What if storytelling isn’t just about what we write—but about how we understand life itself?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Nancy Jasin Ensley for a reflective and deeply human conversation about storytelling, service, and the many ways we make meaning from the experiences we live through.

Nancy’s career has taken her through hospice care, legal nursing, teaching, and writing—roles that have placed her at the center of some of life’s most intimate and vulnerable moments. Through it all, writing has remained her anchor: a way to listen, process, and give shape to the stories that emerge from both everyday life and profound human experience.

As an author, she writes across multiple genres—including memoir, fiction, mystery, science fiction, and children’s stories—but at the heart of her work are enduring themes of faith, family, resilience, and reflection.

In this conversation, we explore:

Why writing can be a form of listening

What hospice care reveals about humanity and connection

The lessons learned from a life of service and observation

How real experiences become meaningful stories

The role of reflection in storytelling and healing

Writing across genres while staying rooted in core themes

How people begin to find and tell their own stories

Nancy also shares insights on how storytelling can help us process life more deeply, connect with others more authentically, and find clarity in our own experiences.

This episode is a reminder that every life holds stories worth telling—and that taking time to reflect on them can bring understanding, healing, and connection.

If you’ve ever felt like you had a story inside you but weren’t sure how to begin, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, listen inward, and start where you are.

What does it mean to build a meaningful intellectual life outside the traditional systems we’ve been taught to rely on?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Dr. Sheldon Greaves for a thought-provoking conversation about curiosity, independent learning, and what it means to pursue knowledge beyond the boundaries of formal institutions.

Sheldon earned his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley while working in Silicon Valley during the dot-com era, navigating graduate studies in an unconventional and resourceful way. But instead of following a traditional academic career path, he chose to build a life centered on independent scholarship—working across science education, publishing, nonprofit initiatives, and even collaborative space exploration projects.

His work challenges the assumption that serious intellectual life must exist within institutions, and instead invites us to see learning as something personal, creative, and deeply human.

In this conversation, we explore:

What “guerrilla scholarship” means and why it matters

The experience of earning a Ph.D. outside traditional academic privilege

Why Sheldon chose an independent path after graduate school

Common misconceptions about learning outside institutions

The role of curiosity as a lifelong practice

How diverse, unconventional experiences connect into one intellectual journey

The importance of communal and self-directed learning

How independent thinkers can contribute meaningfully today

Sheldon also shares insights from his book The Guerrilla Scholar’s Handbook, offering practical and philosophical guidance for anyone who feels called to learn, explore, and create outside conventional systems.

This episode is a reminder that learning doesn’t belong only to institutions—it belongs to anyone willing to stay curious.

If you’ve ever felt constrained by traditional paths or wondered what it might look like to design your own way of learning, this conversation will open up new possibilities.

What if the thing holding you back isn’t a lack of ideas—but too many of them?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Crystal Bell for a practical and grounded conversation about clarity, decision-making, overthinking, and what it really takes to move from intention into action.

Crystal works with leaders and high performers who often appear successful on the outside but feel overwhelmed, stuck, or mentally cluttered on the inside. Through her Clarity Method, she helps people simplify their thinking, focus on what matters most, and follow through with confidence.

Her own journey began in high-performance environments shaped by overachievement and perfectionism—patterns that fueled success but also created pressure, burnout, and constant striving. Over time, she began to question the belief that “doing more” was the answer, and instead shifted toward alignment, focus, and intentional action.

In this conversation, we explore:

Why high performers often feel overwhelmed despite success

The deeper causes of overthinking and mental clutter

How overachievement can turn into a coping mechanism

What clarity actually looks like in real life

How to move from too many ideas into focused action

The barriers that block follow-through

How simplifying decisions changes performance and mindset

Crystal also shares practical insights on how to identify what truly matters, reduce internal noise, and take small but meaningful steps forward when feeling stuck.

This episode is a reminder that progress doesn’t come from doing everything—it comes from doing the right things with clarity and intention.

If you’ve been feeling mentally scattered, stuck in planning mode, or unsure how to move forward, this conversation will help you slow down, refocus, and take your next step with confidence.

What does it mean to truly be informed when making decisions about your health—and what happens when that trust is questioned?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Ellen Lubensky for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation about mental health systems, informed consent, medication withdrawal, and the journey of finding one’s voice after long-term medical challenges.

Ellen’s path began in the legal field, where she practiced Social Security Disability and medical malpractice law. But her perspective shifted profoundly through her own lived experience—nearly two decades navigating a disabling condition linked to psychiatric medication.

That experience led her to begin asking difficult questions about transparency, patient autonomy, and the information people receive when making critical healthcare decisions. Today, she combines her legal background with lived experience to advocate for patient-centered care and informed consent.

In this conversation, we explore:

Ellen’s lived experience within the psychiatric system

What informed consent should truly mean in healthcare

The long-term impact of medication and withdrawal experiences

Gaps in communication between patients and providers

The intersection of law, ethics, and lived experience

Navigating complex and sensitive conversations with clarity

Patient autonomy, trust, and systemic transparency

Ellen also shares reflections on what it means to rebuild a sense of agency after long-term medical challenges, and how personal experience can evolve into advocacy for others.

This episode invites listeners to think more deeply about how health decisions are made, how information is shared, and why patient voice matters in every step of care.

If you’ve ever questioned systems of care, navigated your own health journey, or simply want to better understand the importance of informed consent, this conversation will stay with you.

How do we support our children emotionally… while also caring for our own mental and emotional well-being as parents?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Raeanne Johnson for a compassionate and practical conversation about parenting, emotional health, anxiety, ADHD, burnout, and the connection between neuroscience and faith.

With more than 15 years of clinical experience—and as a homeschooling mom of three—Raeanne brings both professional expertise and real-life understanding to the challenges families face every day.

Her work helps parents move from confusion and overwhelm toward clarity, emotional connection, and healthier rhythms at home.

In this conversation, we explore:

What’s really happening in a child’s brain during emotional overwhelm

How parents can respond to “big feelings” with both compassion and structure

Supporting children with anxiety and ADHD

The emotional weight many parents quietly carry

Burnout, perfectionism, and letting go of guilt

How faith and neuroscience can work together in parenting

What it truly means to raise emotionally healthy children

Raeanne also shares encouragement for parents who feel exhausted, discouraged, or unsure if they’re doing enough—offering simple mindset shifts and practical tools that can make everyday life feel more manageable and connected.

This episode is a reminder that parenting is not about perfection. It’s about presence, grace, and learning how to support both ourselves and our children through life’s challenges.

If you’re raising children, navigating emotional struggles in your home, or simply trying to create a healthier and more peaceful family environment, this conversation will leave you feeling understood, encouraged, and supported.

What if one small act of kindness could completely change the way you see another person… and yourself?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Jody Zarn for a deeply human conversation about empathy, mental health, homelessness, and the transformative power of simply seeing someone with dignity.

What began as buying a cup of coffee for a man named Leroy—someone experiencing homelessness—became a two-year journey of friendship, trust, and mutual healing. Along the way, Jody was forced to confront her own assumptions, fears, and understanding of what it truly means to help another person.

In this conversation, we explore:

The moment that started Jody and Leroy’s connection

Building trust through patience and consistency

What society often misunderstands about homelessness

The impact of trauma, loss, and mental health struggles

Why empathy is more powerful than judgment or fixing

How small acts of kindness can create lasting change

The importance of seeing people beyond labels and assumptions

Jody also shares how her own experiences with bullying, grief, and emotional pain shaped the way she approached this relationship and deepened her understanding of human connection.

This episode is not just about homelessness—it’s about humanity. About slowing down long enough to truly see another person, and recognizing how connection can transform both lives in the process.

If you’ve ever wondered whether small acts of kindness really matter, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.

Do you ever feel like you have to be louder, more outgoing, or more “extroverted” to succeed?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Serena Low for a thoughtful conversation about introversion, authenticity, visibility, and learning how to show up without losing yourself in the process.

As a lifelong introvert, Serena understands the quiet pressure many people feel to change who they are in order to be noticed, respected, or successful. Through her coaching and podcast, she helps introverts embrace their strengths and grow into what she calls Quiet Warriors—people who lead and make an impact in ways that feel aligned and genuine.

In this conversation, we explore:

Growing up and navigating life as an introvert

Why so many introverts feel pressure to “perform” extroversion

The meaning behind the term Quiet Warrior

How trauma and past experiences affect visibility and confidence

Practical ways introverts can begin showing up more fully

The difference between healthy growth and self-abandonment

Common misconceptions about introverts in leadership and business

Serena also shares encouragement for anyone who feels unseen, hesitant, or afraid to take up space in their own authentic way.

This episode is a reminder that strength does not always need to be loud—and that real confidence often begins the moment we stop trying to become someone else.

If you’ve ever struggled with visibility, self-doubt, or feeling like your quiet nature makes you less capable, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, encouraged, and empowered.

What happens when the pressure to perform starts disconnecting you from who you really are?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Kurt Bush for an honest conversation about leadership, burnout, authenticity, and the inner work many high-performing people quietly avoid.

With experience across corporate leadership, pastoral ministry, and trauma-informed coaching, Kurt has seen a common pattern: leaders who appear successful on the outside while privately struggling with exhaustion, imposter syndrome, and disconnection.

Through his own journey and the work he now does with others, Kurt helps leaders move beyond survival mode and reconnect with themselves in a healthier, more sustainable way.

In this conversation, we explore:

Why so many leaders feel like they’re “faking it”

The hidden emotional cost of constant performance

How imposter syndrome quietly shapes leadership

Understanding Internal Family Systems and our internal “parts”

Moving from overworking to authentic leadership

Kurt’s framework: Encounter + Reflection = Transformation

Why inner work changes the way leaders show up for others

Kurt also shares practical insight into how self-awareness, reflection, and emotional honesty can create stronger leadership, healthier relationships, and more grounded decision-making.

This episode is a reminder that leadership is not just about output, image, or achievement. Real leadership begins with the courage to understand yourself honestly.

If you’ve been carrying pressure quietly, feeling disconnected beneath your responsibilities, or longing to lead in a way that feels more authentic and sustainable, this conversation will speak directly to you.

What happens when the life that looks successful on the outside no longer feels sustainable on the inside?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Dr. Jonathan Locust Jr. for a powerful conversation about burnout, healing, consciousness, and the journey back to wholeness.

After years in academic leadership and a path toward becoming a university president, Dr. Locust found himself facing severe burnout and serious health challenges that forced him to reevaluate everything—his identity, purpose, and the way he was living.

A major turning point came through a 24-day water fast that became far more than a physical reset. It opened the door to a deeper understanding of self-awareness, consciousness, and intentional living—an experience that ultimately inspired the creation of ConsciRise.

In this conversation, we explore:

The hidden emotional cost of high achievement

What burnout and physical decline taught him about identity

The transformative experience of a 24-day water fast

Consciousness, healing, and reconnecting with self

How disruption can become the beginning of personal transformation

The intersection of science, spirituality, and personal growth

Why wholeness is built through small, intentional daily choices

Dr. Locust also shares insights on trust, discernment, and rebuilding from within after seasons of exhaustion and uncertainty.

This episode is a reminder that transformation is not always loud or visible. Sometimes, the most important growth happens internally—in the quiet moments where we pause, reflect, and begin again.

If you’ve been navigating burnout, questioning your direction, or searching for a deeper sense of purpose and alignment, this conversation will resonate deeply.

What if faith conversations felt less like debates… and more like safe spaces for honesty, curiosity, and connection?

In this episode of The Story Seat, I sit down with Paul Granger for a thoughtful and grounded conversation about faith, uncertainty, meaningful dialogue, and the power of simply showing up authentically.

For more than 20 years, Paul has created spaces where people can wrestle with life’s deeper questions without fear of judgment. Through ministry, his podcast Where Did You See God?, and more than 24 books, he’s focused on helping people explore faith in a way that feels real, human, and accessible.

In this conversation, we talk about:

Creating authentic spaces for honest faith conversations

Why connection matters more than agreement

Navigating conversations across different beliefs and perspectives

Learning to trust God through uncertainty and hardship

The role of curiosity, openness, and listening in spiritual growth

Why meaningful dialogue feels increasingly difficult today

Paul also shares how one simple question—“Where did you see God?”—has changed the way he experiences everyday life and human connection.

This episode is not about having perfect answers. It’s about making room for exploration, vulnerability, and the conversations that help people feel seen and understood.

If you’ve ever wrestled with faith, questioned your beliefs, or simply longed for deeper and more honest conversations, this episode will stay with you long after it ends.