382 Images of Ourselves
It’s a sad fact of life that we internalize narratives that are made for us at an early age, we are told we are too emotional, that we’re too bossy, that we’re too big, and if we do not actively try to reframe or unlearn these narratives made for us, we are forced to live out a story someone else made up for us. It is our duty to reach out and take the power back for ourselves, to wield the pen as a mighty sword, and write our own narrative for the sake of our growth and inner peace.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Lindsey A. Lee, discuss the importance of becoming the person you want to be, showing up for yourself and those you love, and how vital it is for our growth as human beings to sit with the narratives we have about ourselves and decide for ourselves if these narratives are our own genuine thoughts and beliefs or if they were a planted idea.
382 Images of Ourselves
It’s a sad fact of life that we internalize narratives that are made for us at an early age, we are told we are too emotional, that we’re too bossy, that we’re too big, and if we do not actively try to reframe or unlearn these narratives made for us, we are forced to live out a story someone else made up for us. It is our duty to reach out and take the power back for ourselves, to wield the pen as a mighty sword, and write our own narrative for the sake of our growth and inner peace.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Lindsey A. Lee, discuss the importance of becoming the person you want to be, showing up for yourself and those you love, and how vital it is for our growth as human beings to sit with the narratives we have about ourselves and decide for ourselves if these narratives are our own genuine thoughts and beliefs or if they were a planted idea.
Highlights
Is the person you became, the person you wanted to be or the person you needed to be to survive?
How do you show up for the people who need you?
What stories and perceptions from others are you still holding onto?
Quotes
“My greatest performance was pretending to be okay.”
“There was emotion in my home, it just didn’t look like mine. It looked like yelling, fighting, and shutdowns.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
The thing that I want to ask you, you remember every time at the end of these conversations I’m asking you to consider something for yourselves. My dear friend Netty Owens asked me one time: What is the object in your image of yourself that you would like to hold on to? And I talked about the Hanukkiah, the Jewish candelabra that we use for Hanukkah. And there’s one candle that’s separated from the rest, so there are 9 holders, 8 for the 8 nights of Hanukkah, and the one is the leader candle or the Shamash. That candle is the one we light first, we say the first prayer and then we light all the other candles with that candle. And I like to think of myself as a Shamash, someone who knows that by lighting other candles I am in no way diminishing my own light and that when we light other candles we bring more light. And for that brief moment when we connect like Lindsey and I did, for two and a half minutes our flames were together which made that an entwined hyper bright flame, even for that one moment, and it changes the energy and dynamic in a room. Guaranteed. So I am asking you listeners, what is your image of yourself? Just like Lindsey wants to be radiant and exudes that radiance when she owns that language, what will be yours?
And, as always, thank you for listening.
Mentioned in This Episode
About Lindsay
Lindsay is a wellness mentor, educator, and founder of Honeydew U—a lifestyle platform helping women embrace authenticity, align with purpose, and heal through spiritual growth. She’s also the host of Honey, Do You!, a soulful podcast exploring wellness, spirituality, and womanhood. With a background in education, business, and holistic wellness, Lindsay empowers women to break free from expectations and live with intention. Through mentorship and transformative storytelling, she creates spaces where women feel seen and supported.
Be sure to check out Lindsay’s Facebook and Instagram! As well as her podcast Honey, Do You!
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!
381 Rock N Roll
Authenticity and living your life in a way that reflects who you are and how you hope to be perceived is something we all strive for, however it can be easy to forget that change and growth is a constant changing cycle, even from moment we are allowed and expected to invent who we are.
In this episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on when she joined the rock band she is apart of and how it has helped shape her authentic self as well as how important fun and joy is to the true sense self.
381 Rock N Roll
Authenticity and living your life in a way that reflects who you are and how you hope to be perceived is something we all strive for, however it can be easy to forget that change and growth is a constant changing cycle, even from moment we are allowed and expected to invent who we are.
In this episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on when she joined the rock band she is apart of and how it has helped shape her authentic self as well as how important fun and joy is to the true sense self.
Highlights
What is authenticity to you?
How do you portray your authentic self?
Untangling core values from the actions we believe are authentic.
How do you want to be known and remembered for?
There is no permanent state of the self.
Quotes
“I was still not rock and roll. I was wearing a persona on stage because it was fun not because it felt like me.”
“All that would have been missed if I had decided that my authentic self was not rock and roll.”
“What opportunities have you dismissed because they didn’t feel authentic?”
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!
380 Breaking Cycles
We are hardwired to remember the stories that are far more painful and life altering, than the happier stories we lived. Perhaps it is our survival instincts or it is just easier to remember the bad, regardless it is important to sit back and truly think about how we frame our narratives using these experiences and decide for ourselves that this story is one we want to change.
In todays episode, Sarah Elkins and Erin Weninger discuss the cycles both of them have lived as women, business owners, and parents, and the difficulty that came with acknowledging and changing the destructive patterns in our lives
380 Breaking Cycles
We are hardwired to remember the stories that are far more painful and life altering, than the happier stories we lived. Perhaps it is our survival instincts or it is just easier to remember the bad, regardless it is important to sit back and truly think about how we frame our narratives using these experiences and decide for ourselves that this story is one we want to change.
In todays episode, Sarah Elkins and Erin Weninger discuss the cycles both of them have lived as women, business owners, and parents, and the difficulty that came with acknowledging and changing the destructive patterns in our lives
Highlights
You can do what is best for you, you only need to find the courage to reach out.
Everyone’s narrative is different, but you need to know personally when that narrative is false and harmful to you.
What lengths will you go to in order to defend your narrative? Is it really a narrative worth defending?
Be adult enough to acknowledge when you fail, apologize, work towards being better, and take accountability. It’s not the end of the world to admit when you are in the wrong.
Quotes
“I really needed that second falling out with my mom to have that feeling of; “Wow she really will go to extreme extents for self preservation at the expense of anybody else she might care about and love.”.”
“It doesn’t have to be an atom bomb to me just because I accept fault.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
You’ve already been asked a few questions. Think about how you’re modeling the behavior you want to see in the people around you. If you’re a parent, what are your relationship issues with your parents that may be contributing to relationship challenges with your children? Are you taking time to look at those patterns and maybe be honest with your kids about what you’re experiencing as a parent. And last but not least, I would love to hear your thoughts on Erin’s story, and how and why she should share it. If you believe that her words can be inspiring to others, I would love to hear from you.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Erin
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!
379 Leaving The Legacy You Choose
Inevitably, we will be faced with the endless march of time, we will have a moment when we have the thought of how we want people to speak about us when we are gone. Are you making stories that reflect how you want to be remembered? Are you living in a way that solidifies the legacy you want to leave? Do you surround yourself with people who inspire, drive, and temper your ambition?
In todays episode, Sarah Elkins and Bryan Abdul Collins discuss the importance of living a life without regrets, of surrounding ourselves with people that help us be the best versions of ourselves, and living in the moment with those we love.
379 Leaving The Legacy You Choose
Inevitably, we will be faced with the endless march of time, we will have a moment when we have the thought of how we want people to speak about us when we are gone. Are you making stories that reflect how you want to be remembered? Are you living in a way that solidifies the legacy you want to leave? Do you surround yourself with people who inspire, drive, and temper your ambition?
In todays episode, Sarah Elkins and Bryan Abdul Collins discuss the importance of living a life without regrets, of surrounding ourselves with people that help us be the best versions of ourselves, and living in the moment with those we love.
Highlights
Facing the inevitable and considering what it all means.
How much time are you wasting by paying attention to the things that don’t matter?
What is your legacy? What do you want people to think of when they remember you?
What is the evidence of who you were and the stories you carried that you will leave behind?
Quotes
“I just want to teach myself something.”
“I faced the edge of this life and really considered what it all means, and I try to move from that place.”
“Raising your children is your job and your relationship with them afterwards is your performance review.”
“We are living in our own stories.”
“I had to fall in love with the story of who I was becoming.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
You’ve heard our conversation switch back and forth between what we’re doing now to live our legacy, what we want people to know about us, and how we want people to talk about us when we’re gone. We’ve talked about what we bring to the table as coaches and what you need to be looking for in your next coach.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Bryan
I am a career and life coach specializing in helping ambitious creatives break through career plateaus and reconnect with their creative expression. I primarily work with mid-to-senior-level professionals in creative services—art directors, designers, creative directors—who are at inflection points in their careers, seeking transitions, feeling stuck, or wanting to deepen their impact while maintaining a sustainable work-life balance.
Through one-on-one strategic conversations, I provide career clarity, direction setting, and personal narrative refinement. With deep empathetic listening, industry expertise, and practical tools, I help clients overcome internal barriers, align their work with their aspirations, and navigate their careers with confidence and purpose.
Be sure to check out Bryan’s LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! As well as his website Poetic State!
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!
378 Demonstrating Who You Are Through Story
Through the art of storytelling people can get a glimpse into who we are in the way that is most meaningful to show. Through our stories and how we tell them we can show an entire room of people, or just that one significant person, who we are and what matters to us.
378 Demonstrating Who You Are Through Story
Through the art of storytelling people can get a glimpse into who we are in the way that is most meaningful to show. Through our stories and how we tell them we can show an entire room of people, or just that one significant person, who we are and what matters to us.
Highlights
Using story to show who you are as a person and what matters most to you.
Creating an environment where everyone feels safe, welcome, and willing to share their stories.
Reflection and the importance of examining our past actions.
Quotes
“Every professional benefits when they can share stories that demonstrate their skills, values, and character.”
“In 90 minutes we created an environment of significant trust, support, and vulnerability.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What stories do you have that are integral to who you are as a person? What stories adequately show your character, value, and traits? Write these stories down, fine tune them, and share them in a way that continues to reflect your character.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
As I mentioned I am celebrating my five year book-versary, starting today Your Stories Don’t Define You was published May 31, 2020. Starting this podcast was a wakeup call for me, I realized I was coaching my guests in sharing their pivotal moment stories, and they were finding great value in our time together, way beyond any promotional opportunity the podcast was offering. The book is designed to guide readers in collecting and sharing their stories with exercises and worksheets throughout. To celebrate my book-versary, I’m offering to sign and ship copies from Montana to you, and every purchase will include an offer for a 20 minute bullseye story mining session. In 20 minutes we will uncover at least one meaningful story for you to fine tune for you to use in your next interview, team meeting, speaking engagement, networking event, or maybe it’s a date.
I really appreciate your support over the years and this is my way of giving that back.
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!
377 The Art of Storytelling: A Controlled Burn in The Forest Of Life
Throughout life we have a tendency to collect things, whether they be stories, memories, or physical objects, and more often than not we cling to these things despite them no longer serving us in any meaningful capacity. Which is why it is important to sit back, look at your hoard and realize you are not a dragon who must keep every single piece of scrap. You can thank the item, story, or memory and leave it behind so that you can open up to new possibilities and new meaningful things to put in your life.
In todays episode Sarah Elkins educates us on the importance of controlled burns in the national parks of the west, as well as the importance of our own “controlled burns” to clear away the clutter and make way for new, healthy growth in our lives.
377 The Art of Storytelling: A Controlled Burn in The Forest Of Life
Throughout life we have a tendency to collect things, whether they be stories, memories, or physical objects, and more often than not we cling to these things despite them no longer serving us in any meaningful capacity. Which is why it is important to sit back, look at your hoard and realize you are not a dragon who must keep every single piece of scrap. You can thank the item, story, or memory and leave it behind so that you can open up to new possibilities and new meaningful things to put in your life.
In todays episode Sarah Elkins educates us on the importance of controlled burns in the national parks of the west, as well as the importance of our own “controlled burns” to clear away the clutter and make way for new, healthy growth in our lives.
Highlights
Protecting our future and our communities, means protecting our environment too.
Sometimes you need to shed the dead parts of the past in order to grow.
What strategies can you use to do your own “controlled burn”, to remove the things in your life that no longer serve you in a meaningful way?
Quotes
“Even in my life activities I’m finding I need to shed things like relationships that no longer serve me, relationships that don’t feel reciprocal at all, commitments that feel too obligatory and not meaningful. And work activities that aren't moving the needle for me in income or intrinsic reward.”
“A controlled burn requires research, planning, and a whole lot of patience.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with to much mental and physical clutter it might be time for you to take inventory too. Ask yourself the tough questions on what you truly need and want in your life and your home. And I hope you’ll take the next steps to research and plan and patiently reduce that clutter.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
As I mentioned I am celebrating my five year book-versary, starting today Your Stories Don’t Define You was published May 31, 2020. Starting this podcast was a wakeup call for me, I realized I was coaching my guests in sharing their pivotal moment stories, and they were finding great value in our time together, way beyond any promotional opportunity the podcast was offering. The book is designed to guide readers in collecting and sharing their stories with exercises and worksheets throughout. To celebrate my book-versary, I’m offering to sign and ship copies from Montana to you, and every purchase will include an offer for a 20 minute bullseye story mining session. In 20 minutes we will uncover at least one meaningful story for you to fine tune for you to use in your next interview, team meeting, speaking engagement, networking event, or maybe it’s a date.
I really appreciate your support over the years and this is my way of giving that back.
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!
375 Practicing What You Preach
It’s important in life, whether you are running your own business or in your daily life, to practice what you preach. Not only do you avoid being seen as hypocritical but often the best person to give you advice is you. Consult with other coaches and counselors, ask the opinions of those you love and value, do whatever you need to in order to put yourself on the path to fulfillment and success.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Mike Trugman discuss practicing their own advice, as well as the importance of doing what you will say you will in order to put yourself in a better environment that will help you grow and thrive.
375 Practicing What You Preach
It’s important in life, whether you are running your own business or in your daily life, to practice what you preach. Not only do you avoid being seen as hypocritical but often the best person to give you advice is you. Consult with other coaches and counselors, ask the opinions of those you love and value, do whatever you need to in order to put yourself on the path to fulfillment and success.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins and Mike Trugman discuss practicing their own advice, as well as the importance of doing what you will say you will in order to put yourself in a better environment that will help you grow and thrive.
Highlights
How do you approach your own self learning and self development?
What do you need to do more of to bring yourself more fulfillment?
Are you in a place that lets you grow and thrive? Or do you need to find somewhere new to grow?
Quotes
“We think we’re really sneaky, or really good at hiding these aspects of ourselves but there is no separate ‘I’m playful over here’ ‘I’m not playful over here.’ you are who you are.”
“In some capacity we have helped people with public speaking, each of us.”
“We’ve been conditioned for the most part in our society that to be successful you need to be relentlessly hard on yourself, and give up a lot of aspects of your life. And I love to work with people who are doing the courageous work of: What if I were really kind to myself? What could life look like if I was kinder and gentler to myself? And almost in a way, allowed my success to unfold, rather than something I need to grasp and control and attain. And if I lived that way, how would that make my personal relationships and the rest of my life better?”
“You can have everything you want in your life and also feel good about yourself at the same time, and it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Which is what I think a lot of us are taught and believe.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
I would love for you to think about a time when something went sideways for you. I know we all have episodes that went a little sideways. But when was a time where things really went sideways for you and someone showed up to be your guide? It might’ve been in a negative way, it might’ve been somebody who did something so bad that you chose a different path in spite or to spite this person. But more than likely, you hit a point where things went so sideways that only somebody who loves you could help guide you out of that. Think about that moment, write it down, collect that story because as Mike said; it’s not all about I did this and now I’m here, it’s what obstacles did you overcome to get here? Because that’s the story that inspires.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Mike
Mike Trugman is a Professional Life and Career Coach who helps his clients move from fear to thriving with purpose, passion and fulfillment. He hosts a top 3% podcast, Mike's Search for Meaning, dedicated to mastering what it means to be human. As someone who used to sweat and shake at the prospect of speaking up in a small meeting, he knows that we can all achieve beyond our wildest dreams with consistency and hard work.
Before coaching and podcast hosting, Mike's background was in public accounting. He has over 10 years of public accounting experience, with a focus on financial services (hedge fund and private equity) clients.
Mike currently lives in the greater New York City area with his wife and son. He loves reading, learning, cooking, spending lots of time outdoors, watching his beloved but usually struggling Knicks and Jets, and connecting with his friends and family.
Be sure to check out Mike’s LinkedIn and Instagram! As well as his website Mike Trugman Coaching, and Calendly to schedule an appointment!
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!