What does the Titanic teach us about psychological safety, trust, and moral leadership?
In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Kelly Skwarcan—leadership consultant, author, and creator of Leadership in Crisis: The Titanic, Carpathia, and Californian. Through this unique, immersive case study, Kelly unpacks the psychology behind two ships on the night of the Titanic disaster: one that responded heroically, and one that stood still.

With a background in personality psychology and a flair for dramatic storytelling, Kelly offers a powerful lens into how individual traits and organizational climate shape performance—especially under pressure. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of what creates (or destroys) psychological safety on a team, and what leaders today can do to build trust that endures.

You’ll Hear:
The Real Story Behind the Titanic Rescue: Why one ship's captain answered the call while another ship's captain went back to sleep
Why Personality Matters – How the HEXACO model and honesty-humility shape team behavior and leadership effectiveness
The Hidden Cost of Silence – How fear of speaking up can sink performance, and how to create a climate where every voice counts
Trust Requires Vulnerability – Why we get the trust equation backwards—and how to reverse it for stronger leadership
From History to High Performance – How CBMI (Competence, Benevolence, Integrity) builds trust that lasts

This conversation offers rich takeaways grounded in psychological research and real-world resonance.

Resources ~
Website: kellyskwarcan.com
Iron & Ice: The Full Tale of the Titanic by Kelly E. Skwarcan – Buy on AmazonInstagram: @kellyskwarcan
LinkedIn
Personality Assessment: HEXACO.org
Contact Kelly: kellyskwarcan@gmail.com

Alexandra Boyd's, feature documentary that Jerome mentions is Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries. Supporting actors in James Cameron's film read from diaries they wrote on set including Peter White who played 3rd Officer Groves of the Californian. Sadly, his scene was cut from the film.

Available to rent/own on Amazon and many other platforms.
Trailer: shipofdreamsfilm.com

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, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their heartfelt conversation with author and keynote speaker Amy Daughters, whose work explores the unexpected power of handwritten letters in the digital age.

Centered on a deceptively simple idea—taking the time to write a note—this episode dives into the emotional resonance and intentionality behind putting pen to paper. Julienne and Jerome uncover the deep links between this analog form of communication and their own work in storytelling: both invite us to slow down, reflect, and connect meaningfully with others.

You’ll Hear:

✍️ The Handwritten Difference – Why writing a physical note is more than a nicety—it's a powerful act of attention, intention, and connection.

🧠 Slow Down to Tune In – How handwriting, like storytelling, invites you to pause and focus not on yourself, but on the person receiving your words.

📬 The Power of Personalization – How a brief handwritten message—amid a stack of generic communications—can make someone feel uniquely seen and valued.

📎 Tangible Tokens of Gratitude – Why physical notes stick with us—literally and emotionally—long after a digital message fades from our inboxes.

🪞 Story as a Gift – How sharing personal experiences isn’t self-promotion, but an offering that creates bridges between people.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Intention Changes Everything – Whether it’s a letter or a story, the act of crafting something for someone else transforms how it's received.

✅ Small Acts, Big Impact – A few thoughtful words can reshape how someone feels about their day—or their place in the world.

✅ Keep It Simple – You don’t need the perfect words or stationery. Just the willingness to reach out.

✅ Emotion Is the Envelope – Facts and insights might inform—but emotion is what delivers the message to the heart.

✅ Storytelling Isn’t About You – It begins with your experience but becomes powerful when it makes others feel included and connected.

🎧 Here you will hear why handwritten notes are more than nostalgic gestures—and how you can use this practice to spark deeper relationships in leadership, work, and life.

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 episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Evante Daniels—founder of Seeqer and originator of “cultural physics,” a groundbreaking framework for understanding how shared beliefs and narratives shape organizations. Evante works with schools, governments, and businesses to assess and strengthen what he calls “cultural resilience”—an organization’s ability to withstand and adapt to shifting cultural forces.

From his earliest soundboard gig at a 6,500-person Black church in Atlanta to mapping cultural “levees” that can either guide or erode business performance, Evante weaves together metaphor, measurement, and meaning. His story is a masterclass in combining systems thinking with deep human insight.

You’ll hear:

• What cultural physics is—and how it helps leaders understand what’s really happening beneath the surface
• Why culture is like a river, and organizations are like levees
• The hidden costs of neglecting culture until a crisis hits
• What it takes to build culturally resilient organizations in a world of constant change
• Why succession planning is a cultural issue, not just a leadership one
• How storytelling engages the nervous system before the brain—and why that matters for communication

Whether you’re navigating generational divides, trying to align teams, or leading cultural transformation, this episode will give you a powerful new lens on how stories, structures, and systems interact.

🔗 Resources ~

Evante's company website: https://seeqer.co
Evante’s Substack: https://evantedaniels.substack.com/
Connect with Evante on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evantedaniels/

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