This Moved Me

Nearly twenty years ago, I was a theater major at the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University here in Minnesota. There I met some truly incredible people - one of whom I am sharing with you today! John Sandahl is a speaker, life coach, facilitator, and international ultimate frisbee player. John and I have worked together at Youth Frontiers for the past decade or so - and in that time I've coached John, and learned from him. I've watched John become a speaker, right before my eyes. And a good one at that. He brings his wisdom and guidance - and playfulness! - to all those he speaks to and works with. So, I was so excited to bring him on the show and talk about developing mastery.

I wanted to do a special Mini Moved Me in honor of Thanksgiving - thanking you for your support, for your questions and insights and connections. I do feel so incredibly thankful for this slice of my life that has been so gratifying in the past year.

All of that is very true - I'm incredibly grateful for this show, and for each of you. But I also feel a pang of shallowness in that sentiment. I need to place my gratitude within the context of this greater world that is struggling so much right now.

I read this beautiful post by Elizabeth Gilbert about Mercy, about keeping our hearts open when so many people are shutting theirs down. We, as meaning-makers, speaker - MOVERS - our job is to help people experience mercy, to open their hearts, to illuminate the suffering of others and have it become our suffering as well. To experience each other, to experience compassion. To be human.

Thank you for your open hearts.

I wanted to do a special Mini Moved Me in honor of Thanksgiving - thanking you for your support, for your questions and insights and connections. I do feel so incredibly thankful for this slice of my life that has been so gratifying in the past year. 

All of that is very true - I'm incredibly grateful for this show, and for each of you. But I also feel a pang of shallowness in that sentiment. I need to place my gratitude within the context of this greater world that is struggling so much right now. 

I read this beautiful post by Elizabeth Gilbert about Mercy, about keeping our hearts open when so many people are shutting theirs down. We, as meaning-makers, speaker - MOVERS - our job is to help people experience mercy, to open their hearts, to illuminate the suffering of others and have it become our suffering as well. To experience each other, to experience compassion. To be human. 

Thank you for your open hearts. 

Lately my husband has been making some amazing connections for me. First - last week's episode with John Capecci - and now this week's episode with Jack Stahlmann! I felt a connection with Jack because his face and mine are both very expressive. (See last week's Mini Moved Me for pictures.) Jack is a "motivational speaker" - but he brings a new zest to that idea, which I really appreciate! We talked a lot about 'knowing ourselves' as a speaker (or actor/performer) and how essential that is to do good work.

Take a listen!

Lately my husband has been making some amazing connections for me. First - last week's episode with John Capecci - and now this week's episode with Jack Stahlmann! I felt a connection with Jack because his face and mine are both very expressive. (See last week's Mini Moved Me for pictures.) Jack is a "motivational speaker" - but he brings a new zest to that idea, which I really appreciate! We talked a lot about 'knowing ourselves' as a speaker (or actor/performer) and how essential that is to do good work.

Take a listen!

I got this thoughtful and totally understandable question from a listener last week:

I have done public speaking since I was a teenager, I have now been a Pastor for a year, and preach weekly. Each week, I need to create a new sermon. I find a lot of emotional energy goes into the preparation and the emotion peaks on the Sunday as I talk. Each Sunday afternoon and Monday I emotionally crash. I get flat, regret things I have said, doubt my capacity to speak and get sleepy. I understand that the highs and lows are very natural.

I am wondering, have you got any tools for managing the lows after speaking, so that I can bounce back quicker so that I can engage the world around me on Sunday and Monday?

~Gavin

Take a listen while I take on this MMM Q&A!

I got this thoughtful and totally understandable question from a listener last week:

I have done public speaking since I was a teenager, I have now been a Pastor for a year, and preach weekly. Each week, I need to create a new sermon. I find a lot of emotional energy goes into the preparation and the emotion peaks on the Sunday as I talk. Each Sunday afternoon and Monday I emotionally crash. I get flat, regret things I have said, doubt my capacity to speak and get sleepy. I understand that the highs and lows are very natural.

I am wondering, have you got any tools for managing the lows after speaking, so that I can bounce back quicker so that I can engage the world around me on Sunday and Monday?

~Gavin

Take a listen while I take on this MMM Q&A!

Talking with John Capecci - communications coach, author, teacher - was like finding a friend who likes all the same things that you do. And what's especially cool is that our connection was totally happenstance. A few weeks back, my husband went to a Pollen event, and happened to sit next to John. They had a short conversation and it became clear really quickly that he and I have a similar mission: to move people with our talks - and in John's case, more specifically, stories. We had a mind-meld conversation over coffee, and I quickly realized that I needed to have him on the show.

I'm delighted to share his insights with you!

Talking with John Capecci - communications coach, author, teacher - was like finding a friend who likes all the same things that you do. And what's especially cool is that our connection was totally happenstance. A few weeks back, my husband went to a Pollen event, and happened to sit next to John. They had a short conversation and it became clear really quickly that he and I have a similar mission: to move people with our talks - and in John's case, more specifically, stories. We had a mind-meld conversation over coffee, and I quickly realized that I needed to have him on the show.

I'm delighted to share his insights with you!

My face is expressive! I have the deepest, deepest forehead wrinkles of anyone I've ever known - particularly for anyone under the age of 40 (barely, but yes, I'm under 40).

And one of the most important aspects of expression is your eyebrows. That comes as a surprise to many people, but the eyebrows hold the key to telling whether or not someone really means what they're saying.