360 Taking Your Own Advice

Sometimes in life we are told by those who come to us for guidance how valuable and insightful our input can be, however it is often difficult for us to take our own words to heart. This can be for a myriad of reasons, but if our personal board of directors insist that we have a good head on our shoulders, certainly we must turn inward and offer advice to ourselves. 

In this episode, Sarah Elkins ruminates on the importance of taking your own advice and being mindful of how your stories impact those involved in it, especially when they aren’t around to hear the story being shared.

360 Taking Your Own Advice

Sometimes in life we are told by those who come to us for guidance how valuable and insightful our input can be, however it is often difficult for us to take our own words to heart. This can be for a myriad of reasons, but if our personal board of directors insist that we have a good head on our shoulders, certainly we must turn inward and offer advice to ourselves. 

In this episode, Sarah Elkins ruminates on the importance of taking your own advice and being mindful of how your stories impact those involved in it, especially when they aren’t around to hear the story being shared. 


Highlights

  • Appreciating the facets of the people in your life and how they influence your stories.

  • Finishing what you started, especially when you don’t think you can.

  • Being mindful of how you share the stories about the people in your life.


Quotes

“You have to finish the commitment you made (for the summer). Because if you don't, this challenging situation will come back to you in different forms until you learn the lesson the universe is trying to teach you.”

“It doesn’t require much criticism to believe the bad stuff.”


Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What stories are you sharing with the intent to teach or learn or to grow, that might actually be hurting someone you care about? Can you see whether that’s damaging the relationship with that person even if they haven’t heard the story you’ve been sharing? The stories we tell about other people say a lot about who we are. So please, the next time you start sharing a story; pay attention, figure out how you can share it in a way that’s positive and shows the beautiful light of you and the people in your life.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 


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!

Read More

359 What is Success?

Success and our paths to reaching it look different for every person, especially when it's to someone who isn’t an achiever and doesn’t care for titles. Our own personal success is often more meaningful than a trophy.

In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Robin Hamilton discuss their own personal definitions of success as well as the trials and hurdles on their paths to self discovery and success.

359 What is Success?

Success and our paths to reaching it look different for every person, especially when it's to someone who isn’t an achiever and doesn’t care for titles. Our own personal success is often more meaningful than a trophy.

In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Robin Hamilton discuss their own personal definitions of success as well as the trials and hurdles on their paths to self discovery and success.


Highlights

  • Showing appreciation for your stories and the stories of others.

  • Don’t forget to keep your eyes open and grateful to the opportunities presented to you.

  • What do you want to do? And what are the next steps in reaching that goal?

  • Are you presenting yourself in a way you can be proud of as well as those who rely on you?


Quotes

“You need to take the blinders off, and you need to be careful of the story or the narrative you’re telling yourself of what should be and be open to what is in front of you.”

“You’re doing all of this work anyway, why don’t you just do it for yourself?”

“I always felt that when your talents can support you and sustain you, in the way you want them to, that is what I believe success to be.”


Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

One thing that really caught my attention was the story of the woman that was interviewing Robin and said “We think much of ourselves don’t we?” When do you get to be the woman that says, “Damn girl, you really know what your value is. We have this range in our salary and that’s at the upper range, I can try to push this through but what if we start here?” When can you be the woman who says “You’re right. You aren’t asking enough.” We need to be that woman for the women around us. It should never be a woman who tells another woman, she’s not the value she thinks she is.   

And, as always, thank you for listening. 


About Robin

Robin Hamilton is an Emmy-award winning journalist, television host, moderator and writer.

As a journalist, Ms. Hamilton has worked for network affiliates around the country, including Florida,
New York, and Massachusetts. Based in Washington, DC, she was the host for the public affairs news magazine program This Just In.

In 2012, she founded the ARound Robin Production Company, where she creates videos for non-profits to help with fundraising, marketing and messaging.

In 2016, she was awarded a Fulbright grant to travel to Myanmar to help facilitate a communication campaign between local organizations and their government.

She received two master’s degrees, one from New York University, with a concentration in broadcast journalism, and a second in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, with a focus on policy and media.

Her company has also produced five documentary films.

Check out Robin’s Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram! As well as her website Around Robin!


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!

Read More

358 Inner Leaders

No matter how much of a master we think we are at the things we do, we can always learn more. Whether that be in the form of learning a new hiking path, learning a new crochet stitch, or how to best use your behavior in the workplace to encourage others to thrive. In this episode Tanya Bugbee and Sarah Elkins discuss the importance of having a coach, and using the skills that connect us to others.

358 Inner Leaders

No matter how much of a master we think we are at the things we do, we can always learn more. Whether that be in the form of learning a new hiking path, learning a new crochet stitch, or how to best use your behavior in the workplace to encourage others to thrive.

In this episode Tanya Bugbee and Sarah Elkins discuss the importance of having a coach, and using the skills that connect us to others. 


Highlights

  • Sometimes it takes time for us to accept and share the important details of our lives.

  • Practice and leaving reminders for yourself to work on the behavior you want to make an adjustment to. 

  • We need someone pragmatic and straight to the point to coach us.


Quotes

“It connects us, those stories. We make a connection when we share something vulnerable or whatever we’re sharing. It’s a way to connect and to bond and to understand.” 

“We need to have strong inner leaders in our voices.”


Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

If you are a coach, who are you reaching out to for coaching to make sure you are bringing your best to your clients? If you’ve considered hiring a coach, what are the outcomes you want as a result of working with them, because that can help inform which coach is going to be the best fit for you. Think about the people you admire and respect the most because of interactions with you and know that your best coach connection will be with somebody like that, someone you will listen to and feel confident and safe to be vulnerable with. I highly encourage you to consider hiring a coach especially if you’re a business owner and you just need somebody with really good ideas, and good listening skills, that can help you and make sure that they are in your corner.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 


About Tanya

Tanya’s clients don’t just meet their goals—they soar beyond them. From earning promotions to becoming top producers, Tanya’s clients achieve with confidence, courage, and a plan. Known for her skill in creating customized strategies that lead to measurable results, Tanya is the coach who transforms ambitions into achievements.

Her path to coaching is as vibrant as her approach: she’s been a top-producing realtor in three states, a corporate trainer for Jenny Craig, a sailboat flipper, and even ran a flight school. Oh, and she earned her pilot’s license at 26. Her stories inspire and her strategies deliver, equipping every client with the tools they need to thrive.

Outside of work, Tanya is all about adventure and family—whether it’s taking her bike out on a new trail, enjoying live music, or savoring grandmotherhood.

Be sure to check out Tanya’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! As well as Tanya’s Website!


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!

Read More

357 The Objects That Matter To You

Connection, especially in today’s day and age, is becoming a lost art. Today we are given the unique and groundbreaking idea from Lisa Weiss, to ask about the objects that are held onto by the people around us, connecting with them through the shared love of holding onto pieces of the past that have shaped us into who we are today.

357 The Objects That Matter To You

Connection, especially in today’s day and age, is becoming a lost art. Today we are given the unique and groundbreaking idea from Lisa Weiss, to ask about the objects that are held onto by the people around us, connecting with them through the shared love of holding onto pieces of the past that have shaped us into who we are today. 


Highlights

  • What are you keeping from the past?

  • What commonality do you look for in others?

  • What do you surround yourself with that matters to you?


Quotes

“I don’t want to live an unlived life.”

“I tend to like objects that make me feel like I matter to someone else.”


Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

One of the first topics in this conversation was considering the depth of the object you’re holding on to. So what is an object in your life that you can look at and tell a story about that includes other people, other characters in your story matter. How can you share that with people? Think about opportunities to use objects to connect with people around you, because right now in our global community with the polarization we are facing this is so critical. Asking a question, not to change somebody's mind, not to try to persuade somebody, but asking them with the intention of connecting. Ask the question that will bring depth and connection in that moment around you.   

And, as always, thank you for listening. 


About Lisa

Lisa Weiss is the 3X Emmy® Award-winning founder + CEO of Storybeat Studio, a storytelling and public relations company combatting invisibility, disconnection, and disengagement among individuals and organizations. She has more than two decades of experience as a media executive and writer for iconic brands, including Oprah Winfrey and CBS News. Through her work with Storybeat Studio, Lisa was named a Forbes Next 1000 entrepreneur (December 2021) and a Tory Burch Fellow (2021-2022). She is the creator of the Object Diaries project: Stories About Human Connection Told One Secret Object at a Time.

Be sure to check out Lisa’s LinkedIn! As well as Object Diaries, the adjoined Newsletter, and Story Beat Studio!


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!

Read More

355 Create The Community You Need

Building a community can be a daunting yet very rewarding task, in order to find this community often you need to spread out and meet strangers, expanding both your world view and understanding of others. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Emily Carlson discuss the importance of building community and making your very own personal board of directors to work together for a better tomorrow.


355 Create The Community You Need

Building a community can be a daunting yet very rewarding task, in order to find this community often you need to spread out and meet strangers, expanding both your world view and understanding of others. 

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Emily Carlson discuss the importance of building community and making your very own personal board of directors to work together for a better tomorrow.


Highlights

  • Knowing what really matters to you and never compromising your values.

  • What you want from life changes over time.

  • Ask what someone has tried before exploring solutions to a problem. 


Quotes

“I knew I needed to do something in this world and I knew I didn't want to leave my baby.”

“Complete strangers when you begin a call can become apart of your community when you leave.”


Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

You’ve heard a lot of inspiring moments in this conversation, what will you take away from it? Maybe you’ll reach out to someone you admire and respect and ask for a 15 or 30 minute conversation just to find out how you can support them and how they can support you. Will you start to build exactly the personal board of directors, the community you need to take you to wherever you plan to be in the next few years. What will you take from this conversation and what will you do in the next 24 hours to move you in the right direction?

And, as always, thank you for listening. 


About Emily

Emily Carlson is a leading executive and mentor in the Healthcare IT consulting industry. Emily’s 30-year career in Information Technology and Project Management realms has focused on supporting her passion for the healthcare industry by delivering best-in-class quality projects to aid strategic initiatives and grow revenue for her clients.

Emily is a coach and mentor to organizations, the technology industry, and throughout her community. Her podcast, Powered by Authenticity, advocates to change the trajectory of equity and inclusion for females through insightful, inspiring conversations from women who are forging ahead in careers that do not have a balanced female representation. Emily travels the country as a conference and event keynote speaker focusing on topics ranging from her technical expertise to equity and inclusion.

Among her many accolades, Emily is most proud of being chosen in 2021 as one of the Top Women Leaders in Technology, Excellence and Innovation by Consulting Magazine. In 2022 Consulting Magazine awarded her Mentor of the Year acknowledging the unrelenting work she has down in support of other females.

Be sure to check out Emily’s Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram! As well as her podcast!


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!

Read More

354 Amy's Mess

Hunger, for the lucky among us, is an inconvenience, the final straw during a bad day that fuels a bad temper, or an awkward moment in a silent room. But for many in our community hunger is painful, difficult, and inescapable making it near impossible to do anything let alone attend school. Approximately 2.5 million children are homeless in the United States, many of whom somehow still have to attend school, often hungry. But we can help, whether it be through donations or time, we can help the children in our communities.

Today Sarah Elkins and Amy Adams discuss Amy’s Mess, a nonprofit organization that seeks to feed the children and families of the Helena Community and to spread awareness of the plight of homeless families. 

354 Amy’s Mess

Hunger, for the lucky among us, is an inconvenience, the final straw during a bad day that fuels a bad temper, or an awkward moment in a silent room. But for many in our community hunger is painful, difficult, and inescapable making it near impossible to do anything let alone attend school. Approximately 2.5 million children are homeless in the United States, many of whom somehow still have to attend school, often hungry. But we can help, whether it be through donations or time, we can help the children in our communities.

Today Sarah Elkins and Amy Adams discuss Amy’s Mess, a nonprofit organization that seeks to feed the children and families of the Helena Community and to spread awareness of the plight of homeless families. 


Highlights

  • Acts of kindness can help your community.

  • Doing what you can within your means. 

  • Working together with your community to help eachother.


Quotes

“I realize what I’m doing is not a fix, but at the same time these kids have a lot of instability and insecurity in their lives, you know they’re living in a hotel or a camper.  Regardless of what the parent’s situation is these kids are still hungry.”

“I realize you don’t know me, but I know I can help.”


Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

Amy started this just by understanding a need and figured out what she could do and what she could count on to help her make even a small difference in the lives of these students. I’m a huge believer that food and giving in this way is a pathway to reduce drop-outs, to reduce criminal activity, to reduce addiction, to reduce violence at schools. Feeding people, nourishing and nurturing them, especially students is going to make a difference in our communities. What will you do and how do you see the change and the shift? 

And, as always, thank you for listening. 


About Amy

I am just an individual who cared to start something. 

Be sure to check out Amy’s LinkedIn and Facebook!

Visit Amy’s Mess to find out more and donate to help feed hungry families.


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!

Read More

353 Food Stories Revisited

Revisiting episode 292 “Food Stories” Sarah Elkins reminisces on the importance of love languages and how important it is to show those you love how much you care.

Love languages come in many different forms; gift giving, words of affirmation, and for today’s episode specifically, the act of cooking and giving a good meal to those you hold close. It is vital to the health and continuation of relationships that we discover these languages and think about how these actions impact how others view us.

353 Food Stories Revisited

Revisiting episode 292 “Food Stories” Sarah Elkins reminisces on the importance of love languages and how important it is to show those you love how much you care.

Love languages come in many different forms; gift giving, words of affirmation, and for today’s episode specifically, the act of cooking and giving a good meal to those you hold close. It is vital to the health and continuation of relationships that we discover these languages and think about how these actions impact how others view us.


Highlights

  • Spending time with those you love, nurturing them and being nurtured in turn.

  • Don’t wait for the perfect time to use something you love.

  • Finding direction.


Quotes

“How do you want to see yourself? What do you want to see in yourself?”

“When you want people to see you in a certain way but can’t demonstrate it through your actions; What stories can you share so they experience you that way?”


Dear Listeners it is now your turn,

What is your love language? What stories can you share that demonstrate it so you don’t have to say, “my love language is-” When you heard my very first story about feeding people, about the food that I lovingly created, you heard my love language in my voice, and that story tells alot about who I am at work and at home. So Listeners, figure out which stories demonstrate those qualities you want people to know about you.

And, as always, thank you for listening. 





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!

Read More