Speak Life With Taylor Nichols

Can you believe we’ve made it to season 3?! I can’t either. I’m the first one in the hot seat, so make sure you tune in as we kick off a great season full of REAL conversations, REAL people, and REAL stories.

My dear friend, Nick Runyon, joins me on the show today! He is married to Whitney and they are the founders of The Archibald Project and have adopted three beautiful children from the Congo! Today, you'll hear about his retirement as an airline pilot to becoming a humanitarian videographer traveling around the world sharing inspiring stories of adoption and the orphan crisis. We also talk about he and his wife, Whitney's adoption story. You will walk away wanting to learn more about adoption and orphans all over the world. Can't wait for y'all to hear this!    Get All The Links from Today’s Show Here Connect with Taylor:Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, whoever you're with. I hope you will take a moment and just celebrate what 2019 has given you, honor what it has taken, and look for ways to anticipate what 2020 will bring. Be sure you tune in next week for the last episode of the season with my friend Nick Runyon. It's a powerful one and you won't want to miss it.

This weeks guest is my new friend Tori Petersen. She currently resides in a small town in Minnesota, with her husband and their new baby boy. Tori grew up in the foster care system starting at the age of 4, and today she shares her story and gives insight into how that experience affected her childhood and her new life as a Mama and wife. Tori recounts the first time she was taken away from her Mom when she was only four years old and the imagery she still carries with her from that critical moment in her life. She went back to her biological Mom's home for a period of time before being placed in 12 more foster homes between the ages of 12 and 18, never staying in one placement longer than 9 months at a time. Tori went back to her biological Mom's home for a period of time before being placed in 12 more foster homes between the ages of 12 and 18, never staying in one placement longer than 9 months at a time. As an adult, she wants to break the misconceptions around the foster care system, and is writing a mem

Today on the show, we have Laura Kelley! She is Mama to seven, artist, lover of color and meaningful words. Laura is a deep and creative soul who says she is “doing her best and hanging on tight” everyday.   We talk about journaling, adoption, trusting your spouse, autism, and what she thinks every parent can do to help change the narrative when it comes to befriending children with special needs.  I will forever cherish the love and pain Laura so beautifully relives in our conversation as we talk about her son Everett and his short, yet absolutely life changing time in their family.    Get All The Links from Today’s Show Here   Connect with Taylor:Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This weeks conversation is with, Ryan "Birdman" Parrott. Ryan served 8 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL attached to Team SEVEN. He shares his experience while serving in Iraq and the IED accident he and his team were involved in. This led him to establish Sons of the Flag in 2012 to help burn victims and their families receive the care they deserve. He shares how others can help support their mission and other veterans who are just transitioning back into society after being in the military.   Ryan's an author, public speaker, and founder of two non-profits benefiting Veterans and First Responders, and you're going to love my conversation with him today!   Get All The Links from Today’s Show Here Connect with Taylor:Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Today’s conversation is with my dear friend Vivian Mabuni. She is a national speaker and author of "Warrior In Pink" and "Open Hands, Willing Heart." She recently launched a new podcast called  "Someday Is Here, dedicated to sharing stories of leadership, culture and heritage within the lives of Asian American women today.  Vivian and I connected over a short but sweet conversation that we shared about the importance of interior design and the creative power of working in a space that is quiet, inviting and harmonious. Our conversation started there, but ended with so much more about life, love and learning to understand the perspectives and values of others.    Vivian taught me so much during our conversation, leaving me empowered to keep learning more about what role I play in the conversation around culture and inclusion today. She shares what it looks like to live as a minority in western culture, how the idea of “collective over individual” is part of her Asian DNA and even breaks down the elements of he

In today’s episode of Speak Life, I’m talking with my friend Nicole Zasowski who I met through the internet! Nicole is a licensed marriage and family therapist, writer, and speaker based in the state of Connecticut where she lives with her husband and son (with another baby boy on the way!). As an old soul who wears her heart proudly on her sleeve, Nicole loves using her words to help others find enduring peace and joy outside of circumstance. In addition to her private practice in Greenwich, CT, she serves as a therapist at the Hideaway Experience - a 4-day marriage intensive experience. Nicole is also excited to announce that her new book, From Lost to Found: Giving up what you think you want for what will set you free will be published in January 2020 and is now available for pre-order!   Get All The Links from Today’s Show Here Connect with Taylor:Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Today’s episode is with, Kelly Stuckey. She and I met through Camp Well and I have had the privilege of watching and learning from her as she advocates for her son, Everett, who was born with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. Our conversation is packed with wisdom about what it means to love others and walk alongside people with differences. Kelly shares the ways she has learned to advocate for her son and educate others on the importance of seeing each person’s unique beauty while viewing them through the eyes of their creator. She talks in detail about how seeing Everett through God’s eyes has reshaped her relationship with Him and expanded her heart in life-changing ways. Kelly lives in NW Arkansas with her precious 3-year-old son Everett. Kelly owns and operates Crown Beauty Bar, a full-service salon and spa she and her husband Zac founded together 6 years ago. Her love for God’s Word and her church community play a huge role in her everyday life; Kelly says both have been daily source of

  In this conversation, @cristidozier and I talk about a season of her life when the bottom of her marriage fell out and the choices she and Ben made to restore their relationship. Cristi also shares about what lead them to Pagosa Springs, CO and how a one-year work project in a town that literally translates as “healing waters” would be the beginning of a complete life change just a few years later. Cristi shares vulnerably and bravely about her mom’s battle with cancer, the movement #pimpinjoy that was born during that and her experience of caring for her mom, not only during her battle but also in the last moments of her life. She also shares about how caring for her dad has served to heal and restore their relationship over the last few years.     Cristi was born and raised in Austin but now lives in Pagosa Springs, CO with her husband of 19 years and 4 kids. In 2005 she and her husband started, Root Design Company from their living room which has led them down some incredible roads from Texas to Colorado

We are kicking off season two with a really incredible story, one that I actually learned about through an Instagram post! Today's guest is David Magee. He is the author of a dozen books, including How Toyota Became #1 and The John Deere Way. David is a columnist for Newsweek and former managing director for U.S. news at Newsweek. He is a sought after keynote speaker and has hosted a daily national cable television and radio program -- The David Magee Show, as well as having been a regular guest on CNBC and Fox Business. There is so much to David's life, but it was the story of him finding his birth family that caught my eye and what stole my heart was hearing David’s profound journey of finding himself along the way. His story is dynamic and full of unexpected twists and turns, and his heart an engaging and powerful example of what it looks like when you allow challenges and adversities to shape you into a compassionate, understanding and truly extraordinary soul. Our conversation is deep, meaningful, and fu

Today’s conversation is with my dear friend, Nick A. It is a conversation that I’ve been wanting to have since I first started dreaming about Speak Life. On this episode, Nick shares his story about when he first starting using alcohol & prescription medication as a coping mechanism to deal with the anxiety and feelings of  inadequacy. In the conversation, we acknowledge the difference between prescription pills being something that is meant to help and something that becomes vital to you just to survive day to day life. Nick also shares about how his addiction impacted his family and the cycle of shame he found himself in. He gives insight into his experience with AA, how he engages with that shame now, and what it looks like to walk well with someone struggling with addiction.   Get All The Links from Today’s Show Here   Connect with Taylor:Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Today is a really special day... it’s our fifteen year wedding anniversary and today’s guest is my husband David Nichols! I am so excited to introduce you to the man I call my husband, the one who sees me at my worst and loves me as though I’m at my best, who holds me together when I am falling apart and tenderly calls me back to the work of becoming when I feel overwhelmed.   I respect him beyond words and feel so incredibly humbled that we were both just young and dumb enough to jump into this adventure together when we did. I’m also just as thankful that we are both as stubborn and bull-headed as we are to keep waking up and working on this thing called marriage together every day.   On today’s episode, we talk about what the last fifteen years have looked like for us, what we are facing in this season of marriage and what we hope to work on in ourselves and in our marriage over the next fifteen years! This episode is an honest and real look at my life with Dave Nichols! Get All The Links from Today’s Show

Today on the show, I am talking with my friend Amy Gayhart. Amy is a Wife, a Mother, a Friend, an Advocate, and a Leader. While she may be best known as a Special Needs Mama to her 16-year old daughter, Mabry, behind the scenes she holds the hearts of her 2 rambunctious boys, 14-year-old Jack and 9-year-old Slater. In the midst of her helping all three of her kids find their voice and live into their giftings, Amy is also the Executive Director of Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding and Respite - a Therapeutic Community for Children and Adults with Special Needs. Today we will talk about her daughter’s diagnosis, the fears she faces when it comes to Mabry’s future, and why she decided to start sharing it all -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. We discuss the grief she has experienced throughout & she shares how others can help families with special needs.  She also shares about her work with Blue Sky & why they started The Abled Movement to help raise awareness and support. Amy is one of those people who walk

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with my friend, Hallie Graves. Hallie has had a passion for foster care since she was young and I loved getting to chat with her about where that passion was first ignited. In our conversation, Hallie shares about what the catalyst was for her to consider fostering as a single woman, trusting that she can’t mess up the plans that God has for her life, and how people reacted to her decision to become a foster parent. We also talk about how Hallie holds the tension so well between wanting what’s best for her kids even when it costs her heart dearly and what it’s like to give your heart over to a child knowing that you will have to eventually say goodbye. Hallie shares her insights on navigating self-care as a single mom and what it was like to put herself in a position where she needed help from those around her. Hallie is such an incredible mom who has so much knowledge on the foster care system and what it looks like to advocate for your children with an open hand. Get All The

Today’s conversation is with my friend, Natalie Green. Natalie is an incredible mom who entered into motherhood in a way that some might see as unique or out of the ordinary. In this episode, we talk about her experience with adoption & fertility treatments as a single woman, the support she received from her family, and how her faith has emboldened her to continue to take brave steps forward in all areas of life. We also talk a lot about her job through Africa New Life and how her decision to sponsor a child has added to her family. Natalie’s story is such an encouragement to all of us to walk forward fearlessly in the dreams that we have for our life. Get All The Links from Today’s Show Here   Connect with Taylor:Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter  

The first time I met Rocky Garza I knew I wanted to have him on to share his story and to dive a little bit deeper into the important work that he does. Rocky is a people expert and the founder of RockyGarza.com, Staff Retreat Co., and Wiser Sons. In this episode, we talk about Rocky’s story and what lead him to become an expert on people, marriage, and uncovering your values, strengths, and identifiers through identity mapping. We also talk about how the Lord stirred in his heart to create a space for men to connect and be vulnerable with one another which lead to the start of Wiser Sons and Why & Rye. Get All The Links from Today’s Show Here   Connect with Taylor:Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

On today’s episode, Whitney Peschel shares with us how losing her father to brain cancer at a young age was the first time she remembers feeling like she needed to be the one to hold everything together and how she carried that feeling into her adult life. Whitney shares what it was like to walk through anxiety and depression after the birth of her second child, her terrifying experience with intrusive thoughts during her pregnancy with their third child, and how those played into intimacy and connection in her marriage. She walks us through what has helped her battle the thoughts and her journey to find the right balance of medication and support to help her find her way through this journey. Our conversation is deep and I’m extremely thankful for her honesty. Get All The Links from Today’s Show Here Connect with Taylor:Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter