Unconventional Leaders

Ron Chapman is a professional storyteller, novelist, and longtime guide for deep inner work. With nearly 40 years of sobriety, Ron has spent his life helping people navigate hard truths…through story, spirituality, and presence rather than performance. In this conversation, we talk about what it actually means to tell authentic stories—not polished or performative, but honest stories that respect...

If you’ve ever caught yourself shrinking your gifts or holding back because it feels “humble,” this is for you. In this episode, we talk about why undermining your work isn’t holiness — it’s disconnection from the very gift you were meant to bring into the world — and what it really looks like to let yourself be seen and valued. TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: The hidden ways we weaken our own power thr...

Keith Giles and Matthew J. Distefano are authors, publishers, and co-owners of Quoir , a media company dedicated to publishing bold, thoughtful work from people navigating faith, doubt, and deconstruction. Keith is a former pastor turned full-time writer. Matthew describes himself as a “working-class theologian.” Together, they write (and publish) at the intersection of spirituality, culture, just...

George Sidiropoulos helps creators show up on video in a way that's simple, sustainable, and fun. A former musician, he discovered video's power when Instagram guitar clips led to real opportunities…long before he had a big audience. Now he teaches people how to use video to grow their business without turning their life into a production studio. In this episode, George shares how video reshaped h...

Here are three practical storytelling exercises pulled from three brilliant creators: one to help you dig deeper, one to get more specific, and one to capture story-worthy moments from everyday life.  Quick tips, super usable, and honestly… they might change how you tell your next story. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady   EPISODES MENTIONED: The Storytelli...

I sat down with four master storytellers and uncovered a simple truth: if the edit is difficult, the input needs to be a bigger priority. TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Write before you record Script with intention but edit with instinct Make each piece of content about one clear point Edit till it hurts EPISODES MENTIONED HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5i_3gjJQGk&t=1453s https://www.youtub...

Before Matthew Luhn became one of Pixar’s storytellers (with credits on Finding Nemo , Monsters Inc. , Toy Story , Up , and more) he nearly lost the opportunity altogether. After leaving The Simpsons at 19 to join a then-unknown studio called Pixar, he was laid off, moved back home, worked temp jobs, and spent a year-and-a-half fighting to get back in. In this episode, Matthew shares the real stor...

If you’ve ever caught yourself asking, “What should I make? What will work?” — this is for you. Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped creating from curiosity and started creating for approval. In this episode, we talk about what it means to return to that raw, honest place... to stop chasing trends and start trusting your own instincts again. Because the world doesn’t need another copy. It n...

Glenn Lundy and I shouldn’t be friends. He’s a Republican who trains and consults sales leaders in automotive; I’m a creative who cried in bed the day Trump was inaugurated. We sit on opposite sides of almost everything…and we’re still great friends. I asked Glenn to give a behind-the-scenes look at how we keep a real friendship in a divided world and to wrestle with the hardest question facing co...

If you’ve ever worried that sharing your voice is “selfish” or ego-driven, this is for you. Today, we explore how your story, your perspective, and your courage to speak might be the lifeline someone else needs. Because access to new ideas can change an entire life — and your voice may be the bridge someone has been praying for. TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Why using your voice isn’t ego — it’s gener...

Jim Carter III is an AI strategist to the world’s top creators, helping creators and thought leaders build digital clones…AI versions of themselves trained on their own words, teachings, and philosophies. He’s spent over two years demystifying AI through his weekly newsletter, making complex tech accessible to entrepreneurs who want to work smarter without losing their human touch. In this episode...

If you’re tired of chasing tactics and hacks, and you want to create from a deeper place — this is for you. In this episode, we explore books that don’t just teach you how to grow an audience… but how to stay rooted in your purpose as a creator. Because your work isn’t just content — it’s contribution, stewardship, and devotion to the ideas that choose you. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.y...

You can be talented… and still be ignored. Mike Roderick helps creators and thought leaders package their ideas so people actually get it. A former Broadway producer turned thought-leadership consultant, Mike knows how to position your work so it truly gets seen. In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to have your work recognized…without shouting, performing, or pretending. You’ll l...

If you’ve been feeling stuck, unclear, or like you’re spinning your wheels — this is for you. What if feeling “stuck” isn’t a sign to push harder, but an invitation to go deeper ? In this episode, we talk about why slowing down and sinking beneath the surface might be the most powerful way to move forward. Because truth, clarity, and direction don’t live out there somewhere — they live within you....

Steven Puri walked away from blockbuster films and high-level studio roles to follow a deeper calling: helping people make the work they were truly meant to create. After producing effects for Oscar-winners like Braveheart and running projects at Fox and DreamWorks, he saw how distraction had become the biggest thing standing between people and their most important work. So he founded The Sukha…a...

If you’ve been wrestling with something that feels like a disadvantage — the thing that makes you feel behind, limited, or not enough — this is for you. What if the very thing you’ve been trying to hide or overcome is actually your greatest creative gift? What if your so-called “limitations” are divine boundaries designed to help you create something no one else can? TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: How...

Meg Hood creates content that feels like a warm cup of tea in a chaotic digital world. As the voice behind Meg's Tea Room, she's built a community around slow storytelling, tenderness, and the courage to question everything she was taught. Her approach to content creation isn't about catching attention, it's about genuine connection. In this conversation, Meg reveals how slowing down became her st...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling behind, or that everyone’s zooming past you while you’re just trying to keep it together — this one’s for you. This is what happened in my very first half marathon… I went in super competitive, ready to crush it, and ended up getting schooled by a random girl in a black tank top. What started as a petty little race between us turned into one of the biggest l...

When Jaxon Phoenix lost his best friend and uncovered a shattering family secret, he found himself on the edge wondering if life was worth staying for. But what came after wasn’t just survival…it was rebirth. An author, handpan musician, and Christian humanist, Jaxon shows how the dark night of the soul can transform. In this conversation, Jaxon shares the panic attack that nearly ended everything...

I know how discouraging it feels when you pour yourself into something, share it with your people, and then… nothing. No clicks, no support, no love. I’ve been there too. And honestly? It’s not always about the thing you made—it’s often about how you’re sharing it. In this episode, I talk about small shifts you can make (like showing up in the post yourself or reframing your ask) that can complete...

When Soo Ra first stepped on stage in college, she wasn't trying to become a comedian…she was just the girl who loved to make people laugh. But twelve years later, she's built a comedy career that spans from basement bars to touring with Nate Jackson on his Big Dog Tour and creating viral content that gets millions of views. Soo Ra has learned that success in comedy isn't just about getting laughs...

Imposter syndrome. I’ve had it. I still get it. And honestly? At the end of the day, it’s kind of selfish. This isn’t one of those “you’re amazing, you’re good enough” pep talks. Let’s just be real with each other. The truth is, imposter syndrome often keeps us stuck. We see all the imperfections in our work and convince ourselves it isn’t good enough to share. But here’s the shift: what if people...

I had a gut-punch moment a few weeks ago when everything went sideways and suddenly my podcast felt… pointless. I remember thinking, who needs content about creativity when the world feels like it’s falling apart? That kind of paralysis is real—we’ve all felt it.  Whether you’re running a cupcake shop or putting out comedy sketches, it’s easy to wonder if people even need what you’re creating...

This episode shares Steven Pressfield’s powerful lesson on storytelling: the moment you decide to step into your calling—even with fear—you begin to transform. True change starts inside, not when everything outside feels ready. TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Breakthroughs come from an inner decision, not from waiting for the “right time.” Real transformation happens when you commit with conviction—the...

When Learnmore Jonasi used to travel by bus for hours just to get five minutes on stage, he had huge dreams of becoming a global comedian…and he was willing to put in the work to make it happen. After earning the golden buzzer on America's Got Talent, everything changed… He is now headlining comedy clubs across America, and mastering the technical side of building a comedy career that most people...