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

It's not the things that happen in your life that define you, that create your identity. It's how you talk about those things. That’s the theme behind this podcast. Research shows that the stories you tell have a major influence in how you see yourself and in how others perceive you, so it’s important to be intentional about which stories you share and how you share them. Guests on the podcast share the pivotal moments in their lives and careers, offering keen insights and “ah ha” moments to listeners, while triggering related memories of listeners, opening up opportunities to uncover their own patterns and discover better ways to share their stories. During this podcast, I’m asking you to listen to consider your related stories, and to listen to consider which stories in your life might have impacted you in a similar way. --- Sarah works with executives who know that story sharing makes them more compelling as speakers and leaders, and who want to improve how they connect with audiences, by uncovering the right stories and learning how to share them effectively so they can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision.

442 Pivot Point: Crafting Your Legacy 08/04/2026

442 Pivot Point: Crafting Your Legacy Your stories don’t define you. How you tell them will. Hi! I’m Sarah Elkins, your host and chief storymaker at Elkins Consulting. If you’ve been listening to my show for a while, you’ve probably noticed a big change in the format in recent weeks. Summertime is hard on podcasters! We lose a lot of our listeners this time of year and it can be difficult to be motivated to keep putting out quality content when we know people aren’t as likely to listen. This summer I’ve been focused on brief, less than 20-minute episodes that keep a person’s attention while still offering insights and entertainment. What you’ve been hearing, and will continue to hear in each episode, is a brief story of pivotal moment in my life, and then a thread pulled to generate insights about it. I have two goals for you, dear listeners: One – to uncover your related story for you to add to your collection to practice and have ready when the opportunity presents itself. And two – to demonstrate storytelling in a practical, approachable way so you hear how I compose my words, phrases, and use tone-of-voice to add dynamics and meaning. In today’s episode you’ll hear about a pivotal moment that changed me, a story filled with grief and joy in the same moment. Jewish tradition emphasizes that humans are uniquely capable of holding space for seemingly contradictory emotions at the same time, grief & joy, sorrow and gratitude. That it’s part of our human experience, and the reason grief can feel so heavy and liberating at the same time. Given that my family experienced a lot of grief over the course of around two years, first my father-in-law, then two close friends who had fatal accidents but were otherwise healthy, and then my father, it’s not surprising that those two years had me deeply rethinking my priorities. Which is why this pivotal moment, the one I’m about to describe, came as a surprise to me. I was sitting in a church, attending a memorial service for the mother of a dear family friend. I don’t have a memory of reading her obituary, though I’m sure I did. What was deeply memorable was what the majority of people said as they took turns standing and speaking about their mother, grandmother, aunt, colleague, and friend. Almost every one of them mentioned receiving birthday cards and letters every year. They spoke about what it meant to them to see the envelope with her handwriting on it, that they waited until the day of the birthday to open it, no matter how many days ahead it arrived, that they treasured seeing the perfect card she would select, the beautiful, thoughtful words she would write, the way they felt when they held the paper in their hands – seen, loved, valued. Witnessing this outpouring of similar stories made me wonder what stories my family and friends will share when I'm no longer living among them. It was a pivotal moment - a reminder - that if I want to avoid regret, I must live in alignment with how I want to be known. Listeners, now it's your turn - What stories do people tell when you're not around? What stories are you sharing about your loved ones that will continue their legacy beyond your lifetime? The stories we tell about people say everything about who we are and what matters to us, so what stories are people telling about you? Are they consistently in alignment with the legacy you want to leave behind? --- Thanks for listening to Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will. Are you curious to learn about working with me? Visit my website, elkinsconsulting.com to schedule time to chat and sign up for periodic updates about my work. --- About Sarah: Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/42289580

441: Pivot Point - Choosing Growth and Humility 07/28/2026

441: Pivot Point - Choosing Growth and Humility I've said this before, and I love the reaction I get from people: "If you have to tell people you're an expert, you're probably not doing it right." In this week's episode of Your Stories Don't Define You you'll hear my answer to a question from when I was a guest on a podcast, and the insights I continue to gain from it years later. Scott Ferguson asked me this question on his show It's Time To Shine Today: “What’s one question people should ask when interviewing professional development coaches they might want to work with?” My answer might surprise you. It surprised him, and he has asked hundreds of coaches that question! In early 2018 I walked away from my first keynote presentation feeling great, knowing I did a good job because quite a few guests at the conference wanted to talk to me afterward. I received great evaluations a few weeks after the event, and people wanted to know if my book was available for sale at the conference… (I hadn’t written it yet, but that’s beside the point.) It was clear to me where I could continue to improve, and when I look back at that time, I know I did well. But I also know that just a few years later I gave a keynote that was significantly better. More refined and more polished, more engaging and with “stickier” language. And now, as I prepare for a keynote I’ll give soon, I feel even more accomplished as a speaker. But the thing I keep coming back to is that as good as I feel about my progress and where I am now, I know that with practice and coaching, I may see exponential improvement over the next few years. I’m not done learning and developing as a communication professional and speaker. Here we are, friends, with another episode about how we can uncover a powerful, meaningful story and insights from what could be perceived as a simple question: “What’s one question people should ask when interviewing professional development coaches they might want to work with?” Your answer to a question like that says everything about who you are and what matters to you. Listeners, now it’s your turn: What question would you ask if you were considering hiring a coach for your professional development? Have you been asked a question that uncovered something important about your own progress and who has influenced you? What memory came back to you as you listened to my story and the insights I gained from that single question? Now that you have this reminder about the stories you share, what’s one story you might choose to share differently? The stories we share say everything about who we are. --- After more than 430 episodes of this podcast, I was recently inspired to change the format of the show. The new format for my show aligns with what I’m learning about narrative identity (how the stories we tell about ourselves internally and externally influence our identity) and demonstrates what I’ve been teaching for years: Sharing a story to reveal who you are and what matters to you. My hope is that future episodes will offer more clarity about great storytelling and how to find and explore pivotal moments to demonstrate who we are. --- Thanks for listening to Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will. Are you curious to learn about working with me? Visit my website, elkinsconsulting.com to schedule time to chat and sign up for periodic updates about my work. --- About Sarah: Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/42228295

440 Pivot Point: When is a Story Just a Story? Never. 07/21/2026

440 Pivot Point: When is a Story Just a Story? Never. This week’s episode came to me as I was working on my second book. I was adding yet another citation about research around how stories affect us, and for some reason, an interaction from a few years ago came back to me. It was a post on LinkedIn that I disagreed with, shared by someone I admire and respect. He was lamenting the criticisms and concerns people were bringing up about the story of Cinderella and the messages that story sends to girls. He suggested that sometimes a story is just a story. We’ll set aside the fact that this person is a Rabbi, a Jewish spiritual leader, and that his entire belief system is based on stories. But at the time I didn’t have the experience or relevant research that I have access to now, so I couldn’t fully make my case. I pushed back in the comments, saying that I disagreed, that we couldn’t pick and choose which stories had influence and impact and which didn’t. I posted: “Can you tell a 4-year-old that they are expected to learn lessons about morality and ethics in bible stories and fables you share, but to ignore any possible lessons about the world they get through the fairy tales they read and Disney films they watch?” We get signals from everything we consume. When we’re reading, listening, or watching, we pick up things that resonate with us, sometimes subconsciously. And stories are especially powerful. As I mentioned in my TEDx talk, bioengineering researchers Jens Madsen and Lucas Perra at City College New York found that when we experience story together, our in sync. And neuroscientists like Paul Zak find that sharing stories can release oxytocin, the brain chemical associated with feelings of care, connection, and empathy. There’s research coming out of that stories influence our identity even before we’re verbal. The stories people tell about us give signals about what they believe our personality to be! Think about the conflicts this can generate when we’re teenagers starting to explore our identity: We change over time, but our parents and other influencing adults in our lives tell us it’s “just a phase”, causing us to either rebel or to submit. In this episode you’ll hear about , and my hope is that you’ll take this reminder - again - that stories are powerful, and that if you truly desire peace, safety, and community, you’ll be more intentional about the stories you make and share. Listeners, now it’s your turn: What childhood story popped into your head when you heard my story about not being good at math? Do you remember what stories other people shared with you or about you related to your story? Can you put the story into greater context now? Math represents a HUGE subject area, encompassing everything from basic addition and subtraction, to algebra, geometry, and advanced calculations. Can you see that failing a math test or even a semester of math doesn’t mean you’re not good at math overall, but maybe that particular area of math? Can you think of an aspect of your identity that you love, and find a story to support where it came from and how it has been reinforced over time? Now that you have this reminder about the stories you share, what’s one story you might choose to share differently? The stories we share say everything about who we are. Thanks for listening to Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will. Are you curious to learn about working with me? Visit my website, to schedule time to chat and sign up for periodic updates about my work, and connect with me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook for content about strengthsfinder, storytelling, public speaking. --- After more than 430 episodes of this podcast, I was recently inspired to change the format of the show. The new format for my show aligns with what I’m learning about narrative identity (how the stories we tell about ourselves internally and externally influence our identity) and demonstrates what I’ve been teaching for years: Sharing a story to reveal who you are and what matters to you. My hope is that future episodes will offer more clarity about great storytelling and how to find and explore pivotal moments to demonstrate who we are. --- About Sarah: Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/42149505

439 Pivot Point: Revealed with the Right Question - A Monologue from Sarah Elkins 07/14/2026

439 Pivot Point: Revealed with the Right Question - A Monologue from Sarah Elkins You won’t be surprised to hear that I had another moment of inspiration on a recent hike… This time it was about seeing meaningful, pivotal moments not as the experience itself, but in how we talk about it later. In late August of 2018 my husband and I had an amazing opportunity to travel to southern France to perform with a jazz quartet at two venues. The first was in Arudy on the edge of the Pyrenees Mountains near the border with Spain. It was a sold-out community event attended by 200+ residents of the surrounding villages. Most of our audience didn’t speak English or had very limited experience with it. The second performance was on the patio of a small bar in Eygalieres in Provence. We had some serious challenges over those two weeks, some obstacles we couldn’t have anticipated and others we simply weren’t prepared for. I had lots of meaningful moments, but most of them felt like lessons about what not to do, how to be more prepared for things, what to avoid in the future. About a week after we arrived back home in Montana I had a call scheduled with a new connection I made on LinkedIn a few weeks before our trip. At that point I had resolved not to talk about it because it felt like I could only share the obstacles. In my ears it sounded like I was just complaining about the adventure and ignoring the privilege of the experience, the honor of performing for audiences in those extraordinary places, like I was acting like a spoiled, entitled American. But the first thing my new friend asked was: “How was the trip? I was thinking about you and hoping you were enjoying yourself!” She heard the hesitation in my voice, the pain in my “it was fine” answer. And she switched gears. It was the question she asked next that was the pivot point, not necessarily my answer to it. --- Listeners, now it’s your turn: What memory popped into your head when you heard my story? Have you been the person on the receiving end, asked a perfect question to shift your perspective? Have you been the person to ask a question that positively changed something for someone else? From previous episodes you may have a specific image of who I am, did today’s story shift that image at all? Did it fill in some gaps for you? The stories we share say a lot about who we are. What’s one story you can share differently to reframe the experience with more perspective and context? --- After more than 430 episodes of this podcast, I was recently inspired to change the format of the show. The new format for my show aligns with what I’m learning about narrative identity (how the stories we tell about ourselves internally and externally influence our identity) and demonstrates what I’ve been teaching for years: Sharing a story to reveal who you are and what matters to you. My hope is that future episodes will offer more clarity about great storytelling and how to find and explore pivotal moments to demonstrate who we are. --- About Sarah: Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/42050940

438 Pivot Point: Noticing Progress - a monologue from Sarah Elkins 07/07/2026

438 Pivot Point: Noticing Progress - a monologue from Sarah Elkins Not every meaningful moment is big and dramatic. As a matter of fact, smaller moments can be even more electrifying when we take the time to notice them. I had one of those moments last week when I performed as a backup vocalist and played my flute with the band of a friend and talented singer/songwriter at a local bar to a crowd of enthusiastic fans. We were on the patio and the crowd was much bigger for the last hour of our performance, so we pulled out our faster, more danceable tunes. My friend called the name of the last song for the night and it was one I didn’t know. She counted off the song for the band to begin and I couldn’t hear vocal harmonies right away, so I started improvising on my flute instead. I’ve been performing in bands for more than 15 years, but performing on my flute for an audience is still new to me. In 2020 when I picked it up after more than 30 years, I found sheet music and learned songs I wanted to play. But this - improvising - is new to me and I'm still tentative as I find the notes and scales to fit the keys of each song. The pivot point in this episode is my observation of myself that evening and the realization of my progress as a musician. It also applies to my journey as speaker and communication coach. I can look back and objectively say I did a good job with my keynote presentations, workshops, and coaching. I have the long-term clients and thank you notes as evidence. I can see my progress over the past 5 years, I know I’m significantly better at these things than I was before. And, even more importantly, I can imagine that in another 5 years I’ll be even more competent in my work, because I know I’m not done yet. I still have so much to learn, to practice, and to grow into. ----- Listeners, now it’s your turn: What memory popped into your head when you heard my story? Will you jot down a note so you can share a quiet, meaningful story with someone when the opportunity presents itself? From previous episodes you may have a specific image of who I am, did today’s story shift that image at all? Did it fill in some gaps for you? The stories we share say a lot about who we are. What’s one story you can share to demonstrate one of your talents? About Sarah: Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41976010

437 Pivot Point: Grief and Kindness - A Monologue from Sarah Elkins 06/30/2026

437 Pivot Point: Grief and Kindness - A Monologue from Sarah Elkins “She stood up from across the aisle and walked over. Stopping in front of my seat, she said: ‘I can see that you’re struggling, and if you would rather I walk away, just say so. It’s just that it looks like you could use a hug, and I’m a hugger.’” In today’s episode I’m sharing a story about a pivotal moment in my life, an experience that shifted how I think about grief, and inspired me to be more compassionate with strangers. I almost said no, but something about her made me think if I did, she’d never offer this gift to a stranger again. It was almost as if she was the one who needed a hug. So I stood. She embraced me. And I cried. I guess I needed her hug after all. She held me for a few minutes, until my breathing evened out, and I thanked her as we parted. Listeners, now it’s your turn: What memory popped into your head when you heard my story? What did you learn about the characters in the story? Did my story inspire you to do something differently? Jot down a note so you’re ready to share your story when the opportunity arises! ----- After more than 430 episodes of this podcast, I was recently inspired to change the format of the show. The new format for my show aligns with what I’m learning about narrative identity (how the stories we tell about ourselves internally and externally influence our identity) and demonstrates what I’ve been teaching for years: Sharing a story to reveal who you are and what matters to you. My hope is that future episodes will offer more clarity about great storytelling and how to find and explore pivotal moments to demonstrate who we are. ----- About Sarah: Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41886395

436 Pivot Point: A Path-Changing Letter - A Monologue with Sarah Elkins 06/23/2026

436 Pivot Point: A Path-Changing Letter - A Monologue with Sarah Elkins Driving home from a volunteer shift at the Old Salt Festival near Helmville, Montana, I listened to the last hour of the book The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. As I listened to the characters reflect on their lives to share with others via handwritten letter (and a few emails), I was reminded of the great conversation I shared on this podcast with Amy Daughters, author of Dear Dana. As I mentioned in last week’s episode, I was recently inspired to change the format of this show. The new format for my show aligns with what I’m learning about narrative identity (how the stories we tell about ourselves internally and externally influence our identity) and what I’m learning about emotional intelligence through a course I’m taking. My hope is that future episodes will offer more clarity about great storytelling and how to find and explore pivotal moments to demonstrate who we are. My future guests will be given a story prompt ahead of our call, and instead of a long, organic, multi-insight conversation, we’ll dive more deeply into a single story, pulling a thread and revealing a primary insight about the experience, and leaving space for you – our listeners – to remember your own related experience and pull a thread that has the potential to guide you toward deeper self-awareness. I’ll be eager to hear your thoughts about this new format, so please don’t hesitate to send me a message via social media or email! In today’s episode I’m sharing a story about a pivotal moment in my personal life, a long relationship that continues to influence my life and how I experience the world. Mentioned in this episode: by Virginia Evans , author of Dear Dana, speaker, humorist , Helmville Montana Listeners, now it’s your turn: Did my story remind you of something that happened to you? What memory popped into your head when you heard it? What did you learn about me as a person? Did my story inspire you to pick up a pen and leave a note for someone you care about? What’s your related pivotal moment? About Sarah: Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41721095

435 Pivot Point: A Moment of Doubt - a monologue from Sarah Elkins 06/16/2026

435 Pivot Point: A Moment of Doubt - a monologue from Sarah Elkins In a moment of inspiration on one of my hikes, I realized that after more than 430 episodes, this show is overdue for a format change. For the book I’m writing, a companion to my recently published , I’m exploring research around narrative identity, which is the way the stories we share influence who we are, and self-awareness as defined by present-day psychologists. The new format for my show aligns with what I’m learning, and my hope is that future episodes will offer additional insights for the book, my guests, and our listeners. In today’s episode I’m sharing a story about a pivotal moment in my business, a situation that had me questioning everything about the direction I had taken, the investments I made in time, energy, and money, and what transpired to get me through that experience to land on the other side with confirmation and a bit more confidence. "... I had less than 4 weeks to cram in 50+ one-hour, one-to-one sessions. It was like being immersed in a foreign language, bringing me to a level of understanding and insight with this tool that I’m not sure I could have achieved so quickly in any other circumstance. It was amazing and exhausting." Listeners, now it’s your turn: Did my story remind you of something that happened to you? What memory popped into your head when you heard it? What did you learn about me as a person? Did you learn what I do without hearing it directly? I can say “I’m a gallup-certified StrengthsFinder coach”, but that’s not meaningful and doesn’t give you useful information about what that might mean for you or for a friend you might refer to me, right? What’s a pivotal story in your career? Thanks for listening to Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will. Are you curious to learn about working with me? Visit my website, elkinsconsulting.com to schedule time to chat and sign up for periodic updates about my work, and connect with me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook for content about strengthsfinder, storytelling, public speaking. About Sarah: Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public s peaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41655000

434: Writing Other People's Stories with Lana McAra 06/09/2026

434: Writing Other People's Stories with Lana McAra "Someone said to me recently, ‘You're so lucky that you get to work at home and do this stuff.’ And I said, ‘Luck has nothing to do with it. I consciously created my life. I love it because it's mine. I made it.’" In this episode, podcast host Sarah Elkins and ghostwriter and publisher Lana McAra discuss Lana's unique approach to publishing and her deep understanding of what it takes to be an effective ghost writer for fiction and nonfiction books. Lana grew up in an Amish community in Pennsylvania, but wasn't raised in an Amish household. Her approach to ghost writing and guiding authors in her publishing business is "co-creation". She's a guide, someone who listens to ideas and gently engages the writer or co-creator with questions that shift the conversation, pulling a thread that the co-creator might not have even noticed was unraveling - in a beautiful, thoughtful way. Highlights: Quotes: “Life is lived in between. Life is lived in the moments in between the big events. It's those moments when life is really, really happening.” “If I sit quietly with them [ghostwriting clients] for a few minutes, I can ... tune in to where they're coming from through this active listening that I've learned to do over the years. Then I can hear them at that deeper level, [I hear] what's going on behind the words.” “I have a publishing company that is a traditional publisher but we do it a different way, ... the author keeps all their rights. They keep creative control and still get the wide distribution and support that you would expect from a traditional publisher.” --- Listeners, now it's your turn: What did you get from this conversation? Maybe you're going to go look for the Object Diaries podcast hosted byLisa Weiss. Maybe you're going to pick out your object that becomes the focal point of a story. Will you realize that you have a great story in you and you just need a little help to craft it? I'd love to hear your thoughts after you listen to this episode send me a message go to elkinsconsulting.com or send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram. About Lana: Lana McAra is an award-winning, international bestselling author and ghostwriter of more than 50 books with over one million copies sold. Founder of Vendela Publishing, she works with writers who want to build long-term careers and reach readers beyond the algorithm. Lana has spent more than two decades teaching fiction writing and speaking to writers about the business of publishing. Learn more by visiting her links - About Sarah: Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41425160

433 Taking Steps To Take Better Care Of Yourself 06/02/2026

433 Taking Steps To Take Better Care Of Yourself 433 Taking Steps To Take Better Care Of Yourself In today’s episode, Sarah Elkins discusses the importance of taking your time to enjoy the world, to enjoy being you, to take time to make sure You, Dear Listener, are healthy in mind, body, emotion, and spirit. Highlights Encouraging healthy self reflection to lessen loneliness and division. Acknowledging when you need help or a break is key to not only your own wellbeing but to the wellbeing of those you care for. Stop and smell the flowers. Life isn’t a race. Take your time and enjoy the world you have helped to cultivate and get the gift of living in. How our labels change as time moves, but so long as we know the shape of our souls we will be okay. Quotes “This is what hustle looks like. Losing track of ‘why’ I’m doing something. Focusing too much on doing something without stopping to ensure that what I’m doing fits my values, my needs, and how I want to live my life daily.” “What makes things interesting and joyful to me, is knowing that a single label can’t define me. I’m complicated, and so are you.” “Will you take time right now or very soon to define success for yourself, without attaching money or income to that definition.” Mentioned in this episode Dear Listeners it is now your turn, Will you take time right now or very soon to define success for yourself, without attaching money or income to that definition. What is one thing you’ll do today, tomorrow, and the next day to reach toward that definition of success, and the labels you choose for yourself, and demonstrate through your work. And how will you feed your own needs, your physical, emotional, and spiritual health so that you have the energy and enthusiasm and capacity to live your definition of success? And, as always, thank you for listening. About Sarah Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41463525

432 The Power of Kindness featuring Joe Emery 05/26/2026

432 The Power of Kindness featuring Joe Emery 432 The Power of Kindness featuring Joe Emery In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Joe Emery discuss the importance of dispelling misconceptions, serving our communities, and elevating voices of kindness and positivity. Highlights The beauty of visiting places we’ve only seen in pictures or film. Misconceptions about places and people and learning the truth to be able to see the world for the better. Emotional storytelling and the importance of making people see the humanity behind the story. The importance of being kind, patient, and empathetic in a world that is becoming more jaded. Remember that there is a human on the other side of the screen that doesn’t deserve to be treated poorly because you don’t like a post. Quotes “That’s something I really like doing, helping people who really need it.” “We all see things everyday that we’re not interested in, and it’s amazing how many people stop to take time out of their day to comment.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What is it that drove you to be a fan of something? What is your obsession? Have you ever thought about where that could lead you or how it has contributed to where you are now? I think about a lot of the things in my childhood that made me want to meet people or to learn something or to read more and I’m curious what that is for you. And the other thing I want to know is what are you doing when it comes to seeing the one comment that is mean or one boss that treated you badly, are you still holding on to that or are you starting to see it for exactly what it is, that those people who are cruel have their own reason for being that and when you give them the greater voice over the people who are kind you’re giving them this power and you’re taking away and reducing the power of people who are doing good in the world. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Joe Senior & Lead Digital Copywriter | Brand & Messaging Specialist | Tone of Voice Consultant Be sure to check out his , , and ! About Sarah Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41163620

431 The Art of Aging - Featuring Diane Place 05/19/2026

431 The Art of Aging - Featuring Diane Place 431 The Art of Aging - Featuring Diane Place In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Diane Place discuss the art and beauty in aging and how it allows us to collect amazing stories, learn new things about ourselves, and how we can use these experiences to help others. Highlights Aha moments and how trusting yourself will most often take you to better places in life. Bringing in other story tellers to enlighten yourself with intergenerational, interracial, and interhuman connections. Reframing aging and how we perceive aging, in that it is never too late to do anything and you don’t need to step back just because of a number. The stories we tell ourselves and the stories told around us shape our perceptions, and we need to take active steps to make sure that it is positive and healthy instead of cutting ourselves and others down. Quotes “I’ve had “Aha” moments in my life that led me to make crazy decisions. Some of them didn’t go so well most of them did because I trusted my heart.” “Find connections with who we are not just what we’ve done.” “We need to seek the new stories if we have some of those old stories. We need to ditch them. We need to erase them, and reinvent them.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What part of this conversation made you realize something about your own aging and maybe your internal messages that are affecting who you are and that you’re modeling and sharing with younger people. If you’re one of the younger listeners, under 50, what part of this conversation made you eager to hear the stories of people around you that you’ve only ever known skin deep? I would love to hear what resonated with you in this conversation. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Diane (From her LinkedIn) After years of dancing on the edges of my passions through a roller coaster life and career, it was the coincidence of four lightning strike experiences: a cancer diagnosis, loss of a business, my 60th birthday, and a soon-to-be empty nest, that compelled me to dig deep to focus on what I truly wanted to do with my "one wild & precious life." This became my "third act quest.” Our “third act" CAN be the most exciting chapter in our life's story. My mission became clear - to inspire women and reframe the perception & experience of what life can be after 50. I've unearthed what had been calling me all along. Now, I couldn't imagine doing anything else! ______________ Creating Third Act Quest to inspire and connect women 50+ is the most exciting and rewarding venture in my career journey (so far!) I launched Third Act Quest in 2018, with the dream to reframe the perception and experience of aging through initiatives that connect and inspire women as they create the most exciting chapter in their life's story — their "third act." Third Act Quest initiatives: the 333 Collective, "AHA" Third Act Stories, Quest Year, and QUEST, a biennial gathering & celebration. _______ My 35+ year career: - Leaps of faith to embrace my passions and talents to have an impact - My values and dreams are my GPS - Synchronicity - Resilience My professional career includes: a decade in Boston with an international ad agency; ten years with America Online (AOL/Time Warner) in a leadership role during the early days of the internet culminating in a role as Senior Vice President; and four unique entrepreneurial ventures. In the early 90's, I founded a cause-marketing firm. Later, post-AOL, I launched a photography business and The Global Design Post. Though each of these experiences expanded my life and my mind, it's what happened around my corporate career, the breadcrumbs that I followed, that has driven me, and has been “calling” me all these years. I’ve finally put my personal passion front and center. _____ All of your life's experiences; the highs & the lows, the turning points & transitions, shape how you see yourself and the world. Within just a few generations, 30 years have been added to our life expectancy. Our 50's & 60's can be a turning point; not time to step back, but time to expand, engage & thrive. It can be our time to unearth dreams that have been buried and create a vision for how we truly want to live,love, work and contribute. "What is it you plan to do with your one wild & precious life?" (Mary Oliver) Be sure to check out Diane’s , and especially ! About Sarah Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41163245

430: Every Emotion Comes from Needs, Met and Unmet - featuring Morgane Borzée 05/05/2026

430: Every Emotion Comes from Needs, Met and Unmet - featuring Morgane Borzée 430: Every Emotion Comes from Needs, Met and Unmet - featuring Morgane Borzée I thought I understood the connection between emotional intelligence and behavior, but I was missing a key component: "... we talk about feelings, but... At the end, every feeling has an underlying need. If it's a pleasant feeling, it's a met need. If it's an unpleasant feeling, it's an unmet need. And needs drive our behavior." This conversation with Morgane Borzée filled in so many gaps in my understanding of what I've heard referred to as trauma-informed coaching, teaching, and counseling. If you're anything like me, you associated the word trauma with something dramatic, like abuse or neglect, death, major accidents, war, natural disasters, etc. Many of us don't feel comfortable using the word trauma to describe experiences in our lives that don't seem to compare with what we know others have experienced. But trauma in childhood can be something as innocuous as an underlying current of the repression of anger, financial stress and anxiety, sibling rivalry. And each person experiences it differently. Ask your siblings or cousins about growing up and they'll remember completely different episodes as traumatic - or not. Morgane suffered from severe anxiety as a young adult, and was referred to a therapist that she didn't realize was a trauma specialist. She thought she might be in the wrong place until she heard from the therapist that her anxiety might be coming from repression of anger. And she might be repressing anger because that's how she responded to her fear of the anger she saw expressed in her childhood home, among her family. "... for years, I was shortcutting anger with anxiety. So whenever a situation would make me angry, I didn't feel angry, I felt anxious." Her experience with the therapist not only gave her the tools she needed to start truly addressing the anxiety at that deeper level. It gave her the inspiration she then used to create an incredible platform to make what she was learning more accessible and approachable for others. She took what she learned in academic, research-based, deeply intellectual settings, and translated into everyday language and characters that the rest of us can apply, learn from, and make real change in our lives and those of the people we influence. Highlights The word trauma feels big, feels significant, and it is, but it's also relative. Each person experiences it differently. Needs met and unmet are what drive our emotions and behavior. Listeners, now it's your turn. During our call, I started writing notes about my own needs and how they affect my behavior when they're not met: My need for respect and how that might show up in emotional responses and anger. What are yours? A need for basic food staples in your house? If somebody gets upset when you run out of peanut butter or eggs, it may be a need in terms of food security that wasn't. What is a pattern of conflict or frustration that you've experienced yourself or experienced with somebody else that might be related to this issue? When your needs are met, you have a particular emotional response, and when they're not met, you have another emotional response. I'm curious to hear what came up for you, what patterns you've uncovered, and maybe what you're going to do about it. --- From Morgane: I’m the founder of Equanima. I created it after years of struggling with anxiety and realizing how powerful emotional intelligence can be when you actually understand what’s happening inside you. As a designer, I saw a gap between complex psychological concepts and what people can realistically use in daily life. Equanima exists to bridge that gap by turning emotional intelligence into clear, practical, and visual tools that help people understand their patterns, regulate under pressure, and live more aligned lives. Visit my to learn more, and be sure to connect and/or follow me on and . --- About Sarah Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41163260

429 Lynn Harris - Comedy, Creativity, and Community 05/05/2026

429 Lynn Harris - Comedy, Creativity, and Community 429 Lynn Harris - Comedy, Creativity, and Community In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Lynn Harris discuss the importance of comedy and creativity in the heart and soul of a community and how overcoming the doubts and assumptions of others can not only strengthen yourself but as well as the people around you. Highlights How we defy the expectations and assumptions of others. If we can’t talk about a problem we can’t even begin to fix it. The power of community and contributing to it and encouraging others to contribute. Quotes “As with all industries and all context; Girls would have to work twice as hard to get half the applause and half the credit.” “That’s something we’ve learned about community, is that it’s not just us. It’s -especially a creative community of any kind- there’s skill building you can kind of do on your own, and some cases not all, but then what do you do with those skills? Making stuff in other words. So we really encourage our members to actually make things and actually do the thing and do the thing together.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What I love about this conversation is that accessibility to humor, and we all need this probably now more than ever in our lifetime. We need to find humor, we need to laugh together, and it is one thing that can connect us very similar to music and story. And I can tell you that in just a recent experience where I was talking to somebody on the opposite side of the political spectrum to me, I was reading a book by John Scalzi; When The Moon Hits Your Eye, and I asked him if I could read out loud that had made me laugh so hard I was almost crying, and it was one way that I connected with this person next to me. So I’m asking you listeners, what will you do to find humor today? And, as always, thank you for listening. About Lynn Lynn Harris is a culture-shifting producer, award-winning journalist, and author/co-author of six books. Her comedy and campaigns for social justice and gender equity have changed laws and conversations from Capitol Hill to NASCAR. She is founder and CEO of GOLD Comedy—the comedy school, professional network, and content studio where women and non-binary creators grow their comedy careers, build powerful communities, and make funny stuff. Harris co-created Breakup Girl (acquired by Oxygen), one of the first multiplatform internet success stories, and co-hosted, with Ginna Green, The Forward’s A Bintel Brief: The Podcast. Lynn served as the first VP of communications at global human rights group Breakthrough, where her blend of humor and advocacy powered some of the team’s most effective U.S. campaigns. She has also worked as a Tonya Harding lookalike, which is a long story. is the online comedy school, professional network, and content studio where women, non-binary creators, and other “others" build their comedy careers, join a powerful community, and make funny stuff that gets seen on all of and Unlimited classes, community, shows, and more, all online. Join from anywhere, anytime! Be sure to check out Lynn’s , her as well as , and ! As well as and ! About Sarah Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41147270

428 Building Bridges Through Kindness and Compassion 04/28/2026

428 Building Bridges Through Kindness and Compassion 428 Building Bridges Through Kindness and Compassion In being human we are able to connect more authentically with people not just in the workplace but in everyday life, by allowing them to see us for who we truly are and what we are capable of. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Neal Foard discuss the importance of compassion and connection. Highlights Being present and aware of your actions on others and the world around you. Building trust and genuine connection that lasts lifetimes as opposed to a quick and easy contract. The importance of working in a diverse environment. Quotes “What I have been taught again and again is to try as much as possible to really wait for their personality to emerge, to wait for the real person to emerge. Don’t hurry it along and don’t make any judgments.” “Knowing as much as you can about somebody's personhood as opposed to their professional attributes is a marvelous thing to communicate well. Any time you can speak from personal experience and people can get a sense of what your experience was, it will help them react to you in a human way.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, I am really curious about what you will do with what you picked up from this conversation maybe it’ll be from the very beginning of this conversation when you realize that a really good test for the people you want to spend time with is watching how they interact with other people. People that can’t serve them, people that can’t help them, people that can’t do something for them. Maybe it’s somebody on the autism spectrum, maybe it’s someone who acts or behaves differently than you do, maybe it’s a server at a restaurant, or someone in retail. How we treat each other is a really good indication of if you want to spend time with them. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Neal Neal Foard is a master storyteller and branding expert who spent 25 years shaping award-winning ad campaigns for global icons like Budweiser, Lexus, and Sony. For his international work on Toyota, he was listed among the top ten most decorated creative directors in the world. As Worldwide Director of Creative Learning for advertising giant Saatchi & Saatchi, Neal authored a program to teach professionals to sell their work more effectively. Today, he consults with Fortune 500 companies, universities, and governments on the art of persuasive messaging. A sought-after speaker with multiple appearances on the TEDx stage, Neal is known to millions for his viral videos celebrating everyday human kindness. Be sure to check out Neal’s and ! As well as and ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/41040925

427: Eat Your Feelings - A Cooking Show Demonstrating True Connection, Featuring Sam Nathews 04/21/2026

427: Eat Your Feelings - A Cooking Show Demonstrating True Connection, Featuring Sam Nathews 427: Eat Your Feelings - A Cooking Show Demonstrating True Connection, Featuring Sam Nathews Highlights from the show: Sam initially wasn't sure about cohosting the show with Cory! He can be shy about performing or entertaining people he just met. It didn't take long to realize how grateful he was that Cory was persistant in starting the project and about Sam joining the show. Sam shared how the show helped him process his grief over losing his mother, and how being able to talk openly about his emotions has been healing for him. He emphasized the importance of normalizing vulnerability, especially for men. The Eat Your Feelings show's format of transitioning between lighthearted cooking and deeper emotional discussions resonates with Sam because he sees it as reflective of the ups and downs of real life. Sam has been touched by the feedback from viewers (and the show's crew!) who say the show has helped them feel less alone in their own struggles and given them permission to be open about their feelings. Sam hopes the show can continue to provide a model for men to be vulnerable and support each other, especially in smaller, rural communities where that may not come as naturally. He sees it as an important service the show provides. Quotes: "...especially when you're in the midst of raw, sudden, super traumatic grief, a lot of the feelings and thoughts that come up can make you feel like this is not normal." "...we've all cried together. We've all laughed together, we've all burnt the skin off the roof of our mouth together, and it's really, it's just been a really fulfilling thing because of the relationships that we've gotten out of that and the personal growth I've seen ... with the crew on the show..." "...the tagline of our show is 'everybody's got to eat and everybody's got sh*t to go through." "...I think the feedback that I've gotten ...is 'thank you guys for talking about this stuff and just showing that it's okay for two guys to talk about hard things and what you're feeling and making it normal that it's okay to feel these things.'" --- About Sam: Sam Nathews is a brand strategist and storyteller, and the co-creator of Eat Your Feelings, a conversation series that blends food, humor, and emotional honesty. With a background in building brands and campaigns, Sam is interested in what happens when we drop polish and talk about the stuff we’re usually taught to hide. He lives in Virginia with his wife, son, and golden retriever and believes some of the best conversations happen in the kitchen. Be sure to check out Sam's , , and . As well as on and . --- About Sarah Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/40820765

426: Ending the Cycle of Family Trauma Featuring Sharon Weinstein 04/14/2026

426: Ending the Cycle of Family Trauma Featuring Sharon Weinstein 426: Ending the Cycle of Family Trauma Featuring Sharon Weinstein "How did you ever come out of that household? How did you ever evolve into who you are and what you've become from that background?" We met in Washington DC at the final competition for the People's Choice speaker for the next TEDxUStreetWomen event scheduled on November 3, 2025. And when she won the coveted spot, all of us were thrilled. She earned it. In this episode we discussed her TEDx talk, "Think Differently to be Unstoppable", the use of the 4W framework to reframe personal trauma into recovery and growth. She shared insightful, powerful stories of how she modeled what she wanted to see in her children and family to end the cycle of family trauma. We also discussed her new book, Harmony by Design, replacing the concept of balance with a work and life integration. If you're curious to hear the story of that 18-month competition, listen to featuring Kuti Mack. Highlights: 4W Framework Where am I? Assess your current reality, take inventory with honesty and clarity. What if...? Brainstorm different approaches and potential outcomes. What WOWs? Identify ideal outcomes given current resources. What is the best case scenario? What works? Find sustainable, repeatable solutions. Take small steps. Sharon's soccer story, choosing to start an adult women's league without any experience, so her children could see her trying something uncomfortable and new, and so she could be more aware of what her children were experiencing. Quote: "...And sometimes the biggest question that I get from them is, 'how did you ever come out of that household? How did you ever evolve into who you are and what you've become from that background?' They say it to me all the time. 'Are you sure you weren't adopted?'" Watch Sharon's recently published ! About Sharon: A global nursing leader, TEDx speaker, and advocate for personal transformation who empowers others to rethink what's possible and turn adversity into strength. A Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), she's an award-winning healthcare innovator and author. Founder of SMW Group and the #FromCrisistoCapacity framework, she develops nurse leaders and strengthens teams and organizations through resilience, stress reduction, and human performance. Visit, follow, and connect: , , , , . --- About Sarah Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, speaker, speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening. Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness. Visit her website to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook. /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/40820790

425 Something To Contribute 04/07/2026

425 Something To Contribute In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Matthew Johnson discuss their work in their communities, from work with the city to their own personal endeavours as well as how this work helps the community grow and retain the character that makes it unique. Highlights Why education in a community is important and how it has the potential to connect us. Loving to serve. Lead as those you look up to lead. Quotes “It’s a delicate balance between community growth and character, because both are necessary.” “People don’t always know what questions to ask to even begin to find the answers they’re looking for.” “It’s good honest work.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, I’m curious to hear how you interact with your municipality? Do you notice the fine tuning going on in your local government and the facilitation work that goes on between the staff and your elected officials? Are you even paying attention to this because it matters. You may not have alot of control over statewide or national government agencies and issues but in your little community, even a big community, you have something to contribute. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Matthew Matthew Johnson is a city manager with 25 years of experience working at the intersection of leadership, public service, and communication. He helps leaders navigate difficult conversations when stakes are high and tensions are rising, especially in the complex environment of local government. Drawing from his real-world experience managing relationships between elected officials, staff, and the public, Matthew shares practical strategies that help leaders stay calm, communicate clearly, and turn disagreement into productive dialogue. Be sure to check out Matthew’s ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/40734990

424 The Art of Story Making and Being Present 03/31/2026

424 The Art of Story Making and Being Present 424 The Art of Story Making and Being Present In today’s episode Sarah Elkins talks about her recent vacation and the reminder to remember a past lesson from her son about learning from your past regrets and choosing to live in the moment instead of allowing expectations or worries for the future to take away from the joy of the present. Highlights Being present for the stories you want to share. Learn to just go with the flow and to take ownership of your own happiness. Don’t grieve for the future, instead live for the present. It will still hurt regardless, but to build the happy memories right now can help ease your regrets later. Quotes “When I’m fully present, I am making stories that I want to share later.” “We must stop focusing on death as a medical concern. Death is a human matter, one that each of us will eventually face.” “How many of us are so busy worrying about what our loved ones are forgetting, that we lose track of enjoying the time we still have together?” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What are expectations you’re holding on to that need to be released? What is something you’re grieving before it’s gone? Maybe you’re experiencing a lot of last times with your high school senior; The last game, the last packed lunch, the last ride to school, and you’re grieving before they’ve actually left the house. Maybe it’s a good time to think of the other side of the equation too. Like the first time your kid buys their own toothpaste or toilet paper, the first time your kid calls you from their first apartment or dorm room. The first time you hear your kid say, “Hey mom, you were right about-” I’d love to hear your thoughts about finding the strength to enjoy the present moment. To avoid future regret by attaching too much expectations to a person or an event. And, as always, thank you for listening. 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/40663995

423 We Need Each Other 03/24/2026

423 We Need Each Other 423 We Need Each Other In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Cory Brown discuss their ideas and the influences in their lives that they have had that gave them the push to act on their ideas or to think them through, as well as the importance of putting something into the world that will make a genuine authentic change. Highlights Eat your feelings, coming together over a meal to discuss your feelings. The importance of mental health and reaching out to others for their sake and our own. You must be the one to take the first step to make a change. What can you put into the world to make others feel less alone and begin to heal? Quotes “I would do anything I can to help you, but you got to take that first step.” “Over these past few years I’ve kind of let myself be okay with being emotional. Because I was like, “how can I help people think about these stigmas and try to find these breakthroughs if I’m not willing to do it myself?”.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, Cory mentioned that there was a point in his career where he hit a level of success where he knew that there was something more out there and he chose to serve, and he didn’t know what that would look like at the time but he came up with this idea and almost didn’t activate on it, until somebody said; “Get off your ass and do something. Stop talking about it, and do something.” Now you know listeners, I am a Gallup certified Strengths Finder Coach. One of the things that I’ve found when using any kind of assessment tool, is that we need to surround ourselves with people who have different talents than we have, for exactly this reason. Everyone who is quiet and talks a lot about things and does a lot of research, has a best friend or partner that activates them. That says; “We’re gonna go get out of the house, come with me.”, “I’m gonna go do this, come with me.” And each of us that has more of the action behind us, we need those friends that do the research first and help us set up for success. So I encourage you, look for your personal board of directors. Those people who will help you take action or help you think through before you take action. Those people who are ‘get shit done’ people, and those people who are ideators and big-picture and lovingly relationship building people. We need each other and this is a perfect example. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Cory Cory Brown is a veteran, strategist, and creator focused on helping people reconnect with themselves and one another through honest conversation. After more than sixteen years of military service, including a combat deployment to Iraq, Cory experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to talk about mental health in ways that feel human rather than clinical. He is the founder of Eat Your Feelings, a cooking-centered storytelling project that uses food as a doorway to deeper conversations about resilience, identity, and care. Cory’s professional background spans research, strategy, and leadership, but his current work sits at the intersection of service, storytelling, and creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be real. Whether in a kitchen or a boardroom, Cory believes how we tell our stories shapes how we understand ourselves and each other. Be sure to check out Cory’s , , , and ! As well as his website ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/40486705

422 Experience Awe 03/17/2026

422 Experience Awe 422 Experience Awe The natural world is one of few places in the world where we can truly feel at peace. Whether it be to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, or even just to get away from all the screens and pollution, we can find a moment to center ourselves and find genuine awe in the world. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Thomas Reed discuss the importance of the natural world, finding awe, how we talk to ourselves, as well as finding our own courage to seek the paths that call to us. Highlights How we interact with the natural world around us. The importance of positive Self Talk. Beauty of the natural world and its importance to the human psyche. Where is the one place you can go to that turns off the chatter in your head? Quotes “I don’t know if it was a choice or it was just being me.” “Use me as your inspiration, that you don’t need inspiration.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What will you do to experience awe? I am going to give you one chore, one piece of homework, one suggestion at the end of this episode, is to find an opportunity to experience awe. That could be watching your child do something for the first time, and have them be very proud of themselves. I can tell you I had many of those experiences while my boys were growing up and they had a realization as basic as finding their own thumb when they were infants. There’s a sense of awe when you watch other people experience awe or when you experience that sense of awe about another person, like this Chinese woman from a small village that decided to go experience what she did. Experience Awe, go hug a tree, go stand in front of a man made bridge that is inspiring for its unlikeliness, for the fact that somebody had to create that, watch that daffodil start to bloom and realize you didn’t have to do a thing to it to make it show up in all it’s full color. Find awe, remember it, and consider that desire to find awe, your connection to the natural world and your humanity. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Thomas I studied photography at Rutgers University as a Geography student. Major influences have been Ansel Adams, Edgar Payne, and the Hudson River School. Zen sensibilities profoundly influence my compositions, as I am a student of Japanese martial arts and aesthetics (chado). Black and white is my genre My work is centered on the experience of awe at the sight of a landscape, and I hope it leads to the consideration that nature itself is divine, sacred, and that stewardship, as opposed to the dominant utilitarian view, is the only sane attitude. Be sure to check out Thomas’s , his , , and ! As well as , his website , and his books at ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/40486685

421 The Lives We Live 03/10/2026

421 The Lives We Live 421 The Lives We Live In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Kuti Mack discuss their unique experiences in being selected for a TED talk, the process in getting to their own important story they needed to tell, as well as the people who supported them along the way. Highlights The benevolence of somebody else and admitting when you need help going hand in hand with not assuming people are capable when in reality they need help. Knowing we are all human and we all need somebody to lean on and to let ourselves lean on others as well. You need to try things out of your comfort zone in order to grow. Even if you’re nervous, even if you’re scared, do it anyway. Quotes “There is still a self belief that you have to have to believe that you can do these things.” “Having them understand that you don’t have to be a great speaker, as a matter of fact when you are a little tense or nervous, just that that little bit of vulnerability is probably going to fly so well for your talk.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What is one thing you’ve been wanting to do that you’ve been hesitant to do? What is one thing that when you think about if you have the right people in your circle that could support you in your goal, in your idea in sharing something important to you. What is that? And I really encourage you to think about what your idea would be if you were to share something on a stage, like a TEDx stage. What do you bring that’s unique? What are your talents? What matters deeply to you, deeply enough to put yourself in this extremely uncomfortable position? Stretch out of that comfort zone, reach out to either Kuti or me and we will gladly share our experiences directly and offer whatever we can to help you try to do that next big thing because the people that you surround yourself with are either your greatest assets or your biggest liability. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Kuti From selling millions of records to pushing kale juice, KUTImack. is a master of reinvention and the living proof of his Be Your Best Daily[image] philosophy. A former top music executive turned sought-after personal trainer, nutrition expert, and TEDx speaker, he turns complex science into simple, actionable strategies that transform wellness and productivity peaks. Creator of the 6-Week SuperYou[image] and BYBD™. Bedtime Blueprint, he’s earned the nicknames “Fitness Philosopher” and “Rockstar Professor” for his unique ability to fuse entertainment-world experience with science-backed inspiration that connects with every audience member. Be sure to check out his , , and ! Also be sure to watch Kuti’s , , and his ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/40309895

420 Ted Talks: Let's Start Sharing Stories 02/24/2026

420 Ted Talks: Let's Start Sharing Stories 420 Ted Talks: Let’s Start Sharing Stories In today’s episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on her preparations for her Ted Talk, as well as seeing the need that had to be filled, and how she is filling that need in society with clarity and authenticity. Highlights Seeing a problem and figuring out how you can fix it. Let your ideas loose in the world, you never know who needs to hear it. Bring yourself to whatever you do and good will follow. Quotes “The answer wasn’t to explain away what was happening.” “I realized I wasn’t just there to give a talk. I was there to bring who I am, and all of my strengths and all of my weaknesses.” Be sure to watch Sarah’s ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/40200895

419 Strength In Storytelling 02/17/2026

419 Strength In Storytelling 419 Strength In Storytelling Our stories are woven into our very being, they are what make us who we are and how we show others who we are and what we are the best at. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins discusses the many iterations of her business, her newest book, and the power that lies in the art of storytelling. Highlights Improving satisfaction and skills in yourself and others. Core values and skills shown through our own stories. Our stories affect those around us in unseen physical and emotional ways. Quotes “Your strengths are your stories.” “That’s the thing about our stories, even when we’re not consciously aware of it we learn alot about eachother.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, Have you always known the power of sharing personal stories to connect with people or is this a turning point for you in that recognition? Do you have trouble thinking of the right stories to share or do you always have a few go to options ready? You may not realize this but when you’re present in your life, you make sharable stories every single day. I’d love to hear what resonated with you on this week's episode, please send me a message via email, , or to let me know. And, as always, thank you for listening. 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/40129560

418 Mindful Presence 02/10/2026

418 Mindful Presence 418 Mindful Presence Being mindful of our presence in the lives around us is an integral part of the human experience, whether it be for our own personal comfort and growth or to ease the lives of those around us. Though we all have our own unique reasoning and paths to walk, it is important to remember we don’t have to travel alone and by working together we can all get to the finish line. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Renée Smith discuss the importance of community in becoming the best version of yourself as well as the importance of developing our problem solving skills to always be able to take action. Highlights There is no linear path, take your time and find your own. Connecting with strangers through lived experience. Teaching others your toolset and learning others toolset so that everyone succeeds. Quotes “Being able to be present with them in a trusting way.” “A problem is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be.” “Maybe you don’t have what you need to take action.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, I’m really curious to hear what was sticky for you in today’s conversation. Whether you’re thinking now about your presence, about how you demonstrate love and support and care for people especially those that are strangers, those that you might disagree with. I know how hard it can be, how challenging it is to feel love for people that have different perspectives than us right now, more than ever before. And I’m here to say that if you can allow that open moment where you express your own experience and they hear it and that you are sharing this to connect with them and not to change their mind, this leaves the door open for them to carry that forward. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Renée Renée Smith, MSOD (she/her) is the strategist leaders turn to when they want to make their workplace more loving and human. As the creator of Love-Centered Leadership and the Human Workplace EX Roadmap, she helps people and results rise together. The founder and CEO of the consultancy, A Human Workplace, and the non-profit Center for a Loving Workplace, Renée promotes loving workplace cultures, primarily through research, education, impact projects. She led award-winning culture work as a state executive and served in the Governor’s Office as Director of Workplace Transformation for the State of Washington. Smith is a researcher, writer, and speaker who’s reached hundreds of audiences in eleven countries, making the business case for love. She earned a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from the University of Washington. She lives in Tacoma with her husband Jim in a multi-generational household with her son and his family. When she is not traveling, she enjoys sculling on the Puget Sound, watercolor painting, and hosting dinner parties. Be sure to check out Renée’s , , and ! As well as , , and ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/39976610

417 Being Fully Present 02/03/2026

417 Being Fully Present 417 Being Fully Present Being present for those in your life can be a difficult matter at times, yes we can be in the same room as them, but it is far more meaningful to be there for them emotionally which can triple the difficulty of a situation. Which is why it is important to take a step back and to take stock of your emotions before responding, so that you can be your best self and not one that lectures or reacts with anger. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Phil Friedman discuss the importance of patience, empathy, and seeking one’s one fulfillment in life that is not tied to a career nor who we associate ourselves with. Highlights Do you tie your identity to others? At times, understanding and gentleness is far better than a lecture. Are you an observer of your own life? How do you treat yourself when you aren’t at your best? How do you find satisfaction day to day? Quotes “It’s one thing to observe emotion in somebody else, for me I can’t observe it that same way in myself.” “There are so many things to write about and so little time.” “If I worried about everything that could go wrong, since half of the things that could go wrong don’t go wrong, then I’ll spend my life being worried about things that half the time will never happen.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, When have you had an experience where you didn’t recognize your emotion until after the fact? Is there something you can do, a strategy you can use to try to be more aware in the moment of where your emotions are coming from? Maybe it’s an angry reaction, an angry response to something that should have been a more empathetic response, but in the moment you were fearful for the safety or the health of the person in front of you. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Phil As a former university professor and college instructor, I spent years helping students think clearly and write with purpose. I also created and led North America’s first fully certified two-year post-secondary program in boatbuilding and boatyard management, experience that honed my skills in curriculum design, educational program development, and mentoring learners at every stage. . Alongside my teaching, I’ve written, edited, and published more than 2,000 feature articles for major print and digital media channels. That experience helps me guide writers not just to overcome resistance, but also to approach their craft with the mindset and skills that lead to real publication. . My coaching style is supportive and judgment-free. I meet writers where they are and help them silence their inner critic, build strong writing habits, and trust their unique voice. Whether you’re writing for personal fulfillment, launching a blog, or aiming to get published, I’ll help you take the next step with clarity and confidence. During 30+ years in the marine industry, I’ve worn numerous hats — as a marine marketer and ghost writer, boating magazine writer/editor, yacht designer, boatbuilder, marine operations and business manager, marine industry consultant, yacht surveyor, and industry educator. I’m also trained and experienced in interest-based negotiation, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution for parties in the marine business sector. In a prior life, I taught logic and philosophy at university. Be sure to check out Phil’s and ! As well as , , and ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/39695300

416 The Right Tool For The Right Job 01/27/2026

416 The Right Tool For The Right Job 416 The Right Tool For The Right Job Having the necessary toolset to build others and yourself up is something most of us continue to build and collect our entire lives. How we choose to interact with another, how we teach, learn, and grow with them is how we hone these tools in order to achieve excellence in our chosen life. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on one of her former students, and how the lessons and tools she’s experienced now have made her a better advisor and teacher, by taking into account everyone’s personalized skillset. Highlights Applying new understanding of the tools you’ve collected to help others and yourself. Everyone has different talents, which is why it is so important to learn to work with them as opposed to against them. ADKAR and Strengths Finder working hand in hand to create meaningful change. Quotes “The thing is my talents are the opposite to the ones I’m describing here so if I want to teach someone or help them move through the ADKAR change framework, I have to meet them where they are, I have to be able to speak their language.” “If we can learn to bring people along for the ride with these tools; Strengths Finder and ADKAR, we can move forward into that uncertainty with improved and inspired resilience, persistence, and grit.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, Are you curious to learn more about this ADKAR Framework and the layering nuance of Strengths Finder for individual and institutional change? Check out Episode 407 featuring Rachel Bohns, and send me your questions and ideas that pop into your head I’d love to hear from you. And, as always, thank you for listening. 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/39796430

415 Striving For Excellence 01/20/2026

415 Striving For Excellence 415 Striving For Excellence When was the last time you took a moment to truly acknowledge just how far you’ve come and the work you have done to get to this point? No exceptions, no talking down about your accomplishments, just true and genuine acceptance of how amazing you are because of how hard you have worked. Perfection is impossible, but Excellence is achievable. We can always improve, but we must also acknowledge and sit with how well we have done to get to this moment. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Anne Catherine discuss the importance of art and the soul, the necessity of knowing when we are truly excellent, and to encourage it in others and ourselves. Highlights What super power are you hiding? What is the art you practice that you don’t often think is art? Are you coloring in someone else’s lines or your own? Letting go of perfection and striving for excellence. What was the last thing you were really proud of? No buts. Quotes “It’s funny because I didn’t study art or anything right? My medium is paint, of all sorts so I could say I’m a painter, but I never started. I always went straight to artist because I think it’s in your soul, it doesn’t matter even when I do science, I assemble molecules. There’s an art to that. That’s what felt right to me, I never defined myself as a painter even though that’s my medium for traditional art as we would say so.” “You don’t have to pick, you can be all the things that your heart desires.” “I don’t want to color in someone else’s lines anymore.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What will you do with your insights from this conversation? Will you choose to color out of the lines or to make your own lines? Will you choose to simply color within those lines just to express your own need for color for some form of relaxing, because it can be a great tool. But if you are driven, if you are compelled to stop coloring inside someone else’s lines, I want to know what that looks like for you. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Anne Catherine Anne-Catherine is a French-Canadian PhD chemist and abstract artist whose work invites people to reclaim their wholeness. She bridges two worlds that rarely meet: science and art. What started as a personal outlet became a transformative practice that helped her process emotions beyond the reach of language. This shaped her belief that creative expression can regulate the nervous system and reconnect us with the parts of ourselves we tend to silence. Through her brand Labcoat & Leggings, she explores the intersection of scientific themes and bold creative freedom. As a scientist and a mother, she has witnessed how often women in STEM hide parts of themselves to navigate spaces not designed for them. Her work is about reclaiming what we mute and showing what it looks like when someone leads with honesty and humanity in a way that makes the world more welcoming and inclusive for all. Be sure to check out Anne’s and ! And be sure to check out her website ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/39695305

414 Following Your Own Star 01/13/2026

414 Following Your Own Star 414 Following Your Own Star There comes a time in our lives where we need to stop and take stock of what we want to do next and our next steps in getting there. Perhaps it’s more than just one thing, perhaps you’re just floating through life trying to figure out what to do next, or perhaps you think this goal is too lofty despite all your hard work. Which is why it is so important to take all you know about others and yourself and apply it to whatever comes next. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Professor KD Frick discuss the importance of that specific personal growth, as well as the importance of believing in others and yourself even when you aren’t sure where your own star is leading you, and especially to greet the world with open arms. Highlights Finding the right words for where you are in your life right now. Leading with compassion and empathy. Position yourself to be able to understand. Don’t immediately dismiss someone, you never know where their combined ideas may lead. Everyone has their own North Star they follow. Quotes “Empathy leads to approachability.” “Look as long as I’m here and unless you tell me otherwise, I’m planning on reading names. Because it’s the last connection students have with us.” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What did you hear in this conversation that struck you as something that resonated? Maybe it was about not knowing what you want to do next, maybe it was I do know what I want to do next but I’m not being consistent enough to make it happen. I am so curious to hear your thoughts, please share them either in the comments or wherever you see this shared or send me an email. And, as always, thank you for listening. About KD KD Frick was originally trained as a health economist and began a career at Johns Hopkins as a faculty member at the Bloomberg School of Public Health; after a bit more than sixteen years in that role, with responsibilities like associate department chair and faculty senate president, a move was made to the Carey Business School as vice dean for education. The eight and one-half years spent in that role were a time of growth and expansion of opportunity. With colleagues encouraging a return to research, challenging decisions around COVID, a focus on ranking academic programs that was not of interest, and a lack of visible opportunities for advancement in administration, a decision was made to return to just a faculty role. The result has been great fulfillment, a change in teaching, and a focus on leading by teaching others to lead artisnally toward aspirational narratives for themselves and those they are developing. There is still room for work on the economics of eye care where Professor Frick has the opportunity to apply the leading with values approach that is taught in the classroom. Be sure to check out Professor Frick’s , , as well as ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/39695285

413 Love, Connection, Belonging, and Comfort Zones 01/06/2026

413 Love, Connection, Belonging, and Comfort Zones 413 Love, Connection, Belonging, and Comfort Zones It’s easy to forget to take care of the many facets of our health in a world obsessed with value and progress. We forget to care for our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health in ways that dramatically affect us in the long run, which is why it is vital for us to sit down and take stock of our health and to take the time to tend to our own needs. In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Kevin Strauss discuss the importance of connection, comfort zones, boundaries, love, and how important it is to ourselves as humans. Highlights Emotional, physical, and spiritual health and what the differences are. How we learn and how it shapes us into who we are. Identifying your comfort zone so you feel safe stepping into your stretch zone. Taking care of every aspect of your health so that you can operate perfectly. Quit trying to distract, soothe, or numb yourself to your needs. Take the time to properly address them so that you can be a truly healthy and functional person. What is your reference for comfort? Quotes “There is no right or wrong or better or worse way, it’s just that this is how we are operating in the world and this is how we learn.” “Value in our brain translates to love, and that’s really an emotional health need. So we’re try to feel more valuable, because value equals love in our brain.” “We try to show our value, that we are worthy of love, but it’s never enough. It never soothes, we always need more, more, more, because we aren’t addressing the real problem. And the real problem is we don’t feel love just for who we are.” “How many people on the planet are actively, intentionally, daily, practicing love and connection?” Dear Listeners it is now your turn, I’m going to ask you to define your comfort zone. Consider a moment in time when you felt truly comfortable, loved, safe, supported, just like when I stood in my doorway and saw my children in the room, and thought “If that’s not nice, then what is?” Find a handful of moments like that in your life, define what it felt like, because once you have that foundation, you can step out of it. And, as always, thank you for listening. Mentioned in this episode About Kevin Kevin R. Strauss is the CEO of Uchi, a platform built on one simple truth — everything feels possible when you know someone has your back, every day. With 30 years in human behavior, innovation, and wellness, Kevin focuses on solving long-standing problems with simple solutions. His career began in biomedical engineering, earning more than 75 patents and multiple publications, but his deeper passion has always been understanding people and why we behave the way we do. Through Uchi, Kevin helps families, schools, workplaces, and communities create stronger relationships so people can do better together. He’s also the author of Innovate The 1% and host of the Question It podcast. Outside of work, Kevin is a 24-year, injury-free Ironman Triathlete, expedition backpacker, and award-winning ballroom dancer. Be sure to check out Kevin’s , , and ! As well as his website, , his , and ! 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 as well to make sure you nail that next interview! /episode/index/show/howtoshareyourstories/id/39606945

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

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