The Storytelling with Heart Podcast

Connection is at the very heart of storytelling… and our lives. 

What does it really look like to create meaningful connections with other people—including friends, teammates, colleagues, employees, community members, and the audience you want to reach?

If there’s a go-to expert on this subject, it’s Kat Vellos. 

Kat is a trusted name on the power of cultivating meaningful friendships. 

In her former career, Kat made software more user-friendly at large companies you’ve heard of, but these days she makes life more friendly for the thousands of people and work teams who use her guidance to cultivate fulfilling friendships and colleagueships.

Kat’s a speaker, facilitator, and author of the book, We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships. Her writing is read in over 100 countries and she’s been interviewed by The New York Times, NPR, Communication Arts, The Good Life Project, and many more. 

I met Kat years ago at a conference (UX Week) when she attended my workshop on storytelling for designers, and in 2022 she presented as an expert guest at my Storytelling Mastery Summit. When I started this podcast I *knew* I had to have her on as a guest. 

In our discussion, we cover…

• The three little words you should probably use WAY less often.

All that and more! If you want to connect with other people authentically and effectively, be sure to listen to this episode. 

And, be sure to find Kat at www.Katvellos.com or at www.weshouldgettogether.com

In “Coaching with Cam”, Camille takes a break from interviewing guests to share lessons, tips, tricks, and other writing wisdom with listeners. 

In today’s episode, Camille (aka Cam) walks you through three common writing mistakes that she sees people making ALL THE TIME. 

These mistakes can prevent your writing — such as your newsletter, blog, article, social content, educational product, speech, you name it — from hitting home. They can be the difference between people “getting” what you have to say, or not. 

Plus, these mistakes can really interfere with your writing process. If you feel frustrated or overwhelmed every time you sit down to write, chances are one of these mistakes has something to do with it. 

Even seasoned writers and editors make these errors. They’re that common.

Luckily, you can learn to recognize these common mistakes, avoid them, and correct them when they happen. 

Do this, and your writing will improve. Plus, your writing process will become less arduous and more fun. (Especially if you avoid mistake #1!)

If you… 

• Tend to get overwhelmed by all the things you have to say

… This episode is for you. 

What if you could achieve your goals by playing more?

In this episode, I chat with Janet Omstead, master health coach and play expert, about how to bring a playful approach to various aspects of life, ranging from exercise to thought leadership. 

In this podcast, Janet reveals how a near-death experience changed her life, and ultimately led her to become the coach, speaker, and published author she is today. 

We cover many aspects of her journey including her mission to end the inactivity crisis by playing more, her experiences with book publishing, how she found her niche, how she sets herself apart in a crowded marketplace… and the four letter word she has tattooed on her wrist. 

We explore:

• How she found her calling as a health coach and play expert after her first brush with death.

This is an uplifting episode that will fire you up to take on whatever goals you have for yourself. Prepare to be inspired!

Check out Janet and her book, The Play Book: How to Get in the Habit of Good Health here: https://janetomstead.com/

Could more playfulness change your life?

Have a listen and find out!

Could your mindset be your biggest untapped asset? 

If you have things you want to get better at… challenges you want to overcome… goals you want to achieve… or things you’d simply like to enjoy a little more (and struggle with a little less)… your mindset could help you do it. 

Steve Mesler is a master at mindset. Not only does his non-profit organization Classroom Champions teach kids social emotional learning skills (including growth mindset), he is also an Olympic Gold Medalist, a 3-time Olympian in the sport of bobsled, and a previous member of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Board of Directors. 

In this podcast episode, Steve explores the mental reframes and mindset shifts he’s used to get where he is today. 

In particular, we unpack the beliefs and assumptions Steve had about himself and writing in general that held him back from communicating for years, and how he has since become a stronger fundraiser, leader, thinker, and writer. 

We cover:

• Why Steve credits his Olympic success to a fundamental mindset shift.

Steve naturally inspires everyone he talks to (including me!), all with a good dose of humility, practicality, and humor. 

Read and subscribe to Steve’s newsletter here: www.stevemesler.org/

And check out Classroom champions here: classroomchampions.org

If you need a shot of motivation or a fresh perspective, don’t miss this episode!

Do you struggle with feeling burned out and overwhelmed? 

Maybe you’ve tried productivity hacks or time management systems but still can’t seem to feel calm, centered, or on top of things. 

Katelyn Steven may have the answer. 

As an embodiment coach, Katelyn helps people bring more balance, stability, pleasure, and groundedness into their lives. By helping them better connect with their bodies, and build resources and rituals that support their own needs, Katelyn’s clients finally get off the hamster wheel of overthinking, overworking, and burn out. In the process, they establish more self trust, care, and ease.

(As a previous client of Katelyn’s, I can vouch for this personally.)

If any of this resonates with you, you’ve got to have a listen to this episode! We cover: 

• Why more thinking, strategizing, or analysis is not the answer.

Through this conversation you’ll notice that Katelyn is a fierce champion of enjoying life and making time for small pleasures and acts of self care. If you tend to put yourself last or spend your days rushing through your to-do list, this is for you!

Katelyn Steven is a feminist embodiment coach who helps humans of all genders reclaim their pleasure and power by helping them build unshakeable trust in themselves and their own wisdom. She provides powerful one-on-one and group coaching services and facilitates welcoming community events. 

Be sure to find Katelyn here: http://katelynsteven.com and here: https://www.instagram.com/thekatelynsteven/

Grab a cup of coffee or tea, get cozy, and check out this fantastic episode!

Have you ever wondered what an art curator does – or what you might learn from one? 

If you have (or even if you haven’t!) it turns out there are TONS of things thought leaders can learn from a professional curator, like: 

• How to bring together multiple voices; for example, if you’re putting together a conference line-up, or writing a book with multiple authors, or curating content for your blog.

… and so much more

In this episode, I chat with Lillian O’Brien Davis — a curator and writer currently based in Toronto, ON. 

Lillian is the Curator of Exhibitions and Public Programs at Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography. She has curated projects at the Art Museum at the University of Toronto, Susan Hobbs Gallery, the MacKenzie Art Gallery, SUPPORT Gallery and the School of Art Gallery at the University of Manitoba. Her writing has appeared in RACAR, BlackFlash magazine, Canadian Art online, C magazine, the Brooklyn Rail, Peripheral Review and Insight Magazine. 

In this conversation we discover a great deal of cross-over between thought leadership and curation! 

Towards the end of the conversation, we also get vulnerable – we talk about the struggles of working behind-the-scenes, and what it was like for Lillian to publish an article that had the impact to alter the course of her career. 

There’s a ton of stuff in this episode to help you think about storytelling in new ways. 

Listen now!

When it comes to writing / publishing / thought leadership, do you ever feel bogged down by what you “have to” do? 

For example, you “have to”...

👉🏻Write consistently. 

👉🏻Keep up a steady schedule.

👉🏻Figure out a clear strategy.

👉🏻Create “content” (whatever that is.)

👉🏻Have a clear and cohesive brand (ditto ^^).

👉🏻Develop customer avatars (ditto again ^^).

HOLD UP. 🖐🏽

What if you didn’t actually HAVE TO do any of that? 🤯

What if you could write, develop a reputation, grow as a thought leader, express yourself, and make a difference with your words and ideas… AND do it your own way? 🎉

Enter Kate Solovieva.

Kate Solovieva (aka Solo) is the Director of Community Engagement at Precision Nutrition, an experienced coach who’s worked with over 1000 clients, and an expert in behavior change with two psychology degrees to her name. She has also been writing her own blog and e-newsletter for years at solovieva.com, and is the author of her self-published book, Half Pregnant. 

In this episode, Kate brings both her experience as a coach and a writer to the conversation. She shares how we can overcome perfectionism and get better at the whole writing and publishing thing — without getting hung up on all the stuff we “have to” do. 

Kate even challenges some of the “rules” I myself recommend. 😳

If you:

• Love to break the rules / go your own way

• Struggle to stick to schedules or rigid plans

…. This podcast is for you. 💝

Topics we cover: 

🕰️The real reason it’s HARD to get in the habit of writing and publishing, and why you should be patient with yourself.

💜What the phrase “personal brand” really means, and how to figure out what your brand is WITHOUT the need for logos, clever phrases, or a $$$ marketing agency.

🏋️How to get started writing regularly and find the “manageable lift” for you… even if you’re starting from absolute scratch.

🗓️An alternative to writing consistently → If you hate rigid schedules you’re going to love this tip!

🌟Why you DON’T need a beautifully formatted newsletter or blog template, PLUS a super simple, stealable concept you can use to write your own newsletter without too much effort.

✍️A trick for improving your writing. (Hint: it’s all about the detail.) 

❤️‍🩹The surprising things that can happen when you get vulnerable and share your messy, real-life stories.

Don’t miss it!

Imagine you could serve people better by sharing more (not less) of who you are.

Imagine you could accomplish your biggest goals, regardless of where you are today, by simply taking one step at a time. 

Imagine you could use all the little experiences of your life to teach, inspire, persuade, and make a difference. 

It really is possible. In fact, this is what heart-centered marketing is all about.

Enrika Greathouse is the founder of Small Gorilla, a creative content company that helps entrepreneurs use storytelling to increase their revenue and reach online, while making the change they wish to make. (Enrika also serves as a coach at Akimbo—Seth Godin’s alternative learning platform—which is where we first met.)

Enrika’s systematic approach to storytelling helps entrepreneurs and innovative businesses improve their marketing — including their branding, videos, websites, testimonials, content, media, products, and more. But her marketing approach is different from many you may have encountered before: it’s grounded in storytelling, authenticity, generosity, community, and personal evolution. 

Enrika was an established dancer and choreographer before pivoting into marketing. Today, she weaves together her love for creating stage experiences, her curiosity about human beings, her natural appreciation for stories, and her uplifting energy into everything she does.

In our conversation, we explore: 

• Three key questions you should consider before creating any marketing asset (Enrika calls this your DNA.)

If you need a dose of encouragement and inspiration, or want a better understanding of how marketing and storytelling get along like ham and eggs, listen to this.

Have you ever wondered how to build a business and a reputation based on your own interests?

How you can become widely known and respected for your ideas, even as an introvert?

How to make your writing 10x better, so it stands out, gets attention, and supports your business?

If so, this interview is for you. Dr. John Berardi is the co-founder of Precision Nutrition, and he’s known within the health and fitness industry as a true thought leader. He’s radically influenced the industry for the better, has a rock solid reputation, and he built a business — which he eventually sold for hundreds of millions of dollars — based on his thoughts, ideas, and natural curiosity.

I’ve worked closely with John for nearly ten years on some of his biggest and best projects including the award-winning, world-class Precision Nutrition Coaching Certification textbook, his book Change Maker, and more articles than I can count. In this discussion, we explore the more personal side of John’s journey, and what it really takes to become an industry leader.

We discuss:

• How John went from secretly writing alone in his childhood bedroom to becoming a renowned writer and published author — and how growing up as a shy, introverted kid was ultimately beneficial.

If you’re a fan of John Berardi (or JB as I call him) you may have heard him talk about nutrition and exercise science before… but I promise you that you haven’t heard these stories yet. 

If you want to know what a  journey to successful thought leadership really looks like, listen to this. 

Have you ever wondered how you can communicate your ideas more effectively?

How you can change minds, and have a positive impact on the culture in which you live or work?

How you can speak your mind while preserving relationships and professional integrity?

The answer to these challenges may lie here: Learn to ask better questions

In this interview, Megan DePutter — an expert in leadership coaching and training — explores the value of challenging our own assumptions, asking better questions, and speaking our mind (without being overbearing or aggressive.)

Throughout this conversation Megan shares useful prompts, questions, and scripts you can apply to your own conversations. Along the way, she opens up about her own struggles with assertiveness and reveals some key mistakes that helped her grow.

We cover:

• How to avoid making costly or damaging assumptions (even when you’re pretty sure you’re right.)

Megan DePutter is an Organizational Development Consultant with over 20 years of experience in health care and non-profit organizations including HIV/AIDS. Her work involves solutions-focused coaching and training to help support the retention and effectiveness of leaders; she helps people get to dialogue when the stakes are high.

Throughout her career Megan has actively worked to dismantle stigma, champion harm-reduction, and change damaging cultural narratives around HIV – while also discovering the power of assertiveness and crucial conversations.

Megan is also my twin sister and it was a pleasure getting to know her better in this interview. I learned a lot and I think you will too. Enjoy!