What's Your Story? Podcast
What’s Your Story?
In “What’s Your Story,” Daughter-Father duo hosts Jaime Marco & Stan Brown, invite you on a captivating journey through the lives of everyday individuals. From all walks of life to those overcoming adversity, each episode offers a rich tapestry of human experience.
Tune in to discover:
- Diverse Perspectives: Explore a myriad of life experiences and perspectives, as guests from all walks of life share their unique stories and insights.
- Resilience and Triumph: Witness the power of resilience as guests recount their journeys from adversity to triumph, inspiring listeners to overcome their own challenges.
- Empathy and Connection: Experience the profound connections that emerge from storytelling, as listeners empathize with the struggles and celebrate the triumphs of each guest, fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience.
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In “What’s Your Story,” Father-Daughter Duo hosts Jaime Marco & Stan Brown, invite you on a captivating journey through the lives of everyday individuals. From all walks of life to those overcoming adversity, each episode offers a rich tapestry of human experience.
Tune in to discover:
Diverse Perspectives: Explore a myriad of life experiences and perspectives, as guests from all walks of life share their unique stories and insights.
Resilience and Triumph: Witness the power of resilience as guests recount their journeys from adversity to triumph, inspiring listeners to overcome their own challenges.
Empathy and Connection: Experience the profound connections that emerge from storytelling, as listeners empathize with the struggles and celebrate the triumphs of each guest, fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience.
Join Jaime & Stan as they uncover the extraordinary tales that shape our world, one captivating story at a time. Subscribe now and embark on an unforgettable journey of inspiration and discovery.
In this heartfelt and joy-filled holiday episode, Jaime and Stan sit down with Sepi Ackerman, nonprofit founder and community champion behind Holiday House SRQ — an organization transforming how children in Title I schools experience the holidays.
What began as a simple school PTO project quickly became a powerful movement rooted in dignity, choice, and generosity. Sepi shares how Holiday House empowers children — many living at or below the poverty line — to shop for their own loved ones, free of charge, and experience the pride of being the giver.
From sneaker drives and paid-off lunch debt to winter wonderlands built inside classrooms, this episode is a reminder that the most meaningful gifts aren’t things — they’re moments of being seen, valued, and believed in.
KEY TOPICS COVERED
- Growing up with a family mantra of giving back
- Moving from Atlanta to Sarasota and building roots through schools
- The origin story of Holiday House — from PTO project to nonprofit
- Serving Title I schools and understanding unmet student needs
- Empowering children to shop for loved ones at no cost
- Why Holiday House focuses on experience over material value
- The logistics behind serving 2,500+ students across five schools
- Volunteer engagement and one-to-one student pairing
- Sneaker drives, uniform closets, and paying off school lunch debt
- Community partnerships with police, faith groups, and teens
- The emotional impact of making children feel seen and valued
- Scaling responsibly while keeping overhead low
- Redefining holiday giving through dignity, choice, and care
MEMORABLE QUOTES
- “It’s not about the presents. It’s about investing time into the student.”
- “Holiday House is really the front door — behind it are deeper unmet needs.”
- “If we can make one child feel seen and valued, then it’s worth it.”
- “They get to be the giver — and that’s incredibly empowering.”
- “That smile when they walk into the room? That’s the fuel for next year.”
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Where to listen & watch:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/6aj0LamBVSA
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-your-story/id1768048076
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFWnedfyylxVs5vJrD8tY
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c4c493e-e2f2-4b4b-bfd3-52174caeaf7c/whats-your-story-with-jaime-stan
Connect with Sepi Ackerman:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sepi-ackerman
Website: https://www.holidayhousesrq.org
If this episode helped you rethink what success looks like, subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Your support helps us share more powerful stories like Sepi’s.
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JaimeSpeaks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaimeMarcoSpeaks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeamarco
Website: https://www.jaimemarco.com
Got feedback or a guest recommendation? Email us at connect@jaimemarco.com
Interest In Being A Guest On The
'What's Your Story?' Podcast?
We believe that every story is unique, and there are no specific requirements or judgments here—just a platform to share the amazing stories of the incredible humans who make up our world.
