The Story I'm Telling Myself

From the Classroom to the Capitol: Navigating Power and Policy with Kentucky State Rep. Tina Bojanowski What happens when a citizen with no political intentions is suddenly called to run for office? Grab your companion self-reflection guide to this episode In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita Ernst sits down with Kentucky State Representative Tina Bojanowski, PhD , to discus...

In honor of a monumentous 50th episode , we deep-dive into the heart of mission-driven leadership and the systemic visibility gap in professional spaces. Grab the Episode 50 companion Self-Reflection Guide Host Rita Ernst sits down with Bobbie Carlton , the founder of Innovation Women , to challenge the staggering reality that two-thirds of all conference speakers are men . This imbalance doesn&#3...

Are you standing in your own way, feeling the pressure to completely "reinvent" yourself for your next chapter? Go deeper with the companion Self-Reflection Guide In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita Ernst sits down with communications expert Donna Cravotta to challenge the narrative that career transitions require starting from scratch. Donna shares her powerful j...

Are You Trapped in a "Pity Party"? Rewriting Your Story with Stanford’s Dr. Fred Luskin Grab the companion self-reflection guide In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita Ernst sits down with Dr. Fred Luskin , Director of the world-renowned Stanford Forgiveness Project , to explore how we can move past bitterness and choose forgiveness. The Story: From Betrayal...

Are you intentionally creating the future you want, or are you just a passive participator in your own story? Grab the Companion Self-Reflection Guide & go deeper In this revelatory episode of The Story I'm Telling Myself , host Rita Ernst sits down with recurring guest and recently retired businessman Gary Spencer to explore the internal narratives that define our most significant life transi...

In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita sits down with Ellenit Serrano , a former Fortune 100 finance executive turned workplace well-being strategist . Together, they explore the invisible pressures of the corporate ladder, the reality of systemic burnout , and the "internal leap" required to find a success that is truly sustainable . GRAB THE EPISODE SELF-REFLECTION...

Reclaiming Your Light After Workplace Toxicity Have you ever felt like you were standing in your own way, despite a track record of high-level success?. In this powerful episode of The Story I'm Telling Myself , host Rita Ernst sits down with Dalia Feldheim , former CMO and author of Lead Like a Girl , to dismantle the myths surrounding imposter syndrome and toxic leadership . Dalia shares her...

Have you ever walked into a professional setting or a high-end space and asked yourself, “Do I belong here?” Join host Rita Ernst on The Story I’m Telling Myself for a transformative conversation with Mo McKnight Howe , the visionary owner of Revelry Gallery . In this episode, they dive deep into the "inner stories" of exclusion that artists and professionals face, the danger of elitist...

The Kindness Revolution – Reclaiming Joy Beyond Burnout ⁠Grab your complementary companion guide Are you tired of "chasing" a version of happiness that feels out of reach? Join host Rita Ernst on The Story I’m Telling Myself for a transformative conversation with leadership and storytelling coach Monica Kleijn Evason . In this episode, they dive deep into the "inner stories" th...

Unpack Anxiety, Nervous System Regulation, and High-Achiever Burnout with Robyn Graham Grab your complementary companion guide Are you a high-achieving professional woman or entrepreneur who feels like you are standing in your own way?. You might be telling yourself the story that you don’t need to heal because your past wasn’t “bad enough” to count as trauma. But if you find yourself trapped in a...

This episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself features Nathan Stuck , the "Social Impact Guy" and founder of Profitable Purpose Consulting , for a deep dive into the evolution of mission-driven business . GRAB THE COMPLIMENTARY COMPANION SELF-REFLECTION JOURNAL In this provocative conversation, host Rita Ernst and Nathan explore the choice between being an "Arsonist or an Architect&q...

What happens when you build a brand from scratch, reach the top 5% of Etsy shops worldwide, and realize the success you’ve built is actually exhausting you? In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita Ernst sits down with Allison Sherwin , the founder of Threads and Honey , to redefine the 'F' word—failure. Allison shares her transition from a 15-year corporate sal...

Is your "perfect" life built on a hollow foundation? From the outside, Holly McNeill had it all: the handsome husband, the beautiful home, a thriving career, and children. It was the "idyllic," picture-perfect life we are told to want. But inside, a destructive narrative of low self-worth and the belief that she was "unlovable and unworthy" was quietly rotting the str...

What if the thing you’ve been muting your entire life is the very thing meant to heal you? Grab the companion journal In this deeply moving episode, Rachel shares how being literally hit by a truck became the catalyst for reclaiming a dream she had silenced for decades. While out for a run with her husband, Rachel was struck by a truck, leaving her with a compression fracture and alone in a trauma...

What if the reason your marketing isn’t working has nothing to do with your tactics and everything to do with how you’re positioning yourself? In this Season One finale of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita is joined by Brad Luttrell , founder of Prologue Stories LLC , for a powerful live conversation on marketing, storytelling, personal branding, and relationship-driven growth. At the cente...

Do you feel stuck in self-doubt, constantly battling negative thoughts, or struggling with an inner critic that never seems to rest? In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita sits down with executive coach, workshop leader, and international speaker Michelle Phillips to explore the transformative power of discovering, naming, claiming, and taming your internal narrators. Michelle...

What happens when being late to a dinner changes your entire leadership philosophy? In this episode of The Story I'm Telling Myself, host Rita sits down with John Brooks, CEO of Warehouse on Wheels, to explore a transformative moment that redefined his approach to business leadership and company culture. John shares the remarkable story of arriving late to a CEO dinner—only to find himself sea...

In this powerful episode of “The Story I’m Telling Myself,” host Rita sits down with global executive assistant trainer and bestselling author Bonnie Low-Kramen ( Be the Ultimate Assistant , Staff Matters ) to unpack the true cost of burnout, poor boundaries, and the internal narratives that keep high achievers—especially women—stuck in toxic work habits. Bonnie shares her dramatic wake-up call af...

In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita sits down with Kelly Blackmon , founder of BE Consulting , for a powerful and timely conversation about the future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in today’s workplace. With DEI facing public scrutiny, political backlash, and leadership burnout, Kelly challenges the idea that DEI is “dead” and instead explores how it can evolve...

Ever felt like you're one mistake away from being “found out”? That no matter how accomplished, capable, or praised you are… there's still a voice whispering you don’t belong? In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita sits down with educator, author, mentor, and former CPA Deborah Kevin to peel back the layers of impostor syndrome, high-achiever burnout, perfecti...

In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita Ernst sits down with Dr. Nikki Lanier, CEO of Harper Slade and founder of the Rare Woman Collective, for an honest and deeply moving conversation about fear, race, motherhood, and the narratives that shape our lives. Through the lens of her lived experience as a Black mother raising a son in America , Dr. Lanier opens up about the...

In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita Ernst sits down with Dr. Nikki Lanier, CEO of Harper Slade and founder of the Rare Woman Collective, for an honest and deeply moving conversation about fear, race, motherhood, and the narratives that shape our lives. Through the lens of her lived experience as a Black mother raising a son in America , Dr. Lanier opens up about the...

In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita sits down with Melissa Trelfitt , a seasoned fractional HR leader with over 25 years of experience, to unpack one of the most relatable workplace experiences: that moment when you start asking yourself, “Am I crazy, or is this place actually toxic?” Inside this episode, you’ll learn: What toxic leadership and organizational dysfu...

What really drives you to make a career change, fear or purpose? In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself , host Rita sits down with leadership and organisational development consultant Suze Shaner-Brodax to unpack the push and pull behind major career transitions. From corporate life to entrepreneurship and back again, Suze has navigated the professional world three different time...

What do you do when you lose your job, the one you’ve given your time, energy, and heart to? In this special edition of The Story I’m Telling Myself Podcast , Rita sits down with Liz Dehart , a marketing expert who was recently laid off after six years at Glasser’s Collision Centers. Instead of reacting with anger or resentment, Liz chose gratitude, grace, and growth, inspiring this honest and hop...