Unconventional Leaders

Noro Kocharyan spent a decade building brands for Red Bull, Jameson, and Absolut Vodka, learning how global companies create consistency, culture, and authentic connection at scale. But when he launched his own creative studio, Moons, he discovered that most creators and small businesses struggle with the fundamentals that big brands master: how to package their vision, build real identity (not just image), and translate authentic energy into digital spaces.

His approach comes to life in Early Birdz Coffee Rave, a morning dance party he co-created that went from zero audience to 250 people at their first event, eventually landing a Red Bull partnership. In this conversation, Noro breaks down his framework for building culture from scratch, the difference between taking your work seriously versus taking yourself seriously, and why finding the intersection of your expertise and passion makes you irreplaceable in today's crowded market.

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• How to cultivate culture in your brand (when there isn't one yet)
• The vlogging strategy that brought 250 people to their first event
• Why brands that "feel real" win (and how to translate energy into digital content)
• Building brand consistency without losing raw authenticity

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

CONNECT WITH NORO KOCHARYAN:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamnoro/
• Early Birdz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlybirdz.club

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/122

If you feel like you're in a season where it's time to evolve and change, but you feel massive resistance, this is for you.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/121

Jenny Hoyos built 10 million YouTube subscribers by age 20, not through luck, but by mastering storytelling craft. She's a content strategist who studies story structure and viral mechanics to create videos that consistently engage millions of viewers.

In this episode, Jenny reveals her storytelling secrets: the B-storyline technique for short-form content, how to create memorable characters for your brand, and why conflict drives engagement.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• The B-storyline technique for short-form content
• Creating memorable characters for your personal brand
• Finding conflict and themes in everyday stories

CONNECT WITH JENNY HOYOS: 

• Website: https://jennyhoyos.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyhoyoslol/ 
• Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmNpeXTj2c4

EPISODES MENTIONED:

• How to Tell Better Stories | Pixar’s Matthew Luhn | Episode 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-65jOrpPlA&t=834s

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Ask Heather a Question: https://www.heatherparady.com/ask 
• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/120

At 13, Zach W. Lambert was kicked out of youth group for asking too many questions. Years later, the church he leads was removed from its denomination for fully embracing LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Instead of walking away, Zach doubled down. He continues to pastor Restore Austin Church and co-founded the Post-Evangelical Collective …a growing movement reimagining what faith can look like when empathy, equity, and honesty lead the way.

In this conversation, Zach opens up about leading in a skeptical world, finding your way back to Scripture when it’s been weaponized, and the vision behind his new book Better Ways to Read the Bible. It’s a guide for anyone who wants to move beyond fear and reclaim the Bible as a tool for healing and hope.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• How to protect your heart from bitterness when facing backlash
• Wrestling with the Bible on big topics (like LGBTQ+ inclusion) 
• Engaging with “sin” in a healthy, relational way
• Four fresh lenses for reading the Bible that heal instead of harm

CONNECT WITH ZACH W. LAMBERT:

• Website: https://www.zachwlambert.org/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachwlambert/
• Order ‘A Better Way to Read the Bible’ here: https://a.co/d/dLQRPDB 
• Watch ‘All-Inclusive - Homophobia and Transphobia’:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3d_mhbTwL4 

EPISODES MENTIONED:

• Reconstructing Faith (Christians Who Don't Suck) | Jeremy Alder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPgMBbp7TU8&t=15s
• Is Hell Even Biblical? Brian Recker on Queer-Affirming, Fear-Free Faith | Brian Recker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7mT5k137t0&t=5s

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Ask Heather a Question: https://www.heatherparady.com/ask 
• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/119

Today’s guest is Alex Portillo, a pastor and content creator who is on a mission to help folks read the Bible with new eyes. Instead of clinging to black-and-white answers, Alex invites us to explore nuance, contradiction, and the uncomfortable beauty of not knowing.

We talk about why doubt isn’t the opposite of faith, how “bad religion” doesn’t have to drive you away from “good religion,” and what it looks like to communicate what you’re learning in a way that opens doors instead of closing them.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Why nuance and contradiction deepen faith
• How to move past harmful religion without abandoning God
• Shifting from certainty to curiosity in your spiritual journey
• Sharing your faith journey without oversimplifying it

CONNECT WITH ALEX PORTILLO: 

• Website: https://www.sanberto.com/about 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-portillo-88557537/ 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJIn-KGDWeI_TM-MVeDcLg 

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/118

There are stories we “think” we should tell… and then there are the ones that won’t stop tapping us on the shoulder.

From raw advice by singer-songwriter Yungblud to a powerful reminder from storyteller Neal Foard, this episode is a call to stop hiding behind trends and start sharing the kind of truth that truly connects.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

EPISODE MENTIONED:

• Stories Telling Tips for Social Media | Neal Foard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5i_3gjJQGk&t=2697s

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/117

Ray Edwards is one of the world’s top copywriters. His words have generated over $500 million for clients like Tony Robbins, Michael Hyatt, and Jack Canfield.

But his most powerful story isn’t about marketing.

In 2011, Ray was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He prayed for healing…and it didn’t come. What happened next led him to deconstruct everything he believed, rebuild his faith from the ground up, and discover a deeper connection to God than ever before.

If you’re wrestling with faith, or if you just need to hear a perspective that will stop you in your tracks…you might wanna sit down for this one. This is Ray Edwards.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• After deconstructing your faith, what led you back to Jesus?
• Is salvation really only found through struggle?
• Why do you think God allowed this experience in your life?
• Advice to those who feel spiritually dry

CONNECT WITH RAY EDWARDS:

• Website: https://www.rayedwards.com/ 

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/116

What’s the BEST way to capture attention…and keep it? I asked pro storytellers in Atlanta, content creators in Austin, and even sat down with a Pixar storyteller who worked on Toy Story. Here’s what they told me… and their answers might surprise you.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

CONNECT WITH THE STORYTELLERS

• Eldon Smith: https://www.instagram.com/eldonosmith/ 
• Misha Sanders: https://www.instagram.com/reverend_misha/ 
• Gregg Clunis: https://www.instagram.com/greggclunis/ 
• Tito Rosado: https://www.instagram.com/gunchuckgaming/ 
• Matthew Luhn: https://www.instagram.com/matthewluhnstory/

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/115

Fredrik Haren has spent the last 25 years traveling to more than 75 countries asking one question:  How does creativity differ around the world?

He’s interviewed thousands, from Silicon Valley executives to Mongolian nomads, and what he discovered might surprise you.

From his geometric dome on a private island, Fredrik shares why his new book The World of Creativity might just convince you to stop forcing creativity… and start listening to it.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• The difference between creating for yourself and creating for the idea itself
• How culture shapes our understanding of creativity
• The role of mystery and surrender in true creative flow

CONNECT WITH FREDRIK HAREN: 

• Website: https://www.fredrikharen.com/ 
• Pre-order ‘The World of Creativity’: https://a.co/d/idyWBIe 

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/114

Want to become a better storyteller? You HAVE to master the science and art of LISTENING. Today, I’m sharing 4 clips from 4 different storytelling experts, each showing how they use listening in their craft.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

EPISODES MENTIONED:

• How to Captivate an Audience & Be More Confident | René Rodriguez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBcAws9Byss&t=3311s
• Meaning in the Making | Sean Tucker |  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTlhFpLgVn4&t=25s
• Celebrity Interviewer: How to Ask Better Questions, Be Yourself, and Have Fun | Jenelle Riley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2M6WyXIfg4&t=3140s

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/113