Epic Exchanges

Nat Bickel is an energetic writer who moves people to action with her words. She's the author of "The Volcaton No One Could See" and other children's books. When she's not writing, you can find her taking film photos, pressing flowers or blazing new trails with her husband.

Vie Portland helps people Find Their Fabulous! One of the ways she does this is through writing inclusive children's picture books that are fun, sometimes silly, confidence boosting, and where most children will feel represented. She also writes books for adults, runs workshops, facilitates training, and is an inspirational speaker, all around helping everyone Find Their Fabulous.

Join us as children's book author Kathy Schendt shares the story of Miracle, the Therapy Dog. All proceeds from sales of Kathy & Miracle's book will be donated to charity. 

It's time for the final installment of our 4-part "Choosing Ourselves" series and we're welcoming guest Dawn Smith with "Embracing the Labels" Dawn Smith describes herself as a Misfit, a Coach, an Artist, a Mom, and a Disruptor. She has a background originally in the social justice and nonprofit arts world before transitioning into counseling and coaching. Dawn is divorced, single, and super-duper...

It's week 3 of our 4-part "Choosing Ourselves" series and we're welcoming guest Cheri Paragi with "Paying Attention" Cheri Paragi is from Minnesota and the owner of GemMe Wands. She is married to her second husband and has two young adult daughters with special needs and medical complexities. Cheri is a firm believer in "paying it" forward both personally and professionally. In her quest to find h...

This week we highlight the second guest of our "Choosing Ourselves" series, Annette Moreau. Annette Moreau is a woman who knows what it feels like to lose herself to ALL THE STUFF OF LIFE. As a mother of two sons with significant medical challenges, she spent years overwhelmed, emotionally drained, unhappy and searching for peace. Through deep healing, personal growth, and spiritual connection, sh...

This week kicks off the first in our "Choosing Ourselves" series with guest Wendy Macdowall. Wendy Macdowall, mom to three sons and a bonus daughter, is a relationship coach, dv survivor, and book dragon. Wendy keeps her book hoard in Michigan where she lives with her husband Rob, two cats, and an elderly poodle. Wendy loves to go on travel adventures, to literary destinations (she has visited a L...

This week, we welcome Dana Lee Harris to the podcast. Dana Harris was born in California, and grew up in both Hawaii and Vancouver, BC. She developed an interest in the hospitality business very early and gained front-of-house experience as a server while taking sales, marketing, business, and event management courses. Her father's hobby wine import business gave her a great introduction to the fi...

This week, we welcome Pearl Chiarenza to the podcast.  Pearl Chiarenza is best known for helping women authentically put themselves first without guilt. Professionally, she is known as a transformational life coach, author, and speaker that helps women become the SHERO of their life. She loves empowering women to put on their "SHERO Cape" and assume the superpower of positive mindset despite any c...

This week, we welcome Derrick McManus to the podcast.  Derrick McManus was a police officer in Australia for 42 years. Many of those years were spent as part of the Special Task And Rescue, or STAR team. Similar to SWAT or Seal team, these officers were the ones called in the more difficult situations. On one of these tasks, he was shot 14 times with an automatic rifle, was close to death, but 2 y...

This week, we welcome Pete Partin to the podcast. Pete Partin is a motivational speaker, author, and artist who overcame extreme childhood abuse, bullying, trauma, and a stroke that forced him to learn how to speak again. Pete's goal is to share his light and his story of hope and resilience with others to show how anyone can overcome challenges, pain, or trauma.  Exchange Quotes: "Survival can be...

This week, we welcome Julie DeLucca-Collins to the podcast. Growing up in El Salvador before moving to the United States, Julie DeLucca-Collins struggled with feelings that she could not, and would not, ever belong, before intentionally seeking to uplevel her confidence. In her TEDx speech, Julie talks about constant feelings of being "too much" or "too little" for certain groups of people, strugg...

This week, we welcome Dr. Leticia Wright to the podcast. Dr. Letitia Wright is the Executive Producer and Host of Wright Place TV which has run on cable for over 22 years. A Former Chiropractor, Dr. Wright transitioned into the Media World. Wright Place TV is in its 23rd season with a bandwidth spanning over 6.5 million homes throughout Southern California and beyond. In addition to her media work...

As Canada celebrated Thanksgiving this past weekend, we are not entering what we like to call the Season of Gratitude, that takes us through US Thanksgiving and into the December holiday season. Practicing gratitude is way more than just being thankful. It changes how we show up in the world, it helps us find healing, and then gives us even more to be grateful for.  Exchange Quotes: "If you can ta...

This week, we welcome Debbie Crouch to the podcast. Debbie Crouch is an inspiring artist and the founder of Art for Wellness CIC, where she uses creativity as a tool for personal growth and healing. Overcoming challenges such as a difficult childhood, neurological disorders, and a mental breakdown, she rediscovered her passion for art as a form of self-expression and therapy. Today, she empowers o...

This week, we bring you Lauren Burns and her incredible story. Lauren was kidnapped at the age of seven by her biological father and taken to Jordan. In 1992, NBC produced a made-for-television movie about her kidnapping and rescue. Lauren's journey of forgiveness and healing is an empowering story. She is the host of the Redeemed Podcast on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. Her goal is to shar...

This week, we introduce you to Bobbie "The Awesome" Malatesta. Bobbie Malatesta is the creator of 3-21 No Kiddin' Nonalcoholic Beverage Store & Sober Social Club. Bobbie's mission is to create Recovery Playgrounds, to encourage adults to "play" again, remove the stigma around addiction and live life to the fullest. Bobbie is a podcaster, author and entrepreneur and is building the best nonalcoholi...

This week our guest is Kelly Mariah, another one of the authors in our new collaborative book, The Strength to Shift, available now from your favourite book seller! Kelly Mariah is a certified coach, speaker and trainer with the Maxwell Leadership Team. She believes that intentional personal growth, a positive support system, and finding purpose in your pain are vital keys to success when facing a...

This week, learn about Canadian hero, Terry Fox, who inspired an entire country with his Marathon of Hope as the 44 th Annual Terry Fox Run happens on September 15 th ! Exchange Quotes: "I just wish people would realize that anything's possible if you try; dreams are made possible if you try." – Terry Fox "I want to try the impossible to show it can be done." – Terry Fox Exchange Links: Find out m...

This week our guest is Peggy Meyer, another one of the authors in our upcoming new collaborative book, The Strength to Shift (releasing on September 9, 2024) Peggy Meyer is a farmer's wife, mother of six and lifelong learner who is passionate about the topics of personal growth and mindset. As a mental health therapist for nearly 25 years, she focused on improving the lives of others. Now she inte...

This week our guest is 2016 and 2024 Canadian Paralympian, Nathan Clement Nathan Clement has been an athlete his whole life. After a stroke caused by chicken pox at the age of 2 that caused him to lose mobility on one side of his body, Nathan entered sports as a way to help him regain some control over his left side. With parents and siblings who were all athletes, it was only natural that he woul...

This week our guest is Tami Goulet, another one of the authors in our upcoming new collaborative book, The Strength to Shift (releasing on September 9, 2024) Tami Goulet, the Soulful Business Alchemist behind Speak Your Soul Magicks, leverages over 25 years of corporate experience and 5+ years as a solopreneur to empower entrepreneurs. Combining personalized coaching, practical strategies, and a t...

This week our guest is Robyn Tidrick, one of the authors in our upcoming new collaborative book, The Strength to Shift (releasing on September 9, 2024) Robyn Tidrick received her Bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Washington and lived more of her life in Washington state. After a decade of being a stay-at-home mom, Robyn took on the role of children's ministry director at their...

This week, we talk about who is our inspiration as Kelly shares her first memory of being inspired by someone else, Canadian Olympian, Silken Laumann. Kelly Snider's journey began at the age of three when she was rescued from a house fire that took the lives of both of her parents. Diving into her own story and finding deeper understanding and healing, Kelly recognized the power in the fact that e...

This week our guest is Danielle Reedy Danielle Reedy (she/her) is an Olympian, Speaker, Coach, Author, and Podcast Host. From Canada to Australia, she pursued her impossible dream of joining the Australian National Synchronised Swimming Team and competing in the Olympics, achieving that goal at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. After five years on the team, including three World Championships, Daniel...