Epic Exchanges

Today I'm happy to welcome Mark Nendick. Mark is a certified personal trainer and a nutrition and lifestyle coach who lives in Merritt, British Columbia. In 2010, overweight and riddled with anxiety, Mark knew there had to be a better way to live and feel, and this is where his own health and wellness journey began. Today, he, through his company PFN Coaching, supports others to achieve their life...

This week we introduce a new feature to Epic Exchanges.   Once a month we will be welcoming a children's book author to share their book and story with us. To kick things off, we are joined by Allison Parry, author of "Emmie the Empath and the Kintsugi Vase"   Exchange Quotes: "The planet does not need more successful people, but it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, story...

With today's episode, we relaunch the podcast after more than a year on hiatus while I completed and released my book, "Your Story Your Strength."  With this relaunch, we will be featuring more guests sharing their own stories of overcoming, achievement, triumph and more. Today's guest is Brielle Cotterman, TEDx speaker, publicity expert and celebrity-maker and a survivor of domestic violence and...

We've met today's guest, Julie Allen, before when she shared her battle with eating disorders and learning to love and accept herself every day just as she is.  All about self-worth.  So it seems only natural that she is here this week to wrap up our month's focus, by taking things a little further to discuss how our bigger choices are a reflection of our values and worth.  Exchange Quotes: "Will...

Our stories hold so much power – both what we tell ourselves and what we can begin to believe about ourselves. This week's guest, Dr. Wesley Northey, shares his story spanning the full range of the human experience, and how he found purpose at his lowest point by exploring possibility.   Exchange Quotes: "Life is a gift and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give someth...

February is the month of love, most often romantic love.  This month we're going to turn it into something a little different – a month of loving ourselves, our neighbours and communities and even loving our earth.  And it all starts with knowing our own worth and value.  Exchange Quotes: "Love yourself as if your life depends on it.  Because it does." – Anita Moorjani "Better a diamond with a fla...

We are hearing more and more about intuition these days – what it is, how to recognize it and how to use it.  Today's guest, Kim Woods, is an expert in all things business, intuition and incorporating both in our lives in order to be more purposeful in all areas.  Exchange Quotes: "Intuition becomes increasingly valuable in the new information society precisely because there is so much data." – Jo...

We've become a culture of 30- to 60-second soundbites.  Of trying to get likes and followers and interaction.  This is not the time or place to share your story.  Please STOP.  Listen to find out why. Exchange Quotes: "We all have a story.  The difference is, do you use the story to empower yourself?  Or do you use your story to keep yourself a victim?" – Sunny Dawn Johnston "Our stories are not m...

The past couple of years have been tough. And no matter how much we work on our mindset and try to stay positive, difficult things have happened.  However, if we feel that we always have to 'look on the bright side' that can actually do more damage to our mental health. Exchange Quotes: "Life is amazing.  And then it's awful.  And then it's amazing again.  And in between the amazing and awful it's...

What goes hand-in-hand with a new year?  Resolutions of course!  However they are generally not the best way to make lasting change – in fact, most new year's resolutions are broken before sundown on January 1st!  So what's a better way?  Listen to find out… Exchange Quotes: "The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written." – Melody Beattie "First it is an intention...

What if I told you that there is one key to more meaningful connection?  And that leads to more contentment, joy, fulfillment and even purpose?  Can you guess what it that key might be? Exchange Quotes: "Connection.  The energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the re...

At some point, we have all felt a little less than enough.  Or a lot less than enough.  Where does it start and how does it affect us?  That's what we're talking about this week. Exchange Quotes: "We have learned to live our lives trying to satisfy other people's demands.  We have learned to live by other people's points of view because of the fear of not being accepted and of not being good enoug...

This week's episode is all about being tired and knowing when it's time to give up and move on.  Exchange Quotes: "There's a difference between quitting and knowing when you've had enough." - Unknown "Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit."  - Vince Lombardi "Quitting is a permanent solution to a temporary problem." – Lou Holtz "When you feel like quitting, think about why you started."  - Un...

Today's episode wraps up September's Nature and Nurture Project with a few of the main takeaways from sharing personal stories for 30 days, and how we can all take these lessons as we move forward into choosing who we WANT to become.   Exchange Quotes: "Nature is a definite thing.  But nurture is just as powerful." – Henry Cavill "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with...

Day 30 of the Nature and Nurture Project brings us to the final installment of this month-long exploration with a special - and small - messenger - the hummingbird.  Thank you for going through this month with us as we explored the importance of our stories - ALL of our stories - in creating who we are. Exchange Quote: "I always loved those little creatures [hummingbirds}, always feel blessed when...

Day 29 of the Nature and Nurture Project and we revisit a subject we've discussed before on the podcast - that of the importance of hobbies in our lives - those things that we do simply for the joy of them. Exchange Quote: "People with many interests live not only the longest, but the happiest." – George Matthew Allen   Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges  on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 28 of the Nature and Nurture Project and today's topic reflects on the labels that we assign to both others and ourselves and how they can be incredibly limiting. Exchange Quote: "We are not our name, status, profession, body or belongings.  We are powerful and loving spirits capable of experiencing so much more than our social labels." – Roxana Jones   Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges  on Faceb...

Day 27 of the Nature and Nurture Project continues with the theme of making the most of every day. Exchange Quotes: "It's a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you're ready.  I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything.  There is almost no such thing as ready.  There is only now." – Hugh Laurie  "Don't die with your music still in you." - Wayne Dyer "There...

Day 26 of the Nature and Nurture Project reflects on making the most of the time we have - while we have it.  Because we never know what tomorrow might bring. Exchange Quotes: "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style." – Maya Angelou   "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things yo...

Day 25 of the Nature and Nurture Project is all about not holding back and living life to the fullest.   Exchange Quote: "Are you ready to wake up to the future you really deserve?  Are you ready to play the game of life full out?" – Jay Kubassek   Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges  on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 24 of the Nature and Nurture Project and we dive into how even when we do our best to do the 'right thing', even then there can be completely unintended consequences. Exchange Quote: "Some days, doing the best we can may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn't perfect on any front – and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselve...

Day 23 of the Nature and Nurture Project and we discuss the items we keep as memory pieces, what place they have in our lives and our hearts, and how we use them to reflect on the people and moments that matter. Exchange Quote: "You are gone, but thank you for all these soft, sweet things you have left behind in my home, in my head, in my heart." - Nikita Gill Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges  on Fa...

Day 22 of the Nature and Nurture Project asks us to reflect on what kind of legacy we might be leaving - and what we might want to leave. Exchange Quote: "Your story is the greatest legacy you will leave to your friends. It's the longest lasting legacy you will leave to your heirs." - Steve Saint Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges  on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 21 of the Nature and Nurture Project has Kelly reflecting on how Sundays were always family days - and the importance of regular connecting. Exchange Quote: "Sunday is a time when you sit back and reflect on all the blessings you have received.  Smile at all the good things that you are enjoying." - Sera Train Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges  on Facebook @epicexchanges on Instagram

Day 20 of the Nature and Nurture Project is all about the importance of taking a break - whether we think we need it or not! Exchange Quote: "We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves, and we'll also have a lot more joy in living." - Thich Nhat Hanh Exchange Links: Epic Exchanges  o...