The Inside Story Podcast with April Adams Pertuis

After more than two years and more than a hundred episodes of The Inside Story Podcast, I’ve gotten firmer in my belief that everyone has a story and that storytelling is an important piece of the human experience.   And since we started the podcast, I’ve talked to and interviewed inspiring people who openly shared their stories with us, and I’ve also thrown in a few stories of my own, plus some t...

When I meet people who blow me away with their stories and the way they use them to shine a light for others, I’m compelled to share them with everyone in my community because we can learn so much from them.   Such is the case with Brian Bogert. Brian is a professional coach, motivational speaker, business strategist, and leader. His mission is to help individuals achieve the best version of thems...

Trauma often leaves one overwhelmed, sometimes unable to move forward, and often afraid of facing what caused the undesirable experience. But there’s a way of recovering from it and releasing it in order to become whole again, and that is through the healing power of storytelling.   Beth Jones is one of the women authors in the second LIGHTbeamers collaborative book, Step Into Your Brave. She is s...

When someone goes from the hood to the White House and ultimately has multi-million dollar success, you know there’s bound to be more than a few inside stories there that will just blow your mind.   Rebecca Contreras went from hitting her lowest of lows to reaching amazing success -- the kind that so many of us also dream of. Her book, titled “Lost Girl”, details this journey and shows the reader...

It’s such a special week on The Inside Story Podcast!! Our second LIGHTbeamers collaborative book, STEP INTO YOUR BRAVE, was released yesterday on Amazon!! And in a matter of a few hours, we reached #1 status, and it feels amazing to be able to share this journey with all of you.   In today’s episode, I’m putting the spotlight on my own experience writing for this book and choosing to write about...

We’re less than a week away from the launch of our LIGHTbeamers collaborative book, Step Into Your Brave, and we’re very excited!! The female authors who are part of this book show us different faces of courage with their stories, and it’s amazing to get to know them all.   Today on the podcast, I’m bringing into the spotlight Amber Wells. Amber is an international entrepreneur, founding owner of...

Today’s episode is the second in a series of interviews with the women of the LIGHTbeamers Author Program -- a special book project that’s going to shine a light on eight women and their empowering stories of courage, perseverance, and overcoming adversity.   Karen Smith spent 20 years in corporate America before she found her real calling – being an entrepreneur, coach, and energy healer. The roa...

A few months back, I dedicated several podcast episodes to the authors of the first collaborative book in the LIGHTbeamers series. This time, I’m featuring authors from the second book, Step Into Your Brave, which I’m very happy to announce will be coming out later this month. One of these authors is Kim Mittelstadt – an image consultant and life coach for moms, teen girls, and young adults. She’s...

The 4th Annual Storytelling Symposium by LIGHTbeamers has just ended, and I’m still on a high from meeting new people, forging new relationships and deepening old ones, sharing new stories, and just soaking up all the inspiration from everyone I connected with! And as I look back now and reflect on the amazing two days of the Symposium, I’m reminded of something that came to me more than a year ag...

A few episodes back, my husband Kyle was on the show and we talked about marriage and being entrepreneurs. That episode was a big hit, and a lot of you sent me messages to let me know how much that conversation resonated with you. On today’s episode of The Inside Story Podcast, I’m bringing you another couple who are entrepreneurs and in business together. Jake and Ashley Ulkus are the founders of...

There’s so much value in storytelling – both to the one sharing their story and the person hearing it. But time and again, people tell me they don’t always know what to share. They get stuck and become unsure of how to dig out their stories.  If you find yourself in the same predicament, you’re in for a real treat! On today’s episode of The Inside Story Podcast, you’re going to get prompts that wi...

More than 1 million women go through menopause every year in the United States alone. And while it’s a stage every woman will go through, it’s not a conversation everyone’s ready to have. Womaness and its founder, Sally Mueller, are changing the conversation around menopause. Through innovative products that offer solutions from head to toe, trusted advice on symptoms, and support from an inspired...

When you hear the word shapeshifting, what comes to mind? Is it the mythical definition of being able to change into a different shape or form at will? Or can the term be applied to something more realistic – and a little closer to home?   Today on The Inside Story Podcast, we’re talking about becoming different people in the various relationships we are in, or shape-shifting to become the person...

I've long believed that when women come together and share their stories, magic is bound to happen. And over in Montreal, Canada, one woman has created a lasting space for women where they can have meaningful and strategic interactions.   Dayna is a seasoned communications professional and branding consultant with a certification in Women’s Leadership from the Yale School of Management. Her entrep...

It’s our 100th episode and what better way to celebrate this milestone than to have the person who helped me start my podcast two years ago on the show!! Phyllis Nichols is the founder of SoundAdvice Strategies, a podcast production company. She’s best known for helping clients create unique audio experiences for their listeners. A salesperson at heart, she found her way to podcasts on a dare, and...

There was a time in my business where I couldn’t keep up with everything that was happening. I felt overwhelmed and frustrated, and I knew I had to do something if I wanted to change the way things were going. Enter Jen Lehner and her Front Row CEO program. When she shared her method with me, I listened and took action, and I can honestly say that that decision really changed everything for me. So...

We’re gearing up for the 4th Annual Storytelling Symposium!! Today on the show, I’m featuring one of the women on our speaker panel and giving you a sneak peek of what you can expect at the event. Dr. Leslie Saulsberry is a keynote speaker, author, and executive coach who helps Visionary Women create, build, and grow their companies, careers, and cultivate expansive lives. She’s going to be taking...

With so many social media platforms today and an insane number of people trying to get everyone’s attention, how do you actually cut through the noise and get noticed? In today’s episode, I share my thoughts on how you can win the internet. You have to have a certain mindset, understanding, and a regular, intentional practice that’s repeatedly overlooked, but should be at the top of your strategy...

In the work that I do, I help women dig out their story and amplify their visibility as they share it. But far too often, I find that women stay small and limit the stories they share because they’re afraid of being judged as having too much to say. As a recruiter matching people and jobs, Jenny Ward found the same to be true. And wanting to do more for women seeking to grow professionally, she in...

When we have strong relationships, we can go through life's joys with so much more meaning and navigate challenges with hopefully more ease. So how do we activate relationships and forge strong bonds?   Our guest on today’s show is one of my clients. David Watson is part of the ThinqShift team – a group of people whose goal is to “craft fabulous leaders to succeed and reinvent the world”. He is kn...

Being an entrepreneur is not easy. But what about being an entrepreneur who’s also married to one – does it make things extra challenging?   Today’s episode is extra special because I’m joined by my husband, Kyle Pertuis. We’re talking all things marriage and entrepreneurship, and what happens behind the scenes as we make both aspects of our lives not only work, but thrive.   Join me and Kyle as w...

If you’ve tuned in to the news these past few days, then you’ll know how everyone’s divided and has their own opinion on the outcome of the Roe v. Wade case. No, I am not going to make a commentary on or political analysis of what happened. Rather, in light of what transpired, I’m going to place emphasis on the value of listening to truly appreciate all sides of the stories we hear. I’m going to z...

What is feminism? The definition of the word has become muddled over the years, and I believe there will always be a debate on what it really means. But one thing’s for sure: feminism remains a relevant part of society today, as it was when the ideology started many years ago.   So today, I’m bringing back an episode from the early days of The Inside Story Podcast. In it, I talk about feminism and...

What is it about successful people that sets them apart from the rest of humanity? Is it just plain skill and talent? These help, of course, but I find that it’s their resilience and grit in the face of adversity that distinguishes them from the rest.   And Debbie Adams is no exception. She has taken on every obstacle in her way and made them stepping stones to her success. Her story is nothing sh...

The path to finding the right partner and the “perfect” romantic relationship is never a straight one. There are always bumps along the way, and it can sometimes feel like we won’t ever end up with someone we can truly call our one true love. Stacey Dewald is the author of Douchebags to Diamonds, a self-help book for women who want to heal their broken hearts, take charge of their love life, and a...