DANGEROUSLY GOOD STORIES

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I've kept it in the archive because it holds grounded, life-giving reflections on time, mortality, and creative living.

⚠️ Content warning: This episode contains gentle reflections on death and the idea of having only 24 hours left to live.

...

If you had just 24 hours to live, how would you spend them?

This conversation with writer and entrepreneur Alexandra Franzen invites you to pause and reconsider how you're spending your time. We talk about mortality, creativity, work, and the quiet joys of ordinary moments. More than anything, Alexandra's voice offers permission to reimagine what matters and how you move through your days — not someday, but now.

This episode was sparked by her novel, So This Is the End: A Love Story, and the viral question behind it. Whether you're in a season of burnout, renewal, or simply craving more intentionality, this one gently points you back to what's essential.

Topics covered:

• The "24 hours to live" question behind Alexandra's book
• Letting go of all-or-nothing thinking around creative work
• Her philosophy of treating life and business like one big art project
• How she balances paid work with personal writing
• The impact of nearly turning down a mother-daughter trip
• Why simplicity, not productivity, is often the answer
• How reflecting on death has helped her live more clearly and calmly
• Encouragement for anyone stuck in permission-seeking or pressure to "do more"

Where is Alexandra Franzen now?

Since recording, Alexandra has continued to shape a creative and intentional life. She hosts dreamy writing retreats in Hawaii, co-founded a bookstore called One Idea Books and Gifts, and co-created a popular online course that's guided more than 1,000 people (ages 8 to 80) in writing and publishing their own books. She is now married and is a mother to a daughter.

Connect with Alexandra and access the archived episode resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-archive

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I've kept it in the archive because it's rich with insight on presence, perception, and storytelling that honours real life.

Paul's reflections are a reminder that meaning isn't just in the extraordinary — it's in the everyday, if we're willing to see it.

⚠️ Content Note: While not graphic, this episode touches on themes of military service and loss. Please listen with care if you're in a tender season.

...

35-year photography veteran Paul Gero joins me for a wide-ranging conversation on storytelling with integrity, staying present behind the lens, and seeing visual potential in the everyday. From his early career in newspapers to personal projects with his own family, Paul shares the shifts, surprises, and signature moments that shaped how he works and how he sees.

This episode is a grounding listen for anyone who wants to feel more connected to their work, their people, and the stories unfolding around them.

Topics we explore:

• High-impact vs. small-impact photography — and why both matter
• The myth of "natural light only" and the case for using flash
• Gaining access without intrusion in photojournalism
• The Pat Tillman story: trust, truth, and planned portraiture
• Switching to Sony mirrorless gear and why it fits his evolution
• Creating honest family stories that reflect real life
• The beauty of constraint: personal projects like Thirty-Six Frames
• What it means to be a "no-limit photographer"
• Why presence always beats perfection

Connect with Paul + access the free Mini Mag for this episode, along with other archived episode resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-archive

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I've kept it in the public archive because it offers one of the clearest lived examples of what personal narrative as strategy looks like.

It's a real-time reflection on shifting between presence and perspective — a rhythm that's become core to my own story work practice.

If you're stuck, spinning, or unsure of your next step, this might offer a way through.

...

In this solo reflection, I share how I use a zoom-in/zoom-out practice to recalibrate, whether I'm navigating creative burnout, making business decisions, or just trying to stay grounded in motherhood and beyond.

I share how this rhythm helped me move my family across states, rethink my business identity, and reconnect with what actually lights me up. I also introduce what became The DGS Story Work Practice (formerly The Preservation Project), and offer a final journal prompt to help you check in with yourself.

Topics explored:

• What "zooming out" and "zooming in" really mean in practice
• Moving from Michigan to South Carolina with intention
• Letting go of old audience identities and business goals
• Burnout, social media detachment, and creative recovery
• The moment The DGS Story Work Practice (formerly The Preservation Project) poured out of me — and why it mattered
• A closing prompt to help guide your next step

Access the show's archived episode resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-podcast-archive

⚠️ Note: This is a legacy episode from the Intentional Documentary® days. I've kept it in the archive because it's packed with wisdom for creatives turning their ideas into assets.

...

When you create something from the heart — whether it's a photo, a phrase, or a full course — how do you protect it without feeling like you're playing defense all the time?

In this conversation with Intellectual Property lawyer Shay Lawson, we talk about the legal tools every creative business owner should consider. From trademarks to contracts to participant agreements, Shay breaks down what it means to protect your ideas and your income, without the fearmongering.

Plus, I share how working with Shay expanded my business in ways I didn't expect.

Topics

• What intellectual property law actually means (in plain English)
• Common mistakes creatives make when protecting their content
• Why buying a cheap legal template isn't always enough
• Contracts vs. copyright vs. trademark — what you need and when
• How to protect courses, programs, and creative ideas online
• What to include in a collaboration or affiliate agreement
• How legal boundaries support, not stifle, creativity and growth
• Real stories from Marie's business (and Shay's!) that prompted legal pivots

Where is Shay now?

Since our conversation, Shay M. Lawson has continued to rise as a nationally recognized leader in intellectual property law. She was named one of Billboard Magazine's Top Music Lawyers for the fifth consecutive year (2021–2025) and was recently honored in GaBiz and Atlanta Magazine's Top Lawyers list for 2025. Shay now serves as managing attorney at the Law Firm of Lawson McKinley, where she negotiates high-profile IP deals and teaches transactional law as an adjunct professor at Emory University School of Law.

Explore her firm at lawsonmckinley.com

Connect with Shay + access the archived episode resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-archive

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I've kept it in the archive because it reminds us what can unfold when we follow our curiosity and commit to the stories that matter to us.

...

Katie Jett Walls shares what led her from everyday documentation to creating personal projects that explore deeper questions and untold stories. This episode is for anyone sitting on an idea they can't quite shake and wondering if it's worth pursuing.

Sometimes all it takes is following that first thread of curiosity.

Topics:

• Letting go of needing outside permission to start your own project
• The difference between documenting life and documenting with intention
• Katie's creative turning point: from craft to curiosity
• What to do when a story idea sticks with you
• Tips for moving from a photo series to a complete visual narrative
• Why sequencing matters when telling stories through images

Connect with Katie + access the archived episode resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-archive

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I've kept it in the archive because it lays the groundwork for what would evolve into the DGS 5-Part Story Work Framework.

...

Whether or not you realize it, you already have a memory-keeping project. The photos you take, the stories you save, the moments that linger — they're forming a record of your life.

In this episode, I walk you through four foundational practices for making that process more intentional and meaningful.

You'll learn how to move from random memory-keeping to intentional, meaningful documentation, so your stories become a source of clarity, presence, and connection. You'll see how to use your stories to express your heart, preserve what matters, and connect more deeply with the people you love.

Topics:

• Why you already have a memory-keeping project (what I refer to as a 'preservation project')
• How to make your documenting more intentional and less random
• The difference between collecting photos and creating emotional clarity
• Four foundational practices: Observation, Preservation, Expression, Connection
• Ways your stories can serve as tools for self-reflection and relational connection
• A deeper purpose behind documenting that goes beyond nostalgia

Access all active archived episode resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-podcast-archive

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I've kept it in the archive because it's a vibrant, open-hearted conversation about redefining your relationship with photography, creative identity, and the rules we think we're supposed to follow.

This one's full of permission slips, especially if you're in a season of change.

...

What happens when your creative identity shifts and your business no longer fits?

In this episode, Ashley Manley shares her journey of letting go, experimenting wildly, and finding her way back to a version of photography that feels deeply personal and free.

Topics We Explore:

• Ashley's photography origin story — and why business "just happened"
• How a dead-bunny-baby Easter photo sparked a creative pivot
• Realising when her heart left the business side (and how she responded)
• Redefining personal projects and what "finishing" really means
• Getting off Facebook — the emotional, creative, and social fallout
• Why she limits her media exposure to protect her creativity
• Developing film in her kitchen + playful experiments with tequila and bleach
• Letting go of needing to be "a photographer" to enjoy photography
• Blending motherhood, creative freedom, and self-trust on her own terms

Connect with Ashley + access the free Mini Mag for this episode, along with other archived episode resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-archive

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I've kept it in the archive because it captures a turning point in my own story — from burnout and resentment to presence, peace, and reconnecting with why photography matters.

If you've lost the joy, the fun, or the "you" in your passion, work, or creative thing… this one's for you.

...

In this solo reflection, I share two big mistakes that drained the fun from both shooting and running a photography business. I unpack how I lost the Marie in my work, what that cost me, and how I slowly found my way back through a personal documentation practice now known as the DGS Story Work Practice (formerly The Preservation Project).

This is a message about slowing down, remembering what matters, and creating on your own terms, without chasing growth for growth's sake.

Topics covered:

• My early love affair with photography + how it became entangled with external pressure
• The mistake of trying to "be" a photographer instead of letting me lead
• The emotional cost of chasing technique, trends, and "relatable" content
• How I lost connection with my audience and myself
• What business-brain burnout looked like (and how I got out this time)
• Why I no longer feel the need to be an "artist" at the top of my craft
• A new kind of creative peace - built on presence, not pressure
• Introduction to the DGS Story Work Practice (formerly The Preservation Project)
• Gut-check reflection prompts to help you reconnect with your own creative path

🎧 Read the full reflection prompts and explore archived resources: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-archive

⚠️ Note: This is a legacy episode from the Intentional Documentary® era. I've kept it here because it offers a rare, honest look at visibility, burnout, and coming home to your creative voice — themes that remain essential for identity-shifting creatives.

...

At the height of her visibility, Erin Hensley's work was everywhere... but that spotlight didn't always feel good.

In this episode, Erin and I talk honestly about the invisible pressures of being "seen," how comparison creeps into creativity, and what it takes to return to yourself.

If you've ever chased features, curated for approval, or quietly withdrawn from sharing your work, this one's for you.

Topics covered:

• The Facebook post that sparked this conversation
• How being featured and published shaped (and reshaped) Erin's relationship with photography
• The pressure to shoot for approval vs. for yourself
• Erin's thoughts on social media comparison and being "forgotten"
• Why she let go of Photoshop products and pulled back from the spotlight
• The story behind her iconic image and why she rebelled against compositional "rules"
• Finding meaning in a slower pace of documenting
• Erin's Facebook group "Finding the Light" {now archived} and her approach to leading with generosity
• Thoughts on memory preservation, printing, and freedom from editing pressure

Access all active archived episode resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-podcast-archive

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I've kept it in the archive because it captures the essence of why story work matters — for your life, your legacy, and your business.

If you're unsure what stories to tell or how to use them meaningfully, this episode will meet you right where you are.

...

Whether you're building a story-rich business or simply want to live more meaningfully, your personal stories are powerful tools for connection, clarity, and creative expression.

In this episode, I share 10 reasons to start your Memorable Story Collection: a body of work {tiny stories} that helps you preserve what matters, communicate your truth, and live (or brand) from the inside out. This is for anyone craving more coherance in how they show up online and off.

Topics covered:

• Why "feel-good" marketing like "you'll be thankful later" often misses the mark — and what works better
• How to plant story seeds that spark connection and help people want what you offer
• Living fully expressed: how story work frees you from performing
• Showing who you are beyond the camera/service/role: becoming memorable, not just "professional"
• Stories as emotional pressure valves, connection tools, and legacy gold
• What belongs in your Legacy Box — and how words + images create a richer archive
• Turning personal stories into timeless, reusable content (without sounding like a broken record)
• Walking the walk: why you can't ask others to value documentary or story work if you don't do it yourself
• Using story work to discover your voice, values, and synchronicities
• Where to begin: simple prompts to help you start your Memorable Story Collection today 🌱💖

Access this archive episode's resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-podcast-archive