Bill Lundgren and guest Bethany Joy Boring open a four-part series on how to tell your story. They frame why full-life “from birth to now” dumps overwhelm, and why starting with one scene creates safety and clarity. Bill shares turning points in hearing and vision loss, including the friend who told him the truth and stayed present. Bethany shows how hiding burns energy and blocks connection, how to choose safe listeners, and how adaptive skills become a communication superpower. They outline practical guardrails: begin with one moment, notice body cues, set relational boundaries, and take one small step today.

Contact Info

Guest: Bethany Joy Boring, mental health consultant and author.

Aftersight: [email protected]

| (720) 712-8856

Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight

Show Credits

Host: Bill Lundgren

Guest: Bethany Joy Boring

Producer: Jonathan Price

Recording & Post: Aftersight Originals

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Opening and series setup

02:26 — Bethany’s origin and the 20-minute story frame

04:49 — “Start with a scene,” not a saga

07:15 — Bill’s hearing message: “try harder”

09:18 — The energy cost of hiding

11:19 — Naming fear of others’ reactions

13:24 — The truth-telling friend and a career pivot

15:39 — Walking with allies vs. walking alone

18:03 — Professional identity and disclosure

20:21 — Adaptive storytelling as a superpower

22:38 — Selecting safe people, not boxes

25:03 — Asking for help without shame

27:27 — Play, humor, and dignity at home

29:43 — Safety checks before sharing

32:03 — Boundaries, pacing, and “workout soreness”

34:12 — The raw-egg test for trust

36:36 — Reciprocity: listen as you share

38:46 — Journaling when writing is hard

41:06 — Start small and adaptable

43:32 — Be selective; avoid relational poison

45:55 — Radical acceptance, defined and disliked

48:19 — One small action before you hit stop

Exercise 1 — The Mirror Story

Purpose: Start healing by safely naming what’s real.

Steps:

Choose a quiet moment.

Write or record your personal story of loss or change.

Add one line beginning with: “The part of my story I’ve avoided saying out loud is…”

When finished, set it aside for 24 hours before reading or replaying it.

On review, mark any sentences that made you pause, tear up, or smile.

Reflection Prompt: “What truth did my body recognize before my mind did?”