In this debrief episode of Leadership Story Talks, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful idea shared by executive coach Greg Smith: real growth doesn’t come from a single coaching moment—it comes from changing how we listen, lead, and respond to challenges over time.

The conversation explores a common tension leaders face: how to sustain the impact of coaching once the “bubble” of one-on-one support disappears and real-world pressures return.

You'll hear:
- Coaching shouldn’t be something you “finish.”
Jerome and Julienne unpack the idea that coaching isn’t a checkbox or a temporary intervention. For growth to last, leaders and organizations must invest in structures that support continued practice, reflection, and accountability—long after formal coaching ends.

- Listening is the foundation of effective storytelling.
A recurring theme in the episode is that leaders often feel pressure to perform—to have the right message, the right vision, the right story. But sustainable leadership begins with listening first. When leaders truly hear their teams’ experiences, the right stories emerge naturally.

- Practice creates confidence—and sustainability.
Jerome shares an example of a leader who entered coaching wanting to become a better storyteller, only to realize that listening more deeply was the real shift. Through repeated practice during coaching, that leader built confidence and eventually internalized a new leadership habit that continued long after coaching ended.

- From “what’s happening to me” to “what do I get to do.”
The debrief highlights a mindset shift at the heart of Greg Smith’s message: challenges will come regardless. The question is whether leaders meet them from a place of curiosity and agency—or from a sense of victimhood.

- Organizations play a role, too.
Julienne emphasizes that sustainability isn’t solely the responsibility of the individual being coached. Organizations must stay engaged, hold themselves accountable, and create environments where learning is reinforced—not abandoned once a program concludes.

Why This Matters:
Sustainable leadership isn’t about one great story, one inspiring speech, or one coaching engagement. It’s about building listening muscles, creating shared accountability, and allowing learning to become part of how leaders show up every day.

As Jerome notes, when leadership behaviors truly “get into your bones,” they stop being techniques—and start becoming who you are.

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this special Valentine’s Day reflection, Jerome and Julienne step away from frameworks and techniques to explore a living example of leadership through presence, listening, and love.

Inspired by the journey of Buddhist monks walking from Texas to Washington, DC, the episode invites listeners to reconsider what it means to show up for others—quietly, intentionally, and without agenda. As communities gather along the monks’ path, the conversation reflects on listening as an act of love and on the power of collective humanity, especially in times of division and conflict.

You'll hear:

• Why the monks’ journey resonates so deeply right now

• Listening as a practice—not a skill, but a way of being
• What leadership can look like when presence replaces performance
• How Valentine’s Day might be reclaimed as a broader expression of kindness and care
• The quiet power of collective action grounded in intention rather than spectacle.

Resources

• Buddhist Monks’ Walking Journey (Video)
A short video highlighting the monks’ walk from Texas to Washington, DC and the communities gathering along the way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkCCGjskeFI

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Jim O’Gorman to explore how formative leadership experiences—both painful and inspiring—shape the way we show up for others at work.

Jim opens with a candid story from early in his career: working for a deeply toxic boss and the toll it took on his confidence, health, and sense of self. That experience became a defining catalyst, ultimately guiding him toward a career dedicated to people strategy, trust, and humane leadership.

From there, the conversation moves into Jim’s time on the Obama campaign, where he witnessed firsthand the power of authentic storytelling—not as persuasion, but as connection. That experience continues to influence how he thinks about leadership, values, and culture today.

As Chief People Officer at Included Health, Jim shares how storytelling, vulnerability, and values-based decision-making aren’t “nice to haves,” but core leadership competencies—especially when trust, safety, and belonging are on the line. He also offers a thoughtful perspective on remote work, arguing that there is no universal answer—only alignment between values, mission, and how work actually gets done.

This episode is a grounded, practical exploration of what it really means to lead with authenticity—and why stories remain one of the most powerful tools leaders have to create trust, navigate complexity, and raise the standard for how people experience work.

You’ll Hear:

• Why a “terrible boss” can become a powerful leadership teacher
• How authentic storytelling builds trust, safety, and belonging on teams
• What Jim learned about leadership and connection on the Obama campaign
• Why values—not perks—are what truly retain people
• How Included Health aligns mission, culture, and people strategy
• A clear-eyed take on remote work, trust, and intentional connection
• Why leaders must go first when it comes to vulnerability and honesty
• How storytelling can restore healthier debate and discourse at work

Resources & Links

• Connect with Jim O’Gorman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-o-gorman-0b32278/
• Learn more about Included Health: https://includedhealth.com/
• Explore more episodes and resources at: https://narativ.com/podcast

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this Leadership Story Talks debrief, Jerome and Julienne reflect on what they learned from their very first Leadership Story Talks LIVE.

What begins as a conversation about a technical glitch quickly becomes a deeper exploration of trust, vulnerability, leadership, and what it really means to “show up” when things don’t go according to plan. A brief moment of on-air chaos—barely two minutes in real time—felt enormous in the moment, yet invisible to much of the audience. That contrast becomes a powerful lesson in perception, presence, and resilience.

Rather than stopping the show or striving for perfection, Jerome and Julienne chose to move forward—relying on preparation, partnership, and mutual trust. Listening first, staying human, and allowing imperfection to become part of the story.

This moment of vulnerability unexpectedly created safety for the storytellers themselves. When something went “wrong,” it gave everyone else permission to relax, let go of scripts, and trust their own voices.

You’ll Hear:

• What "Live" Really Means — Julienne shares the internal experience of being suddenly alone on screen, and how slowing down, grounding herself, and trusting the process made all the difference.
• Two Minutes That Felt Like Forever — Jerome reflects on how time distorts under stress, and how rewatching the episode revealed how little the audience actually perceived.
• Trust as a Leadership Decision — A pivotal moment where Jerome chooses not to stop the livestream, but instead trusts Julienne to carry the moment—illustrating what real leadership looks like under pressure.
• Preparation vs. Perfection — Why deep preparation allows for flexibility, presence, and grace when plans inevitably fall apart.
• What Imperfection Makes Possible — How the glitch reassured storytellers that they didn’t need to be flawless to be powerful—and that being real matters more than being polished.
• The Power of Not Explaining Everything — A reflection on how a personal story can communicate trust, credibility, and professional identity without spelling it out.
• “You’re Not Alone” — A reminder that while telling a story can feel solitary, the right listening space ensures no one carries it alone.

This debrief is a living example of the core belief behind Leadership Story Talks: meaningful connection doesn’t come from getting it right—it comes from staying present when things go wrong. When leaders model trust, vulnerability, and responsiveness in real time, they don’t lose credibility. They build it.

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan introduce a new, recurring format: Leadership Story Talks LIVE! — a bi-monthly, interactive storytelling experience designed to bring listening and telling into the same virtual space.

This live gathering centers on short, true stories told by experienced leaders and practitioners, followed by reflection and shared insight. As Jerome and Julienne note, storytelling isn’t about performance — it’s about presence. And listening is what allows meaning to emerge.

The invitation was simple: Tell us a story about an experience that shaped who you are today.

What followed were three distinct stories that revealed how leadership is formed not through theory, but through lived experience.

Cecilia Loving shares a childhood memory from the day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, recalling the reactions of the adults around her — their fear, grief, and silence. Her story offers a glimpse into how historic moments are absorbed at a young age and continue to shape how we understand safety, belonging, and the world around us long after the moment has passed.

Lisa Hope Tilstra reflects on losing her husband to a brain tumor more than twenty years ago, and how that experience continues to shape her relationship to time, difficulty, and meaning. Rather than framing loss as something left behind, her story reveals how formative experiences travel with us, quietly influencing how we choose, lead, and live.

Charles Bernard tells a story about discovering a capacity within himself that he couldn’t yet see — a moment when a creative spark revealed potential that had been hidden from view. His story speaks to how growth often begins before we can name it, and how being invited into creativity can open entirely new ways of seeing what’s possible.

As Jerome and Julienne reflect with the storytellers, a shared understanding emerges: moments don’t end when they’re over. Meaning unfolds over time. And leadership is often shaped long before we have language for it.

Resources

Cecilia Loving
Managing Principal, Loving Factor LLC
Organizational Leadership | Rooted in Culture, Compassion & Belonging
Author of The Power of Inclusion and Connecting Through Circles

Charles Bernard
Sales Improvement Expert, Keynote Speaker, Founder

Websites: Criteria For Success & Collavia

Lisa Hope Tilstra
Leadership Coach & Host of the Make Life Less Difficult Podcast

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this debrief episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful insight sparked by a conversation with Lata Hamilton: sometimes the problem isn’t you—it’s the environment you’re in. Recognize that truth takes courage, honesty, and listening.
Lata’s story becomes a springboard for a wider conversation about energy, fit, and the quiet signals that tell us when a story we’ve been living no longer serves us. Jerome and Julienne explore what happens when capable, vibrant people begin to shrink—not because they lack skill or value, but because they’re trying to survive in spaces that slowly diminish them.

Look for moments of transition: when you sense you are in the middle of a new chapter but can’t yet see the end. Uncertainty often creates fear, hesitation, and self-doubt—especially when the future feels blurry or hard to imagine.

Jerome and Julienne emphasize the importance of listening: listening to trusted guides, to one’s own internal signals, and to the stories emerging beneath the noise of fear, judgment, and expectation. From that listening, new possibilities begin to take shape.
You’ll Hear:
- Is It You—or the Environment? — Julienne reflects on how often talented people internalize struggle, rather than questioning whether the system around them is draining their energy.
- Energy as a Signal — A discussion about noticing what gives you energy and what takes it away—and why that awareness is often the first clue that change is needed.
- Being in the Middle of the Story — Jerome explores why moments of transition feel so destabilizing, and how not being able to “see the future” keeps people stuck.
- Telling the Future as If It’s Already Happened — A practical storytelling insight into how imagining and articulating a desired future can help people regain clarity and agency.
- Beyond Skills and Résumés — Julienne shares why foundational story work—values, purpose, and core gifts—matters more than listing credentials, especially during career pivots.
- Listening as the Work — Jerome emphasizes creating space to vent, name fears, and surface internal obstacles—so deeper, more honest stories can emerge.
- Changing My World, Not the Whole World — A grounding reminder that meaningful impact often begins with what we can shape, control, and influence right now.

Here's a reminder that growth doesn’t always come from pushing harder—it often comes from listening more deeply. When people are supported in hearing themselves clearly, they don’t just find their next move—they reconnect with the story that gives them energy, purpose, and direction.

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan are joined by leadership coach and advisor Brad Farris, who works with creative service firm founders whose businesses have outgrown the way they’re leading.

Brad shares a defining leadership experience from early in his career—stepping into a general manager role and realizing that “acting like a leader” often means pretending to have answers you don’t yet have.

You’ll Hear:
- The Cost of “Faking It” — Brad reflects on how early leadership roles can condition leaders to perform certainty, and how that pattern quietly reinforces impostor syndrome and isolation.

- From Expert to Coach — Years of consulting taught Brad that leadership isn’t about asking better questions and standing on the side of possibility.

- When Being “Nice” Gets in the Way — A powerful story about a founder who equated kindness with avoiding hard conversations—and how clarity, not comfort, ultimately created trust and success.

- The Growth Ceiling Around $1–2M — Why many founder-led firms stall when control, hustle, and identity collide—and what it really takes to move from doing the work to leading the system.

- Delegation vs. Abdication — How letting go without redefining your role sets teams up to fail—and keeps leaders stuck in a heroic rescue loop.

- Identity as the Hidden Constraint — Jerome and Brad explore how leaders’ attachment to who they’ve been can block who they need to become next.

- Values as Decision-Making Infrastructure — Why clearly articulated values allow leaders to step back without losing quality, culture, or trust.

- The Engineer’s Mindset — Brad explains how engineering training—breaking systems down, depersonalizing failure, and diagnosing what’s working—can be a powerful leadership advantage.

- Self-Leadership Comes First — Brad closes with a reflection on leading yourself before leading others, and offers a free self-leadership assessment to help leaders identify where growth is needed.

Resources & Contact Information ~ Brad Farris
Leadership Coach & Advisor for Founder-Led Businesses

• Website
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

Additional Resource

• Self-Leadership Assessment: Available via Brad’s website (free, no email required)

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this end-of-year special episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan pause to reflect on the year behind them—and the deeper themes that have emerged through hundreds of conversations, stories, and moments of listening.

Rather than focusing on achievements or milestones, the conversation centers on something more enduring: connection, community, and curiosity. As the calendar turns toward 2026, Jerome and Julienne offer a thoughtful reminder that storytelling isn’t just about being heard—it’s about taking the time to truly listen.

You’ll Hear:

• How Much We Have in Common — Julienne reflects on how every podcast conversation reveals shared experiences and lessons, often hidden until someone takes the time to listen for context.
• Community as an Antidote to Isolation — Jerome speaks to the growing sense of loneliness and division many people are experiencing, and why reaching out—to friends, family, or people you haven’t spoken to in a while—matters more than ever.
• Listening as a Leadership Practice — Both hosts emphasize the simple but powerful act of listening without rushing to respond, and how dialogue—not monologue—is where connection lives.
• The Ripple Effect of Words — Julienne shares a reminder that the impact of listening and kindness often isn’t visible in the moment, but can quietly become the most meaningful part of someone’s day.
• Being Seen, Heard, and Respected — A reflection on why these basic human needs are among the greatest gifts we can offer one another, especially during moments of transition and uncertainty.
• Curiosity as a Way of Life — Jerome looks back on the wide range of guests featured this year—from sports to law and beyond—and how curiosity and openness have led to unexpected discoveries.
• What’s Ahead in 2026 — A glimpse into the future of Leadership Story Talks, including upcoming community-focused storytelling events and new ways for listeners to engage with one another.

This episode is both a holiday message and an invitation: to slow down, to listen more deeply, and to stay curious about the people around you. As Jerome and Julienne remind us, you don’t need a podcast to build connection—just a willingness to reach out and be present.

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here