Embracing Your Voice: Podcasting as a Path to Empowerment and Connection

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Have you ever felt like your voice was just one in a crowd, struggling to be heard? Elaine Williams, a gifted coach and storyteller, joins me, Julie Marty Pearson, to unravel the magic of podcasting as a beacon of hope for those yearning to be listened to. Our heartfelt exchange peels back the layers of narrative power, drawing on the warmth and camaraderie we shared at PodFest. r4UZgGWqOyBwGzlNyMvW

Episode highlights include:

-Why Telling Your Story is Important

-Why You Should Start Podcasting

-Why You Should Celebrate Yourself

-Why Finding Community is Important

 Elaine's dedication to helping women command the spotlight shines as we dissect the transformative impact of confidence, whether you're facing a camera, a crowd, or just life itself.  We venture through the peaks and valleys of podcast creation, detailing how we grow from Consciously Incompetent to Unconsciously Competent in the process. As Elaine and I reflect on our podcasting journeys, share our battle scars from perfectionism and impostor syndrome. Community emerges as the hero of our tale, with stories from Elaine’s collaborative book project "The Power of Community" illustrating the fortitude that comes from women supporting women. Tune in and let us guide you to find the courage to share your story, embrace your uniqueness, and maybe, just maybe, change a life.

Elaine Williams is a video performance coach, keynote speaker, speaker coach, best-selling author and comedian who has over a decade of experience working with entrepreneurs to build confidence and a captivating presence on camera. Some of her credits include: Saturday Night Live, America’s Got Talent, HBO, ABC, NBC, FOX, The New York Times, Hay House Radio & the Huffington Post. To learn more about Elaine, visit her Website, connect and follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Host, Julie Marty-Pearson, PsyD is a Podcaster and Coach for New & Aspiring Podcasters, who is passionate about helping women share their unique voices and stories through podcasting. She mentors women in starting podcasts th

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Website - Instagram -
I love all the things thatyou're up to and it was so cool
getting to hang out with you atPodFest.
Yes.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
So a little backstory with me and Elaine.
We actually met through otherfellow entrepreneurs who,
hopefully, they will be on thispodcast soon as well.
We were connected throughothers.
That's the great thing aboutbeing an entrepreneur and a
coach and a podcaster and allthe things you get to meet
amazing people.
Networking is huge, but evenbetter.

(01:25):
Elaine and I got to meetamazing people.
Networking is huge, but evenbetter.
Alayna and I got to meet inperson at PodFest and then we
got the joy of getting to go toDisney World together, which was
amazing.
Yes, shout out to Brian D'Eria.
We love you, brian, and we'regoing to get him to start a
podcast too.
Yeah, baby so that's a littlebit about us.
So we're going to have some funwith this episode, obviously,

(01:48):
but we're going to start offwith.
I want Elaine to tell us alittle bit about her world,
where she is now, and then we'llget into where podcasting has
been a part of her journey.
So tell us a little bit aboutyourself.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
Okay, thank you, julie, I was just noodling.
We were talking aboutpodcasting and how it's just
become this huge thing, and oneof the things I loved about
PodFest and I've been to agazillion conferences was I
really felt like people werethere totally in a generous
place, wanting to help otherpeople, wanting to help the

(02:23):
newbies, or wanting to help thepeople who are in help the
newbies or wanting to help thepeople who are like in the
middle and they hit a wall, andthere was just such a sense of
generosity and joy and spiritand the gift of humans.
Telling stories.
I get goosebumps.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yes, I did just now too.
You know I've tried it.
I like the way you explained it, because I've tried to explain
it to people.
I've been to a lot ofconferences.
My old world of highereducation that you like had to
go to conferences every year andpresent and network.
But it was just this feeling ofcommunity that PodFest had that
I'd never felt at any type ofconference environment before.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
Yes, and I I'm a long member of AA and I love the
12-step world in general, andone of the whole premises of the
12-step world is that you havecommunity.
You go to meetings they can beonline, in person, whatever and
you identify as there's 12-stepmeetings about Debtors Anonymous
and Shoppers Anonymous.

(03:24):
I think there's tons and tons ofprograms, but I came in because
of my family history withalcoholism and my own addictions
.
But being able to identify withpeople and to connect with
people who have been throughsimilar situations and even if
you come from very differentbackgrounds, so being able to
identify, connect and communetogether and work on your

(03:48):
recovery together is sobeautiful and I feel like that's
what having your own podcastand telling your story is an
opportunity, for every time youhave the opportunity, your story
could be saving somebody's lifeLike you just never know.
Absolutely yes.

(04:08):
Yes, I'm a video coach and aspeaker coach and my company is
Cat to Be the Crowd and I reallylove helping women tap into
their voices and tap into thatpower so that they can show up
confidently on camera and whenspeaking live, because that's

(04:28):
the best way to grow yourbusiness, your brand, your
charity, your nonprofit whateverand I do work with a few cool
men too, but it's mostly women.

Speaker 1 (04:37):
And I think that's so important.
One of the reasons I startedthis podcast is so many times,
as women, we've been told by ourfamilies, our culture, whatever
, keep your mouth shut or don'tshare so much or don't be so
emotional, or all those things.
But you know what?
No, we are, our story is oursand we can decide to tell it

(04:59):
however we want it and whateverwe want, way we want it.
But so many of us have a hardtime of making that leap, and
that's so great about whatElaine does for people is
helping them to get comfortableand own their voice and share it
in whatever way that they wantto for their business or just
for their life.

Speaker 2 (05:17):
Right how it works for them, because I always say
I'm not trying to turn you intome, because I can be over the
top and a little bit spazzysometimes, but I believe that
everybody has a certain way andI think most people have the
ability to be really funny.
It's getting comfortable inyour own skin and learning.
You may have these like drylittle witty lines or sarcastic,

(05:40):
and part of that is justcharisma is just really being
comfortable and confident in whoyou are and where you are.

Speaker 1 (05:47):
Yes, that's so funny because I was lucky enough to
have a fellow entrepreneur douse me as a photo shoot guinea
pig and I'm super excited to getsome new photos but and I
actually did it at my mom'shouse, so she got to witness
like a part of what I'm doing.
It's hard for people tounderstand it if they're not
doing it.
And then we were talking aboutsomething and my friend was

(06:08):
great.
Shout out to Val Woodward.
She actually has been doing petphotography but she's branching
out into doing moreprofessional people photography.
And so she was saying stuffwhile she's taking photos,
making me laugh and being silly,and then my mom was saying like
this is you, this is who youare.
And she goes.
She always likes to say I'm oneof the funniest people my mom

(06:31):
knows, but a lot of people don'tsee that side of me because
it's not what comes out first.
I have to be comfortable withpeople.
I have to feel safe to justshow that more funny, fun side
of me.
So I think it's a lot of whatyou're saying is you're helping
women to find that comfortable,that confidence to be able to
show and be in their true selfall the time, so that they're
showing that.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah, and it's so funny because I like to compare
being on camera to driving Likewe.
Nobody was born knowing how todrive a car, nobody was born a
great speaker, but we put thesewhammies on ourselves like I
speak all the time.
Yeah, speaking in your life tothe dry cleaners and at
McDonald's is very differentthan speaking in front of people

(07:11):
, and when you first learned howto drive, you had to really
think about OK, change the lane,parallel parking.
You're consciously incompetent,you're very aware that you
don't really know what you'redoing and then, luckily, you
take the test and you pass, or.
And then, 20 years later, weare unconsciously competent
Although that could be debatedfor some people but you drive,

(07:34):
you don't even.
You're listening to a podcast orthree and while you're running
errands and you don't evenremember how you got there,
because it's just motor skillsand I just I always try to
encourage people.
If you feel like, oh, I'mhorrible on camera, maybe you
seem to practice, obviously, geta coach, but sometimes you can
get a video, buddy, and say,okay, I'm going to make you a
video every day and send it toyou, and you do the same and

(07:56):
yell at me if I don't so manytimes we just need to give
ourselves a little grace.

Speaker 1 (08:01):
Yes, we can be our we and we are.
I know I am we're our hardestcritic.
That inner voice we have canbreak ourselves down so quickly.
It's so mean.
It's so mean.
It's hard to post a video onsocial or go live on Instagram
or go stream on YouTube orwhatever it is that you want to
be doing.
But all you can do is practice.

Speaker 2 (08:23):
I also think of it like I love to work out.
I just went to yoga and Iactually had tears this morning.
My body was so happy becauseI've had this injury, and so I'm
just so grateful that I wasable to go to a hard yoga class
and sweat and breathe andcommune.
To me it is like physicalprayer.

(08:43):
It's so spiritual for me.
But I also think when I firststarted working out when I was
in my 20s, I was intimidated bythe gym.
I was scared, I felt awkwardand luckily I had friends who
taught me and they also taughtme the value of being consistent
, because you can go full out,you can go do two hours and kill

(09:04):
yourself and then you're soreand in pain for a week and then
you're less likely to go back.
Or you can start out and thinkokay, my goal is to be
consistent three times a week,blah, blah, blah.
And so you know, if you'restarting to do video or thinking
about a podcast, definitelycall Julie.
But being consistent and that'sjust another muscle too.

(09:26):
And again, like not lettingyourself off the hook If you're
committed to growing, make surethat you have somebody holding
you accountable but at the sametime giving yourself some space,
grace and compassion, so hopethat makes sense.

Speaker 1 (09:40):
Absolutely.
We have to be gentle withourselves, but we also have to
push ourselves, so it's thatbalance that we have Right, a
part of your journey.
You did, at one point, have apodcast, yeah, and so prior to
that, what made you want to getinto podcasting?
You saw it as a tool for yourjourney as an entrepreneur and a

(10:01):
speaker.
Can you talk a little bit aboutthat experience?

Speaker 2 (10:04):
journey as an entrepreneur and a speaker.
Can you talk a little bit aboutthat experience?
Absolutely, julian.
I wish I'd had you when Istarted my podcast.
So I have a big bubblypersonality and I love comedy
and I love speaking and I amfascinated by human beings, what
we do, why we do it, howsomebody drink every day for 30
years and then they have a Godmoment and they go to rehab and
now they're sober and a lot likethat's fascinating to me and so

(10:27):
many things.
And people kept saying Elaine,you should have a podcast,
you're natural, you're natural.
And I had several peopleapproach me but it wasn't the
right fit, energetically orbrand wise, and I was so proud
of myself because I kept saying,oh, thank you so much.
No, and then I had this womanwho I just love, kathy Keegan.

(10:47):
She is hilarious and she was aclient and a fellow speaker, an
amazing coach based out ofChicago, and she had hired me to
help her with her stories andher presence.
And every time we got on Zoom,we would just crack up and we
were talking about how you cantake all this transformational

(11:08):
work and you can be this amazingteacher, thought leader,
speaker, and then yet, at theend of the day, we're still
human.
We still have our foibles, ourfaults, our insecurities.
And so we just had this idealet's do a podcast called Still
Human, and it'll be like comedyand coaching and improv.
But we didn't really think itall the way through and we

(11:30):
didn't think about thepositioning and that there were
going to be a gazillion otherpodcasts.
We just started, let's have fun, we'll figure it out.
And so we did it.
And we did it for two years andwe had a studio built for us in
Brooklyn and then, when shemoved to Chicago right before
COVID, we kept doing it overZoom and we have 49 episodes
still human.
I'm still very proud of it.

(11:51):
But what I learned is becausewe both had different takes on
things there came to a pointwhere we were not growing.
And as much as I lovepodcasting, I think it's a
wonderful way to get your storyout and to celebrate other
people and to help spread goodin the world.
There's a million reasons tostart a podcast.

(12:12):
Just be smart about it.
After two years and we hadraving fans, people who had
listened to the episodes two andthree times because we were
giving juicy coaching tidbitsbut I just thought you know what
, I'm so busy and I had allthese other things happening.
I said let's just put this onthe shelf for now.
And I think we both were likelet's save our friendship,

(12:33):
because we were going indifferent directions.
And so I'm still grateful forthe whole experience, very proud
of it, learned a ton and Ican't wait to have my own again
at some point.
Why would you do a podcast?
It's good practice.
You're getting to speak, youhave to you get yourself ready

(12:53):
and it's like a mini workshopevery time you're shooting.
So that's good practice.
And then it gives you leverage.
Because when I was a comedian,my coach said, oh, you need to
start your own comedy show.
And I was like I don't want todo that.
And she was like, yeah, becausethat's where you can get stage
time.
So you have a show, you inviteother comics to come do your

(13:15):
show and exchange they bring youon their show.
So it was an exchange of stagetime and because when you're a
new comic, you need stage timemore than anything and it's hard
.
So to me, having your ownpodcast is just it's a brilliant
way.
In fact, I was talking aboutthis, julie, the other day.
You weren't born yet, but someof us were born in the 60s,

(13:37):
before the internet, beforecable, there were three TV
channels and radio stations.
If you wanted to get on anetwork, it was thousands and
thousands of dollars, thousands.
Hiring a PR person is like 5K amonth, six month minimum.
So if you wanted to get like a15 second spot on the radio, it

(13:59):
was I don't even know how much.
So, like, you have theopportunity to have your own
network.
You don't have to deal withadvertisers yet or TV execs.
It's your platform and though,yeah, it takes some time and
energy, but the opportunitiesare huge, as we see with the
YouTubers and the influencersand all that.
So it depends on your goals.

(14:20):
It's exciting.
It's like all the gatekeepershave completely shifted and it's
all about reframing it insteadof I don't like saying I get it.
There's some days I don't feellike being on camera, but my
commitment to use my story forgood and to help heal the world
with love and laughter, that'sway bigger than I'm gonna feel
like it today, and so I justencourage people if they're

(14:43):
thinking about doing a podcastdo it, do it, yes, yes, yes, and
I wrote down notes as she wastalking.

Speaker 1 (14:49):
So many things to talk about, but I love the last
point you made is so many peoplesee influencers and people
going viral on social media andthat's great and that's huge and
people do wonderful that way.
But you always have to rememberthat social media and you don't
own that, like you're onsomeone else's platform.
Yeah, with podcasting, it'syours, you're creating it,

(15:09):
you're owning it, it's all ofyours, and so it can be a great
step forward or just a newopportunity.
And one of the things you saidis about building community,
building your expertise, showingwhat you know and can do and
how you can help, and that's ahuge boost that you can give
yourself, no matter what yourwork world is, that you're

(15:31):
trying to move forward.

Speaker 2 (15:33):
And also if you're a coach, a service provider or
something channel.
And I have a gazillion videoson Captivate the Crowd, youtube,

(15:53):
elaine Williams, and some ofthem are rambly, some of them
are from eight years ago,whatever, but like, the goal was
that I'm giving value, I'mgiving speaking tips and video
tips and inspiration and I'msharing my mistakes and lessons
from being a pro speaker for 20years.
And the whole idea is I'm at aconference, I meet Mary and she

(16:15):
says, oh, I hate the sound of myvoice.
And I say, oh, I've got a fiveminute warm up on this channel.
Go here Now.
Whether she does it or not iswhatever, but it's a way to pass
on this beautiful grape ofknowledge and value.
Ok, you want it, ok, you don't,ok, cool, here's one.
And that's another reason itcan help you spread your value

(16:36):
and your worth.
And even if you're like I'm notexactly sure Like to me, one of
the best things aboutconnecting and having really
cool conversations like this isyou tell stories and sometimes
you remember stories you forgotabout, and a lot of times when
I'm working with people on theirstories, it re-presences them
to their power and what they'veovercome.

(16:58):
Right, because as humans, wehave forgetters.
It's like oh yeah, I did thisthing.
Especially women, we discountstuff.
My God, do we discount stuff?
Well, I did the marathon, but Idid.
I really wanted to do it in 420and I did it in 440.
And I just wish, but you didthe marathon, you know.
And so that's one reason I lovehelping women with their

(17:21):
stories, because I'm like you,overcame Celebrate that and
share that, because there'sother people going through that.

Speaker 1 (17:30):
And share that because there's other people
going through that.
Yes, I think that's the bigthing is, even if a topic of a
podcast isn't something specific, you need sometimes just
listening to the story.
I've had that happen myselfwhere you connect.
Oh my gosh, that makes so muchsense.
I went through this and I feltthat way and I just thought
that's how it was.
I didn't know it was OK to talkabout it or get help or
whatever it may be.
That's how it was.
I didn't know it was OK to talkabout it or get help or

(17:51):
whatever it may be.
And so it's those points in thestory, even if the story
doesn't necessarily connect foryou, it's the process, it's the
trauma, it's the getting better,it's the doing more, whatever
it is that makes you feel a partof it.

Speaker 2 (18:05):
Yeah, totally, and I've never been able to relate
to those.
I'm so successful and I've doneblah, blah, blah.
I'm like yay, cool, can'trelate.
Click, I want to know how yougot out of the valley of the mud
.
I want to know, like, how didyou keep going when you were on
the side of the mountain andthere was still a whole, much

(18:27):
more to go?
That's what I want to know.
And I'll share one more thingreally quick.
And then I'm doing this groupbook and it's the power of
community, which seems to be atheme everywhere, and I was
interviewing somebody yesterday.
I've known this woman for threeand a half years.
She's been a client.
She told me part of a story Ihad never heard before, julie,

(18:50):
and I was like you've beenholding her out, like after I
didn't during the interview, Ijust interview, and then later
on I called her and I said thatneeds to be in everything that
you do, and sometimes it'sreally hard to see for ourselves
, which is why it's good to havea coach.
But it was just this one littlething that she said.

(19:11):
But it changed my listening ofher from like really nice lady
to like wow, badass, mama Right,and anyway, I just I love it.
Love stories.
I could talk about stories allday.

Speaker 1 (19:26):
And it's so funny because you and I were speaking
before I hit record and I saidsomething about, oh yeah, my
doctoral program, and you werelike you have a doctorate, and
how long have we known eachother?
And so, hearing what you'retalking about in my previous
professional world yes, I had adoctorate, like Dr Marty Pearson
.
Dr Julie, that was what we did.
We had those for a reason, theletters behind our name.

(19:47):
But in more entrepreneurialspace, I've never been one to be
like hi, I'm Dr Julie.
I don't want that becausethat's just not who I am.
But in speaking to you and evenhearing you say that, but that
is a huge part of my story andit also does give me expertise
and experience that other peoplemay not have.
And it just reminds me that yougot to own yourself, but you

(20:10):
also want to own what you'veworked hard for in your
successes, because that's reallywhy we're all doing it, and
it's hard sometimes to celebrateourselves, but we have to take
that power.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (20:22):
And when you can celebrate your stuff, you're
helping give other peoplepermission to do the same.
And here's what I know is mymom has a PhD.
I have mad respect foracademics and I got to speak on
college campuses all over thecountry, but you know how many
people go get their.
They're working towards theirdissertation, but they never

(20:44):
finish.
Yes, I do, Because they have togo A lot of us that's the joke.

Speaker 1 (20:50):
When we're in our program, we actually call it
something.
Instead of a PhD or a PsyD,which is what I have, it's
called an ABD, all butdissertation.
Yeah yeah, you can spend yearsfive, six years in a program
doing the coursework and you getstuck on their dissertation so
you can never put those otherletters there.
So we always joke it's an ABD,all but dissertation, and that's

(21:17):
something.
In the time you're doing it weare all supporting each other.

Speaker 2 (21:18):
Don't be that person.
You're not going to be thatperson.
It takes I can't even imagineand you have to go enroll the
board in what you're doing andthen you have to get feedback
and it just sounds like givingbirth to a baby elephant, but
the thing is it sets you apart.
So I spoke on college campusesabout really tough subjects and
part of my story is crazychildhood, lots of trauma, and

(21:41):
then continued on in my 20sdomestic violence, you name it.
It happened to me and so I havesome of that on my LinkedIn if
you like.
Dig right.
It's not right at the top Someof the work that I did on
college campuses and I was ablogger for a happening in post
and what in my mind.
That was another lifetime ago.
Fast forward.
I'm having a conversation withthis woman last week and she

(22:02):
said I love all the work you didon college campuses and that
just meant so much to me becausemy daughter and so automatic
connection.
And then I said can I ask you aquestion?
Do you think it detracts fromwhat I'm doing now?
And she was like no, absolutelynot.
It makes me want to work withyou and send people to you more

(22:25):
because I see your commitmenttowards healing and recovery.
So I just I share that, becauseI think sometimes we have a
tendency to be like well, Idon't know if I'm going to put
this because it might bedistracting, but it's what makes
you unique.
So I encourage you, if you'reworking on yourself or your
brand or whatever, it's okay toinclude some of the wackier

(22:48):
stuff or whatever, because youjust never know who that's going
to resonate with.

Speaker 1 (22:51):
Yes, you never know what's going to connect people
and that's why you just putyourself out there.
One thing you talked about whenyou talked about the podcast
you had.
You talked about how you have49 episodes and you're very
proud of that and it's there andit helped people and people
responded to it.
But that was such a number thatstuck with me because recently
I heard that 80% of podcastsdon't get past 50 episodes.

(23:14):
Wow, yeah, and there are a lotof statistics out there for what
we call pod fade.
It can happen early on, afterthe first five to 10 episodes.
Like you do all the work, youget it out there and you lose
the energy.
So there's all these kind ofpoints along the process.
So when you said that, I'm like, oh my gosh, that makes sense.
Yes, no-transcript Would yousay that's true.

Speaker 2 (24:10):
Yes, absolutely.
We're very loosey goosey and wewere like well bigger, but we
were both super busy with ourcoaching practices and we both
are speakers.
Yeah.
So I encourage you, like getstarted, but don't take.
Don't take a year to getstarted, but, right, smart about
how you're going to position it.
Right, listen to other peoplein your genre and call Julie,

(24:34):
because it's very hard to do thepositioning on your own.
But I don't regret one episodebecause I learned so much.
I bumped up against myperfectionism.
I bumped up against my imposter.
I bumped up against my age, myjudgment against my age.
I bumped up against trusting mygut.
We had these young guys whobuilt us this studio and I kept.

(24:57):
I was like, ooh, the lightingis so harsh.
In hindsight I know what I wantand I've been in the
entertainment business forever.
So I want soft lighting becauseI'm going to be 56.
And I want cameras slightlyhigher than eye level because
it's more flattering and theseguys didn't know any of that

(25:18):
stuff.
So it was just a great lessonfor me and how I gave my power
away, how I was having theseimpulses and I didn't speak it.
Wow, that's a powerful lesson,right, yes, and I go on and on,
but I know we only have a shorttime.

Speaker 1 (25:35):
Well, I think what you said is important because a
lot of people I've even acurrent client I'm working with
even told me she talked to acoach before me about starting
and the topic she had.
The coach said no one's goingto listen to that.
That's not a good topic.
She came to me and I'm like Iknow people who will listen to
this and she was like thank you,finally.
And so sometimes it's findingthe right people, it's finding

(25:56):
the right support and you wantto have a goal in mind, you want
to have a purpose who's goingto listen, why they're going to
listen, all those things.
But it is okay to start messy,which is what I did with my pet
podcast, and then I've justlearned and learned.
So, like you said, it's abalance of having purpose and
goals, but still starting andnot waiting too long.

(26:17):
But I think all of this comesback to which is something I
think is a big theme iscommunity, finding your people,
having a support system, findingthat community of people.
Just like we talked about earlyon in the episode how we felt
PodFest was like a community.
People wanted to help eachother, we want to support each
other, we want to see each othersucceed, and so it's a part of

(26:38):
what you're doing right now withyour new book, which is about
community.
Can you talk a little bit abouthow you got involved in the
book and who you're working withand all of that?
Sure.

Speaker 2 (26:48):
Thanks.
I did a group book before and Iwas like I don't need to do
another one.
But I fell in love with thesewomen.
So I got invited to go speakabout humor and to teach how to
add humor to your day, to yourtalks, to your life.
And I was so excited because Ihad always wanted to speak on a
cruise ship.
But I was like 10 days with thesame women, morning, afternoon

(27:11):
and night, because I'm I'musually busy and running around,
and I was like, oh, this mighthave been the worst idea, what
we're going to spend how muchtime together.
I'm going to have a roommate,like.
A couple weeks before I waslike, trying to get out of it,
like I was like, and luckily Ihad another friend and we were
both were like, okay, we mayjust have to go hide, okay.

(27:32):
Luckily, all of my doubts weretotally the.
Katerina Rando is a greatfacilitator and she had really
carefully picked all these women.
And we had this amazing,transformational 10 days.
And I must say that my humorworkshop was fabulous.
Everybody got up and told a jokeor story at the high tea and it

(27:52):
was so much fun to watch thatprocess.
And then we went to a comedyshow that night and they were
like Elaine, that's a saver.
So that part was great.
But we just fell in love witheach other and we kept in touch
afterward.
And then somebody said, hey, weshould do a group book about
community and the power whenwomen are connected, lifting
each other up.
It is so powerful.

(28:14):
And so that was the premise forthis book called the Power of
Community.
And there's 10 authors andeverybody has their own story
and every story.
I cannot wait to read the otherpeople's stories because I know
them and yet I'm learning moreabout them because I've been
interviewing everybody to helppromote the book on launch day,
which is March 6th.
So it's been a great learningprocess.

(28:37):
And again, the power of story.
I think most of the time, onceyou really get to know another
human being and you hear whatthey've been through, 99% of the
time I fall in love with people.
Right, I know sometimes I canstill be judgmental if I'm in
stranger danger, but once Iusually get to hear what

(28:57):
somebody's been through canstill be judgmental if I'm in
stranger danger, but once Iusually get to hear what
somebody's been through.

Speaker 1 (29:01):
Yeah, and I think a part of the power of telling
your story is finding that safeplace to be able to tell it in,
and so I think for me, that'sbeen the one.
The great thing aboutpodcasting is I'm an introvert,
obviously.
I've been a teacher, aprofessor, an administrator.
I've done all these things andspoke in front of lots of people
, but I get my energy from beingalone and being quiet, and so

(29:24):
podcasting was a great way forme to inch out a little more in
the world because you can do it.
You don't have to do video.
True, podcasting it's audio.
Only you can be in a room byyourself and say what you want
to say and put it out into theworld.
But podcasting is such a hugecommunity builder because and
that's why it's on fire, that'swhy it just keeps so many of us

(29:46):
went to podcast during thepandemic when we were alone or
scared or sad, and it's justgrown from there, because it's a
connection, it's a communityand there's lots of way to find
it.
But podcast is one way to hitrecord and the next day people
can listen to it.
And I think that's the same waywith a lot of what you do with
your speaking and your videowork.
It's a powerful way to get yourstory out there and get it out

(30:09):
there quickly.

Speaker 2 (30:11):
And just to help connect.
I think there's a hugeloneliness epidemic.
I think addiction is on therise.
I don't even know what'shappening politically and
there's some things in thiscountry I'm like but I think
it's a cry for true connectionand I think that podcasting is
one of those ways and stories.
So I'm very excited about thebook.

(30:32):
My chapter is on the power ofhealing through laughter, using
laughter for all its healingeffects for yourself and
everybody you touch.

Speaker 1 (30:43):
I think that's so important and it's so funny,
because my first official gueston this podcast is my friend,
rebecca Johnson, who is apodcaster, who has her podcast
is Love Is Not Dead Just myHusband.
So you can already tell she hasa sense of humor just by the
title and she's got a podcastabout being a widow.

(31:03):
She's talking about her cancerjourney and she's got this wit
and this humor in it that yousometimes feel like should she
have just said that?
But then you're also likethat's so funny and for her
that's a part of her grief, herhealing, her journey is making
fun of it, making light of suchhard, difficult topics, and so I

(31:24):
think humor is such a great wayto tell your story but also to
connect with people, becausethey're going to listen, they're
going to pay attention to ityeah, and it's.

Speaker 2 (31:34):
If you're not laughing, you might be sobbing,
and so I'm just a huge fan ofand I would say I'm not making
fun of anybody else, I'm makingfun of myself and my family and
my life experience Laughter canbe a great way to help you
process really tough things, andit's so much healthier than
food, drugs, gambling, shopping,bad boys, which I've done all

(31:58):
of that so before we go, telleverybody again the name of the
book where they can find you andall of that important
information.
Okay, Thank you, Julie.
So the name of the book is thePower of Community and I know
it's going to be all over socialmedia and I think the best way

(32:18):
is if you go on Instagram andtype in Elaine Williams Fun, you
will find me and there's goingto be links and all the things.
So it's E-L-A-I-N-E WilliamsFun.
That is my Instagram handle andI think that's just the
simplest way and if you havetrouble, just message me and
I'll help you.

Speaker 1 (32:37):
And her links will be in the show notes, so you don't
have to even go too far, youcan click right there.
And so the last couple ofminutes I want.
Elaine, we've talked about yourjourney where podcasting was a
part of it, and a lot of peopleare going to be listening to
this.
Women, non-binary people, havethought about telling their
story, thought about podcasting.
What's one piece of advice youwould give them, with your

(33:00):
experience, to say if you'rethinking about it, maybe here's
some advice, here's what I wantyou to know, and I want you to
really listen.

Speaker 2 (33:08):
Nobody does it like you.
Nobody does it exactly like you, and your messed up, crazy,
wiggly, squiggly journey isexactly what somebody needs to
hear.
And so if you are having thatlittle whisper, that inner voice
that says, oh, maybe I havesomething to share, honor that,

(33:31):
and maybe you don't have thebudget to hire a coach like
Julie yet, but you can start onit, or you can start listening
to her pocket.
There's a million ways you canstart manifesting what it is
that you are feeling called todo, and you're going to have
naysayers, and usually the worstbully and critic is you
yourself.
And so if you can learn tonavigate that, you can create

(33:55):
anything you want in life.
And so I think of podcasting orbeing more visible.
However that looks to you isone of the best ways to get over
yourself so that you can createwhatever you want.
If you can do that, you can doanything.

Speaker 1 (34:14):
I love it.
Yes, just get over yourself.
You just haven't been done.
Oh, totally, Especially whenyou have to yourself and you
should have been done.
But, oh, totally, especiallywhen you have to turn that inner
voice off for a minute.
But it's so true.
It's like, whatever it is,somebody needs to hear your
story and somebody could savethem in some way, whether it's
from abuse or neglect, or theirown addiction, or they're stuck

(34:37):
career wise or what to do withtheir business, whatever it may
be, you never know what part ofyour story is going to resonate.
So that was amazing advice,elaine.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for being here andsharing your journey.
And everybody check her out onInstagram Elaine Williams Fun.
Get her book.
I'm just so happy to have youhere.

(34:58):
And thank you for sharing you.
What?

Speaker 2 (35:00):
you do so well.
Oh, thank you, Julie.
Thanks for having me.

Speaker 1 (35:12):
Thank you so much for listening to this episode.
It means so much to me to haveyou here.
Make sure you don't miss anynew episodes of the podcast.
Hit, subscribe wherever you arelistening right now and new
episodes will automatically popup in your feed as they come out
.
If you enjoyed this episode,please share it with friends and
family and make sure to leave arating and review wherever you

(35:33):
are listening.
That will help the podcast togrow.
Come on over to Instagram atPodcast your Story Now to keep
up with me and the podcast sothat you can be ready to podcast
your story now.