Changing the Rules

Doug Heir was 6'4", headed for college, ready to play football—and ready for life.

Working as a lifeguard, Doug dove into a swimming pool to save a child. The lifeguard stand slipped. Doug broke his back and became a quadriplegic.

At one point, Doug contemplated whether life was even worth living. But with his family's help, he found the will to move forward.

Doug became a Paralympic athlete, winning more than 300 medals. His picture appeared on a Wheaties box. He became a lawyer and built a remarkable life around achievement, not limitations.

Join Ray Loewe and Mary Ann Steinhauer as they talk with Doug about what happened next. You'll be surprised. You'll be impressed. And you may find yourself thinking a little differently about what is possible when life suddenly changes the rules.

Ray Loewe and Mary Ann Steinhauer sit down with marketing guru Joe Serpente to discuss an important change in his business—and his life.

Joe has transformed his full-service marketing company into a consulting practice. Today, he helps business decision-makers make smarter marketing choices and manage their marketing departments effectively. By moving from a full-time staff to a virtual office, Joe has created the flexibility to stay in the game—but under his own terms.

Joe is also an old friend of Ray’s, and the two look back on some of their marketing adventures in the early years of their careers.

Joe’s new book, Do YOU Make These Mistakes When You Advertise?, is available on Amazon.

Hosts Ray Loewe and Mary Ann Steinhauer talk with guest Lana Edwards Santoro about the power of “Read Alouds.”

Most of us remember the pleasure of storytime as children. Lana explains why that experience shouldn’t end when we grow up. Reading aloud to seniors—and sharing stories with one another as adults—can spark memories, create conversation, strengthen connections, and bring people together through the simple joy of a shared story.

Hosts Ray Looewe & Mary Ann Steinhauer revisit three past podcasts and analyze the common thread between them. This week, they look at Sally Pepper, E239, Applied Improve - Shelley O'Donovan, E236 - Julia Adams, E253 Clear Ice, and Bitters, and discuss communication, a common thread

Host Ray Loewe has a conversation with Charlie Shaffer about Charlie's boyhood encounter with "The Champ" leading to an invitation to dinner.

We had an interesting storytelling session the other day. Our lead storyteller talked about buying a piano at age 12 for a dollar at auction. That mint green piano stayed with her for fifty years. It turned out that pianos were an important part of people's lives. The next four storytellers change their planned stories to talk about pianos. It's incredible how one story can lead to a memory and another story...

Join Host Ray Loewe and guests Mary Ann Steinhauer, Jane Armstrong, & Liz Forbes as they recreate their piano stories and comment on the impact of group storytelling.

After Thoughts is our reflection on some of our past podcasts, pulling out extra meat and substance to help the Luckiest People in the World. This week, Mary Ann and Ray evaluate three past podcasts, all evoking leadership in very different ways: Episode #238, Dale Power. #245 Dan Cooper discussing Lou Holtz, #248 LaKiesha Tomlin. (Questions for future episodes of After Thoughts can be directed to Ray Loewe at [email protected])

This week, two of our regular guests, John Gardner and Mary Ann Steinhauer, share how, when a story pops into their brain, they can transform it into a shareable idea in fifteen minutes or less. What tools do they use? How are they building a personal storybook? How do they make stories shareable with family and friends? How do they share a Story Legacy?

How does ChatGPT help me write stories? Basically, it helps me get started, stop hesitating, and stop procrastinating. Mary Ann Steinhauer and I discuss how I use ChatGPT as a story coach, how I keep ownership of my stories, and how I can pluck a memory that was lost somewhere in my mind and get a story in my storybook in 15-20 minutes...It won't get lost; I can develop it further should I want to, but it's available now for family and friends to enjoy.

Guest: Julia Adams, Clear Ice & Bitters

Last week, Julia Adams created a one-of-a-kind cocktail experience for co-host Mary Ann Steinhauer. This week, she turns her attention to Ray Loewe—and the result is entirely different.

Rather than asking what someone wants to drink, Julia begins by getting to know who they are. Through thoughtful questions and remarkable listening, she uncovers memories, emotions, and experiences that become the inspiration for a cocktail designed for one person and one moment in time.

Ray observes that this isn't an experience you can find just anywhere. Julia's focus on the individual is so complete that he realized he would enjoy the experience—even before he knew whether he'd enjoy the drink. The cocktail became almost secondary to the feeling of being genuinely heard and understood.

Julia explains that her goal is simple: "I try to create a space where each person I design for feels special, even if it's only for a short while."

This episode goes far beyond mixology. It's a conversation about intentional listening, creating meaningful experiences, and how making one person feel truly seen can become the greatest gift a host has to offer.