The Gardenia Project is a storytelling project for women started by Jen Dean in Portland, Maine.
I hope that hearing these stories will inspire people to have more empathy for others, take a stand for what they believe in, and remember how strong they are. And maybe even be compelled to tell their story of something they have been hiding, but feel ready to share.
Anna is a wonderful example of how to turn your life around. She tells her story on this first episode. 
You can see images from Anna's portrait session with me that go with this podcast, learn more about the project and how to become part of it here:
http://www.jendeanphoto.com/the-gardenia-project/

The Gardenia Project Episode 1-Anna, On Finding Yourself, Getting Un-Lost

A storytelling podcast from women that focuses on their incredible strength.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Relationships

In this podcast we listen to two very different stories of how Covid-19 played out in their lives and with their loved ones.
These stories are intense, but just like I always say on the podcast, they are so important. These truths are the fabric of our lives, the events that shape us, and the happenings that change us.
 
Podcasts aren’t free to create. I pay my fantastic producer, Stephanie Cohn, for each episode and I am so grateful for her creativity! (I never take a paycheck.) Please considering supporting this podcast with just a few dollars a month by going here:
https://www.patreon.com/thegardeniaproject

Ep 26 Love and Loss in the Time of Covid

In this podcast we hear the voices of 17 people (plus my own) telling their stories of the pandemic world they live in. What are they doing? What are they thinking or feeling? What are they binge watching, eating, working on, what thing have they found that they do that has surprised them? Do you hear yourself in these voices?
I believe that we are stronger and kinder… together. As humans we were meant to be connected. One way right now to feel our collective strength is to listen to one another. May these stories deepen your compassion for others. Maybe they will also make you laugh like they did for Charlie and I. A little levity can also go a long way. (:
Portraits from the people speaking are on the blog post and can be found here: 
https://www.jendeanphoto.com/blog1/voicesofquarantine
Podcasts aren’t free to create. I pay my producer, Stephanie Cohn, for each episode and I am so grateful for her creativity! (I never take a paycheck.) Please considering supporting this podcast with just a few dollars a month by going here:
https://www.patreon.com/thegardeniaproject
Huge thanks to our sponsor: 
Kate Bathras Coaching 
https://www.katebathrascoaching.com/

Ep 25 Voices of Quarantine

So full disclosure here. I have participated in Rockstar Camp. I did the eight week program in learning how to use your voice and then got on stage in Portland Maine in May of 2019 to sing Firework by Katy Perry! (Go me!) It was an absolutely transformative experience which shifted who I am and how I live in the world. I loved the experience (though I was scared to do it!) and learned so much.
Months afterward I asked Megan to talk to me more on the podcast. I wanted to know her back story. How did she become a coach and a leader? How did she come up with the idea for Rockstar Camp? What were her motivations and what was the path that brought her here. I know that there is always interesting stories to hear when we ask about them. Her story is fascinating and insightful and a real inspiration for those who may still be wondering what they are going to do when they grow up. Sometimes the answers to what we want to do seem clear and then they aren’t. Then they seem clear again. Then they aren’t again. Life is funny that way. Cheers to discipline and perseverance and being scrappy! All of which Megan Jo talks about in this show.
Head over to The Gardenia Project page of the website to see her portraits from the photo session! https://www.jendeanphoto.com/the-gardenia-project
Podcasts aren’t free to create. (: I pay my producer every month cause she is fabulous!! (I never take a paycheck.) Please considering supporting this podcast with just a few dollars a month by going here:
https://www.patreon.com/thegardeniaproject
Huge thanks to our sponsors: 
Kate Bathras Coaching 
https://www.katebathrascoaching.com/
If you want to find out more about Rockstar Camp go here:
https://www.meganjowilson.com/rockstar-camp-enrol

Ep 24 Megan Jo, The Tributaries That Create Us

Often when I talk to women about their stories it is only now in the looking back that we are able to see the lessons that we learned. This story is one of those. A time of deep learning, that when it was happening felt unbearable. Mary just had no idea how she could make it through all the grief she was sitting with at that fateful period of time in 2005. She speaks now with a voice of clarity and wisdom from all that she learned back then. The ways that it shaped her life moving forward and how she got to now - in a whole new life she would never have imagined then. 
Thank you to the sponsors of this episode:
Kate Bathras of Kate Bathras Coaching
and
Jennifer Elizabeth Moors of Modern Medicine Lady

Ep 23 Mary, What Intuition Tells You

In this podcast we listen to multiple voices from women (including my own) telling their stories of vulnerability or power about their hair, how a hair cut changed their life, what other people thought about it, changes that came over time or abruptly, that impacted their life and how they felt about themselves.
My kid, I think, said it best and most succinctly when I asked her if it should be a big deal when a woman decides to cut off all her hair she said, “Well if it feels like a big deal to them then definitely support that, but if they are like ‘this is no biggie’ then you shouldn’t make a huge deal out of it.” Simple and so wise. Too bad our society often doesn’t follow her advice.
Listen in to hear the multi layered feelings we have around our hair. Check out the blog post with portraits of the women here: 
https://www.jendeanphoto.com/blog1/howhaircutsshapeus
Please considering supporting this podcast with just a few dollars a month:
https://www.patreon.com/thegardeniaproject
Huge thanks to our sponsors: 
Kate Bathras Coaching 
https://www.katebathrascoaching.com/
 
Jennifer Elizabeth Moore of Empathic Mastery
https://www.modernmedicinelady.com/

The Gardenia Project Episode 1-Anna, On Finding Yourself, Getting Un-Lost

Download our free app to listen on your phone