204: Inner Voice Have You Spinning? Fire Your Narrator!
How do we overcome that powerful voice in our head that keeps us from succeeding and sharing our accomplishments?
Sarah Elkins and Valerie Gordon tackle the topics from their previous conversation, as well as new topics such as questioning the loud voice inside your head and rewriting your own story. This engaging conversation dives into the deeper meaning behind the “narrator” we experience, how do we seize those thoughts and put them into action?
Valerie Gordon Knows a Thing or Two About Stories
How do we overcome that powerful voice in our head that keeps us from succeeding and sharing our accomplishments?
Sarah Elkins and Valerie Gordon tackle the topics from their previous conversation, as well as new topics such as questioning the loud voice inside your head and rewriting your own story. This engaging conversation dives into the deeper meaning behind the “narrator” we experience, how do we seize those thoughts and put them into action?
“Another type of narrator’s thoughts that’s going to get in your way of future success, where did that story start? And how do we rewrite it?”
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Valerie:
Valerie Gordon knows how to harness the power of a story to meet a wide range of business needs. A 10-time Emmy-winning television producer with two decades producing stories for CBS News, HBO, and ESPN, she knows what makes a story meaningful and memorable. Through Commander-in-She LLC, the career and communications strategy firm she founded in 2017, Valerie helps clients take command of the power in their own stories.
Valerie works with corporations and speaks at conferences to engage employees, guide teams, and grow future leaders. She offers keynotes, workshops, virtual training, and individual coaching, providing the communication skills necessary to help clients ascend the leadership ladder, manage relationships and critical conversations, build their personal brand and create next chapter success.
Her new book, “Fire Your Narrator! A Storyteller’s Guide to Getting Out of Your Head and Into Your Life” is about the stories we tell ourselves and the impact those internal stories have on our external success.
Visit Valerie’s website and follow her on LinkedIn!
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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.
203: Is It Truly Possible For People To Change? Featuring Lester Young
At the age of 19, Lester Young was convicted of murder. Today, he has transformed his life and utilizes his gifts to fulfill his purpose.
Enjoy this riveting discussion between Sarah Elkins and Lester Young, Executive Director for Path2Redemption, as they delve into how mistakes of the past don’t define who you are today. From learning “how to plant the seed” and cultivate your unique gifts, to giving back to others and changing their perceptions of you, this is an episode that will truly inspire your inner want for growth.
A Convicted Murder Believes in True Redemption
At the age of 19, Lester Young was convicted of murder. Today, he has transformed his life and utilizes his gifts to fulfill his purpose.
Enjoy this riveting discussion between Sarah Elkins and Lester Young, Executive Director for Path2Redemption, as they delve into how mistakes of the past don’t define who you are today. From learning “how to plant the seed” and cultivate your unique gifts, to giving back to others and changing their perceptions of you, this is an episode that will truly inspire your inner want for growth.
“I’m not tied to my story. I’m showing you the evolution, the transformation that I went through.”
Books Discussed:
James Allen’s As A Man Thinketh
Bob Burg’s The Go-Giver
Lester Young’s The Five Stages of Incarceration
Lester Young’s The Five Stages of Growth
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Lester:
Lester Young, Jr is a native of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. At the age of 19, Lester was given a life sentence (with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years). Entering prison without education was indeed a struggle, but he did not allow this to stop him from educating himself as well as others. With the support of family and friends, Lester was able to obtain his G.E.D and later enroll in Business Management Courses, via mail, as a student at Ashworth College. Lester began drawing attention and was constantly rewarded for his interest in helping others. With permission and no hesitation from the warden, Lester along with the prison chaplain began meeting to create templates, outlines, programs, and classes to instruct and mentor fellow inmates. This is where the idea of him establishing his own non-profit organization “Path2Redemption” got its start. After his release, on May 15, 2014 (22 years and 5 months) the outlines of his programs are still being taught in prison. Mr. Young is the author of two books The Five Stages of Incarceration and The Five Stages of Growth. Lester is also a proud father of a 6-year-old daughter.
Visit Lester’s website and follow him on LinkedIn to learn more!
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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.
202: Becoming a Scientist: Why Do Stories Matter?
Indulge in this engaging conversation with Sarah Elkins and Scott Hanton, Editorial Director for Lab Manager Magazine and former Industrial Chemist and business leader for 30 years. They explore the beginning of his interest in becoming a chemist, as a young 13-year-old listening to a random man share his work stories, a moment that would instill a life-long passion for him.
Scott Hanton Has Firsthand Experience in the Power of Stories In His Journey to Becoming a Chemist
What do you want to be remembered for when you leave this world?
Indulge in this engaging conversation with Sarah Elkins and Scott Hanton, Editorial Director for Lab Manager Magazine and former Industrial Chemist and business leader for 30 years. They explore the beginning of his interest in becoming a chemist, as a young 13-year-old listening to a random man share his work stories, a moment that would instill a life-long passion for him. This was Scott’s “lollipop memont”, and was only the start - flash forward to Scott’s career today as he and Sarah discuss how managers treat their employees, as well as how our work and stories change others' perceptions of us.
Don't miss this great TED talk, where Drew Dudley talks about "lollipop moments" in the context of everyday leadership. This was a game-changer for Scott.
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Scott:
Scott attended Michigan State University and received his Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry, before earning his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Scott was an industrial chemist and business leader for 30 years. His titles included General Manager, Laboratory Operations Manager, and Chief Scientist for Intertek Allentown. Scott also held the roles of research scientist, laboratory supervisor, and section manager. Currently, Scott is the Editorial Director for Lab Manager Magazine.Due to these positions, Scott has developed expertise in analytical characterization, people leadership, and business management. Scott is an active member of ACS, ASMS, and ALMA.
Visit Scott’s page on Lab Manager Magazine and follow him on LinkedIn.
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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.
Episode 201: What is Risk? And How Can Storytelling Change How We Think About It?
Telling stories is more than just passing time, stories change our viewpoints in life and help us to become risk-takers.
Jonathan Klane Knows How Stories Change Attitudes and the Science Behind Why They Work
Telling stories is more than just passing time, stories change our viewpoints in life and help us to become risk-takers.
Hear from Sarah Elkins and Jonathan Klane as they dive into the science behind stories, the science behind how stories affect our perceptions of risk, and why the stories we tell are important.
Sarah and Jonathan discuss the importance of storytelling and the true impact it can have in your career, relationships, and more.
You'll love hearing about Jonathan’s rejection from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and the story of his father’s experience surviving an attack while serving as a sailor with the Navy in Okinawa in WWII.
“Stories are a powerful medium.”
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Jonathan:
Jonathan grew up in New England, before moving southwest to work in safety at the Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. There he enrolled in a Ph.D. program for Human + Social Dimensions of Science + Technology.
Jonathan uses this Ph.D. to explore how stories affect risk and safety cultures in and around research labs, where people have been harmed and even killed due to lack of decision-making.
Jonathan Klane is the Owner/Founder of Klane’s Education Information Training Hub and Director of Risk Management and Safety Education at BioRAFT.
In his free time, Jonathan enjoys writing fun stories about risk.
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.
Bicentennial Episode! An Accidental Podcaster Reaches Her 200th Episode
Hundreds of stories, people from all over the world, and life-changing conversations all have to lead to this special 200th episode of the "Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will" podcast.
Sarah Elkins and her good friend, Neil Hughes, look back to the beginning of the podcast’s creation and the unexpected moments and lessons that emerged.
Sarah Elkins and Neil Hughes:
Origin Stories of Podcasts and Friendship
Hundreds of stories, people from all over the world, and life-changing conversations all have to lead to this special 200th episode of the "Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will" podcast.
Sarah Elkins and her good friend, Neil Hughes, look back to the beginning of the podcast’s creation and the unexpected moments and lessons that emerged.
Tune in to hear more about the happy accidents and people that contribute to something bigger than yourself.
“If you’re open, the universe will nudge you in the right direction.”
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Neil:
Neil Hughes is a tech columnist, best-selling author, LinkedIn top voice, freelance writer, ghostwriter, tech blogger, podcast host, and podcast producer.
Visit Neil’s website and follow him on LinkedIn!
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
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.
Episode 199: When Your Life is in Constant Disruption, You Learn to Find Your Own True North
Does your past define your future?
Check out the latest podcast from Sarah Elkins as she and her good friend, Scott Ferguson, discuss Scott’s journey from adoption, enlisting in the military, to finding what resonates in life in his current work.
Scott Ferguson: Stories of Resilience and Success
Does your past define your future?
Check out the latest podcast from Sarah Elkins as she and her good friend, Scott Ferguson, discuss Scott’s journey from adoption, enlisting in the military, to finding what resonates in life in his current work.
*Note from Sarah: We're one week away from publishing our 200th episode! If you're a fan of the podcast, we'd love to hear from you and include your words at the beginning of that episode. Simply email your thoughts to sarahelkins@elkinsconsulting.com, or record a short voice memo on your phone and email it to me. The deadline is Fri. October 22, 2021. Thank you in advance for helping us celebrate this milestone!*
Scott shares the moments that shaped him into who he is today: A mentor helping to guide others through their struggles, using his own experiences and all he has learned from his own endeavors, struggles, and successes.
Listen to Sarah and Scott’s engaging talk about looking back at your past -and- forging on to uncover how that past guided you to where you are today and who you can be tomorrow.
"If you overlap your happiness, then you can keep happiness coming in the present, which makes for an awesome yesterday."
*Show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Scott:
Scott Ferguson is the podcast host of Time to Shine Today, Managing Director at The Ferguson Real Estate Team and Investment Group, Head Coach of Time to Shine Peak Performance, Chief Rainmaker at Ask4Ferguson, and more. Scott is also a U.S. Navy Veteran.
Visit Scott’s website and follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter to learn more!
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.
Episode 198: At What Point Do We Respond to Past Trauma to Define Ourselves with Intention?
At what point in our lives do we respond to our trauma and define who we are?
In Sarah Elkins' latest podcast, she and writer Cheryl Bostrom,
talk about Cheryl’s newest novel, "Sugar Birds", and the connections between the characters and pieces of ourselves.
Strengthen your trajectory in life as Sarah and Cheryl draw deeper into this topic of self-discovery through hardship.
Sugar Birds by Cheryl Bostrom: Entertaining and Full of Soul
*Note from Sarah: We're just two weeks away from publishing our 200th episode! If you're a fan of the podcast, we'd love to hear from you and include your words at the beginning of that episode. Simply email your thoughts to sarahelkins@elkinsconsulting.com, or record a short voice memo on your phone and email it to me. Thank you in advance for helping us celebrate this milestone!*
At what point in our lives do we respond to our trauma and define who we are?
In Sarah Elkins' latest podcast, she and writer Cheryl Bostrom,
talk about Cheryl’s newest novel, "Sugar Birds", and the connections between the characters and pieces of ourselves.
Cheryl discusses her characters in terms of her own experiences, some of which we may relate to including: running from trauma, struggling with depression, dodging emotional bullets, and becoming self-reflective.
Strengthen your trajectory in life as Sarah and Cheryl draw deeper into this topic of self-discovery through hardship.
"It arrived as so many of these things have for me, like pieces in the jigsaw puzzle or like you said like the mosaic that composes us or that helps us to see who we are becoming and how we are being shaped.”
*Show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
About Cheryl:
Cheryl Bostrom is the author of the award-winning novel, “Sugar
Birds”, a Pacific Northwest naturalist, photographer, and editor. Cheryl has also written two non-fiction books entitled “The View from Goose Ridge: Watching Nature Seeing Life” and “Children At Promise: 9 Principles to Help Kids Thrive in an at Risk World” with Dr. Tim Stuart.
Cheryl attended Pacific Lutheran University and Washington State University.
Visit Cheryl’s website, check out her books, and follow Cheryl on LinkedIn and Twitter to learn more!
*podcast show notes contributed by Tracy Ackeret
ABOUT SARAH:
Image of Sarah Elkins and her dog in the snow with Elkins Consulting logo and StrengthsFinder logo
"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.