In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan speak with Gabrielle Dolan—one of the world’s leading authorities on business storytelling, keynote speaker, and author of nine books including her newest release, Story Intelligence: The Craft of Authentic Storytelling Made Smarter with AI.

Gabrielle shares the pivotal “sliding door” moment that transformed her career—from a 17-year tenure at National Australia Bank to launching her own storytelling practice long before it became a buzzword. Through humor and insight, she reflects on two decades of helping leaders move from folded arms to open minds when it comes to storytelling—and how AI is reshaping that conversation today.

In Story Intelligence, Gabrielle explores how we can harness AI as a creative collaborator without losing the human heart of storytelling. She shares an experiment comparing AI-generated stories to human ones, revealing that while AI delivers clarity, it lacks authenticity—the emotional resonance that connects people.

You’ll Hear:

The Power of Rejection – How a missed promotion became the spark that launched a global storytelling career

From Trend to Transformation – What’s changed in 20 years of helping leaders tell stories that stick

When AI “Almost” Gets It Right – What Gabrielle learned from testing human vs. AI-generated stories

Authenticity as the X-Factor – Why audiences can sense when a story isn’t truly lived or felt

Story Intelligence Defined – A new framework for using authentic stories to connect, engage, and inspire

Whether you’re a leader curious about how to balance technology with truth, or a communicator looking to tell more human stories in a digital age, this conversation reminds us that the future of storytelling isn’t artificial—it’s deeply, powerfully human.

Resources

Website: gabrielledolan.com

Free Storytelling Starter Kit: gabrielledolan.com/starterkit

Books: gabrielledolan.com/books

LinkedIn: Gabrielle Dolan

Instagram: @gabrielledolan.1

YouTube: Gabrielle Dolan Consulting

Podcast: Keeping It Real with Jac and Ral

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

"Be ready to be ready." — Jen Mueller

In this debrief, Jerome and Julienne unpack lessons from Jen Mueller’s world of sports broadcasting—where seconds matter and every word counts. They explore how Jen’s approach to preparation, precision, and presence applies far beyond the sidelines, offering leaders a model for communicating clearly and engaging others under pressure.

What begins as a story about post-game interviews becomes a reflection on what great meetings, coaching moments, and conversations have in common: thoughtful preparation, shared airtime, and genuine listening.

You’ll Hear:
– Preparation Creates Freedom – How doing your homework allows you to be more spontaneous and responsive in the moment.
– Make Time Your Friend – Why embracing time constraints can foster safety, inclusion, and sharper dialogue.
– Curate, Don’t Cram – The value of saying only what matters—and leaving space for others to contribute.
– Engaging Every Voice – How intentional facilitation helps quieter participants feel seen and heard.

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

Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Dr. Anja Timmermann—historian, communication scientist, journalist, and founder of the Storytelling Symposium in Germany. With a background spanning academia, media, and neuroscience, Dr. Timmermann brings a rich, evidence-based perspective to how humans share knowledge, build connection, and lead through story.

She begins with a vivid moment of culture shock—standing in a Manhattan bus line, a stranger in a city of millions—only to be folded into community by a handful of New Yorkers offering quarters for her fare. That small act of generosity became a lifelong metaphor: storytelling as the bridge between isolation and belonging.

You’ll Hear:

• Belonging Through Story – How a simple New York bus encounter revealed storytelling’s power to create instant community.
• From Facts to Connection – Why storytelling doesn’t distort data—it contextualizes it, allowing truth to be felt as well as known.
• Building the Storytelling Symposium – A global gathering where researchers, educators, and practitioners bring narrative competence into serious professional practice.
• The START Framework – Anja’s adaptation of the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action, Result + Transfer) to help experts translate complexity into clarity.
• Working with Scientists – How she helps data-driven minds see that story is not a compromise of accuracy, but an expansion of understanding.
• Listen Before You Tell – Why the most powerful storytellers are also great listeners—because connection starts with curiosity.

Resources

• Dr. Anja Timmermann on LinkedIn
• Storytelling Symposium: Find out more and register for the 2025 edition!
• The storytelling-symposium.de
• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Youtube
• Symposium on LinkedIn
• Symposium on Youtube

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

"When AI is mimicking as opposed to truly reflecting a culture, things become dull… it’s been flattened out." — James Francis

In this debrief, Jerome and Julienne unpack James Francis’s reflection on artificial intelligence and culture—and draw striking parallels to storytelling itself.

When we rely on a single story, or a single perspective, we flatten complexity. But when we listen for nuance, explore multiple angles, and share stories across differences, we begin to reflect the true richness of human experience.

You’ll Hear:
– Beyond the One Story – Why telling more than one story about yourself or your organization builds trust and dimension.
– Curiosity as a Cultural Practice – How visiting new environments and listening to unfamiliar voices keeps our communication muscles strong.
– Technology vs. Humanity – Why AI can’t replace the simple power of conversation and genuine connection.
– Reflection Over Replication – How both leaders and technologists can aim to mirror culture, not mimic it.

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

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan speak with Dr. LaNysha Adams—TEDx speaker, ten-time award-winning author of Me Power, and Director of Student Wellness at Santa Fe Community College.

Dr. Adams shares a profoundly personal story of surviving sudden cardiac arrest during the COVID-19 pandemic—an experience that reshaped her relationship to time, gratitude, and purpose. From that moment emerged a new mission: to help others reclaim their agency and rediscover who they are beyond the labels that define them.

Through her Me Power framework and the concept of radical self-interrogation, LaNysha invites us to question the roles, titles, and identities we cling to—and to remember that the constant in every life transition is us.

You’ll Hear:

• Survival & Clarity – How a near-death experience revealed the urgency of living with intention
• Beyond Labels – Why over-identifying with roles can leave us lost when life changes
• Radical Self-Interrogation – How asking “why do I believe what I believe?” can uncover authenticity and healing
• The Me Power Framework – Five pillars that help individuals identify strengths, remove barriers, and take action even when unsure
• From Confusion to Clarity – How one client used the Me Power process to leave a grind of multiple jobs and build a fulfilling new career

Whether you’re navigating change, seeking purpose, or supporting others through transition, this conversation is a moving reminder that power doesn’t come from titles—it comes from the choices we make about who we are and how we show up.

Resources

• Social links:
  https://bio.link/edling
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanysha/
  
  Free audiobook for audience: https://bit.ly/mepower4me
• TEDx: How to radically question your labels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi0ggI6BU0I

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

"There was a beginning and an end… and all the contributing factors that made it actionable."

In this debrief, Jerome and Julienne reflect on Andy Goram’s story of receiving tough but transformative feedback. What could have been a demoralizing moment instead became a catalyst for growth—showing how honesty, kindness, and specificity can turn feedback into fuel.

They connect Andy’s lesson to the heart of storytelling itself: when you focus on what happened—not just feelings or conclusions—you create clarity, accountability, and the chance for true dialogue.

You’ll Hear:
– Feedback as Storytelling – Why recounting events as they happened creates empathy and opens space for understanding.
– Kindness vs. Comfort – How being specific and honest is more supportive than softening the truth.
– Beyond One-and-Done – Why feedback is a process, not a single conversation.
– A Two-Way Street – How receiving feedback with openness is just as vital as giving it.

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

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan speak with Jen Mueller—business communication expert, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, and founder of Talk Sporty to Me. With over 25 years on the sidelines of the NFL, MLB, and beyond, Jen translates lessons from high-pressure sports environments into practical strategies for business leaders.

Drawing on early experiences where she was told to stay quiet in locker rooms, Jen shares how she built her voice, why clarity beats volume, and how leaders can empower every member of a team to contribute. Her approach demonstrates that preparation, specificity, and consistency transform everyday conversations into moments of influence and trust.

Through her consulting, keynote speaking, and media work, Jen equips leaders to define success clearly, avoid the traps of ambiguity, and “stack wins” by focusing on small, consistent improvements.

You’ll Hear:

• Seconds, Not Minutes – Why communication impact is measured in 15–20 seconds of clarity, not long speeches.
• Defining Failure to Enable Success – How setting clear parameters creates accountability and builds trust.
• Empowering Every Voice – Practical ways leaders can draw contributions from quieter team members.
• Stacking Wins – Why small adjustments and consistent feedback drive motivation and long-term performance.
• Leadership Through Precision – How preparation and authenticity make communication more effective than spontaneity.

Whether you’re leading in the boardroom or the locker room, Jen’s insights offer actionable tools to sharpen your communication and elevate your team.

Resources

• Website: TalkSportyToMe.com
• Email: jen@talksportytome.com
• Instagram: @TalkSportyToMe
• YouTube: TalkSportyToMe
• LinkedIn: Jen Mueller

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

“We see so often the Peter Principle play out… What we really need in today’s world are unblockers of work.” — Liz Gulliver

In this debrief, Jerome and Julienne reflect on Liz Gulliver’s insight that many managers are promoted for technical expertise but left unsupported in learning how to lead people. The result? Micromanagement, lost trust, and teams held back instead of propelled forward.

They explore how shifting from “directors of work” to “unblockers of work” can transform leadership today—by creating psychological safety, encouraging authentic conversations, and modeling humanity through shared stories.

You’ll Hear:
– From Micromanagers to Unblockers – Why leadership isn’t about correcting every formula or cell, but asking “What’s holding you back?”
– Learning by Observation – How watching leaders model authenticity, vulnerability, and risk-taking is more powerful than any handbook.
– The Role of Storytelling – Why sharing personal challenges and lessons builds trust and motivates teams beyond metrics and KPIs.
– Supporting New Leaders – How HR, peers, and mentors can help those promoted from technical roles navigate the shift to people leadership.

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