Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will

282 Turning Points For Our Growth

Stepping out of your comfort zone can feel frightening, from massive changes to the tiniest ones can feel like the world is ending if you are not stretching and growing as a person. Traveling, whether it be a new way home from work or halfway across the world, can impact your perception on life, as can being open to the thoughts and feelings of others, and accepting what you cannot change.

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Tom Jackobs discuss the importance of allowing yourself to stretch and change but also staying true to yourself and your values despite all these changes.

Highlights

• You need to set the stage for your stories.

• Perceptions of yourself change over time however it’s up to you to take accountability for your actions.

• Expanding your horizons is imperative to your growth and health as a human being let alone as being a storyteller.

• What do I have control over and what don’t I have control over?

Quotes

“That’s part of really good story telling, is I call it color and texture. Bringing color and texture to your story because a lot of times if I would have just said ‘It was an old school that I went to,’ then everyone would have a different image of what that school would be. Even if I said, ‘Oh yeah I was driving my car,’ you have a different idea of what that car is versus what I have a different idea of what I’m saying. However by adding in that color and texture of the story, like the smell of the wood and the recital hall, or the car example it was an old beat up BMW three series. Now everybody now knows what that image is and that draws the listener in because now you’re on the same page in terms of the details of the story.”

“Has my identity really changed? And certain elements I think have changed overtime, but I think that’s apart of society in terms of kind of forcing you into a title or an identity, but what’s deep inside of me, who I really am, that hasn’t changed but that perception of how it comes across to other people I think does change over time.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

When will you take a small step out of your comfort zone, into your stretch zone so that you can take more of those steps, gradually seeing all of the improvements and the changes and the satisfaction you get from doing those small steps out of your comfort zone. Those things that scare you a little bit will scare you less and less so that the bigger things that scare you now won’t feel so overwhelming when you’re ready to take that step.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Tom

To say Tom has been through a few things in his 30+ years of being an entrepreneur is an understatement. He’s had more failures than successes, but wouldn’t have it any other way. In 2017 he sold his fitness business which he owned for 9 years to become the Impact Pilot, helping entrepreneurs generate more income through better sales conversion strategy and using stories to sell.

Tom has a BFA Degree in Theatre from DePaul University in Chicago and holds his private pilot license for single-engine airplanes and is SCUBA certified. He has licenses for Land, Sea and Air, which will come in handy during the apocalypse.

Be sure to check out Tom’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as his website Here!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

281 Perfectly Imperfect

As we go through life it is absolutely imperative to our well-being as human beings to grow and keep an open mind, to search for the fulfillment that brings us peace despite the turbulence of life, be that through a career, education, spiritualism, or family, finding that peace is possible however hard work can only take you so far if you do not give yourself grace and love.

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Jana Wilson discuss the importance of taking care of ourselves and those we care for in order to attain our goals, and find peace in the knowledge that you can learn to love yourself and your progress.

Highlights

• Finding new aspects of yourself as you grow.

• Practicing critical thinking to become objective.

• What’s being said, what isn’t being said, and what needs to be said.

Quotes

“When you start walking down a really deep spiritual path of growth and evolution you’ve got to have Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, you have to have all your cares pretty much taken care of to really go on a journey, a deeper journey I feel.”

“We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What steps are you going to take to feed those six things we talked about? Particularly the emotional, the physical, and the spiritual well being. What can you do today to acknowledge something about yourself that you can love?

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Jana

Jana is an author, retreat leader and founder of the Emotional Healing System. She is a meditation teacher, hypnotherapist, and HeartMath Facilitator.  For the past two decades she has taught thousands internationally in group and private retreats.

Connect with Jana on her Facebook and Instagram! 

Be sure to check out Jana’s website Here, and Emotional Healing Retreat! 

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

280 Learning To Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

It’s one of the inevitabilities of life that we will be thrust into situations that make us uncomfortable and nervous, but it depends on how we handle these situations and help others through situations like our own that determine how we grow as individuals. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Kari Maribal discuss the importance of stretching and growing through challenging situations and how vital it is to our growth to extend a helping hand to others in similar situations so that they too can grow.

Highlights

• Everyone has different gifts, what matters is how you utilize them.

• Where you put your energy determines what thrives.

• Being a contribution to others first and overcoming fears in doing so.

Quotes

“I want to give them those tools and tips, so that they can use those strategies to help them with a variety of benefits.”

“It sounds maybe cliche but when you speak from your heart, and when you are communicating with people about common interests and so on, it’s beautiful the magic that can happen there. Versus trying to be somebody you’re not, worrying so much about coming across being interesting when you really just need to focus on being interested in what other people do.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

Kari and I are challenging you to do two things this week after listening to this podcast. One thing: Reach out to someone in your network that you haven’t talked to for awhile, be curious, ask them how they’re doing, with no ambition or motivation behind it, but just to check in with them. 

And the second thing: Do something that makes you a little uncomfortable that brings you into your stretch zone, maybe it’s something like planting something in your garden even though you’ve always told yourself you kill green things, or maybe it’s singing in the car while someone else is in the car. Do something that challenges you just enough that makes your heart rate go up, that makes you flush a little, and it makes a smile on your face.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Kari

Kari Mirabal, International keynote and TEDx speaker, author, and consultant shares innovative networking strategies to help professionals leverage the power of authentic connection.  Mirabal shares knowledge gathered from decades of experience and whose clients include Fortune 500 companies and executive leaders across the country and abroad.  Mirabal’s company develops corporate programs, products, and presentations that benefit those interested in earning new clients, increasing profits, and advancing careers through networking.

Connect with Kari on her Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!

Be sure to check out Kari’s website at Kari Mirabel!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

279 The Art of Conversation

Understanding what we can offer and what is needed in each situation is paramount to our success as individuals. While it is always great to connect and share our stories with others, we need to learn how to answer every question posed to us by either finding someone to teach us how or to learn what answer isn’t resonating with our audience and learning how to communicate more effectively with those around us.

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Brian Glibkowski discuss the importance of conversation in all its forms and how we utilize our strengths and tools in order to communicate with others in a way that is constructive, fulfilling, and progressive to our growth and goals.

Highlights

• We’re all on our own personal quests.

• Procedure is just as important as storytelling, it’s the context that defines which is needed.

• Honoring the questions others ask and offering details when needed.

Quotes

“I was focusing on questions but I wasn’t focusing on the answers they wanted and needed.”

“It took me a while to realize you need to ask and answer all of the questions and usually for important conversations you need balance and look at what people care about.”

“Even though we may have our strengths and preferences, to navigate the world effectively we have to be able to ask and answer all the questions.” 

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

How are you answering the questions that people are asking you? Are you considering all the ways that they are taking in your answers? Because if you’re not, that’s kind of the opposite of active listening.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Brian (from his LinkedIn)

Dr. Glibkowski is the pioneer of Answer Intelligence (AQ)™, an approach that takes a scientific and critical examination of answers in business and life. AQ is a new science of answers (based upon his academic research) that identifies six answer types (story, metaphor, theory, concept, procedure, action) that leaders can use to increase their influence. Read the book, Answer Intelligence: Raise Your AQ (April, 2021).

Here is what one executive said about AQ:

"I know I would have been a better leader with Answer Intelligence (AQ)" - Mike Soenke, Retired SVP and CFO of McDonald's USA

Learn more at www.RaiseYourAQ.com.

Dr. Glibkowski is CEO of Semplar Science, the company to commercialize his research. 

Connect with Brian on his LinkedIn! And be sure to check out his website Answer Intelligence get his book Here!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

278 Utilizing Your Natural Talents While Living With Intention 

Variety is the spice of life as the saying goes, and that also applies to the conversations we have with others. Through these important conversations that diversify our knowledge of others we can in turn learn about ourselves and the skills we can bring to any environment we find ourselves in.

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Sharon Seivert discuss the importance of finding people and places that compliment and help apply the natural talents that are unique to each individual in a constructive way that helps everyone flourish.

Highlights

• People are multidimensional and it’s important to have constructive conversations with them.

• Utilizing your gifts and talents to bring happiness and fulfillment to yourself.

• Having a sense of purpose to be devoted to but also to not be rigid and allowing yourself to be flexible to find what matters.

• Holding space so that another can heal and find their way.

Quotes

"God knows we need everybody to bring their gifts to the world now in the state of transition that we are in. This is the moment that we want to support everybody in doing this. To the listeners out there; get on with it because the world needs your gifts and you will be so happy and satisfied if you bring them." 

“It’s really extraordinary how the human spirit can recalibrate.”

“When you give a helping hand to someone they can do it, sometimes that’s all they need is just that reach out, a couple of tools, someone who believes in them, and some really practical stuff to do, and we can move that needle. And they can transform their lives, but they are doing it.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What will you do with some nugget that you took away from this conversation? What small step can you take to find your natural talent or if you already know what it is, what small step can you take tomorrow to start living it with intention?

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Sharon

Sharon Seivert serves as CEO of Core Coaching & Consulting, LLC and its non-profit sister organization, Core Learning Services, Inc. She also is the author of The Superpower of Balanced Leadership in Unbalanced Times, which is the fifth book in her Superpower of Balance series. 

For the past decade, Sharon and her international colleagues at Core Coaching & Consulting have guided senior leaders and business owners to grow their companies without burning out themselves (or the people who work for them). She uses the highly pragmatic, elegantly simple methodology described in her writings to help business leaders increase their confidence, master their thoughts and emotions, and develop strategies that are clear and effective at all levels of the organization. Sharon also partners with leaders to steadily implement these strategies in real-time, navigating past internal blind spots and external obstacles until they deliver a whole new level of measurable results.

In her capacity as leader of the non-profit Core Learning Services, Sharon brings these same teachings to teachers and children in North America, South America and Europe, with the goal of improving the practical life & skills of our future world citizens and leaders, while also providing helping them develop their own moral compass and purpose-driven happiness. As another way to pay-it-forward, Sharon hosts regular Core Community events during which she provides her services free to people all over the world. Sharon’s prior professional experience includes serving as CEO of a Group Health Plan, Vice President of a think-tank, and Director of a regional health facility. 

All the books Sharon has written have been enriched by the real-life experiences of thousands of clients, making these writing immediately useful; these include the following titles: 

(In the Superpower of Balance book series)

•        The Superpower of Balanced Leadership in Unbalanced Times

•        6 Steps to Leading Your Life and Work (from the Inside Out)

•        Prospering: 6 Steps for Spiraling Up to Great Wealth

•        SOS: Switch Off Stress - 101 Really Fast Ways to Switch Off Stress (6 Seconds to 6 Minutes)

•        The Balancing Act: Mastering 5 Elements of Success in Life, Work, and Relationship

(Other books)

•        Working from Your Core: Personal and Corporate Wisdom in a World of Change

•        Knowledge Leadership: The Art and Science of the Knowledge-based Organization (co-authored with Steven Cavaleri, Ph.D.)

Sharon has BAs in Music and Psychology (both summa cum laude) from the University of Minnesota. After leaving the university, she embarked on a pragmatic track of self-directed research and education, which continues to this day. 

Connect with Sharon on her LinkedIn, and Facebook!

Be sure to check out Sharon’s websites CORE Coaching & Consulting, and check out Core Learning Services, Inc to purchase her books!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

277 Stretch and Grow

Throughout life we are met with adversity, stagnation, and breaking points that make us contemplate what the next step in our journey should be. Sometimes that step is unsure and frightening, oftentimes we can’t even see where we are going, but if you keep moving and allow yourself room to bend, you will come to a better place. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Mark Reid discuss the importance of allowing oneself to stretch and try something new in order to grow and find peace and fulfillment in life. 

Highlights

• Sometimes you need to make a change in order to find your calling. Even if it’s a gradual change.

• We have to have a breaking point so that we make a significant change in our lives.

• Live your life the way you want to on your own terms. 

Quotes

“Sometimes you have to have a step back so that you can take two steps forward and realize ‘oh, I know I don’t want to do that, and so I’m really grateful for what I’m doing now.’”

“I think travel and education are the two most important things you can do in your life.” 

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What is one small thing that you would like to change about you, about what you do, about who you are, about how you react? Are you defensive and you want to change that? What is it that you want to change? It’s up to you.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Mark

Mark Reid is host of the Zen Sammich podcast and a maker of traditional handmade Japanese paper, called washi, where he lives in Yamaguchi, Japan. Before that he was an attorney, beginning his career as an Assistant District Attorney in New York. He’s also been a professor of English at three universities in Japan and a graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University in Religious Studies.

Connect with Mark on his LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook! 

Be sure to check out his podcast Zen Sammich!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

276 Finding Your Niche

Living in an age that is so polarized it is more important than ever to care for the communities we are a part of. Like the squirrel that stores a nut that sprouts into a sapling, it’s up to us and our agency to make a change not just for our community but for ourselves as well, because even a small change is still a change and all niches in our environment need to be filled. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Hauson Le discuss how the division within our communities can be changed through our actions and by maintaining a hopeful impact, despite how frightening and anxiety-inducing challenging such adversity can be.

Highlights

• Doing what you want even if you face adversity.

• Trying something new and unknown can sometimes lead to the best paths.

• Just focus on being happy and on what matters to you.

Quotes

“My mom raised me always saying “Just focus on being happy, it’s not about the money. Just be happy,  that is all I want for you, I’m proud of you if you’re happy.” and you know you can get into a bunch of psychology and that, but I just focused on fulfillment. That was the first thing I did. For me a career is all about fulfillment, and how do I be fulfillment throughout this journey.”

“We need to be able to imagine alternative outcomes and futures that can happen even when everything looks dark, even when everything looks bleak.” 

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What are your predictions for the future now? Are they positive? Is there something you need to change so that they become positive? And what are the two steps you can take tomorrow to change it so that your prediction shifts? 

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Hauson

Community empowerment through expanded agency is the thread that guides and connects Hauson’s experiences. He internalized his identity as a servant leader by creating leadership development opportunities for California State University Fullerton’s Leadership Scholar Program. His passion for service led him to AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community serving nonprofits that help community leaders align their cultural values, identity, and leadership.

As a professional futurist trained at the University of Houston’s M.S in Foresight Program, Hauson empowers leaders to embrace change by exploring new possibilities that ignite action today. His desire to expand foresight impact to larger communities created pathways to the world of local government as SGR’s Strategic Foresight Manager where he conducts foresight research, facilitates workshops, and speaks on emerging issues and insights.

Connect with Hauson on his Instagram, LinkedIn, and Email! Be sure to check out his website Futures Literacy!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

275 Staying In Alignment Despite Chaos and Negativity

Biases and skeptics exist in everything, however it’s how we deal with this negativity that defines who we are and how we are going to grow. How we address these perceptions and skepticisms is what defines who we are as individuals. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Crystal Whiteakre discuss how important it is to act with compassion and stay in alignment with your values even in the midst of chaos, or the perception of chaos.

Highlights

• How do you deal with Skeptics?

• Acknowledging that certain people won't give you the support you need and seeking it out.

• The perception of chaos in a room despite there being no chaos and working together to address perceptions using healthy communication.

Quotes

“Just pause. Start there. And in that pause that should give you the space to tune into your awareness. So when you're tuning into your awareness, what are you aware of around you that's happening, what are you aware of that's happening within you, and how you are being impacted or activated in any way- Or excited. Whatever that looks like. And that third piece is compassion, so whatever comes next after that pause and after you tune into your awareness, whatever comes out after that needs to be done with compassion even if it's just for yourself.”

“Give yourself compassion and do the same thing for other people.” 

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

Where will you disrupt bias in your life? How can you do this work to understand what your values are and making sure you’re in alignment with them with all of your actions and behaviors. Because as we talked about already throughout this podcast episode, if you are not acting within the values that you profess to have then you are not going to be satisfied with your relationships and you are going to find yourself not knowing why you’re dissatisfied and unhappy in your life. So go for it, figure this out, jot down some words to describe how you want to be known, and start to make sure that whatever actions you’re taking, the words you’re using are actually going to demonstrate those words.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Crystal Whiteaker

Crystal Whiteaker (pronouns: she/her) is an Inclusive Branding and Leadership Development and Consultant specializing in coaching and consulting for brands and leaders that care deeply about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Crystal brings over 15 years of creative, relational, process driven experience across multiple industries. She is a self-described "corporate trained, creative hippie” who puts a strong focus on core values to help people elevate their community connections to communicate and lead with clarity and confidence. Crystal is an advocate for leaders and organizations that provide resources and support for healing, particularly in relation to trauma. When she's not working, Crystal enjoys spending time at the beach, connecting with people, and exploring new places.

Fun fact: Crystal LOVES animals and will stop to show them affection any chance she gets. She is that person who will always ask to pet your fur-baby.

When you choose to work with Crystal Lily Creative, you’re helping to support organizations that provide resources for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities, as a portion of profits and services are donated annually. 

Be sure to buy a copy of Crystal’s book Brave Leadership is A Choice, and be sure to check out her website Crystal Lily Creative! 

Connect with Crystal on her LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

274 How Stories Shape Our Perception Of Self 

The stories we carry tend to shape us for as long as we carry them. Whether these stories are helpful or harmful, it is our perception of them as we go through life that changes our sense of self into either our authentic selves or a false self. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Amir Fathizadeh discuss the importance of authenticity, and modeling ideals that are in alignment with our authentic self for those around us and to create an environment where people can be empowered to become their own authentic selves.

Highlights

• Becoming the person you need to be despite not having that person modeled for you.

• The stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions and why it is so vital to unlearn these harmful behaviors. 

• We can’t protect ourselves or our loved ones from the world, which is why it’s so important to ensure that your loved ones and yourself have healthy supportive relationships and open lines of communication.

Quotes

“Being able to see something for themselves that they couldn't see before, and when they see it something new opens up. A new possibility opens up.”

“When you are coaching you really have to be in deep listening, and putting myself in the other person's shoes to really get their world. And sometimes I just ask, which way will be most productive, or the best way to route this, because in coaching you don't really have a specific direction to go and it's all inquiry. And it's amazing, something always comes to me when I put myself there and I always have the answer.” 

“When you're authentic there is no pretense, there's no attachment, this is to know who you are, you are free to talk, you're free to express, you're free to be yourself.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What stories are you holding onto that are creating negative patterns in your life? And who is in your life that you can share those stories with where they can ask you those questions, maybe to reframe them and also to find the evidence that contradicts the cycle? I hope you find your story today and make a change tomorrow.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

Mentioned in This Episode 

Lee Keylock Episode

Narrative 4

About Amir

Amir Fathizadeh, author, speaker and program leader who has led life changing programs in North America and Canada to thousands of people.  He devotes his unique approach and methodology with a commitment to make a difference for business owners, managers and CEOs.  Amir is a certified professional business coach, personal and life coach and is also certified in emotional intelligence.  Amir has delivered programs in Leadership, Relationships, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, 6 Myths, and How to win in business with great rate of success for the last 20 years.  With his extensive background, Amir is able to guide CEOs, business owners and managers discover their blind spots and take their businesses to a new level.  Amir’s focus has been on Communication, Relationships and Leadership and often speaks at the high schools, training and empowering students to overcome their views and how to become a better leader in their family, school, social life and the leaders of tomorrow.

Amir has been board member for many organizations.  His book Gossip, The Road to Ruin has been receiving lots of attention:

Stop the spread! Gossip…..Amir Fathizadeh, prominent personal and business improvement expert discusses how to stop gossip before it builds up a head of steam and sows its seeds of destruction. A genius on the topic, his methods works wonders in fostering an atmosphere of positive interpersonal communication within business environment, families, circles of friends, social groups and organizations.  His new book, Gossip, The Road to Ruin is a must read if you want to know how to end the vicious cycle.

Check out Amir’s website Coaching Collaborative!

Connect with Amir through his LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

273 The Hero’s Journey

Heroes and dragons can take many different shapes, and it is vital to remember that we are the heroes of our own stories and that it is our duty to fight the dragons in whatever form they take. Only through these trials can we learn and grow into who we want to be. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Nettie Owens discuss the importance of our personal journeys and mastering ourselves so that we can become better leaders for the people around us. 

Highlights

• Be proud of your growth and the growth you inspire others to accomplish.

• It’s your job to be a better person for the people you lead.

• Be aware of your emotions and self reflect to see where you are getting in your own way.

• Everything starts with you and if you aren’t taking care of yourself, you cannot be the best version of yourself.

Quotes

“I really like this idea of self mastery over self care. I think self care has a different tone and feel to it even though we might be describing some of the same things. When I see self care, it’s been used in such a way these days it elicits massages and bath tubs, and that’s great but what we’re talking about is sort of this full scope of your wellness, your well being, your relationships, and your professional development. The full package and how can you be that best version of yourself and bring that to the role in your company.”

“They don’t always realize what that means and what weight it carries, that they are the hero of the story and that they are required to go through the trials and tribulations that are part of the hero’s journey, and to face the dragons both physical and emotional, and that their job is to take this learning and bring it back to the village -back to the employees- and guide them.” 

“No matter what, we’re all a leader somewhere.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

When you think about your hero’s journey and the role you play in other people’s hero’s journeys, how do you want to be remembered? What are the things you want people to know about you at the end of the day and how are your actions and your behaviors aligning with what you want people to know about you?

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Nettie

Nettie Owens, CPO-CD® is an internationally recognized and award-winning expert, author and sought-after speaker on accountability and productivity. Owens’ methodologies are brain-based, researched and backed by science. Through training, speaking, coaching, writing, and more than 100 video interviews on “What Businesses Need To Know Right Now,” She brings over 19 years worth of ideas on productivity, accountability, leadership, and entrepreneurship to the community and beyond. She seeks to create an environment of success where all voices are heard.

Text FREEDOM to 411321 for a guide from Nettie called “How To Succeed In Business For High Achievers”!

Check out Nettie’s website Sappari Group! As well as Momentum CEO Network, and be sure to get her book What Businesses Need To Know. 

Connect with Nettie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

272 The Importance of Differences 

As we grow and meet people we come to find that how we portray ourselves and our stories is immensely important to how we are perceived and how we build connections within and outside of our communities. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Jeanette Jergens discuss the importance of our stories and cultures, even from county to county. Without differences and uniqueness among one another there wouldn’t be many differing stories and that would be quite boring.

Highlights

• You don’t waste good in any form, even if you can’t see it at first.

• The difference of cultures and stories even in our own country.

• Even if your lifestyles are different, you can still be centered with your values and the value of the friendship you share.

Quotes

“To hear her struggles and my struggles are so different, but yet they’re the same.”

“To know that something that you do and your lifestyle makes a difference.”

“Sometimes we get locked in our worlds and, like, I compare my world to a baseball. It’s kind of beat up after a long time, but yet kids will come and pick it up, and it becomes a gem to them. And then you know sometime you’ll be put on a shelf for someone to treasure.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What stories are you telling that you don’t even realize how meaningful they can be to others? What stories are you telling to represent your life, your beaten up baseball, so that others can value them and treasure those stories?

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Jeanette

Jeanette Jergens is a furrier and rancher in Shelby Montana who knows firsthand what hard work and determination is. After discovering her passion for being a furrier, which is when one is creating costumes or heirlooms out of fur, Jeanette has made not only a living but priceless connections between other people from all over the country. After meeting Sarah at the Montana Farmers Union Women's Conference, her stories had such an impact on the Chief Storymaker that Sarah had to have Jeanette on the podcast.

Be sure to check out Jeanette’s Instagram!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

271 There Is Still Room For You

It’s human nature to envy another for what they can do or bring to the table, however it is the next thought of appreciation and acknowledgment that you also have important and valuable skills that matter. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Lynn Rivest discuss the importance of utilizing our most valuable tool, our humanity, to not only propel our own work forward but to inspire others to do the same.

Highlights

• You can love and value something without having to be in it.

• We don’t know how important anything is until time passes.

• What will make this day matter to you?

Quotes

“You don’t have to make it something more, it can just be what it is.”

“You can’t grow when you’re trying to control something.” 

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

When you think about the purpose in your work, and why you do what you do, do you need to spend some time decluttering? I know I do.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Lynn

Lynn is the founder of minimalist biz where she works 1:1 with micro business owners to help them work on what matters most so they can create a mighty micro business that fuels the life they want for the long term.

She was a digital strategist and marketer for over 20 years and has coached hundreds of online entrepreneurs to help them grow their online businesses and she was the right-hand to a founder for 6 years scaling the business from $100k to multiple-seven figures.

She's a single mom of 2 who will both be in university this fall and that freaks her out a bit.

She considers herself a cozy minimalist - Experiences over stuff but you can never have too many pillows, blankets, and books.

Be sure to check out Lynn’s website Minimalist Biz!

Connect with Lynn on her LinkedIn and Instagram! 

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

270 Mindset Agility

Changing, growing, self reflecting, and adapting is an integral part of life. If we don’t hone these skills we will inevitably miss out on the amazing opportunities life has to offer, whether it be a trip to a country you need to learn a language to explore, or meeting new people and listening to their stories. Our agility and flexibility in any circumstance is what determines whether we grow or stagnate. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Wendy Ryan discuss the importance of the aforementioned skills and how exemplifying these traits can inspire others to follow a similar path that will make way for similar healthy and happy habits. 

Highlights

• External advice is invaluable when given in a constructive and compassionate manner.

• Hold up the mirror in a way that is safe and nonjudgmental. 

• There’s nothing wrong with being vulnerable, honest, trusting and making progress.

Quotes

“Being humble, being forgiving of yourself and your own learning curve, and every place is different and nuances matter.”

“I’ve also found as a practitioner that it can sometimes do more to disrupt, in a healthy way, some of the energy that’s going on and help us reset and remind us that we’re all human and that some of this frankly is funny. And sometimes when we do that it’s like we can take that big scary monster who seems 15 feet tall and all the sudden, no it’s only the size of one of those spiders in Australia, we can deal with that.” 

“This will relate, in part, to the identities we hold.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What kind of healthy self reflection can you do today to make yourself a better leader no matter where you sit.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Wendy

Wendy Ryan (she/her/hers), MHROD, is the CEO of Kadabra. With over 25 years of combined experience in

human resources, organizational development, nonprofit leadership and executive coaching Wendy has

partnered with hundreds of individuals and organizations throughout the U.S. helping front-line

through C-suite leaders and board members achieve success as individuals and in teams.

Wendy is the author of the award-winning bestseller, Learn Lead Lift: How to Think, Act, and Inspire Your Way to Greatness and has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo News! Business Digest, Authority Magazine, CEO Magazine and Thrive Global. Wendy is also an active mentor, strategic advisor and angel investor in early stage, BIPOC, LGBTQ++ and women-led companies and an advocate for expanding diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the investor and business ecosystem.

Check out Wendy’s website We Are Kadabra, and be sure to get a copy of her book Learn, Lead, Lift.

Connect with Wendy on her LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

269 It Starts With Belief In Yourself

Inspiration and independence often go hand in hand as we go through life, often making us feel that we are alone while trying to claim our own personal slice of life. However to try and do this alone is not only a daunting task but can nearly be impossible, which is why finding community and a helping hand can be the defining factor between success or failure.

In this episode Sarah Elkins and the esteemed Jenn Donahue discuss how important it is to find community and self belief as we go through life, in doing so we inspire those around us and make the road of life less lonely and easier for others.

Highlights

• Adapting to uncontrollable circumstances and finding joy in them. 

• Find a mentor for whatever it is you want to learn and be passionate about, go to different ones until you find what resonates with you. 

• Striving to inspire someone so that the next person’s journey will be easier.

Quotes

“I’m just one of those really headstrong or independent people that just sort of throws myself into something, which is not necessarily the right thing to do and now I tell people, “Go find a mentor.”.” 

“It’s so much easier to believe that you can be someone whenever you’ve actually seen someone in that position before.” 

“There are others that are like you. You don’t have to be an island, go find the other islands and make an archipelago.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What evidence are you going to start pointing to that shows that you are resilient, that you are a badass? Collect a couple of stories tonight, the moment that you think about it, anytime something pops into your head, something you’ve accomplished, write it down. Collect the evidence so that that belief in yourself really starts to solidify.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

Mentioned in this Podcast

Happier Hour with Einstein

Imposter Syndrome TEDx 

About Jenn

Jenn Donahue PhD is a retired US Navy Captain and former Commodore for an 1,800 personnel Regiment. She is also a civil engineer who works on large scale, high profile geotechnical projects. Over her 27-year military career, Jenn has built a bridge across the Euphrates River in the midst of the Iraq war, commanded an 800-personnel Battalion in Afghanistan, and constructed combat outposts in the middle of deserts filled with insurgents.

Jenn has led earthquake and tsunami reconnaissance missions in places like Samoa and Japan; designed the seismic plans for a bridge over the Panama Canal; and built roads by blasting and drilling in the coldest climes of Ketchikan. Astonishingly, Jenn has even served as the seismology expert at no fewer than five nuclear power plants.

Along the way she mentored scores of young leaders. Today Jenn has founded JL Donahue Engineering, Inc. and Dare to Rise. She also lectures at UC Berkeley and UCLA.

Connect with Jenn on LinkedIn and Instagram!

Be sure to check out her website at JennDonahue.com!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Interested in No Longer Virtual? Check out the details and register at elkinsconsulting.com/nlv-home

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

268 How Our Authenticity And Identity Shifts Over Time

Have you ever made a decision that conflicted with beliefs you once had? It’s always a troubling feeling when change comes around, we question ourselves, our intelligence, our society, our parents, and everything that shaped us into who we are. Which is why it is so important to not just ourselves but to other people in our lives to remain fluid and open minded. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Asha Dahya discuss how our authenticity is always changing and evolving with us, and how it is incredibly important to embrace this portion of our humanity and learn to grow and accept ourselves and our own changes.

Highlights

• Authenticity is about being comfortable in your skin and values regardless of how uncomfortable the situation you’re in is. 

• Finding what keeps you passionate. Finding your what and why.

• Amplifying the stories that matter.

Quotes

“Anytime I got to do things like that, talk about this is how I used to think and now this is where I am and this is what I’m doing with my passion. It made me feel much more empowered because I knew I had a goal, rather than “oh I just changed my mind on something.”.”

“But I think once we give space for us to make those decisions and also permission to fail, it’s okay to fail and make the wrong decisions and work out how to get back on track. All of those things, we deserve to have in our lives.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

If you had an opportunity to amplify a specific story from your life, that you know other people have experienced and would find great comfort and inspiration in, what would that story be? 

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Asha

Asha Dahya is a TEDx Speaker, author and producer with nearly 2 decades of experience creating content for major broadcast and digital platforms including FOX, ABC, MSN, and MTV. In 2020 Asha released her first book titled ‘Today’s Wonder Women: Everyday Superheroes Who Are Changing The World’ where she interviewed 50 women and girls from around the world.

Asha is also the Founder and Editor in Chief of GirlTalkHQ.Com: a daily female empowerment blog promoting women’s voices stories.

Passionate about the intersections of female representation, reproductive justice, and religion, Asha is currently in production on two documentary projects about abortion. You can see more of her work at AshaDahya.com.

Connect with Asha on her Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram!

And be sure to check out Asha’s website at Asha Dahya, Girl Talk, and her book Today’s Wonder Women! As well as the Ted Talk she was in!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Interested in No Longer Virtual? Check out the details and register at elkinsconsulting.com/nlv-home

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

267 Everybody Needs a Coach 

It’s normal to need help, we aren’t born knowing everything especially when it comes to ourselves. We are constantly changing and evolving, so turning to someone who specializes in one field to help you understand yourself better should be welcomed and sought out when we need guidance.

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Annette Taylor discuss strengths and weaknesses as well as how best to maximize one's ability in any field they occupy as well as how to use even weaknesses to the advantage. 

Highlights

• Everyone needs help understanding and utilizing their strengths and weaknesses 

• Observe not Absorb

• Leave room in conversations for the other person to participate, it’s a two way street.

Quotes

“I kind of pride myself on not being a perfectionist.”

“With the empathy, because I think I can be confusing sometimes, I might be seeing it from the other person’s view and then the person doesn’t know what my view is.”

About Annette from her LinkedIn

I am full-time mom who has re-entered the workforce on a part-time basis. I have worked in customer service, as a preschool teacher, an administrative assistant, and as a property inspector. I have a M.A. in Educational Psychology (emphasis in Early Childhood Education) and am comfortable in front of an audience. After 5 plus years of personal research, I put together a website about human behavior based on mix of biology and philosophy. Feel free to check it out! www.cavedwellerclub.com

Connect with Annette on her LinkedIn!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Interested in No Longer Virtual? Check out the details and register at elkinsconsulting.com/nlv-home

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview! 

 Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What assessments have you taken that have changed how you see yourself? And have assessments simply confirmed what you know about yourself? Have you taken it to the next step of understanding maybe where you're getting in your own way, at relationships, at home, and at work? I'd love to hear what you're doing with your assessments and what experiences you've had when you've had coaches to walk you through them. Comment on my blog post associated with this podcast at Elkins Consulting.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

266 Storytelling and the Science of Community

More often than not storytelling and science coincide with the importance of humanity's success as a civilization and a species. Our inherent desires to know and be known, as well as to be loved and to love are often cited as where our civilization began. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and the accomplished scientist Jens Madsen discuss the importance of science and storytelling, and how the two more often than not go hand in hand to convey emotions and experiences to your audience.

Highlights

• What purpose does music and similar arts serve in your life? What lights you up?
• Community in individuality. Comfort in the company of others who also feel like they don’t fit in.
• Losing the attention of an audience, or vice versa, is not a sign of being a bad narrator or audience. 
• The importance of finding a place and people where you can safely discuss emotions and topics relating to them. 

Quotes

“We’re humans, that’s what we are and we’re not that different.”

“I’m so affected by the emotional state of my surroundings, I just generally want everyone to be happy and feel good, how can I do that? One way of course is the story of how similar we are, or what it is that sort of somehow attracts our attention and what effects does that have on us?”

“This idea that we’re alone and we’re these people that are so different from everybody else, and like “I’m the only one having these thoughts and these feelings.” Like, no! We all have them, let’s just talk about it, this is totally fine to talk about.”

Dear Listeners, it's now your turn:

What story have you been telling that may have been creating a negative perception about you? And what stories can you share that will demonstrate the beauty of the people and the environment around you? What resources do you need to make sure that you are telling the right stories and listening to the music that will connect you with the people around you? 

And, as always, thank you for listening. 

About Jens

Jens works as a cognitive neuroscientist at the City College of New York where his work spans the intersection between cognitive psychology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Jens is originally from Denmark where he was trained in computer science and artificial intelligence, before he moved to New York City to pursue a career in neuroscience. Now he works on both developing techniques that measure attention when we engage with narratives (e.g. podcasts, movies or music) using neural, behavioral and physiological signals. Recently this work has led to investigating what it is in narratives that attracts our attention.

Connect with Jens on his Twitter and LinkedIn as well as his website at jensmadsen.com!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Interested in No Longer Virtual? Check out the details and register at elkinsconsulting.com/nlv-home

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview! 

265 Driving Change

With the hustle and bustle of today’s culture it is easy to forget that we are all human with limitations and basic needs, which is why it is so important to remind yourself that it’s okay to take a moment for yourself when you need it.

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Kari Gran discuss the importance of being gracious with yourself especially during times of change and healing.

Highlights

• Change will happen, will you drive it or let it drive you?
• Listen to your body, schedule maintenance for yourself before your body schedules it for you.
• Learn and understand your reactions to past experiences to make better future choices.

Quotes

“If I don’t listen to myself it’s going to be a problem.”

“It's critical having the ability to pivot and be adaptable to the situation and really not getting too terribly attached to the outcome.” 

About Kari

Starting a company from scratch in a fiercely competitive industry may not seem like an expected or safe mid-career pivot, but that is exactly what Kari Gran did.

At 29, Kari was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Disease. Both are autoimmune forms of thyroid disease. Because of this, Kari started looking into everything from what she ate to what she put on her face. This led her to begin formulating products that fit her skincare needs.

Her friend Lisa had the big idea to turn Kari’s products into a business, seeing a need for women that wasn’t really being met in a way that felt authentic or truth-telling. Or, plainly put, calling BS on the beauty industry. As co-owners, Kari formulates the line and oversees operations and Lisa’s the CEO and keeps the business humming along.

For 11 years, Kari Gran Skincare has been thriving in the world of clean skincare. The company is built around a small number of essential, oil-based products that they personally researched, developed, and tested. 

Connect with Kari on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! And be sure to check out her website at karigran.com!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Interested in No Longer Virtual? Check out the details and register at elkinsconsulting.com/nlv-home

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview! 

264 A Practical WOTY: Practice

When we are trying to make changes in ourselves and our daily lives, sometimes it can feel like we aren’t making progress despite seeing everyone else around us doing so. When we notice that we are comparing ourselves to others, it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate if our changes are being made in a way that benefits and leans into our skill sets.

In this episode Sarah Elkins explores the idea of Word Of The Year (WOTY) and how it’s a conscious choice to learn and grow, as well as how important it is to make sure that your WOTY is honed to your skillset as you work to better yourself. 

Highlights

• Self reflection without discipline can become a damaging internal dialogue or deflection from personal responsibility.
• It’s okay to not be as far into your progress as other people are, sometimes you need to approach things in a way that caters to your skillset. 
• Find what helps you most and is most useful to your specific skill set, growth is not one size fits all.

Quotes

“The realization that, yes indeed, I do have a word. That word is practice. If I’m going to do something, take on any kind of personal growth exercise, it has to be action oriented, highly practical and something I can sustain. It has to be approachable for me, within my capacity, and not something I have to fight to make work.”

“Practice. The word gave me a powerful shift in how I frame the activities of my days. Practice means humility, I know I can improve in everything I do, even the things I know I do really well.”

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Interested in No Longer Virtual? Check out the details and register at elkinsconsulting.com/nlv-home

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview! 

263 Resilience Needs Community

It’s only human to think we can do everything by ourselves, we want to be independent and prove to ourselves that we can power through any trial. However at some point there will come something that we can’t do on our own and when we finally reach out we will find that our trials are easier to approach and handle with a community to support us.

In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Amberly Lago discuss how unpredictable and tumultuous life can be and how important it is to reach out to those who are there to support us and to find strength and comfort in our community, instead of trying to do everything alone.

Highlights

• FLOW: Frequency, Love, Optimism, Wonder.
• Resilience doesn't mean doing it all by yourself. 
• Grit and Community grows Resilience. 

Quotes

“I lived for so long in that fight or flight and now I want to live in flow.”

“Your impact is only as big and strong as you are healthy.” 

About Amberly

Amberly Lago is a Peak Performance Coach, TEDx Speaker, Podcaster, and a leading expert in

the field of resilience and transformation. She is the best-selling author of “True Grit and Grace”

and the founder of “UNSTOPPABLE Life Mastermind.”

Through her book, coaching methods, and masterminds she has curated unique tools to teach

others how to tap into their superpower of resilience and elevate their lives and businesses.

Amberly has most recently been featured on NBC’s The Today Show, The Doctors, Hallmark,

and featured in magazines such as Shape, Fit Pregnancy, Yahoo, Forbes, USA Today, LA Style,

Health Magazine, Keynote Speaker Magazine and Disability Magazine.

Connect with Amberly on her LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! And be sure to check out her websites here at Amberly Lago and here at Unstoppable Life Mastermind!

About Sarah

"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."

In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.

My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.

The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!

Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.

Interested in No Longer Virtual? Check out the details and register at elkinsconsulting.com/nlv-home

Be sure to check out the Job Interview Storytelling Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!