Send us a text

Feeling scattered in your business? Unsure where to focus or how to attract the right clients?

In this episode of StoryClicks, I sit down with communication strategist and StoryBrand expert Wes Gay to talk about how clarity—not hustle—is what truly moves a business forward.

We explore:

• The people–problem–product triangle that every business needs to define
• How to stop chasing leads and start attracting the right ones
• Whether PDF lead magnets still work (and what’s changing)
• The impact of AI on marketing—and how to stay grounded
• Three daily questions that can bring clarity, focus, and momentum

Whether you’re a solopreneur, creative, or small business owner—this conversation will help you step back, reset, and get focused on what actually works.

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about Wes Gay: wesgay.com

Visit StoryClicks: storyclicks.us

New episodes every Wednesday—subscribe now so you don’t miss what’s next.

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Send us a text

What if the key to better focus, stronger relationships, and sustainable success isn’t working harder — but sleeping better?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, a board-certified sleep physician and author of Beyond Tired. We explore the hidden costs of burnout, the myths we believe about rest, and how to reclaim sleep as a foundation for a thriving life.

Topics we cover:

• Why high-achievers burn out — and how to stop it
• Common sleep myths (like “I’m fine on 6 hours”)
• Snoring, sleep apnea, and when to get checked
• How poor rest affects mood, focus, and health
• Sleep strategies for families, teens, and business owners
• The surprising power of journaling and bedtime boundaries

If you’re feeling tired all the time or want to set a healthier rhythm, this episode is for you.

🔗 Resources:

– Dr. Funke’s site: https://www.therestfulsleepplace.com

– Book: Beyond Tired (Amazon)

– Instagram: @restfulsleepmd

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Send us a text

What happens when you reach success—but it leaves you disconnected from the very reason you started?

For Lionel Cartwright, it meant returning to something deeper—his creative identity beyond the charts, the crowds, and the constant market pressure to chase trends.

In this episode, Māris sits down with the Nashville country artist to explore what it truly means to create from your true self—especially after reaching the top. With a career that includes Billboard-charting hits, national tours, and composing for television, Lionel shares what unfolds when you stop chasing success and begin creating from a place of wholeness, rest, and inner clarity.

This conversation isn’t about industry hacks or formulas—it’s about rediscovering your voice, your values, and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you’re already enough.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Letting go of external pressure and creating from your core
• The hidden cost of tying your identity to success
• The tension between public persona and personal truth
• The connection between rest, values, and long-term creative health
• What Johnny Cash taught Lionel about authenticity
• How to keep showing up and finishing creative work

About the Guest:

Lionel Cartwright is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter and composer known for his Billboard-charting country hits in the 1990s and later work scoring for film and television. Today, he continues to write, produce, and perform while mentoring artists to align their work with their values, purpose, and creative calling.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Rick Rubin — The Creative Act and reflections on Johnny Cash

• Austin Kleon — Steal Like an Artist and Keep Going

• Anne Lamott — Bird by Bird

• Elizabeth Gilbert — Big Magic

• Viktor Frankl — Man’s Search for Meaning

Listen & Subscribe:

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

🎧 Listen on Spotify

Connect with Lionel Cartwright:

🌐 Website

📺 Lionel's YouTube Channel

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Send us a text

Ever feel like content creation is taking over your life?

Whether you’re a solopreneur, freelancer, or running a small business — staying consistent with content can be exhausting.

But what if creating content felt more like a game than a grind?

In this episode, I sit down with Annie Figenshu, author of Simple Social Media, to explore how to gamify your content creation — and build a strategy that works without burning you out.

We cover:

• A fun dice game to generate 10+ posts in under 30 minutes
• Why content matters for growing your business
• Where to begin if you’re new to content marketing
• Using AI + frameworks to generate content quickly
• How to automate emails that actually build trust
• And more

If you’re ready to stop dreading content and start building a rhythm that works for you — this episode is for you.

🔗 Resources + Mentions

• Annie’s Simple Social Media Book → simplesocialmediabook.com
• Free Content Resources → simplesocialmediabook.com/home/#resources
• Annie’s Website → downstage.media
• StoryClicks Podcast Home → storyclicks.us/podcast

🎧 Listen now and start taming the content-making monster.

If you enjoy the episode, share it with a friend and leave a review wherever you listen!

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Send us a text

Today, I’m joined by Matthew Odmark—a guitarist, songwriter, producer, and creative mentor based in Nashville.

Matt is a member of the Grammy-winning band Jars of Clay, who’ve released twelve albums over a career spanning more than two decades.

🎙️ In this episode, we explore:

• What Matt enjoys about producing music today
• His relationship with Jars of Clay now
• The trade-offs that come with success
• How his songwriting evolved over 20 years
• What makes a song emotionally powerful
• How faith shaped—and was shaped by—his work
• His advice for creating work that lasts

📽️ Plus: We’ve included a video session filmed in Matt’s Nashville studio back in 2022—a joyful day of music and collaboration with friends.

👉 Watch the video here

🔗 Learn more about the guest:

🌐 Matt’s work: anoriginalmaster.com

🔗 Mentioned on the show:

📖 Visions of Vocation by Steven Garber

🎧 New episodes of StoryClicks drop every Wednesday.

Follow the show and share this episode with a friend if it resonated with you.

Thanks for listening!

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Send us a text

Today, we’re exploring how to make good choices in difficult situations.

Sometimes we find ourselves in moments that feel overwhelming—when it’s hard to know what to do, or even where to start.

So how do we make empowering choices—ones that aren’t reactive, fear-based, or forced?

That’s exactly what today’s episode is about.

David Brown is an embodied leadership coach—and yes, also a 4th-degree black belt in karate.

He’s the creator of the Sovereign Leadership Framework, and he works with leaders, creatives, and parents to help them build a more supportive inner world—so they can show up with confidence and care in the outer one.

🔍 In this episode, we explore:

• His 7-part framework for inner leadership—the path to empowering choices
• How to deal with your inner critic without losing your edge
• A fresh way to look at rejection—especially when your work is personal

🔗 Learn more:

• David’s work: potentialitycoaching.co.uk
• Connect with him on LinkedIn: David Brown – Potentiality Coaching
• The Arc Academy on Facebook

🎧 New episodes of StoryClicks drop every Wednesday.

Follow the show to support more meaningful conversations like this.

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Send us a text

In this second part of our special season recap, host Māris Prindulis revisits the best moments from the remaining six episodes of the StoryClicks podcast. This episode is packed with insightful conversations and practical takeaways from our incredible guests, covering topics like crafting compelling PR strategies, leveraging personal storytelling, and using social media effectively.

📌 Here’s what you’ll hear in Part 2:

• Jo Caruana shares the GOTHAM framework for crafting PR stories.
• Susan Payton on using personal storytelling to grow your business.
• Katie Lantukh on attracting the right customers through values-based messaging.
• Annie Schiffmann offers social media strategies to avoid burnout and boost engagement.
• Darren Ho on effective rest strategies for a balanced life.
• Marius Wenneson introduces creative techniques like the 100 List and SCAMPER method to overcome blocks.

If you missed Part 1, be sure to check it out for even more standout insights from this season!

🎧 Listen now and revisit the most impactful moments from the season.

👉 Visit StoryClicks.us/podcast for more episodes and resources.

MORE ON OUR CO-HOST
Dale Connelly
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daletconnelly/

https://www.emotionallywellcommunities.com/action-art-play

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Send us a text

In this first part of our special season recap, host Māris Prindulis and cohost Dale Connelly revisit the best moments from the first six episodes of the StoryClicks podcast. This episode features standout insights and actionable advice from our incredible guests, offering a fresh perspective on the highlights of the season.

📌 Here’s what you’ll hear in Part 1:

• Dale Connelly shares his five energy-boosting tips for showing up as your best self.
• Bernie J. Mitchell reveals what to consider when joining or creating a coworking space.
• Darren Ho explains how to use your core values to navigate uncertain times.
• Dr. Sunil Raheja dives into cultivating wisdom for a more fulfilling life.
• Jo Caruana simplifies PR strategies for business leaders in Part 1 of her series.
• Evan Cox shares expert tips on nonprofit marketing and fundraising.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll highlight the remaining six episodes of the season, including topics like using personal stories to grow your business and crafting compelling PR strategies!

🎧 Listen now and revisit the most impactful moments from the season.

👉 Visit StoryClicks.us/podcast for more episodes and resources.

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Send us a text

Ever feel stuck when you're trying to come up with creative ideas—like finding the right brand name or solving a project problem? You’re not alone! In this episode, I sit down with Marius Wenneson, a Profit Architect and innovation strategist, to explore powerful strategies for unlocking your authentic creativity.

We dive into practical tools like the 100 list for generating fresh ideas and the SCAMPER method to make those ideas even better. Marius shares his decades of experience helping businesses streamline operations, achieve sustainable growth, and overcome creative blocks.

Tune in as we cover:
- Is everyone creative?
- What is a 100 list for idea generation?
- How to use the SCAMPER method.
- How to combine the 100 list approach with ChatGPT.
- What is a swipe file and how to use it effectively.

And more!

Whether you're a business owner, creative professional, or someone looking to break through mental barriers, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss.


MENTIONED OR RELEVANT TO THIS EPISODE
Sir Ken Robinson's book—The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

Bob Eberle book—Scamper

Marius creativity research paper for the university

MORE ON OUR GUEST
Say hi to Marius Wenneson on LinkedIn.

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Send us a text

Feeling tired all the time? 

Instead of the usual advice to simply "get some rest," join us in this episode as we chat with leadership coach Darren Ho about finding a rest strategy that truly works for you. 

Darren, founder of The Restored Leader, shares his insights on how to recharge effectively and maintain energy for life's demands.

We'll cover:

• The importance of being present
• Reflecting on your needs
• Finding joy in the realization that our lives are not solely about us
• Connecting rest with core values

And more!

Don't miss out if you're a business leader looking to improve your well-being, boost your energy, and live a more balanced life!

MENTIONED OR RELEVANT TO THIS EPISODE
Check out free resources:
https://www.restoredleader.com/https://restoredleader.com/a-journey-to-redeeming-your-core-values/

Kids TV show Bluey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZtG5Ba6iT0

MORE ON OUR GUEST
Darren Ho - The Restored Leader
https://www.restoredleader.com/

Find the podcast website here: https://storyclicks.us/podcast/
Follow the StoryClicks Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @StoryClicks on Facebook and LinkedIn.