Unconventional Leaders

Heather Parady
  • 5.0 (19)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

If you feel like the misfit, the one who thinks differently, or the one who never quite fit the mold, this show is here to help you take the parts of your story you once felt unsure about and turn them into your greatest advantage.

  1. 1d ago

    The Price of Being Misunderstood | Jeremy Jernigan

    Jeremy Jernigan spent two decades in ministry, eventually leading a megachurch before walking away from the role that had defined his entire adult life. Today, through his book The Edge of the Inside, he helps people navigate the difficult space between who they've been and who they're becoming. In this conversation, we explore the psychology of identity loss, the hidden cost of bitterness, and why healing requires more than simply moving on. Jeremy shares what it took to let go of the need to defend himself, why becoming fully present to our pain is part of recovery, and how embracing the "death" of an old life can become the beginning of a more authentic one. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: How to move through bitterness without minimizing what happenedRebuilding your identity after losing the role that once defined youBeing deeply misunderstood (while following your calling) CONNECT WITH JEREMY JERNIGAN: Order ‘The Edge of Inside’: https://www.jeremyjernigan.com/edge-of-the-inside CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/176

  2. Jul 21

    Why He Walked Away From His U.S. Tour | Juno Award Winner Quique Escamilla

    Quique Escamilla is a Mexican Mayan-Zapotec singer-songwriter, storyteller, and cultural advocate whose work explores identity, history, and the stories we choose to preserve. Drawing from his upbringing in Chiapas, Mexico, Quique creates music that invites people to look beyond headlines and rediscover the humanity behind the issues that shape our world. In this conversation, we explore how an artist's worldview is formed, the responsibility of creative work, and what it means to remain faithful to your convictions when it comes at a personal cost. Quique discusses curiosity as a creative discipline, why meaningful art often begins with asking better questions, and how music can preserve history, challenge assumptions, and help us see people (and ourselves) more clearly. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: How curiosity can become an artist's greatest creative toolWhy staying true to your work sometimes means sacrificing opportunityHow to create art that helps people see the world differently CONNECT WITH QUIQUE ESCAMILLA: Website: https://www.quiqueescamilla.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quique_escamilla/ CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/175 Mentioned in this episode: Empowered Podcasting Grab your ticket here: https://empoweredpodcasting.com/check-out?am_id=heather444 Use code: EPC20 **“This is an affiliate link, which means. I earn a commission when you purchase through it**

  3. Jul 14

    What Landscapes Teach Us About Storytelling | Professional Designer Tina Huffman

    Tina Huffman is a landscape designer, educator, and viral content creator. After spending years building a successful marketing business, she returned to the work she felt most called to do: designing outdoor spaces that are both beautiful and intentional. Drawing from her background in horticulture, landscape architecture, and digital marketing, Tina believes great design begins long before choosing the right plants…it begins by understanding how people experience a space. In this conversation, we explore what landscape design can teach us about storytelling, creativity, and human behavior. Tina shares why every great design starts with intention, how creative constraints often produce better work, and the subtle psychological principles that shape the way we move through spaces, stories, and ideas. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Why every creative project should begin with a feeling (not a rigid plan)The surprising psychology behind spaces that naturally draw people inHow creative constraints lead to better storytelling, design, and ideas CONNECT WITH TINA HUFFMAN: Website: https://www.greenhousestudio.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenhousestudio.co/ CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/174 Mentioned in this episode: Empowered Podcasting Grab your ticket here: https://empoweredpodcasting.com/check-out?am_id=heather444 Use code: EPC20 **“This is an affiliate link, which means. I earn a commission when you purchase through it**

  4. Jul 1

    It Is Only Permanent | David Francisco

    David Francisco is a singer-songwriter whose life changed dramatically after a devastating cycling accident left him paralyzed just weeks after moving to Nashville to pursue music full-time. What followed was a years-long journey of rehabilitation, resilience, faith, and rediscovering what it means to build a meaningful life when everything you planned is suddenly taken away. In this conversation, David and Heather explore identity, purpose, suffering, recovery, and the stories we tell ourselves about success. David shares how surviving a life-altering injury forced him to let go of certainty, why healing became about far more than learning to walk again, and how music, relationships, and faith helped him rebuild a life he never could have imagined. Together, they unpack the tension between ambition and acceptance, the power of choosing hope in the middle of loss, and what it means to find purpose when the future looks nothing like you expected. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Why healing involves much more than physical recoveryThe role of faith, music, and relationships in navigating sufferingFinding meaning, gratitude, and hope when life doesn't go according to plan CONNECT WITH DAVID FRANCISCO: Website: https://www.davidfranciscomusic.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidfranciscomusicSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1yOPhRMWrKLa3eUq42PzJgListen to his new single, ‘it’s only permanent’ here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4dVwNuizrZh7gLfiv4dGWN?si=coSVcLtcQ9a0wB7ESZAeFw CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/173

  5. Jun 23

    Spiritual Trauma & Storytelling | Kristen LaValley

    Kristen LaValley is a writer, speaker, and author whose work explores the intersection of faith, trauma, and belonging. Through her books, courses, and online community, she creates space for honest conversations about spiritual struggle, mental health, identity, and what it means to rebuild a life after certainty falls apart. In this conversation, we explore the relationship between healing and storytelling, the tension between vulnerability and boundaries, and how personal experiences shape the work we're called to create. Kristen shares why moving through anger is different than living from it, how to know which parts of your story belong to you, and why finding people who are genuinely happy to be with you can change everything. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Writing for catharsis vs. writing for craftHow to share your story without turning your pain into contentFinding belonging after identity shifts and spiritual change CONNECT WITH KRISTEN LAVALLEY: Website: https://www.kristenlavalley.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristen.lavalley/ CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/172 Mentioned in this episode: Empowered Podcasting Grab your ticket here: https://empoweredpodcasting.com/check-out?am_id=heather444 Use code: EPC20 **“This is an affiliate link, which means. I earn a commission when you purchase through it**

  6. Jun 18

    Attention vs Impact | Stone Stafford

    Stone Stafford spent more than two decades in the music industry as an artist, songwriter, producer, and trusted advisor to creators with big dreams and even bigger ambitions. But what drew me to Stone’s work wasn't his résumé…it was his philosophy of "quietly taking over." In this conversation, we explore the tension between impact and attention, why meaningful work often requires stepping away from the noise, and what it looks like to build something that truly matters without chasing the spotlight. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Building quietly: Why you don't need to announce every move to make a meaningful impactTrending up vs. going deep: How creators can choose depth over dopamine without losing their audienceValue over volume: Why a smaller, more engaged audience creates deeper impact CONNECT WITH STONE STAFFORD: Website: https://www.stonestafford.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stoneoo7/ CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/171 Mentioned in this episode: Empowered Podcasting Grab your ticket here: https://empoweredpodcasting.com/check-out?am_id=heather444 Use code: EPC20 **“This is an affiliate link, which means. I earn a commission when you purchase through it**

  7. Jun 10

    Fantasy Self VS. Future Self | Ana Urban | ADHD + Mindset Coach

    Ana Urban is an ADHD coach, educator, and creator who helps people better understand their minds and build lives that work with their brains instead of against them. After being diagnosed with ADHD at nineteen, Ana spent years navigating procrastination, perfectionism, shame, and self-worth struggles before discovering a more sustainable approach to growth and personal transformation. In this conversation, we explore one of the most thought-provoking ideas I've heard in a long time: the difference between your fantasy self and your future self. We talk about why so many people get trapped chasing an imaginary version of themselves, how perfectionism disguises itself as self-improvement, and why lasting change comes not from fixing yourself, but from learning to trust the person you're becoming. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: The difference between your fantasy self and your future selfHow perfectionism and self-criticism keep us stuckWhy small identity shifts create lasting transformation CONNECT WITH ANA URBAN: Website: https://www.anaurban.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhd.untamed/ Untamed: https://www.anaurban.com/untamed CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/170 Mentioned in this episode: Empowered Podcasting Grab your ticket here: https://empoweredpodcasting.com/check-out?am_id=heather444 Use code: EPC20 **“This is an affiliate link, which means. I earn a commission when you purchase through it**

  8. Jun 3

    God, Sex, and Rich People (& the Courage to Tell Your Story) | Mattie Jo Cowsert

    Mattie Jo Cowsert is a New York-based actor, author, and storyteller whose work explores the stories we inherit (and what happens when they no longer fit). Raised in a conservative evangelical home near Branson, Missouri, where her father was a pastor, Mattie Jo spent years untangling the narratives she was handed about faith, sexuality, identity, relationships, and what it means to live a meaningful life. In this conversation, we explore her memoir, God, Sex, and Rich People, but what fascinated me most wasn't simply her story of leaving evangelical purity culture. It was the way she used storytelling to make sense of it. We talk about the courage it takes to question inherited beliefs, why our most personal stories often resonate the deepest, and how examining our own narratives can become a catalyst for growth, healing, and impact. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: How inherited narratives shape our identity, beliefs, and life choicesThe role of storytelling in healing, self-discovery, and personal transformationWhat it takes to rewrite a narrative that no longer serves you CONNECT WITH MATTIE JO COWSERT: Buy the Book: https://www.mattiejocowsert.com/bookInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattiejocowsert/ CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/169 Mentioned in this episode: Empowered Podcasting Grab your ticket here: https://empoweredpodcasting.com/check-out?am_id=heather444 Use code: EPC20 **“This is an affiliate link, which means. I earn a commission when you purchase through it**

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About

If you feel like the misfit, the one who thinks differently, or the one who never quite fit the mold, this show is here to help you take the parts of your story you once felt unsure about and turn them into your greatest advantage.

Information

  • Creator
    Heather Parady
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    177
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Heather Parady
  • Show Website
    Unconventional Leaders