https://www.instagram.com/ejohnson2014/

Http://emilyjohnsonwrites.net

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21371186.Emily_Hughes_Johnson

Visit www.everyday-excellence.com

and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site.

Support this podcast with a monthly donation:

https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

If you remember the episode I did a few months ago with Heidi Grey McGill, she talked about her writing process. This week, we’re celebrating the launch of her new novella entitled Dial E for endearment.

Whether Historical or Contemporary, you will find Heidi’s works to be true Christian Fiction, full of God’s redeeming love.

Everything Heidi writes is purposeful. She believes in bringing a reader into the awareness of who God is to them and how He interacts with them on a personal level.

She does this by crafting characters so relatable you feel part of who they are. Heidi reaches deep into the reader’s heart through masterfully written words and offers ways toward healing by seamlessly applying God’s Word throughout her stories.

Heidi is an optimist who chooses to find the silver lining in life’s clouds of doubt. She lives with her husband of thirty years near Charlotte, NC. When she isn’t writing, you will find her outside playing with her two grandsons, walking, scrapbooking, reading, cooking, traveling, or finding an excuse to have an outing with a girlfriend.

Purchase Dial E for endearment at the following link:

https://books2read.com/u/4ApOed

Connect with Heidi at the following links:

http://heidimcgill822089357.wordpress.com/author/

https://www.amazon.com/author/heidigraymcgill

https://www.instagram.com/choosingjoynovels/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20851872.Heidi_Gray_McGill

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heidi-gray-mcgill?follow=true

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeidiGrayMcGill

https://allauthor.com/author/heidigraymcgill/

Visit www.everyday-excellence.com

and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site.

Support this podcast with a monthly donation:

https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

This week, my special guest and I discuss her writing process, how she got started writing and podcasting and she gives a few tips to help you as you walk your path to becoming a published author and a podcaster.

Porscha Anne Aubrey is a teenage indie author that resides in Canada. Her dream is to be able to make a living from her writing as well as her podcast, Creative Writing Club. One of her other goals is to start her own charity where she gives out scholarships to students even if their grades aren’t the best. That’s mainly important to her because she believes that a student can have the drive to get a higher education but still be unable to get amazing grades due to their at-home life. Her other goal is to start her own publishing company and call it ‘Creative Writing Club,’ mainly just to go along with the brand of CWC that she’s been using for so long, like when she started her own magazine.

For her entire life, Porscha has always enjoyed writing. From writing short stories, to poems, to scripts, and even starting some novel projects, she has worked hard on improving her craft. Though it wasn’t till the start of ninth grade that she decided to take it more seriously and began writing ‘Deathchill.’ Now the entire Deathchill trilogy is complete, and she has moved on to other projects.

With the hopes that being an author is what she’s meant to do, Porscha will continue to work hard and write towards her future.

Porscha’s featured book is entitled Deathchill

Description:

Lexus Deathchill is a young teenage girl living in 6078, during her life she has to face the expectations of the people around her, the powers that consume her, relationships, heartbreaks, team battles, highs, lows and the blessings from the gods as well as demons. Will she be able to make it through her years or will she succumb to the powers deep inside her?

Purchase link:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0BX9Z6IfApWiXjzzNPJWK7

Connect with Porscha at the following links:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/PorschaAubrey

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_night_wolves/

Website: https://porschaaubrey.wordpress.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/porschaaubrey

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/flamerip

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp0fygcjhDgQ9U9tvlvembQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Porscha_Aubrey

Visit www.everyday-excellence.com

and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site.

Support this podcast with a monthly donation:

https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

This week, my special guest explains what he means by “speaking naked.: Some of the principals we discuss , also apply to fiction writing. We go off on a couple of tangents about accessibility and the hero’s journey, but these little side discussions  tie into our main topic of conversation.

Sean Tyler Foley is an accomplished film and stage performer and has been acting in film and television since he was 6 years old. He has appeared in productions including Freddy Vs Jason, Door to Door, Carrie, and the musical Ragtime. Tyler is passionate about helping others confidently take the stage and impact an audience with their stories. He is currently the Managing Director of Total Buy In and author of the #1 best-selling book The Power to Speak Naked.

Description: For those who want to advance their career, increase their wage, improve their social standing, and skyrocket their confidence, The Power To Speak Naked gives them proven strategies to crush their fear of public speaking and empowers them to be able to speak in front of any audience, anywhere, at any time. The Power To Speak Naked features techniques that will make any presentation more dynamic, fire up any team, and give anyone the confidence to overcome their fear of public speaking. Within its pages, Sean Tyler Foley presents easy-to-read tips that make it possible for anyone to deliver a presentation that is engaging, persuasive, and memorable. He also presents proven actionable steps that will help anyone advance in their career and life.

Purchase link:

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Speak-Naked-Communicate-Effectively-ebook/dp/B095G3F9W7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VDKU15IG1YH8&keywords=The+Power+to+Speak+Naked+by+Sean+Tyler+Foley&qid=1641832234&sprefix=the+power+to+speak+naked+by+sean+tyler+foley%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1

connect with Tyler at the following links:

https://stages.seantylerfoley.com/

https://www.amazon.ca/Sean-Tyler-Foley/e/B07TFBQP5Q/

https://www.instagram.com/seantylerfoley/

https://www.facebook.com/SeanTylerFoleyYYC/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPaMWxi5lGc_msriWtO45eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantylerfoley/

https://twitter.com/DropTheMicSTF

https://www.facebook.com/seantylerfoley/

https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1021473/filmotype/actor

Visit www.everyday-excellence.com

and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site.

Support this podcast with a monthly donation:

https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

This week, my special guest and I talk about her first book, her vision loss, and her writing process among other things. Grab your favorite beverage and listen in as we talk about the things God has in store for our lives.

Jenny lives in Lynnwood, WA and currently attends Seattle Bible College, where she is studying for a degree in ministry.

Jenny’s debut book is entitled Beyond Redemption, and she describes the book in this way:

It is my testimony for Jesus.  Have a Kleenex ready.  

purchase link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HR8V9Y2/ref=dbs_p_ebk_dam

Connect with Jenny on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/redemptionalone.wordpress

and via email at:

Visit www.everyday-excellence.com

and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site.

Support this podcast with a monthly donation:

https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

This Week, My special guest shares the story of how he lost his vision and how he learned to live with his vision loss. We throw a short conversation about Skydiving into the mix.

Dennis lives in Central Pennsylvania with his wife and maltipoo Ollie. He has three grown children and two beautiful grand daughters.

Dennis’s featured book is entitled:

As Far as the eye can see

Description:

Memoir exploring the authors struggle with the loss of his vision over 20 years as the result of a rare autoimmune eye disease. The author uses humor as he describes the ups and downs he experienced and how it affected not only him but his family as well. In sharing his story the author hopes it will help others learn to cope with whatever curve balls life throws and how to deal with adversity.

Purchase link:

https://www.amazon.com/As-Far-Eye-Can-See/dp/B09LGLBCG8/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Connect with Dennis at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/dennis.savini.5

Visit www.everyday-excellence.com

and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site.

Support this podcast with a monthly donation:

https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

This week, my special guest and I share our common love of poetry. Read Garry’s bio in his own words.

As an educator, poet and runner I am a lifer. I have the blessed opportunity to create new works and compete in my sport (Track & Field) in my upcoming 80thtrip around our Sun.

I believe writing is precursor to thought, not the other way around. Poetry is an invitation to advance our thinking and deepen our feelings about the world we live in. It is a sharing of truths, your truth, my truth, the truth of our human experience. A good poem will celebrate these truths with a style and grace that exists in every tongue spoken on our planet.

To see more of my work including popular blog series What I Did on My Covid-19 Vacation, New Poets Wednesday and the Bernice and Garry series, go to my website:

https://www.garrycox.com/

Visit www.everyday-excellence.com

and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site.

Support this podcast with a monthly donation:

https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

Reformed physicist, financial planner, startup founder and autodidactic polymath best described as a Swiss Army Knife, Joe Templin has invested the past two and a half plus decades to helping others reach their financial potential as a planner, trainer, mentor and creator.  He has served as a member of NAIFA (the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) on the local, state, and national level, and including three terms on the NAIFA National Young Advisors Team (YAT) Subcommittee and was honored as one of the 2011 Four Under 40.  He is a graduate of the Leadership in Life Institute of NAIFA as well as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and is an alum of Johns Hopkins University.

Joe earned his CFP as well as his CHARTERED ADVISOR OF PHILANTHROPY, CLU, and ChFCdesignations and has qualified numerous times for the Million Dollar Round Table. He has been a business columnist for the Albany Times Union, Adviser Today Magazine, The Ballston Journal, and Insurance News Net.  Joe earned his Certified Executive Counsellor designation as well as his Master Executive Counsellor in 2021.

Joe served as the President of the Castle Alpha Tau Foundation for Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and as the Chapter Advisor, and is currently a Board Member of The Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region. He has been a member of The Ancient Order of Hibernians for over 20 years, and is the Lieutenant of the Honor Guard.

Templin is the Managing Director of the Unique Minds Consulting Group, LLC, and is the author of “Every Day Excellence” and co-authored “Do You Want To Make MDRT, Or Not?” with Dr. John Stolk as well as “Choices: Creating a Financial Services Career”.

Joe is a Co-Founder and President of The Intro Machine, Inc. an organization dedicated to teaching professionals in a variety of fields how to build an Introduction Based Business. He has spoken all across the US and Canada on ethical business development.

In his free time, Joe enjoys running Ragnars (200 ish mile team relay races) ultramarathons and is a champion-level martial artist.  He lives in Ballston Spa, New York, with his hooligan boys Danny, Liam, and Colin.  They are huge Yankees fans.

Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site.

This week, Miriam Cobb discusses how Empty Frames Initiative helps young adults transition out of the foster care system into thriving adults.

Miriam Cobb is founder and director of Empty Frames Initiative, a non-profit dedicated to empowering orphaned and vulnerable youth as they transition out

of state care.

Empty Frames Initiative is inspired and driven by the heart of the Father. We believe everyone is created with a purpose. EFI looks to empower orphaned

and vulnerable youth as they transition out of state care by providing training in life skills, counseling, community, and access to the Gospel. Within

this role, Miriam was excited to be a part of the creation of their curriculum titled, "Storytelling Through Photography".

This program combines art therapy techniques, documentary photography, and storytelling concepts to encourage participants to share their stories from

their perspectives. The result of our first pilot session is The Story of Foster Care, Volume 1 that was made into a gallery and book.

Purchase links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Foster-Care-Miriam-Cobb/dp/1953348734

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-story-of-foster-care-empty-framesinitiative/1137381036

Connect with Miriam at the following links:

www.fillingemptyframes.org

Instagram: Empty Frames Initiative https://www.instagram.com/emptyframesinitiative/

Facebook: Empty Frames Initiative https://www.facebook.com/EmptyFramesInitiative/

The Spirit of Creativity: Inspirational Poems for the Creative at Heart is available in eBook, Audiobook and Paperback formats:

https://books2read.com/TheSpiritOfCreativity

Support this podcast with a monthly donation:

https://anchorlfm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?locale.x=en_US

This week, my special guest shares the history and the practice of centering prayer.

Rich Lewis is an author, speaker and coach who focuses on centering prayer as a means of inner transformation. He teaches centering prayer in both his local and virtual community and offers one-on-one coaching. He publishes a weekly meditation, book reviews, and interviews on his site, Silence Teaches.

He has published articles for a number of organizations, including Contemplative Light, Abbey of the Arts, Contemplative Outreach, EerdWord, In Search of a New Eden, the Ordinary Mystic at Patheos, and the Contemplative Writer. ​

Rich has been a daily practitioner of centering prayer since June 1, 2014. Centering prayer has been so life-giving and life-changing that he feels compelled to share his journey with others who wish to learn more. Rich resides with his family in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Learn more about him at:

www.SilenceTeaches.com.

The Spirit of Creativity: Inspirational Poems for the Creative at Heart is available in eBook, Audiobook and Paperback formats:

https://books2read.com/TheSpiritOfCreativity

Support this podcast with a monthly donation:

https://anchorlfm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?locale.x=en_US