What if your story isn’t something to fix—but something to listen to?

In this episode of Rooted & Wild, we explore transformational story-work as a living, embodied practice for healing, leadership, and reconnection. My guest, Michael Kass, invites us beyond surface-level narrative and into the deeper currents of meaning, identity, and the Sacred that move beneath our stories.

Michael Kass is the founder of Story & Spirit and a convening designer, facilitator, consultant, and embodied leadership coach who has spent over 25 years helping individuals and organizations navigate profound transitions. His work spans touring an award-winning solo storytelling show across the United States, guiding teams through moments of rupture and growth, offering breathwork rituals to groups around the world, and coaching founders and multinational CEOs through deep inner and outer shifts.

In this conversation, we unpack:

• What transformational story-work actually is—and how it differs from traditional storytelling
• How story lives in the body, the nervous system, and the relational field
• The role of ritual, breathwork, and embodiment in personal and collective healing
• Why reclaiming story is essential for humane leadership and meaningful work

Michael is an ICF-Certified Executive Coach, Certified Breathwork Facilitator, author of Story Maps: Wayfinding Tools for the Modern Seeker, and serves on the Board of Directors for Wild Gift. However the work shows up, his devotion remains the same: restoring connection—to self, to one another, and to what is sacred.

You’ll also learn why he has a well-known weakness for chocolate and puppies (though, admittedly, not at the same time).

Connect with Michael Kass:
Website: https://www.storyandspirit.org

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5PEqbjjjA6gkwnMvQiz2bq?si=74c2aaf18f6a4ecb

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkass1

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.