Ron Chapman is a professional storyteller, novelist, and longtime guide for deep inner work. With nearly 40 years of sobriety, Ron has spent his life helping people navigate hard truths…through story, spirituality, and presence rather than performance.

In this conversation, we talk about what it actually means to tell authentic stories—not polished or performative, but honest stories that respect the audience and the weight of the material. From wrestling with God, to trauma and recovery, to knowing when not to perform, this episode is a grounded look at storytelling as a responsibility…not just a craft.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1. Authentic storytelling vs performative storytelling
2. How to tell heavy stories with integrity
3. What makes a story valuable to an audience
4. Ego, humility, and responsibility in storytelling

CONNECT WITH RON CHAPMAN:

1. Website: https://www.ronaldchapman.com/
2. The Saga of Grace Series: https://www.ronaldchapman.com/the-saga-of-grace

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

1. Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/
2. Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/148

If you’ve ever caught yourself shrinking your gifts or holding back because it feels “humble,” this is for you. In this episode, we talk about why undermining your work isn’t holiness — it’s disconnection from the very gift you were meant to bring into the world — and what it really looks like to let yourself be seen and valued.

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1. The hidden ways we weaken our own power through false humility
2. Why being willing to be seen is part of your calling
3. Reclaiming the worth of your work and allowing value to be exchanged

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Episodes Mentioned:

1. Cultivating the CALLING of a Communicator | Reward Sibanda: https://youtu.be/YhB1oT_MGag?si=WSnr1b3RorXn0fw-
2. Unconventional Marketing for Your Art | Alejo Porras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCqq3DC7_ow
3. How to Overcome Performance Anxiety | Will Reynolds: https://youtu.be/Ph5B1Cc_Jow?si=D1lud91WGV4SJesV
4. Make More MONEY with Art | Amie McNee: https://youtu.be/J4IliQ-x5Q0?si=upYtTN5RRVInW8ID

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

1. Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/
2. Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/147

Keith Giles and Matthew J. Distefano are authors, publishers, and co-owners of Quoir, a media company dedicated to publishing bold, thoughtful work from people navigating faith, doubt, and deconstruction.

Keith is a former pastor turned full-time writer. Matthew describes himself as a “working-class theologian.” Together, they write (and publish) at the intersection of spirituality, culture, justice, and storytelling, helping creatives give language to ideas that don’t fit neatly into inherited belief systems.

In this conversation, we talk about what it actually means to share your work when you’re still evolving…when certainty is gone, relationships are at stake, and false humility can quietly keep your work hidden.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Creating when your beliefs and opinions are evolving
• Why promoting your work isn’t ego (and how false humility keeps good ideas buried)
• Leading without hierarchy, rejecting guru culture, and embracing mystery

CONNECT WITH KEITH & MATTHEW:

• Quoir’s Website: https://quoir.com/
• Keith’s Website: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/keithgiles/
• Matthew’s Website: https://www.allsetfree.com/
• Heretic Happy Hour: https://open.spotify.com/show/7v6veXaOTdcfQOfA9H39tO?si=1bcdd0e76d62480b

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/146