Unconventional Leaders

Michael Jamin is a veteran TV writer and showrunner with over 20 years in the industry, known for his work on shows like Just Shoot Me, King of the Hill, and Beavis and Butt-Head. Michael is also the author of the bestselling collection of personal essays, A Paper Orchestra, which he tours as a one-man show.

In our conversation, we explored how to draw inspiration from small, relatable moments and the significance of writing through the lens of character. Michael shared valuable insights on the future of writers and performers, tips for avoiding oversharing in storytelling, and whether it's best to conclude a story with a joke or a serious note.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/52 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Michael’s writing process and the questions he asks himself when outlining a story
• Showing the “dark” side of yourself to connect with your audience
• Why he has chosen to build an audience on social media (while still working in television)

Connect with Michael Jamin: https://michaeljamin.com/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Today, I connected with Cindy Zaweski, an award-winning journalist, storyteller, and content strategist. With over 15 years of experience in journalism, she left her job as an executive editor and content director for a luxury magazine in New York to open her own boutique content marketing agency.

Since then, she has built a loyal online community of over 80,000 people. She helps founders connect their expertise and passions through authentic storytelling—get this—all while rejecting conventional niche marketing. In today's conversation, you're going to hear the one thing that will kill a story, why the hero's journey is *%$# on social media, and why you and your audience all share a common enemy.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/51

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Identifying the key elements of the story & what’s important to share
• The #1 killer of stories & Why the hero's journey is sh*t on social
• Connect with your audience with the “common enemy”

Listen to Matthew Dicks’ episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lohwMR56bvA

Connect with Cyndi Zaweski: https://www.cyndizaweski.com/

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Dr. David Hindin is a trauma and critical care surgeon at Stanford University who is... obsessed with storytelling.

You heard me right—a surgeon who tells stories. In addition to serving as the Associate Chair of Innovation and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, and the Assistant Director of Stanford’s Biodesign Faculty Fellowship, he also developed a storytelling course at Stanford to help physicians and engineers enhance their communication skills, blending his passion for medicine with creativity. What?

I found him on Instagram, where I was intrigued by his storytelling skills, methods of communication, and advocacy for the arts in scientific fields. I had to have him on the show today, and I was lucky that he agreed (I think this is the first surgeon I’ve ever interviewed). I never would have imagined it would be about this…

In this conversation, you will hear:

• How he creates emotional connections in his storytelling
• The principles behind being “entertaining,” especially when you dont feel like you are
• How he finds the extraordinary in the “ordinary”
• How to deal with the fear of being “seen” as a creator in you profession

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/50 

Connect with David Hindin: https://www.instagram.com/thesurgeonlife/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

If you look up the name “Neal Foard” on social media, you will see a man standing in front of a black background telling stories. No flashy edits, no animations or jump cuts. It’s just him, the camera, and while staring straight into the screen, delivering powerful, personal stories.

Guess what? It’s working.

As an award-winning advertising and marketing creative professional with over three decades of experience, Neal has crafted successful campaigns for global brands such as Budweiser, Lexus, and Sony. Recently, he has brought that skill online.

A few weeks ago, I asked previous guest Rain Bennett who one of the best storytellers he knows is. He said, hands down, it was Neal Foard. When I visited Neal’s pa lge, I was shocked to find him breaking so many social media rules and still knocking it out of the park. I had to have him on the show to pick his brain about storytelling.

In this conversation, you will hear:

• How he develops his storytelling style and becomes comfortable with his delivery
• How he uses intentional vocabulary and scripts his content
• How he connects with his audience by shifting his energy and intention

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/49 

Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Increase Your Content’s Engagement Through Sequencing | ‪Rain Bennett‬ | Episode 43
• How to Captivate an Audience & Be More Confident | ‪Rene Rodriguez‬ | Episode 10
• William Paul Young | Finding God Outside of Religion

Connect with Neal Foard: https://www.nealfoard.com/ or https://www.storyfire.net/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Alejo Porras is a graphic artist and storyteller specializing in sketchnotes. I met him at a conference where I was speaking a few months ago. Afterward, he walked up to me and handed me this—a summary of everything I had said, designed in this insanely cool graphic. WOW.

Apparently, this is a thing—artists who create pieces of art summarizing lectures, talks, etc., to help people remember what was shared. Cool idea, but how do you market something like this? What Alejo told me he does…is kind of surprising.

In this conversation, you will hear:

• How he uses “voluntary generosity” to grow his business
• Using active listening techniques to become a better creator
• A step-by-step walk-through of how he markets his sketchnotes

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/48 

Connect with Alejo Porras: https://www.alejoporrasart.com/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Elisabeth Wykert  is a stand-up comedian and actress, famously known for her leotard dance videos. Yes, you heard that right.

I’ve been following her since the pandemic when she decided one day, you know what, it's time to put on a leotard, dance in public, and put it on the internet. Definitely the type of person I want to know. What happened afterward is pretty mind-blowing.

Growing an engaged audience of over a million people over the past couple of years, I’ve been so curious about her creative process, how she’s merging her online content with her professional goals, and where in the world she learned all these dance moves.

In this conversation, you will hear:

• How she improves the quality of her content while maintaining relatability
• How she manages her energy and shows up full force on screen
• And she shares something she's very passionate about but doesn't talk about much (it has to do with confidence and some societal issues that need to be addressed)

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/47 

Connect with Elisabeth Wykert: https://www.instagram.com/elisabethwykert/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Susan George is the founder and CEO of Mediary, where she launches and scales top brands on TikTok through strategic influencer campaigns.

As a Pop/Soul recording artist herself, she knows firsthand that pursuing creativity seriously as a career makes you a business. You need to not only be creatively talented but also be intentional about knowing how to monetize.

During the pandemic, she started making videos on TikTok, landed big brand collaborations for herself, and eventually helped other creatives land deals and find unique ways to monetize, including, more recently, creating and selling products through TikTok Shop.

In this conversation, you will hear:

• How she negotiates and lands collaborations with big brands (Cliff bar)
• How she “made her husband an influencer”
• How she helps influencers create their own products

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/46 

Connect with Susan George: https://www.instagram.com/susangofficial/ or https://www.mediarymarketing.com/  

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Today, I connected with Rivky Gross, a hypnotherapist and somatic practitioner for heart centered leaders.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/45

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• When “healing” is actually a defense mechanism
• “Feeling” again (when it feels uncomfortable)
• What “urgency” is a sign of...

Connect with Rivky Gross: https://www.rivky-gross.com/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Tyler Tometich landed his dream career, as a visual effects artist his career spanned Hollywood hits like Thor, Ant-Man, and Captain Marvel.

Transitioning from film production to content creation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyler quickly amassed a following of nearly 500,000 across social media platforms by producing viral videos that resonate with visual effects enthusiasts.

Tyler then shifted gears to focus full-time on his creator business, founding Viral VFX to teach aspiring creators how to build viral brands. His online courses have attracted over 1,200 students and generated six-figure revenue in just six months. 

In this conversation, we dig into his story as a young man overcoming addiction, building his dream career, and ultimately taking the unconventional path, to build his own business.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/44

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Tyler’s journey from conventional entertainment career to full time content creator 
• What to do if your product launch isn’t successful 
• Why you should probably cut the beginning of all your videos

Connect with Tyler Tometich: https://www.tylerjt.com/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Today, I connected with Rain Bennett, a two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker, writer, and competitive storyteller. In this conversation, we dig into how to increase retention and engagement in your stories through sequencing and developing a strong payoff.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/43 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• How to properly sequence your stories
• Developing a strong payoff in your content
• Why you might want to put your CTAs in the middle of your story

Connect with Rain Bennett: https://www.rainbennett.com/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady