The Brand Called You

Meridith Grundei, Strategic Communication Partner & Experience Director

Listen Later
Meridith Grundei, Strategic Communication Partner & Experience Director
  • Childhood in Colorado: Outgoing yet shy, afraid to use her voice.
  • Struggled with self-expression through words, but found comfort in dance.
    • Podcast
    Overview
    Discovering Voice, Creativity, and Impact: Meridith Grundei’s Journey
    00:00:39- What Were Meridith’s Key Inflection Points Growing Up?
    • Childhood in Colorado: Outgoing yet shy, afraid to use her voice.
    • Struggled with self-expression through words, but found comfort in dance.
    • Transformative moment at age 12: Speaking on stage led to encouragement to try acting.
    • Discovered the power of improv and playing roles as confidence builders.
    • Impact of family trauma: Father’s Vietnam flashbacks and the safety of theater as a refuge.
      • 00:07:32- How Did High School and Early Adulthood Shape Meridith’s Path?
      • Theater club and drama: Found belonging and expression outside traditional academics.
      • Challenges in school: Low GPA, rebelliousness, and creative resistance.
      • Moments of creative exploration (e.g., Jim Morrison poetry performance).
      • Transformation during senior year: Discovering Eastern philosophy, achieving academic success.
      • Journey through junior college, then Colorado State University: Following curiosity.
        • 00:11:07- What Role Did Theater and Improv Play in Meridith’s Early Career?
        • Moved to San Francisco for a blend of cycling and theater.
        • Immersion in physical theater forms (Viewpoints, Suzuki).
        • Joining avant-garde sketch comedy and improv groups.
        • Move to Chicago: Training at IO and Second City, curriculum development for youth improv.
        • Teaching, collaboration, and adapting communication for diverse groups.
          • 00:16:04- Why Did Meridith Pivot to Buddhist-inspired Theater at Naropa University?
          • Desire for contemplative, physical theater training.
          • Returned to Colorado for Naropa’s Buddhist-inspired MFA program.
          • Devising theater, collaborating, and eventually teaching and mentoring.
          • Focus on the “business of acting”: Helping artists with practical skills.

            • RESOURCES:

            Learn more about Meridith Grundei: LinkedIn 

            Enjoyed this podcast?

            The pandemic hit. Live theater disappeared, but Meridith pivoted. She built a thriving business coaching leaders, founders, and execs: helping them simplify their messages, amplify presence, and build trust — all fueled by her improv training. Share your thoughts in the comments and spread these insights with friends!

            Would you love to give us 5 stars? If yes, we’d greatly appreciate your review. Help us reach more people to keep them in the know as we talk to leaders, high achievers, and thought leaders from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. Excellence can come from anywhere. Stay in the know, and hear from emergent high achievers and experts.

            Stay updated with what’s shaping the world today through the latest The Brand Called You Podcast episode. Follow us on iTunes, Spotify, and Anchor.fm.  

            You can find us at:

            Website: www.tbcy.in 

            Instagram: http://bit.ly/3HO7N06 

            Facebook:http://bit.ly/3YzJOaD 

            Twitter: http://bit.ly/3wMBOXK 

            LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tbcy/ 

            YouTube: http://bit.ly/3jmBqfq 

            Chingari: https://chingari.io/tbcypodcast 

            Moj:http://bit.ly/3wOrmPv 

            Josh: http://bit.ly/3WWP0nB 

            Thanks for listening! 

            Profile
            • Childhood in Colorado: Outgoing yet shy, afraid to use her voice.
            • Struggled with self-expression through words, but found comfort in dance.
            • Transformative moment at age 12: Speaking on stage led to encouragement to try acting.
            • Discovered the power of improv and playing roles as confidence builders.
            • Impact of family trauma: Father’s Vietnam flashbacks and the safety of theater as a refuge.

              • The post Meridith Grundei, Strategic Communication Partner & Experience Director first appeared on TBCY.

              ...more
              View all episodesView all episodes
              Download on the App Store
              The Brand Called YouBy tbcy.in