Life has a way of delivering unexpected curveballs — moments that force us to stop, reassess, and decide how we’ll move forward. In this powerful episode of The Starfish Storytellers, we welcome Heidi Siefkas, Speaker, Storyteller, Four-Time Author, and Creator of the 'Look Up' Mantra.

Heidi shares her extraordinary personal journey - from surviving a life-altering accident to rebuilding her world after profound loss - and how those experiences shaped her belief that perspective is a survival skill. What began as a personal promise to “look up” has since evolved into a global movement, bringing together resilience stories from people across cultures, continents, and lived experiences.

Together, we explore:

·How resilience doesn’t erase hardship, but helps us keep moving forward

·Why perspective is something we return to again and again — not something we “find” once

·The common threads that unite global stories of survival, healing, and reinvention

·How community, mindfulness, and choice play a role in overcoming life’s hardest moments

This conversation is an honest, deeply human reminder that even in our darkest seasons, one breath, one shift in perspective, and one story can change everything.

To read the stories about ordinary people who have been able to do extraordinary things, pick up Heidi’s book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2yGnrE2.To learn more about Heidi and the ‘Look Up’ mantra, visit https://heidisiefkas.com/.

This episode isn’t just about a man in a red suit. It’s about the art of bringing wonder, joy, and connection to life through storytelling. Santa isn’t merely a holiday figure—he’s a master storyteller, a keeper of tradition, and a living example of generosity in action.

From the sparkle in a child’s eyes to the lessons we carry into adulthood, the story of Santa reminds us of kindness, courage, and the enduring power of belief. And who better to take us on this journey than Ed Taylor, one of the most requested Santa actors in the world.

You’ve seen him on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE, The Today Show, and The Talk, and in commercials for Chrysler, Kohl’s, and Reddi Whip. For years, Ed has devoted himself to perfecting the magic of Santa—bringing him to life with authenticity and heart, and teaching others to do the same.

In this conversation, we’ll explore:

✨ How storytelling fuels the Santa tradition

✨ Why authenticity and intention matter more than perfection

✨ The power of The Golden Christmas™—when a child transitions from believing in Santa to becoming part of Santa

✨ Insights from Ed’s book, Bexley & Thayer: The Mystery of Santa Claus, which goes beyond Christmas to explore happiness, confidence, and perseverance: https://bexleyandthayer.com/

At its heart, this episode is a celebration of the stories that connect us—and a reminder that belief, generosity, and joy are gifts we can carry all year long.

In a world driven by deadlines, deliverables, and data points, it’s easy to forget that at the heart of every campaign, pitch, or press release… is a story. Storytelling is the thread that connects boardrooms and bedtime routines, brand launches and lullabies.

But somewhere along the way - especially for those of us in the business of shaping messages - we can lose touch with the purest form of storytelling: the kind that sparks wonder, invites play, and lives in the imagination of a child.

In this episode, Nancy Merrill, a communications consultant turned children’s author of the holiday book Elf Dust, shares her personal story behind the book’s creation, why she believes kids need more imagination, and how her successful PR career coaching executives on how to connect with their teams helped her step into the spotlight as an author.

Whether you're a parent, a writer, or someone dreaming of turning an old idea into something new, this conversation will warm your heart and remind you: sometimes the smallest stories have the most lasting magic.