Jenna's coming at you on April Fools' Day with a story so preposterous, it sounds like a prank. We wrap up the Lion-ish month of March and talk about the importance of remaining unbothered and keeping things in perspective.

Jenna shares her favorite saying, which might seem de-motivating on the surface, but has deep calming qualities. Plus, she discusses Project Hail Mary, men skipping, her new "amazing" filter on life and an announcement about a short podcast break.

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Welcome Danielle Krischik to the podcast!

Danielle, partner at Knight Agency and author of The Story Effect, shares why storytelling is the ultimate weapon of choice for leadership.

Danielle shares how her experience interviewing 100 people across 100 countries proved that we all share the same fundamental human needs, and why vulnerability is critical for teams to do their best work.

Jenna and Danielle discuss the tension that can arise when we balance our professional reputation and our authentic self. Plus, they go deep on their passion around pizza, 90s hip-hop and their favorite destination in Italy.

Whether you're a CEO battling imposter syndrome or a manager trying to build a more cohesive team, this conversation will give you the tools to stop "communicating" and start connecting.

Connect with Danielle, listen to the podcast and check out her new book here: The Story Effect

Listen to Jenna on The Story Effect Podcast

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Jenna takes us down the rabbit hole into her own personal wonderland. After a recent trip to an Alice in Wonderland themed pop-up bar, Jenna discusses why she loves this tale so much, and shares one of her favorite scenes that encourages us to become exceptional daydreamers.

While we tend to use the power of our brains to obsess over worst-case scenarios, Jenna challenges us to flip the script.

By practicing the art of "Wouldn't it be cool if...?", we can move from overthinking to manifesting a life that feels exciting! This practice of "wonder" can be applied to work, relationships or whatever you desire...all you need to do is practice a half hour a day (according to the White Queen).

Plus, Jenna shares highlights of the 1985 made-for-TV Alice in Wonderland that feels more like a fever dream than a primetime special.

Watch the Alice in Wonderland TV special here

And check out a weird Carol Channing scene here

Listen to Julie Klausner's "How Was Your Week" episode

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It’s March! While the weather is doing some very strange things (thunder sleeting?!), I am feeling a massive sense of renewal. I just got back from an incredible sister trip to Europe, and it provided a mental reset I didn’t even realize I desperately needed.

In this episode, I’m diving into a saying I weirdly learned in kindergarten, "March comes in like a lion," but giving it a total rebrand. Forget the abrasive weather; I’m talking about adopting the fierce, focused, and unbothered energy of a lion as we move into this new month.

We’re talking about:

The Power of the Re-visit: Why going back to places you’ve been offers a brand new lens based on who you are today.

The "Cillian Murphy" Lion: Why I’m channeling a specific kind of "unbothered" energy to protect my time and my "pride".

Spring Cleaning for the Soul: How a change of scenery - even just a new neighborhood in your own town - can inspire and refresh you.

Oh...and Collective Nouns: Did you know a group of zebras is called a dazzle?

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Welcome Elana Rugh to the podcast!

Elana is the CEO of the Detroit Historical Society, where she oversees a team of 80 and manages some of the most important cultural landmarks in the country. We dove deep into what it actually looks like to be a "human-centered" leader and how to navigate the "invisible burden" of caring for your people.

Plus, Elana talks about the importance of carving guilt-free time for yourself, listening to your gut when it comes to delivering tough news and how publicly sharing her story of being an adoptee has opened new doors of vulnerability.

Elana reminds us of the best leadership advice ever: to be kind and to be ourselves.

Connect with Elana on LinkedIn

Read her story about adoption

Check out the book: Speed of Trust

And visit the Detroit Historical Society next time you're in town!

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Jenna jumps on to let us know she's taking a short break to cross the Atlantic and galavant through Europe with her sister. Plus, she shares highlights from the "Choose your WHOLE Self" workshop.

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Between the wintery winter and relentless news cycle, our nervous systems are being pushed to the limit.

When we're overwhelmed, it can feel impossible to make decisions around what makes us feel better.

In this episode, Jenna introduces the Feel-Good Menu—a personalized repository of antidotes for anxiety, sadness, and overstimulation. From "sensation showers" to the healing power of Catherine O’Hara clips, it’s time to stop asking for permission to feel good and start making it a daily requirement.

Register for the "Choose your WHOLE Self" workshop in KC on Feb 7, click here for details

Hey! Discover your personal values with the In With What Matters guide here

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Welcome Mel Andersen!

Mel’s story isn't just about surviving breast cancer; it’s about coming face-to-face with the delicate complexity of the "both/and" of life. How we can be grieving a career while also fighting for our health? How we can find humility without minimizing our own pain?

In this interview, Mel openly shares her experiences with grief, burnout from a job she loved, the emotional hurdles that come after chemo and the joy of becoming a master gardener.

Mel talks about using writing to process her emotions during cancer and her recently published personal essay, and gives us all advice for how we can support people in our lives who may be living with a cancer diagnosis.

Plus, Jenna shares her thoughts on the troubling state of the world and uses more f-bombs than usual.

Links mentioned in today's show:

• Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast Cancer by Gillian Lichota and co-authors

• I Rise Above Foundation

• Follow Barley the Wheaton Terrier

• Check out Mel on Instagram and find her on Substack @melandersen

Connect with Jenna:

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