Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will

409 Expanding Your Comfort Zone

409 Expanding Your Comfort Zone In today's episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on how she has expanded her comfort zone by stepping into what she calls the "stretch zone", where you aren't entirely comfortable yet but willing to try just so that you can see what you're made of. If we never stretch our wings, we'll be trapped in the nest forever, so have faith in yourself, step into your stretch zone, and see how far it can take you. Highlights * Telling stories to connect with another, not to change their mind. * Taking time to calibrate yourself and find inner peace. * Turning your stretch zone into your comfort zone, one step at a time. Quotes "The stories we share influence how we're perceived, and even when a listener isn't consciously aware they're picking up signals about who we are and whether we can be trusted." "To be comfortable with discomfort we have to embrace and define what our comfort zone looks like, and how it feels." 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 [https://sarah-elkins.mykajabi.com/offers/F2WN65Xg/checkout] as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

408 Changing For Good

In this episode Sarah Elkins and Judit Piros discuss the importance of change in one's self, how healing often needs to be sought out and made active strides to achieve. From the highs and lows of being a parent, to the life of an artist, as well as the deep intrinsic self learning that comes from our unique walks of life that we must share with those around us. In doing so, we find we aren't that different after all. Highlights * Shifting perspective to see scenarios differently, especially if it is a scenario you didn't expect to not work out. * Taking time for yourself to heal, find your counterweight, take whatever is thrown at you and still stand up. Especially for yourself and those you love. * Proportional responses and how necessary they are to healing. * Try to be gentle with yourself. Quotes "The way you were born has very very much defined how you lived and how you experience life." "All life begins in darkness." "You need suffering in order to transform, and this is when you learn your own strength and your own capabilities." Dear Listeners it is now your turn, I have two things that I would like for you to consider over the next few weeks after listening to this episode. One; if you are a person who has given birth to a living child or living young adult, what is the birth story you share in front of them? What is the birth story you tell people? Is it traumatic? Have you figured out a way to share the story in a way that feels beautiful and meaningful, regardless of what actually happened that day, regardless of the pain you experienced and the fear. How can you tell this story so that when your child hears it, they hear the joy and gratitude that they are there with you now. That's my first question. My next one is; what is it that is your tell? What is the signal your body gives you when something isn't right? I encourage you over the next few weeks to try to identify what that is. In Judit, she said that its a twitch in her hip, in the muscles around her hip. For me, it's usually some sort of effect from my essential tremors, starting to shake badly enough that it's very noticeable. So when you feel uncomfortable or something is making you anxious or angry, take inventory of your body, figure out where you're feeling it. And make a choice, a conscious choice, to notice whenever that is the warning you need to change something. And, as always, thank you for listening. Mentioned in this episode Weebles Commercial [https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=qq0OQBdIhsc] About Judit I am an Atlanta based Hungarian artist... right now artist, because my life was full of twists and turns before I reached to this point, calling myself this way. Economist by degree, designer by interest, mother of three by love, bellydance teacher, phorographer and doula by femininity and the deepest connection is about mental help, coaching and exploring the fields of Birth and Death. I have a never fading excitement toward the pre- and perinatal traumas and more importantly: how to heal from this traumas. It took me ten years to get more or less over my own and opening that Pandora's box turned my whole life upside down, but worth it. Even the losses, because on this journey I found myself and this new self is a much more relaxed company for... well... for me :) Be sure to check out Judit's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/judit-gabriella-piros-a1a9a4167/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/people/Imferpect], and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/imferpect/]! As well as Imferpect Design [https://mailchi.mp/imferpect/opt-in] for a free guide! 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 [https://sarah-elkins.mykajabi.com/offers/F2WN65Xg/checkout] as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

407 Being Intentional With Our Energy

407 Being Intentional With Our Energy In today's episode, Sarah Elkins and Christopher Parsons discuss the importance of a moment of silence to take inventory with yourself, and not to be distracted by screens or unwanted voices, as well as the importance of genuine human connection. Highlights * Being silent to find your best self. * You never know who will hear your stories. * Making real human connection as opposed to consuming or scrolling. * Stepping away from our phones to focus on one thing at a time, specifically the things that really matter. Quotes "It's something we all have to tame because we all live with it." "Sit back and look at your life as if you are looking at a painting." Dear Listeners it is now your turn, Where will you find silence? Will you take moments in a conversation, in the middle of a conversation especially if it's via text, to take time to consider what's next. Will you take inventory? Taking opportunities to walk away from a situation, to sit and make a cup of coffee or a cup of tea, and only do that. Without your phone, without a book in your hand, even sitting on the floor in your room, drinking a cup of tea, just to be there. Just to take inventory on, how do I feel today? Is this how I want to feel today? So tomorrow you can say I am feeling exactly how I want to feel. And, as always, thank you for listening. About Christopher I offer you a space I have been creating most of my life : silence as strategy Silence as Strategy I've been building this space most of my life. A space to stop performing. To strip back the noise. To meet yourself in silence. As The Silent CEO, I help visionaries lead from a different place—not reaction, not distraction, but sovereign silence. Because silence isn't absence. It's presence. It cuts through the noise that runs our lives and gives us back the clarity we've forgotten. The work looks like this: Silence Immersion Sessions Nervous System Reset & Clarity High Performance Through Calm Silence as Strategy Coaching And alongside this, my photography. Images that hold stillness, shadow, and unguarded truth—the same essence silence reveals. See the work → If you feel the pull—if you're ready to pause long enough to hear yourself again—book a 90-minute 1:1 Silence Strategy Session: https://efjjacc.r.bh.d.sendibt3.com/tr/cl/xtYt1gXzXK3KBHFHS9XNM-OOqUTSqU4fsYPxvYUT0giOwgMjapYnwdv3BpscZwgc6jYP0md1KboUlrQ24ISfzp281BI0oLE_JqQrj04P-PI-hB0CCiTkAbrvJX29poLqZq0qflHn4vsegop5OzEGJLDXeX8oX_eyV9hC5AjqkhVCaZLAWYZ8UDAf4O3I37OCNAvDBmNk8ZsBCWewdZMAjWw9RfwfuzatTcFwEKp0VywqoJBrTKqsdITjNwvxOe3B3H9IUKEIgpdlR3cDkHBaYqAErd9zTfj8GX9zeikGyivFeCIrAHhPA_jCr4cWX54g508YXAWwjpkqB_h5x29ORHchttps://calendly.com/cparsons34/virtual [https://calendly.com/cparsons34/virtual] Silence isn't luxury. It's strategy. An integral and key part my work is photography. My images capture stillness, shadow, and unguarded truth—the same essence silence reveals: https://efjjacc.r.bh.d.sendibt3.com/tr/cl/AAcq9zWn7_tqbpcTTtTey4xgN4AzII0SQWs_dNA14YYXuQZsLZZy_Llg6A-25owyk_oLYexSUZQ12CcyjrjYTdZkr-ZF1saeCnBJsRIBCLShI2vn-rhdo7CrIVL_13KhhQ_fR1OeR_pWQuXePvjVSnxC4AQqVFNPyDYDWXcSitUgoJZejWjOu22N-jyxjukDDd5Zfz-yV7RjbrJ_VrVfrnCaFnoZbi2qZRn8wuF5SIVYdeOypODkvyMDjmqzsukIFtp1NOaeswAiU9tdMoDtXQfSOhO1EnOfKwiagG1BDnPss1GVbEiikhATj8p4ZyzzHqA6wAhttps://500px.com/cparsons35 [https://500px.com/cparsons35] Be sure to check out Christopher's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-parsons-269b1b210/], and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/christopher.parsons.9210/]! 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 [https://sarah-elkins.mykajabi.com/offers/F2WN65Xg/checkout] as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

406 Screen Time for Young Children: A Parent's Search for Answers and Options

Screen Time for Young Children: A Parent's Search for Answers and Options In this day and age of smartphones, electronic billboards, TVs, and the seemingly impossible-to-avoid screen, it's easy to lose connection to what matters most, our community as human beings. We crave connection, and by mindlessly scrolling or putting on a video to appease ourselves or a child, we inherently rob ourselves and our charges of a chance to truly connect, oftentimes causing irrevocable damage to the brain. We know screens are here to stay, so the question becomes how we can shift how we use them to encourage in-person interaction and relationship-building. In addition to researching how to undo the damage to young people's brains, thanks to the addictive nature of shows and games, we need to research how to reduce the harm in the first place. In this episode Sarah Elkins and Will Maurer discuss the how research on screentime for infants has been limited because of the blanket prohibition and shame related to it, and why it's critical to continue this research. (Hint: Infants will be exposed to screentime by parents, older siblings, and others, so let's figure out how to reduce harm and maybe even find value in it!) Highlights * Screen time and how it affects infants & children's brains. * Taking steps to create a personalized plan for your child or yourself regarding screen time. * Doing the research that needs to be done, especially in necessary but difficult paths. * What exactly is it that makes certain shows addictive and damaging? * What are the consequences of ignoring the obvious - that infants are being exposed to screen time despite the general prohibition? Quotes "Are they absorbing anything? Is a parent able to co-view and add to that experience?" "As a society we put a lot of money into addressing issues after the fact." Dear Listeners it is now your turn, What will you take away from this conversation? If you don't have young children at home, what can you do that's a little bit different to connect with the young children you see around you? One of the things I say in my TED Talk is, we can connect with people around us through story easily and with total strangers, and one of the examples I gave is when you sit next to a family at a restaurant and you watch a child playing a familiar game or watching a familiar show and you share a brief story how your kid liked that too. This is your chance, find ways to connect to the people around you, through story. And, as always, thank you for listening. Mentioned in this episode Dimitri Christakis TEDX [https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=dimitri+kristokis++tedx&&view=detail&mid=6384CB7A72A6099A95ED6384CB7A72A6099A95ED&FORM=VRDGAR] Do Policy Statements on Media Effects Faithfully Represent the Science? [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2515245918811301?journalCode=ampa] About Will As a TEDx speaker and leading voice in children's media reform, Will Maurer is pioneering evidence-based guidelines and solutions that bridge scientific research with real-world execution. His work challenges industry norms, prioritizes early childhood learning, and champions equitable, enriching content for the next generation. Through advocacy, research, and leadership, he is reshaping the future of children's media - driving systemic change and setting new standards for quality, impact, and accessibility on a global scale. Be sure to check out Will's Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/cmrrl.org], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/willmaurer/], and Instagram [http://cmrrl_org]! As well as his LinkTree [https://linktr.ee/willmaurer]! 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 [https://sarah-elkins.mykajabi.com/offers/F2WN65Xg/checkout] as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

405 A Love Letter To My Future Self

405 A Love Letter To My Future Self Throughout life there will come times where we must take up our skills and talents as a knight would a sword and shield, wielding our innate and powerful gifts to further our lives for the better. By facing these moments, refusing to make excuses, and instead put in the hard work, we are bound to succeed. In this episode, Sarah Elkins contemplates the events that lead up to her presence on the TEDX stage, how the encouragement of her closest confidants, the peacefulness of nature on her hikes, and her own self reflection has brought her to this pivotal moment in her life. Highlights * What are you hesitating on? What is giving you pause as you take this next step in your life? * How social media and our own personal responsibility can potentially contribute to division. * Connecting as a human being is all you need to be to make your life and the lives of those around you more fulfilling. * Are you making excuses? Or are you avoiding doing something hard even though it will pay off in the end? * You just need to make it exist first, then you can make it perfect. * You are at a summit, but not the summit. Quotes "Every like, comment, and share, tells the algorithm on every platform exactly what it needs to know to manipulate us." "Our personal stories can reduce loneliness and division when we share them with the intention to connect. Not with the intention to change a person's mind." "You took big risks Sarah, and they paid off! I'm not surprised at all." 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 [https://sarah-elkins.mykajabi.com/offers/F2WN65Xg/checkout] as well to make sure you nail that next interview!