Narrative Podcast

"What does God say about me? And what God says about me is that because of Christ and what he did for me, I am good enough." - Warren Mainard

Warren had an abundance of confidence that he could do anything. But when Warren's kindergarten teacher identified Warren Mainard as having dyslexia, he was forced to repeat Kindergarten. The message Warren took from that was he was flawed, he'd never be good at school, and school was easier for the other kids. We discussed how the teacher taking action FOR Warren felt AGAINST him to Warren. Warren was a man whose childhood struggles with dyslexia shaped a false narrative of inadequacy and self-doubt.

To Connect with Warren Mainard: [email protected],

www.impactplayers.org and LinkedIn @Warren Mainard

Socials:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Narrative_live

"My true purpose, my true mission in life, is masculinity, marriage, and mindset." - Matt Clark

Matt Clark shares his childhood struggles with imposter syndrome in baseball, shaped by a false narrative that he didn't measure up. Growing up Matt grappled with feelings of inadequacy which is common today due to societal pressures and the impact of social media. Despite putting on a brave front and a successful career, he felt like he was constantly falling short of expectations, leading to a deep internal conflict.

To Connect with Matt Clark: [email protected]

Let's Connect: www.narrative.live

Socials:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Narrative_live

"It's who I know that gets me in the door, and it's what I know that keeps me there." - Neil Twa

Neil Twa shares how a false narrative of a scarcity mindset, around money, shaped his perspective on life from a young age. He saw other's with money so he just had to figure out how he could get some too. Discover how his early experiences of getting out of town set the stage for a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Then, a significant "bend in the road" altered Neil's trajectory, challenging his beliefs and pushing him to reevaluate his goals and aspirations. Neil shared that in the midst of hyper growth within Sprint, his marriage failed and transformed his outlook on life and set him on a new course.

Now, Neil is actively crafting a life centered around family and truly pouring into others. Neil's past experiences have shaped his present-day values and priorities, offering valuable insights and inspiration for listeners seeking to navigate their own paths to success and fulfillment.

To learn more about Neil Twa: VoltageDM.com/

Neil Twa's Podcast: Business Builders

Let's Connect: www.narrative.live

On Social:

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Narrative_live

To Connect with Gerry Wilson: FB @GerryWilson, www.gerrygwilson.com

Substack: Stories I am Old Enough To Tell

To Connect with Tim Croll or Steve Gohl: www.narrative.live

I knew Kathy Izard's episode was worthy of revisiting.  We discussed the powerful theme of "My Work Is My Identity." Kathy's early years were dominated by a high-achieving, picture-perfect family facade in Texas, where ambitions were high, and family struggles were kept behind closed doors. Discover how these early experiences forged a false narrative that conflated personal value with professional success, setting the stage for a profound personal journey.

Hear about the pivotal "bend in the road" that challenged everything Kathy thought she knew about success and self-worth. A combination of her husband’s unexpected health crisis and a transformative play about mental health vividly reshaped her perspective. This episode reveals the moment Kathy began to question the entrenched beliefs of her upbringing, leading her toward a path of profound personal healing.

Now thriving in a life redefined by purpose beyond work, Kathy shares how she's crafting a new narrative centered on intentional living, community service, and deep relationships. Listen as she pointed out the importance of trusting your inner voice, embracing life's unexpected turns, and the importance of rewriting your story. Don't miss this inspiring journey of resilience and change. You might just find the courage to question and reshape your own narrative. 

To Connect with Kathy Izard: KathyIzard.com  or WomenFaithStory.com

To Connect with Tim Croll or Steve Gohl: www.narrative.live

I sat down with Gery Deer, diving into the early narratives that shaped him from a young age. Growing up surrounded by specific societal and familial expectations, Gery discusses how these early influences scripted his life in ways he didn’t initially see. Ever wonder how much of your life is shaped by what you're told you should do versus what you want to do?

Gery hits a major crossroads during his college years, where everything he thought he knew about his path comes into question. From losing scholarships to shifting academic and personal relationships, his “bend in the road” was all about challenging what you thought was your set path. It’s a revealing look into those life-changing moments that force us to step out of comfort zones and ask the hard questions about who we really want to be.

Fast forward to today, and Gery is actively redefining what his life looks like, focusing on authenticity over compliance. Whether it’s navigating the responsibilities of caregiving or shifting career gears, his story is a powerful reminder of the importance of staying true to yourself, even when life throws curveballs. Tune in and get inspired by Gery’s journey to take control of his own story. Maybe it’ll spark some ideas on how you can reshape yours too!

To Connect with Gery Deer:

Facebook: Official Gery L. Deer

Insta: @officialgeryldeer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerydeer/

Gery's Podcast: Old Nerd In The Gym podcast

And the articles we mentioned:

Deer In Headlines II: What we both knew. - https://jamestowncomet.wordpress.com/2023/06/12/what-we-both-knew/

(Award-nominated piece I wrote last year about the day my father realized he was dying.)

Deer In Headlines: Caregiving with dignity - https://www.xeniagazette.com/2017/10/04/caregiving-with-dignity/

Deer In Headlines: Anticipatory Grief. https://www.xeniagazette.com/2023/03/09/anticipatory-grief/

To Connect with Tim Croll or Steve Gohl: www.narrative.live

JC Chanowsky's early years were filled with traditional Sunday dinners at his Italian Grandparent's house until upheaval struck, leaving him feeling unanchored and prone to bullying. How did a young JC navigate the chaos of constant moves and a family split? Tune in to discover the adversity that influenced his formative years.

As his personal life spiraled, JC found mentors in unexpected places. A friend’s father became a makeshift role model, offering stability during turbulent times. And his stepfather, who would prefer to talk sports but left no need unmet for JC. 

After hitting rock bottom, JC made a life-altering decision to join the military, which led him not to the Army, but to the Navy. He shared the critical skills that he learned that transformed his approach to both business and family life. Listen as JC shares how military discipline became the cornerstone of his success now in life and business. And learn about his strong bond to his father that has developed over the years. 

To Connect with Tim Croll or Steve Gohl: www.narrative.live

"If I do everything right, life will turn out well", this is the mentality that turned Josh into a bit of a people pleaser. Being a people pleaser is how he ended up in an unhealthy marriage. And in business, because Josh could figure things out, he noticed the expectations of him at work entailed more than just his job description. And guess what? Life didn't turn out well.

Josh grew up in Northern NM being home-schooled with his 9 other siblings. His only other friends were his parent's friends' children. That environment grew social awkwardness in Josh. But once his family moved back to Norther MN from the Minneapolis area, he was thrown into public school. It became obvious to Josh that he didn't have that social hierarchy, that others understood. Josh learned to be risk-averse.

Through his divorce, getting remarried, starting a business, and having children Josh has learned how to have boundaries to keep people pleasing at bay. Now he'll take calculated risks in relationships and in his career. He shared all about that transformation in this episode. 

To Connect with Josh Latterell: JoshLatterell.com or ElmDigital Marketing.com

To Connect with Tim Croll or Steve Gohl: www.narrative.live

Have you ever witnessed a child rebelling against their parent? Like, the more the parent says "This is the right way", the more the child continues to try to do it their way? That's kind of how Geoff Wollerman was growing up. He got the message early that you get married and find a job and that is how to find success in life. He rejected this ideology. In high school, he started down a rebellious path. Plus, he's an idea guy so his mind was always racing with ideas, and drugs and alcohol gave him a break! He felt out of place and ahead of his time, at the same time. 

He didn't finish high school until later he earned his GED. It turns out all the searching he did until about his 30's (when he graduated from college) was all for this moment in life. Now Geoff is using all of his English language skills to start an IT company. Listen to hear what he now defines as a successful life and what he is doing with these maxims:

“Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans.”

• Language is Everything

Connect with Geoff Wollerman on LinkedIn: @GeofWollerman and check out his IT company TruenodeTech.com

To Connect with Tim Croll or Steve Gohl: www.narrative.live

When Tammy thinks back to her upbringing all she can do is offer empathy for her father. Her biological father made some very bad choices. But did that make him a bad man a bad person? Tammy knows how his parents were and understand how they shaped who he was. You have got to hear about her upbringing and things she can remember from a very early age like 2 years old. 

Tammy's mother was careful to never throw her biological dad "under the bus." Her mom was wise enough to know that in time Tammy would glean the truth. But in response to her mother never saying her dad was a bad man, Tammy learned he had just made bad choices. She is able to apply that to the general population now! We all get to make our own choices and believe the perception we have created. Adversity can breed character-building. Tammy is almost drawn to challenges but sees them as an opportunity to grow.  We are all in charge of our destiny within our choices. We can accept or change our perception. 

Quotes from the episode:

Chief Tecumseh Words of Wisdom: “When you rise in the morning give thanks for the food and for thejoy of living. And if you see no reason for giving thanks, then the fault lies only in yourself.”

William Shakespeare: “A Jack of all trades is a master of none. But often times, is better than a master of 1.”

To connect with Tammy: arenatrainingfacility.com or [email protected]

To Connect with Tim Croll or Steve Gohl: www.narrative.live