I've been thinking a lot about what to bring you for this last episode of 2023, and what felt most honest was a tiny reflection of my own and an invitation for you to consider your waiting as well.  As I reflect on the past year, specifically the past five episodes of this season, I realize that there seems to be an underlying tone of waiting in every conversation around shame. Waiting while grieving, learning to stay while we work on believing new stories about ourselves, being patient as...

“I come to the work of living and leading relationally with the lived experience of moving through life in the U.S. as an autistic, multi-racial and sometimes white-presenting “other” with many other intersecting privileges and marginalized identities. I bring relentless compassion, an unusual perspective, and an eclectic variety of tools to the conversation of expanding our lives and our leadership beyond personal growth and into relational development.” I think it speaks for itself on...

Have you ever questioned if your story, your voice, your experience really matters in this world? Desirée shares so openly as a reminder that every voice has power, and purpose, and though finding that isn’t easy, it is so important. This episode is an invitation to hear the story of an incredible musician who is learning how to use their voice through the music and continue when the music is turned down. Desirée said it so well, this is a conversation for those who are looking to hold...

This episode is really just the beginning of a much-needed and very refreshing perspective from Nicole Caudana on how the conversation around sustainability in our world needs to begin shifting. As The Giving Gifts and Mindful Metals Studio (Nicole's incredible small business) merge together, this is actually a conversation Nicole and I are having, and together, we decided it would be really fun to invite you into this conversation with us. If there are any changes worth making in...

Jaimie, is an incredibly humble and thoughtful leader, mom, wife, friend, and the founder of Grind House in the sweet community of Encinitas. When I met Jaimie for the first time, it was in passing at a farmers market and there was something about the posture of curiosity she had in a few-minute conversation that made me very curious of her story. This was actually my first time hearing her story and I am seriously so thankful for her candid honesty. There is something in this episode for...

When I made the list of individuals I wanted to have on this season, Mary was the first name I wrote…next to her name, I put question marks, telling myself that she wouldn't be interested in sharing on this podcast…I have never been more grateful to be totally wrong!  This episode explores the theme of suffering significant loss. "I live in happy, sad daily…every day I live in sad happy. There is not a day really that I can say is completely happy anymore, but I can also say, there is not a...

At the end of season three, I truly did not know if there would be another season of this podcast. Not because I don’t LOVE what this podcast space has created, but mostly because I was asking if putting more noise in an already very loud world was really needed right now. Over the last three months, in the midst of a lot of my own grieving, I’ve spent a lot of time listening. Listening to friends and family, listening to the community I live in, listening to the global communities I stay...

Welcome to the giving gifts podcast…a place for real people to share real stories and if I'm being really honest with you this has been such a challenging episode to put together. Over a month ago I was brainstorming how to conclude this season of the giving gifts podcast and I had the thought of a collaborative episode. I wanted to give everyone who shared on the season an opportunity just to share what they are learning right now and a little encouragement.  Honestly, this idea came from...

Have you ever wondered if what you do really matters in this world? No matter how old you are, what life stage you're in, or where you are in this world, we are all asking the same questions. Do I matter? Do I make a difference? Am I important? This episode is so special for so many reasons. Jonathan Murillo has this safe disposition that invites others into a conversation where you can put your guard down, can trust that your thoughts, feelings, and experience will be respected,...

Do you ever notice that one of the very first questions we ask when we meet someone is "what do you do?" or "how do you spend your time", expecting the recipient of this question to have a quick, 60-second answer? What a weird world we live in, filled with mixed messages about who you are, what you're worth, and what's important. If you met Beth Leipholtz today, you may learn quickly that she is a wife, mom, author, full-time web designer, photographer, creative, podcaster, sober, friend,...

Heather Green is a special education advocate, teacher, mom of two little humans, a partner, a friend to many, and a sister to me. Growing up, I knew Heather to be someone who rarely made mistakes, excelled at almost everything she did, and craved control over circumstances and people she had no real control over. I now know Heather to be a lifelong learner, a fiercely loving, compassionate, crazy intelligent human who still craves that control but is doing much better at recognizing what she...

When I moved to Ensenada something I was quickly encouraged by was the local small business community. So many really incredible people creating incredible things. I had heard about Amin and hostile burgers for quite awhile before I actually got to go and the first time I went I immediately know that this guy had a special gift and story that I was eager to hear.  To be honest I kinda held back a lot of the questions i had because I really wanted to capture learning about him and his story on...

To kick off February, the infamous month of LOVE I could not be more grateful and excited to invite you into hearing a bit from Dottie Oleson. I truly believe that no matter who you are, what you believe, what you have experienced or haven’t experienced from church culture or people who claim to be christians this episode is encouraging and needed right now. To love at all is to  learn, to listen, to accept and what a beautiful gift love is. Who is Dottie Oleson? Dottie is a new mom to her...

A few fun facts about Geneva: “When I am in Mexico, I don’t look Mexican, and when I’m in the states, I don’t feel like I fit in there either” - Geneva was born & raised in Ensenada, MX, and currently resides in Chicago, IL. When Geneva isn’t changing lives through the film, you can find her roaming the world, making friends anywhere she goes, exploring coffee shops (although she isn’t drinking coffee anymore), and climbing rocks and things. I’ve known Geneva for more than ten years....

You know when you're driving in the car with people you trust and the conversation is rich and the company is solid and you find yourself in a safe place to explore and share your thoughts? That's what recording this episode felt like.  Mezli & Ruby are pure joy and it is such an honor to be able to deliver a bit of their story, their perspectives, and their gifts with you! I think if you listen to the questions and to the answers. If you pay attention to our experience with one another...

When I think about examples of people using their gifts to care well for others, Kelli Smith is a perfect example. Kelli is a cross-country coach, a wife to David Smith, a professional volleyball player, a mom to two kiddos, and a friend, a mentor, and an encourager to many. I met Kelli when I was working for a different nonprofit organization. I have never met a person who found so much joy in navigating databases and running reports, and I quickly learned that it wasn't just the reports...

This SUPER special episode brings together a few unique perspectives from worldwide to talk a bit about thankfulness. When we talk about thankfulness, it can feel a little cheesy, but when it comes down to it, I believe that being thankful is one of the greatest gifts we experience as humans. I asked a few people from around the world to join me in this conversation on what it means to be thankful in a complicated, challenging, beautiful, and dynamic world. A few years ago, I had the...

Gosh….Julia Rockowitz…where to begin. I need to get a little more personal in explaining who Julia is because of the immense impact this human has had and continues to have in my life. I met Julia when she was 10 and I was 13, and I quickly came to know Julia as a sister. A connection that would not require DNA but would be secure through years of life, moving changes, and so many circumstances. Julia is a person who is constantly reminding those around her of the most beautiful aspects of...

Guadalupe Alonso is a phenomenal artist who I met here in Ensenada Mexico, Guadalupes art brings depth and is so rich in color, culture, and purpose. Shellebrate is a reflection of Guadalupes story and a gift to the world.  If you were to ask me to explain Guadalupe in one word I think I would use the word peaceful. As you listen to Guadalupe share I believe that you will hear that peaceful presence through these words and through this story.  From the first conversation I hade with...

Going into this episode I knew a few things about Melissa. I knew that she was a bad ass, single momma, who got pregnant at 18 and raised a dope 10 year old on her own. I knew that Melissa uses social media to create a space that is authentic and her platform has not only brought encouragement and community for others it is also what allows her to provide for herself and her son.  What I did not know going into this episode is that Melissa would not only share her story she would actually...

If you walk into Turista/Casa Negra, a coffee shop here in Ensenada, Mexico you will most likely meet Juliette, the business owner. If you stay a few moments you’ll browse through CasaNegra, the currated shop host to local brands. If you’re there on a Monday through Friday you’re in for a breakfast treat from Mornin. It won’t take you more than a few moments to realize that this space is more than simply another coffee shop. If you stay a little longer you’ll  notice Raw (the super cute...

Karimy kicks off the season three of The Giving Gifts Podcast with an incredible story of resilience, fierceness, and overcoming challenge after challenge. Karimy was involved in a serious accident on September 9th, 2021. From Critical condition to running a 5k in less than a year, Karimy fights for her life everyday. Karimy’s story is one of resilience. Adopted at the age of six, moving from Kazakhstan to the US, navigating friends, family, and identity. Karimy shares her story of...

To wrap up season 2 I thought about just sharing all of the things The Giving Gifts as an organization has accomplished, all the ways the organization and myself have failed, learned, and what has been done because there is actually quite a bit. There was and honestly still is this voice in my head that is telling me I need to communicate all of the future plans and try to get you excited and believe in what  The Giving Gifts is going to do over the next three months with the desired outcome...

The Giving Gifts podcast was created to be a space for people to get to share honestly, without an agenda or a desired outcome, just a space where your experience is important and needed. I wanted this podcast to be an exploration of who a person is, their story, and maybe what they do but more importantly why they do what they do….this episode is a reflection of just that!!! Dan & Gabby Jimmerson are both mental health professionals, parents to their sweet daughter and their sweet pup, a...