120: Katie Quesada — Master Storytelling with Story Expert to Fortune 500 Companies

The views expressed on this podcast and page are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the US Army, DoD, or the US Government.

In this conversation, storytelling expert Katie Quesada discusses the profound impact of storytelling on personal and professional lives. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling in leadership, how it can create emotional connections, and the science behind why stories resonate with us.

Katie shares her journey into storytelling consulting, practical frameworks for effective storytelling, and the significance of personal and family narratives. The discussion also highlights the difference between macro and micro storytelling, encouraging leaders to weave stories into everyday interactions to foster connection and engagement. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of storytelling, emphasizing its importance in leadership and personal relationships.

They discuss the three essential components of a story: context, conflict, and conclusion, and how to effectively balance these elements to engage an audience. The conversation also touches on the significance of vulnerability in leadership, the process of restoring meaning to personal experiences, and the value of storytelling in everyday interactions, particularly within families. The speakers encourage listeners to embrace their unique stories and share them in ways that resonate with others, ultimately highlighting storytelling as a powerful tool for connection and influence.

Katie is an acclaimed speaker and consultant who is deeply passionate about the art of storytelling. Katie has recently worked with top brands like Zillow, United Healthcare, American Eagle Outfitters (and more!) to ignite their story for more effective communication, high trust within teams, and immediate ROI. Katie and her husband Danny live with their two daughters in Orange, CA. They spent two years living in a 180 sq ft tiny home and believe that stories are better than stuff.

---

If you’re interested in discovering your core values and becoming a more self-aware and emotionally intelligent leader, I’ve built the perfect course to help you get there. Check out my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course, where I coach you through 3 exercises of guided reflection and help you uncover your core values in a way that you can apply them right away.

118: Alison Wood Brooks — Make Great Conversations Easy with Proven Strategies from Harvard Expert

The views expressed on this podcast and page are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the US Army, DoD, or the US Government.

In this engaging conversation, Alison Wood Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor, shares insights from her research on the art and science of conversation. She discusses the importance of effective communication, the unique perspective gained from being an identical twin, and the value of teaching conversation skills to leaders.

The discussion covers various aspects of conversation, including the significance of preparation, understanding conversational goals, and the framework for successful interactions. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own conversational practices and consider how they can improve their communication skills. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of effective communication, emphasizing the cognitive load involved in conversations, the importance of preparation, and the power of follow-up questions.

They discuss strategies for topic switching and ending conversations gracefully, the significance of asking questions, and the art of active listening. The conversation also highlights the role of levity in maintaining engagement and the need for self-compassion in navigating social interactions.

Alison Wood Brooks is the O’Brien Associate Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School. She teaches an award-winning course in the MBA curriculum called “TALK.” Recently named a Best 40-Under-40 Business School Professor by Poets & Quants, her book TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves will be published by Crown (Penguin Random House) in January 2025.

Her research on the science of conversation has been published in prestigious academic journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Psychological Science, as well as in popular media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The New York Times, Scientific American, and Harvard Business Review. Professor Brooks holds a Ph.D. in Decision Processes from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Finance from Princeton University.

Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves

By Alison Wood Brooks

---

If you’re interested in discovering your core values and becoming a more self-aware and emotionally intelligent leader, I’ve built the perfect course to help you get there. Check out my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course, where I coach you through 3 exercises of guided reflection and help you uncover your core values in a way that you can apply them right away.

84: Graham Cochrane — How to Get Paid for What You Know to Live and Give More

Sign Up Here to Enter to Win a Free Copy of Graham's Book!

Cal Walters and Wes Cochrane interview Graham Cochrane (Wes's older brother) about this new book, "How to Get Paid for What You Know."

Graham Cochrane is a business coach to over 3,500 premium customers worldwide. He founded The Recording Revolution, an online music business that generates 7 figures in revenue, in 2009. He now hosts over 80,000+ monthly followers on his podcast, YouTube channel, and blog, talking about business, mindset, productivity, and psychology. Graham has been featured in Business Insider, Yahoo!, and The Huffington Post.

Even if you have no interest in online business or have never even considered it, stick around to hear this interview because it’s packed with wisdom about life and self-leadership. We dive into how Graham went from living on food stamps to creating his first 7 figure business, The Recording Revolution. We discuss imposter syndrome, something we can all relate to, staying committed to a long term plan and how he remains so consistent, he gives us a critique of the hustle culture that is constantly promoting workaholism, why even after having two 7 figure businesses he has invested a lot of money in a high performance coach, and some keys to self-leadership that he shares at the end. 

Watch the interview on YouTube here or click below!

I highly recommend you get a copy of Graham's book!

How to Get Paid for What You Know: Turning Your Knowledge, Passion, and Experience into an Online Income Stream in Your Spare Time

By Cochrane, Graham

---

If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.

---

Listen to some of our most popular podcast episodes here!

Help us grow by leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts

Help us close the gap in leadership instruction by partnering with us financially at Patreon

Follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn