I wanted to do a special Mini Moved Me in honor of Thanksgiving - thanking you for your support, for your questions and insights and connections. I do feel so incredibly thankful for this slice of my life that has been so gratifying in the past year. 

All of that is very true - I'm incredibly grateful for this show, and for each of you. But I also feel a pang of shallowness in that sentiment. I need to place my gratitude within the context of this greater world that is struggling so much right now. 

I read this beautiful post by Elizabeth Gilbert about Mercy, about keeping our hearts open when so many people are shutting theirs down. We, as meaning-makers, speaker - MOVERS - our job is to help people experience mercy, to open their hearts, to illuminate the suffering of others and have it become our suffering as well. To experience each other, to experience compassion. To be human. 

Thank you for your open hearts. 

Lately my husband has been making some amazing connections for me. First - last week's episode with John Capecci - and now this week's episode with Jack Stahlmann! I felt a connection with Jack because his face and mine are both very expressive. (See last week's Mini Moved Me for pictures.) Jack is a "motivational speaker" - but he brings a new zest to that idea, which I really appreciate! We talked a lot about 'knowing ourselves' as a speaker (or actor/performer) and how essential that is to do good work.

Take a listen!

I got this thoughtful and totally understandable question from a listener last week:

I have done public speaking since I was a teenager, I have now been a Pastor for a year, and preach weekly. Each week, I need to create a new sermon. I find a lot of emotional energy goes into the preparation and the emotion peaks on the Sunday as I talk. Each Sunday afternoon and Monday I emotionally crash. I get flat, regret things I have said, doubt my capacity to speak and get sleepy. I understand that the highs and lows are very natural.

I am wondering, have you got any tools for managing the lows after speaking, so that I can bounce back quicker so that I can engage the world around me on Sunday and Monday?

~Gavin

Take a listen while I take on this MMM Q&A!

Talking with John Capecci - communications coach, author, teacher - was like finding a friend who likes all the same things that you do. And what's especially cool is that our connection was totally happenstance. A few weeks back, my husband went to a Pollen event, and happened to sit next to John. They had a short conversation and it became clear really quickly that he and I have a similar mission: to move people with our talks - and in John's case, more specifically, stories. We had a mind-meld conversation over coffee, and I quickly realized that I needed to have him on the show.

I'm delighted to share his insights with you!

My face is expressive! I have the deepest, deepest forehead wrinkles of anyone I've ever known - particularly for anyone under the age of 40 (barely, but yes, I'm under 40).

And one of the most important aspects of expression is your eyebrows. That comes as a surprise to many people, but the eyebrows hold the key to telling whether or not someone really means what they're saying.

Michael Veltri came to me through Nick Morgan (one of our sponsors of this show, a guest on This Moved Me, and an all-around great human) - and we originally recorded a conversation this past summer. But as you know if you've been following along with me, I had some technical issues this summer (understatement - ahem). And then I got a new computer. And I think the combo invited in some terrible karma or something, and I lost the recording with Michael. (I know, how does that happen?!) So, he was kind enough to sit down via Skype - again! - and I'm so glad we did! Michael is an executive coach, consultant, speaker, entrepreneur - and he brings his life experience - as a cancer survivor, an Aikido Master, a Marine - into all that he does. Plus, he's in the midst of some major growth in his speaking career, so we got to talk about lessons learned along the way. Enjoy!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO THIS MOVED ME!

I love all excuses to celebrate! And this one is particularly special for me.

One year ago today, I took a risk and jumped head first into this podcast thing. In many ways it was a selfish endeavor because I simply love talking about this stuff - and I love people - so it seemed like a fun little project. Well, this "fun little project" has turned into a twice-weekly gig that has become a big part of my life, and connected me with people from all over the world! I've spoken with huge TED speakers, budding amateurs who are about to go big time, and uber-talented artists and visionaries who all have brought insight and courage to this art of public speaking. I am so grateful.

So–to celebrate–I've got some goodies for you, including this outtakes montage.

Enjoy!

I attended the Minneapolis TEDx Event this summer. It was a night full of some amazing speakers, but the stand out to me was Michelle Hensley, my guest today. Michelle is the Artistic Director and Founder of Ten Thousand Things theater company. This theater company creates theater that brings stories to people who don't normally get to experience them. But that's just the very tip of the iceberg. I was so excited to talk with Michelle because her philosophy as a theater person directly correlates to us as speakers, as you'll hear. There is so much to dig into here. ENJOY!