This week’s episode of Thoughts Between Shots will leave you speechless. My guest Albina Rippee shares an unbelievable, soul-stirring story of synchronicity, surrender, and unexpected miracles. From a hotel sauna in Helsinki to a chance meeting with a long-lost relative in Tuscany, her journey is a testament to the magic of letting go. We also break down how to adapt stories for different audiences and how your stories evolve as you evolve.

If you're stuck in uncertainty or need a reminder that magic happens outside your comfort zone, this one's for you.

🌟 Topics Covered:

• Trusting the unknown

• Storytelling for impact

• Reinvention & pivoting

• The power of intention in communication

Albina Rippy is a realtor, yoga teacher, and serial entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas. Give her a follow for insights and inspiration.

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🎙️ Thoughts Between Shots is where good questions and great stories meet. Hit play—and let’s get better at being human.

💌 Want to Get Involved?

We’d love that! Here’s how:

✔️ DM Nammy on LinkedIn with a great question to spark a future guest’s story

✔️ Pitch yourself (or someone awesome) as a future guest

✔️ Listen, watch, follow, and share with your friends, coworkers, and that one cousin who always tells great stories but never hits “record”

If you were handed a mic right now and told to speak for 20 minutes—no prep, no slides, no script—what would pour out of you?

In this solo “in-between” episode of Thoughts Between Shots, host Nammy Sirur reflects on one of Priya Parker’s most magical questions and shares a personal story that reveals exactly what she'd speak about.

Whether you’re a storyteller, a leader, or just someone finding your voice, this episode will help you surface the topic only you can speak about with soul.

🧠 Learn how to uncover your natural zone of genius🗣️ Explore how storytelling shapes your personal brand🧭 And reflect on the one topic you must share with the world

What do you do when one letter from a plane changes your life forever? In this emotional and unforgettable episode of Thoughts Between Shots, storytelling coach and public speaker Will Greenblatt shares the defining moment of his life: the tragic loss of his brother on a wilderness canoe trip—and how that pain transformed his purpose.

Together, we break down the anatomy of a powerful story:
🎭 How to share difficult stories without “trauma dumping”
🧠 Why storytelling matters even if you’re not famous
💬 How grief can make you a better communicator, leader, and human

Whether you're building your brand, writing a keynote, or just trying to connect more deeply with others, this episode is a masterclass in courageous communication.

🎧 Listen in if you want to:

• Tell meaningful, high-impact stories

• Understand grief without experiencing it firsthand

• Learn what not to do with vulnerability in business storytelling

• See how personal stories lead to real relationships (and clients!)

💌 Want to Get Involved?

We’d love that! Here’s how:

✔️ DM Nammy on LinkedIn with a great question to spark a future guest’s story

✔️ Pitch yourself (or someone awesome) as a future guest

✔️ Listen, watch, and share with your friends, coworkers, and that one cousin who always tells great stories but never hits “record”

Ever had a date crash and burn after someone shared way too much… too soon? Or worse, a painfully boring one where no one asked a good question? In this solo episode of Thoughts Between Shots, host Nammy shares personal and hilarious stories from her post-divorce dating life - including one involving baby laxatives and cocaine (yep, really) - to break down the do’s and don’ts of first-date communication.

💡 Learn how storytelling and asking the right questions can turn a forgettable date into a meaningful connection. Whether you're single, newly back in the dating pool, or just trying to level up your small talk, this episode is a crash course in flirting through better conversations.

🎯 Perfect for: singles, late bloomers, newly divorced folks, and anyone wondering, “Why didn’t I get that second date?”

💌 Want to Get Involved?

We’d love that! Here’s how: ✔️ DM Nammy on LinkedIn with a great question to spark a future guest’s story ✔️ Pitch yourself (or someone awesome) as a future guest ✔️ Listen, watch, and share with your friends, coworkers, and that one cousin who always tells great stories but never hits “record”

🎙️ Thoughts Between Shots is where good questions and great stories meet. Hit play—and let’s get better at being human.

When a stranger asked Mariam Shahab, “Is he yours?” while she was out trick-or-treating with her newborn, they had no idea how loaded that question was. In this deeply personal and moving episode of Thoughts Between Shots, Mariam—a South Asian Muslim woman and brand strategist—takes us through her unexpected path to motherhood via gestational surrogacy.

From navigating infertility and IVF to defying cultural expectations and COVID-era isolation, Mariam’s story is a testament to hope, vulnerability, and the power of storytelling. She challenges assumptions about what motherhood looks like and invites us to rethink the questions we ask—and why they matter.

🎧 Tune in to hear how love, courage, and taking an unconventional path to motherhood brought her son into the world.

🔥 About the Show

Thoughts Between Shots is a storytelling podcast that helps you become a more powerful communicator—by learning to ask better questions and tell better stories. Hosted by speaker and communications coach Nammy Sirur, every episode starts with one great question that leads to one unforgettable, true story.

We then break down the storytelling magic so you can apply it to your own life—whether you're speaking up at work, crafting your personal brand, or just trying to be less awkward at dinner parties.

💌 Want to get involved?

DM Nammy on LinkedIn to: 

✅ Pitch a story or guest (maybe yourself!)

✅ Send in a thoughtful question for a future episode 

In our first solo edition of Thoughts Between Shots (the in-between episodes), Nammy Sirur shares a personal story about a high-stakes meeting - the first time she introduced her White boyfriend to her Indian parents - went hilariously sideways.

The question and story that follows are at the heart of Nammy’s work in intercultural communication. In this week's story, Nammy brings to life the nuances of culture, communication, and connection.

You’ll walk away with: ✨ A fresh example of how to ask magical questions ✨ A real-world breakdown of what makes a story compelling ✨ A deeper understanding of how cultural traditions shape how we show up in relationships, conversations, and even conflict

Whether you’re an immigrant navigating cross-cultural dynamics, a leader trying to connect more deeply with a diverse team, or just someone who loves a juicy, well-told story—this episode is for you.

🔥 About the Show

Thoughts Between Shots is a storytelling podcast that helps you become a more powerful communicator—by learning to ask better questions and tell better stories. Hosted by speaker and communications coach Nammy Sirur, every episode starts with one great question that leads to one unforgettable, true story.

We then break down the storytelling magic so you can apply it to your own life—whether you're speaking up at work, crafting your personal brand, or just trying to be less awkward at dinner parties.

💌 Want to get involved? DM Nammy on LinkedIn to: 

✅ Pitch a story or guest (maybe yourself!)

✅ Send in a thoughtful question for a future episode 

✅ Share what tradition you’d teach someone from another culture

In this episode of Thoughts Between Shots, host Nammy Sirur sits down with longtime public radio reporter Andy Uhler, whose voice you might recognize from NPR’s Marketplace or BBC’s Business Matters.

These days, Andy’s digging deep into energy and climate issues as a journalism fellow at the University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Institute, where he also produces the podcast Phases and Stages: The Texas Energy Story.

🎙️ Listen to Andy's podcast: Phases and Stages on Spotify

WHAT IS THOUGHTS BETWEEN SHOTS?

This is not your average storytelling podcast ...

Hosted by communications coach Nammy Sirur, Thoughts Between Shots is where one good question leads to one unforgettable true story. Every episode starts with a thoughtful question and unfolds into a story rarely shared publicly—funny, deep, messy, human. Then we zoom out and break it down:

• What made the story so engaging?

• What can we learn from how it was told?

• How can we use these storytelling tools in our own lives?

Whether you're a curious listener, an aspiring speaker, or a professional who wants to level up your communication skills, this podcast helps you get better at two of the most powerful tools in human connection:

1. How to ask better questions

2. How to tell better stories

WHY THIS MATTERS

In her work coaching immigrant professionals, emerging leaders, and executives, Nammy has seen firsthand how storytelling can help people build trust, connection, and confidence. This podcast is your front-row seat to that magic—served with a side of laughter, curiosity, and real talk.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

We’d love that! Here’s how:
✔️ DM Nammy on LinkedIn with a great question to spark a future guest’s story
✔️ Pitch yourself (or someone awesome) as a future guest
✔️ Listen, watch, and share with your friends, coworkers, and that one cousin who always tells great stories but never hits “record”

🎙️ Thoughts Between Shots is where good questions meet great stories.
Hit play—and let’s get better at being human.