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Every great leader I admire has something they're still working through—something real, unresolved, and unseen by others. Today, I want to take you beyond the polished public image to explore the struggles, questions, and breakthroughs that happen behind closed doors. This episode is about the leadership you rarely get to see—the parts they don't always show. If what you hear today resonates with you, stick around until the end for details on our monthly leadership training designed to help you grow.Guest IntroductionEAT. SLEEP. PARTY. REPEAT. That was the mantra for Paige Chenault Lohoefer—and for good reason. As a former wedding planner with nearly a decade of experience, Paige knew how to throw a celebration to remember. Armed with a coveted black book of party vendors and a knack for creating unforgettable moments, she turned her talent toward a new kind of guest of honor: children experiencing homelessness.In 2012, she founded The Birthday Party Project (TBPP)—a nonprofit that brings JOY through the magic of birthday celebrations. What began as a simple idea has grown into a national movement. Over the last 13 years, TBPP has expanded to 20 cities, celebrated more than 78,000 children, and mobilized nearly 38,000 volunteers—known lovingly as Birthday Enthusiasts.While Paige has transitioned out of the day-to-day leadership at TBPP, she remains its passionate Chief Storyteller and biggest champion. Her heart still beats for community, but these days her focus has shifted to helping others build bold, beautiful organizations from the inside out.Paige is deeply committed to aligning vision with values, purpose with brand, and systems with culture. Whether she's consulting on a campaign, clarifying messaging, or guiding a team through change, Paige is at her best when she's bringing big ideas to life and creating meaningful spaces where people feel seen, known, and celebrated.Her work has been featured by the TODAY Show, New York Times, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Glamour Magazine, ABC World News Tonight, and more. She delivered a TEDx talk in 2016 and continues to speak on brave leadership, intentional culture, and finding JOY in the everyday.Paige believes that people matter most—and that the right invitation can change everything.Key TakeawaysLeadership is never finished. Even the most successful leaders wrestle with challenges that are still unfolding and roles that keep evolving.Letting go is hard. Stepping away from the day-to-day decision making is often way more difficult than I expected.Responsibility versus accountability: It's crucial to know what you're responsible for, what you're accountable to, and what you're choosing to take on.Ego and security play a huge role. Holding onto control often comes from a need for security, belonging, and relevance.Trusting others takes practice. It's natural to fear what might happen when we delegate, but giving space is how others grow and solve problems.Belonging versus being wanted: Being relevant doesn't always feel like being wanted—but true collaboration needs both.Deep Dive: The Leadership Transition StrugglePaige opened up about how hard it's been to “let go” after bringing in a capable CEO and stepping back from the primary decision-making role. She talked about the heavy feeling of still being responsible for outcomes, even though she's no longer in control. We also discussed the struggle of trusting others' decisions while still wanting those decisions to align with the mission she built. Sometimes, taking on responsibility is a choice—and it can become a burden we don't actually need.The Three Categories of Leadership OwnershipThings I'm responsible for—tasks only I can handle, and if I don't do them, it's detrimental.Things I'm accountable for—even if I'm not involved day to day, the buck stops with me.Things I've willfully chosen to take on, even if they weren't assigned or necessary.The Ego, Security, and Belonging Behind ControlPaige and I talked about the ego tied to leadership—the drive to find solutions and control outcomes that feels like a source of security. The problem-solving that happens too fast can rob the team of space to grow. It's a tension between knowing your stuff and trusting others to contribute fully. And underneath it all is the need to feel relevant, wanted, and like you have a place to belong—that's what keeps us so deeply involved sometimes.Key Quotes“Every great leader I admire, no matter how much success they show, has something they're still working through.”“Stepping out of the decision-maker role has been way harder than I imagined.”“I find myself pausing, conflicted about what's mine to do and what's not.”“Sometimes I don't even allow someone else's voice because I'm terrified it will take too long or the outcome won't be what I want.”“I work really hard to create places where people belong. That's exactly it for me—is there space for me?”“What if I could be relevant and wanted? That would be amazing.”Resources MentionedPaige's website: https://www.thebirthdaypartyproject.org Paige's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthdaypartyproject/ Paige's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-c-lohoefer-67115287/ Monthly Leadership Training: I run a leadership training program designed to help you deepen your skills and navigate these very real challenges behind the scenes. Register here: https://rockygarza.com/confidence Timestamps00:00 Unmasking Leadership: The Real Struggles Behind Success01:01 Introducing Paige: A Journey of Building and Letting Go01:09 The Transition: From Decision Maker to Founder in Residence03:18 Navigating Responsibility and Accountability06:11 The Ego and the Urge to Solve Everything09:17 Balancing Relevance and Belonging in Leadership16:16 Identity Crisis: Finding Purpose Beyond the Role20:27 Navigating Leadership Transitions22:45 Balancing Ego and Humility26:45 Reflecting on Past Challenges29:55 Seeking Validation and Accountability34:41 Embracing Change and Moving Forward42:04 Final Thoughts and Leadership TrainingTo join Rocky for his next free virtual event, go to https://rockygarza.com/beyondsuccessSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/trgs/donations
Sometimes, it feels like work wasn't designed with us, humans, in mind. Human suffering at work is becoming far too common in our tech-driven world of work. It's burning us out, disconnecting us, and draining our energy. We've lost sight of the one thing that truly powers progress: people. But there's a way to break that mean cycle. A better way to redesign work to fuel joy, not exhaustion. In this inspiring Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Rich Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller of Menlo Innovations, talk about how to radically reimagine work to end human suffering in the world of technology.Richard Sheridan is the co-founder, CEO, and "Chief Storyteller" of Menlo Innovations, a software and IT consulting firm renowned for its innovative and joyful workplace culture. Disillusioned by the chaos of the tech industry, Rich co-founded Menlo in 2001 with a mission to end human suffering in the workplace. His passion for creating joyful work environments led to his bestselling books, Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy Officer, and he has shared his insights through over 1,000 talks worldwide.It's time to redesign your tech organization into a place where people feel more alive.Things you will learn in this episode:• Pair programming as a tool for collaboration and continuous learning• Replacing fear and micromanagement with clarity and trust• How laughter, energy, and joy signal a healthy workplace• Ending tech burnout through intentional systems design• The ROI of flourishing: higher quality work, retention, and impactIf you've ever questioned whether work has to be painful to be productive, this conversation offers a hopeful, proven alternative. Tune into this epic episode now.Resources:• Menlo Innovations: http://www.menloinnovations.com/ • Menlo Innovations Case Studies: https://menloinnovations.com/stories • Richard Sheridan on X: https://x.com/menloprez • Get to know Richard Sheridan: https://richardsheridan.com/meet-rich Books:• Joy Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love by Richard Sheridan: https://a.co/d/6C4HJbe • Books from Richard Sheridan: https://richardsheridan.com/books• Chief Joy Officer by Richard Sheridan: https://a.co/d/7F4t8HA • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome-ebook/dp/B0BCXDCLX1?ref_=ast_author_mpb
“Building strong relationships takes time, and that's what many B2B marketers miss,” says Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at AgorapulseIn this episode of The Content Cocktail Hour, Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse, joins Jonathan Gandolf to discuss the evolution of social media marketing and why relationships, not quick sales, are the foundation of B2B success. Mike shares his journey from influencer ambassador to storyteller at Agorapulse, his thoughts on how brands can empower employees to share their story, and why relationship-building in social media cannot be automated by AI. He also discusses the challenges of AI-generated content, the importance of brand consistency, and why LinkedIn connection requests shouldn't always lead to a sales pitch.In this episode, you'll learn:How to empower employees to authentically represent your brandWhy building relationships on social media requires patience and timeHow to balance automation with personal connection in B2B marketingResources:Connect with Jonathan Gandolf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/Explore AudiencePlus: https://audienceplus.comConnect with Mike Allton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeallton/Connect with Mike Allton through The AI Hat: https://theaihat.com/connect/Explore The AI Hat: https://theaihat.com/ Explore Agorapulse: https://www.agorapulse.com/Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:31) Mike Allton's journey and role at Agorapulse(04:03) The importance of empowering employees to share brand stories(07:02) The shift from corporate to human voices in social media(11:06) Navigating AI's influence on social media content(12:30) How AI is both a tool and a challenge for content creation(13:04) The dangers of LinkedIn pitch slaps(14:30) Balancing automation and personal connection in outreach(19:17) The evolution of social media marketing in B2B(22:19) The future of relationship-building in digital marketing
Attract & Stand Out with Darlene Hawley | Online Business Clarity Coach
In this episode of the Attract and Standout podcast, host Darlene Hawley chats with Lisa Raebel, owner and founder of Rebel Girl Marketing. Lisa shares her journey from corporate sales to starting her own marketing firm, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and telling the truth in marketing. They discuss the challenges of marketing oneself as an entrepreneur, the significance of storytelling in marketing, and the essential differences between marketing and sales. Lisa also introduces her latest projects, including a new workbook and training sessions designed to help businesses excel in their marketing strategies. Tune in to learn actionable tips on how to effectively market your business and connect with your ideal clients.Lisa is the Founder, Author, Speaker & Chief Storyteller of Rebel Girl Marketing, where she has developed her proprietary RebelMindset approach to help businesses stay in business by utilizing focused, uncompromising marketing strategies. With over thirty years of experience as a successful marketing executive and leading sales professional, Lisa cuts through the noise and breaks down marketing to what makes sense for her clients, creating strategies that are simple, relatable to their target audiences, and result in double-digit sales growth year after year.https://rebelgirlmarketing.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaraebel/https://www.facebook.com/rebelgirlmarketing-----Hi I'm Darlene Hawley, and I help entrepreneurs and executive leaders find their voice and mastering communication in high-stakes conversations and presentations, whether in the boardroom, on a sales call, or around the dinner table.Grab my 10 Do's and Don't for Effective Daring Conversations: https://mailchi.mp/297e8105e904/communicationguideGrab my 6 Steps To Attract & Stand Out digital guide, a free roadmap to create a successful business with less hustle and more ease: https://bit.ly/attractandstandoutonlineGrab a Chai and let's Connect:https://darlenehawley.comhttps://linkedin.com/in/darlenehawley
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Jill Palmquist, author of the stunning coffee table book, In This Lifetime, and Vice President and Chief Storyteller at Life Time. Jill shares the heartfelt journey behind her book, which celebrates the beauty and brevity of the human experience through real-life stories. We explore the importance of living in the moment, the power of storytelling, and the art of living well. Jill opens up about the collaborative process behind the book, how the pandemic delayed its release but ultimately led to its success, and why she believes that laughter, stillness, and gratitude are essential for personal well-being. If you're seeking inspiration to slow down, savor everyday moments, and find meaning in shared experiences, this conversation is for you. Some key takeaways: ✅ The Power of Community: Jill shares how Life Time's unique health and wellness community inspired the stories in her book. ✅ Living in the Present: She emphasizes the importance of being present for life's small but meaningful moments. ✅ The Healing Power of Laughter: Jill highlights how laughter can be a powerful tool for healing and connection. ✅ Gratitude & Stillness: Jill encourages us to find stillness in a busy world and practice daily gratitude for greater fulfillment. ✅ The Art of Living Well: Combining knowledge with personal application is key to creating a life of vitality and joy. This episode is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and actionable takeaways for anyone looking to live with more purpose, push past fear, and truly live their life to the fullest. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Gratitude 02:05 Jill's Journey to Lifetime 09:06 The Inspiration Behind the Book 12:11 Creating the Coffee Table Book 19:54 Key Takeaways and Advice for Listeners 28:27 The Art of Living Well Helpful links and resources: Book: https://inthislifetime.life Use code: wellwellwell for a special discount. IG: https://www.instagram.com/ohthatjill/ ---------------------------------------------------------
Rick Welch sits down with Christopher Beth and Eric Ogea to discuss effective ways to minister to others in the world. Christopher Beth is the Founder, Chief Storyteller, and Director of The Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit sharing God's love through the gift of safe, clean drinking water. A former business consultant, Christopher felt called to ministry after a 2012 mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon, where he witnessed the devastating effects of unclean water. Hearing God's call to “help them,” he founded The Bucket Ministry in 2015, which has since expanded to over 20 countries, providing water filters and the Gospel to those in need. Christopher lives near Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Sheri. They have two grown children, Savannah and Griffin, and several grandchildren.To learn more or assist The Bucket Ministry, please visit the below links:The Bucket Ministry Website: https://thebucketministry.org/Give One, Get One Program: https://thebucketministry.org/give-one-get-one/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebucketministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bucketministryVimeo: https://vimeo.com/user46098807If you'd like to become a patron of the Burros Patreon page to get exclusive content, please visit: www.patreon.com/theburrosofbereaIf you'd like to learn more about us, please visit our website at: www.burrosofberea.com Thanks for listening!
BetterMan has been on the road the last few weeks. And we have felt that the messages that have been shared at recent conferences need to be heard by all. Over the next 8 weeks we'll be sharing these life changing, impactful messages. Our First speaker is Chief Storyteller at BetterMan Chris Harper as he shares the Importance of God's Word in our lives.
Alec Zeck is no stranger to going against the grain for the sake of getting a needed message out into the air waves.Join in-demand speaker, writer, researcher, and the host of “The Way Forward” podcast and myself for a conversation about what it's like to have been a hub of alternative information in the truth and freedom health movement. In this interview we will discuss his biggest influences, how he fearlessly keeps going when he's attacked for his views, and what is his sacred purpose that fuels his movement.He interviewed me live-in-person in April 2024 introducing me to the salt-of-the-earth quality of people who follow him. I'm honoured to be asking him the questions this time.Alec's bio:D. Alec Zeck is an independent researcher, podcaster, speaker, writer, former Army Captain, husband and father of two young children. He is best known for his popular podcast "The Way Forward with Alec Zeck", which is consistently one of the highest-ranking alternative health podcasts in the world.Alec is the Founder and Chief Storyteller of The Way Forward— an organization focused on educating, empowering, and uniting men and women from all walks of life in pursuit of health, liberty, and awareness— and the producer of the viral educational series The End of Covid. He is also the former Executive Director and Founder of Health Freedom for Humanity. Alec received his B.S. in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.https://thewayfwrd.com https://theendofcovid.com IG @d_alec_zeckIG @thewayfwrdIG @the.way.fwrd (backup account) ***Bumper music by Liam Martens, aka ツSaiko, sub to him here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SA1KO0O1 ***MORE FROM BETHSign up to take a 5-minute King Hero's Journey archetype quizApply to become a member of the House of Free Will MinistryRumbleJoin me on the uncensored RokfinKing Hero Telegram ChannelTwitter (X)InstagramSign up for a Hero's Journey Archetype ReadingOrder a copy of my book, ‘Journey: A Map of Archetypes to Find Lost Purpose in a Sea of Meaninglessness'Donate by PayPal if you're inspiredFollow the King Hero's Journey Podcast on Apple Podcasts SpotifyBeing free is not a spectator sport - Hal Anthony, “Behind the Woodshed” ***ABOUT BETH MARTENSFor archetype, purpose and business coach, author, coach trainer, and founder of the House of Free Will in the Private Domain, Beth Martens, her calling is a life or death thing.After a decade as a corporate VP in her family's firm, 8 trips to India, and a 3-year battle with cancer 20 years ago, she used archetypes to save her life. Today she helps truth lovers find their sacred purpose, be valued for their life's work, and survive the ordeals of their Hero's Journey. As a recovering feminist, she helps strong men to survive their missions, and hosts the King Hero's Journey podcast to highlight important leaders, entrepreneurs, movement makers, law experts, and purveyors of the truth. To do a free ‘King Hero' Archetype Quiz to learn where you are on the path of purpose, find her book, “Journey: A Map of Archetypes to Find Lost Purpose in a Sea of Meaninglessness”, and to apply to become a member in the House of Free Will Ministry visit her website at https://www.bethmartens.com.
Today on Karl and Crew, we are airing the “Best of” from our week at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference in Dallas, Texas. We have compiled a few of the interviews from our guests this week. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this week: Dr. Erwin Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago and an author. Dr. Lutzer has authored several books including, “Eclipse of God: Our Nation’s Disastrous Search for a More Inclusive Deity (and What We Must Do About It.)” Lana Silk is the Chief Executive Officer for Transform Iran, a Christian organization that shares the gospel in Iran. Lana passionately works to help bring freedom to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on Karl and Crew, we are airing the “Best of” from our week at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference in Dallas, Texas. We have compiled a few of the interviews from our guests this week. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this week: Dr. Erwin Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago and an author. Dr. Lutzer has authored several books including, “Eclipse of God: Our Nation’s Disastrous Search for a More Inclusive Deity (and What We Must Do About It.)” Lana Silk is the Chief Executive Officer for Transform Iran, a Christian organization that shares the gospel in Iran. Lana passionately works to help bring freedom to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on Karl and Crew, we are airing the “Best of” from our week at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference in Dallas, Texas. We have compiled a few of the interviews from our guests this week. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this week: Dr. Erwin Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago and an author. Dr. Lutzer has authored several books including, “Eclipse of God: Our Nation’s Disastrous Search for a More Inclusive Deity (and What We Must Do About It.)” Lana Silk is the Chief Executive Officer for Transform Iran, a Christian organization that shares the gospel in Iran. Lana passionately works to help bring freedom to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on Karl and Crew, we are airing the “Best of” from our week at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference in Dallas, Texas. We have compiled a few of the interviews from our guests this week. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this week: Dr. Erwin Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago and an author. Dr. Lutzer has authored several books including, “Eclipse of God: Our Nation’s Disastrous Search for a More Inclusive Deity (and What We Must Do About It.)” Lana Silk is the Chief Executive Officer for Transform Iran, a Christian organization that shares the gospel in Iran. Lana passionately works to help bring freedom to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on Karl and Crew, we are airing the “Best of” from our week at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference in Dallas, Texas. We have compiled a few of the interviews from our guests this week. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this week: Dr. Erwin Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago and an author. Dr. Lutzer has authored several books including, “Eclipse of God: Our Nation’s Disastrous Search for a More Inclusive Deity (and What We Must Do About It.)” Lana Silk is the Chief Executive Officer for Transform Iran, a Christian organization that shares the gospel in Iran. Lana passionately works to help bring freedom to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on Karl and Crew, we are airing the “Best of” from our week at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference in Dallas, Texas. We have compiled a few of the interviews from our guests this week. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this week: Dr. Erwin Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago and an author. Dr. Lutzer has authored several books including, “Eclipse of God: Our Nation’s Disastrous Search for a More Inclusive Deity (and What We Must Do About It.)” Lana Silk is the Chief Executive Officer for Transform Iran, a Christian organization that shares the gospel in Iran. Lana passionately works to help bring freedom to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on Karl and Crew, we are airing the “Best of” from our week at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference in Dallas, Texas. We have compiled a few of the interviews from our guests this week. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this week: Dr. Erwin Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago and an author. Dr. Lutzer has authored several books including, “Eclipse of God: Our Nation’s Disastrous Search for a More Inclusive Deity (and What We Must Do About It.)” Lana Silk is the Chief Executive Officer for Transform Iran, a Christian organization that shares the gospel in Iran. Lana passionately works to help bring freedom to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, on Karl and Crew, we were broadcasting LIVE from Texas at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference. We had some special guests on the show today as they shared their ministry origin stories, how God is moving through the ministry now and some helpful resources. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this morning: Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Marc Harper is the Director of Special Projects at Revelation Media Inc., a Christian media ministry that secures partners to create, produce and translate biblical films like The Pilgrim’s Progress. Prior to his current position, Marc was the Vice President of Development, helping to lead the launch of The Pilgrim’s Progress and iBible, a visual and interactive Bible app through Revelation Media. Dr. Drew Dickens is a leader, AI expert, and scholar who has contributed to the integration of technology, spirituality and faith-based engagement. He was able to combine those things when he founded Encountering Peace, an app that provides guided meditations in the Bible, and the Encounter Podcast. Dr. Dickens has also written a book called “Whispers of the Spirit: A 40-Day Guide to Intimate Prayer,” which will be available April 1, 2025. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, an international speaker, a podcast host, and the CEO of Restorasis, a health and wellness consulting agency. Dr. Dalton-Smith is also an award-winning author and just released her book, “Being Fully Known: The Joyful Satisfaction of Beholding, Becoming, and Belonging.” She also is the host of the podcast, “I Choose My Best Life.” Keisha Toni Russell is a constitutional lawyer with First Liberty Institute, a legal organization that defends religious liberty. Keisha is a sought-after speaker who delivers commentaries on several TV stations and she writes op-eds for various national news outlets. She has also written a new book called, “Uncommon Courage.” Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, on Karl and Crew, we were broadcasting LIVE from Texas at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference. We had some special guests on the show today as they shared their ministry origin stories, how God is moving through the ministry now and some helpful resources. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this morning: Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Marc Harper is the Director of Special Projects at Revelation Media Inc., a Christian media ministry that secures partners to create, produce and translate biblical films like The Pilgrim’s Progress. Prior to his current position, Marc was the Vice President of Development, helping to lead the launch of The Pilgrim’s Progress and iBible, a visual and interactive Bible app through Revelation Media. Dr. Drew Dickens is a leader, AI expert, and scholar who has contributed to the integration of technology, spirituality and faith-based engagement. He was able to combine those things when he founded Encountering Peace, an app that provides guided meditations in the Bible, and the Encounter Podcast. Dr. Dickens has also written a book called “Whispers of the Spirit: A 40-Day Guide to Intimate Prayer,” which will be available April 1, 2025. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, an international speaker, a podcast host, and the CEO of Restorasis, a health and wellness consulting agency. Dr. Dalton-Smith is also an award-winning author and just released her book, “Being Fully Known: The Joyful Satisfaction of Beholding, Becoming, and Belonging.” She also is the host of the podcast, “I Choose My Best Life.” Keisha Toni Russell is a constitutional lawyer with First Liberty Institute, a legal organization that defends religious liberty. Keisha is a sought-after speaker who delivers commentaries on several TV stations and she writes op-eds for various national news outlets. She has also written a new book called, “Uncommon Courage.” Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to "The AI Hat Podcast: Unlocking the Power of AI for Business Growth" Are you a business leader looking to harness the power of AI for growth but feeling overwhelmed by the complexity? Do you want practical advice and real-world strategies to successfully integrate AI into your business? Who is this show for? "The AI Hat Podcast" is designed for business leaders and decision-makers across all industries who are eager to understand and leverage AI for business growth. Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to advance your existing initiatives, this podcast provides clear guidance and expert insights. What can you expect from this show? Join your host, Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse and founder of The AI Hat, as he demystifies AI and explores its practical applications for businesses of all sizes. Each episode features insightful conversations with AI experts and business leaders who share their experiences, strategies, and best practices. You'll discover how to: Identify AI opportunities within your specific industry and business model Develop a human-centered approach to AI adoption Implement AI solutions to improve efficiency, productivity, and decision-making Navigate the evolving AI landscape and stay ahead of the curve About your host, Mike Allton Mike Allton is a seasoned digital marketer with a passion for helping businesses thrive in the age of AI. As Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse and founder of The AI Hat, Mike brings his expertise and engaging style to deliver practical AI insights and actionable advice. Join the conversation Tune in to "The AI Hat Podcast" and unlock the transformative power of AI for your business. Subscribe now and embark on your journey to growth! Learn more about the show, including past episodes, partnership, and guest opportunities: https://theaihat.com/podcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today, on Karl and Crew, we were broadcasting LIVE from Texas at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference. We had some special guests on the show today as they shared their ministry origin stories, how God is moving through the ministry now and some helpful resources. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this morning: Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Marc Harper is the Director of Special Projects at Revelation Media Inc., a Christian media ministry that secures partners to create, produce and translate biblical films like The Pilgrim’s Progress. Prior to his current position, Marc was the Vice President of Development, helping to lead the launch of The Pilgrim’s Progress and iBible, a visual and interactive Bible app through Revelation Media. Dr. Drew Dickens is a leader, AI expert, and scholar who has contributed to the integration of technology, spirituality and faith-based engagement. He was able to combine those things when he founded Encountering Peace, an app that provides guided meditations in the Bible, and the Encounter Podcast. Dr. Dickens has also written a book called “Whispers of the Spirit: A 40-Day Guide to Intimate Prayer,” which will be available April 1, 2025. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, an international speaker, a podcast host, and the CEO of Restorasis, a health and wellness consulting agency. Dr. Dalton-Smith is also an award-winning author and just released her book, “Being Fully Known: The Joyful Satisfaction of Beholding, Becoming, and Belonging.” She also is the host of the podcast, “I Choose My Best Life.” Keisha Toni Russell is a constitutional lawyer with First Liberty Institute, a legal organization that defends religious liberty. Keisha is a sought-after speaker who delivers commentaries on several TV stations and she writes op-eds for various national news outlets. She has also written a new book called, “Uncommon Courage.” Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, on Karl and Crew, we were broadcasting LIVE from Texas at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference. We had some special guests on the show today as they shared their ministry origin stories, how God is moving through the ministry now and some helpful resources. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this morning: Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Marc Harper is the Director of Special Projects at Revelation Media Inc., a Christian media ministry that secures partners to create, produce and translate biblical films like The Pilgrim’s Progress. Prior to his current position, Marc was the Vice President of Development, helping to lead the launch of The Pilgrim’s Progress and iBible, a visual and interactive Bible app through Revelation Media. Dr. Drew Dickens is a leader, AI expert, and scholar who has contributed to the integration of technology, spirituality and faith-based engagement. He was able to combine those things when he founded Encountering Peace, an app that provides guided meditations in the Bible, and the Encounter Podcast. Dr. Dickens has also written a book called “Whispers of the Spirit: A 40-Day Guide to Intimate Prayer,” which will be available April 1, 2025. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, an international speaker, a podcast host, and the CEO of Restorasis, a health and wellness consulting agency. Dr. Dalton-Smith is also an award-winning author and just released her book, “Being Fully Known: The Joyful Satisfaction of Beholding, Becoming, and Belonging.” She also is the host of the podcast, “I Choose My Best Life.” Keisha Toni Russell is a constitutional lawyer with First Liberty Institute, a legal organization that defends religious liberty. Keisha is a sought-after speaker who delivers commentaries on several TV stations and she writes op-eds for various national news outlets. She has also written a new book called, “Uncommon Courage.” Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, on Karl and Crew, we were broadcasting LIVE from Texas at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference. We had some special guests on the show today as they shared their ministry origin stories, how God is moving through the ministry now and some helpful resources. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this morning: Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Marc Harper is the Director of Special Projects at Revelation Media Inc., a Christian media ministry that secures partners to create, produce and translate biblical films like The Pilgrim’s Progress. Prior to his current position, Marc was the Vice President of Development, helping to lead the launch of The Pilgrim’s Progress and iBible, a visual and interactive Bible app through Revelation Media. Dr. Drew Dickens is a leader, AI expert, and scholar who has contributed to the integration of technology, spirituality and faith-based engagement. He was able to combine those things when he founded Encountering Peace, an app that provides guided meditations in the Bible, and the Encounter Podcast. Dr. Dickens has also written a book called “Whispers of the Spirit: A 40-Day Guide to Intimate Prayer,” which will be available April 1, 2025. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, an international speaker, a podcast host, and the CEO of Restorasis, a health and wellness consulting agency. Dr. Dalton-Smith is also an award-winning author and just released her book, “Being Fully Known: The Joyful Satisfaction of Beholding, Becoming, and Belonging.” She also is the host of the podcast, “I Choose My Best Life.” Keisha Toni Russell is a constitutional lawyer with First Liberty Institute, a legal organization that defends religious liberty. Keisha is a sought-after speaker who delivers commentaries on several TV stations and she writes op-eds for various national news outlets. She has also written a new book called, “Uncommon Courage.” Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, on Karl and Crew, we were broadcasting LIVE from Texas at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference. We had some special guests on the show today as they shared their ministry origin stories, how God is moving through the ministry now and some helpful resources. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this morning: Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Marc Harper is the Director of Special Projects at Revelation Media Inc., a Christian media ministry that secures partners to create, produce and translate biblical films like The Pilgrim’s Progress. Prior to his current position, Marc was the Vice President of Development, helping to lead the launch of The Pilgrim’s Progress and iBible, a visual and interactive Bible app through Revelation Media. Dr. Drew Dickens is a leader, AI expert, and scholar who has contributed to the integration of technology, spirituality and faith-based engagement. He was able to combine those things when he founded Encountering Peace, an app that provides guided meditations in the Bible, and the Encounter Podcast. Dr. Dickens has also written a book called “Whispers of the Spirit: A 40-Day Guide to Intimate Prayer,” which will be available April 1, 2025. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, an international speaker, a podcast host, and the CEO of Restorasis, a health and wellness consulting agency. Dr. Dalton-Smith is also an award-winning author and just released her book, “Being Fully Known: The Joyful Satisfaction of Beholding, Becoming, and Belonging.” She also is the host of the podcast, “I Choose My Best Life.” Keisha Toni Russell is a constitutional lawyer with First Liberty Institute, a legal organization that defends religious liberty. Keisha is a sought-after speaker who delivers commentaries on several TV stations and she writes op-eds for various national news outlets. She has also written a new book called, “Uncommon Courage.” Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, on Karl and Crew, we were broadcasting LIVE from Texas at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference. We had some special guests on the show today as they shared their ministry origin stories, how God is moving through the ministry now and some helpful resources. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast. The following guests joined us this morning: Jonathan Griffiths is a lead pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Canada. Jonathan also leads Encounter the Truth, a media ministry that shares the gospel through radio and podcasts in the United States and Canada. He is also an author and has written several books including, “Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church.” Christopher Beth is the founder, Chief Storyteller and Director of the Bucket Ministry, a nonprofit organization that shares the good news of Jesus along with clean water for in-need communities around the world. Christopher used to be a business consultant until he felt the call to ministry after going on a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his then-high school daughter in 2012. Marc Harper is the Director of Special Projects at Revelation Media Inc., a Christian media ministry that secures partners to create, produce and translate biblical films like The Pilgrim’s Progress. Prior to his current position, Marc was the Vice President of Development, helping to lead the launch of The Pilgrim’s Progress and iBible, a visual and interactive Bible app through Revelation Media. Dr. Drew Dickens is a leader, AI expert, and scholar who has contributed to the integration of technology, spirituality and faith-based engagement. He was able to combine those things when he founded Encountering Peace, an app that provides guided meditations in the Bible, and the Encounter Podcast. Dr. Dickens has also written a book called “Whispers of the Spirit: A 40-Day Guide to Intimate Prayer,” which will be available April 1, 2025. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, an international speaker, a podcast host, and the CEO of Restorasis, a health and wellness consulting agency. Dr. Dalton-Smith is also an award-winning author and just released her book, “Being Fully Known: The Joyful Satisfaction of Beholding, Becoming, and Belonging.” She also is the host of the podcast, “I Choose My Best Life.” Keisha Toni Russell is a constitutional lawyer with First Liberty Institute, a legal organization that defends religious liberty. Keisha is a sought-after speaker who delivers commentaries on several TV stations and she writes op-eds for various national news outlets. She has also written a new book called, “Uncommon Courage.” Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The writer Jon Ronson and the creators of the immersive theatrical experience Sleep No More have teamed up to make a vast new immersive show that unfolds beneath a Wall St. skyscraper. Life And Trust tells the story of J.G. Conwell, a bank president on the eve of the 1929 crash who makes a Faustian bargain to return to his youth. We accompany him back to New York's seedy and turbulent past of The Gilded Age. The experience of spending hours in the world of Life And Trust is almost indescribable since most of the story unfolds through dream-like sets and choreography. It's also an open world theatrical experience, so audiences never see the same exact show, even on the same night. I talk with Chief Storyteller for Emursive Productions Ilana Gilovch, Executive Producer of Life and Trust Carolyn Boyd, and Jon Ronson about how Life And Trust came together, and why this is the perfect moment to explore the devil's bargain of a bank. This week's episode is sponsored by Hims. Start your free online visit today at Hims.com/IMAGINARY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Brita Lundberg, a fourth-generation farmer and the Chief Storyteller at Lundberg Family Farms. They talk about what it means to read the rice and care for the crops without chemically herbicides, how a holistic approach to farming can heal soils while supporting wildlife, and the work Lundberg Family Farms is carrying out to show that regenerative organic agriculture is possible to achieve at scale. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.
This week Ilana Gilovich, Chief Storyteller for Emursive Productions, joins me for our first-ever conversation and yes, we get into just what the Chief Storyteller for the production company behind Life And Trust and the McKittrick Hotel – home of Sleep No More in NYC — does and nerd out as only two theatre kids meeting for the first time can do.Happy Holidays: it's one of THOSE No Pro episodes and a good one at that.Plus: the latest updates on The Next Stage Immersive Summit including HASBRO & DISNEY LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. –NoahSHOW NOTESLife And TrustSleep No MoreSpeakeasy MagickEmursiveThe Next Stage Immersive SummitContact Noah about that thing he mentioned. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"All companies need chief storytellers. If you don't know where to find them, hire a former journalist." - Sarah HillIn this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Sarah Hill, the Chief Storyteller and CEO of Healium, shares her journey from journalism to entrepreneurship, highlighting the transformative power of immersive storytelling experiences. Sarah Hill's journey into immersive storytelling began as a television journalist, where she uncovered the power of sharing individuals' stories. Her deep understanding of the profound impact of storytelling led her to explore ways to enhance the storytelling experience. Through her work with Healium, Sarah was drawn to the potential of immersive meditation, fueled by the user's biometric data. This innovative approach offers a unique way for individuals to engage with and influence the stories they experience, creating a deeply personal and interactive journey that allows them to heal from trauma.Sarah's passion for mental wellness and human connection is evident in her dedication to providing drugless and non-harmful coping mechanisms through media. Her mission to merge the power of technology with the healing properties of storytelling is not only inspiring but also essential in today's stress-filled world.In this episode, you will be able to:Discover the transformative benefits of an immersive storytelling platform for mental wellness.Explore the potential of using biometric data for enhancing meditation practices.Uncover effective mental fitness tools for stress relief and emotional well-being.Harness the power of visual narratives to elevate mental health therapy experiences.Learn about the crucial role of a chief storyteller in driving business success through compelling narratives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ever wondered how storytelling can transform your marketing strategy? In this episode, Amy Woods chats with Mike Allton, Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse, to uncover the secrets behind compelling brand and customer narratives and the powerful role of AI in storytelling.Discover:How storytelling can strengthen your brand and foster community engagementThe ways Agorapulse integrates storytelling into customer communicationHow AI supports Mike in brainstorming, creating story frameworks, and managing six podcastsThe importance of choosing the right storytelling framework beyond just the hero's journeyThe fine line between automation and creativity, and how to avoid the pitfalls of over-reliance on AIWays AI can help analyze and improve your storytelling by identifying missing elementsMike's current preferences for AI tools in copywriting (Claude) vs. research/strategy (ChatGPT)The evolution of AI language models to incorporate more reasoning and evaluationThe critical role of well-crafted prompts in getting quality AI output for business and marketing use casesImportant links & mentions:The Social Media Hat thesocialmediahat.com/connectMike on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeallton/How to Win at Gen AI Search with Christopher Penn www.content10x.com/310How to Use AI While Still Sounding Human with Ian Anderson Gray www.content10x.com/314Amy's book: https://www.content10x.com/book (Content 10x: More Content, Less Time, Maximum Results)Amy Woods is the CEO and founder of Content 10x, the world's first and longest-running specialist content repurposing agency that partners exclusively with B2B tech and professional services businesses.Amy is a best-selling author, hosts two content marketing podcasts (The Content 10x Podcast and B2B Content Strategist), and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content repurposing.Join hundreds of business owners, content creators and marketers and get content repurposing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week https://www.content10x.com/newsletter
With a front-row seat to the future, meet Taryn Southern, a creative technologist, pioneering artist, strategist, and speaker whose work explores the intersection of emerging technology and human potential. As an early content creator, she uploaded her first video to YouTube in 2007 — and it went viral. Ten years and 750 million views later, Taryn has produced more than 1,500 pieces of digital content for networks like Conde Naste, The Today Show, MTV, Snapchat, and Maker Studios. She's written for Business Insider and TechCrunch, and served as a host for Discovery Channel's #1 late night show. A three-time Streamy Awards nominee, her work has been featured in Billboard, Fast Company, Wired, Vanity Fair, Harvard Business Review, and more. Fast-forward to 2017, Taryn released the world's first A.I.-composed pop album, then in 2019, directed and produced a Tribeca award-winning documentary on the future of A.I. and the human brain, followed by creating an award-winning Google VR series. In 2020, she became one of the earliest content creators to create an A.I.-avatar of herself. Since 2021, Taryn has served as Chief Storyteller at a leading implantable neurotechnology company, where she launched the world's first Brain Computer Interface museum and oversaw a communications strategy for two successful funding rounds totaling over $230M+. She is passionate about helping people use A.I. and emerging tech to amplify creativity and wellbeing. Today's conversation explores the evolution of A.I.-assisted creativity, from Taryn's groundbreaking A.I.-composed album to her current meditative album in development that celebrates the human experience. We dive into her work deconstructing storytelling taxonomy and building custom A.I. tools, while examining how world-building, immersive experiences, and storytelling are transforming through emerging technologies. Taryn also shares her fascinating work with brain-computer interfaces and her vision for how technology might reshape our physical and digital worlds. From questioning our relationship with productivity to contemplating a future with more "spaciousness," this episode offers fresh perspectives that challenge conventional thinking. What are Taryn's predictions about the future and why will she be one of the first in line for a humanoid robot? Listen in to find out — enjoy! EPISODE SHOW NOTES: https://creativitysquared.com/podcast/ep74-taryn-southern-a-i-creators-of-the-future/ JOIN CREATIVITY SQUARED Sign up for our free weekly newsletter: https://creativitysquared.com/newsletter Become a premium member: https://creativitysquared.com/supporters SUBSCRIBE Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform: https://creativitysquared.com Subscribe for more videos: https://youtube.com/@creativity_squared/?sub_confirmation=1 CONNECT with C^2 https://instagram.com/creativitysquaredpodcast https://facebook.com/CreativitySquaredPodcast https://giphy.com/channel/CreativitySquared https://tumblr.com/blog/creativitysquared https://tiktok.com/@creativitysquaredpodcast #CreativitySquared CONNECT with Helen Todd, the human behind C^2 https://instagram.com/helenstravels https://twitter.com/helenstravels https://linkedin.com/in/helentodd https://pinterest.com/helentodd Creativity Squared explores how creatives are collaborating with artificial intelligence in your inbox, on YouTube, and on your preferred podcast platform. Because it's important to support artists, 10% of all revenue Creativity Squared generates will go to ArtsWave, a nationally recognized non-profit that supports over 100 arts organizations. This show is produced and made possible by the team at PLAY Audio Agency: https://playaudioagency.com. Creativity Squared is brought to you by Sociality Squared, a social media agency who understands the magic of bringing people together around what they value and love: http://socialitysquared.com.
This week, Dr. Marc Camille talks to us about his career path and approach to development as a college president. He sees himself as a chief storyteller and talks to us about ways he has built a strong culture of philanthropy while planning the Centennial Celebration of Albertus Magnus College! Dr. Marc M. Camille took office as the 14th President of Albertus Magnus College in June 2017. His career includes more than two decades of senior administrative experience at Catholic colleges. His leadership is inspired by Albertus Magnus' distinctive, values-based Dominican mission and the College's legacy of prioritizing education opportunity for those who might not otherwise have access. Prior to joining Albertus Magnus, Dr. Camille earned a national reputation for strategic enrollment management and marketing expertise and thought-leadership. Dr. Camille's presidency has seen Albertus Magnus launch an ambitious growth plan, deepen engagement within the greater New Haven area, and adopt a bold new strategic plan, Albertus 2025: Lighting the Way to a Second Century, setting the stage for the College's Centennial Celebration in 2025. Dr. Camille's leadership has prioritized deepened commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and in 2023, Albertus achieved federal designation status as an Hispanic Serving Institution. A comprehensive fundraising campaign is underway to coincide with the College's 2025 Centennial. Dr. Camille earned his Bachelor's degree in English at Rollins College, his Master's degree at the University of Miami, and his Doctorate in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support
Hosts Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye, and Andrew Gillum are live outside of Pistonsland in Detroit, Michigan! A rotating panel of esteemed Michiganders, including local and national politicians, there to discuss the issues that matter most to voters in this critical swing State. Guests include: Mary Sheffield, Detroit City Council President President Kyra Harris Bolden, MI Supreme Court Justice James Tate, City Council President Pro Tem Jessica Nabongo, Author and World Traveler Portia Powell, Owner of One Detroit Credit Union Gillian Bradley, Owner of Harper Ray The Bushman, Detroit Radio Legend Eric Thomas, Detroit's Chief Storyteller Bravo S, Owner of Society Detroit Fatima Tekko, Owner of Fresh Rootz Dr. Rheeda Walker, Author April Verrett, SEIU President Garlin Gilchrist, MI Lt. Gov Cliff Albright, Black Voters Matter Co-founder J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons We are 17 days away from the election. Welcome home y'all! If you'd like to submit a question, check out our tutorial video: www.instagram.com/reel/C5j_oBXLIg0/ —--------- We want to hear from you! Send us a video @nativelandpod and we may feature you on the podcast. Instagram X/Twitter Facebook NativeLandPod.com Watch full episodes of Native Land Pod here on YouTube. Thank you to the Native Land Pod team: Angela Rye as host, executive producer and cofounder of Reasoned Choice Media; Tiffany Cross as host and producer, Andrew Gillum as host and producer, and Lauren Hansen as executive producer; Loren Mychael is our research producer, and Nikolas Harter is our editor and producer. Special thanks to Chris Morrow and Lenard McKelvey, co-founders of Reasoned Choice Media. Theme music created by Daniel Laurent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jay Revell is the Founder, President and Chief Storyteller at Revell Media, a company that does marketing, public relations, and brand storytelling. Jay is also an author, golfer, and adjunct faculty member at Florida State University College of Social Sciences & Public Policy.In this episode, Blake and Jay discuss community, storytelling, golf, time travel, and much more.Produced by Level Up Digital Media http://www.levelup.media/Participants: Blake Dowling, CEO, Aegis Business TechnologiesJay Revell, Founder, President and Chief Storyteller, Revell MediaWEBSITE - https://www.aegisbiztech.com FACEBOOK - https://facebook.com/aegisbiztechINSTAGRAM - https://instagram.com/aegisbiztechTWITTER - https://twitter.com/aegissales
"Storytelling is about a lot of honesty and being aware that your audience, depending upon who they are and where they're from, when you say a word or a phrase, they may interpret that differently than what you think you heard." —Nelson FarrisIn this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Nelson Farris, the Chief Storyteller at Nike, shares his 50 years of experience and insights on effective storytelling, collaboration, and embracing change. With a background as an athlete and a liberal arts major, Farris emphasizes the power of personal experience and the abundance of stories in sports, offering valuable lessons for marketers and content creators. His deep understanding of storytelling and communication, coupled with his role in Nike's internal culture, highlights the timeless importance of storytelling in shaping brand narratives. His journey from a runner in Southern California to becoming Nike's first chief storyteller showcases his unique perspective and the transformative power of collaboration, making this episode a must-listen for storytellers, content creators, and marketers seeking to foster trust and drive innovation through effective storytelling.In this episode, you will learn to:Uncover the powerful impact of storytelling in sports marketing and learn how it can elevate your brand's message.Explore the evolution of Nike's marketing strategy and gain inspiration for refining your own marketing approach.Embrace the pivotal role of trust and innovation in driving career growth and success.Learn effective strategies for adapting to technological change in business and staying ahead in a competitive market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The AI revolution is here, and it's transforming marketing as we know it. This isn't hyperbole or speculation - it's happening right now, all around us. In this episode of AI in Marketing: Unpacked, we're cutting through the noise to explore why AI represents the Fourth Industrial Revolution and what that means for marketers. We'll examine how AI compares to past industrial revolutions, its current impact on marketing practices, and the opportunities and challenges it presents. This isn't about far-off future predictions; it's about understanding the changes happening today and how they're reshaping our industry. By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear understanding of AI's role in marketing, how it's different from previous technological advancements, and what you need to know to adapt and thrive in this new landscape. Whether you're an AI enthusiast or a skeptic, this information is crucial for every marketer navigating today's rapidly evolving digital world. You'll learn: ✨ AI Revolution is Now: Unlike previous technological advancements, the AI revolution is happening at an unprecedented pace, affecting all aspects of marketing from customer insights to content creation. ✨ Adaptation is Key: Marketers must prioritize continuous learning and skill development to harness AI's potential, focusing on both technical knowledge and uniquely human skills like creativity and empathy. ✨ Ethical Considerations: As AI reshapes marketing practices, addressing ethical concerns around data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency will be crucial for maintaining consumer trust and ensuring responsible AI adoption. Learn more about Mike Allton Mike Allton is a marketing expert, author, and dedicated educator in the digital marketing space. As the Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse, Mike brings years of hands-on experience in social media marketing and content strategy. He's the author of multiple books on digital marketing and has been featured in leading publications such as Entrepreneur and Forbes. With his unique ability to simplify complex topics, Mike is your guide through the evolving world of AI-powered marketing, making cutting-edge concepts accessible and actionable for marketers at all levels. Connect with Mike Allton on LinkedIn Connect with Mike Allton on Threads Resources mentioned in this episode AI Marketing Primer: A Comprehensive Guide for Marketers Explore past episodes of the AI in Marketing: Unpacked podcast SHOW TRANSCRIPT & NOTES: https://www.thesocialmediahat.com/blog/the-ai-revolution-is-here-what-every-marketer-needs-to-know/ Start your AI journey with the AI Marketing Primer. Brought to you by The Social Media Hat - When One More Hat Is One Too Many. Interesting in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here. Powered by Magai - why choose one AI tool when you can have them all? And Descript, the magic wand for podcasters. Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, Strategic Marketing Leader in AI and Data-Driven Solutions, international keynote speaker & author at The Social Media Hat. He has spent over a decade in digital marketing and brings an unparalleled level of experience and excitement to the fore, whether he's delivering a presentation or leading a workshop. If you're interested in helping marketers with AI in an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike. Powered by the Marketing Podcast Network. Music by Tokay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Can AI help us to become better storytellers? Your immediate thought might be no, of course not! But while an AI tool won't craft a compelling narrative out of nowhere, it can help us to become better at our jobs by saving time and acting as an advisor and assistant. For this episode, Mike Allton, the Chief Storyteller at Agorapulse, drops a masterclass on using AI to craft intriguing stories that all marketers and social pros can learn from. Full Episode Details As Chief Storyteller, Mike has fully embraced the new age of AI and shares his experience of learning how AI tools can play a role in storytelling. He shares examples of how AI can streamline research and content preparation and save time on the nitty-gritty work that bogs down creatives. For those new to social media with AI worries, Mike shares advice (and reassurance) and explains the common mistakes even seasoned marketers make when using AI. He makes it clear that it is no magic wand, but it's powerful – if you use it right. Mike weighs up AI's strengths and limitations, offering practical advice on when to utilize it in content creation. One example he recommends is using AI to identify gaps in your content strategy, freeing up time for humans while highlighting opportunities for great content in the future. In This Episode: 1:45 - What does Mike's role as Chief Storyteller involve? 2:31 - What makes a good story? 5:45 - How AI and marketers can work together to tell stories 8:31 - The top thing marketers get wrong with AI 10:57 - How AI can help you find gaps in your content 13:00 - Mike's advice for overcoming AI wariness and using it to improve your work 19:02 - How humans can differentiate themselves from AI 22:11 - How Agorapulse is integrating AI into the platform 27:06 - The best places to connect with Mike, including his website and podcast 27:32 - Mike's top tip for aspiring social pros Resources Connect with Mike on LinkedIn Follow Mike on X Follow Mike on Instagram Mike's Blog - The Social Media Hat AI in Marketing: Unpacked Podcast Agorapulse Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.
In this episode of That Annuity Show, hosts Paul Tyler, Ramsey Smith, and Bruno Caron interview Sheryl J. Moore, Chief Storyteller of Wink, Inc. and author of a new book on indexed annuities. The discussion covers various aspects of the annuity industry, including product complexity, consumer education, and common misconceptions about annuities. Sheryl shares her personal experiences and insights, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the annuity market. Topics: Introduction and Sheryl's Background (00:00 - 05:07) Sheryl's journey in the insurance industry Personal experience with 401(k) losses Annuity Product Complexity (05:07 - 15:38) Proliferation of index options in annuities Challenges for consumers and agents Illustration and Performance Issues (15:38 - 23:52) Backcasting and unrealistic performance illustrations Balancing simplicity and flexibility in product design Consumer Education and Misconceptions (23:52 - 34:42) Common myths about annuities Importance of accurate information for consumers Future of Annuities and Closing Thoughts (34:42 - 37:45) Sheryl's new book and its impact Final messages about annuities and retirement planning
September 4th will see the 100th and final episode of Music Talks and I know the guest for that episode pretty well as its ……ME!! Given I will be moving chairs I needed someone to be the host of that episode and who better than Steve Clayton, a dear friend, my very first guest on Music Talks and one of the best communicators I know. Given his role at Microsoft is ‘Chief Storyteller' that's no surprise. The original episode I did with Steve went out on June 25th, 2019, but I didn't want to just re-post it. The brilliant Andy Rhode at Audionauts has been helping me edit Music Talks for almost three years now and so I asked him to re-edit and remaster that original recording and I think he's done a great job. I was never happy with the sound on that first episode and whilst it's still not perfect it sounds a lot better than it did. He's also edited it down to a Vinyl friendly 45 minutes and I'm pleased to say that most of what has been edited out is me not Steve! For those of you who have heard the original episode I hope this will be an enjoyable reminder and for anyone that hasn't then I hope this will be a good introduction to the host of Episode 100. Steve's music choices were: 70's – Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac80's - Where The Streets Have No Name - U290's - Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack00's - The Planets Bend Between Us Snow Patrol10's - A Sky Full of Stars ColdplayEnjoy and see you on September 4th If you would like to be on the show then please contact me at musictalkspod@outlook.com Please follow and like Music Talks on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/musictalkspod . You can also find me on Twitter @musictalkspod .
Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies
Do you know the power of intertwining your personal narrative with your business journey? Do you know how to find the thread that unites that story with your agency's mission and values? Today's guest is a narrative strategist who built his agency around helping entrepreneurs shape their stories to attract the right clients by communicating their goals and values. Discover how owning and sharing impactful stories can set owners apart from salespeople and lead to successful outcomes. Matthew Woodget is a self-proclaimed "hopeless story addict" and the founder and Chief Storyteller of Go Narrative, an agency focused on supporting changemakers by helping them reshape their narratives and align them with their vision. Matt believes in the importance of stories in building meaningful connections and achieving collective business success. He delves into the common pitfall of sharing too much information too soon, leading to missed opportunities in sales. He highlights the power of owning and sharing compelling stories to differentiate oneself and drive success. In this episode, we'll discuss: The power of a well-crafted narrative. The Seven Types of Business Stories. Finding the heart of your story. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio What is the Power of Narrative and Storytelling in Business? As a narrative strategist and lover of stories, Matt knows the importance of storytelling in business and personal relationships and its power in shaping one's narrative, building meaningful connections, and ultimately achieving collective success with and through others. Although he doesn't particularly like the term storytelling, Matt recognizes it as a powerful tool to get people's attention. To him, we are all constantly interpreting the world around us and building a picture. The way we communicate this is where we start to touch on the concept of storytelling, whether it is to get somebody's attention, get children to learn an important lesson, etc. In today's fast-paced and competitive world, the ability to tell a compelling story is more important than ever. Whether you are a business owner, a salesperson, or an individual looking to make an impact, it can be a powerful tool to communicate your message, connect with others, and achieve your goals. By mastering the art of storytelling, agency owners can effectively communicate their unique value proposition, and personality, and create a memorable impression on others. 7 Types of Business Stories: Crafting Your Agency's Narrative In December 2022, Matt decided to study some popular story models. In his research, he found that, while it is a well-known and powerful storytelling framework, the hero's journey may not always align with the needs and goals of a business. Instead, he decided to focus on Booker's Seven Basic Plots and used it as the base to create a similar framework that can be adapted to businesses. His model presents things business owners deal with every day in a language they're used to using. It's a tool for clients to add to and create their own stories and provides a practical way to get people started on the journey of shaping their stories. The 7 types of business stories outlined by in this model are: The Challenge The Pivot The Catalyst Innovation Improving Experiences Changing Perceptions Growth Mindset Each serves a different purpose and can be used strategically to convey messages, inspire action, and drive change within an organization. Finding the Heart of Your Story and Discovering Your 'Why' Things are considered cliché because they ring true. However, people tend to use clichés as a crutch, forgetting to tap into what they really mean. Instead, your authentic story — your why — is the one you draw power from and drives you. It comes from your early formative years when you figured out how to live and it starts to manifest when you choose how you're going to live. When he works with clients, Matt ultimately aims to identify the heart of their story (the answer to “Why do I do this?”) and the head of the story (the practical aspects); Finding the heart can be the trickier piece, and it may take going back to your childhood to find that aha moment where something clicked about the person you would become, the values you uphold, and the reason you ended up doing what you do. Identifying these elements can help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their motivations and drive and uncover the core values and beliefs that guide their actions and decisions. Storytelling as a Bridge to Connect Teams, Clients, and Communities There is no denying the profound impact of storytelling in its diverse forms and its ability to forge deep connections with others. Once you have honed your story, the key to effectively conveying it to your audience is to first instill it within your team. You may be very intentional with your agency's story if you don't ensure everyone on your sales team knows and believes in that story. It risks being lost in translation when they seek to convey it to clients. Storytelling can be a powerful tool for building empathy and understanding and by sharing personal experiences and perspectives, agency owners can create connections with others and foster a sense of community. This can be especially important in today's fast-paced and often disconnected world, where people seek that sort of connection and recognition in others' stories. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.
Michael Sanders is the Co-founder & Chief Storyteller at Horizon, creators of Sequence, the leading development platform for integrating web3 into games. Sequence is on a mission to make web3 easy, fun, and accessible for everyone. Michael is also the author of the best-selling book Ayahuasca: An Executive's Enlightenment. ___Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props
On this episode of True Print for Life join host Maylin Sambois as she sits down with Beth Menduni, Chief Storyteller and Founder of Video Story Studio. Listen in as they discuss DARVO, a manipulation tactic used to evade accountability and shift blame onto others. Maylin and Christina decided to launch True Print for Life for anyone who is looking for more strategy, passion, and purpose in their lives. The podcast will be featuring intimate interviews with top performers/experts in business, finance, and lifestyle, as well as deep dives into topics like health and manifestation. In 2014, Maylin and Christina launched Femergy®, a 5o1c3 non-profit organization. Femergy stands for Female Energy and provides additional access and support in helping bridge the gap of women in leadership and decisions making positions. The True Print for Life Podcast has everything you need to level up your life and business! New episodes premiere every other Wednesday Starting in June 2021! True Print for Life Website: https://www.femergy.org/true-print-podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MgGDnUJ8m8uO5nEorqYMn?si=RW9s7v-rQLu67_XN2vMg2A&dl_branch=1 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-print-for-life/id1571622222 Anchor: https://anchor.fm/trueprintforlife Femergy: https://www.femergy.org/ Femergy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamfemergy/?hl=en
Today, three inspirational figures, Dana Snyder, Kishshana Palmer, and Becky Endicott, join us for an unfiltered conversation about the realities behind balancing business, motherhood, and personal life. They are exceptional leaders, each dedicated to making a meaningful difference through their unique skills and passions! Dana Snyder is the Founder and CEO of Positive Equation. As a passionate speaker, teacher, and podcast host, Dana dedicates her work to empowering nonprofits with the knowledge to use social media ads effectively. Her mission is to help organizations attract potential supporters and create sustainable giving models, building robust monthly giving programs that transform everyone into philanthropists. Becky Endicott, CFRE, APR, is the Co-Founder and Chief Storyteller of We Are for Good and Co-Host of the We Are For Good Podcast. Becky is a master storyteller and a champion of kindness, celebrating philanthropy, seeking justice, endorsing humanity, pushing boundaries, and embracing people. Known for her authenticity, she often shares self-deprecating stories to forge genuine connections, understanding that true bonds are formed in moments of joy and in life's messy and challenging times. Kishshana Palmer, CFRE, is the CEO of ManageMint, Inc., a leadership consulting firm specializing in strategy, management, and growth. As a renowned keynote speaker, event host, TEDx alumnus, and trusted advisor to executive leaders, Kishshana brings real-world solutions and authentic, high-impact experiences to CEOs, senior leadership teams, organizations, companies, and solo entrepreneurs. Her expertise and vibrant personality make her a sought-after figure in leadership and management consulting. In this episode, you will be able to: - Identify challenges and triumphs faced by women in career, personal growth, and family life. - Explore themes of vulnerability and authenticity in professional and personal spheres. - Recognize the importance of supportive networks in achieving goals. - Challenge the notion that success requires perfection. - Gain strategies for managing life's highs and lows, fostering resilience. - Learn from stories and advice for personal growth and balance. Get all the resources from today's episode here. "This week's episode is sponsored by Keela. Keela is a fundraiser's CRM, meaning that it goes beyond a data management platform. It enhances your work and propels you to achieve fundraising success. From email and communications tools to AI-powered donation pages, your unique needs will be met with Keela, the CRM built BY fundraisers FOR fundraisers. Learn more at keela.co/mallory Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven't already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you're looking to raise more from the right funders, then you'll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point
This episode, Jonathan and Sy talk with the incredible Brandi Miller about:- How faith and churches change when we engage with the political idolatry of the American church- The spiritual and political fruit of the MAGA movement- The good things people still want and can find in Jesus and Christian community amidst all the nonsense- Developing inner lives that can sustain political engagement and community building- Plus, Jonathan and Sy discuss some fascinating numbers about the political views and voting patterns of the average Black Christian versus the average overall DemocratMentioned in the Episode- Our anthology, Keeping the Faith- Brandi's podcast, Reclaiming My Theology- Her other show, The Quest Church Podcast- The article on Black, Christian political beliefs and votingCredits- Follow KTF Press on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Subscribe to get our bonus episodes and other benefits at KTFPress.com.- Follow host Jonathan Walton on Facebook Instagram, and Threads.- Follow host Sy Hoekstra on Mastodon.- Our theme song is “Citizens” by Jon Guerra – listen to the whole song on Spotify.- Our podcast art is by Robyn Burgess – follow her and see her other work on Instagram.- Transcripts by Joyce Ambale and Sy Hoekstra.- Production by Sy Hoekstra and our incredible subscribersTranscript[An acoustic guitar softly plays six notes, the first three ascending and the last three descending – F#, B#, E, D#, B – with a keyboard pad playing the note B in the background. Both fade out as Jonathan Walton says “This is a KTF Press podcast.”]Brandi Miller: God made people in God's own image, and people's job is not to conform into your pastor's version of following Jesus. It's to conform more into the likeness of Jesus as you become more yourself. And so instead of going to a pastor who is essentially saying, “Follow me as I follow Jesus,” you say, “We're following Jesus, and you're gonna discover who you are along the way.”[The song “Citizens” by Jon Guerra fades in. Lyrics: “I need to know there is justice/ That it will roll in abundance/ And that you're building a city/ Where we arrive as immigrants/ And you call us citizens/ And you welcome us as children home.” The song fades out.]Sy Hoekstra: Welcome to Shake the Dust, seeking Jesus, confronting injustice. I'm Sy Hoekstra.Jonathan Walton: And I'm Jonathan Walton. We have a fantastic show for you today. We are talking all about church and politics with the great Brandi Miller, who many of you know. And we're doing our new segment, Which Tab Is Still Open?, diving deeper into one of the recommendations from our newsletter. This week, a closer look at the political beliefs of the average Black Christian versus the average Democrat. If you think those are pretty much the same, you've got stuff to learn [laughter]. So stay tuned.Sy Hoekstra: Brandi Miller is the host of the podcast, Reclaiming My Theology. As she calls it, a space to take our theology back from ideas and systems that oppress. She's also now newly the host of the Quest Church Podcast, which is unsurprisingly for Quest Church in Seattle [laughs], where Brandi has the staff position of Chief Storyteller. Before that she was a justice program director with a college ministry working at the intersection of faith, justice, and politics. If you know Brandi, I don't have to convince you that this is a good conversation. If you don't, just, you need to get to know her, so [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Yes, yes, yes.Sy Hoekstra: Get ready for this one.Jonathan Walton: Yeah, we talked to her about her perspective on evangelical politics, how she sees people's faith changing as they engage with the American church's idolatry, and what Jesus has to offer as a vision for us in this political landscape. There is a lot in the episode, I hope you're ready. Her article in our anthology was called, “Left Behind: What American Evangelicalism Has Lost and Needs to Find.” And of course, you can get the anthology at keepingthefaithbook.com.Sy Hoekstra: And before we get started, just a reminder that we have been telling everyone we need your subscriptions [laughter], please. The best way, if you are into what we do, helping people try and leave the idols of White America and seek Jesus through this media and you want to help us build something that can do that in an effective and far reaching way to people, we need your support. We have been doing this as a side gig for a lot of time. For a long time it's been me and Jonathan in our rooms with laptops trying to make things work, and they have worked [laughs]. But if you wanna see that stuff grow and you wanna see this stuff continue for a long time into the future, we really do need your support.So go to KTFPress.com, please become a paid subscriber. Get access to all the bonus episodes of this show. Get access to our monthly subscriber chats that we're starting, get access to comments on our posts and support everything we do centering and elevating marginalized voices. If you cannot afford a subscription, like if money's the only barrier, please just write to us, info@ktfpress.com, and we will give you a free or discounted subscription. Whatever you ask for, no questions asked. We want everyone to have access to all the stuff that we're putting out, but if you can afford it, we really, really want the support.Actually, one of the things that you'll be supporting now is that our newsletter is free. So anybody can go to KTFPress.com, sign up for the free mailing list. You get news about KTF press, you get all kinds of stuff like that, but you also get recommendations from us every week that are things that we think will be helpful in your political education and discipleship. And you will also get things from us that we think are helpful in staying grounded and hopeful in the midst of all of the difficult issues that we are all seeing in our news feeds and in our politics and everywhere else and in our churches. So please, KTFPress.com, become a paid subscriber. Thank you so much in advance.Jonathan Walton: Yep. Thanks in advance, and here is the interview with Brandi.[the intro piano music from “Citizens” by Jon Guerra plays briefly and then fades out.]Jonathan Walton: Brandi, thank you so, so much for joining us on Shake the Dust. We really appreciate it.Brandi Miller: Of course. Glad to be here. Always glad to get to spend time with you all, so.How Does Faith Change When We Engage with The Idolatry of the American Church?Making Our Political Theology Accessible to EveryoneJonathan Walton: Yeah, I mean, now you wrote this bomb essay. Okay. And so something that you said, which [laughs] is still true in 2024: " The result of the syncretism of American religion, propaganda-based iconography and political power is cultish religiosity centered on Donald Trump as God's Messiah sent to buttress patriotism, political power, and global dominance. Regardless of his lack of demonstrable Christ-likeness in his politics, it is clear that pandering to his constituents' desire for Christianized power in the United States has framed him as the president who will ‘bring America back to God.' This is a trade-off: Christian practice and the way of Jesus for American Christian power and utopianism.” End quote.Monstrous, amazing text, right? [laughter] Now, after you wrote this, you became a staff member at a church, right?Brandi Miller: Mm-hmm.Jonathan Walton: And you have a large community of people following and engaging with you online. And as you try to teach and disciple people out of this syncretism slash nonsense, how have you seen their faith change?Brandi Miller: Well, one thing I'll say is something that's changed about myself first, because even as I hear back my own words, I can hear how inaccessible they are to a common regular person. Like how many four to six-syllable words can I use to say Donald Trump does not look like Jesus, and that does not matter to most Christians who follow White American religion. That is what I was trying to say, that there is a propaganda based way of doing religion that has indoctrinated a ton of us into a traumatic type of spirituality that we cannot hold. And so I think even a critique of myself in a way that I've changed is trying to ask, how do I take what is a political reality rooted in a current religious moment and strip it down in a way that a regular person can understand?Because if I am theologizing people out of their own experiences or trying to pull them out of a demonstrably terrible politic and they can't understand where we're going, then that's on me. And so I think that part of my trying to engage with a lot of this stuff has been my own change around how I engage with it so that people who are trying to follow Jesus outside of this kind of syncretism with American nationalism can actually come along.When People See the Idolatry, Staying in Church Community Is HardBrandi Miller: That being said, I think that, I mean, it's been kind of bleak honestly. Like I think that the church that I work at is a church that is people's last stop on their way out of Christianity specifically for these issues. Because they can see the ways that American politics have more say in the lives of people who identify as Christian than Jesus does.And when that is the case, it is really hard to be a part of a Jesus community. And so what I'm seeing a lot is people trying to figure out, can I actually trust community as I follow Jesus? And a lot of people can't. And it makes sense to me, and they leave. But what ends up happening is that people are like, “Well, I can follow Jesus outside of the church,” and I actually believe that some people can do that. But I think because community is at the core of following Jesus, when you leave in those contexts without any kind of community to buttress your faith at all, it's really, really hard to, with integrity, continue to live out those values, and it's really easy to become increasingly cynical in the media ecosystem that we have.And so I don't really know what to tell people pastorally, right? Because there are many ways that I could say, “No, no, no, just come back to the church,” but the church isn't trustworthy. And I can say, “No, go on your own,” but with a lack of community, a lot of the faith stuff falls apart because it's meant to be done together in a non-westernized religious context. And so I'm finding that to be a pretty sad and frustrating space to occupy. So I think that'd be my first bid.What People Can Still Get from Church Community Even after Seeing the IdolatryJonathan Walton: I have so many thoughts, but I'm going to let Sy ask his question.Sy Hoekstra: No, no, no, go for it, Jonathan. We have time.Jonathan Walton: [laughs] So in the midst of that, this new like re-imagining of what community would look like, independent of the colonized faith, what we call it at KTF, White American folk religion, what I call it in Twelve Lies, are there any fireworks of imagination that have happened that you're like, “Oh, that looks nice. That might be something that is hopeful,” for a group of people who are on this subway stop at the end of the line?Brandi Miller: Well, I mean, I think that people still want all the good stuff, right? I think people want connection and community and gentleness and kindness and meekness and self-control and the fruit of the spirit, and the beatitudes. I think people still want the Jesus stuff. People want to live in an accessible and just world where people can be fully themselves, where the image of God in me meets the image of God in you, and somehow in that magic we're transformed. I think people still want that, and I think when people come and get a taste of that, it's really, really beautiful. Because what it results in really is friendship and friendship results in systems change and system change results in world change and political change.Jonathan Walton: Right, right, right.Brandi Miller: And so, I think that what I've seen happen is a lot of progressive spaces have done one of two things. One, said like, well, the individual transformation doesn't matter. And I'm like, that's actually not true. The health of the individual and the health of the system are always a cycle that are moving over and over and over again. And so we're like, “Well, F individual transformation and let's just like go do the system change.” And I'm like, yeah, but if like people don't change, then they're not gonna be alongside you as you change the systems and not understand why the systems change would be good for them. And I think churches do that too.Jonathan Walton: Right?Brandi Miller: So I think a lot of progressive media culture does that on one side, and then the other side uses all of this abstraction to describe what the world looks like when it changes, which is, I don't know, right now sounds like the end of postmodern empire. Like we're in empire collapse right now. And I'm like, “No one knows what that means.” Most normal average people do not know what it means. So they're like, “Let's find creative ways to engage post empire collapse.” And I'm like, can you just say that the United States is participating in all kinds of evil, and when our comeuppance happens, it's going to result in a completely different societal structure that we are not ready for.And so, what I'm always looking for are glimpses of what could life look like after that? Which I think is what you're asking. And a lot of that looks like people choosing to care for each other well to build more simple lives rather than more complicated ones, to choose work that isn't their entire identity and allowing themselves to explore who they are outside of the kind of enculturation that happens when we don't have a life outside of that. And that is what I've seen change people's politics. It's not like having a fancy activist job. It's seeing how your neighbors are suffering and doing something about that together, or getting a measure on a ballot that changes things for folks.And so I think that I'm seeing glimpses of people entering into more embodied, simple space that is actually transformative and actually grounding and does a lot to downshift some of our very present anxiety. And I think that's been really good. And so I think there's some structural and systemic things I've seen too, but a lot of the stuff that I'm seeing is people trying to make sense of this abstracted language and say, what does this actually mean for my life in real time, and how can that be good?The Fruit of the MAGA MovementSy Hoekstra: One thread there that kind of leads into my next question is, you said that the idea that your church is the last stop on a lot of people's road out of Christianity, when I was a kid, I would, in evangelical churches, I would hear the sentiment a lot that—I would hear that sentiment a lot actually. I would hear like, “Oh, when you go to a progressive church, that's just, you're just on your way out [laughs], so don't ever go there.” That was the kind of, that was the warning, right?Brandi Miller: Yeah [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: But basically, what I hear you saying is the reason that it's their last stop or the reason that they're on their way out is not because of they've lost their way or a lack of integrity, they don't really care about Jesus, whatever. They actually care about Jesus maybe more than the places that they left, and got so hurt as a result that that's why they're on their way out. And that's, I think that's a reality that Jonathan and I see a lot too, and I just wanted to point that out to people. But also this kind of gets a little bit into what my next question was, which I also had a big long quote here, but I'll just summarize [laughs] because Jonathan already read a big long quote [laughter].Jonathan Walton: I did.Sy Hoekstra: You basically talked about how there are a lot of masks that evangelicals wear to cover their support for Donald Trump's racism. So it's like the sanctity of life or pro-gun politics or pro-Israel politics. And that it basically that the result of that is you're not talking about the racism of Donald Trump, you're talking to people about those masks and saying, “If you're not willing to wear this mask, then basically you're an enemy to be negated because you're a baby killer, or you're an anti-Semite” or whatever it is. But I wonder if four years on having seen so much more of the fruit of the MAGA movement, if there's anything that you would kind of add on to this description of how it operates.Shifting Acceptable Political Discourse Far to the RightBrandi Miller: Yeah. So one of the main things I think about right now is the Overton window. So for folks who aren't familiar with the Overton window, it's essentially the range of acceptable political thought from left to right. And so there is an acceptable range of political thought, I'm doing some writing and thinking about this right now, but that what is considered far on the left and far on the right changes as that window shifts farther left or right. And what we've seen in the last four years is the Overton window shift so far to the right, that stuff that would've been considered so extreme, so outlandish, so problematic as to not be acceptable is now mainstream.So when George Santos can have an entire political campaign and multiple years of being in the public spotlight, and everyone be like, “Ah, this is just kind of like normal run-of-the-mill American politics,” that's wild.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah.Jonathan Walton: Yeah, yeah [laughs].Brandi Miller: When Donald Trump can have dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of criminal, like of criminal… or like he has so many, so many things that are happening right now at felony levels, and we're like, “Oh, I mean, he's just like working through it.” That is so wild to me, that the Overton window has shifted so far to the right that Marjorie Taylor Greene can do every bit of chaos that she's doing. That Mike Johnson is considered a normal speaker of the house.Jonathan Walton: That is, ugh… [laughs].Brandi Miller: We've moved so far right, that now what used to be considered moderate is considered hyper progressive. That being like, hey, like… maybe we should give people… that we've actually reversed, like with Roe v. Wade, we've reversed rights for people and we consider that normal. Like the Overton window has shifted so aggressively to the right that it is so, so damaging. And that has just continued over the last four years.Shifting Acceptable Religious Thought Far to the RightBrandi Miller: The thing I am observing and doing a lot of work around right now is what does it mean when the Christian range of political or range of acceptable religious thought also shifts to the right? And so I've been asking the question, what is that?What we're talking about really is orthodoxy. We're saying there is this range of historically acceptable Christian thought, but when that gets chain linked to the Overton window and shifted to the right, the way of Jesus that gets to be considered left or moderate or something becomes completely unidentifiable to most Christians. And when that happens, the only response that we have in those super conservative spaces or that have moved to the right that much is to parrot political actors and call it holiness. And that is what I'm most concerned with and what I'm seeing most right now, is that people can't even have conversations because of those things like, yeah, you're an anti-Semite or you're a baby killer, or whatever.You can't even have the conversations about why that ideology became important to someone, because even questioning the ideology itself or that indoctrination feels like it's a deviation from holiness because your religion is so connected to nationalism that to separate those feels like sin.Sy Hoekstra: It's almost, it's like the way that you might get a question shut down in church because if of something you're asking about some orthodox doctrine or whatever, like expressing a doubt of some kind.Brandi Miller: Yep.Sy Hoekstra: You're saying that's not just religious anymore basically. That is political. Or the politic—because the religious and the political are so closely linked that your political doubt is religious doubt almost.Brandi Miller: Yes. Yes, most certainly. Connected to God's connection to a nation.What Is the Good That All the Idolatry Is Overshadowing?Jonathan Walton: Yeah, I got in this conversation with a… Sometimes I opt into the online debates to get fodder for more posts [Sy laughs]. And I asked someone what they meant by Orthodox. They were saying “Israel is God's nation. The United States should support Israel because we are also God's nation, we're mirror countries of each other. This is an orthodox view.”Sy Hoekstra: Whoa.Jonathan Walton: They had obviously no, like no image or thought about the non-evangelical 200-year-old, 50-year-old, 25-year, 2-year-old church that they were in [laughter], you know? But all that to say, as you talk about Jesus on your show, talk about Jesus in your writing, talk about Jesus in your church, talk about Jesus with us. We're constantly trying to get people to look at the Jesus of Nazareth and not the Jesus of nationalism. Right? What would you say in this era, like with the church and politics, what value do you think Jesus's teaching, Jesus's witness, his life, death, resurrection has to offer us this election season? And what is the good that all the syncretism that we're talking about is just completely overshadowing?Following Jesus Helps us Find Ourselves and Resist Structures That Demand ConformityBrandi Miller: Well, right. The Jesus story is a continuation of the Hebrew story, and that story is centered on a God who cares about righteousness. And righteousness is not adherence to political doctrine, it's right living in harmony and wellbeing with other folks. Dr. Randy Woodley talks about shalom in the community of creation and that you know that the world is well when the marginalized say so. And the Hebrew scriptures follow that journey really, really closely. Even if the people fail in it, God's calls stay consistent to make sure that the orphan and the widow and the foreigner are cared for. And that we know that a whole community is healthy and well and living rightly when that's the case. And Jesus lives out that same story.And part of that story requires that people are given the chance to be themselves. That if we believe in this kind of, there's a lot that I do not believe about how we extrapolate Genesis one and two, but I think one of the core things is that like God made people in God's own image, and people's job is not to conform into your pastor's version of following Jesus. It's to conform more into the likeness of Jesus as you become more yourself. And so instead of going to a pastor and essentially saying, ‘Follow me as I follow Jesus,” we say, “We're following Jesus and you're gonna discover who you are along the way.” And that is what Jesus does with his disciples. Right? Jesus invites a diverse group of wackadoodle dudes to come and be themselves [Jonathan laughs]. And they change a lot. They change a lot, but they don't change away from themselves, which I think we see in the story of Peter, right? Peter's a fisherman at the beginning and he's a fisherman at the end. And the way in which he's a fisherman is really different, but he is still at his core in some ways who he is. And I know there's some conflation with vocational and whatever, but there are ways that people are, that people who were zealous in the beginning are zealous, but in a more refined way at the end. People who were engaging with the people in a particular way are doing so less judgmentally at the end.So I think there's a way that there is an invitation to become fully ourselves that we do not get in church spaces because we're told that sanctification or that honoring the death and resurrection of Jesus is to become less like yourself. It's to do this… I think we just take the John the Baptizer quote, “more of him, less of me” out of context when you're like… y'all, the reason he's saying that is because they think he's the Messiah and he needs to make some stuff really clear. He's not saying, I need to become less of myself. John needs to become more and more of himself in order to do what Jesus has invited him to do.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Brandi Miller: And so, because in the church we often say, let's collapse our identities into one social, political and religious identity, people lose themselves. And so I think part of the invitation and the good that we offer to people is that you get to be yourself. And that justice work, this other side of the coin in the Hebrews text around justice and righteousness is making things right when righteousness, when people's ability to live fully as themselves to live original blessing is not in place. And so I think that there's an invitation in the way of Jesus to live fully as ourselves and to make right the spaces where people are not offered space to live the life that is abundant.Jonathan Walton: May it be so in churches and spaces this fall [laughs] where that could be extrapolated. And as you were talking, I was just like, yeah, “God loves you,” should not be a controversial statement.Brandi Miller: Right…. Woof…Jonathan Walton: Right? Like it shouldn't [laughs].How Has Brandi's Calling Changed around Political Engagement?Sy Hoekstra: Alright. So, on your show, you're often talking about theology and culture. You obviously have a ton to say about politics though, and I've heard you say on the show you'd be kind of more interested in getting into that somehow at some point in your life. And you took a break from the show recently. Basically, you're in the middle of a season on purity culture, and you kind of took a break from the show because you felt some tension between talking about theology and church culture and purity culture with everything that's going on in Gaza. And I'm just wondering how the last four years have affected your sense of calling or your desire to engage politically from someone who has largely played a pastoral role.Helping People Develop Inner Lives that Can Sustain Political EngagementBrandi Miller: Yeah. Some of what I'm learning is that regardless of whether there's an urgent political moment that people are still entering into these spaces in a lot of different ways. And so me stopping the podcast because of everything happening in Gaza and trying to figure out how to respond wasn't actually as helpful as I had hoped it would've been. It didn't make more space for people, it just disengaged people from one of the only spaces that they're engaging with religion at all. And so pastorally, I think what I ended up doing was leaving people behind. And I didn't, I think I was so at that point unsure of how to respond to what was happening in Gaza and didn't know what my role would be, and felt like as a person who's, it's a little bit like one of my Jewish friends was talking about the parable of the virgins and the oil.Some of us just showed up really late to this party, and we know so little, we've showed up so late, that it feels pretty impossible to show up effectively. And so I was trying to be responsible with what I did and did not know about Israel, Palestine, Gaza, all of that. Instead of just saying what I could unequivocally say, which is that violence in all forms, particularly genocide, is an egregious violence against God, against people and needs to be dealt with aggressively. Like, I can say that without any… we can say, “Free Palestine,” because that is an easy thing to, it's pretty easy for me to say, to agree with that idea. What I did though in being like, oh, purity culture isn't connected, was to say that people have on-ramps to these kinds of justice expressions that are far away.And maybe it's like [laughs], I hate to use this metaphor, but like, or parallelism rather. Yeah, I hate to use this parallelism, but when I think about how QAnon feeds into conspiracy theories, I think there's a lot of ways that progressive Christianity can feed people toward better, more just politics. And so when I take away the on-ramps, I take away people's opportunity to enter into a more just spirituality. And so me choosing to not talk about sex for four weeks or whatever, for me it felt like it was a solidarity practice, but it really was just cutting off people from a community that they cared about. So I think I would say that that was like one thing that I'm learning.And that is, and I think that what I'm trying to figure out is, as a person who primarily plays a pastoral function, what does it mean to invite people into a discipleship that can hold the politics that they're engaging with? Because one of the things I learned from 2016 was that many of us had a ton of passion, a ton of anxiety, a lack of knowledge, and we weren't able to hold onto the activism at the level that we held it during Black Lives Matter. We just weren't able to do it. And so, I think I'm trying to ask how do you build people's inner lives and community orientations in such a way that we can actually hold the political movements that we want to see happen?So how do we become community organizers locally and nationally when our inner lives aren't able to hold even the basics of our day-to-day lives? And that's not a knock on anyone, it's just a, we don't know how to cope. We don't know how to be in therapy. We don't know how to ask good questions about our lives. And so I think that I'm still asking the question, what is the role of the pastoral in the political, when most of my examples of the pastoral and the political is just telling people how to vote once every four years indirectly so you don't lose your funding, and nothing else otherwise.Helping People Learn and Grow through Curiosity and Questioning AssumptionsJonathan Walton: Yeah. I care a little bit about that, the inner life, peace [laughter]. I write, you know, I have a whole thing about that. So as you're talking, something I feel like I've run into is, I had a conversation with someone and they said to me, “The church discriminates against queer people? What do you mean?” And I looked at them and I was like, they were not being facetious, they were not joking. And like, and so I watched this train wreck happen in her brain, right? Where it's like, so then I just said, “You know, let's just talk about conversion therapy.” I said, “Let's just start there…” UN resolutions that say this is to—like all she, you could see it on her face she's like, like she did not know.And so I watched it happen and couldn't stop it. So Brandi, when someone is sitting across from you and you see this lack of knowledge and the capacity to harm. Right? So there's this lack of knowledge, but they're gonna say the homophobic terrible thing whenever somebody asks them, and you are the pastoral person in residence with them. What habits, practices, tactics do you employ not to destroy them, like intellectually? How do you not reduce them to their ideas? How do you love them and meet them where they're at so that they will be at church next week? They will be, like all those kinds of things, to stay on the journey with you.Brandi Miller: Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: And stop hurting people.Jonathan Walton: And yeah, and stop hurting people.Brandi Miller: Yes. Yeah, I mean, you become a master of caveats, and that's the easy thing. The hard thing is to believe that people are trying their best. I think that most people, and I'm really learning this and trying to learn this in the best ways I can right now, is that if you're not just like on the internet where I know people are not trying to do their best, they're just being mean, like in real life with people who are sitting, who you don't have to question whether they're a bot or not, people are trying to do the best they can and the best they can might be terrible. And that's okay, because when people are trying to do the best that they can, and when people are given the benefit of a doubt, they are more open to engaging with things that are embarrassing or challenging or confusing.And so a lot of what I do is ask questions in the context of my own experience. I'll say, “Hey, when you say that, that hits me in a really strange way, and it's kind of hurtful and I can see where this would be hurtful for somebody else. Can you help me understand where that idea came from for you and how that became so important to you?” Or like, “I can hear that this is really important to you, can you help me understand why?” Because if I can understand that why, I can create a human connection that allows me to walk someone through, like, “Yo, when you say to me as like a partnered queer person, that my future marriage is not God's best, when did that become so important to you? When did thinking about like queerness in this way become so important to you?And how big, like on a scale of one to 10, how big does that feel for you? And what would that feel like for you if I said something back to you like, ‘You're heteronormative marriage where it looks like your wife doesn't really like you that much, you're kind of a jerk, isn't God's best for you,' what would you say back to me?” Like what a strange thing for you to say to me. And so I think I do a lot of assuming that people are doing their best and asking a lot of origins questions. Because I think that most of evangelicalism is more concerned with indoctrination than it is with development and discipleship. And when you can expose the indoctrination, it opens up a lot of space for questions. Because I know a lot of people that have said to me things like, “I have never thought about that before,” or, “I have never considered that before.”Or, “It came from this book.” And I'm like, “Well, have you read these other books?” Or they're like, “It came from this verse.” And I'm like, “Well, have you read the equivalent verse in the gospels that exists?” And the answer usually is no. The people have not done their due diligence to come to their own ideas. They have parroted because parroting in the church gives you survival, and I understand that. I understand that being able to parrot ideas gives you belonging. And so to fall outside of that, to ask questions outside of that risks your belonging. And so I try to create spaces where people's stories can belong, even if their ideologies need to be questioned and engaged with differently. So I think that's the main way that I engage with that pastorally at least.Jonathan Walton: That is amazing. So being able to sit down with someone, see someone across difference in a way, and turn to wonder, awe and curiosity as opposed to prejudice, judgment, and condemnation. That's great. Amen.Where Listeners Can Find BrandiSy Hoekstra: Can you tell our listeners where they can find you or your work on the internets.Jonathan Walton: Or in real life. Or in real life [laughs].Brandi Miller: Yes. Yeah, you can… if you're not being a weirdo, you can find my church, Quest Church out in Seattle [laughter]. We're doing the best we can out there. I work there, I'm a regular person out there, so don't be a weirdo [laughter].Brandi Miller: But I'm online in several spaces. Primarily, I have a podcast called Reclaiming My Theology, that takes a topic.Jonathan Walton: Five stars, five stars, five stars.Brandi Miller: [laughs, then says very quickly] If you'd give it, it takes 30 seconds to do [laughter]. Yeah, that is exploring different types of problematic or oppressive ideologies and how they wiggle their way into our interpretation of the Bible and Christian culture and how they create Christian culture. We're working through a series on purity culture now that feels like it's never ending, but it's like a perfect intersection of a lot of the other forms of oppression that we've talked about. So we'll be in that for a little bit. And then I just launched a podcast with Quest Church, talking to people about formation practices that make them feel at home with God. And so if you're looking for more of a formational storytelling bend, I'm interviewing folks around those practices right now, as well as the stuff that I'm already doing on the podcast that takes a little bit more of an academic theological bend.Sy Hoekstra: What's the name of that one?Brandi Miller: The Quest Church Podcast.Sy Hoekstra: Oh, okay, got it [laughter]. Okay, cool.Jonathan Walton: Cool, cool. Nice.Sy Hoekstra: Thank you so much for that. If you go and listen to Reclaiming my Theology, you'll hear some familiar voices like Jonathan Walton and Tamice Spencer-Helms and other people that you know. Brandi Miller, this has been fantastic. I'm so happy you joined us [the sound of clapping]. Jonathan's actually applauding, I don't think that's ever happened before [laughter].Jonathan Walton: She's great. She's great. Lovely.Sy Hoekstra: Thank you so much for being with us.Brandi Miller: Yeah, delighted to be with you all. Thank you so much for the opportunity.[the intro piano music from “Citizens” by Jon Guerra plays briefly and then fades out.]Sy and Jonathan's Thoughts about Christian Community and Communicating Theology Well after the InterviewSy Hoekstra: Okay, Jonathan, that was fantastic [laughs].Jonathan Walton: It really, really was.Sy Hoekstra: What are you thinking coming out of that? Where are your thoughts at?Jonathan Walton: Yeah, so I'm actually stuck on the first thing that she said.Sy Hoekstra: Oh, okay. After that you blacked out and then you don't remember the rest of the interview.Jonathan Walton: [laughs] Well, I remember it. But one of the… I thought to myself, you know, I've changed a lot in the last four years since we wrote the essays that we did and since KTF started and all those things. And so it really pushed me to reflect. And when I was in journalism school with Peter Beinart, who is an amazing writer and commentator, especially right now.Sy Hoekstra: Who you've mentioned before, yeah.Jonathan Walton: Yes. Yeah, I mean, his work is just amazing. But something that he said in class was, you need to write for the language of the bleachers, like between a fifth and eighth grade level. And that is not a knock on people who are not educated or didn't go to university. It's more like we don't talk like this on a regular basis.Sy Hoekstra: You mean you don't talk the way that highfalutin people write [laughs]?Jonathan Walton: Exactly.Sy Hoekstra: Gotcha.Jonathan Walton: Right. And it was one of those things where I was like, huh, I wonder, would I say things the same way now? Or how can I say them so that people leave saying, “Oh, I know what he meant and I understood what he said,” versus, “I don't know what half those words meant, but it sounded really good [Sy laughs]. Thinking of reflecting on how Jesus spoke to people and who he called and how he called them was something that I just, just struck me about that response. And then obviously we also threw out some big words, some large terms and all those things. And one of the things that stood out to me that I didn't know about was the Overton window that she said. I'd never heard of that before.Sy Hoekstra: Oh, okay.Jonathan Walton: Yeah, but what has become normal. Having a term for that's just helpful. For me, like [laughs] I think I've mentioned this before, is that when I feel anxious, when I feel worried, when I feel concerned, one of the places that I go is information. I need to put it in a box. I need to have words to just feel grounded to engage. And now I can just say, “Oh, the Overton window has shifted [laughs], and that helps me have a place to stand [laughs] in a lot of our discourse and gives me more space to do what she talked about at the end, which is like, can I love people across difference? And when I have cohesive frameworks and information especially like in context, and I can do that more effectively. So I learned a lot. I was challenged and I'm really grateful.Sy Hoekstra: I think actually the thing that stuck out to me, kind of, I end up in a similar place, even though I'm coming from a totally different angle. Which is that the thing that she articulated about the how political doubt becomes religious doubt in like our current, kind of nationalist Christian nationalist landscape was really interesting to me. Because you hear it, so it's such a common thing if you think about it, right?Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: At least I've heard so many times people just be like, how can a Christian possibly vote for the Democrats? Right? Or asking like doubting Republican orthodoxy is actually grounds to doubt the foundations of your faith or the seriousness of your faith, when Jesus had absolutely no issue having people who he called disciples who were wildly politically different from each other.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: So when she talks about wanting to talk across difference like that, or wanting to how Jesus helps people become a better version of themselves, he was doing that with people who were like the Roman empire is fine and I work for them and I get rich off of them and that's great, like Matthew [laughs]. Versus the Roman Empire is the enemy and we need to throw them off via murder and other forms of violence, AKA Simon the Zealot. And like they're just sitting together with Jesus. They're both followers of Jesus, no question.Jonathan Walton: Exactly, right.Sy Hoekstra: And they have opposite political views. And one of them is like really earnestly advocating and killing a bunch of people [laughs]. Right?Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: And that is like, it's just a, I don't know, in the context of some of the church context where I grew up or some of the… like it's just a lot of the conservative Christian context now that is unthinkable, but it is also the absolute norm for Jesus [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: So that gives you a sense of when you're a place where your church culture is off, when something that is unthinkable is the norm for Jesus [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Exactly. Exactly. That is what I hope we would say when someone says, what is syncretism?Sy Hoekstra: So syncretism is another one of those big words. I'm not sure we defined it right. Syncretism is a word that a lot of White westerners use for basically poor Black and Brown people, and sometimes Asian people.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: When it's like, oh, you are a Christian, sure, but you're also practicing this native thing. Like my wife's family's from Haiti, right? You are Catholic, but you're also doing this voodoo stuff. And so that's not real pure Christianity, that's syncretism. And now…Jonathan Walton: Exactly.Sy Hoekstra: You were saying Jonathan, sorry, that was… go ahead.Jonathan Walton: No, but like, so Brandi's just turn of phrase when she said, oh, when someone's political foundations are shaken, their religious foundations are shaken. That is syncretism.Sy Hoekstra: Right, yes. Exactly.Jonathan Walton: And so putting it in that language just makes it more effective, more practical, more illuminating for people as opposed to saying, “Well, you're political and social and religious ideologies are enmeshed with one another, but creating an agenda…” It's like, we don't need to talk like that [laughs]. You know what I mean? We can just say it plainly and things God can meet us in that.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah.Which Tab Is Still Open?: Average Black, Christian Voting Patterns and Political Beliefs vs. the Average DemocratJonathan Walton: Alright Sy. Let's jump into our latest segment that we introduced during the bonus episodes, and now we're bringing to you on our wider feed, is Which Tab Is Still Open. Out of all the highlights we've sent around lately in our newsletter, what's still standing out to us? And so, Sy, this one's yours. So go for it.Sy Hoekstra: This one, yeah, this one is mine. It was an article that I had in the newsletter recently by a professor named Ryan Burge, who is a political science professor and a statistician. He's basically one of the go-to experts in America for a lot of media and other sources for data about religion and politics, like surveys, pollsters, et cetera. So he's a professor at Eastern Illinois University, but he's also an American Baptist Convention pastor [laughs]. So this article is about the average Black church attending Protestant. In a lot of these polls and surveys they ask people how often do you go to church, as a measure of your religiosity. Just like an estimate basically, of your religiosity.So he says for the average Black regular church attending Christian, what is the kind of differences in their political beliefs between just the average overall Democrat? And we talked about this in one of our, in the March bonus episode, that for like a lot of people don't realize the distance between… a lot of White people don't realize the distance between [laughs] average Black voter and average Democrat voter, because Black people always vote Democrat, right?Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: So if you're not kind of familiar with the culture or the politics, then those, the Black people and Democrats can be synonymous. So basically what he said was the average Black church goer is like a self-identified moderate. Is like almost in the middle of the political spectrum. Is more moderate than the average Democrat on abortion, immigration, policing, all kinds of stuff. Not conservative, but more moderate than the average Democrat. And they've become more moderate in recent years. And so there's an actual kind of statistically significant shift toward the right, but voting hasn't changed at all. Or there's been very little change in actual votes.And then the other interesting thing that he pointed out was the average… they do these polls where they have people rank themselves on a political spectrum from one to seven. So one is as liberal as it gets, and seven is as conservative as it gets. And then they also have people rank the Democrat and Republican parties for where they are, like the party overall. And in the last 10 years, the average Black church going Protestant assessment of where the Republican party is, has not changed at all, like in any significant way.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: So meaning when Donald Trump is the standard bearer, no significant difference in how radical or how right the Republican party is than when Mitt Romney was the standard bearer [laughs], right?Jonathan Walton: Yep.Sy Hoekstra: So you're saying that, “Yep. I get it, totally.” I think to a lot of people, that is some pretty stunning news [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.Sy Hoekstra: So, I don't know, the interesting points to me are just how our assumptions are like about voters in general are based on how White people vote, because White people vote very ideologically and Black people just don't. Like I've seen other polling data where it's like, basically Black people self-identify as liberals, moderates, or conservatives at roughly the same rate as White people. They just don't, Black people just don't vote ideologically. That's the difference, right? And then yeah, that thing where there's no difference between Trump and Mitt Romney is so interesting [laughter].Not no difference between those two men, but no difference between the parties under those two men. And by the way, the rest of the Democrat, the average Democrat thinks the Republican party is far more to the right than it was 10 years ago.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: So, basically what I'm saying is Black people knew the whole time [laughs], Black people knew what was up with the Republicans, and the assessment hasn't changed. I don't know, that to me is just a thing that people need to know. I don't know. When people say like, you hear sometimes from progressive people, “Listen to Black people, listen to Black women.” It just gets thrown out there, is like a, what I think to some White people probably sounds like just this weird ideological platitude that people are saying. But this is the reason [laughs]. The reason is marginalized folks in a system understand the system better than people in the dominant positions of the system, and have a, I don't know, have a kind of a clearer sense of where things are, have a more practical view of how to handle themselves in that system, which I think is the non-ideological voting. And yeah, all that stuff is really interesting to me. And I'm wondering what your thoughts were since this was my recommendation.Jonathan Walton: Yeah. I mean, I've… there are so many things that come to mind as we're talking about this. One thing is that the Overton window, as Brandi mentioned [laughs], it has shifted for some people, right? When we talk, when Randy Woodley talks about how people in the United States do not have the luxury of saying, “Oh, it doesn't matter who's president.” Marginalized people know it matters who is sitting in a political position. If it doesn't matter to you, then that creates a different set of problems. And I think another thing I think we have to remember is that [roughly] 70 percent of the voting population in the United States is White. The people who are registered, the people who turn out.And so there's, I think just there's a lot of context to layer over top of this that can obscure just the basic reality of the emancipation and the passing and Civil Rights Act. And the reality is, Black people voted for Lincoln because he wanted to stop slavery. Lincoln was a White supremacist. Lincoln literally argued in his presidential debate in Illinois that he did not believe that Black people were equal and could never be cultured to be with White people.Sy Hoekstra: And therefore we should send them back to Africa.Jonathan Walton: And therefore we should send them back to Africa. That is Lincoln. But why did we vote for him when we finally got the chance to vote, kind of with… [laughs]? It's because he said he did not want to have slavery exist anymore. Now, fast forward to the Civil Rights Act. Why did we all turn into Democrats? Because they said, “Hey, you should actually have civil rights.” Not equal rights, not full rights, not decriminalization. Not all, just some basic civil rights. Bam, now we're in that camp. This has always, always, always been about survival. The statistics are great. You could do the analysis, there's wonderful data that comes out. But at the end of the day, I'm gonna listen to my mama [Sy laughs] and say, “Oh yeah.”It would be preposterous of her to vote for anyone who is for the active destruction of her community. And the reality is, most of the time that is Republicans. Now, there are destructive policies against Black people that come from the Democrats. The difference is, just like we see here, the difference is this thing called White supremacy. One party says White supremacy exists. The other party says it doesn't. One party says White supremacy exists and desires in rhetoric to make it stop, even though they pass policies that continue to perpetuate it. The reality is though, there are more Black people, more people of color, more women in the party that has a donkey and not an elephant. And therefore, we will ride donkeys [laughs].And so that does not mean that we are for… we, when I say Black Christians, are for anything that the Overton window to use Brandi's saying again, has expanded. So Black folks' views on abortion, Black folks' views on war, Black folks' views on policing. Again, we like to be safe too. And unfortunately, a lot of times in communities of color that equals calling the police. That equals saying, “Hey, can someone help me?” Right? In Baltimore, in Chicago, in over policed parts of New York City, Black folks still have to call the police. Like it's not some utopia where we're just gonna let everything go. That doesn't exist in our communities.We still actually desire for the systems to work for us. We do not desire the system to destroy us. And so we use the systems and desire to make them better. And so these numbers I think are exceptionally informative at illuminating the, or illuminating the reality that many people in marginalized communities already know. But hopefully there'll be a common place for us to talk about it. Now there is a resistance to academia and research in progressive and conservative circles [laughs]. And so someone may say, “Well, that's just not true because it's not true for me.” But hopefully it will create some common ground to be able to have a cohesive conversation about Black folks, the Democratic party and progressive and conservative politics.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah, that's what we're trying to do. Political education, man [laughs].Outro and OuttakeJonathan Walton: Lord have mercy.Sy Hoekstra: Lord have mercy. This has been a great conversation. We were so happy that Brandi came on. And thanks for talking as always, Jonathan.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: We will see you all in a couple of weeks. Our theme song is Citizens by Jon Guerra. Our podcast Art is by Robin Burgess, transcripts by Joyce Ambale. And as I'm gonna start saying a lot, I'm stealing this from Seth at Can I Say This at Church? This show is produced by our subscribers [laughs]. Thank you all and we will see you all in two weeks.[The song “Citizens” by Jon Guerra fades in. Lyrics: “I need to know there is justice/ That it will roll in abundance/ And that you're building a city/ Where we arrive as immigrants/ And you call us citizens/ And you welcome us as children home.” The song fades out.]Jonathan Walton: And he loves wackadoodles, I'm gonna use that one. Loves wackadoodles [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: That I have never heard. Is that because I'm not from the south that I've never heard that? Was that… [laughter]?Jonathan Walton: Well, no. Brandi's not from the south either.Brandi Miller: Also, you know I'm big up north here. I'm a Pacific Northwest girly full on. There's no doubt there [Jonathan laughs].Sy Hoekstra: Is that a Brandi quote? Is that from you?Brandi Miller: No, I'm certain that come from somewhere.Sy Hoekstra: I'm just lost. It's fine.Brandi Miller: Maybe it's Black. Maybe that's what it is.Sy Hoekstra: Well, obviously if I am the confused one and you're not, that's my first thought as well. So [laughter], there's always, there's just like, I'm so used to that point in conversations at this point in my life where I'm like, “Oooooh it's because I'm White” [laughter]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ktfpress.com/subscribe
On this episode of True Print for Life join host Maylin Sambois as she sits down with Beth Menduni, Chief Storyteller and Founder of Video Story Studio. Listen in as Beth and Maylin discuss the importance of sharing your story with others. https://videostorystudio.com/ Maylin and Christina decided to launch True Print for Life for anyone who is looking for more strategy, passion, and purpose in their lives. The podcast will be featuring intimate interviews with top performers/experts in business, finance, and lifestyle, as well as deep dives into topics like health and manifestation. In 2014, Maylin and Christina launched Femergy®, a 5o1c3 non-profit organization. Femergy stands for Female Energy and provides additional access and support in helping bridge the gap of women in leadership and decisions making positions. The True Print for Life Podcast has everything you need to level up your life and business! New episodes premiere every other Wednesday Starting in June 2021! True Print for Life Website: https://www.femergy.org/true-print-podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MgGDnUJ8m8uO5nEorqYMn?si=RW9s7v-rQLu67_XN2vMg2A&dl_branch=1 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-print-for-life/id1571622222 Anchor: https://anchor.fm/trueprintforlife Femergy: https://www.femergy.org/ Femergy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamfemergy/?hl=en
This installment of The Axis Effect features Brian Seth Hurst, Founder and Chief Storyteller at StoryTech Immersive. In a world where technology is becoming more immersive than ever, StoryTech Immersive works to push boundaries in the filmmaking industry, utilizing VR/360 technology. As a new and relatively difficult medium to work in, StoryTech Immersive works with companies to create the most immersive content possible in said medium. Their repertoire speaks for themselves, working with companies like Marriott, PBS, and Showtime, but it is Hurst's experience in the world of storytelling that allows those brands to see their goals come to fruition. Hurst discusses his long and exciting career, the importance of finding one's purpose, and how to properly lead in any industry. To learn more, tune in to “Purpose vs Ego Driven Leadership.”
329 Hello Fellow Storyteller The art of telling stories is something that unites us, but it is also something that can tell us so much about the person after they tell their story, especially if the story is awkward or funny, or if it's about another person. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Karen Eber discuss the art of storytelling and how there are opportunities to collect and tell stories everyday. Highlights Awkward questions are unavoidable, one day you will look back on them fondly. Actively listening to the people who are telling you their story. If you want to learn about someone's stories, ask questions. Quotes “That was my intro into storytelling that recognizing it's not just a way to convey meaning or persuade, it's a way to create connection, even change energy in what can be the most artificial of circumstances.” “Through conversation we just uncover magical things.” Mentioned in this podcast Happier Hour With Einstein Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What will you do today that you will pay attention to and build a story out of? Maybe you're picking up kids from school while you're listening to this, what are you experiencing as you are waiting for your kids to come out of the school? Maybe you're on your way home from work, or maybe you're going for a walk with your dog, what are you paying attention to that you could turn into a story that you could collect and share to connect with people in an authentic and personal way. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Karen Karen Eber is an author, leadership consultant, and keynote speaker. Her TED Talk on how your brain responds to stories continues to inspire millions. Her book, The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories That Inform, Influence, and Inspire, is a Porchlight Books Bestseller and was selected as a Next Big Ideas Club must-read. It was published with HarperCollins this October. As the CEO and Chief Storyteller of Eber Leadership Group, Karen helps Fortune 500 companies like GE and Microsoft build leaders, teams, and culture, one story at a time. She guest lectures at universities including MIT, and Stanford. She is a former Head of Culture, Learning, and Leadership Development at GE and Deloitte. Karen frequently contributes and is featured in Fast Company, Quartz, Entrepreneur, MSN, Forbes, Inc, and Business Insider. Be sure to check out Karen's Instagram and LinkedIn! As well as her book and her website where you will find a free download of common storytelling mistakes! 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 Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!
What does it mean to “make it”? What does it take? And how does your reputation play a role? This is what I explore with Doug Landis, Growth Partner at Emergence Capital and a sales legend. His career journey is impressive and candidly abnormal. He climbed the ranks through sales and then became the Chief Storyteller at Box, which might be the coolest title ever. Now he puts his experience and expertise to good use being an advisor and mentor along with creating GTM strategies for Emergence Capital's portfolio companies.But that's not all I wanted to talk to him about. Beyond his sales and marketing prowess, what has it been like as the person behind the success? What does it take to hit that pinnacle of growth? What sacrifices has he had to make? And the lessons he's learned? Because Doug's reputation precedes him as someone who knows his stuff, is a great connector, and is an even better mentor, while being wildly successful. Here are a few highlights we'll dive into:Doug's lessons on walking the fine line between monetary motivation and the pursuit of success coupled with the sheer joy of doing something impactful.Why being positive and intentional can change your outlook and output, at work and beyond.And a few tips for driving accountability and better relationships between marketing and sales. (Okay, I had to ask a few practical questions, too.) Jump into the conversation: (05:00) Level 1 Sommalier(12:01) Struggle of Your Worth in Sales(23:40) “If tech was the mafia, he's a made man.”(45:10) The Power of Your Words & Self-Talk(1:08:10) How Can Marketers Be More Valuable?⬛ Follow Doug on LinkedIn⬛ Follow Doug on Twitter
Bruce Somers, Jr. is the Chief Storyteller at Sincbox, a company Bruce founded after a decade in the direct response TV field. He pioneered the brand response category and, to date, has directed and produced over 500 campaigns for clients such as DIRECTV, VISA, Microsoft, Citibank, United Airlines, Starbucks, Dell, Bounce, Cascade, Dawn, CoverGirl, Hamilton Beach, Epson, Disney, Whirlpool, Weber Grills, Omaha Steaks,... to name a few. Here are some key insights from this week's show: Every person has a brand. You need to build it and guard it with everything you have. Brand power starts with authenticity, as brands can't be something they are not. When a brand makes a mistake, admit it with transparency, sincerity, and authenticity. This can increase brand loyalty. Hurdles are thrown in our way to give us an opportunity to think harder and improve what we are trying to accomplish. A winner is a loser who tried one more time. All we are, are our stories; it is our stories that get us to where we are today. Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/sOEx2Rbx9Go
The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories that Inform, Influence, and Inspire by Karen Eber ABOUT THE BOOK: Learn how to take any story and make it perfect—from storytelling expert Karen Eber, whose popular TED Talk on the subject continues to be a source of inspiration for millions. What makes a story perfect? How do you tell the perfect story for any occasion? We live in a story world. Stories are a memorable and engaging way to differentiate yourself, build connection and trust, create new thinking, bring meaning to data, and even influence decision-making. But how do you turn a good story into a great story that informs, influences, and inspires? In The Perfect Story, Karen Eber—leadership consultant, professional keynote storyteller, and TED speaker—shares the science of storytelling to teach you to: Leverage the Five Factory Settings of the Brain to hack the art of storytelling Build a toolkit of endless story ideas Define the audience for your story Apply a memorable story structure Engage senses and emotions Tell stories with data Avoid common storytelling mistakes Use your body to tell dynamic stories Ensure your story doesn't manipulate Navigate and embrace the vulnerability of storytelling Without relying on complicated models or one-size-fits-all prescriptions, this book makes storytelling accessible with practical and impactful steps for anyone to tell the perfect story for any occasion. Through interview vignettes, The Perfect Story also shares approaches from different storytellers, including the Sundance Institute cofounder, an executive producer of The Moth, the former creative director at Pixar, the TED Radio Hour podcast host, and many more. Whether you are leading a team, giving a presentation, hosting a podcast, selling a product or service, interviewing for a job, or giving a toast at a wedding, The Perfect Story will help you take your stories and make them perfect. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Karen Eber is a bestselling author, international consultant, and keynote speaker. Her TED Talk: 'How Your Brain Responds To Stories – And Why They're Crucial For Leaders,' continues to be a source of inspiration for millions. Karen was previously a Head of Culture, Chief Learning Officer, and Head of Leadership Development at General Electric and Deloitte. As the CEO and Chief Storyteller of Eber Leadership Group, Karen helps companies build leaders, teams, and culture one story at a time, working with Fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Microsoft, Kraft Heinz, Facebook, and the Big 4 Consulting Companies. She guest lectures at universities including the London School of Business, Stanford, and MIT, and is a frequent contributor to publications like Fast Company, Business Insider, TED, Forbes, Inc, and Entrepreneur. And, interesting fact – she has one brown eye and one green eye! Click here for this episode's website page with the links mentioned during the interview... https://www.salesartillery.com/marketing-book-podcast/perfect-story-karen-eber
When you put a child in a car seat, you may be doing something wrong that could put your child in danger – particularly in the winter. And it has to do with what the child is wearing. This episode begins with a wintertime caution when you take your child out for a drive. https://cafemom.com/parenting/108322-9_lifesaving_car_seat_rules You probably know someone who is a great story teller. You may also know of people who are not very good at it at all. Great story telling is an art, but it is also a science. It's not only about what you say, it is also about what you don't say. And how you say it. Here to explain the anatomy of great story telling is Karen Eber. She is the CEO and Chief Storyteller of Eber Leadership Group and she is author of the book The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories That Inform, Influence, and Inspire (https://amzn.to/482JuVU). Do you understand how copyrights work? Most people don't. As you are about to hear, the world of copyrights is so confusing I am not sure anyone really understands it all. Still, it is important to have some understanding in order to stay out of trouble. You don't want to get caught infringing on someone else's copyright. And it turns out EVERYTHING is copyrighted. As soon as you write a sentence, a poem, a song – even a grocery list, it is instantly copyrighted and you own it. So, what does it all mean? Listen to my guest, David Bellos, a professor at Princeton University, and author of the book Who Owns This Sentence : A History of Copyrights and Wrongs (https://amzn.to/3Opgyk2). Who would you say most people believe is more trustworthy, someone with brown eyes or blue eyes? Listen and discover which one and why. The answer is weird because it actually has nothing to do with the eye color. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23326406/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Zocdoc is a FREE app and website where you can search and compare highly-rated, in-network doctors near you AND instantly book appointments with them online. Go to https://Zocdoc.com/SYSK and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. NerdWallet lets you compare top travel credit cards side-by-side to maximize your spending! Compare and find smarter credit cards, savings accounts, and more today at https://NerdWallet.com Indeed is offering SYSK listeners a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING TurboTax Experts make all your moves count — filing with 100% accuracy and getting your max refund, guaranteed! See guarantee details at https://TurboTax.com/Guarantees Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
‘New Year, new me.' Why don't we switch it up in terms of business and instead say, ‘New Year, new heights?' With this as our main motto for the following year, we're bringing you our special compilation episode. We've had so many incredible guests this year that it's almost impossible to pick the best moments from 2023. So, we focused on highlighting the best business lessons that can help you set your goals and transform your business in 2024.About the Guests Ray Titus is the CEO of United Franchise Group™ (UFG), who transformed Signarama® into a leading sign franchise, laying the groundwork for UFG's success as a global leader for entrepreneurs. Juho Makkonen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sharetribe, an innovative software company helping entrepreneurs get their marketplace businesses off the ground. Billie Simmons is the co-founder and COO of Daylight, a company on a mission to help LGBTQ+ people live their best lives. Kirk Michie is the Founder and currently the Managing Partner of Candor Advisors, a company providing transaction advisory services to successful founder-led businesses. Curro Romero is the founder of Vimbu (also considered an Airbnb of ski lessons), an innovative app connecting skiers and snowboarders directly with instructors. Matthijs Welle is the CEO of Mews, a hospitality software company. He's passionate about reshaping the hotel industry with technology and an innovative approach. Karen Eber is a thought leader, author, and an exceptional storyteller. She's currently the CEO and Chief Storyteller at Eber Leadership Group. Key Insights Gear your business towards your strengths. Instead of trying to do everything on your own, focus on your strengths and hire your weaknesses. This will allow you to channel your energies into areas where you excel and make the most impact. (00:30) Open your eyes for opportunities. Sometimes, there are business opportunities staring you right in the face, but you don't even see them. Try to be more present and keep your eyes open. An opportunity of your lifetime could be just around the corner! (09:19) Seek help when you need it. Despite what some entrepreneurs believe, it's okay to ask for help. It acknowledges the fact that you're determined to overcome obstacles and succeed by leveraging all available resources. So, whether you need a growth advisor or a team coach, don't hesitate to get support when needed. (12:33) Embrace uncertainty. When you accept that life is unpredictable and that you can't control everything in your business, that's when you truly open yourself to opportunities. It's true that uncertainty brings challenges, but it also spurs innovation and creativity, so embrace it to unlock your business potential. (16:06) Focus on your customers. Your business is all about your customers. When you're thinking of a new content strategy, sales pitch, or unique differentiator for your company, keep your customers at the forefront. This will create a loyal customer base but also grow your business through referrals. (23:09) Connect with our guests: Ray Titus Juho Makkonen Billie Simmons Kirk Michie Curro Romero Matthijs Welle Karen Eber Resources Mentioned: How to Franchise a Business with Ray Titus, United Franchise Group Build a Successful Marketplace Business with Juho Makkonen, Sharetribe The 6 Key Steps to Selling a Business with Kirk Michie, Candor Advisors Finding Opportunities in Underrepresented Markets with Billie Simmons, Daylight Achieving Success Through Innovative Thinking with Curro Romero, Vimbu Continuous Growth on the Entrepreneurial Journey with Matthijs Welle, Mews Transform Your Business Through The Power of Storytelling with Karen Eber, Eber Leadership Group Follow Beyond 8 Figures: Linkedin Twitter Website