Crafted Connections

Katelyn Calhoun
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

We talk to folks in our community about how they use storytelling to build their community 

  1. Episode 56: Fidelity to Your Craft with Jerald Harkness

    2D AGO

    Episode 56: Fidelity to Your Craft with Jerald Harkness

    Episode 56: Fidelity to Your Craft with Jerald Harkness  Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun This week on Crafted Connections, I'm joined by filmmaker, mentor, and dear friend Jerald Harkness — someone who has spent over 30 years building a career in storytelling. Jerald and I first connected on LinkedIn in 2022, and what started as a generous outreach became one of the most meaningful professional relationships in my life. In this conversation, you'll hear that dynamic unfold — mutual respect, curiosity, and a shared love for storytelling as a vehicle for connection. We talk about what it actually looks like to sustain a creative career over decades — not just creatively, but strategically. Because while storytelling is an art, Jerald reminds us that if you want to do this work long-term, you have to treat it like a business. From his early days in filmmaking to producing his first feature at 21, Jerald shares what it takes to build something that lasts. We get into distribution, collaboration, and the reality that great work alone isn't enough — it has to be seen. We also explore the nuance of creative roles — directing, producing, editing — and what it means to hold "fidelity to the narrative" and truly serve the story. And maybe the most grounded takeaway: you can know the statistics are stacked against you… and still strategically go for it anyway. What You'll Hear: Building a 30+ year career in filmmakingHow one LinkedIn message turned into mentorship and collaborationDocumentary storytelling as a tool for connection and communityThe difference between creating art and running a sustainable businessWhy distribution matters — great work can't sit on a hard driveBalancing creativity with strategy, money, and long-term thinking"Fidelity to the narrative. Fidelity to the budget."Choosing the right collaborators and trusting your gutWhy taking yourself seriously is essential to making this your livelihoodKnowing the statistics and choosing to become the outlier anywayThis episode is a reminder that meaningful careers aren't built overnight — they're built through consistency, curiosity, and a willingness to keep showing up. Connect with Jerald: Instagram Need Help Clarifying Your Story? Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you. 🎥 Book your session and use code PODCAST for 25% off: https://katelyncalhoun.as.me/story-strategy-session Join the Conversation 📲 Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod 📬 DM me and tell me—what format makes you come alive when you communicate? Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate. 🌟 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.  Keep creating. Keep connecting.

    51 min
  2. EP 55: Meet Me in My Mess: The CEO Support Role with Jill Neuhaus

    MAR 26

    EP 55: Meet Me in My Mess: The CEO Support Role with Jill Neuhaus

    Episode 55: Meet Me in My Mess: The CEO Support Role with Jill Neuhaus Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun This week on Crafted Connections, I'm joined by someone who started as a stranger on the internet and became one of my closest business besties... Jill Neuhaus! We met through a content creation group and connected over a vulnerable LinkedIn post about wanting to make real friends, and have since spent hundreds of hours together in daily co-working sessions. Knowing Jill has emphasized to me the importance of making friends with strangers on the internet. Jill has a rich and winding path: nonprofit development work at animal shelters, becoming a virtual assistant and executive support specialist for small business CEOs, and now expanding into LinkedIn strategy and AI integration. She is a connector, a supporter, and someone whose energy makes you feel so safe you just. keep. talking. We dig into what it means to be the person behind the CEO, the loneliness of entrepreneurship, the magic of body doubling, what makes a great support role, and the complicated feelings that come with building and rebuilding teams. Plus: Jill's AI wins and why personal brand is outpacing business brand for making real connections. What You'll Hear in This Episode: 🤝 How they met through Content Club and co-working  🐾 Jill's nonprofit and fundraising background  💼 What the executive support role for small business CEOs really looks like  🧠 Body doubling, parallel play, and why co-working works  😤 The loneliness of entrepreneurship and finding your people  📋 What makes a support role different from just "having help"  🤖 Jill's AI wins and new tools she's integrating  📣 Why personal brand now outpaces business brand for real connection  💬 The courage it takes to post "I want friends" Connect with Jill: LinkedIn Need Help Clarifying Your Story? Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you. 🎥 Book your session and use code PODCAST for 25% off: https://katelyncalhoun.as.me/story-strategy-session Join the Conversation 📲 Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod 📬 DM me and tell me—what format makes you come alive when you communicate? Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate. 🌟 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.  Keep creating. Keep connecting.

    1h 1m
  3. EP 54: Building a Brand Ecosystem

    MAR 19

    EP 54: Building a Brand Ecosystem

    Episode 54: Building a Brand Ecosystem Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun This week on Crafted Connections, I’m sharing something I’ve been actively navigating in real time: what it looks like to build a brand ecosystem instead of forcing yourself into a neat, tidy box. This episode starts with a simple moment — a DM conversation with a friend where I admitted that everything I’m working on feels like a bunch of puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit yet. Her response stopped me in my tracks: What if the final image is bigger than you can even imagine? And that’s the thread we follow throughout this conversation. Because if you’re anything like me — multi-passionate, curious, building a lot of things at once — you’ve probably felt the pressure to “make it make sense” before you share it. To niche down. To package it perfectly. But what if the mess isn’t the problem? What if the work is actually to keep showing up in process? In this solo episode, I break down what I mean by a brand ecosystem — a way of showing up that allows all the different parts of you to exist, evolve, and even contradict each other a little bit. From this podcast, to daily vlogs, to life on a boat, to client work — I share how each piece plays a role in expressing who I am, even when the full picture isn’t clear yet. We also talk about the tension of being in a “mid-career” moment — where you’ve gained experience (and a few scars), but you’re still figuring out what’s next. And how trying to rush clarity can actually disconnect you from the very people you’re trying to reach. Because here’s the truth: Your story doesn’t need to be finished to be worth sharing. And waiting until it’s perfect might be costing you connection. This episode is your permission slip to stop forcing it to make sense — and start trusting that the picture will come together as you keep going. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🧩 Why your “too many puzzle pieces” might actually be a good thing  🌱 What a brand ecosystem is — and how it replaces the pressure to niche down  🎙️ How different platforms (podcast, social, video) can hold different parts of you  🔁 Why iteration — not clarity — is the real path forward  💬 The problem with over-rehearsed storytelling (and what to do instead)  ⚖️ Navigating the tension between early optimism and lived experience  🚫 How perfectionism quietly blocks connection  ✨ Why sharing in-process is more powerful than presenting a finished version  🔥 “Joy is data” — and how to follow what’s actually lighting you up  🧭 A reframe to help you trust that the bigger picture is still unfolding Need Help Clarifying Your Story? Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you. 🎥 Book your session and use code PODCAST for 25% off: https://katelyncalhoun.as.me/story-strategy-session Join the Conversation 📲 Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod 📬 DM me and tell me—what format makes you come alive when you communicate? Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate. 🌟 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.  Keep creating. Keep connecting.

    19 min
  4. EP 53: A Whole Lot of Stories from the Video Industry with Keith Toombs & Matthew Brown

    MAR 12

    EP 53: A Whole Lot of Stories from the Video Industry with Keith Toombs & Matthew Brown

    Episode 53: A Whole Lot of Stories from the Video Industry with Keith Toombs & Matthew BrownHosted by Katelyn Calhoun This week on Crafted Connections, I'm doing something a little different — and honestly, a little experimental. I brought two guests to the table for the very first time: Keith Toombs and Matthew Brown, two production professionals I've had the pleasure of working alongside in the field. What started as a post-job celebration turned into a podcast invitation. And when Matthew said he wouldn't come on without Keith? Well, we just made it a trio. Keith has been in the industry for nearly 30 years. Matthew, about five. And I fall somewhere happily in between. Together, we explored what it means to build a career in a creative, demanding field — and what it means to remain a full human being while doing it. We talked cameras. We talked travel. We talked about the gap between the life you imagine and the life you actually build. And we also covered mental health, anxiety, and the tools that have actually helped each of us navigate the harder seasons. Keith closed us out with a question that stopped everyone in their tracks: not "what's your wildest dream?" but something more grounded and more honest — what would you do right now, realistically, if you could do anything within the life you've already built? It's one of those questions that sounds simple until you're actually sitting with it. These guys are some of the best humans I know, and this conversation is proof of that. What You'll Hear in This Episode 🎥 How Keith and Matthew each found their way into production — and the unexpected paths that got them there  📷 How camera technology has changed the industry and democratized who gets to tell stories  ✈️ What work travel really looks like — and how to stay connected to the people you love back home  🧠 An honest conversation about anxiety, mental health, and the tools that actually help  🌊 Dreams vs. reality — and the question Keith asks that will stick with you long after this episode ends  One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how real it gets. There's no perfectly packaged advice. No tidy takeaways wrapped in a bow. Just three people in production who love their craft, have lived some hard seasons, and have figured out — slowly, imperfectly — how to keep going. If you've ever felt like your anxiety lives more in imagined futures than real ones… If you've ever wondered whether you're actually moving toward your dreams or just talking about them… If you need a reminder that showing up honestly is always enough… This episode is for you. Connect with Keith & Matthew 🌐 Keith Toombs - Songbirdmediagroup.com  📲 Matthew Brown - Google "Matthew Brown" Need Help Clarifying Your Story? Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you. 🎥 Book your session and use code PODCAST for 25% off: https://katelyncalhoun.as.me/story-strategy-session Join the Conversation 📲 Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod 📬 DM me and tell me—what format makes you come alive when you communicate? Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate. 🌟 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.  Keep creating. Keep connecting.

    1h 26m

  5. MAR 5

    EP 52: SOLO - Your Permission Slip to Ditch the Pitch

    Episode 52: SOLO - Your Permission Slip to Ditch the Pitch Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun This week on Crafted Connections, I’m sharing a solo episode that starts with a confession: I am not great at pitching. Put me in front of someone and ask for an elevator pitch and I’m likely to word-vomit, talk too fast, forget to breathe, and leave the other person confused. Not exactly a winning sales strategy. But instead of forcing myself to become someone I’m not, I’ve started asking a different question: What if the pitch isn’t the strategy? In this episode, I share a couple of very real (and slightly embarrassing) stories that helped me realize something important: pitching has never been my natural strength. And that realization led me to a bigger shift in how I think about visibility, marketing, and building a business. Instead of constantly trying to push my work out through pitches, I’m leaning into what I call living an inbound life - building assets, relationships, and visibility that allow people to experience my work before I’m ever in the room. For me, that looks like building a brand ecosystem that is drenched in storytelling and reflects who I am and how I think. Because when people already know how you show up, the conversation changes. You’re not convincing them anymore. You’re simply continuing the relationship. What I Cover in This Episode: 🎤 Why pitching has never felt natural for me  😅 Two awkward stories that perfectly illustrate my “say it and run away” approach  ⚡ Why operating from your strengths is a strategic decision  📥 What it means to build an inbound life instead of constantly pitching 🎙️ Creating assets that speak for you when you’re not in the room 🌱 Letting people experience your thinking before they ever hire you ✨ Building a visibility strategy around your strengths—not your insecurities Here’s the invitation I leave you with: Maybe you don’t need a better pitch. Maybe you need a better format. A better platform. A better approach to sharing what you do best. Where do you come alive when you communicate? What medium allows you to show up with confidence instead of pressure? Because the truth is—trust is built in layers, and storytelling compounds over time. Need Help Clarifying Your Story? Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you. 🎥 Book your session and use code PODCAST for 25% off: https://katelyncalhoun.as.me/story-strategy-session Join the Conversation 📲 Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod 📬 DM me and tell me—what format makes you come alive when you communicate? Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate. 🌟 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.  Keep creating. Keep connecting.

    15 min
  6. EP 51: Building Community Like a Human with Caitlin Wuethrich

    FEB 26

    EP 51: Building Community Like a Human with Caitlin Wuethrich

    Episode 51: Building Community Like a Human with Caitlin Wuethrich Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun This week on Crafted Connections, I’m joined by the incredible Caitlin Wuethrich. Caitlin is a business owner, mama, and someone who approaches both entrepreneurship and motherhood with honesty and heart. Caitlin and I talk about what it really looks like to work for yourself — the pivots, the risks, the scrappy beginnings, and the way relationships become the foundation of everything. Like so many of us who build businesses from connection first, her path wasn’t perfectly linear. It was human. It was responsive. It was built conversation by conversation. We also dig into her journey into motherhood and the parts that don’t always get said out loud. The transition. The identity shifts. The expectations versus reality. Caitlin shows up as a complete open book in this conversation, and I’m so grateful for her willingness to share it all. Because here’s the throughline that kept surfacing: whether you’re connecting one-on-one, on a podcast, or through a screen, the work is the same. Treat people like human beings. It sounds obvious. It sounds simple. And yet it’s surprisingly hard to execute when we’re thinking about strategy, growth, or numbers. Caitlin breaks down what it actually looks like to build community online with intention — not manipulation. Engagement with integrity. Growth rooted in relationship. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🤝 Building a business from real relationships  🚀 The path to working for yourself and the pivots along the way  👩‍👧 Navigating motherhood and entrepreneurship simultaneously  💬 The identity shifts that come with becoming a parent  📱 Building community on Instagram without losing your humanity  🧠 Why connection is strategy not an afterthought  ✨ The power of being an open book in your story A Special Offer from Caitlin Caitlin is generously offering $50 off her strategy calls for members of this community. If you’re looking for clarity around your content, messaging, or Instagram growth strategy, this is a beautiful opportunity to work with her directly. Use code KATELYN when booking: 🌐 caitlinwuethrichmedia.com Need Help Clarifying Your Story? Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you. 🎥 Book your session and use code PODCAST for 25% off: https://katelyncalhoun.as.me/story-strategy-session Join the Conversation 📲 Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod 📬 DM me and tell me—what format makes you come alive when you communicate? Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate. 🌟 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.  Keep creating. Keep connecting.

    48 min

  7. FEB 19

    EP 50: SOLO - Find Your Superfans (Before You Chase Followers)

    Episode 50: SOLO - Find Your Superfans (Before You Chase Followers) Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun This week on Crafted Connections, I’m unpacking a concept that has quietly reshaped how I think about growth, business, and community: Superfans. In my last solo episode, I shared my big, scary goal of paying myself a $100,000 salary this year — and the six adjustments I’m making to support it. The most important one? Only spending time with people who are 100% behind that goal. That realization led me here. We’re trained to chase growth — followers, subscribers, views. Big numbers that look impressive. But big numbers don’t always mean big impact. And they don’t necessarily mean support. In this episode, I explore the difference between vanity metrics and meaningful metrics. Between going viral and building trust. Between chasing growth and nurturing the people already here. I share how, in my own business, just 1–5 people have been responsible for a significant portion of my income — through referrals, repeat work, and enthusiastic belief in what I do. That’s the power of a superfan. What I Cover in This Episode: 📊 Vanity metrics vs. meaningful metrics  🎯 Why follower count doesn’t automatically equal impact  💡 The “1,000 True Fans” concept — and what it really means  🤝 A powerful question: If your audience never grew, how would you treat the people already here?  🔁 Why superfans show up when you show up  🔥 The fastest way to build superfans: become one A superfan isn’t just someone who clicks “like.”  It’s someone who refers you in rooms you’re not in.  Who hires you again.  Who speaks your name with enthusiasm.  Who believes in your big, scary goals. And here’s what I love most: Superfans aren’t built through extraction.  They’re built through participation. Through cheering people on.  Through showing up with joy.  Through investing in the ecosystem you want to live inside. Maybe the goal isn’t to go viral.  Maybe it’s to deepen trust.  To serve the people already here.  To send the supportive text.  To write the thank-you note.  To champion someone this week. Relationships are the real infrastructure. So ask yourself: Who consistently cheers you on?  And who are you cheering on? Need Help Clarifying Your Story? Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you. 🎥 Book your session and use code PODCAST for 25% off: https://katelyncalhoun.as.me/story-strategy-session Join the Conversation 📲 Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod 📬 DM me and tell me—what format makes you come alive when you communicate? Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate. 🌟 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.  Keep creating. Keep connecting.

    15 min
  8. EP 49: How to Be Both a Baddie and a Villager with Avagail Lozano

    FEB 12

    EP 49: How to Be Both a Baddie and a Villager with Avagail Lozano

    Episode 49: How to Be Both a Baddie and a Villager with Avagail Lozano Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun This week on Crafted Connections, I’m joined by the one and only Avagail Lozano. She is a Bay Area baddie, longtime content creator, community-builder, and someone who lives life fully and unapologetically. Ava and I met through a virtual book club last year, and from the jump, I was struck by how boldly she defines adventure for herself. Not in a curated, highlight-reel way, but in a deeply embodied, “this is who I am and I’m not shrinking for anyone” way. In this episode, we talk about what it really means to build a nontraditional life. From teaching abroad in South Korea to documenting travel seasons, to redefining adventure in seasons of stillness, Ava shares how her identity has evolved over time and how she continues to show up authentically, both online and in real life. We explore the phrase she gifted me over a year ago, “What’s meant for me won’t miss me.” That mantra threads through this entire conversation: from career pivots to community-building to trusting the next chapter before it’s fully clear. Ava also opens up about what it’s like to navigate the world as a Filipina woman and the importance of Filipino-led spaces. We talk about representation, generational expectations, and the deep nourishment that comes from being in rooms where you don’t have to explain yourself. And maybe my favorite throughline of this conversation? The idea of being a villager. Not just wanting the village, but actively showing up as one. Volunteering. Mentoring. Supporting. Setting boundaries. Choosing joy. Choosing rest. Choosing connection. This episode is for anyone craving adventure, community, or permission to define success on their own terms. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🌍 Living abroad and redefining adventure across different seasons of life  📱 The real work behind long-term content creation and showing up online  💬 Why vulnerability breeds meaningful connection  ✨ “What’s meant for me won’t miss me” - trusting what is aligned will arrive  🇵🇭 The importance of Filipino-led spaces and cultural representation  🧭 Success as defined by you   🏡 FOMO vs. JOMO: finding balance between adventure and rest  🤝 Being a “villager” by contributing to community in real, tangible ways  🚧 Boundaries, burnout, and learning to pause before saying yes Ava reminds us that connection is cultivated in an organic way. Connect with Ava: 📲 Instagram: @avagailadventures 🌐 Website: www.avagailadventures.com Need Help Clarifying Your Story? Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you. 🎥 Book your session and use code PODCAST for 25% off: https://katelyncalhoun.as.me/story-strategy-session Join the Conversation 📲 Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod 📬 DM me and tell me—what format makes you come alive when you communicate? Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate. 🌟 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.  Keep creating. Keep connecting.

    48 min
See All (56)

About

We talk to folks in our community about how they use storytelling to build their community 

Information

  • Creator
    Katelyn Calhoun
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Crafted Connections
  • Show Website
    Crafted Connections