Story Sessions™: Where Your Story Matters

JuLee Brand has spent three decades helping people find their voice--first through graphic design and television, then as the founder of W. Brand Publishing, and now through StorySessions Live. In this conversation, Laura Lyn sits down with her longtime friend and publisher to talk about the difference between traditional, hybrid, and independent publishing, why JuLee built a company around the co...

In Part 2 of my conversation with lifelong friend Tiffany Baker Larnicol, we pick up where the world got complicated. After nearly a decade of calling Dubai home, a city she once said she would never live in, Tiffany found herself in the middle of a regional conflict she couldn't fully process in real time. Nightly missile alerts. Rattling windows. A drone passing her apartment window in broad day...

Some friendships begin before we're old enough to remember, and those are often the ones that carry the most truth. This week, I'm joined by my lifelong friend Tiffany Baker Larnicol, known to those who've loved her longest as Tiffy, for a rich, wide-ranging conversation about a life fully and bravely lived. Tiffy grew up alongside me in Nashville, and from those early days together — including a...

What does it mean to watch someone you love begin something you've already lived? This week, host Laura Lyn steps away from the guest chair to share a personal story — a weekend in St. Augustine with her youngest daughter Eliza, shopping for a wedding dress. What unfolded was part joy, part déjà vu, and part quiet reckoning with time, identity, and the chapters that quietly close as new ones open....

He's back — and he came bearing good news. Phil Madeira, 35-year Nashville veteran, multi-instrumentalist in Emmylou Harris's band, songwriter, painter, and author, returns to StorySessions™ for a bonus update episode that delivers on every front. Since his original episode — one of our top-rated conversations — Phil has been everywhere. He successfully Kickstarted three projects at once: two albu...

Melissa Lewis spent 25 years teaching middle school, raising her family, and pouring herself into other people's kids. Then, at 51, she did something most people in her season of life wouldn't dare — she went back to school, earned her master's in marriage and family therapy, and opened her own counseling practice in Franklin, Tennessee. But the story underneath that story is the one worth hearing...

Musician, songwriter, producer, and now author — Brent Bourgeois has lived many lives inside one remarkable journey. In this conversation, Laura Lyn sits down with her longtime friend to talk about his memoir, The Real Things: An Intimate Journey of a Working Musician from Bill Graham to Billy Graham to Instagram. Brent traces a 50-year path through New Orleans, New Jersey, Dallas, California, Nas...

What happens when a 15-year music industry roadie trades the tour bus for a laptop and a blank page? Philip J. Kriz—sound tech for Paul Simon, Green Day, Queen + Adam Lambert, and Kiss—found himself at a career crossroads when the pandemic stopped the world, and chose to write the story he'd always been carrying. The Roadie Cartel is a fictional dive into the music industry's shadowy underbelly, b...

Just over a year ago, Laura Lyn published her memoir Who Do You Think You Are? through W Brand Publishing — and in this solo episode, she tells the story behind the story. What made a writer in Tennessee, with no celebrity status, decide to write a memoir? What did she risk? What actually happened in the year that followed — the readers, the book festivals, the connections she never expected? Laur...

What do a pandemic, a broken sewing machine, and a pile of chopped-up black t-shirts have in common? They're where Curtis and Fergus were born. Dee Nichols is a union camera operator who has spent his career behind the lens for some of the biggest names in music and film. He's also — somewhat unexpectedly, even to himself — a children's author. During the pandemic, with a tour to 14 countries canc...

The Playlist of Your Life with Shaka Mitchell Every memory has its own soundtrack, and few people understand that more deeply than Shaka Mitchell. As the founder of the Come Together Music Project, a Nashville-based nonprofit, Shaka has built something quietly revolutionary: a framework for using music to create the kind of conversation most of us are starving for. In this episode, Laura Lyn and S...

What does a handwritten recipe, a jar of barbecue sauce, and sleeping on a Coleman cot in an empty apartment have in common? They're all part of Charlynda Scales' story, and she's not hiding any of it. Charlynda is an Air Force veteran, TEDx speaker, serial entrepreneur, and the author of Rock Bottom Has a Trampoline . She's the founder and CEO of Mutt's Sauce, a barbecue sauce company born from h...

What happens when you're living the dream — working from the beaches of Bali — and something still feels missing? Sarah Aviram, bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and former Fortune 500 HR leader, spent a year working remotely from 12 countries to find out. In this conversation, she and Laura Lyn explore the tension between success and fulfillment, the six core drivers that shape how we thrive, and...

Summer of Gone — Phil Madeira on Memoir, Music, and the Art of Suffering Well Phil Madeira came to Nashville from Rhode Island with a dream — to make his own music. What followed was nearly four decades of pouring that gift into other people's careers, including 18 years alongside Emmylou Harris. In this conversation, Phil talks about what it finally meant to turn toward his own story. We discuss...

Discover the Power of Your Story In this episode, we introduce our new name, StorySessions™, and delve into the importance of storytelling. We explore why your story matters and how sharing it can transform relationships and personal growth. Learn the art of listening without judgment and the impact of creating safe spaces for vulnerability. Join us as we share real stories and insights on embraci...

Unmasking Trauma and Triumph: Rebecca Black’s Journey of Resilience and Voice In this deeply moving episode, Rebecca Black shares her powerful story of surviving childhood abuse, confronting the justice system’s failures, and using her voice to inspire change. Her journey through court cases, healing traumas, and creating a documentary that exposes the raw truth is nothing short of extraordinary....

Journeying Home with Emily Nydam: Unveiling Stories of Hope, Connection, and Self-Discovery Are you searching for stories that breathe life into your soul, ignite your hope, and remind you of the profound power of our personal histories? Today, we’re diving into Emily Nydam’s captivating novel Journeying Home — a story woven across centuries, echoes of war, resilience, and the unbreakable thread t...

The conversation with Karin Tramm explores her experiences of teaching and living overseas, raising a family in different countries, and the challenges of virtual learning during the pandemic. Karin's journey reflects the theme of adapting to constant change and navigating upheaval with openness and grace. The discussion also delves into the unique experiences of teaching in Department of Defense...

The conversation delves into the significance of storytelling and the sense of community and connection at the Military Influencer Conference. It explores the purpose of W Brand Publishing in amplifying military voices and the importance of writing through The Other Side Project. The heart of humanity in publishing and the power of storytelling and connection are also highlighted. Takeaways Import...

Alexa Bigwarfe shares her journey from being an intelligence officer in the Air Force to becoming a published author and entrepreneur. She discusses her experiences with grief, loss, and the inspiration behind her projects, including the Women in Publishing Summit and The Other Side Project. Alexa also reveals her upcoming book 'Death Proof Your Business' and the importance of planning for the une...

The conversation delves into the early life of Rich in Greenville, South Carolina, his experiences with Christian schooling, the harmful effects of legalism and religious persecution, and the recognition of fundamentalism as a cult. It also explores the challenges of coming out, transitioning from the Marine Corps to law school, struggles with perfectionism and authenticity, recovery and self-disc...

The conversation with Tauni Crefeld covers her background in the military and corporate world, the challenges faced by women in corporate careers, and the themes of leadership and team-building. Tauni shares insights from her books 'The Fixer' and 'Own Your Path', and discusses her upcoming book 'Ride the Camel', which focuses on travel experiences and life lessons. Takeaways Leadership experience...

The conversation with Kim Orendor covers her journey as a writer, the challenges of criticism, the inspiration behind her book 'To Whom It May Concern', and her experiences teaching in China. It also delves into the impact of adoption on identity and the power of positive feedback in the creative process. The conversation covers the cultural adjustment experienced in China and the process of creat...

The conversation with Chris Krueger covers his memoir 'Walking Away from the Ledge' and delves into topics of identity, resilience, struggles with alcohol, and recovery. Chris shares his journey as a US Army Ranger veteran, his coping mechanisms, and the challenges he faced. The discussion also highlights the importance of resilience and the process of recovery from alcohol addiction. The conversa...

Julie Tully, author of 'Dispatches from the Cowgirl', shares insights on empathy, self-discovery, and personal growth. From her experiences as a military spouse to her reflections on perfectionism and people-pleasing, Julie's journey is a captivating exploration of life's complexities and the pursuit of authenticity. Julie Tully discusses her departure from her previous work, the adventure of writ...