43 episodes

“Stories Connect People” podcast that will bring you intriguing, inspiring, and special stories from everyday people. We share stories all the time. Stories bring us closer. Stories allow us to get to know someone on a deeper level.  On this podcast you will hear stories that are special, interesting, unique, motivating or even funny. These stories could be about life, lessons and learnings, careers, hobbies, community, serving others, faith, hope or love. Connect with me at polly@storiessonnectpeople.com if you have a story you want to share.

Stories Connect People Polly Van Duser

    • Society & Culture
    • 5.0 • 12 Ratings

“Stories Connect People” podcast that will bring you intriguing, inspiring, and special stories from everyday people. We share stories all the time. Stories bring us closer. Stories allow us to get to know someone on a deeper level.  On this podcast you will hear stories that are special, interesting, unique, motivating or even funny. These stories could be about life, lessons and learnings, careers, hobbies, community, serving others, faith, hope or love. Connect with me at polly@storiessonnectpeople.com if you have a story you want to share.

    One Ocean Crew with Janette Potgieter

    One Ocean Crew with Janette Potgieter

    My guest today on Stories Connect People podcast is JP.  JP is going to blow you away with her story and the story of her 4 women crew who are embarking on an adventure of a lifetime. They will be rowing (yes, rowing) in an eco boat for roughly 40 day, 24 hours a day (2 hours on and 2 hour off rotation) and 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. They have a dual mission. One to inspire women and two to create awareness about protecting our ocean.
    In fact, their boat is the only eco friendly boat in the fleet and made of 10,000 recycled plastic bottles and manufactured using renewable wind energy.
    You want to hear what else is fascinating? These 4 women, who are calling their team, One Ocean Crew (3 of which had never rowed before) found each other during the pandemic, online. JP will tell you the story!
    They are bound and determined to be the first female crew to cross the finish line.
    This is one of the most inspiring stories I've brought to my listeners so welcome JP to Stories Connect People podcast and I hope you will check it all out at One Ocean Crew.
    Guest - Janette Potgieter
    References:
    https://www.oneoceancrew.org/
    2021 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
    From the One Ocean Crew website -
    We are four women in our thirties rowing a tiny eco boat 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. We represent the dreamers, the adventurers, the go-getters, the passionate, the determined and the curious. But most of all, we are four ordinary women taking on an extraordinary adventure. We are Jen, Emily, JP and Erin. We are One Ocean Crew.
    Our story is unique as we found each other in lockdown 1.0, in the middle of a global pandemic (virtually). Three members have never rowed before and our Skipper is scared of deep water. You couldn’t write this. But what we are setting out to achieve, to be the first female crew to row across the finish line of the 2021 Talisker Whisky Atlantic 
    We want to inspire women world-wide to follow their dreams, to create opportunities and to achieve their potential. We want you to feel empowered to fight for what you love.
    One Ocean Crew has chosen to row the world's first 'Eco' R45 ocean rowing boat. The boat’s sustainable design aims to have a reduced impact on the environment, with a foam core containing around 10,000 recycled plastic bottles and manufactured using renewable wind energy.
    One Ocean Crew are also raising money for the Sea Ranger Service, a social enterprise tackling youth unemployment and creating maritime careers focused on working for the environment.
     
    Watch the video and see how you can support: 
    https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/one-ocean-crew
    Go to  https://www.oneoceancrew.org/ to learn everything about this journey on their website, follow on IG, FB and LinkedIn.
    Stories Connect People Podcast

    Subscribe to Stories Connect People podcast on any podcast platform
    Visit my website at www.storiesconnectpeople.com
    If you enjoy the show please Like, Rate, Review and Share
    Engage with me on Facebook & Instagram @ Stories Connect People
    To potential

    • 44 min
    Spreading Kindness

    Spreading Kindness

    The opportunities are endless to spread kindness in the world.

    • 12 min
    Paratrek with Omer Zur

    Paratrek with Omer Zur

    Where there's a wheel there's a way!
    My guest on Stories Connect People podcast is Omer Zur.  Omer's story is amazing and his heart and passion for others can be seen over and over in how he is dedicating his life to Paratrek's mission.
    As a young boy, Omer's father was constantly telling him to get out and experience nature and have adventures and so early on he developed a huge passion and appreciation for the outdoors and all it could bring,
     
    The journey for Paratrek started when Omer decided he wanted his father who has been paralyzed since his early 20s to experience these same adventures. 
    Omer set the plan in place. He and his father put together a list of all the things they needed in a wheelchair that would allow his father with assistance to explore the same things that those without disabilities experience. They took this to a design and engineering team to create the Trekker.  Omer and his father set out on a 30 day excursion to Turkey to camp, hike and experience the outdoors. 
     
    Over 30 of Omer's friends joined in on the plan and while there was some early reluctance from his Father they continued the course and it was a life changing experience for everyone.
    Omer knew this was what he was meant to do and he started this organization to educate, create awareness and provide experiences for those with disabilities. 
    Hear him share all about it on Stories Connect People podcast.
     
    Connect with Omer and follow Paratrek:
    Omer Zur

    omer@paratrek.org
    office@paratrek.org
    www.Paratrek.org
    Facebook- Paratrek

     
    Stories Connect People Podcast

    Subscribe to Stories Connect People podcast on any podcast platform
    Visit my website at www.storiesconnectpeople.com
    If you enjoy the show please Like, Rate, Review and Share
    Engage with me on Facebook & Instagram @ Stories Connect People
    To potentially be a show guest, share feedback, or make recommendations email me at polly@storiesconnectpeople.co

     

    • 43 min
    The Soft Never with Cortney Farmer

    The Soft Never with Cortney Farmer

     
    My Guest on Stories Connect People podcast is Cortney Farmer.
    Cortney is the founder of The Soft Never. 
    I know, you are thinking what is the Soft Never? 
    Think about how many times we say never or hear never.
    I could never do that. I could never say no. I can never set that boundary. I could never do what they do.
    You probably are saying…. Oh yes! The Never!  Yep, I do that, say think, think that and hear that all the time.
    The Soft Never challenges us to say what if, well maybe it's really not never, my is a soft never.
    Cortney shares about h er Soft Never, how this vision started and her mission to help others turn down the volume on the Never and think about the possibilities.
    This episode is packed with wisdom, how to look at things from a different way and how to find the blessings in the twists and turns and boy, doesn't life throw a lot of those our way.
    You will want to get in on this Soft Never community, so you can spotlight your never and celebrate how you are overcoming the nevers with others.
    Welcome Cortney to Stories Connect People podcast.
    Bio - Cortney Farmer
    Cortney Farmer is a writer, storyteller, and business owner. In 2020, she and her husband, Scott, co-founded The Soft Never, an online community dedicated to celebrating the gifts and blessings that come when we eliminate the "never mindset" in our lives. When not developing original content at The Soft Never, she works as a Director of Content at a digital growth agency and as a freelance writer. A lifelong New Englander, Cortney lives in Seacoast New Hampshire with Scott and their two sons.
    Follow The Soft Never:  
    https://www.instagram.com/thesoftnever/ - Instagram
    TheSoftNever - Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/TheSoftNever
     
    Stories Connect People Podcast

    Subscribe to Stories Connect People podcast on any podcast platform
    Visit my website at www.storiesconnectpeople.com
    If you enjoy the show please Like, Rate, Review and Share
    Engage with me on Facebook & Instagram @ Stories Connect People
    To potentially be a show guest, share feedback, or make recommendations email me at polly@storiesconnectpeople.com

    • 30 min
    Baggage Claim, Travel Stories No One Tells with Will Conway

    Baggage Claim, Travel Stories No One Tells with Will Conway

    My guest on Stories Connect People podcast is Will Conway.
    Will shares about his life growing up, as a young professional he was doing really well, he was engaged to married and life was good.  Yet, he began to feel like something was missing, he had lost some of himself and he wasn't allowing his own story to come through. He was so focused on sharing the stories of others, he had not focused on sharing his own story.
    Will decided to leave everything behind and set out to explore the world. This led to incredible experiences, meeting amazing people that showed him how beautiful people could be and it lead to some incredible, moving and life changing experiences and stories….
    Will shares some of those stories and how he learned about human empathy and authenticity. He has turned those stories into a podcast, Baggage Claim (travel stories no one tells) and a FB community, Authentic Travelers.
    I describe Will as being pretty cool.  So see for youself, welcome Will to Stories Connect People podcast.
     
    Baggage Claim - Will Conway
    Baggage Claim is the gritty, real story of what happens when a man-child follows one too many travel "influencers" on Instagram, mumbles "hey I can travel too" in the mirror and strikes out for adventure, whatever that means. Join Will as he leaves behind his life - his career, his fiance, his apartment in New York City - to explore the globe only to find that the world out there is just as rife with confusion and awkwardness as life back home.
    An innovative twist on audiodrama, this immersive, honest first-person memoir-style podcast tells the story of awkward, painful and powerful revelations in foreign lands. Stories about awkwardly fumbling through language barriers and developing powerful relationships with complete strangers. About accidentally illegally immigrating to Paraguay. About crouching on a toilet in a public bathroom for nearly an hour because he's convinced he's going to be kidnapped. This is the opposite of travel porn. It’s travel diarrhea. Often literally. Always metaphorically.
    Baggage Claim is available mostly everywhere podcasts are heard, including iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher and more. The show is also available on YouTube.  Show notes for every episode include full transcription, credits, photos and additional insight, and are available here. Listeners in the United States and Canada can text CONNECT to (332) 877-9540 to engage directly and receive show updates and alerts. Those uncomfortable with texting or living internationally are encouraged to visit heybaggageclaim.com/connect to sign up for emails. Fans can also schedule personal Q&As via Zoom for their friends with host Will Conway by using this link. Additionally, a listing of all reviews, podcast appearances, interviews and other media appearances can be found here. Social media channels are available below:
     
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baggageclaimpod/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heybaggageclaim
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/heybaggageclaim
    LinkedIn: https:

    • 47 min
    Making Simple Changes, Shelley Can Help - Shelley Loving

    Making Simple Changes, Shelley Can Help - Shelley Loving

    My guest on Stories Connect People podcast is Shelley Loving.
    Shelley found her purpose after her husband had a massive heart attack at age 41. This led them to eating better and living a healthier life.  This became her mission, her passion and her purpose.
    Shelley is a Certified Nutrition Chef and teaches others how they can make simple changes in their daily food choices to gain better control of their health.  Shelley has an amazing website, a great community of supporters who encourage others and an array of masterclasses, blogs and other ways to educate us on everything from shopping to recipe makeovers. She approaches it in the most fun and easy to follow and down to earth way.Shelley is not suggesting impossible diets or major overhauls. She is talking about simple changes that can make a difference.
    You will love the joy she exudes about food and you will surely want to follow Shelleycanhelp on IG and FB to see how you can make small simple changes too.
    Welcome Shelley to Stories Connect People podcast.  
    Shelley Loving -
    Shelley Loving is a nutrition chef, but her journey may surprise you. In 2014, her husband, at the young age of 41, almost died on Super Bowl Sunday of a massive heart attack. That life-changing event was the catalyst on which she built her business, Shelley Can Help. She helps other people hit that reset button on the foods they eat, teaches others the power food has on our health and how they feel. She encourages us to cook just a little healthier. 
    @ShelleyCanHelp on all social media
     www.shelleycanhelp.com
     
     

    • 36 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
12 Ratings

12 Ratings

Longdogma ,

Good news travels fast

I look forward to this podcast every week. It’s full of good news, serious talk and interesting guests. Polly speaks to people like friends, and in turn the listener feels that same familiarity with them. These are stories about passion and about everyday people living their best lives. Is anything more interesting than that?

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