In this episode of Keep Hustling, Aaron Gordon welcomes Carrie West, a narrative coach and author, to explore how personal stories shape our lives and career paths. Carrie West shares her journey from humble beginnings to discovering the power of rewriting her own story, a concept she now helps others embrace. The conversation delves into the importance of awareness, breaking patterns, and updating your "life narrative" to reflect potential and fulfillment. They discuss handling challenges as plot twists, the value of being both protagonist and director in your own story, and why "anything can change" is a quote to live by. The episode is filled with practical wisdom for anyone seeking to pivot, overcome adversity, and craft a purposeful future, reminding listeners to always keep hustling.

Get To Know Carrie KC West

Carrie KC West is an award-winning international bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and transformational story coach who founded the Storytellers Academy (now often referred to as Storytellers Studio) to help people take back the pen on their own lives.

She works with capable, high-achieving people who look successful on the outside but feel quietly stuck or limited inside, whether around money, relationships, health, leadership, or how they're aging. Drawing from her years in the entertainment world, Carrie shows clients that the real issue isn't broken habits or a weak mindset. It's an outdated story they're still living from without realizing it.

Her approach is straightforward and forward-looking: spot the hidden narrative that's been calling the shots, listen to what your body already knows, and start consciously writing the next chapter. No endless positive affirmations or hustle required—just authorship. When the story shifts, the choices that used to feel impossible suddenly start making sense, and change ripples across your whole life without force.

She's the author of Money Rewritten, where she flips the usual money advice on its head: "You don't have a money problem. You have a money story." The book and her signature Money Rewritten 5-Day Challenge give people practical tools to move from financial stress and self-sabotage to clarity and real freedom. Her upcoming/related work includes Life Rewritten (a #1 international bestseller released around March 2025) and other "Rewritten" explorations like love, health, and legacy.

At the heart of everything Carrie does is one clear truth: You're not broken. The story might be. And the moment you claim authorship, everything begins to change. The pen, as she likes to say, is already in your hand.

Change Your Story, Change Your Life

3 Key Listener Takeaways

1. Rewrite Your Story: Carrie West underscores the power each person has to update their life narrative. By recognizing that many of our beliefs and patterns are shaped by inherited stories, listeners are reminded they can consciously choose the themes and outcomes of their own journey, leading to greater fulfillment and purpose.
2. Respond to Adversity: Both Aaron Gordon and Carrie West share that life's challenges are inevitable, but how we respond is what defines us. Rather than striving for perfection, embracing crises and using micro-moments of change enable growth and resilience, reinforcing the idea that setbacks are opportunities to rewrite and direct our unique story.
3. Own Your Role: The episode highlights that every individual is both the protagonist and the director of their life story. By focusing on what you can control and letting go of the urge to "fix the rest of the world," listeners are encouraged to take ownership of their actions and intentionality, shaping their best role within the collective narrative.

Carrie West's favorite motivational quote: "Anything can change."

Show Overview

00:00 Keep Hustling Podcast Intro 05:51 Hustle, Story, and Self-Awareness 06:47 Rewriting Life's Chapters 12:47 Calm Minds Over Reactive Brains 14:55 Individual Stories Amid Infinite Others 18:59 Redefining My Personal Story 20:51 Why I Changed My Name 23:20 Stay Connected with Keep Hustling