storyOS

In this inspiring episode, we hear from Michelle Hord, a former NBC Universal executive and bestselling author, as she shares her powerful insights on creativity, leadership, and resilience. Listen as Michelle recounts her journey from television producer to corporate leader, and learn how she discovered the importance of bridging the gap between creative and corporate worlds. You'll gain valuable perspective on:

• The power of storytelling in all aspects of business
• How to foster a growth mindset and encourage creativity in leadership
• The connection between creativity and resilience in facing life's challenges
• The importance of embracing possibility and vulnerability in leadership

Michelle also touches on her personal story of tragedy and resilience, offering a glimpse into how she used creativity to rebuild her life. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills, foster resilience, and embrace creativity in their personal and professional lives.

Links:

1. Story Salons
2. Michelle Hord

Countless myths, books, movies, and even leadership principles have been built using the hero's journey model. But what if today's complex problems demand a new approach? Listen in as John Bucher introduces the concept of the collective hero's journey, offering a fresh perspective on leadership and storytelling for our interconnected world.

You'll learn:

• Why the traditional individual hero's journey model may be limiting in today's world
• How to shift your mindset from solo heroism to collective leadership
• Ways to identify your unique role within a larger team or movement
• Strategies for navigating group dynamics and avoiding blame in collective efforts
• How to balance personal growth with collective achievement

John Bucher is a renowned mythologist and story expert who has been featured on the BBC, the History Channel, the LA Times, and on numerous other international outlets. He serves as Executive Director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation and is a writer, podcaster, storyteller, and speaker. Holding a PhD in Mythology & Depth Psychology, he integrates scholarly insights with practical storytelling techniques, exploring the profound connections between myth, culture, and personal identity.
 
Whether you're a leader, creative professional, or someone passionate about making a difference, this episode will equip you with a fresh perspective on leadership and storytelling. By embracing the collective hero's journey, you'll be better prepared to tackle the complex challenges of our time and inspire others to join you in creating meaningful change.

Resources and links:

• Telling a Better Story Website
• Story Salons

Increasing your narrative intelligence gives you the power to reshape your personal story, improve your relationships, and become a more effective leader and communicator. In this final episode of our four-part series with Michael McRay, we're digging into practical ways you can apply narrative intelligence in your daily life.

Throughout the conversation, we'll explore practical exercises to enhance your narrative intelligence, how you can use story structures as tools for self-awareness, and the connection between vulnerability, authenticity, and effective storytelling. We'll also share how to identify and reframe limiting personal narratives, along with resources and tools to continue developing your narrative intelligence.

By applying these insights, you'll be better equipped to navigate challenges, inspire others, and create meaningful change in your life and work. Whether you're a leader looking to motivate your team, a creative professional aiming to produce more impactful work, or someone seeking personal growth, this episode offers concrete strategies to help you harness the transformative power of story in all aspects of your life.

Links and Resources:

1. Becoming Restoried
2. Leadership Story Deck
3. The Storytelling Leader Online
4. John Bucher Books
5. Wisdom of Wow
6. Story Salons

Join Harris III and Michael McRay as they delve deeper into the power of narrative intelligence and its connection to wonder, curiosity, and imagination. You'll discover how these elements work together to shape our perception of reality and influence our ability to rewrite the stories that guide our lives.

Throughout the conversation, you'll learn:

• How wonder and curiosity act as catalysts for expanding our narrative intelligence
• The role of imagination in problem-solving and personal growth
• Practical strategies for cultivating a more open and flexible mindset
• How to leverage narrative intelligence in leadership, parenting, and conflict resolution
• The impact of awe-inducing experiences on our ability to embrace new narratives

Whether you're a leader looking to inspire change, a parent seeking to nurture your child's imagination, or simply someone interested in personal growth, this episode offers valuable insights on how to harness the power of story to transform your life and the world around you.

Links:

1. STORY Website
2. The Storytelling Leader Online

Explore how a greater understanding of narrative intelligence can help you approach challenges in your personal life, your relationships, and even on a global scale.

In this second part of our discussion with Michael McRay, we dive deeper into the idea that every problem is fundamentally a story problem. Discover the power of acknowledging the existing narratives that shape our beliefs and drive our behavior, and how this awareness is crucial for effective communication, leadership, and problem-solving. 

Learn how to identify the story problems in your own life and work, and how to begin the process of rewriting your limiting narratives while honoring the impact of past experiences. You'll also be introduced to a simple framework for understanding the narrative structure of problems.

Whether you're a leader looking to inspire change, a creative seeking to tell more impactful stories, or simply someone who wants to develop a greater understanding of the role narrative plays in shaping our world, this episode will provide you with valuable insights and practical strategies for leveraging narrative intelligence to create positive transformation.

Are you aware of the narratives that shape your everyday life? Special guest Michael McRay joins Harris III to dive deep into the concept of narrative intelligence and the fundamental role that storytelling plays in the human experience. 

Explore why story is best understood as the operating system (OS) of the human brain, and how the stories we tell ourselves shape our beliefs, drive our behavior, and ultimately influence every aspect of our lives. Learn about the difference between narrative and story, and discover how storytelling has been leveraged in marketing, politics, and religion to influence and connect with people on a profound level.

Learn to increase your narrative intelligence, and you'll gain more agency over your stories, rewrite your limiting beliefs, and become a better leader and communicator in your personal and professional life.

Whether you're a creative looking to tell more impactful stories, a leader seeking to inspire and influence others, or simply someone who wants to better understand the power of narrative in your own life, this episode is a must-listen. Get ready to awaken to the power of story and embark on a journey towards greater narrative intelligence.

In a time when information is abundant yet comprehension is scarce, it's more important than ever to understand how our brains work and why. That's why we're so excited to introduce you to the next evolution of the STORY podcast: storyOS.

This season, we'll be diving deeper than ever into narrative intelligence and the framework our brains use to understand stories. You'll learn how to leverage the power of story to craft compelling narratives, build community, and create lasting change.

As we close out this season of the STORY Podcast, we are also closing out this chapter of STORY Conference. Over the last seven years, this conference has touched thousands of lives and changed the landscape of storytelling. On this episode, we sit down with members of the STORY team to discuss favorite memories from STORY Conferences past. Listen in and come trip down memory lane with us!

If you have a favorite STORY memory, we’d love to hear it! Send us a note at [email protected]

With our thriving community of writers of all types, we wanted to highlight this breakout from STORY 2022 with our friends, David Goetz and Melissa Parks from Journey Sixty6. Journey Sixty6 helps coach and guide their community through things such as manuscript review, writing coaching, and what to do with your manuscript as you edit and get it prepped for publishing or review. Writing can be an isolating experience, and Journey Sixty6 has positioned themselves to be the community for those in that gap between wanting to write and publishing. 

Even if you’re thinking, “I’m not writing a book, or even a writer at all”, still listen in because you never know what the future holds as you continue on your creative journey! To learn more about David and Melissa and what they’re doing through Journey Sixty6, check them out at JourneySixty6.com 

On this episode, we feature two incredible conversations — the first from the STORY stage with Chris Wall and Andrew Peterson of the Wingfeather Saga series, and the second is a post-STORY sit-down with Angel Studios. These two have created not just an incredible series for families, but they went about it in a unique way that can be an inspiration to get you to start thinking about and implementing the way you approach the work you do in brand new ways. Listen in!

Learn more about The Wingfeather Saga’s upcoming release at WingfeatherSaga.com. If you’re curious to learn more about the innovative stuff that Angel Studios is up to, check them out at and Angel.com.