Have you ever walked into a professional setting or a high-end space and asked yourself, “Do I belong here?”

Join host Rita Ernst on The Story I’m Telling Myself for a transformative conversation with Mo McKnight Howe, the visionary owner of Revelry Gallery. In this episode, they dive deep into the "inner stories" of exclusion that artists and professionals face, the danger of elitist gatekeeping, and why it is time to cultivate your own spaces of belonging.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• The "Closed Door" Narrative: Mo shares her raw experience of graduating from art school and being told she couldn't make it in her hometown—leading her to challenge the "starving artist" story by building a commercial powerhouse that now supports over 150 local artists.
• The Anti-White Wall Gallery: Learn why Mo and her partner Paula rejected the "stark and sterile" elitism of traditional galleries. From blue walls and antique rugs to a gallery dog that greets you at the door, discover how to design an environment that feels like a home.
• Anti-Gatekeeping and Mentorship: Mo explains her "open book" approach to the art world, providing the professional guidance she never received—on everything from pricing and branding to helping artists "graduate" from odd jobs into full-time creators.
• The Kids Cove Strategy: Explore why the traditional "don't touch" rule in galleries breeds a sense of exclusion for families. Mo discusses cultivating childhood art appreciation through a dedicated space where the youngest collectors can pick out their own handmade pieces.
• Price Inclusivity as Belonging: Discover the strategic power of the four-dollar sticker. Mo discusses how offering accessible entry points ensures that everyone can support the creative economy, regardless of their budget.

Why You Should Listen:

If you have ever told yourself the "cruel story" that you aren't good enough or that you need to conform to fit into a certain professional mold, this episode is your permission slip to rewrite the narrative. Mo’s 15-year journey is a masterclass in career resilience, showing that you don't have to be the owner of a business to cultivate community—you can start by changing the touchpoints within your own team today.

Stop waiting for an invitation and start building your own table. Learn how to move beyond professional intimidation and support the "shop local" movement to keep culture alive in your community.

Listen now and subscribe to the show to start transforming the stories you tell yourself.

Connect with Mo

mo@revelrygallery.comwww.RevelryGallery.comhttps://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2020/09/25/forty-under-40-mo-mcknight-howe.html

The Kindness Revolution – Reclaiming Joy Beyond Burnout

⁠Grab your complementary companion guideAre you tired of "chasing" a version of happiness that feels out of reach? Join host Rita Ernst on The Story I’m Telling Myself for a transformative conversation with leadership and storytelling coach Monica Kleijn Evason.

In this episode, they dive deep into the "inner stories" that keep us stuck in burnout, the epidemic of modern loneliness, and why it is time for a "Kindness Revolution".

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• Burnout vs. Stress: Monica explains the critical difference between the two and how burnout often breeds a layer of cynicism that makes the very idea of "happiness" feel like an "ick".
• The "Marmite" Identity: Learn why being told you are "polarizing" is actually a gift. Monica shares her journey from being a "love junkie" seeking universal approval to embracing her "Marmite" self—realizing she was never meant to be "vanilla".
• The Science of Loneliness: Explore the "loneliness pandemic" and how social anxiety can affect even the most extroverted leaders. Monica discusses building "warm hubs" to foster community connection.
• Kindness as a Reciprocal Soul: Discover why true kindness isn't just about the Giver—it’s about the "reciprocal soul" that feeds the person receiving it and the person doing it.
• The "Five Frogs" Rule for Action: If five frogs are on a log and one decides to jump, how many are left? (Hint: The answer is five). Monica breaks down the difference between deciding to act and actually jumping off the log.

Why You Should Listen:

If you have ever told yourself the "cruel story" that you don't deserve to be happy, or if you feel the pressure to "dial down" your energy to fit in, this episode is your permission slip to shine. From DJing at the World Happiness Summit to taking a group of 75-year-olds to a Rock Choir, Monica’s story is a masterclass in finding courage through playfulness.

Stop surviving and start thriving. Learn how to raise your vibration through "strong kindness" and rewrite the inner narrative that is standing in your way.

monicakevason.com

Unpack Anxiety, Nervous System Regulation, and High-Achiever Burnout with Robyn Graham

Grab your complementary companion guide

Are you a high-achieving professional woman or entrepreneur who feels like you are standing in your own way?. You might be telling yourself the story that you don’t need to heal because your past wasn’t “bad enough” to count as trauma.

But if you find yourself trapped in a cycle of perfectionism, control, and people-pleasing, your nervous system is revealing the truth.

In this motivational and relatable episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, you will discover:

• The Science of "Nervous System on Fire": Learn why high achievers often live in a state of constant high alert, cycling through fight, flight, freeze, or "fawn" (people-pleasing).
• The Truth About "Discounted Trauma": Robyn explores the internal narrative of believing your experiences weren't "bad enough" compared to others and why acknowledging your hurt is the first step to true healing.
• Breaking the Generational Curse: Understand how maternal anxiety and a dysregulated nervous system can create a "vicious cycle" that impacts your children.
• Rewiring Your Brain for Calm: Discover how your mind can control your brain to grow new neural pathways and move you from "emotional chaos" to a thriving life and career.
• Practical Tools for Resilience: Robyn shares the neuroscience behind a gratitude practice, explaining how identifying three things daily activates the prefrontal cortex to enhance creativity and executive functioning.

Why Professional Women and Managers Need to Listen: Manager burnout is at an all-time high, often driven by the simultaneous pressure to please bosses, please teams, and maintain perfect control. Robyn identifies the "alarm bells" of dysregulation, such as overreacting to small requests, chronic physical pain, and the inability to sleep.

Whether you are navigating a career transition or struggling with self-doubt, this conversation offers the practical tips and inspiration needed to rewrite your narrative and create the life you truly desire.

Be sure to subscribe and leave a five-star review to help other ambitious women challenge their self-limiting stories.

Connect with Robyn Graham:

Website: www.therobyngraham.comBook for Parents

Book for Teens