Unconventional Leaders

Introverts, did you know you have a competitive advantage—not just as a creative, but even in your business? Today, I connected with Margaret Soraya, an award-winning Scottish photographer, fine artist, and creative thought leader (and just an amazing human). Proud to embrace her introversion, she spends a lot of time alone, sometimes weeks unplugged, yet still manages to sell out her creative ret...

Here are 3 Storytelling Myths DEBUNKED by Experts. EPISODES MENTIONED: How to be a Better Storyteller | @matthewjohndicks | Author of Storyworthy Storytelling Tips for Personal Brands | @SunYiCo | Episode 39 Improve Your Short Form Video by Doing This | @BrendanKane | Episode 8 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Why stories should be boring Why you don’t need powerful words Why you might NOT want to “chang...

To make space for something new, we first need to clear the clutter. In this episode, I connected with Tyler Moore, famously known online as Tidy Dad . An educator from New York, Tyler has built a massive following by tackling one universal topic: tidying up your life. But as Tyler reveals, this isn’t just about the mess in your home—it’s about the emotional and mental clutter that affects every a...

Do you feel like you need to dumb down your message to grow your social platforms? Think again. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down why that thought pattern is totally wrong—and sharing exactly how to frame your deep, meaningful message in 60 seconds or less. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady   EPISODES MENTIONED: How to Tell Your Personal Story (Like a Pro) |...

Feeling behind in your business or creative work? As the year wraps up, it’s easy to feel down if you didn’t meet your goals or feel off track from where you want to be. If that sounds like you, here’s a little pep talk for ya. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady   CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/   Access f...

If you struggle with telling your story—whether it’s fear of being judged or labeled, or maybe exposing others that you love—this episode is for you. Today, I connected with Irene from Irene’s Entropy , a musician and content creator. She’s built a big ol’ community around her journey of leaving Mormonism and rebuilding her life and career after leaving literally everything behind and having to st...

In today’s episode, we are answering a question from Conner: “How do you get your creative work ‘out there’?” I had a few thoughts and then brought in my friend Jay, who is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, to help answer this question. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady   Previous Interview with Jay:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnKyZ92DXWo&t=1s Conn...

If you are ambitious, it can sometimes be challenging to relate to others who don’t share that ambition. You may also wonder how to maintain healthy relationships when you choose to work more than the average person. In this episode, I sat down with Stefanos Sifandos , a relationships expert with an extensive background in psychology, philosophy, and ecology, to explore the delicate dance between...

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced lately as a creator is finding the balance between “being consistent” and not putting out something I don’t fully believe in. How do we stay professional and "show up," as Seth Godin says, while keeping our work honest and meaningful? TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Understanding why you're creating and who it’s for. Accepting that inspiration doesn’t come on dem...

You might think content from a project management company would be dry, right? Think again. Today I sat down with Chris Cunningham, a founding member of ClickUp and the head of their social media marketing, to explore their unconventional approach to content creation. Believe it or not, ClickUp isn’t just making business content—they’re breaking all the rules by taking inspiration from comedy and...

Jimmy asked for marketing advice, and I gave a couple of answers he might not have expected. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady   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/episodes/63

There isn’t a straightforward career path for creatives. You’re often figuring it out on your own and facing resistance. When is it "too lofty" of a dream? Where’s the line between "This isn’t for me" and just needing patience? Today, I connected with Jay Worsley , an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, here to share what it took to build a career (and life) telling stories. In this conversation, he sha...

Today, I'm answering a question from William about what to do when friends and family are critical of your dreams. Clips Mentioned: Dan Martell TikTok Clip: https://www.tiktok.com/@money.secretx/video/7424834138139659538?_t=8qgENScavut&_r=1 Lewis Howes with Jen Sincero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FV7YCDfp5A&t=42s WATCH Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady  ...

The conversation around money and art is a tricky one. What do you do when folks aren't buying your work? How much should you really be charging? And why do so many people feel uncomfortable even talking about this? Today, we have with us Amie McNee , the author of We Need Your Art and the voice behind the wildly popular community Inspired to Write , where she helps her global audience of creative...

Negative comments. Some folks advise that you “just shouldn’t look at them.” What if there was another trick? ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/episodes/59 Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/   WATCH Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Eric Petersen is an American actor, singer, and comedian – most recently known for his leading role as Kevin in Kevin Can F**k Himself . You may have also seen him in Kirstie , Modern Family , The Big Bang Theory , and even Broadway plays like School of Rock , Shrek , and Escape to Margaritaville . He also co-hosts one of the biggest Christmas podcasts – The Christmas Countdown Show .  In thi...

Brandi asked, 'What are the three best books on tactical storytelling?' I share them here, along with examples of what they taught me. Books Mentioned: Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks: https://amzn.to/4877Gs6 The Best Story Wins by Matthew Luhn: https://amzn.to/4dMxHxQ On Writing by Stephen King: https://amzn.to/3XZ7g2d Save the Cat by Blake Snyder: https://amzn.to/4dGHQMI Episodes Mentioned: Matthew...

You may have worked hard to get the opportunity in front of you—whether it’s landing a speaking gig, getting cast in an independent film, or finally gathering the courage to post content online for the first time. Even though you genuinely want it, your body may be in full freak-out mode. In today’s conversation, I sat down with Will Reynolds —an actor, writer, composer, and seasoned performer who...

Someone sent me an email the other day. The bottom of it said, “Sometimes I worry that I am too old to do X”. My response? You are too old. Here is why. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/55   Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/   WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Today’s episode is a solo one. Let’s talk about Apathy. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/54   Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/   WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady  

Joshua Dixon is the founder of Admire Wear , a platform that explores issues around mental health and helps its community rediscover their self-worth. After surviving a life-threatening pit bull attack as a little boy, Joshua is on a mission to help others overcome deep struggles and find purpose in pain. In this conversation, you will hear how, as a grown man, Joshua has conceptualized what happe...

Michael Jamin is a veteran TV writer and showrunner with over 20 years in the industry, known for his work on shows like Just Shoot Me , King of the Hill , and Beavis and Butt-Head . Michael is also the author of the bestselling collection of personal essays, A Paper Orchestra , which he tours as a one-man show. In our conversation, we explored how to draw inspiration from small, relatable moments...

Today, I connected with Cindy Zaweski , an award-winning journalist, storyteller, and content strategist. With over 15 years of experience in journalism, she left her job as an executive editor and content director for a luxury magazine in New York to open her own boutique content marketing agency. Since then, she has built a loyal online community of over 80,000 people. She helps founders connect...

Dr. David Hindin is a trauma and critical care surgeon at Stanford University who is... obsessed with storytelling. You heard me right—a surgeon who tells stories. In addition to serving as the Associate Chair of Innovation and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, and the Assistant Director of Stanford’s Biodesign Faculty Fellowship, he also developed a storytelling course at Stanford to help...

If you look up the name “ Neal Foard ” on social media, you will see a man standing in front of a black background telling stories. No flashy edits, no animations or jump cuts. It’s just him, the camera, and while staring straight into the screen, delivering powerful, personal stories. Guess what? It’s working. As an award-winning advertising and marketing creative professional with over three dec...