404 The Unpredictable Nature of Our Stories

Like the humble ant, we go about our lives caring for those in our home, seeking new horizons, and using our natural talents to build monuments to our success. However, just like the ant, we are subject to things out of our control; be it a rainstorm that floods known pathways or a cruel child with a magnifying glass. These things can break us, they often do, but just like the ant we must settle again, rebuild, and make our home safe again.

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Anne Plaisance discuss the many trials and tribulations they had faced and how they channeled it into something beautiful and powerful.

Highlights

• How have you surprised others? With your choices, strengths, and/or stories?

• How have you turned the hard parts of your story into something inspiring? How have you transformed?

• When was the moment your relief finally turned to joy?

Quotes

“What you don’t transform, you transmit.”

“I’d say it’s a little bit like kintsugi, the japanese art where you fill all the cracks with gold, but here you fill your soul with love.”

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

My question isn’t necessarily what you’ll do with this information, my question for you today is will you take five minutes after listening to this podcast to take inventory of where you are right now in your feelings, in how you are taking action in something that you want to do, take five minutes and take inventory. What do you need now? What will put you in a better place now? And what tiny ant sized step can you take in that direction?

And, as always, thank you for listening.

About Anne

Internationally renowned painter Anne Plaisance has established herself as a key figure on the contemporary art scene, with over 100 exhibitions worldwide. She has been awarded numerous times, receiving major distinctions as well as grants from the prestigious Cambridge Arts Council and Massachusetts Cultural Council. Her work, marked by profound artistic and social engagement, has been featured in influential media outlets such as The Boston Globe, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle Decoration, and Artscope, and she has been regularly invited on television and radio programs.

Her creations are part of prestigious private collections in London, Milan, Paris, Warsaw, Dubai, Kyoto, and Boston, establishing her as a widely collected and internationally recognized artist.

Founder of the transformative art exhibition Wonder Women Now, she stands out for her commitment to women’s empowerment and her bold approach to the global issue of domestic violence, making her work a true force for social and cultural change.

Be sure to check out Anne’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! As well as her website Anne Plaisance!

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!

403 Choosing Love First

It's easy to forget that we have free will, that we can choose what we love, what we like, how we choose for others to perceive us. It takes a great deal of self reflection and growth to find the parts of ourselves that are willing to speak up and fight for what we believe in, even if we must speak up and fight against ourselves.

In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Edward Simberg discuss everything from how they met, to their deep love of storytelling, to the core beliefs they both hold dear.

Highlights

• How do you live the stories you share? How do your stories reflect your values?

• Do you put genuine human effort into reaching out to a person?

• How are your self perceptions skewed? Are you conscious of how you want to be perceived?

• What is something you want? And what are your next steps in getting there?

• If you can have foundational love and gratitude your life will change.

Quotes

"You need to burn that candle a little bit, before you realize how big that fire really is."

"If you want it, it's way more likely that it's going to happen."

"We don't choose our interests, that's one of the most interesting things I've learned lately. We don't really choose our thoughts, we don't really choose our interests, they just come to us."

"Do you think love is a choice?"

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

I have a few questions for you: The first is, what is something you say you're not good at and maybe it's time to ask yourself the question, am I not good at it or have I decided not to be good at it? Have I decided not to try? Is it something I call inauthentic when it's actually uncomfortable or I don't like it? The next thing I would love to hear from you about is what was your takeaway? I was thinking about the difference between love and like, and why I feel like love is a more important choice to people and things. Because that will color how you choose happiness as well. And Last, I would love to hear what you are going to do with this one precious life and having conversations -extended conversations- with people in your community. Now, Go.

And, as always, thank you for listening.

Mentioned In This Episode

Shawn Achor TedTalk

About Edward

- A digital nomad who's been traveling the world for the last 5 years

- Business owner specialized in building premium websites and social media profiles

- I have exercised every day for more than 5 years (haven't skipped a day)

- Lover of dogs, philosophy books, fitness, travel, storytelling

Be sure to check out Edward's LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as his website Max Capacity Agency!

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!

402 Freedom in Healing

Throughout life we may make decisions, or be subject to decisions made involving us. Whether it's first or second hand, inevitably we begin to believe in a pattern in the behavior around us, oftentimes leading to self doubt and worse. However, if we keep moving forward, actively choosing to make the best of a situation, to learn and grow in order to better ourselves for ourselves, we will find our freedom in healing.

In today's episode, Sarah Elkins and Holli Tabren McEachern discuss the importance of growth, healing, and the honesty that comes with self reflection. Honesty not just with the world, but with yourself and what has happened to make you feel the way you do, and how it triggers you.

Highlights

• Empathy in a world of cruelty is the bravest rebellion.

• How have you been programmed?

• Have you ever encountered favoritism?

• What choices are you making that reflect your behavior? Do you feel like you have to justify these choices?

Quotes

"I think it's because we look at society, and we look at the grandma with the grandkids and the grandma always spoils the grandkids. You have this program, like your program, program from the way things are. Program from the way everybody does things."

"And God, he prepares you for what's next. You don't know it's preparation. You don't realize that all these things that happen in your life, even the bad choices you make, will prepare you for the next thing."

"You have to change you before anything in the situation can change."

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

Where are you incarcerated? What are you choosing not to see in your own decisions? That maybe with a little light on them can help you find more satisfaction and happiness in your life. It's a simple question, but the answer might be tricky.

And, as always, thank you for listening.

About Holli

Holli Tabren is an author, speaker, mentor, and reentry specialist dedicated to helping women rebuild their lives and reclaim their power after incarceration. Once sentenced to 25 years in prison, she served 10 years before her case was overturned transforming her pain into purpose. Holli now leads the Becoming HER Framework—Healed, Extraordinary, Resilient—through workshops, books, and her soon-to-launch app, equipping justice-impacted women with tools for healing, entrepreneurship, and resilience. She is the author of Blood Ain't Thicker, The Path2Redemption Anthology, and her newest release, Becoming HER. Featured on national stages and news outlets, Holli shares her story of transformation as living proof that freedom isn't just about release; it's about rebuilding. Be sure to check out her LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! And be sure to check out her website Holli Tabren!

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!

401 Exploring Our Identities

It can be daunting to explore outside of your comfort zone, it is vital to your growth. Whether that be leaving your hometown or simply stepping into a new field, we must challenge ourselves to unlock our true potential.

In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Sarah Degn discuss how important it is to spread your own wings and to travel outside of your comfort zone and to find who you are through your own skills and knowledge.

Highlights

• Leaving home behind to pursue your dreams.

• It's never too late to try and to explore.

• Learning and growing as an individual to in turn help your community.

Quotes

"You can come back, just the reminder that yes you absolutely should go experience something beyond your small town."

"You just need to find the new opportunities and things that are missing."

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

Sarah and I spoke for nearly an hour about what it's like to explore our identities through our youth and maybe come back home, and find out what life is like and how our identities can be shaped by our environments and by the things that we think are important. We talked about what it's like to travel and tell people our story so that they uncover their own stories and that they can understand truly what the rest of the world could look like. It was full of inspiration and ideas and now I want to know, what will you do with this? What was one thing that stood out in this conversation? I'd love to hear from you.

And, as always, thank you for listening.

About Sarah Degn

Sarah is a fourth generation farmer near Sidney, MT. With her family, she raises 800 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat. She's represents NE Montana of the Farmers Union Board of directors.

Be sure to check out Sarah's LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as The Montana Farmers Union, and The National Farmers Union!

About Sarah Elkins

"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!

In celebrating the 400th Episode of Your Stories Don't Define You How You Tell Them Will, Sarah Elkins ruminates on the many lessons and gifts she has been given throughout her journey as a podcaster, an entrepreneur, and a person. From returning to what truly matters, to reciprocating the good and beautiful things in life.

Highlights

• What goals have you met that still shock you?

• What are you reflecting on and have you made amendments to others and yourself?

• How do you reciprocate in your relationships? Especially in the relationship with yourself.

• Are you surrounding yourself with the people who help build you? Who reciprocates your intentions?

• How do you hold space for the stories of those around you?

Quotes

"She thinks about it in terms of returning to our core goodness. She believes this is our opportunity to return, find, and bring our hearts back to that core in action."

"When I receive, what am I giving in return? When I give, what am I receiving in return?"

"Stop chasing people who don't treat you the way you deserve to be treated."

"Everything we do has consequences. Everything we do is reciprocal."

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What words do you infuse in your life, relationships, and actions? What role does reciprocity play for you? And what was one thing in this episode that's so sticky that you will change something; behavior, actions, or maybe something in your internal dialogue?

And, as always, thank you for listening.

Mentioned in This Episode

Montana Jewish Project

Braiding Sweetgrass

The Blessing of A Skinned Knee

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!

When you first take the Strengths Finder quiz, we often feel like those skills and talents are what you can use to guide and influence others, however if we forget to take time for ourselves, to turn our talents inward and focus on ourselves, we are failing ourselves by not acknowledging what we bring to the table.

In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Lindsey Van Gorp discuss the importance of introspection, fostering and growing our strengths, as well as how we need to wield our talents and skills in order to be the best version of ourselves, not just for others but for ourselves so that we may feel fulfilled in our lives.

Highlights

• Have you ever done anything out of character for the sake of someone else?

• Are you direct in your communication or do you soften the edges of your words?

• Recognizing the innate strengths in everyone and how that builds community when you're aware of it.

• Do you use your talents solely for those around you or are you using them more introspectively to best show up for yourself?

Quotes

"Clear is kind, I think that's a thing I'm trying to learn and use more effectively. Because you're right, I have these strengths that make me a happy, sometimes soft person when it comes to my communication, and I'm learning to remind myself that it's actually far more kind to the person I'm communicating with if I am direct and clear in my communication instead of softening the edges of what I'm trying to get at."

"Once you're aware of it, you see it everywhere."

"I think mine is a combination of all of mine, I looked at the strengths as how they impact others; Like how does this show up for everyone around me? And I had spent less time thinking about how do they show up for myself? And even just that mindset shift of it's not always about how you can influence or impact those around you through them, but how am I using them towards myself?"

Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

Even without using a tool or assessment like Strengths Finder, what questions can you ask people around you, the ones you clearly think differently from, what questions can you ask to get to the heart of why they do what they do and how they do it. Because when you can understand the language, you don't need to change who you are but you do need to learn a little bit of how to speak it.

And, as always, thank you for listening.

About Lindsey

Lindsey Van Gorp is the Brand Experience Manager at Vermeer Heartland, focusing her time and attention on enhancing the employee and customer experience. She has a passion for people and seeing them reach their full potential by recognizing their natural gifts and abilities.

Be sure to check out Lindsey's LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as Vermeer Heartland!

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!