Choosing Your Own Narrative & Igniting Your Heroic Spirit with Brett Culp

Brett Culp is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, inspirational speaker, social entrepreneur, and the co-founder of The Rising Heroes Project, a 501(c)3 organization that supports charitable organizations and empowers community leaders. As an inspirational keynote speaker, Brett delivers 50 keynotes each year that inspires audiences around the world to engage in a passionate, meaningful mission that leaves a positive impact and ignites the heroic spirit. As a documentary filmmaker, Brett has developed an expertise for creating ‘mini-movements’ through collaborative efforts that pull diverse groups of people into dialog that ultimately leads to stronger communities and greater impact. The newest edition of the college textbook “Documentary Storytelling” devotes an entire chapter to his production style. He has been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Tonight, and WIRED, among many other publications, and his films have been featured on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Brett joins me today to discuss what it’s like to be seen as a powerful role model and how he ignites and maintains his connection with his inner heroic spirit. We discuss how society and the media often tries to dictate the narratives we believe and how Brett takes control of the information he allows himself to absorb. We discuss why it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the good that comes from dark or stressful experiences. We explain why you should choose which narratives you focus on and why Brett believes it’s the core work of leadership. We also discuss why suffering is often the path toward freedom and why Brett believes the world is on the verge of experiencing great breakthroughs, despite the adversity we’re currently facing in today’s post-pandemic world.

“It’s now more important than ever that we choose the narratives for ourselves, our families, our communities - and we rally together to support each other in those positive, hopeful, beautiful narratives.” - Brett Culp

This week on Mastering Overwhelm:

• What it’s like to be seen as a powerful role model for other people
• How Brett maintains a connection with his inner heroic spirit
• How the world around us is trying to dictate our thoughts and beliefs
• How Brett takes control of what information he absorbs and what he doesn’t
• The importance of acknowledging and celebrating the good that comes out of stressful situations
• Choosing your own narrative and writing your own story
• Why choosing the narrative, you believe in is the core work of leadership
• Embracing your feelings and emotions
• Why Brett believes suffering is often the path to freedom
• The hope that Brett leaves with his audiences
• Why Brett believes society is on the verge of a great breakthrough

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: The Alter-Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life by Todd Herman
• Book: Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari

Connect with Brett Culp:

• Brett Culp’s Website
• The Rising Heroes Project
• Brett Culp on LinkedIn
• Brett Culp on Instagram
• Brett Culp on Facebook
• Brett Culp on Twitter