What does it take to truly connect with your audience? How do you move beyond broadcasting your message to co-creating stories that inspire, engage, and build trust?

In this episode of The Story Craft Podcast, Dr. Meg Adams sits down with Thaler Pekar, an award-winning expert in institutional storytelling and founder of Thaler Pekar & Partners. For over 18 years, Thaler has guided visionary leaders in crafting narratives that engage audiences worldwide, teaching them to listen, connect, and co-create stories that resonate.

Together, we explore:

• How trust and listening are essential to effective storytelling
• The art of co-creating stories with audiences rather than just presenting them
• Ethical considerations in participatory storytelling
• How leaders and organizations can foster connection through narrative
• Practical tips for bringing audience-centered storytelling into your own work

This conversation is a deep dive into how storytelling becomes truly meaningful when it’s collaborative, and how connection and trust are inseparable from the stories we tell.

Whole Story Living emphasizes that every story is lived, shared, and received. In this episode, we see this in action:

• Listening is as important as telling.

• Storytelling is a shared experience, not a solo performance.
• The stories that matter are the ones that engage, invite, and transform both teller and listener.

This episode is perfect for anyone looking to deepen the connection between their story and the people they serve!

If this episode resonates:

• Follow The Story Craft Podcast for more conversations on storytelling, leadership, and connection
• Share this episode with colleagues, leaders, or creatives who want to improve how they listen and communicate
• Leave a review to help others discover the show

And if you want guidance on how to craft stories that build trust, foster engagement, and invite participation, this is the work I do through Whole Story Living—helping individuals and teams live and communicate their stories authentically.

How do you communicate who you are… in a world that feels louder, faster, and more divided than ever?

In this episode of The Story Craft Podcast, Dr. Meg Adams sits down with Dawn Robinette, an award-winning communications expert and founder of Tale to Tell Communications, to explore the intersection of personal branding, storytelling, and identity in today’s complex communication landscape.

With decades of experience in public relations, branding, and campaign strategy, including work with major organizations and cultural initiatives, Dawn brings both expertise and clarity to what it means to build a brand that is not only strategic, but authentic.

Together, we discuss:

• How to communicate who you are with clarity and confidence
• The role of storytelling in shaping your brand and message
• How to navigate communication in a polarized and noisy world

This conversation is both practical and deeply reflective...inviting you to think not just about how you show up, but why.

If this episode resonates:

• Follow The Story Craft Podcast for more conversations on storytelling, leadership, and communication
• Share this episode with a leader, marketer, or creative navigating how to show up authentically
• Leave a review to help others discover the show

And if you’re looking to bring this kind of clarity and human-centered communication into your team or organization, this is the work I do through Whole Story Living—helping leaders and teams communicate with confidence, build trust, and show up authentically!

What if purpose isn’t something you find… but something you choose to live into?

In this episode of The Story Craft Podcast, Kyle Adams talks about what it really looks like to tap into your purpose, especially in seasons of uncertainty and transition.

He explores the tension between waiting for clarity and taking action, and how purpose often reveals itself not in big, defining moments, but in small, intentional choices over time.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• The difference between waiting for clarity and creating momentum
• How purpose is often revealed through action, not overthinking
• What it looks like to navigate transition, risk, and uncertainty

This episode is a reminder that purpose is something you practice.

Whole Story Living reframes purpose as something you live, not something you unlock.

It’s found in:

• The choices you make
• The risks you take
• The work you’re willing to show up for

You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. You just have to take the next step!

If this episode resonates:

• Follow The Story Craft Podcast for more conversations on storytelling, leadership, and meaningful work
• Share this episode with someone who’s feeling stuck or searching for direction
• Leave a review to help others discover the show