Producing with Presence: How storytelling helps connect the world - Michelle St. John (Producer)
Release Date: 08/05/2025
Project Connection
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info_outlineIn this powerful episode of Project Connection, host Coco Plank sits down with Michelle St. John, acclaimed 60 Minutes producer, for a soulful conversation on storytelling, presence, and purpose. Michelle reflects on the early family dynamics and rural roots 🐴 that shaped her love for clarity, order, and deep connection. She shares pivotal moments from her journalism career and reveals how confidence, manifestation ✨, and inner peace 🕊 helped her pursue big dreams in high-pressure environments. Together, Coco and Michelle explore the quiet strength learned from horses, the healing power of presence in anxious times, and the responsibility we all carry as global citizens 🌍. This episode is a beautiful reminder of how empathy, awareness, and storytelling can help us better understand ourselves—and each other.
✨ Takeaways
🗂️ Being organized helps in multitasking and maintaining inner peace.
👧🏼 Childhood experiences shape our perspectives and responsibilities.
🎙️ Pursuing a career in journalism requires confidence and determination.
🌾 Life lessons from farm life instill a sense of responsibility.
🐴 Horses can provide therapeutic benefits and teach valuable life lessons.
🧘♀️ Anxiety can be managed by focusing on the present moment.
🌍 Awareness of global issues is essential for responsible citizenship.
📚 Storytelling in journalism can foster empathy and understanding.
🔍 Exposure to different perspectives broadens our understanding of the world.
💞 Connection and love are fundamental to solving societal problems.
Chapters
00:00 The Pursuit of Order and Organization
05:06 The Journey from Farm Life to Journalism
10:24 Building Confidence Through Responsibility
16:02 The Role of Nature in Mental Well-being
21:10 The Importance of Awareness in Journalism
26:37 Empathy Through Storytelling
32:05 The Power of Connection and Understanding