In this episode Tim Croll and Ashley Ljesevic explore the journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Ashley shares her experiences as a multi-sport athlete, detailing her transition from a promising basketball career to embracing new paths in life. The discussion delves into the challenges of identity, the importance of introspection, and the power of storytelling. #SelfDiscovery #PersonalGrowth #endurance #narrative #Inspiration #Storytelling #Introspection #FaithJourney #Journaling #CourageToChange #AshleyLjesevic #PodcastEpisode Tune in to hear Ashley's story and get connect with her here: ashley.ljesevic@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyljesevic/ https://www.endurancediaries.com/ Stay connected with us at https://narrative.live 

In this episode, Tim Croll and Lantz Howard delve into the profound journey of self-discovery and authenticity. They explore the importance of being over doing, the challenges of maintaining genuine relationships, and the transformative power of truth-telling. Join them as they discuss how to navigate life's waves, balance personal and professional life, and embrace the art of becoming whole. Connect with Lantz: www.lantzhoward.com lantzhoward@gmail.com Connect with us at Narrative: www.narrative.live  

In this episode, David Price shares his transformative journey from overcoming a troubled childhood and drug addiction to achieving success in the business world. He emphasizes the importance of aligning actions with dreams, the role of awareness in personal growth, and the necessity of taking consistent action to build a meaningful life. David discusses the significance of creating sustainable routines and the lessons learned from his recovery process, ultimately encouraging others to never settle for less than they deserve. Connect with David:  Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/DavidPriceOfficial  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpriceofficial  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPriceOfficial Hope you enjoyed this episode! Stay connected with us at https://narrative.live/   

Join Tim Croll and David Homan as they delve into the art of building meaningful connections and purposeful communities. Discover how David's journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a global CEO was shaped by his commitment to service and authenticity. This episode explores the power of networking, the importance of vulnerability, and the strategies for creating a supportive network that thrives on trust and shared purpose. Tune in to learn how to orchestrate your life and elevate your personal and professional relationships.

Join Tim Croll and Emily Kile as they dive into the transformative power of personal narratives. Discover how Emily's journey from aspiring doctor to wellness advocate reshaped her life and career. Explore themes of resilience, growth, and the importance of crafting your own story. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that challenges societal norms and encourages you to embrace your unique path. #personalgrowth #WellnessJourney #Inspiration #bittertobetter Connect with Emily at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilykile/ We hope you enjoy this episode! Connect with us at Narrative 

In this episode, we dive into the critical role of emotional intelligence in the business world. Join us as we explore how understanding and managing emotions can enhance leadership, improve team dynamics, and drive organizational success. Our guest, Chas Sampson, shares insights from his journey, emphasizing the power of empathy and self-awareness in navigating workplace politics and building strong, cohesive teams. Additionally, Chas discusses his impactful work with veterans, helping them secure the benefits they deserve through his organization, Seven Principles. Tune in to discover how emotional intelligence and a commitment to service can be your keys to thriving in today's competitive business landscape. To connect with Chas Sampson: https://sevenprinciples.com/ chas@sevenprinciples.com And search "Chas Sampson" on social media channels.

In this episode Tim Croll and Shawn Whitson explore themes of personal growth, entrepreneurship, and the importance of values in defining success. Shawn shares his journey from viewing himself as a 'screw up' to recognizing the value of his experiences and the lessons learned from failures. They discuss the impact of childhood narratives on work ethic, the false narratives surrounding money and success, and the importance of community and connection. Shawn introduces Acts Social, a new social media platform focused on positivity and gratitude, emphasizing the need for a supportive online environment. Check out more from Shawn at www.actssocial.com Thanks for listening! To connect with Tim or Steve go to www.narrative.live

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Steve “Moby” Leitch was a swimmer before he was a Moby, a man before a ministry leader, and a wanderer long before he ever became rooted. Born into the world of evangelical Christianity—his father preaching alongside giants like Billy Graham—Steve grew up in the polished halls of faith, where sin was unspoken and perfection expected. But he found more belonging in the locker room than the pews. While swimmers laughed freely, churchgoers seemed like porcelain. And so he drifted. Trying to fit in led Steve to addiction—first to connection, then to substances, and finally to isolation. By his mid-thirties, life had collapsed around him: divorced, bankrupt, estranged, spiritually lost. In 2010, broken and under a tree in Kentucky, he surrendered. No fireworks. Just a decision. One that began a 15-year transformation. Piece by piece, Steve rebuilt—his faith, his body, his family, and his purpose. He gave up drugs, then alcohol, then corporate America. In their place came morning devotions, ultra-marathon swims for recovery causes, handwritten messages to family and friends, and a social media presence not for attention, but for legacy. Now a grandfather, “Moby” uses his swims, storytelling, and scars to remind others: God created you for a purpose. Don’t miss it.

Ryan Woodruff grew up a quiet and shy boy, shaped by constant moves and a fractured home. With no father figure and a mother working multiple jobs, Ryan built his identity on survival and self-isolation. A sense of direction came from the film Full Metal Jacket, which introduced him to the idea of brotherhood in the military. He joined the Marine Corps in 2005, seeking belonging and purpose. But war delivered trauma, not healing. Alcohol and avoidance became his coping mechanisms, stretching through deployments and into civilian life. Years later, at rock bottom—newborn twins at home, a beloved service dog killed, and his father’s sudden death—Ryan faced a choice: destroy everything or rebuild. He chose to rebuild. It started with one man’s invitation to a veterans' group. From that quiet seat in the back of the room, listening to others’ stories, Ryan began to share his own. Sobriety brought hollowness at first, but slowly, Ryan rebuilt—through faith, fitness, family, and community. Today, he helps others navigate that same darkness through his work at Clear Path for Veterans.

Jonathan Heaslet has been many things over the years. An economics & mathematics major, military, minister, healthcare executive, and more. Jonathan never planned on taking the long way around, but life has a funny way of handing you detours. He spent years chasing certainty, believing that success was a straight line—only to find that some of his best moments came from the unexpected twists. As a kid, he thought confidence was something you either had or didn’t. He learned the hard way that confidence is built, brick by brick, in the moments when you push forward despite the doubt. "The hardest thing isn’t knowing what you want," he says. "It’s believing you deserve it." There were times he wanted to quit, times when the silence after trying felt unbearable. But he kept showing up, kept putting in the work, even when no one was watching. He realized that failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s just another stop along the way. Now, looking back, Jonathan doesn’t claim to have all the answers. But he knows this: the world doesn’t owe you an audience. You earn it by being real. By being honest. And most importantly, by showing up.

"How 'abby' normal is your normal?"   This powerful talk with Dave Guyor from our 2024 Narrative Summit dives deep into the loneliness epidemic, the impact of technology, and how we can reclaim the art of meaningful relationships.

In the glamorous world of high-powered executives, Kellan Fluckiger seemed to have it all – wealth, success, and influence. But beneath the Armani suits and corporate victories lay a man drowning in cocaine addiction, failed marriages, and a desperate need to prove his worth to a mother whose harsh discipline had left deep emotional scars. For decades, Kellan rode a destructive roller coaster of success and self-sabotage, making and losing fortunes, ruining three marriages, and struggling with thoughts of suicide. His teenage daughter once told him matter-of-factly that they expected to receive a call about his death any day. Then came the night in August 2007 when divine intervention arrived through an unlikely source – a reality TV show about addiction that mysteriously replayed itself on his television. What followed was an otherworldly experience where Kellan was forced to witness scenes of suffering from his life for 18 hours straight. He emerged with an unshakeable conviction to change, throwing away his drugs and embracing sobriety. Weeks later, at a Yo-Yo Ma concert, another divine nudge led him to propose to a woman he barely knew – a coworker named Joy who would become his guardian angel. Despite his messy past and addiction issues, Joy saw something in him others missed. Together they walked away from their careers and embarked on a challenging journey of healing and transformation. Now, seventeen years later, Kellan is a different man – an author of 20 books and a coach helping others discover their purpose. With Joy as his business partner and wife, he works to reach millions with a powerful message: no matter your past, you matter, and it's never too late to make the difference you yearn to make in the world.

Chris Bolinger grew up in a high-achieving family with three accomplished older sisters and parents who modeled excellence in everything they did. As the youngest and only boy, he was somewhat spoiled but also inherited the family's drive for achievement and discipline. While this upbringing instilled many positive traits, it also led to two significant challenges: an excessive self-reliance that made him believe he was in control, and a tendency to value achievements over relationships. After a successful career in tech that culminated in selling his WiFi company for a substantial sum in his forties, Chris embarked on several ventures including investing in a Christian movie and starting a business to help small church leaders. Both ventures failed financially. During this period, his marriage of 26 years also ended, serving as a wake-up call that his approach to life needed to change. The turning point came when Chris joined a men's ministry program at his church that required a two-year commitment to meet weekly with a group of twelve men. Initially reluctant, this experience transformed his perspective on relationships, particularly with other men. He realized that instead of trying to "fix" relationships like problems to be solved, they needed to be invested in and nurtured. He also developed a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God beyond the transactional one he had maintained previously. Today, Chris lives between Florida and Ohio with his second wife, Libby, and focuses on intentionally building relationships through shared experiences like playing trivia, coaching high school tennis, and spending quality time with family. He's learned that while failure is inevitable, what matters most is not just getting back up, but understanding why you fell and using those experiences to help others facing similar challenges. His life now centers around the belief that relationships, not achievements, are what truly matter.

Growing up in Michigan, Scott's early life was marked by dramatic changes. His family went from financial stability, with his father running a successful chiropractic practice, to severe hardship after a failed business relocation. Between ages 8 and 18, Scott lived in 13 different houses, including a period in a tent, and his family relied on their faith community for basic needs like food. The instability peaked when his mother temporarily left with his younger brothers, leaving Scott with his father and older brother for about a year and a half. When his mother returned, Scott's father told him and his brother to never discuss what had happened – just move on. This created deep-seated false beliefs in Scott: that he had to figure everything out alone, and that conflict would make loved ones abandon him. These beliefs affected his marriage and other relationships well into adulthood. The turning point came at age 36, when his spiritual mentor John asked him a pivotal question during a work meeting: "What's in the gap?" after noticing Scott's disproportionate reaction to a situation. This question, combined with becoming a father himself and wanting to give his children a different experience than his own, motivated Scott to seek help. He spent six years in counseling, working through his childhood trauma and false beliefs. Today, at 52, Scott leads organizations helping other men, particularly fathers, through similar journeys. He runs "Dads on Tap," a nonprofit connecting fathers at local breweries, works with "Man in the Mirror" focusing on spiritual fatherhood, and has written a book called "A Dad's Bible Journey." His story demonstrates how awareness of our "gaps" – those places where our reactions don't match the situation – can lead to meaningful personal growth and healing. Check out Dads on Tap - www.dadsontop.com Connect with Tim Croll and Steve Gohl - narrative.live Join the Discord to keep the conversation going! https://discord.com/invite/pKXYuda9Hu

Growing up poor in backwoods Kentucky, Chris "Harp" Harper lived between two destructive narratives: believing he could become entirely self-sufficient and feeling utterly worthless. After losing his brother to a drug overdose and his mother to cancer, with an alcoholic father in the background, he became determined to overcome his circumstances through any means necessary.   His drive for success led him to become outwardly confident and charismatic, but inwardly he was deeply insecure. He would lie about achievements, manipulate relationships, and do anything for attention or validation. This pattern continued until after a research trip to Eastern Europe, when feelings of emptiness led him to attend a church service - initially just for "the chicks and the chicken."   Two months of hearing the gospel brought him to a life-changing realization: he had not only rejected God but wanted to be God himself. This insight led to a transformation where he learned to "die to self and live for others." The change wasn't immediate, but through surrounding himself with mentors, reading voraciously, and deliberately practicing kindness, he gradually reformed his life.   Today, Harp is a husband, father of four, and leader of the Better Man Project. He practices intentional kindness by encouraging three people daily and maintains an inspirational voicemail message that once prevented a pizza delivery driver's suicide. His message now centers on finding abundance in ordinary life, countering the pressure to live an "Instagram-worthy" existence.   Perhaps his most significant transformation came through serving others - like spending Saturday mornings cutting his future wife's grandfather's grass. What started as an annoying chore became a cherished routine, so much so that years later, when he preached at the grandfather's funeral, he wished he could still spend those Saturday mornings in service.   Check out the organization Harp works with: www.betterman.com   And for more from Harp, follow his Substack: https://charper.substack.com/p/saying-thank-you?r=1qr116   Connect with Tim & Steve - www.narrative.live   Join our Discord to keep the conversation going! https://discord.com/invite/pKXYuda9Hu

From a young age, Star was plagued by a deep-seated belief that no matter how hard she tried, she would never get what she wanted in life. This stemmed from heartbreaking experiences with her father, who would make promises to her but then fail to follow through. When Star was 10, she asked her father for a bike, but after months of waiting, the bike he finally gave her was much too large. Other requests were met with similar disappointment - her father would tell her to just wait, but by the time he followed through, the opportunity had passed. These patterns reinforced Star's conviction that her efforts were futile. This belief carried into Star's adult life. Despite graduating college with honors, she struggled to find a good job, eventually settling for an internship-level position making the same pay as high school students. Star was devastated, feeling like her achievements were mocking her. She began a years-long battle with depression and crippling self-doubt. At age 27, Star had a transformative moment. During a retreat, she was faced with a choice - join a lifeboat and potentially survive, or go down with the sinking ship. In that instant, Star chose to live. She heard God whisper to her, "Choose to live, and live passionately." This was a turning point that broke the hold of her depression. The road to healing was not easy. Star had to carefully identify the root beliefs driving her despair, relying on practices like prayer, journaling, and defining her emotions. Bit by bit, she was able to let go of her long-held conviction that hard work meant disappointment. In its place, she developed a new trust in God's plan rather than her own efforts. Now, Star is dedicated to maintaining daily habits that keep her grounded and at peace, like meditation and self-care. Most importantly, she is committed to choosing passion and purpose in her life, no matter the circumstances. Her advice to others is to embrace the healing process, understanding that life's challenges often contain the seeds of growth. With her newfound perspective, Star is determined to write a new narrative for her life - one filled with hope, not despair. Star's Channel:  @BookofStar  Connect With Tim & Steve: narrative.live Follow us on IG and Facebook @narrativelive Join the Discord to continue the conversation! https://discord.com/invite/pKXYuda9Hu

From an early age, Mike Hatch learned to believe he was unworthy of having his needs met. Growing up in a tumultuous Christian household, he witnessed his parents' marriage fall apart, culminating in a pivotal moment when he and his brother had to call 911 during one of their fights. This experience led teenage Mike to conclude he was entirely on his own. This belief shaped his relationships into transactional exchanges, where he helped others solely to gain their approval. His unmet emotional needs and feelings of unworthiness eventually led to a pornography addiction. The turning point came when his fiancée caught him viewing pornography, throwing her engagement ring and two Bibles at him before walking out. Rather than ending their relationship, this moment became what Mike calls "God's lifeline." His church community surrounded them with unconditional love and support, showing Mike that he could be fully known – flaws and all – and still be accepted. This experience transformed his understanding of worth and relationship with God. Today, more than 20 years into his marriage, Mike serves as an executive coach and pastor in Pittsburgh, helping others find the same freedom he discovered. He describes the transition from his former life to his current one as taking off a heavy backpack – no longer burdened by the constant pressure to perform or gain approval. His focus has shifted from taking to giving, from seeking approval to holding space for others who are struggling. Mike emphasizes that the key to similar transformation lies in authentic connection with others and a relationship with God, noting that "the opposite of addiction isn't sobriety – it's connection." Connect with Mike: LinkedIn @mikehatch02   Connect with Tim & Steve: narrative.live Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @narrativelive Join Our Discord Server!  discord