The Storied Human (What is your Story?)

Lynne Thompson

Humans have been telling each other stories since before writing. Around fires, looking up at the stars, human beings found comfort and connection through imagination and stories. I'm Lynne Thompson -- Tech Writer, Creative Writer and now podcaster! I have always loved hearing people's stories, especially when they have overcome something, and then share it with the rest of us! So far the podcast has included stories on Overcoming Addiction, the Entrepreneur journey, Dealing with Mental Illness, Understanding Grief (and a few fairy tales thrown in there!). There are plenty of spiritual moments humorous moments, and more. I have learned so much from my guests! Join me as I  talk to real people with extraordinary stories!  What is your story? I would love to hear it! Reach out to me at thestoriedhuman@gmail.com, or join our Facebook group!

  1. Aug 30

    Drew Norton on Perserverance and Giving Back: How he helps other men believe in themselves and find success

    Go ahead and text me! Drew Norton, known as The Everyday Sales Leader, is a dynamic self-development coach, sales consultant, and co-host of The Everyday Leader Podcast. Drew's deep commitment to helping others succeed is rooted in a highly personal belief: that life is too short to settle for anything less than your full potential. This became acutely clear after an accident with his baby, which fueled his passion to translate his decades of professional knowledge into powerful, actionable insights for his clients.  He is co-founder of the Abundant Man project: https://www.abundantmanproject.com He’s a dedicated husband to his wife of 13 years and a loving father to four children. Originally from southeastern Arizona, he cherishes the values of small-town life and the freedom he finds outdoors. A private pilot, Drew also enjoys the freedom of flight. He asserts that: "You cannot lead others until you lead yourself." Check out his podcast:  His Socials: Website: https://theeverydaysalesleader.com/ LinkedIn: Drew Norton  Insta: Drew Norton @theeverydaysalesleader  YouTube: The Everyday Sales Leader  THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human. The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574 Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com See all my links on  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/ Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/ Keep in touch! Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

    Drew Norton on Perserverance and Giving Back: How he helps other men believe in themselves and find success
  2. Mar 19

    Season 2026 Episode 3. Lawrence Harris: Motivational Speaker tells us: Heal Yourself, Help Others

    Go ahead and text me! Lawrence C. Harris is a youth speaker who helps teens and young adults believe in themselves, think differently about their future, and make better choices. Growing up, Lawrence faced serious challenges. Those experiences led him to start speaking so other young people would know they are not alone and that their past does not have to decide where their life goes. He has spoken to thousands of students through school assemblies, workshops, books, podcasts, and online events. In his talks, Lawrence shares real stories from his life and simple ideas that students can use in their own lives. Students connect with Lawrence because he is honest and easy to relate to. His goal is to help young people believe they are capable of more than they think and take responsibility for the direction their life is going. Lawrence is an extraordinary young man. He suffered abuse at home and worked hard to help his younger siblings. Along the way, he worked on himself, learned to love himself, and ended up being a motivational speaker when he was still a teenager. Lawrence explains the difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD and teaches us that if you start with the simple things (making your bed, brushing your teeth) and build slowly on those concrete things, real progress is possible. Teens and others can learn so much from Lawrence's positive approach to healing yourself.  How to Build Self-Love in a World That Profits from Your InsecuritiesFrom Pain to Purpose: How to turn your struggles into success. Keeping hope alive during hardshipsCheck out his website for more information: https://www.lawrencecharris.com/ You can get his e-books there or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Lawrence+C.+Harris&i=stripbooks&crid=14TQ77Q0DDH6N&sprefix=lawrence+c.+harris+%2Cstripbooks%2C122&ref=nb_sb_noss THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human. The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574 Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com See all my links on  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/ Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/ Keep in touch! Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

  3. Mar 2

    Season 2026. Episode 2 Melissa Pruitt on Consistency and Having Fun Growing your Business

    Go ahead and text me! Melissa Pruitt is a Marketing & Sales Coach, Author, and Speaker who’s dedicated to helping online entrepreneurs take their knowledge and skills to market and sell their courses, memberships, and coaching programs. Her background in psychology and NLP as a clinical therapist and coach bridges human behavior with marketing strategy, and this is how she teaches her clients to create deeper connections with their audiences. Her Psychology background combined with her expertise as a two time published author and copywriter allows her to help her clients connect deeper with their audiences. Melissa is also TEDx speaker, been featured on multiple publications and platforms, including Huffington Post, various podcasts, summits, and events and loves to share her message of creating a fulfilling business on in person stages, Zoom stages, and mastermind events. She is the co-owner of Adaptive Marketing Program which helps online entrepreneurs market and sell their offers and the co-host of the Online Marketing Podcast with her husband and business partner Paul. I loved speaking with Melissa and learning about the importance of consistency in growing your business, building trust with your customers, and having fun! You can reach Melissa at: Instagram: @realmelissapruitt website: https://adaptivemarketingprogram.com/ Get her book "Influenced: From Social to List to Launch" here:  https://www.amazon.com/Influenced-Social-Launch-Melissa-Pruitt/dp/B0DH83QSY9#:~:text=Influenced%3A%20From%20Social%20to%20List%20to%20Launch%20is%20the%20ultimate,a%20successful%20business%20or%20project. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human. The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574 Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com See all my links on  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/ Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/ Keep in touch! Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

    Season 2026. Episode 2 Melissa Pruitt on Consistency and Having Fun Growing your Business
  4. Jan 24

    Season 2026 -- Episode 1. Karen Salmansohn wants us to face our death and learn to live more fully

    Go ahead and text me! What an uplifting conversation with Karen Salmansohn! Her unique perspective on death and how facing it can motivate us to truly live is refreshing and much needed! KAREN SALMANSOHN, bestselling author and behavioral change expert, whose books and courses have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. With 1.5 million social media followers, Karen has built a dedicated following by blending humor, research-backed insights, and practical strategies for creating a more meaningful life. In her upcoming book, YOUR TO-DIE-FOR LIFE: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret . . . Before Your Time Runs Out [BenBella Books | July 22, 2025], she challenges readers to rethink their relationship with mortality—not as something to fear, but as the ultimate motivator for living boldly and authentically. Her book is available on Amazon. You can reach Karen at: NotSalmon.com Instagram X Facebook YouTube THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human. The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574 Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com See all my links on  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/ Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/ Keep in touch! Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

    Season 2026 -- Episode 1. Karen Salmansohn wants us to face our death and learn to live more fully
  5. 12/06/2025

    Season 2025 Episode 14: Ken Miller Beat his Own Demons and Now Mentors Men in the Black Community to Find their Way

    Go ahead and text me! Ken Miller is one of the good guys -- after he straightened out his own life, he knew he had to pass it on. He now mentors Black men and gives presentations all over the country. His journey included going to an Ivy League college, then to jail, being homeless for several years and then to overcoming addiction and growing his businesses and becoming successful (he is a millionaire today).  Bio: Ken Miller is an author, speaker, and the founder of Denali FSP, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations achieve sustainable funding. His book, Becoming Ken: One Black Man’s Journey from Ivy League to Prison and Back Again, chronicles his powerful story of resilience, redemption, and authenticity. Through his keynotes and programs like “From Rock Bottom to Resilience,” Ken inspires audiences to embrace truth, face adversity, and make meaningful life choices. His work has him doing a lot of speeches and podcasts for free. He has published one book and he has three more on the way! Ken is definitely inspired by the men he helps and the connection he feels to his Creator. He has mentored men all over the world. Some he has mentored for 10-15 years. "I give you permission to dream" is what he tells them during his mentoring sessions. Even grown men have had their dreams crushed over their lifetime. Talk about a rewarding life based on his own story! His website is:  www.kenmillerspeaks.com Ken is on LinkedIn: KenMiller84 AIVAlution LLC |  | Denali FSP Purchase Ken’s Book: Becoming Ken THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human. The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574 Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com See all my links on  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/ Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/ Keep in touch! Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

  6. 12/04/2025

    Season 2025 Episode 13. Diane Christiansen tells what it was really like to be a Showgirl in the 1970s

    Go ahead and text me! If you have seen recent movies or shows about being a showgirl, it could seem  pretty depressing. Diane Christiansen is here to tell you that it was exciting and uplifting and a way for a young woman in the 1970s who could dance and perform well to see the world!  Showgirls were powerful women in charge of their own careers — and well-paid, valued players in the flashy world of sequins, feathers, step-kicks, and lavish productions. Most were classically trained dancers who traveled the globe and planned their post-showgirl futures well in advance. They were nothing like the forlorn characters in recent movies.   Diane tells us what it was really like to be a showgirl and how she pivoted after "retiring" in her early thirties.  She captured it all in a book "The Last Real Showgirl--My Sequined Life Onstage" available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Showgirl+Diane+Christiansen&i=stripbooks&crid=3S1YE2W0LIK1B&sprefix=showgirl+diane+christiansen%2Cstripbooks%2C189&ref=nb_sb_noss_1  or at McFarland: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/The-Last-Real-Showgirl/ THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human. The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574 Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com See all my links on  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/ Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/ Keep in touch! Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

    Season 2025 Episode 13. Diane Christiansen tells what it was really like to be a Showgirl in the 1970s
  7. 11/11/2025

    Season 2025-- Episode 12: Broken and Brave: (with Tiffany L. Smith) One R.N.'s search for meaning in our current healthcare environment

    Go ahead and text me! Tiffany L. Smith, RN has spent nearly 15 years on the frontlines of American healthcare, working in ERs, ICUs, hospice, wound care, and more. A nurse, wife, and mother, she has witnessed both the triumphs and the failures of a system pushed beyond its limits. Her debut book, Broken and Brave: The Fight to Heal American Healthcare, blends memoir and manifesto, capturing the raw intensity of a single 12-hour COVID shift while exposing the deeper flaws harming both patients and providers. Tiffany is the founder of Broken and Brave Health, a movement to empower patients, support burned-out providers, and spark change in American healthcare. You can get her book on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Brave-Fight-American-Healthcare/dp/B0FDG35NPG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZKAURV9RKV6D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Eq6EYUV09qenX3xOlhb6J-oYwV85dTurdK8EwgQVyVhGLM-MZTVa1f5k5EIjq4v7UmGvfSkHDrdJCmJFv3DYPrvhWgz7OkMzcaU_bKovijgB_bHTDS6hcKAuNXKOwpP_zP4C8r2Ebdaf9I7HG4WtyGAjXBENLZ18T_UNerSh5niRhNTtZ57_zKVe488XARlKWeUzkl3KHzZeUOSAFA-EInm0qTWwrpJo7thYLmQLHQg.lJ4dfBAoVfQ9ofdwbGerZSHQz2mbwz7ceDVJthGUgeY&dib_tag=se&keywords=Broken+and+Brave&qid=1762816709&s=books&sprefix=broken+and+brave%2Cstripbooks%2C174&sr=1-1 It's a great read and a moving account both of what RNs go through (esp during Covid) and what the system needs to improve. Tiffany's website is: https://brokennbrave.com/ Her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokennbravehealth THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human. The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574 Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com See all my links on  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/ Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/ Keep in touch! Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

    Season 2025-- Episode 12: Broken and Brave: (with Tiffany L. Smith) One R.N.'s search for meaning in our current healthcare environment
5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Humans have been telling each other stories since before writing. Around fires, looking up at the stars, human beings found comfort and connection through imagination and stories. I'm Lynne Thompson -- Tech Writer, Creative Writer and now podcaster! I have always loved hearing people's stories, especially when they have overcome something, and then share it with the rest of us! So far the podcast has included stories on Overcoming Addiction, the Entrepreneur journey, Dealing with Mental Illness, Understanding Grief (and a few fairy tales thrown in there!). There are plenty of spiritual moments humorous moments, and more. I have learned so much from my guests! Join me as I  talk to real people with extraordinary stories!  What is your story? I would love to hear it! Reach out to me at thestoriedhuman@gmail.com, or join our Facebook group!