The Story of Us: From Cosmic Dawn to the Depths of Being

In this special episode, Jeff revisits the origins of The Story of Us —how a playful disagreement with his wife over the podcast name became a spark that revealed its deeper truth. What began as a title became a manifesto: an invitation to explore everything that connects us—from the birth of galaxies to the pulse of our shared humanity. Through reflection and storytelling, Jeff traces the threads...

In this heartfelt episode of The Story of Us , host Jeff Ellison sits down with longtime friend Todd Lanham —a father, husband, creative, and the mind behind the beloved Instagram account Lou Guru . But behind the food photos and Louisville adventures lies a story woven with resilience, loss, and redemption. Todd opens up about growing up on a family farm in small-town Kentucky during the 1980s—wh...

Some days it feels like our minds are stuck on an endless hamster wheel—spinning, sprinting, replaying mistakes, rehearsing problems, inventing battles that don’t even exist. We juggle roles—parent, partner, leader, friend—and each one feeds the wheel until it feels impossible to stop. In this episode, Jeff explores the hidden scripts and unconscious patterns that keep us stuck in relentless motio...

Today we mix the cosmic with the cozy. For the first time ever, The Story of Us is guest-hosted by Peyton Ellison , who puts her dad Jeff in the hot seat. They explore how mindfulness slows time, why softness is not weakness, and how forgiveness frees us to breathe again. Jeff shares “cheat codes” for staying calm (pause, observe, use fewer words, forgive quickly), reflects on raising a daughter a...

THE MOST ANTICIPATED PODCAST DROP SINCE #NEWHEIGHTS. In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode of The Story of Us , host Jeff Ellison welcomes a very special guest—his daughter, Peyton Marie Ellison. At just 21, Peyton has already lived a life brimming with travel, creativity, and courage. A student at the University of Tennessee, writer of the inspiring blog Pieces of P , and a fearless explo...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Haeli Elizabeth Spears—a remarkable young woman whose story weaves together family legacy, personal growth, and a deep sense of purpose. From childhood dreams of acting to a career in healthcare, Haeli’s journey reveals how love, curiosity, and service can shape a meaningful life. Highlights from the conversation: Growing up in Louisville, KY surrounded by a su...

This episode is deeply personal, vulnerable and I hope it brings you hope. It's a reflection on a blog post I published titled “Coping with a Child’s Mental Health Struggles and Finding Joy in the Everyday” (July 23, 2025), which resonated with so many of you. Thank you for your support, shares, and kind words—it means the world to my family and me. Today’s episode explores what it means to parent...

I don’t believe I’ve watched one particular movie more often then I’ve watched It’s a Wonderful Life. Each Holiday season, I’m reminded that the torture I get to inflict on my family by subjecting them to this 1940’s black and white classic is the “gift that keeps on giving” for me. My sister shares my love for this movie but, others? Eh, debatable. They make an effort and they play along with the...

Join us for Episode 3 where we visit the home of Kathy and Kelly Thompson. After sharing a family meal featuring fresh vegetables from Kathy’s garden, Jeff and Kathy dive deep into some heady territory. Kathy shares the story of her life from the early days In Louisville through the 67th year of her life, Listen closely and you’ll hear the sounds of life happening all around (including some firewo...

On this episode, Jeff takes the time to welcome the listener and set the table for meaningful conversations yet to come. Listeners will take the time to first pause and meditate before contemplating life as a human in the Year 2025 AD. Jeff dives into some of the big challenges facing humanity before putting our problems into perspective - placing the listener in the present as it relates to the v...

Jeff tests an introduction and has a casual conversation with his wife, Jessica