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Life and Mission
Life and Mission episodes
- Allison Mayer - Witness with Images
Allison Mayer is a photojournalist, using images to tell true stories and to help us understand the world. She describes herself as witness, storyteller and artist. She reminds us not to get so caught up in the story we want to tell that we miss the story unfolding before us.
[00:00:33] Allison describes her role with nonprofit organizations and NGOs across the world. She helps collect media for fund raising and awareness, and develops complete marketing plans.
[00:02:38] It's important to capture the full story, even if that story is never told in public. "To me it's all about making that connection and really treating everybody I meet with the respect that they deserve."
[00:03:45] "I want people to authentically share what they feel is their life."Links
Instagram.com/allisonmayerwsa
@Allisonmayerwsa on all social mediaSend me your questions
Support the show
Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!39 min - Craig Klope - Starting with no Experience
J. Craig Klope started a celebrity talk show for radio even though he had no experience or training in radio or communications. Here's how he did it.
Starting With No Experience[00:01:30] Craig started listening to Mystery Theater on the radio as a child, and later he'd listen to radio talk shows as he traveled. The celebrity interviews intrigued him. After moving to Nashville in his 20's, Craig came up with the a name for a production company, had a letterhead made, and started contacting radio stations. He was finally able to secure a time slot at one of the Nashville stations, but he had no guests![00:05:07] Craig's determination and persistence paid off. His first guest was Bob Denver, the actor who played Gilligan on
Gilligan's Island. Once that first show was done, it became easier to get more guests. Craig shares how he recorded the show in a spare bedroom with an answering machine.[00:07:23] Anybody could have looked at what Craig was doing and said, "That'll never work," but it did. If you have a dream, it's important to get people around you who will encourage you, not people who only tell you all the ways it won't work. Craig says, "If I'm with somebody else that has a dream I tried to look at the ways it can happen, because I know how it is to have somebody, or people, just say, 'Oh wow. That's great but you know it's impossible unless...this or this.' Well, we know that things aren't impossible. We've seen that over and over through many people that have had success."
[00:11:17] As different celebrities sent media packets and books, Craig read their autobiographies and got familiar with their stories, which were fascinating. Craig realized his show could tell more of the story than other shows where they only gave a few minutes to each guest. He's writing a book calledCelebrities in My Guest Room which will include stories from the celebrities he's interviewed.[00:16:02] One interview that stands out is the one with television legend Art Linkletter: "He found that the people on the street, people that were not given a script, were actually funnier than people that had memorized monologues. So he would just go with it. Everyday people.That is a big testimony to his skill of bringing people out and getting the stories out of them."[00:23:32] Craig says once he got a few celebrities as guests, others followed. He learned to look for those who had a book to promote. Craig says, "Any time they had an autobiography, I knew that they had certain engagements they would have to make through the publisher." That was a prime opportunity for Craig.
Mentoring, Criticism, and Encouragement[00:25:48] Craig discussed some early mistakes. You can start without any knowledge or experience, but you can't stay that way. He tells how he found a mentor in the radio DJ who put his program the air.[00:34:33] He could have just dropped his tapes off at the radio station, but instead Craig sat with the DJ as the show aired. "I was like a sponge. I didn't know anything, so I tried to soak up as much from him - as much knowledge as I could."Craig was willing to put in the hours and make the necessary changes. It's important to listen to constructive criticism. And, if you're the one who's a little further along than someone else, then you can be the teacher.
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Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!54 min - Program Note - Summer Schedule
We’re changing the schedule a bit. This Summer we'll have two shows each month, released on the first and third Monday. This means I’ll be back on Monday, May 21st with a new interview. Meanwhile, I invite you to check out some episodes you may have missed:Business:Courtney Buzzel - storytelling & marketingAurora Gregory - public speaking as a business-building tool Tami Romani - improve your speaking voiceWriters:Ronei Harden - working with an editor Katie Horner successful bloggingEthan Bryan shares his process for telling storiesTowera Loper's journey as a first-time author
Send me your questions
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Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!2 min - Tami Romani - Brand Voice Strategist
People will judge you almost immediately by what comes across in the sound of your voice. Voice brand strategist Tami Romani shares tips to improve your voice.In this show we are literally talking about finding your voice. Chances are you've heard Tami Romani's voice in commercials or perhaps on an audio book. Now Tami shares her experience with us in her role as a brand voice strategist and business communication consultant.
Highlights[00:03:57] Vocal pet peeves[00:08:02] The physicality of your voice. Tami shared some practical exercises you can do today to improve your voice.
- Awareness is the first step, so you'll need to listen to a recording of yourself speaking. Which of the vocal pet peeves are you guilty of?
- Breathing - Take a normal breath and exhale on an "awwww" sound for as long as you can go. At what point does your voice fail? The average sentence is 10-12 seconds long. Do you have enough breath to get through a sentence?
tamiromani.comtwitter.com/tamiromani
Send me your questions
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Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!40 min - Special - Finding Your Voice
This week I've pulled together segments from some earlier interviews to explore the idea of finding your voice.
From Ronne RockWith her experience in the corporate world, Ronne knows the assessments and personality tests, but she says it's a small tribe of people you need to speak truth into your life. The dialogue between you and your tribe is where the themes and calling of your life emerge.From Mashona CouncilMashona's vision forms step by step. It's a walk of trust, taking one day at a time. Whether it's a lifelong vision, a 125-mile trek, or a daily commitment to step up - she says God is faithful to meet us along the way.From Matt HamApart from God, you can't find your true voice. Matt explores the voices of praise and criticism that threaten to take us off course, and how to stay on the path to a fruitful life.Links:
15 Questions Every Millennial Needs to Ask to Discover Their True CallingYouprint.lifeWake Up My Faith
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Support the show
Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!29 min - Nick Pavlidis - From Attorney to Ghostwriter
UPDATE: At the time of this recording, the show was called The Your Voice Podcast. Since this recording, Kay has has rebranded to Life and Mission.
After more than a decade practicing law, Nick Pavlidis changed the direction of his career to better fit the lifestyle he wanted for his family. He now runs two work-from-anywhere businesses, Authority Ghostwriting and Attorney Marketing Institute, which allow him to work in his strengths and build the best life for his family.
[00:00:00] Nick says it all started with his book, Confessions of a Terrible Husband: Lessons Learned from a Lumpy Couch. He looked around and saw a future he didn't want. Then he took action to take his life in the direction that matched his priorities.
[00:05:39] Putting boundaries around the important things.
[00:09:48] Nick's podcasts - Confessions of a Terrible Husband, and Five Minutes with Dad.
[00:11:17] The key to all good marketing--tell your audience what you can do for THEM.
[00:14:14] Nick's marketing podcast
[00:20:04] Ghostwriting
[00:25:45] Nick does a podcast with his kids: https://fiveminuteswithdad.com/
[00:34:27] The Attorney Marketing Institute
Note from Kay: I'm traveling, so the show notes are a little sparse this week. Next week, I hope to have a story for you from Liberia.Links
AuthorityGhostwriting.com
AttorneyMarketingInstitute.com
twitter.com/nickpavlidis
Instagram.com/nickpavlidis
Linkedin.com/in/nickpavlidisSend me your questions
Support the show
Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!40 min - Ronei Harden on Writing and Editing
Ronei is a writer, editor, and a writing instructor. She assists authors with everything from the writing process to the editing and production of their book. I asked her to talk about each of those roles. She clearly enjoys helping authors along in the process.[00:04:14] Authors usually arrive with a "how" question. The initial conversation is finding out where they are in the process. Then they work together to make a plan for getting the next phase accomplished.
[00:05:55] An editor can guide you through the process so you can connect with your intended audience. "You want to get it in the right hands so that it can have a maximum effect. So you always have to ask who is this book for?"Essentials of good storytelling
[00:08:00] Ronei explains the difference between storytelling and writing.Your story has a purpose. You have to know that purpose. You also have to know the audience. Ask yourself where your story is going, and what you want it to do when it gets there. Editors help the writer accomplish the goals they have for the book, word by word."If you're really well-read, and you have a good vocabulary, you can write well - and editors are there to help you as well. You know, if you can't think of the word, we're there to help you come up with other words to describe what you're trying to say."[00:14:16] Think of your story like a recipe. All of these things we're talking about are ingredients. These are the elements of the story and the writing itself. Capture the ideas first. Get it written down, and don't worry about the format. Then you can think about how you can put them together.Why you shouldn't rush the process
"Our words are so powerful, and if delivered properly they're going to educate someone. They're going to really lift someone up out of their situation. They're going to inspire them."[00:21:00] The first pass through the finished work involves "Ms Ronei's Never-Ever List." You can get this list from Ronei's web site. Ronei walks us through the process and explains each stage, all the way through to printing. "You're going from big picture down to fine details."[00:26:10] It's normal to have a lot of changes. Ronei says sometimes an author will not really discover who their characters are until they go through the editing process.[00:28:48] What to expect when hiring an editor.Links
[00:17:59] You can write a book in thirty days, but will it be your best work?Send me your questions
Support the show
Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!41 min - Lorna Bailey - Journaling and Planners
When Lorna Bailey discovered planners, it changed her life. She created a web site to help people through the choices and offers practical tips to fight the overwhelm. In this interview, she shares how to start with journalling and planners.
Just Make it Messy
[00:01:15] We recorded this podcast in February. By this time some of us have started journalling--and given up. But journaling is like any other good habit. If you can link it to another, established habit, then you're more likely to keep it up. Lorna says if you want to get started, don't try to do it like everyone on Pinterest or Instagram. "Just make it messy...You're going to figure it out as you go along, and that's ok. Everyone has to start somewhere."
[00:04:20] What goes in a journal? Whatever you want! "Just start like jotting things down in your planner. You'll be really surprised at how fun it is to like look back and see what you done what's going on in your life and where you're at now."Make a Routine
[00:13:31] There is a passionate community around journaling and planners. Lorna's passion for planners led to a blog. That community has a host of ideas and approaches. There's sure to be some approach that works for you. "I really encourage people to just not get discouraged about there's no such thing as the perfect planner."[00:18:48] Lorna and her husband visited a paper shop that claimed to have planners. But in reality it had just two. That experience was disappointing, but it helped drive Lorna to build what she calls "the planner index." She wants to share the amazing variety available. Her advice is to keep trying until you find the one that works for you. "It does take some stumbling and bumbling around sometimes, so give yourself permission."
[00:07:20] Lorna shares her morning planning and journaling routine. Yours doesn't have to look like hers, it just has to work for you.[00:09:42] There are many types of planners. Lorna went over a few here, and you can find a wide variety of planners on her web site.
[00:11:24] Lorna tells her story. When she started journalling, it was a way to take control of her time and her future. "A lot of that," she says, "was because I was really intentional with my time, and really intentional about 'OK, what's something I can do that's a quick 10 minute task that will get me closer to my goal?' Because if you look at big dreams and big goals, they're really just little consistent things we do each day."Stay Focused for Success
[00:20:54] Digital planners are powerful, but they come with distractions. Again, you have to find what works for you. Focus is a key to success, so make sure your choice of planners helps you to do that.
[00:24:46] Lorna shared three keys to journaling:- Make it messy. This is for you and no one else. It doesn't need to be perfect.
- Dream. Think about where you want to be in five years. What do you
Send me your questions
Support the show
Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!29 min - Katie Hornor - Blogging Success
Katie is the founder and CEO of Blogging Successfully and The Blog Connection, an online membership community helping midlife women spread their message and increase their income.
Getting Started & Getting it Done
[00:08:42] Work/Life balance.We say it's not balance, it's blending. You cannot separate who you are in God from what you do on a daily basis. And God has called us to all of these things. And so we are blending all of these things together.
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (Thessalonians 5: 24)
[00:13:16] Any marketer knows you need to identify the audience. Listen to Katie describe her audience and the ways she can serve them. She's done a great job identifying who she serves and what their needs are. By building a community for support, Katie takes some of the pressure off herself and provides a platform for others.
Keys to Success
[00:34:35] Katie shares the three key things you need to succeed as a blogger:- Guts. It doesn't matter who tells you you can't. You need to do this, if this is what God has called you to do.
- Marketing. It's not a dirty word. It just means the way to let people know about what you have to offer them. It's a way to let people know how you can help them.
- Keep God front and center of your business. Don't get distracted.
Send me your questions
Support the show
Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!46 min - Carly Davis - South East Asia Prayer Center
This week my guest is Carly Davis, Missions Coordinator for South East Asia Prayer Center. SEAPC works among the people in the platform that the Lord creates, such as healthcare, parenting, microeconomic development, and education while praying the Lord’s blessing upon the Nation.
[00:18:52] SEAPC is known for prayer, and particularly prayer walking. It's just what it says. Walking and praying. Praying and walking. "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses." (Joshua 1:3, KJV)Links
[00:01:39] SEAPC overview, and a little of the story that started it all.
[00:05:58] Carly talks about her role as Missions Coordinator, helping people use their gifts and talents. She shares about a woman who thought her job was holding her back from ministry, only to find it was preparing her. That's often how it is, but God is in control.
[00:11:54] How prayer paved the way for schools in an entire province of Cambodia to be renewed.SEAPC.orghttps://twitter.com/SEAPChttps://www.facebook.com/SEAPChttps://www.youtube.com/user/SEAPC
Send me your questions
Support the show
Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!33 min
About Life and Mission
From the publisher's feed
Storytelling and writing are essential skills for missionaries, ministry and nonprofit leaders. In fact, if you struggle to tell stories, you'll struggle to raise the funds you need. Kay Helm is a…
writer & editor with experience in missions and the business world. She founded Mission Writers in 2022 to help missionaries write fundraising appeals and powerful stories to share with supporters. In this podcast, she offers tips you can use today to improve your missions & nonprofit writing.