From food stamps to keynote stages, Hailey Evans has lived the kind of story most leaders are afraid to tell. In this powerful episode of The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips sits down with Hailey, an award winning storyteller, marketing strategist, and creator of the EPIC Communication Framework and EPIC Storytelling App. Hailey opens up about becoming a mom at 17, walking through bankruptcy, infidelity, missions work, her ex husband’s addiction, and a traumatic brain injury that took her out for two years. In the middle of all that, she wrote her way into a new future, earning $52,000 in scholarships and grants, completing three degrees including an MBA, and discovering the storytelling skills that now help leaders all over the world. You will hear how she went from hating “marketing” to realizing that great marketing is simply great storytelling, why most leaders do not have a marketing problem, they have a storytelling problem, and how her EPIC framework helps you engage, persuade, inspire, and close in a clear, repeatable way. Mike and Hailey also talk about faith, resilience, and why the worst things you have walked through may be the very reason people trust you, follow you, and find healing through your scars. If you want to communicate with more clarity, get better results from your emails and content, and move people to action, this conversation is a masterclass. 🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use 1️⃣ Stop asking “Why me?” and start asking “What’s next?”When things go sideways, shift from victim mode to forward mode. That one question moves you from stuck to leading. 2️⃣ You do not have a marketing problem, you have a storytelling problem.Before you redesign a logo or launch a new campaign, ask if your story is clear, human, and compelling. Fix the story first. 3️⃣ Use the EPIC Framework in everything you communicate.Engage with a hook, Persuade with story, Inspire with vision, Close with clear next steps. Apply it to emails, talks, posts, and sales conversations. 4️⃣ Consistency plus story beats complexity every time.Hailey’s “Transformation Tuesday” emails worked because they showed up every week with one clear story. Pick a rhythm, pick a theme, and stick with it. 5️⃣ Faith and attitude are leadership multipliers.Foundation in faith plus a disciplined attitude kept Hailey moving through bankruptcy, brain injury, and betrayal. As a leader, you cannot always control the storm, but you can control the spirit you bring into it. Contact Information: Hailey Evans Website and links: HaileyEvans.com Books: EPIC Impact: How to Turn Your Message Into a Movement and Rewrite the Story That Tried to Break You EPIC Storytelling App waitlist and resources: EpicStorytelling.ai Mike Phillips Email: mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam Twitter: @LeadershipTLT YouTube: YouTube.com/@MikePhillips Credits: Hosted by Mike Phillips Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team Guest: Hailey Evans, Master Storyteller & Communication Aficionado Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review! Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues. Thank you for watching and listening! * Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised. *** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.
