For far too long, cultural stereotypes have told our stories for us.

They've shaped the way others see us, and often, the way we see ourselves. But here’s the truth: stereotypes are incomplete stories. And the only way to rewrite them is to speak up and tell the full, real, complex, and beautiful versions of who we are.

As someone who works with women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals to help them craft and share their personal stories with confidence, I’ve witnessed firsthand how powerful it is when someone decides to stop playing small, stop fitting into boxes, and start telling the truth on their terms.

Because there’s something incredibly radical about standing up and saying, “That’s not my story. Let me tell you who I really am.”

We’ve all experienced it: bias. Someone assuming something about you because of how you look, where you’re from, who you love, or what language you speak. Those assumptions often come from societal narratives that have been repeated for generations. Some...

Because someone out there needs what you have to say.

There is something transformative that happens the moment you choose to share your story. Whether you realize it or not, your lived experience carries weight. It holds truth. And when shared with courage, it becomes a catalyst for connection, empowerment, and even change.

Because the truth is that someone out there is waiting for your story to unlock their healing.

But why do you need a bigger audience? 

Listen, I’m not saying you have to go speak at an event with thousands of people on your first gig. But I am saying that if you are nervous about sharing your story or even getting started as a speaker, you need an audience that is bigger than your mirror, your best friend, and your cat.

Start with a local open mic night or sponsor a networking event. This is one of my favorite ways to get in front of a crowd of 30-50 people who can benefit from hearing what I have to say. This scenario usually affords you anywhere from 2-7 minut...

Let’s be honest, AI is everywhere right now. It’s in our phones, our emails, our playlists, and if you are like me, it is practically a permanent member of your team. Some people are side eyeing it; some are terrified it is going to take over the world, and others? Well, we are busy putting it to work.

As a speaker, coach, and storyteller, I use AI every single day (I even used it to help me write this article). Not because I can’t do the work on my own, but because AI supercharges what I am already doing. It is my non-ADHD unemotional powerhouse assistant, my thought organizer, my rough draft wrangler, and occasionally, my very patient brainstorming buddy. 

I even use AI to help my clients quickly organize their ideas and see connections in their stories that would take them weeks to find manually.

I simply can’t gatekeep the awesomeness of AI anymore. So, today’s article is all about how AI can help you go from scattered ideas to a speech that leaves your audience thinking, “damn,...

Let’s talk about something I know you have been thinking about, but maybe not saying out loud:

You want to be seen as an expert.

You want your voice to matter.

You want your work, your ideas, and your story to carry weight.

Not just with your clients or coworkers, but on stages, in boardrooms, at conferences, on podcasts, and in the rooms where people talk about who to hire, who to trust, and who to follow.

You don’t want to just sit at the table. You want to lead and impact the conversation.

But here is the part you might not realize yet: The fastest way to grow your credibility is through public speaking.

Why? Because speaking positions you as a person with passion, purpose, and impact.

When you speak on a stage, even a virtual one, you become the voice people associate with the solution or message you share. You become the face people remember when they are looking for someone who can reach their audience.

Think about it. Who do you trust more? The person who passively posts ...

Let’s talk about something that probably makes you squirm a little. Vulnerability.

Just the thought of being vulnerable can bring up some uncomfortable feelings. Sweaty palms. Shaky voice. Racing thoughts. And if you are anything like the people I work with, your first instinct might be to keep it all buttoned up and present yourself as polished, composed, and professional.

But here is the truth no one tells you until you experience it for yourself. Being vulnerable is not weakness. In fact, it is one of the highest forms of courage.

When you share your real story, not just the highlight reel, you are offering your audience something far more powerful than a performance. You are offering them a connection. A mirror. A moment of truth that sticks with them long after your last word.

Speaking vulnerably is not about standing on stage crying through your trauma. It is about being intentional, strategic, and honest. It is about knowing how to use your lived experience to make an impact...

Every challenge holds the seeds of a story.

When you are in the thick of heartbreak, loss, identity crises, or rejection, it is hard to imagine how anything good could come from it. But I have seen repeatedly how the most powerful speakers are the ones who have dared to sit with their pain, shape it, and then share it.

Everything you experience becomes part of your story. The mundane moments. The big shifts. The chapters you wish you could erase. All of it. And when you learn to speak from those pieces of your past, especially the messy, complicated, human ones, you begin to build something powerful: a story full of connection, healing, and impact.

For women and minorities, especially those from marginalized or silenced communities, speaking out is not just empowering, it is revolutionary. Your story is not just yours. It is the story of all those who are like you and just don’t know how to connect. Your story is an invitation, a bridge, and a reminder to others that they are not al...

Whether you're preparing for a big keynote, stepping onto a stage for the first time, or sharing your story in an intimate setting, one thing is true: the best speeches come from real experiences.

When you speak from the richness your own life, you unlock the gifts your story can bear. Your audience leans in. They feel your authenticity, and they might even see their own reflection in what you share. 

But it’s not always easy to figure out which story to tell, or how to tell it in a way that you’re genuinely excited to share.

Here’s how to turn your lived experience into a speech that feels honest, energizing, and entirely your own.

Step 1: Know Who You’re Talking To

Before you start writing, pause and think about the people who will hear your story.

Ask yourself:

• Who are they?
• What could they relate to?
• What might they need to hear right now?

When you align your message with what you know about your audience’s emotions, values, and challenges, you create connection. But ...

There’s a reason why some stories linger long after they are told.

While a good structure and powerful message are important, it is often the sensory details that help a story leave its mark. When the audience can envision the moment and feel the story the way you do, it will stay with them in a much more powerful way. That is the magic of sensory details.

In the art of storytelling sensory details are the brushstrokes that turn your sketch into a masterpiece. And if you want your audience to remember your message, your focus needs to be on helping them feel it on a deeper level.

Today we are learning why sensory details are important elements of your stories, and how you can use them to captivate your audience.

Why Sensory Details Matter

Various research has shown that sensory details help activate the brain and create stronger neural pathways. When we hear a story with vivid sensory input like “the smell of fresh-baked bread” or “the icy grip of the steering wheel,” the parts of...

When it comes to storytelling—whether you are on stage, writing a book, or speaking to a room full of executives—facts alone will not move your audience. What moves people is emotion.

Ask anyone who has had to endure a handful of power-point based meetings (that could have been emails) and they will tell you that facts and data and science, while valuable, are B-O-R-I-N-G.

But, fear not, there is a way to make even the most mundane information engaging…by adding your own personal flair and stories to the mix!

Stories are not just how we share information; they are how we connect, remember, and relate to each other. 

You can give a flawless presentation with all the right data and astounding factual information and still leave your audience unmoved. Or you can speak from the heart, share a vulnerable truth, and suddenly every eye is locked on you. Why? Because emotion is the gateway to connection. And connection is the true goal of storytelling.

Let’s break down exactly why emotion...

I used to think that healing only came in quiet moments, over time, crying in the shower, or sitting alone with my thoughts. I believed healing was private, solitary, and inward. And while there is truth in that, I have learned that there is another, equally powerful path to healing: standing in the light, taking the mic, and speaking your story out loud.

That truth hit me like a wave the first time I stood on a stage to share my own story.

My hands were shaky. My mouth was dry. My heart raced in my chest like it was trying to escape—but still, I spoke. I shared the story of loving an addict through addiction and recovery. The story of becoming a single mom overnight. The story finding strength I didn’t know I had until I had no choice but to have it.

In sharing my experiences something incredible happened. As the words left my mouth, I felt the room breathe with me. I saw heads nodding. I saw those half-smiles we make when we realize we relate to what someone has just said. I saw e...