The What Matters story standard: how we choose the stories we share

In this special episode, Katarina and Patrick open the doors to the heart of the What Matters podcast. For the first time, they share the guiding principles behind how they choose the stories they read — and why certain pieces resonate more deeply than others.

Together, they explore the What Matters Story Standard, a gentle but precise compass built around emotional truth, universal themes, sincere voice, natural conversation potential, and the quiet brilliance found in lived experience.

This episode is an invitation into their creative and spiritual process: how they listen, what they look for, and why the podcast is built not on performance, but on presence. It’s a glimpse behind the scenes — and a piece they’ll reference again for future writers and listeners who want to understand the depth and intention behind each episode.

If you’re curious about what makes a story truly matter, this conversation was made for you.