Your Story Matters: Recent Episodes
Michaela Elizabeth Tuchek
Hello + Welcome! Your Story Matters Podcast is for story lovers + storytellers. This is where we work through life from its perspectives, seasons of life, relationships + more. My hope for this show is that we will experience the power of storytelling + understand that we are the main characters in our own stories to break free from the false narratives.
Welcome to the Ending Series!
I am excited to introduce you to Ellie West on today's episode.
Ellie West, a Purser Flight Attendant with a distinguished 44-year career, has consistently showcased her exceptional gifts in hospitality. Her recent journey into Personal Development, marked by the acquisition of 11 certifications, is a testament to her unwavering commitment to personal growth and self-improvement. This unexpected path has deeply resonated with her, inspiring others to embark on their transformation journeys. Ellie is a Master-Certified Practitioner in NLP, Timeline Therapy, and Hypnotherapy, as well as an Enneagram Coach and Personal Empowerment Coach.
We talk about:
- Becoming a Flight Attendant
- The impact of Covid-19 in 2020
- Rediscovering personal growth + coaching
- Writing her debut book
- And so much more!
The 4 A's for Navigating Turbulent Times:
- Awareness
- Ask Questions
- Allow the Process
- Take Action
Soar: How to Rise Above the Turbulence + Watch Your Dreams Take Flight
Connect with Ellie: Instagram | Facebook | Email
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
Welcome to the Endings part of the show!
In this episode, I share:
- the invitation of endings
- the endings impact our life
- the importance of well-rounded endings
- the power of endings shaping our lives
How to Walk Into a Room by Emily P. Freeman
Connect with Michaela
Check-In Page | Newsletter | Instagram | Website
In this episode, I recap the Middle section of the podcast; what stood out to me, and more.
I can't wait to share the Endings part coming this September!
Connect with Michaela: Check-In Pages | Newsletter | Instagram | Website
There's a FREEBIE mentioned in this show that you can get here! Seeing the Hero + Villain Parts of Your Personality --- a guide to understanding each Enneagram Types' hero + villain traits.
Want an easy journaling page with only 4 questions a month!? Click here to get your free check-in page
In this episode, I talk about:
- The 5 Secrets for Authors from an article from TheWritePlace.com called The Secret to Writing the Middle of a Story --> click here to read <-- and how we can relate that to where we are
The 5 Secrets are:
- Add an abrasive character
- Undermine your character's strength
- Prey on your character's weakness
- Complicate the situation
- Revitalize your story's saggy middle
- How to navigate abrasive characters in our life
- Turning weaknesses into strengths with the help of the Enneagram
- Challenging ourselves to learn + grow
- Finding strength + positivity in complicated situations
- Persevering the saggy middle of our stories
Connect with Michaela: Seeing the Hero + Villain Parts of Your Personality | Check-In Pages | Newsletter | Instagram | Website
Today I'll be sharing the life-saving hacks that are helping me right now in a difficult season --- no matter where you are, you're not alone!
Also, I share an easy journaling page I've created called Monthly Check-In Pages where through this 4-question guide you can become a better journaler with this simple practice.
Get your FREE Monthly Check-In Page here!
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
Welcome to the Middle Series!
I am excited to introduce you to Kiri Mohan, Freelance Coach + Founder of Corporate2Contract, on today's episode.
Kiri Mohan helps women freelancers with a corporate background take their contractor business from surviving to thriving. Her Corporate2Contract Core and Collective programs guide women in growing their freelance businesses to set them up for success, earn an income over six figures and get more time back in their day. When not working on her courses or leading women, she is podcasting (Her Balanced Hustle Podcast) drinking tea and reading books.
We talk about:
- Starting a freelancing business
- Balancing work + personal life
- Escaping into fantasy: the power of books
- How Star Wars impacted Kiri’s life
- We also do a mini Enneagram Typing Session!
Book Mention: Lean in: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
Connect with Kiri:Instagram |LinkedIn |Website | Her Balanced Hustle Podcast
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
Welcome to the Middle Series!
I am excited to introduce you to Haley Kluge on today's episode.
Based in Los Angeles, Haley Kluge is an award-winning creative director spearheading creative endeavors at Variety magazine. She is the youngest and first female creative director in its 118-year history. She has previously worked at Netflix, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping. In 2023, she was recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 and an American Society of Magazine Editors NEXT Journalist. She holds a degree in journalism and graphic design from Michigan State University. Outside of work, she can be found chugging Diet Coke or seeing a Broadway show.
We talk about:
- Haley’s career in the Magazine Industry
- New York vs. L.A.
- Being open to new experiences + opportunities
- The creative process + problem-solving
- The power of visuals in conveying info + emotion
Connect with Haley:Instagram |Facebook |Website
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
Welcome to the Middle Series!
I'm so excited to welcome back Amanda (Type 8) + welcome her husband Greg (Type 3). You might remember Amanda from episode #11: you can listen to it here.
Greg and Amanda approach each season of their life together with a spirit of adventure, choosing to be open to all opportunities that became available. They have been married for almost 30 years with one daughter. Greg spent the majority of his professional career as an executive with publicly traded real estate companies and Amanda worked as a designer before staying at home and focusing on jobs as an independent contractor. Although technically “retired”, life continues to be extremely full. Greg spends 3 months out of the year in Greece and Turkey working with a refugee ministry and Amanda is a Certified Enneagram Coach with a passion for working with young adults. Both have a passion for international and domestic travel. Their recent “yes” to adventure was moving to Auburn Alabama where their daughter began medical school. They are enjoying the energy of a university town and exploring all the area has to offer.
We talk about:
- Their experiences and insights on navigating life's transitions and choices, particularly through the lens of their Enneagram types.
- The importance of self-awareness, communication, and gut instincts in coping with change, and highlight the value of leaning into adventure and reframing mindsets.
- The younger generation's desire for empathy and self-awareness, and the benefits of understanding one's Enneagram number in relationships and personal growth.
- And so much more!
Book Mention: Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud
Connect with Amanda: Instagram
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
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Welcome to the Middle Series!
I am excited to re-introduce you to Ro Elliott (Type 2) on today's episode. Ro was a guest on Don't Worry You're Enough + you can listen to that episode here!
Ro + her husband have been married for 43 years + have 5 children + 9 children. When her youngest turned 18, Ro found herself feeling lost. She went on an incredible journey to rediscover her identity + what life had in store for her. Ro pursued her Narrative Focus trauma Care certificate from the Allender Center. This allowed her to gain a deeper understanding of trauma and its impact on individuals. Additionally, she became certified as an Enneagram Coach, which has been a fulfilling endeavor for her. Between family + coaching, Ro is living her best renewed joy-filled life!
We talk about:
- Life at 66 living with grit, grace + gratitude
- Perceptions about mothers after they become empty nesters + what's next for them
- Combatting feeling lost by finding your purpose
- How the Enneagram transforms marriages
Book Mention: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Connect with Ro: Instagram
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
Welcome to the Middle Series!
I am excited to re-introduce you to Amy Nabors (Type 1) on today's episode. Amy was a guest on Don't Worry You're Enough + you can listen to that episode here!
Amy is an Enneagram coach & facilitator for The 6 Types of Working Genius. She helps teams & leaders overcome the challenges that keep them overwhelmed, stressed out, & burned out so they can live and lead with more purpose & peace.
We talk about:
- Amy turning 50
- Working towards leaving a full-time job for coaching
- What society says about being in the middle
- Amy's rebel spirit + what she's doing to combat it
Amy's Practical Ways to Navigate the Middle
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Making the bed
- Exercising
Also, creating a morning + evening routine!
Book Mention: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Connect with Amy: Instagram | Facebook | Website
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
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In this episode, I recap the Beginnings part of the podcast; what stood out to me, and more.
I can't wait to share the Middle part coming next episode!
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
Adam is a passionate person. His many interests include tennis, piano, dancing, chess, and the Rubik’s Cube. His technical abilities in math led him to major in Statistics at Michigan State University and start an analytics career. However, he’s realized that he is more driven by harnessing his creativity and working with others. He is in a period of "new beginnings" as an enneagram coach and being active across Oakland University where he studies jazz piano.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Adam's 6-year journey in landing on his Type
- His knowledge of Instinctual Subtypes + how that made all the difference in his life
- The masculine + feminine aspects of Type 4 + how we're shifting our views from what society has always told us to what we're discovering for ourselves
Connect with Adam: Blog
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
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In this episode, I share the secret I alluded to in the last episode... what I started using at the beginning of the year that has changed me.
Writing in pencil:
-
Has done a lot for my soul—and given me a perspective I wasn’t looking for.
-
Has not made me miss color.
-
Helped me be open to change.
Articles mentioned:
- Who Invented the Pencil?
- Pen Writing Implement
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
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Do you ever feel like you’re in the middle of a beginning? Or when does an ending feel like the end? Those are great questions... but sometimes it feels like we wait forever for the answers.
In this episode, I share thoughts on the circle of life regarding beginnings, middles, and ends.
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
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In this episode, I talk about the 4 things that are easy to start personally. What do you have an easy time starting?
- Books
- TV Shows
- Journals
- Coaching
*My podcast episode with Leah | Listen Here
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
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In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Erica Taft. She is a holistic nutritionist driven by a fervent passion to empower individuals facing diseases to embrace natural healing with the guidance of God, nutrition, and other holistic modalities.
Erica shares her health journey as it relates to being diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases, receiving a prognosis, and ultimately healing her body through food.
If you'd like to connect with Erica + learn more about holistic nutrition + how it can have a lasting impact on your health journey you can find her on Instagram | YouTube | Facebook
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
In this episode, I share some thoughts about beginnings, what they look like, + how I'm challenged to stop believing I need to be an expert in everything and start where I am.
Beginnings...
-
are hard
-
bring up a lot of anxiety
-
bring up feelings of failure
-
can be unexpected
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
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We're halfway through January + already it has been a month...
I share about how this year hasn't started quite like I thought it would, why a support system matters, and a 4-question guide to help you navigate a beginning in your life to see it with more clarity + to help organize your thoughts.
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
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Happy New Year!
In this episode, I talk all about beginnings + how we can approach this year with a better mindset. And as a fun little addition, I sprinkle the beginning parts of some of my favorite books!
I am so excited for 2024 + am so glad to have you on this journey with me. Click the link below to join my Newsletter!
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website
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In this episode, I review the first year of Your Story Matters + hint at a few things for 2024! A HUGE thank you to all my listeners, this show isn't possible without you.
Click HERE if you want to download the Book List I mentioned.
Connect with Michaela: Instagram | Website
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This is the final episode of the Fall Enneagram Series for this year.
I am excited to introduce you to Felisha Caldeira (Type 3).
Felisha is a devoted follower of Jesus. She is married to a pastor and blessed with three amazing sons. She is the proud founder of Honestly You, Enneagram Coaching. Learning her type (Type 3!) was exciting and uncomfortable, but it has changed her life for the better. She is passionate about helping people uncover their authentic selves, conquer personal and relational obstacles, and experience genuine transformation as a follower of Christ.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Theatre Arts
- the Power of a Personality Tool
- Repressed Feelings
- Highlights + Challenges of Type 3
- and more!
Book Mention: The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation | The Giver
Connect with Felisha: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Michaela: Website | Instagram
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In our second to last episode of the Fall Enneagram Series, I'm excited to introduce Jaken (Type 5).
Jaken Orten a Pentecostal preacher from Dawson Springs, KY. He started preaching at the ripe old age of 15 and became a youth pastor at the age of 17. His one true passion has always been ministry.
He loves spending time listening to podcasts on all topics from history to preaching to the Enneagram! He also hosts a couple of podcasts: Reality Speaks (which is focused on helping Christians understand the real world better) and Peculiar (which is meant to help new Christians understand the church).
Jaken is also planning to start a podcast very soon about... THE ENNEAGRAM! He is also super excited to be launching a brand new coaching business, Deuteronomy 6 Ministries.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Growing up in the church as a pastor's kid
- His journey to discovering his Type
- What knowledge means to Type 5's
- And more!
Book Mention: Better After Burntout by Jathan Maricelli
Connect with Jaken: Instagram | Facebook | Website
Connect with Michaela: Instagram | Website
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The fourth episode in the Fall Enneagram Series is a special one.
I am thrilled to introduce you to Bonni Mace (Type 9). This was such an in-depth + robust conversation that I won't soon forget.
Bonni is a Personal Growth and Certified Enneagram Coach helping people to discover who they are and what they believe during a faith shift or deconstruction. Her passion is to help people see their whole selves - strengths and weaknesses - as a masterpiece and to create a safe, grace-filled space to sit with the more complicated questions of faith and spirituality without prescribing any "shoulds" along the way. She offers coaching in self-discovery via enneagram, naming your personal values, and creating a rhythm of life that expands your ideas of spiritual practices and makes room for growth.
In this episode, we talk about:
- The journey of moving from Texas to the East Coast
- A paradigm shift in women's role in marriage/life
- Relating Type 9 to Marvel characters
- The power of extending kindness to yourself
- and more!!!
Book Mention! The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry | Four Thousand Weeks
Connect with Bonni: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Michaela: Website | Instagram
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Y'all get ready...
I am so excited to share my new friend Linda Hannigan (Type 3) with you.
Linda is a wife of 20+ years, mom to three sons, and Enneagram Coach from the Pacific Northwest. In 2018 she came across the Enneagram and began studying it for personal growth. The impact it had on her marriage and parenting was transformational.
After experiencing information turning into revelation and actual transformation in her life, Linda knew she wanted to share her journey with others. Since launching 9 Lumens in 2020, Linda's coaching has created a safe space for people to explore growth by blending Life and Leadership Coaching with spiritual formation.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How the Enneagram found her on a plane
- The difficulty of being a Type 3 in a 3 world/culture
- The difference between thriving + surviving
- The Barbie movie!
- And more!
Book Mention! Garden City | The Hidden Life of Trees | The Artist's Way
Connect with Linda: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Michaela: Website | Instagram
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In our second episode of our Fall Enneagram Series, I am excited to talk with the sweet + caring Renee Bethel!
Renee Bethel is a Certified Enneagram Coach and a Professional Christian Life Coach who is passionate about nurturing growth in fellow Christian women. She specializes in helping women in the second half of life foster deeper connections and relationships with God, themselves, and with family and friends. She is a wife, mom, and grandmother who loves to learn and loves sharing resources to help others. Renee loves deep conversations and personal growth opportunities. As an Enneagram 5, one of her strengths is objectivity.In this episode, we talk about:
- How she discovered the Enneagram after being a caregiver for her husband + daughter
- An overview of living as a Type 5
- What to say to love Type 5's better
- And more!
Book Mention! Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation by Ruth Haley Barton
Connect with Renee: Instagram | Website | Coach Profile
Connect with Michaela: Instagram | Website
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For the first episode in our 2023 Fall Enneagram Series, I am so excited to be talking with my life coach Alison. Meeting her through a mutual friend has been the highlight of my year as I worked with her, seeking help for feeling "stuck" in my life; she helped me SO MUCH.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How the Enneagram found her
- Moving from a career in social work to becoming a life coach
- The challenges of being a Type 4
- What it looks like for fantasy + reality to exist together (it's totally a 4 thing!)
Book Mention! Atomic Habits by James Clear
Connect with Alison: Website | Instagram
Connect with Michaela: Website
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Do you notice when your life is too loud?
Join me as talk about the power of noise + how it's having a negative effect on us. Then, I propose the Enneagram as a way of slowing down. It will help answer questions you have + also help to make sense of the noise surrounding you.
PLUS this is also an intro to our Fall Enneagram Series! I hope you'll join me in two weeks --- I'll be interviewing Types 3, 4, 5 + 9!
How Listening to Silence Changes Our Brains
Book Mention! Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise
Connect with Michaela: Website
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
Boy oh boy... what a journey this has been!
A few weeks ago, I started to paint my office + little did I know how much I would change during this crazy adventure. Join me as I share the process of choosing a paint color + how I found myself back at Home Depot to look for another one. This story might have started out about color but really ended up being about the power of change.
Subscribe to my newsletter to see before, during, and after pictures of my office on August 23rd! | Website
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I chose "visibility" for my word for 2023 + I talk about how it has challenged, changed, and confused me, to say the least.
Listen in as I walk through how this summer has been for me especially when I was at my lowest + wanting to quit.
Follow Michaela | Website
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
This episode is really fun because I get to bring my husband on the podcast to recap our story from dating to celebrating our 1 year anniversary.
We chat about our highlights + some tough moments. We recap what we've learned + are still learning. This was so fun to do together, enjoy!
Follow Mike: Facebook
Follow Michaela: Website
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
You know her + you love her, Diane Roberts is BACK to chat it up with Michaela. This is her first time on Your Story Matters, but she's a pro having co-created/hosted the Don't Worry You're Enough Podcast with Michaela last year.
In this episode, we chat about:
- our summer trip to see Annie F. Downs + Carlos Whittaker on the Here for You Tour
- the difference between singing for theatre + singing at church
- how Diane's life has changed this year
- how many times we've said "wild"
Book Mentions:
- The Book Thief
- Brain on Fire
- The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
- Cyclorama
- Water for Elephants
- The Noticer
- Wicked
Follow Diane
Follow Michaela
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The last installment of our Spring Enneagram Series is with none other than powerhouse Stephanie Jordan (Type 8).
Stephanie is an author, teacher, and speaker. She has been a cosmetologist for 24 years. She has 5 amazing kids with 4 extras that her husband brought into the family. She has one dog and two cats. She has broad life experiences and likes adventure. She loves Jesus and intends to spend her life sharing His message in an unconventional way. Her artistic and rock n roll style influence her outlook on life and living it to the full. She is passionate about riding her Harley Davidson Sportster 48 and reading, writing, and painting.
In this episode, we talk about:
- her experience growing up + how that shaped + molded her relationship with betrayal + trust issues
- how discovering her Enneagram type has changed her personally + professionally
- her journey of learning about forgiveness after abusive marriages
- and more!
Book Mention: Believing in Boundaries by Stephanie Jordan | The Emotion Code by Dr. Bradley Nelson | Feelings Buried Alive Never Die... by Karol K. Truman
Connect with Stephanie:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Connect with Michaela:
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
This conversation is one of the most dynamic and energetic ones I've ever had! This week's guest is the fabulous Cheryl Knowlton (Type 7).
Cheryl Knowlton is the CEO and Chief Energy Officer at Dynamite Productions, Inc., a Certified Woman-Owned Company and consulting firm focused on helping people to go on a deep-dive adventure into radical authenticity. She has been in the real estate industry since 1999 and has achieved numerous accomplishments in the field. She is a Certified Fascinate Advisor®, a Certified Enneagram Coach, and a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), which is the highest earned award bestowed by the National Speakers Association (held by fewer than 17% of all speakers). Cheryl has authored three books and is also the host of the popular podcast "Magnifying Brilliance."
Cheryl now lives in Utah with her husband, her 13 grandchildren, and her dog, Scooby Doo. When she is not traveling and speaking, Cheryl can usually be found running another half marathon (she has completed 30) or enjoying the magic of a Disney Theme Park (yes, she's a kid at heart).
In this episode, we talk about:
- Cheryl's unique upbringing and how she overcame the struggles of being adopted
- learning the Enneagram later in life and that has changed her life
- her real estate career
- Disney
- and more!
Book Mention: How the World Sees You by Sally Hogshead
Connect with Cheryl:
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Connect with Michaela:
Website | Instagram
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
Spicy romance author Kris Renee chats with Michaela to discuss her new book Wren (Book II) from The Brat Pack Series.
Kris Renee lives in the Midwest with her husband, their eight children, and two dogs. She is a lover of dangly earrings, reading, decorating, and peanut butter. Oh! And sleeping! Kris spends her summers camping with her big family in their travel trailer (pulled by their 15-passenger van). She enjoys visiting as many State and National Parks as possible on their trips, roasting s’mores over the campfire every night, and convincing her husband to stop at every ice cream and souvenir shop along the way!
Kris Renee was a well-known interior designer, home improvement diy'er, and decor crafter before writing her first novel, The False Villain. She was a regular guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, as well as local television & radio networks across the country. Kris' colorful home, projects & crafts were shared on TODAY Parents, Parents Magazine, HGTV Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Cleveland Magazine, and In Her Studio. Magazine.
In this episode, we talk about:
- how we met and our mutual love for one another
- creativity and failure
- Tiktok and handling harsh online comments
- her brand new book
- and so much more!
Follow Kris:
Website | Instagram
Follow Michaela:
Website | Instagram
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
Today's guest is the lovely and insightful Amanda Dowell (Type 8).
Amanda is a Certified Enneagram Coach with a passion to share the growth available through the Enneagram with the youngers of the world. Born in Alabama, yet a Texan at her core, Amanda and her husband currently live in Georgetown, Texas. She is also a Mom of one adult daughter who she is thrilled to call a Friend. She and her husband spend a few months each year in Greece working in a refugee ministry. Extended time in Greece and other world travel has reinforced her belief that we live in a small world with more things in common than we realize.
Amanda has a high need for change and a desire for organization and efficiency in everything she does. As a lifelong learner, Amanda experienced significant growth in herself, her marriage, and her friendships later in life. It is the opportunity to guide young adults and couples in the early seasons of their lives that influenced her to become an enneagram coach. Amanda’s goal in coaching is for clients to become more aware of themselves, deepen their empathy for others, learn to rest in who God made them to be, and spark an interest to discover growth paths that will positively impact their future.
In this episode, we talk about:
- how Amanda discovered her Enneagram type after learning about her daughter's
- her journey into learning about her Type 8 personality
- her passion for the "youngers" of the world to be as self-aware as they can be
- the rufugee work she does in Greece
- and more!
Books Mentioned:
- Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
- The Winner by David Baldacci
Connect with the Refuge Ministry: InstagramConnect with Amanda: WebsiteConnect with Michaela: Website | Instagram
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
In continuation of our Spring Enneagram Series, my guest today is the wonderful Kara Rasmussen (Type 6).
Kara Rasmussen is a Certified Enneagram Coach with a background in Social Work. Kara spent the first 12 years of her life as an MK (missionary kid) in Africa until her family moved to Minnesota — a place she still calls home, now with her husband of twenty years and their three teenage children. Kara is passionate about creating safe spaces for people to explore who they are, and she loves to share how the Enneagram can help us to grow personally, relationally, and spiritually.
In this episode, we talk about:
- growing up in Africa
- what safety and security look like
- anxiety and how that looks to a Type 6
- parenting
- and so much more!
Book Mention!
- Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode--and into a Life of Connection and Joy by Aundi Kolber
Follow Kara:
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Follow Michaela:
Website | Facebook | Instagram
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I am so excited to have on the podcast today, my new Type Four friend, Abby Zandevakili!
Abby is a mental health counselor in Texas, with an enneagram coaching business in the works! Her passion for the enneagram stems from how positively impactful it has been and continues to be, for her personal and professional life. This impact is what led her to become a certified enneagram coach in 2022, with the ultimate goal of starting a business.
We talk about so many good things:
- Mental health and why it's important to pair with the Enneagram
- childhood, moving around a lot, and having a hard time making connections
- doing the work to become healthy
- and so much more!
Book mentioned: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Connect with Abby:
Connect with Michaela:
Website | Instagram | Facebook
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourstorymatterspodcast/message
Today's conversation is all about passion and intensity from my new friend Carla Anne who identifies as a strong female Type 8.
Carla Anne is a dynamic, author and speaker, mom, wife, grandma, and Coach. People who know her well consider her an 'idea machine' and a passionate protector for those she cares for. She has been a challenger her whole life, and being an Enneagram Type 8 woman has provided her with difficulties in the workplace, and a unique perspective on leadership. While she loves others with deep and passionate love, many are intimidated by her 8-ness and choose not to see her softer side. Those who have embraced her dynamic personality have found her to be a powerhouse of love, capacity, and possibility.
In this episode we talk about:
- when Type 8 first showed up in Carla Anne's childhood
- her struggles with being a strong female Type 8
- shifting perspectives in seeing that relationships are a vital part of her life
- learning how to ask for help
- her encouragement for anyone in a relationship with Type 8's
- and so much more!
Book Mention!
- Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Follow Carla Anne:
Website
Follow Michaela:
Website
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In today's TedTalk (ahem, podcast episode), we are looking at personality and why we should care about it. I share the top four personality typing systems out there and how they help people answer some of those questions about their behaviors and motivations for thinking, feeling, and doing what they do.
I'm also excited to announce my Spring Enneagram Series which begins April 12th where I get to chat with some fabulous people about their journey to the Enneagram and how learning about their personality unlocked freedom in their life.
Here are the articles mentioned in today's episode:
- Personality Article
- Myers-Briggs
- DiSC
- Strengthsfinder
- Enneagram
Connect with Michaela:
website | Instagram | Facebook
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If you're anything like me, I cannot resist period-piece dramas in books, movies, and TV shows because I am obsessed! In this episode, I talk about the reasons why I love all things period-piece as it relates to communication and what we seem to lack today.
The pandemic certainly changed how we communicate now in the 21st century, but let's not forget the power of a good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation.
Articles:
The 50 funniest lines from literature
56 Delightful Victorian Slang Terms You Should Be Using
Connect with me!
Website | Instagram
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In this episode, I take briefly about the importance of rest and why it matters.
Even with our crazy busy lives, we can find the time to stop, pause, and breathe into rest that will refuel us.
I also share a list of ways to bring rest into your life... try one out if you haven't before! I'd love to know how you rest! Message me, I'd love to learn how you incorporate it into you life.
Connect with Michaela on Instagram!
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For lovers of books (and the Enneagram) that challenge our perspective, faith, and journey... this episode is for you.
I am so excited to chat AGAIN with my friend and author Dani Cooper (Type 1) about her new book The Enneagram for Christian Couples: A Guide to Understanding Your Personality Types and Deepening Your Relationship.
Dani Cooper is a Certified Enneagram Teacher and Coach for individuals, couples, and teams.
She is passionate about encouraging others to get on the road to self-discovery, and believes that only as we begin to understand ourselves, can we begin to truly love and care for the people in our lives and grow in our relationship with the world around us.
When she is not studying or teaching the Enneagram, you'll find her outside gardening and exploring nature with her husband and three kids.
We chat about her book and the unique way the opportunity fell into her lap... LITERALLY. And as book lovers, we talk about books that have shaped our perspective about our faith journeys. Click the link above to get yourself (and your friends) a copy of Dani's book---it will be a helpful getting-started guide for you and your partner!
Connect with Dani on Instagram
Connect with Michaela on Instagram
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Do social expectations get your heart beating fast and your head spinning faster? Have you ever struggled with what American society tells us about knowing what you're meant to do when you're in high school or college? Have you ever come to a crossroads in your life/career that surfaced the question "what do I do next?"
If you're anything like me, I struggle with knowing what to do next in terms of my job/career. I share some insight into why that is (in my opinion) and provide some helpful resources so we can learn to stop overthinking about not having anything to show for our lives and just learn to live our life one day at a time.
Mindfulness Resource:
- mindful.org
Books Mentioned:
- Beginner's Pluck: Build Your Life of Purpose and Impact Now by Liz Forkin Bohannon
- The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews
- Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts by Jennie Allen
Connect with me:
www.michaelaelizabeth.com
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I am so excited to introduce my best friend from college, Camara Rhodes.
Camara is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and vocal instructor from Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from Kent State University and is in pursuit of his Estill Figure Proficiency certificate. Camara specializes in stylizing voices to create signature pop and rock sounds. Using Estill Voice Training, he teaches the anatomy and physiology of the voice and concentrates on the 12 isolated muscles that are responsible for making specific sounds when speaking and singing.
When auditioning for rock musical theatre, Camara stresses the importance of understanding the time period to truly grasp the emotion and essence of the show. He teaches musical theatre history to help students remember that pop music and Broadway tunes are one and the same. He's helped fellow performers to audition for rock musicals from Grease and Hairspray to Rent, Spring Awakening, and Bonnie and Clyde. Performing credits include Rent (Angel), Hairspray (Seaweed), and Little Shop of Horrors.
Camara released his debut single "Better Now" in the Spring of 2021. His video has 16,000 views and counting. He is in the process of his releasing his EP.
In this episode we talk about:
- our college days
- where Cam is now
- how Estill Voice changed his life for the better
You can follow Cam at
- TikTok
Listen to Cam's debut single "Better Now" and watch the music video on YouTube
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Welcome to the very first episode of Your Story Matters. I'm your host, Michaela Elizabeth, and I'm grateful you're here!
I'm always reflective every new year, and I'm even more so when I took a look back, not on the last year but the last 10 years.
You're invited to come along as I share my journey from high school to college to Covid-19 to finding my husband. It's been a wild ride and while I thought I'd always be doing theatre, I never expected this is the way my life would turn out. I'm grateful and very lucky but I'm not where I thought I'd be. And that's okay.
Are you not where you thought you'd be? It's okay if you're not. I believe 2023 will be your best year yet as you come to realize again or for the first time that your story matters.
Stay in Touch
Instagram @michaelaelizabethtuchek
Facebook @michaelaelizabeth4
www.michaelaelizabeth.com
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New Year... New Podcast!
I'm so glad you're here. This quick episode is another insight into the beginnings of this podcast and my hope for the coming days.
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Hello and welcome to Your Story Matters Podcast. My name is Michaela Elizabeth and thank you for joining me on this journey. My hope for this podcast is that we will experience the power of storytelling and understand that we are the main characters in our own stories in order to break free from the false narrative that has been playing in our minds. I’ll share from my life and I’ll chat with friends about theirs on a variety of topics like relationships, Enneagram, seasons of life, and more. Your story matters. My story matters. And I’ll continue to tell both.
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