“This happened to me. So there’s no way I can get it wrong.”

In this special episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on what it’s really like to step onto a live stage — in two different cities, on the same night — without planning it together.

From a Duke City Story Slam in New Mexico to a Moth event in New York City, both hosts independently chose to put themselves in front of a live audience just days before launching their own Leadership Story Talks LIVE event. What followed was a powerful reminder of why we practice what we teach: structure creates safety, breathing creates connection, and showing up matters.

This episode explores what presenting live teaches us about leadership, community, and the courage to own your story.

You’ll Hear:

• Why creating guidelines and structure makes live storytelling safer and more powerful

• How pushing yourself to show up builds confidence and credibility
• The difference between virtual presentation and feeling a room breathe, laugh, and clap in real time

• Simple grounding tools before speaking

• Why you can’t “get it wrong” when you’re telling your own lived experience

• How community storytelling combats loneliness and creates genuine connection Resources:

REGISTER HERE for the next Leadership Story Talks LIVE! Stories That Shaped Us on March 19:

If you’re preparing for a keynote, a team meeting, a pitch, or simply want to own your story with more confidence — we’re here to help.

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this debrief episode of Leadership Story Talks, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful idea shared by executive coach Greg Smith: real growth doesn’t come from a single coaching moment—it comes from changing how we listen, lead, and respond to challenges over time.

The conversation explores a common tension leaders face: how to sustain the impact of coaching once the “bubble” of one-on-one support disappears and real-world pressures return.

You'll hear:
- Coaching shouldn’t be something you “finish.”
Jerome and Julienne unpack the idea that coaching isn’t a checkbox or a temporary intervention. For growth to last, leaders and organizations must invest in structures that support continued practice, reflection, and accountability—long after formal coaching ends.

- Listening is the foundation of effective storytelling.
A recurring theme in the episode is that leaders often feel pressure to perform—to have the right message, the right vision, the right story. But sustainable leadership begins with listening first. When leaders truly hear their teams’ experiences, the right stories emerge naturally.

- Practice creates confidence—and sustainability.
Jerome shares an example of a leader who entered coaching wanting to become a better storyteller, only to realize that listening more deeply was the real shift. Through repeated practice during coaching, that leader built confidence and eventually internalized a new leadership habit that continued long after coaching ended.

- From “what’s happening to me” to “what do I get to do.”
The debrief highlights a mindset shift at the heart of Greg Smith’s message: challenges will come regardless. The question is whether leaders meet them from a place of curiosity and agency—or from a sense of victimhood.

- Organizations play a role, too.
Julienne emphasizes that sustainability isn’t solely the responsibility of the individual being coached. Organizations must stay engaged, hold themselves accountable, and create environments where learning is reinforced—not abandoned once a program concludes.

Why This Matters:
Sustainable leadership isn’t about one great story, one inspiring speech, or one coaching engagement. It’s about building listening muscles, creating shared accountability, and allowing learning to become part of how leaders show up every day.

As Jerome notes, when leadership behaviors truly “get into your bones,” they stop being techniques—and start becoming who you are.

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this special Valentine’s Day reflection, Jerome and Julienne step away from frameworks and techniques to explore a living example of leadership through presence, listening, and love.

Inspired by the journey of Buddhist monks walking from Texas to Washington, DC, the episode invites listeners to reconsider what it means to show up for others—quietly, intentionally, and without agenda. As communities gather along the monks’ path, the conversation reflects on listening as an act of love and on the power of collective humanity, especially in times of division and conflict.

You'll hear:

• Why the monks’ journey resonates so deeply right now

• Listening as a practice—not a skill, but a way of being
• What leadership can look like when presence replaces performance
• How Valentine’s Day might be reclaimed as a broader expression of kindness and care
• The quiet power of collective action grounded in intention rather than spectacle.

Resources

• Buddhist Monks’ Walking Journey (Video)
A short video highlighting the monks’ walk from Texas to Washington, DC and the communities gathering along the way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkCCGjskeFI

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here