Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will

Not every meaningful moment is big and dramatic. As a matter of fact, smaller moments can be even more electrifying when we take the time to notice them. I had one of those moments last week when I performed as a backup vocalist and played my flute with the band of a friend and talented singer/songwriter at a local bar to a crowd of enthusiastic fans. We were on the patio and the crowd was much bi...

"She stood up from across the aisle and walked over. Stopping in front of my seat, she said: 'I can see that you're struggling, and if you would rather I walk away, just say so. It's just that it looks like you could use a hug, and I'm a hugger.'" In today's episode I'm sharing a story about a pivotal moment in my life, an experience that shifted how I think about grief, and inspired me to be more...

Driving home from a volunteer shift at the Old Salt Festival near Helmville, Montana, I listened to the last hour of the book The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. As I listened to the characters reflect on their lives to share with others via handwritten letter (and a few emails), I was reminded of the great conversation I shared on this podcast with Amy Daughters, author of Dear Dana. As I mentio...

In a moment of inspiration on one of my hikes, I realized that after more than 430 episodes, this show is overdue for a format change. For the book I'm writing, a companion to my recently published TEDx talk , I'm exploring research around narrative identity, which is the way the stories we share influence who we are, and self-awareness as defined by present-day psychologists. The new format for m...

"Someone said to me recently, 'You're so lucky that you get to work at home and do this stuff.' And I said, 'Luck has nothing to do with it. I consciously created my life. I love it because it's mine. I made it.'" In this episode, podcast host Sarah Elkins and ghostwriter and publisher Lana McAra discuss Lana's unique approach to publishing and her deep understanding of what it takes to be an effe...

433 Taking Steps To Take Better Care Of Yourself   In today's episode, Sarah Elkins discusses the importance of taking your time to enjoy the world, to enjoy being you, to take time to make sure You, Dear Listener, are healthy in mind, body, emotion, and spirit.    Highlights Encouraging healthy self reflection to lessen loneliness and division.  Acknowledging when you need help or a break is key...

432 The Power of Kindness featuring Joe Emery   In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Joe Emery discuss the importance of dispelling misconceptions, serving our communities, and  elevating voices of kindness and positivity.    Highlights The beauty of visiting places we've only seen in pictures or film. Misconceptions about places and people and learning the truth to be able to see the world for the...

431 The Art of Aging - Featuring Diane Place   In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Diane Place discuss the art and beauty in aging and how it allows us to collect amazing stories, learn new things about ourselves, and how we can use these experiences to help others.    Highlights Aha moments and how trusting yourself will most often take you to better places in life. Bringing in other story teller...

 430: Every Emotion Comes from Needs, Met and Unmet - featuring Morgane Borzée I thought I understood the connection between emotional intelligence and behavior, but I was missing a key component: "... we talk about feelings, but... At the end, every feeling has an underlying need. If it's a pleasant feeling, it's a met need. If it's an unpleasant feeling, it's an unmet need. And needs drive our b...

429 Lynn Harris - Comedy, Creativity, and Community   In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Lynn Harris discuss the importance of comedy and creativity in the heart and soul of a community and how overcoming the doubts and assumptions of others can not only strengthen yourself but as well as the people around you.    Highlights How we defy the expectations and assumptions of others. If we can't talk...

428 Building Bridges Through Kindness and Compassion    In being human we are able to connect more authentically with people not just in the workplace but in everyday life, by allowing them to see us for who we truly are and what we are capable of.  In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Neal Foard discuss the importance of compassion and connection.    Highlights Being present and aware of your acti...

427: Eat Your Feelings - A Cooking Show Demonstrating True Connection, Featuring Sam Nathews   Highlights from the show: Sam initially wasn't sure about cohosting the show with Cory! He can be shy about performing or entertaining people he just met. It didn't take long to realize how grateful he was that Cory was persistant in starting the project and about Sam joining the show. Sam shared how the...

426: Ending the Cycle of Family Trauma Featuring Sharon Weinstein "How did you ever come out of that household? How did you ever evolve into who you are and what you've become from that background?" We met in Washington DC at the final competition for the People's Choice speaker for the next TEDxUStreetWomen event scheduled on November 3, 2025. And when she won the coveted spot, all of us were thr...

In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Matthew Johnson discuss their work in their communities, from work with the city to their own personal endeavours as well as how this work helps the community grow and retain the character that makes it unique.   Highlights Why education in a community is important and how it has the potential to connect us. Loving to serve. Lead as those you look up to lead.   ...

424 The Art of Story Making and Being Present   In today's episode Sarah Elkins talks about her recent vacation and the reminder to remember a past lesson from her son about learning from your past regrets and choosing to live in the moment instead of allowing expectations or worries for the future to take away from the joy of the present.     Highlights Being present for the stories you want to s...

423 We Need Each Other   In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Cory Brown discuss their ideas and the influences in their lives that they have had that gave them the push to act on their ideas or to think them through, as well as the importance of putting something into the world that will make a genuine authentic change.    Highlights Eat your feelings, coming together over a meal to discuss your f...

422 Experience Awe   The natural world is one of few places in the world where we can truly feel at peace. Whether it be to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, or even just to get away from all the screens and pollution, we can find a moment to center ourselves and find genuine awe in the world.  In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Thomas Reed discuss the importance of the natural world,...

421 The Lives We Live In today's episode Sarah Elkins and Kuti Mack discuss their unique experiences in being selected for a TED talk, the process in getting to their own important story they needed to tell, as well as the people who supported them along the way.   Highlights The benevolence of somebody else and admitting when you need help going hand in hand with not assuming people are capable w...

420 Ted Talks: Let's Start Sharing Stories   In today's episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on her preparations for her Ted Talk, as well as seeing the need that had to be filled, and how she is filling that need in society with clarity and authenticity.    Highlights Seeing a problem and figuring out how you can fix it.  Let your ideas loose in the world, you never know who needs to hear it.  Bring yo...

419 Strength In Storytelling   Our stories are woven into our very being, they are what make us who we are and how we show others who we are and what we are the best at.  In today's episode Sarah Elkins discusses the many iterations of her business, her newest book, and the power that lies in the art of storytelling.    Highlights Improving satisfaction and skills in yourself and others. Core valu...

418 Mindful Presence   Being mindful of our presence in the lives around us is an integral part of the human experience, whether it be for our own personal comfort and growth or to ease the lives of those around us. Though we all have our own unique reasoning and paths to walk, it is important to remember we don't have to travel alone and by working together we can all get to the finish line. In t...

417 Being Fully Present   Being present for those in your life can be a difficult matter at times, yes we can be in the same room as them, but it is far more meaningful to be there for them emotionally which can triple the difficulty of a situation. Which is why it is important to take a step back and to take stock of your emotions before responding, so that you can be your best self and not one t...

416 The Right Tool For The Right Job   Having the necessary toolset to build others and yourself up is something most of us continue to build and collect our entire lives. How we choose to interact with another, how we teach, learn, and grow with them is how we hone these tools in order to achieve excellence in our chosen life.  In today's episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on one of her former studen...

415 Striving For Excellence   When was the last time you took a moment to truly acknowledge just how far you've come and the work you have done to get to this point? No exceptions, no talking down about your accomplishments, just true and genuine acceptance of how amazing you are because of how hard you have worked. Perfection is impossible, but Excellence is achievable. We can always improve, but...

414 Following Your Own Star   There comes a time in our lives where we need to stop and take stock of what we want to do next and our next steps in getting there. Perhaps it's more than just one thing, perhaps you're just floating through life trying to figure out what to do next, or perhaps you think this goal is too lofty despite all your hard work. Which is why it is so important to take all yo...