87: Inner Dragons and Mirror Moments | Erin’s Story of Authentic Joy

"The most important part of living is knowing who you are."How do we distinguish between the life we are "supposed" to live and the one that actually belongs to us? In this episode of Tales of the Town, we explore the heavy cost of people-pleasing and the relief of finally telling the truth. We follow a journey from a marriage built on external validation to a life centered on authentic joy and human connection. This is a storytelling podcast dedicated to real stories and personal stories about finding the courage to listen to your own voice when the world expects you to stay quiet.About the GuestIn this episode, we’re joined by Erin Poredos, a coach and community builder who founded The Joy Tribe and Date on Purpose. After navigating a short-lived marriage and a deep sense of self-loss, Erin shifted her focus to helping others rediscover their personal values and build meaningful connections outside of digital apps.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Erin's Story06:34 The problem with modern dating09:36 Date on Purpose13:11 When your body knows before your mind does19:39 Joy as a practice27:06 Finding your Inner Child31:01 Life as a video game"At some point, your curiosity is going to be bigger than your fear."This episode is for you if...You have ever felt like you were living your life to satisfy someone else's opinion.You are navigating the burnout of modern dating and looking for deeper, more intentional connection.You feel a "gap" between what you are currently doing and what you feel called to do.You want practical ways to reconnect with play and joy in your daily routine.Tales of the Town is more than a podcast—it is a monthly storytelling night based in Windsor, Ontario. It is a space designed for the community to come together to share a story or simply witness one. Whether you are ready to speak or just want to listen, there is a seat for you. Share a story or witness one. A space where every voice has a place.LinksEvent Tickets: Tales of the Town (https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/tales-of-the-town-4699223)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesofthetownca/Erin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperfectlyhumanwitherin https://www.instagram.com/dateonpurpose.co/UPCOMING EVENT! Date on Purpose (Ages 45 - 60)| Walkerville Brewery | May 8th 2026 Date on Purpose (Events & Tickets) - https://linktr.ee/dateonpurpose.coWebsite: https://www.thejoytribeco.ca/#TalesOfTheTown #StorytellingPodcast #RealStories #PersonalStories #CreativeCommunity #WindsorOntario #WindsorEvents #WindsorEssex #YQG #PodcastCommunity #TheJoyTribe #DatingOnPurpose #SelfDiscovery