Epic Exchanges
156 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsCelebrating the power of our stories to help us rise above life’s challenges and transform them into greater purpose and authentic connections. Each one of us has a story. A story of overcoming, of illumination, of transformation, of determination. This is what Epic Exchanges is all about.
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Episodes
55 - Out of Necessity
June 17, 2019 18:47 - 30 minutes - 42 MBOften our best ideas and newest paths are borne out of our own desires or needs. We find something is lacking and we create what we need to fill those gaps. This was the case for today’s guest, Emma Willburn, The Spice Gal. The creation of her business came from her own goal of finding healthier alternatives for her family – particularly her two boys. Exchange Quotes: “What you put into life is what you get out of it.” – Clint Eastwood “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do wha...
54 - We Are All Broken
June 03, 2019 22:30 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBIn some way, we have all experienced something that has left us broken. Nobody is immune. Many of the people you come across each day could very well have walked through something just as challenging. Or are doing so right now. While your experiences may be different from anyone else you might know, that doesn’t necessarily make them worse – or better. Just different. But it’s because of these difficulties and experiences that we learn something about ourselves and we generally come o...
53 - Being Cracked Open
May 21, 2019 00:40 - 11 minutes - 16.3 MBSometimes, the smallest, unrelated things can crack open up a piece of us that we didn’t know needed healing – a piece that is integral to our story – to our ultimate healing and ability to move forward. These things can show up unexpectedly and be triggered my all kinds of experiences. Perhaps someone else’s story, perhaps a book or a television show or a movie. Sometimes a passing comment by a friend or even an overheard conversation between strangers. Exchange Quotes: “There is a...
52 - The Stress Epidemic
May 13, 2019 22:30 - 12 minutes - 17.6 MBStress as we know it today is actually derived from the word distress and refers to great pain, anxiety, sorry, bother, worry or trouble – either physical or mental in nature and our body’s response to these charged situations. In most of the westernized world today stress has become an epidemic with approximately 75% of adults between the ages of 20 and 64 reporting some level of stress – and somewhere between 25 and 35% reporting extreme stress on a regular basis. This is so prevalent t...
51 - Reunions & Remembrances
May 07, 2019 02:58 - 10 minutes - 14.7 MBWhen we hear the word reunion, we think about school reunions – either high school or college/university; we think about family reunions, maybe even reunions of the casts of our favourite television shows. Some we think of more fondly than others – and some maybe come with a level of anxiety or tension because of difficult memories or relationships or maybe feeling as though we haven’t accomplished quite what we wanted or we don’t look the same as we did. So why do we even go? Exchange Q...
50 - Being Present
April 29, 2019 17:43 - 14 minutes - 19.7 MBWhat does it mean to be present? At its most basic, it means that your awareness is completely centered on the here and now. You are not worrying about the future, or thinking about the past. It means you have your focus, your attention, your thoughts and your feelings – all your energy – on what is happening in the here and now. If you are having a conversation, then your focus is on the person you are with and what they are saying. If you are at work, you are completely dedicated to t...
49 - Releasing Expectation
April 23, 2019 01:42 - 13 minutes - 18.3 MBWe all have expectations – both for ourselves and our future and also for others and their behaviour or reactions towards us. And when we place expectations around wanting our own stories to ‘measure up’ to one someone else shared or be as impactful or whatever we tell ourselves it NEEDS to be – then we set ourselves up for either never being ready to share or always feeling that our story – or stories aren’t good enough to share. That’s the problem with having expectations – we set ourselv...
48 - Stop Should-ing On Yourself
April 15, 2019 19:29 - 13 minutes - 19.3 MBOne of the biggest stumbling blocks we face when coming to terms with our own stories is a pervasive undercurrent of guilt. Many of the events in our lives – particularly the difficult ones – come with a lot of self-judgment. Of the things we could or should have done or said to ensure a different outcome. Of the words we left unsaid before a loved ones passing. Of the calls we didn’t make to mend a broken relationship with a friend. When the guilt is there under the surface, it makes f...
47 - The Problem with Perfect
April 08, 2019 19:00 - 16 minutes - 23.7 MBThe desire to be perfect not only traps and burdens us with stress, it can often keep us from moving forward with our goals and dreams. And often we get ‘stuck’ in finding and telling our own stories because we want to find the perfect words or the perfect way to tell it. Then we keep putting it off – procrastinating – or even continually comparing our stories to those of others and feeling that we’re just not good enough. Well that’s just not true. Let’s talk about this idea of perfectio...
46 - Stopping that Downward Spiral
March 11, 2019 17:24 - 37 minutes - 52.4 MBThere are all kinds of struggles in life – emotional, physical, financial, relational – add your own to the list. But there are also lessons in these struggles. Lessons that we can take from our own difficulties to help others so they don’t have to flounder the same way we did – or even to give them the added encouragement to keep going through the hard times. Today’s guest, Cara Czarnecki, was a single mom, struggling to make ends meet while trying to keep any financial worry or fear fr...
45 - Turning Difficulty Into Purpose
February 27, 2019 01:48 - 29 minutes - 40.7 MBWe all go through difficult times in our lives. Times where we struggle to see anything positive in our situation, where even sometimes that proverbial ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ is so faint we doubt that it is there. Times where all we want to do is find an answer to whatever our current problem might be – and sometimes, that answer takes us somewhere even more difficult. Today’s guest, Jessica Pumple, faced a time like this in her life as well. And when she made it out of that da...
44 - Who Do You Love?
February 12, 2019 16:09 - 13 minutes - 19.5 MBIn this week’s exchange, we talk about self-acceptance and how this can have an effect on your story. How often do we consider our relationship with ourselves? How much time and effort do we put in to our own self-acceptance even? How many of us can honestly say we’ve come to a place where we love ourselves – warts and all? Exchange Quotes: “What self-acceptance does is open up more possibilities of succeeding because you aren’t fighting yourself along the way.” – Shannon Ables “Opti...
43 - Let's Talk About Mental Health
January 30, 2019 18:13 - 15 minutes - 22.2 MBMost people don’t talk about mental illness. But the numbers speak volumes about the urgent need for action and acceptance. Mental health affects us all - whether world-class athlete, Oscar-winning actor, Grammy-winning musician, political leader, CEO, stay-at-home mom, or student. All ages, education or income levels and cultures. This episode of Epic Exchanges provides tips and tricks for managing our own mental health and wellness and adding our efforts to help end the stigma surround...
42 - Your Dreams Can Change the World
January 21, 2019 20:44 - 13 minutes - 18.5 MBFew people start out with the intention of changing the world with their ideas or dreams. Most of us simply want to change something in our immediate vicinity and then the dream grows wings and the idea takes hold. Why? Quite simply because our best ideas are shared. Shared ideas ignite passion and motivate involvement. As evidenced by Dr. King’s story; his ideas, passion and motivation helped ignite an entire country – even the world – to work through boundaries, walls and established...
41 - Your Story - How Do You Know Where to Start?
January 07, 2019 19:59 - 19 minutes - 26.6 MBOne of the things that many people struggle with is where to start in telling their story. It can feel overwhelming because we often think we need to start from the beginning and tell it chronologically. That’s just not the case. In this week’s Exchange, we share 3 tips around overcoming the roadblocks to telling our stories and give some prompts to get you started on your own. Because nobody can tell your story better than you yourself can. Exchange Quotes: “A day will come when ...
40 - Can Resolutions Change Your Story?
December 30, 2018 10:00 - 11 minutes - 15.6 MBIn this week’s exchange, we talk about resolutions – particularly New Year’s Resolutions – and whether or not they can have an effect on your story. A New Year’s resolution is a promise a person makes for the new year. Regardless of what resolution – or resolutions – you decide upon, the goal is to improve your life in some way in the coming year. Resolutions look different for everyone. For some it’s quitting a bad habit like smoking or (quite likely these days) limiting refined sugar...
39 - The Role of Tradition in Storytelling
December 24, 2018 19:49 - 11 minutes - 15.8 MBMany of our modern celebrations and customs – and even the WAYS in which we celebrate any special day on the calendar – are rooted in tradition. Tradition is defined as the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way. And each family has its own ways – or traditions – of celebrating every holiday, but especially Christmas. Have you ever wondered how these started? Or who started them? These can be the source for finding ...
38 - The Importance of Empathy (Part 2)
December 12, 2018 00:27 - 19 minutes - 27.4 MBAfter last week's discussion on Empathy, guest Sarah Michelle Brown and I continued our discussion and we thought it might be valuable to many of you. So here it is - pretty much unedited. Exchange Quotes: “Empathy is about finding the echoes of another person inside yourself.” – Mohsin Hamid “True empathy requires that you step outside of your own emotions to view things entirely from the perspective of the other person.” - Unknown Exchange Links: Sarah’s Documentary Sarah’s We...
37 - The Importance of Empathy (Part 1)
December 04, 2018 16:47 - 30 minutes - 42.8 MBOver the past few weeks, we’ve discussed recognizing and dealing with our own anger towards ourselves and others; and we’ve learned about the power of forgiveness to help us let go of that anger and any other negative emotions keeping us from living a life filled with more peach and happiness. In both exchanges, we talked about empathy being a strong piece of being able to have more understanding around the roots of the anger and hurt. Today, we dig deeper into what empathy is and how we c...
36 - On Gratitude
November 22, 2018 16:20 - 12 minutes - 16.9 MBAt this time of year, Thanksgiving week in the United States, and the start of the holiday season – Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, whatever your belief, it’s a time acknowledging our blessings, exchanging gifts, gathering friends and family together, celebration. But what about when we are alone? When there is nothing to celebrate? When we experience loss or pain or something else equally as devastating or tragic? How do we find gratitude then? Researchers have proven the benefits of ...
35 - The Power of Forgiveness
November 13, 2018 09:00 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MBForgiveness, as opposed to revenge, is the act of releasing the desire to punish someone – or even yourself – for an offense. It does not mean that you forget it and move on. It also doesn’t mean that the other is absolved of their actions. Instead, it is choosing to release the desire for punishment or revenge. And it is only in this release that we can once again find peace of mind, and even happiness. But practicing forgiveness is not easy, nor is it quick. This exchange discusses...
34 - Dealing with Anger
November 06, 2018 09:00 - 13 minutes - 18.4 MBThe dictionary defines anger as “a strong feeling of being upset or annoyed because of something wrong or bad. The feeling that makes someone want to hurt other people, to shout, or be unpleasant.” It is an intense expression of emotion. There are many reasons we experience anger. To harm oneself or another, for control, to feel powerful, to fight injustice, and many more. So how do we deal with our anger in a healthy way that allows us to move forward with peace and happiness in our ...
33 - Acknowledging Our Judgment
October 22, 2018 19:52 - 10 minutes - 14.9 MBWe all judge – whether we do so intentionally or not. It’s due to our innate need to immediately classify anything new we come into contact with as friend or foe, safe or poisonous. In the early days of humankind, this helped us survive. But we all have a story – things going on in our lives that aren’t visible from the outside, so often those micro-judgments are incorrect. So how do we put those initial judgments aside? Exchange Quotes: “There’s a story behind every person. There’s...
32 - The Importance of Rest
October 16, 2018 08:00 - 15 minutes - 22 MBHave you ever had one (or more) of those days where you just feel brain dead by 4pm? Or you get home from work or school or all the activities that fill your day and you just can’t imagine making another meal. Or cleaning up the kitchen. Or doing laundry. You’re ready to binge the latest Netflix hit. You just don’t want to have to make another decision or even think! But this is often because we forget the importance of what we hear every flight attendant say: Secure your own oxygen m...
31 - Healing Through Helping with Jenny Ravikumar
October 02, 2018 05:30 - 29 minutes - 41.4 MBOwner of Barefoot Yoga Shala, Founder of Yoga for Families of Addiction, Jenny Ravikumar is a yoga teacher, reiki master, healer and writer. Jenny uses her practice to navigate being a single mom and business owner as she continues to heal her heart and others’ through self-discovery on and off the mat. Exchange Quotes: “You are always exactly where you are supposed to be and it’s perfect.” – Jenny Ravikumar “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” – The Bhagav...
30 - That "Who Do I Think I Am?" Feeling
September 25, 2018 05:30 - 13 minutes - 19.3 MBWe've all heard of Imposter Syndrome, but what is it really? How common is it? How do you identify it and then overcome it? You may be surprised by all the answers and how many people share these same feelings - and even who some of them are! Conquer these feelings of being a fraud that are holding you back from that next big accomplishment! Exchange Quotes: “The exaggerated esteem in which my lifework is held makes me very ill at ease. I feel compelled to think of myself as...
BONUS - A Reading with Becky Livingston
September 14, 2018 16:55 - 4 minutes - 5.96 MBA few weeks ago, author Becky Livingston shared a reading from the book she authored about her more than two years of travel after cancer took her daughter Rachel's life. It is a story of how she found healing while honouring Rachel's wish to keep traveling after her death. The Suitcase and the Jar on Amazon Becky on Facebook Epic Exchanges on Facebook - join the conversation
29 - Realizing Your Dreams with Heather Ann McBride
September 11, 2018 05:30 - 24 minutes - 33.5 MBScreenwriter and filmmaker Heather Ann McBride joins us this week to talk about how she made the dream she had at just four years of age of being a writer to realization with the completion of her first feature film, In Her Blood. Exchange Quotes: “The journey from Kamakura to Kyoto takes twelve days. If you travel for eleven but stop with only one day remaining, how can you admire the moon over the capital.” – Nichiren Daishonin, 12th century Japan Buddhist monk. “No matter how hope...
28 - Finding Adventure in Transitional Times
September 04, 2018 05:30 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBIt's a time of transition for many - from grade school to middle school to high school to college or university, but also from studies to embarking on a career path. September can be like starting anew, and sometimes those new beginnings bring anxiety or stress. Emily Magone returns to discuss how she has managed transition as a military spouse, where moving - sometimes to the other side of the world - is a regular occurrence. Exchange Quotes: “A lot of people resist transition and t...
27 - And The Award Goes To...
August 28, 2018 17:32 - 18 minutes - 26 MBIn this week's Exchange, we revisit the first 6 months of the podcast and share with you some of the highs and lows of different episodes and this entire journey. You'll find out what the most popular episodes are, some inside trivia, and even some bonus content that you can't find anywhere else!
26 - Facing Death to Appreciate Life
August 21, 2018 16:02 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MBIn this week’s exchange, radio announcer Tanya Brown MacDonald joins us to share about the life-threatening medical emergency she dealt with only a few months ago and how it changed her life and helped her rediscover her true priorities. Exchange Quotes: “There will be an answer, let it be.” – Lennon & McCartney “Good things happen when you set your priorities straight.” – Scott Caan Exchange Links: Listen to Tanya online: www.987krock.com Epic Exchanges on Facebook
25 - Transformation Through Travel
August 14, 2018 05:00 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBIn this week’s exchange, we welcome author, Becky Livingston, to share about her journey through grief. Becky was born and raised in England and immigrated to Vancouver, BC at 24 where she worked as an elementary school teacher for over 20 years. She is a 2015 graduate of Vancouver manuscript Intensive. Her work has appeared in Modern Loss, Hope Café and the anthology, Always with You: Parent Talk About the Death of a Child. She currently lives in the West Kootenays of BC, close to her d...
24 - Busy Is a Four-Letter Word
August 07, 2018 05:00 - 14 minutes - 19.3 MBIn this week’s exchange, we discuss how being ‘too busy’ is becoming an epidemic in our society today. Do you have enough time in the day for all those things on your to-do list? Do you feel as though you’re always working – at work, at home, in the coffee shop – but wondering why you’re not getting further ahead? Do you find yourself answering the greeting “How are you?” with the word “Busy!” However, we all make time for the things we decide are important. So what’s on your important ...
23 - How 'Stooping' Leads to Good Neighbouring
July 31, 2018 05:00 - 23 minutes - 32.3 MBThis week, our discussion is about connecting and building community with special guest, Alison Caldwell Johnson. Community and communicating are Alison’s favourites. She’s been building the first by practicing the second for more than 20 years through her work in the non-profit sector and life in the ‘she-likes-people-sector’. She especially likes getting clear on the point – the point of an organization, a blog post, a meeting and sometimes just the next task ahead. She is raising two ...
22 - Getting Your Adulting In Order
July 24, 2018 05:00 - 27 minutes - 37.2 MBThis week, we talk "Adulting" with Jill Sadler. Jill is the founder of Parosol, a company that helps adults of all ages get their adulting (also known as estate planning) DONE. Jill helps adults END procrastination and avoidance and replace it with peace of mind and confidence knowing that they have a comprehensive estate plan that leaves nothing out. She has a Masters degree in Business plus two additional college diplomas, and her designation as a Certified Executor Advisor. Exchange ...
21 - Following Your Passion to Discover Yourself
July 17, 2018 05:00 - 24 minutes - 33.2 MBThis week we welcome Emily Magone to the podcast to tell us the story of discovering how she could take her passion for painting and make it into her career. Emily is a self-taught nature artist from Northwest Montana, currently based in San Antonio, Texas. She explores the world seeking epic natural beauty without human interruption and brings the healing power of that beauty into her work. As well as her original paintings, Emily produces an eco-friendly collection of wearables printed ...
20 - Using the Moon to Write Your Story
July 10, 2018 05:00 - 23 minutes - 32.7 MBIntuitive astrologer Jenn Kosh is back and this time she is teaching us how to use the moon’s phases to intentionally change our stories and our lives. As an intuitive astrologer, teacher, life coach, writer and speaker, Jenn has been creating the space for people to achieve significant personal transformation, helping them find clarity, insight and direction into their unique life plan, including all the different types of love relationships they came here to experience – in all areas of t...
19 - You Are Not an Island - with Ryan Neale
June 26, 2018 07:30 - 20 minutes - 28 MBRyan Neale is a regular teenage boy who just graduated middle school and is heading to high school in the fall. He enjoys playing basketball, guitar, and hanging out with his friends. In his final year of middle school, Ryan battled depression and feeling isolated and alone, but decided to reach out to his peers for connection. Ryan wrote a graduation speech based on what he learned, and, while his speech was not the one chosen for his commencement ceremony, he is sharing it here on Epi...
18 - Leaving a Legacy - You Can Create What You Want
June 19, 2018 07:00 - 13 minutes - 17.9 MBLegacy is defined as “a gift of property, as money, by will: a bequest. Anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.” What have you learned from those who have come before you? From your family, your teachers, people you admire? How do you let that change or influence the way you live your life each and every day? We all will leave a legacy of some kind. Good or bad. And it ultimately is our choice what that legacy becomes. Do we want it to be a legacy of ...
17 - Embracing Creativity to Own & Share Your Story with Paula Toledo
June 12, 2018 07:00 - 38 minutes - 53.5 MBThis week, Paula Toledo joins us to share her creativity in dealing with grief around her husband’s death to suicide. We discuss the importance of being authentic and finding your voice and your own ways to express whatever it is that you are going through or have faced throughout your life. Paula Toledo describes herself as a creativepreneur and story healer. She is a published writer, singer/songwriter, and a recent presenter at TEDx Laval. Paula starts off this week’s exchange with h...
16 - The Incredible Healing Power of Our Stories
June 05, 2018 07:00 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MBEach of us is the hero of our own constantly-unfolding tale – one that nobody else can write. However, too many of us leave these stories untold. When we deny ourselves the opportunity of sharing, we actually can CREATE illness. But the ultimate power that comes with telling and sharing your story is that this act has the amazing potential to heal. Exchange Quotes: “The degree to which you can tell your story is the degree to which you can heal.” – Stasi Eldredge “The most useful an...
15 - Your Story is Never Too Boring
May 29, 2018 07:00 - 15 minutes - 21.3 MBMany people think their story is too boring. From the inside looking outwards it may SEEM unremarkable. When we take the time to look at our lives from the outside in order to see those things that stand out to others. The more we do something, the more we imprint it on our experience and the more ‘normal’ or ‘boring’ it becomes. To us. But not to everyone else. Your story isn’t boring because it is UNIQUE TO YOU. Nobody else has experienced life in the same way – not even close! Tha...
14 - Fearing What Others Think
May 22, 2018 08:00 - 12 minutes - 16.5 MB“What other people think about you is none of your business” - While this is so easy to say and repeat, it’s often difficult to put into practice – particularly when we are thinking about being vulnerable and sharing our story. One of the greatest fears people have when considering sharing part of themselves and their history, is what will people think? What if I hurt someone? When you put yourself out there – with friends, family, your community, even into the larger world around you...
13 - The Benefits of Sharing Your Story
May 15, 2018 07:00 - 14 minutes - 20 MBThere is a big difference between recounting the facts of your life and real, emotional and autobiographical storytelling. When you share about the people and events that have truly mattered to you in your own life, you can experience a substantial impact on your psychological and physical health. Some of the benefits of discovering and sharing your story are: You can help others. You find your voice It helps you to re-affirm your values. It helps you find peace and hope. Whatever...
12 - Something Worth Leaving Behind
May 01, 2018 10:00 - 10 minutes - 14.7 MBIn this week's Exchange, we speak about the legacies we leave behind. If you left this world tomorrow, how will you be remembered by your family, friends, co-workers, competitors and even your enemies. How would you like to be remembered? Kelly shares the story of her father’s cancer diagnosis and how he chose to live during his final days. He could have been angry, however he chose to make the best of the days he had, spending time and making lasting memories with his family and friends. ...
11 - Building Resilience
April 24, 2018 20:00 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBResilience is the quality that allows some people to be knocked around – and sometimes even knocked down – by life and come back stronger than ever. Resilient people are not defined by their adversity. They move through the pain and grief by moving towards a goal beyond themselves; by believing that the bad times are only a temporary state Resilience is a variety of skills that we can learn and strengthen: Make Connections: When we try and carry the load of stress on our own, it can often...
10 - The Authentic You
April 17, 2018 20:44 - 14 minutes - 19.9 MBIn today’s world, authenticity can be your best asset. When we are authentic, we honour who we are at our very core – and then we are able to give our best to others. Why is authenticity so important? We are all searching for REAL, particularly today when people wear a lot of masks. It’s part of living a meaningful life because there’s a drive in each of us to be true to ourselves. Authentic people are deeply in tune with who they are and what they want. We can work towards gr...
09 - If You Build It...
April 10, 2018 01:53 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MBThis week Kelly shares the story of her journey of learning to listen to her intuition and take time for herself and how this led her to her passion sharing her story. How it would not only help her through the hard times but also could help others with their own journeys. She shares a recent story about overcoming a fear of failure and listening to her “gut”, her intuition, and that by making that hard, but right decision, she freed herself to take a step back, regroup and move forward agai...
08 - Identifying Intuition
April 03, 2018 08:00 - 16 minutes - 23.3 MBWhat is intuition and how do we distinguish it from fear? On this week's episode, we are joined by international psychic medium, Lindsay Marino, to discuss how we can identify our intuition. We also discuss learning how to connect with ourselves so that we can hear and pay attention to that still, small voice that is our intuition. Episode Quotes: “Intuition is the compass of the soul” – Anonymous “Listen to your intuition. It will tell you everything you need to know.” – Anthony ...
07 - Combatting Isolation and Loneliness
March 27, 2018 13:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBIn today’s world we spend more time facing a screen than we do facing other people. With the advent of social media, we are constantly bombarded with notifications and text messages drawing our attention back to our screens – computers, tablets, smart phones an even our timepieces have become ways to stay connected. But is this a real authentic connection? We’ve all experienced feeling lonely in a crowd. You could be surrounded by many others, but if there is no one you can truly rely on, ...