Author Gwen K. Harvey discusses her transition from a successful career in financial services to writing fiction. She shares how the COVID-19 pandemic provided her with the time and space to pursue her passion for storytelling. Gwen talks about the inspiration behind her writing, including her debut novel 'The Girlfriend Book,' and how she creates and develops her characters.

Throughout the conversation, Gwen emphasizes the importance of following your intuition and staying true to your creative vision. In this part of the conversation, Gwen and Jennifer discuss the power of allowing people space to talk and sort out their thoughts in real time. They talk about the importance of articulating problems and finding answers through conversation. Gwen shares her experience as a woman in a male-dominated industry and how she navigated it, While touching on the importance of measuring success by impact and feedback rather than just numbers.

Gwen shares her refreshing perspective on handling criticism and the importance of having a thick skin, with Jennifer. The conversation explores the themes of Gwen K Harvey's book 'The Acquisition of Elizabeth Grace' and her writing process. The story is set in the 1960s and follows Sophie, a young girl who embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance. The book delves into themes of mother-daughter relationships, loss, and the ghosts of the past. Gwen's time spent in England during her childhood influenced the setting and atmosphere of the story. The conversation highlights the importance of capturing and revisiting personal memories and experiences.

Dawn McEwen opens up about her retirement from curling, reflecting on the challenges of balancing a demanding sports career with motherhood. She shares the emotional struggle of leaving her children behind to compete, battling anxiety along the way, and expresses deep gratitude for her teammates and the success they've shared.

Dawn also talks about the highs and lows of watching her husband, Mike McEwen, compete and the unique mix of stress and excitement that brings. She addresses the strides made toward equality in women's curling, but emphasizes the need for more progress, particularly in providing maternity leave.

She candidly discusses her own struggles with anxiety and fertility during her career, the intense pressure to bounce back after giving birth, and the reality of juggling motherhood with elite competition. McEwen stresses the importance of better support systems for women in sports, especially during the postpartum period.

Dawn touches on the motivation and discipline that have shaped her career, crediting key people along the way for inspiring her to push forward. Looking ahead, she hopes to stay active and possibly mentor the next generation of curlers. She reflects on her mindset of always striving to improve, her passion for practice, and how her teammates fueled her drive.

As a mom, she wants her daughters to embrace learning and trying new things. She also emphasizes the value of being present, kind, and appreciating the small moments. Dawn even shares a bit of her personal side, revealing that she has tattoos, and expresses her gratitude for the unwavering support of her friends and family throughout her journey.

Join us as Simon shares his incredible journey of overcoming adversity and his unwavering determination to move forward, never backward. He opens up about his experiences, the challenges he has faced, and the mindset that has helped him remain focused on building a meaningful and successful life.

Simon’s story is a testament to the power of the human spirit and will leave you feeling motivated and inspired to tackle your own challenges head-on. Don't miss this powerful episode filled with lessons on resilience, positivity, and the importance of forward momentum.

DISCLAIMER: In this episode's audio, there is some occasional background noise that was unable to be edited. The conversation was too impactful to re-record (Key takeaway - our daughter's guinea pig is too loud to participate in recordings). Thank you for your understanding!