124. If You Won't Choose, the Choice Will Be Made For You (Part 2 of 3) : Reclaim
Release Date: 02/04/2026
124. If You Won't Choose, the Choice Will Be Made For You (Part 2 of 3) : Reclaim
Reframe to Create
In Episode 123, we talked about Reveal—the courage it takes to finally look at what’s already shaping your behavior, your decisions, and your results. Today, we move into Part 2: Reclaim. Because once you can see your narrative identity, you don’t get to stay neutral anymore. Not choosing… is still choosing. And that choice always comes with consequences. In this episode, I explore why reclaiming your narrative identity is fundamentally about making intentional choices—especially as teams and organizations that want to create something new, meaningful, and lasting. In this...
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123: What You Won't See Will Kill You (Part 1 of 3) : Reveal
Reframe to Create
It’s time for us to leave our ostrich ways behind. In Part 1 of this three-part series, I’m calling us in to stop avoiding the things we don’t want to see. Because what we refuse to look at doesn’t disappear. It quietly works against us—undermining our creativity, momentum, strategy, and our ability to create real impact together. This episode is about revealing your narrative identity: making the invisible visible, giving voice to what’s been assumed, and naming what’s already shaping (and sabotaging) what you’re trying to build. In this episode, I explore: Why “not...
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122: It All Starts With and Goes Back to Who You Are
Reframe to Create
It all starts with and goes back to who you are. Not just who you are as an individual, but who you are together. Your team. Your organization. Your movement. If you’re stuck. If progress feels slow or painfully circular. If you’re working hard but not moving forward sustainably… Chances are, it’s not a strategy problem. It’s not a talent problem. It’s not a goal-setting or execution problem. It’s an identity problem. In this episode, I unpack why so many teams end up in what I call Spinsville—endless conversations, competing perspectives, and lots of motion with very...
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121: You Don’t Have Imposter Syndrome: The Lie, the Trap, and the Reframe to Claim Instead
Reframe to Create
I’m done, y’all. It’s time to drop the idea that you have imposter syndrome for good. In this episode, I’m not helping you “fix” imposter syndrome. I’m helping you challenge and discard the entire idea. You’ll learn where this concept came from, why it doesn’t serve you, and how to understand your feelings without pathologizing your humanity. We explore: The real definition of “imposter” (and why it’s NOT you) How your environment might actually be the culprit The history behind the “imposter syndrome” label Inner Blocks (GAILs) and how to reframe your...
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120: From Storytelling to Sense-Making: How Teams Build Meaning Together | David Hutchens
Reframe to Create
If you’ve ever walked into a team meeting or strategy session and felt like the stories being shared weren’t shifting anything…this episode is your reframe. Today I’m talking with David Hutchens, storyteller, author, organizational consultant, and creator of some of my absolute favorite tools for leaders who want to use narrative to build alignment in their teams. David has worked with global organizations to help them move from merely telling stories to making meaning together, and that’s exactly what we dive into today. David breaks down why: Storytelling is...
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119: The Secret to Storytelling and Data: One. Many. Stat.
Reframe to Create
Are you ready to unlock the secret of storytelling and data? If you are, I’m ready to share it with you so you can finally learn how to use data to tell a powerful story and how to tell a story that leverages the right data. In this episode, I’m sharing with you the two reframes that have absolutely transformed the way I think about data and storytelling. These are reframes I now share with leaders because they change everything about how you show up in front of a room. You’ll hear why you are the storyteller (yes, you, not your slides, not your deck, not your one-pager), and...
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118: Reframing Strategy Through the Power of Collective Story | Brett Davidson
Reframe to Create
Picture it. You’re about to dive into yet another strategy planning session with your team. You’ve got the flip charts, the markers, the frameworks, the best intentions… and a sinking feeling that this is going to end up just like last time—disconnected, circular, and unclear. Somewhere along the way, you’ve probably heard that storytelling can help. But not so fast. My guest today, Brett Davidson, is here to turn that idea on its head. He’s the founder and principal of Wingseed, where he helps foundations and nonprofits around the world use narrative, storytelling, listening,...
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117: From "Me" to "We": The Beginning of Reframe to Create 2.0
Reframe to Create
Have you ever been part of creating something beautiful with others? Maybe it was a class project, a community event, or a team effort at work where everyone came together to bring one vision to life. When that happens, when everyone is aligned and moving toward a shared purpose, something extraordinary is created. But when that shared story breaks down, so does the ability to create together. Misaligned stories create competing identities and chaos, even among the most talented people. That’s why it’s time for a new conversation. For over four years, Reframe to Create has been about...
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116: How to Own What You Create (Even When You Work for Someone Else)
Reframe to Create
I bet I know one of the biggest mistakes you’re making right now. And I’m not even trying to shame you. You mean well. But it’s a mistake nonetheless. You’re creating — on your job, in your side hustle, or in your collaborations — but not even thinking about owning what you create. Most people don’t. We’ve been trained to think that being a “team player” means being invisible. That being helpful means erasing ourselves. That collaboration means disappearing. But that’s not teamwork. That’s self-erasure. In this episode, I’m reframing ownership — not as...
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115: From Gift to Impact with the Mindful Business Paradigm (R) | Travis Lee Howard
Reframe to Create
What if your business, team, or even your personal work rhythm could actually grow because of friction — not in spite of it? That’s the question we dig into with today’s guest, Travis Lee Howard, as he shares his powerful framework called the Mindful Business Paradigm (MVP). This isn’t just another business model — it’s a way to diagnose where things are off, whether you're a leader, creator, or changemaker trying to do mission-minded work that actually matters. Travis breaks down the four-part paradigm — Self → Customer → Machine → Team — and helps us...
info_outlineIn Episode 123, we talked about Reveal—the courage it takes to finally look at what’s already shaping your behavior, your decisions, and your results.
Today, we move into Part 2: Reclaim.
Because once you can see your narrative identity, you don’t get to stay neutral anymore.
Not choosing… is still choosing.
And that choice always comes with consequences.
In this episode, I explore why reclaiming your narrative identity is fundamentally about making intentional choices—especially as teams and organizations that want to create something new, meaningful, and lasting.
In this episode, we explore:
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Why avoiding a decision doesn’t protect you from consequences—it guarantees them
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How passive choices quietly shape team culture and outcomes
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What it really means to reclaim your narrative identity (hint: it’s not about keeping everything)
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Why teams that don’t choose their narrative identity end up being driven by shadow identities
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How unspoken assumptions sabotage alignment, strategy, and innovation
Why narrative identity work must be done together and out loud
In Episode 125, which is the final episode of this 3-part series, I’ll walk you through Reframe—the step where you intentionally reconstruct a new narrative identity that sets you up to create and innovate in power.
Reveal shows you what’s there.
Reclaim helps you choose what stays.
Reframe is where the future gets built.
Are you ready to do this work now?
If you’re ready to reclaim your creating power and help your team reveal, reclaim, and reframe its narrative identity, email me at:
📩 joy@reframetocreate.com
Subject: Narrative Identity
Let’s build the narrative identity that can actually support the impact you’re here to create.
Referenced Episodes
Reframe to Create Episode 123 - What You Won’t Look at Will Kill You (Part 1 of 3): Reveal
Reframe to Create Episode 122 - It All Starts With and Goes Back to Who You Are
Reframe to Create Episode 31 - You Can Only Go As Far As You Are
About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations. Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy. This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future. It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.
Follow Joy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer/