“Women are asked to parent like they don’t have jobs — and work like they don’t have kids.”

What happens when resilience becomes both a survival strategy… and a catalyst for systems change?

In this episode, we sit down with Giovanna Rossi — public affairs strategist, leadership coach, founder of Family Friendly New Mexico, and host of NPR’s The Well Woman Show. Giovanna shares the deeply personal story that shaped her work: watching her single mother walk across the stage to receive her diploma after years of sacrifice, determination, and raising a family while putting herself through school.

That experience became the foundation for Giovanna’s lifelong mission: improving the systems that impact women, caregivers, and families.

From policy work and workplace culture to burnout, invisible labor, and values-based leadership, this conversation explores what it means to lead sustainably in a world that often rewards overwork and perfectionism. Giovanna also shares practical insights from her Well Woman framework — helping leaders align their values with their actions so they can make meaningful impact without losing themselves in the process.

This is a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about leadership, caregiving, resilience, and redefining success.

You’ll Hear

• The childhood moment that shaped Giovanna’s understanding of resilience and possibility
• How her mother’s experience as a single parent inspired her work in systems change
• Why career paths are rarely linear — and how “squiggly lines” often lead to purpose
• The hidden conflict many caregivers face: “parent like you don’t have a job, work like you don’t have kids”
• How burnout is often tied to living out of alignment with your values
• Giovanna’s framework for distinguishing between what’s urgent and what’s truly important
• Why community and group support are essential for women leaders
• The invisible workload women often carry — and the pressure to appear perfect and productive
• How workplace policy changes can help women and families thrive instead of merely survive
• Why Giovanna believes busy women are the ones most capable of changing the world

Resources

• Well Woman Life
• The Well Woman Show (NPR): The Well Woman Show
• Family Friendly New Mexico
• Giovanna Rossi on LinkedIn: Giovanna Rossi LinkedIn
• @wellwomanlife on Instagram and Facebook

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

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

“The more you understand where someone comes from, the more you understand how they show up.”

In this debrief episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan reflect on their conversation with Dean Foster—and the deeper implications of culture in how we listen, lead, and connect.

What begins as a discussion about global cultural differences quickly becomes something more personal: a reminder that culture isn’t just geographic—it’s inherited, lived, and often invisible to us.

Drawing from their own backgrounds and past podcast conversations, Jerome and Julienne explore how curiosity about others’ stories can unlock trust, deepen relationships, and ultimately make us better leaders.

You’ll Hear
- Why culture shapes far more of our behavior than we consciously realize
- How exploring your own heritage can deepen your understanding of others
- The hidden biases we carry—especially around language, accents, and communication styles
- Why curiosity (“How did you get here?”) is one of the most powerful leadership tools
- How small investments in understanding others can save time and conflict later
- The role of storytelling in uncovering identity, building trust, and fostering collaboration
- A simple but powerful call to action: ask better questions and invite stories

Key Takeaway

We often prioritize efficiency over connection—but when we skip the human context, we lose the very thing that makes collaboration work.
Understanding someone’s culture isn’t about memorizing differences. It’s about being curious enough to listen to the story behind the person.

Resources

Listen to the full conversation in episode #184 with Dean Foster
Related episode #67 with Heather Hansen on language, accents, and bias

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

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

“If it weren’t for hope in those 90% failures, I’m not sure where I’d be.”

What if a single moment—something as simple as noticing a poster on a wall—could change the trajectory of your life?

In this episode, we sit down with Bryce Kennedy, Executive Director of Space Valley Foundation and Space Connectivity Senior Officer at the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union. Bryce shares the unexpected journey that led him from law, consulting, and even acting… into the world of space.

At the heart of his story is a powerful idea: wonder.

From a pivotal pandemic moment under the stars to building a global initiative designed to ensure access to space for all, Bryce’s journey is anything but linear. It’s a story of experimentation, resilience, and ultimately aligning with something deeply human—the search for hope and meaning.

This conversation invites us to rethink how we approach our careers, our failures, and the values that quietly guide us.

You’ll Hear

• How a chance encounter with a NASA roadmap reignited Bryce’s childhood sense of wonder—and changed everything
• Why a “90% failure rate” can actually be a sign you’re on the right path
• The unexpected throughline in Bryce’s career: from law to acting to space
• How hope became the hidden driver behind his life and work
• Why “wonder” is more than a feeling—it’s a gateway to innovation and global collaboration
• The mission behind Space Valley Foundation and the global Space for Good initiative
• A powerful reframe: instead of forcing outcomes, align with your “North Star” and let possibilities emerge

Resources

• Space Valley Foundation
• Bryce Kennedy on LinkedIn

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

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

“It’s not about perfection, it’s about connection.”

Overview

What if growth isn’t supposed to look polished?

In this debrief episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan reflect on their conversation with Nicolas Darveau-Garneau and his powerful metaphor: be a sequoia, not a bonsai.

A bonsai is carefully shaped, controlled, and aesthetically pleasing—but limited. A sequoia, on the other hand, grows wild and tall over time, shaped by its environment, weathering challenges, and drawing strength from deep roots.

This conversation explores what that metaphor means for leadership, storytelling, and organizational culture. From embracing experimentation and failure, to balancing structure with openness, Jerome and Julienne unpack how real growth happens—not through control or perfection, but through connection, listening, and lived experience.

You’ll Hear

• Why organizations that prioritize experimentation over perfection are the ones that truly grow
• How “messy” stories—especially the ones that didn’t go as planned—build trust and connection
• The hidden tension between control (bonsai) and organic growth (sequoia) in leadership and culture
• Why Narativ’s methodology balances both: structure that creates safety + space for authentic expression
• How storytelling isn’t the starting point—it’s the result of intentional listening and connection-building
• Why the real goal isn’t just telling a story, but being heard and acknowledged
• How drawing from past experiences—both positive and difficult—creates meaning and forward momentum

Resources

• 🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Nick HERE

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

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

“If I was scattered, the team was scattered—and it was life or death.”

What happens when the life you’ve built is also the life you’re hiding inside?

In this episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with leadership coach and former CIA officer Kenny Leahman to explore the concept of “living under cover”—and what it takes to drop it.

From volunteering for two years in Afghanistan during the height of the war to navigating the internal conflict of living a double life, Kenny shares how extreme environments sharpened his understanding of focus, trust, and leadership. But it’s his personal journey—coming out to his wife, his organization, and ultimately himself—that reveals the deeper cost of inauthenticity.

This conversation moves beyond storytelling into something more fundamental: the courage to be seen, the role of self-awareness in leadership, and the transformational power of dropping the covers that hold us back.

You’ll Hear

– How a life-and-death leadership environment in Afghanistan clarified what truly matters
– Why focus isn’t just a productivity tool—but a signal of leadership and commitment
– The surprising parallel between intelligence work and coaching: deep, trust-based relationships
– What it means to “live under cover”—and why everyone, in some way, does
– The internal cost of misalignment between identity, values, and behavior
– A powerful story of coming out—and the unexpected leadership response that changed everything
– How fear of being “found out” shows up as imposter syndrome in leaders
– The role of self-awareness in leadership—and why lack of it can do real harm
– How to identify the gap between the values you claim and the values you live
– Why dropping your cover doesn’t just transform you—it expands your impact
– The three questions every leader should ask themselves: Who am I? Who do I need to be? How do I get there?

Resources

Kenny's website
Connect with Kenny on LinkedIN

Kenny's story on Yahoo! News

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

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

“It’s the responsibility of leaders to embrace vulnerability—because that’s what creates trust.”

In this debrief, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful insight from their conversation with Jim O’Gorman, Chief People Officer at Included Health: values don’t come to life through statements—they come to life through stories.

Jim’s example of recognizing employees who embody company values opens the door to a deeper conversation about how organizations can move beyond abstract principles and into lived, everyday behaviors. Jerome and Julienne explore how storytelling—especially authentic, vulnerable storytelling—builds trust and turns values into something people can see, feel, and replicate.

Drawing from their work with organizations like Cigna and others, they highlight how simple practices—asking for stories, sharing them, and amplifying them—can create a ripple effect across teams. What starts as recognition of a few individuals quickly becomes a culture where everyone sees themselves in the values and wants to contribute their own stories.

At its core, this conversation is a reminder: you don’t need to invent culture—you need to notice it, name it, and share it.

You’ll Hear:

– From Values to Behavior – Why values only matter when they are demonstrated through real, observable actions—and how stories make that visible.

– Authenticity Builds Trust – How leaders who share not just successes but vulnerabilities create deeper connection and credibility.

– Recognition as Storytelling – How celebrating employees through stories reinforces culture and creates momentum across an organization.

– The Ripple Effect of Shared Stories – Why highlighting a few stories often inspires many more, turning storytelling into a participatory, organic practice.

– Start Simple: Ask and Listen – A practical approach to uncovering stories: ask people when they’ve seen values in action, then listen and share.

Culture isn’t created in mission statements or posters—it’s revealed in the stories people tell about what actually happens every day.

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

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

Overview

What if the moments that shape us aren’t the ones we think?

In this episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with leadership expert and bestselling author Chris Dyer to explore how a seemingly small moment—an uncle showing up—created a lifelong philosophy of leadership.

From nearly losing his company during the 2009 recession to rebuilding culture from the ground up, Chris shares how he discovered that great leadership isn’t about systems or strategy—it’s about how we show up in the moments that matter most.

This conversation challenges leaders to rethink culture, communication, and connection—not as abstract ideas, but as intentional choices made in real time.

You’ll Hear

• Why the most impactful moments in our lives are often not the most obvious ones
• How a childhood experience shaped Chris’s belief in showing up fully for others
• The turning point that led him to rebuild his company culture from scratch
• Why transparency unlocks better ideas, engagement, and ownership
• How to move from a culture of execution to a culture of thinking and contribution
• The surprising downside of traditional one-on-one meetings—and what to do instead
• Why intentionality is the key to making remote teams thrive
• How to recognize, shape, and scale the moments that define leadership
• The difference between leaders people tolerate—and leaders people trust

Resources

• 🎤 Leadership Story Talks events
• 👂 The Listening Lab
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• Instagram
• X
• website
• Facebook

YouTube

• Moments That Matter - Amazon

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

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

Overview ~ In this debrief episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan reflect on their latest Leadership Story Talks LIVE event, exploring what made the stories so powerful—and what they reveal about how we make meaning from our experiences.

From a childhood ballet recital… to a summer job at the zoo… to waking up in a hospital after a coma… the stories shared in this live event remind us that transformation doesn’t always come from the biggest moments.

Sometimes, it’s the smallest, most ordinary experiences—revisited through a new lens—that shape how we lead, connect, and show up in the world.

This conversation unpacks how storytelling helps us reframe our past, connect the dots, and communicate what truly matters—not through polished bios, but through lived experience.

You’ll Hear

• Why powerful leadership stories often come from small, specific moments
• How the same experience can take on new meaning over time
• The difference between a transformational moment and a chosen story
• How storytelling reveals what a bio can’t: values, motivations, and identity
• The role of listening, safety, and structure in helping stories emerge
• Why courage and vulnerability are essential to sharing stories that resonate
• How live storytelling creates unexpected connections and shared meaning

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