#epicStories: Stories of Dreams, Detours, and What Comes Next
When was the last time you really listened to someone’s story… or your own? Hi, I’m Jean Tillery, Certified Dream Manager and founder of Epic Living with Jean, and I believe it’s all about the story. Every one of us is living a story. Some chapters we planned. Others we never saw coming. There are dreams we’ve chased, dreams we’ve forgotten, challenges that changed us, people who shaped us, and moments when life took us somewhere completely unexpected. That’s what #epicStories: Stories of Dreams, Detours, and What Comes Next is all about. Through inspiring stories, honest conversations, and personal reflections, we’ll explore the moments that shape who we are and who we’re becoming—from pursuing big dreams and navigating unexpected life transitions to overcoming challenges, finding purpose, and figuring out what comes next. Sometimes I’ll share a story from my own life. Sometimes I’ll sit down with someone whose story I think you need to hear. Some stories will inspire you. Some might challenge you. Some may make you laugh or cry. And some may help you see your own story—and what might still be possible—in a completely new way. Because sometimes hearing someone else’s story is exactly what we need to remember a dream of our own. As a Certified Dream Manager, I believe dreaming isn’t just about creating a list of things you want to do someday. Our dreams tell us something about who we are, what matters to us, and the life we want to create. Living intentionally starts with giving ourselves permission to imagine what’s possible. And you are never too old, too busy, too stuck, or too far into your story to dream about what could come next. So come for the stories. Stay for the possibilities. And maybe, somewhere along the way, you’ll be inspired to dream again, live more intentionally, pursue what matters to you, and create a life worth telling stories about. Welcome to #epicStories.
Episodes
Have You Ever Wondered Where Generosity Comes From?
I’ve often asked myself: Is generosity something we’re born with, or is it something we learn—simply by watching others who came before us? In this special episode of Epic Stories, I have the honor of sitting down with my dear friend Mary Ellen Freer, Powhatan’s 59th Christmas Mother, to peel back the curtain on a beloved community tradition and explore the ...
What If You Could Witness the Legacy of Your Life—Right Now?
Have you ever stopped to imagine how people will tell your story fifty years from now? What would they say about the way you lived, the people you inspired, and the dreams you chased?
This question has been on my mind ever since I stumbled upon a moving scene from Doctor Who, where Vincent van Gogh is transported into the future to see his art celebrated in ...
When Plans Change: How I Met Eimile Harrison and Discovered the Power of the Detour
Have you ever felt like the plan you made for your future just… disappeared? That moment when all the pieces fall apart, and you can’t go back—but you’re not sure which way is forward? In this episode of Epic Stories, I sit down with Eimile Harrison, a creative and determined 27-year-old entrepreneur I met through eW...
Have you ever wished for a magic pill that would instantly make you the best version of yourself? In this episode of Epic Stories, I dive into the fantasy of overnight transformation—like in the movie Limitless—and reveal what it really takes to become extraordinary.
I explore why so many of us crave shortcuts in life, from perfect abs to financial freedom, and share my perspective on why real growth doesn’t come f...
Have you ever known exactly what you wanted, even if you had no idea how you’d get there?
In this episode, I reconnect with my longtime friend and fellow storyteller, Don Tincher, for a conversation that’s as spontaneous as it is heartfelt. We talk about everything from growing up in Richmond, Indiana, to the power of small steps, mentors who change your life, and why storytelling—especially in sports—is real...
Have you ever wondered if one small act of kindness could change a life—or maybe even start a movement? That’s exactly what happened when my guest, Megz West, began shouting, “I like your bow!” at a youth cheer competition. What followed was bigger than either of us ever expected.
In this episode, I sit down with Megz—also known as Miss Executive East Coast 2026 and founder of the nonprofit "I Like Your...
Do you have big dreams—but wonder if your body can carry you there?
This week on Epic Stories, I sit down with Annette King, an inspiring registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. Together, we dive deep into how our health is truly the foundation for making any of our dreams a reality. In a world overflowing with diets, trends, and quick fixes, Annette King brings clarity, balance, and kindness to the conv...
What if your resume wasn’t just a list of jobs and achievements, but a vision for who you want to become? In this episode of Epic Stories, I invite you to imagine your life ten years from now and ask: what would your future resume say?
I share how a simple yet powerful idea from Jesse Cole, founder of the Savannah Bananas, got me thinking beyond traditional resumes. Instead of listing what I've done, what if I focused on who I...
Have you ever faced a moment that changed your life overnight—a moment when everything is suddenly uncertain, and it feels impossible to know what comes next?
In this episode, I sit down with Kris Corbett: nurse, basketball coach, poet, mother of four, and someone who knows what it means to carry the weight of uncertainty for decades. Kris Corbett shares her journey through seizures, brain hemorrhages, and two life-altering br...
Have you ever thought, “I don’t have a story worth sharing”?
I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard someone—maybe even myself—say, “My story isn’t important,” or “Nothing that’s happened to me really matters.” But over the years of living, loving, losing, and learning (and hundreds of conversations on this podcast), I’ve discovered tha...
If someone made a photo board of my life today, would I like the story those pictures tell?
That was the question that hit me after a friend’s story about funeral photos got me thinking about the memories we’re capturing—and the lives we’re actually living. In this episode, I invite you to sit with me and take what I call the "Memory Board Test." Instead of aiming for perfect Instagram posts, I want ...
What If You Could Choose Joy, Even When Life Isn’t Fair?
This week on Epic Stories, Jean Tillery shares a powerful and deeply personal episode: a re-airing of her very first podcast interview with her friend Bobby Quinn, who faced ALS with unyielding courage, humor, and love. As Jean Tillery reflects on coming back to their conversation, she’s reminded of the lasting impact that ordinary people’s stories c...
Have you ever lived a story that doesn’t have an ending?
Hi, I’m Jean Tillery, and in this episode of Epic Stories, I invite you to sit with me in the discomfort, hope, and beauty of an unfinished story—my story. This week, as Mother’s Day just passed, I share what it means to carry an experience that offers no perfect closure, a story that has shaped me in ways I’m still discovering.
Last year,...
When was the last time you witnessed a moment so extraordinary, it changed the way you see your own potential?
In this heartfelt episode of Epic Stories, Jean Tillery shares a deeply personal account from the sidelines of the Texas Ironman—a once-in-a-lifetime moment that celebrates grit, community, and the transformative power of doing what’s hard. With a proud mom’s voice and an observer’s keen insight, Jea...
Are you overwhelmed by more than just the mess you see?
Clutter isn’t just about the things piling up in your closet or the endless emails in your inbox—it’s often about the unspoken stories, habits, and identities we carry. In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Young, a professional organizer who goes beyond surface solutions to help people uncover the “why” behind the clutter and find freedom in...
Welcome to Epic Stories. I’m Jean Tillery, and in today’s episode, I invite you to join me for a reflection that starts right here in Texas, where I find myself waiting to cheer on my son in his Ironman race. In these quiet moments, my mind drifts to big questions—like what I would say if NASA called me tomorrow and asked me to go to the Moon. Would I be willing to take that leap? And perhaps more importantly, wou...
Am I Running My Race—Or Someone Else’s?
Have you ever caught yourself sprinting through life, ticking off every box, yet wondering deep down, “Is this even my race?” This week, I share how supporting my son’s Ironman journey stirred up that very question for me—and why it might be time for you to ask it, too.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
It’s been a while since I sa...
Today’s episode is a little different… and deeply special.
In this reflective experience, we walk through the Stations of the Cross , hearing not only the story of Christ’s suffering, but also the personal reflections that invite us to look inward.
Each station challenges us to ask:
Where am I in this story?
How do my words, my actions, and my choices reflect love… or the lack of it?
This is not just something ...
This one’s for anyone who’s ever said, “Why isn’t my body doing what it used to?!” I sit down with wellness coach Debbie Harris for real talk on food, hormones, and the power of finding peace—with popcorn, with pants size, and with yourself.
I hope you enjoyed the story for today, if you want to hear more or connect with me visit epiclivingwithjean.com
Tom Ball brings the beat—and the cookies—to prison in this episode all about faith behind bars. You’ll laugh, maybe cry, and definitely never look at a chocolate chip cookie the same way again.
I hope you enjoyed the story for today, if you want to hear more or connect with me visit epiclivingwithjean.com
Don't forget to check out my new book "A Dreamers Travel Journal"
Go out and live epic today, and eve...
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