Storytelling with Puck

The Flamingo Advantage

How do you stand out from the crowd? What makes you different?

The flamingo stands out by being a flamingo. What goes in is clearly seen on the outside. Its beauty literally comes from within. 

Katie Hornor wants you to understand yourself better so you can stand out too. Her flower in her hair makes a mark but there's way more to it than that. 

One of the best ways to make your voice heard is through stories and Katie has lots of them. Listen to find out more about the Flamingo Advantage, why it can be hard to stand out as a conservative Christian and the power of teaching to learn. 

When you're finished listening, go ahead, check out Katie's website and get her book for free. You only have to pay shipping and handling fees. The links are below: 

Listen. No. Really listen. Take in every word. Don’t think about what you’re going to say next or how you have a similar or better story. Just listen.

We’re giving you that advice for this episode and we’re taking it from our guest, Wojtek Kolodziejczak, who has realised that business networking is really all about life networking.

His stories are incredible. He’s gone from being a lawyer to a business development manager, to running his own business and living the life of a digital nomad. Plus, he wears great hats!

So, open up the episode and listen.

When you’ve finished, click the links below to find out more:

Have you ever been in Sports Illustrated? No? Have you ever been in a picture with REM? No? OK, we’ll leave that to Matt McWilliams and you can listen to his episode to find out why. These are just two of the many fascinating stories he tells and if that’s not enough, he also gives you a taste of how to turn your passions into profits.

Of course, if you really want the detail, you’ll have to buy his book. Come back after you’ve listened to Matt’s episode and click on the link below to get the book and some amazing deals:

We talk about learning a lot. At Puck Creations, we love to absorb the latest information. We’re constantly updating our methods and making sure we’re providing the best possible service. What we haven’t thought as much about is what we need to unlearn.

Lucy Griffin-Stiff shares a story by the wonderful Portia Nelson to get things going. Her insights into the traps we often fall into over and over again can’t be explained here so you’ll just have to listen. We talk about multitasking, habits, meditation, stories (of course), timeline therapy and so much more.

We know you’ll want to find out more about Lucy. From here, that’s easy. Just click on the links below:

A teacher teaches. Lenise Collimore is known to be a great teacher. Great teachers also learn. Travel teaches too and it taught Lenise a lot about life. Her understanding of the English language and her ability to teach it to others gave her the opportunity to travel across many countries. Japan, Turkey, the Netherlands, to name a few.

In each place, she spent time understanding the world around her and listening to the stories of others. Her writing is inspired and we’re sure you’ll be itching to get pen to paper once you’ve listened to this episode. Maybe you’ll write something that you’ll only allow people to see once you die? What an interesting thought.

Listen to see why that thought was floating through the air and to get a sense of the humour, thoughtfulness and adventure that make this episode’s guest so special.

Don’t forget to check out Lenise’s Instagram. The link’s below:

An Englishwoman, a Kenyan and an Indian all record a podcast.

Sounds like the start of a bad joke. It isn’t, it’s just a reflection of the incredible life our guest for Season 3, Episode 13 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast has had. Hansa Pankhania takes the good bits from each of the countries that have had the biggest effect on her life and uses them to help others.

India is the birthplace of her parents. Kenya is where she spent her childhood. The UK has been her home since she was in her late teens.

For Hansa, the importance of embracing the diversity and unity of these 3 cultures shines through. Her background taught her the power of kindness, acceptance and forgiveness. An academic with a zest for everyday life, Hansa advocates for better wellbeing and balance.

My words don’t do her work justice, so listen to her tell her story, her way.

BONUS: Hansa treats us to a short guided meditation about half way through the episode.

So, what are you waiting for? Start listening now. 😊

While you’re listening, you’re probably going to want to connect with Hansa. We’ve made it easy. Just click on the links below:

What’s your biggest weakness? What do you struggle with? Are there things you don’t consider to be weaknesses but others do? Maybe you see weaknesses where others don’t? Lydia Brown has cerebral palsy. She lived without a home for many years. Her challenges are bigger than many of us ever have to face. Yet, she uses a lot of the things that some might call weakness to provide her with the strength to move forward.

Her hardest days are used as inspiration for wonderful poetry, her cerebral palsy has offered her resilience and her life lived without regular shelter has helped her to see the both the good and the bad of humanity. She chooses to focus on the good.

We were inspired by our conversation with Lydia. We think you will be too. Make sure you listen today.

If you’d like to get in touch with Lydia, you can find her using the links below:

What’s the best thing you’ve ever ordered? Online, in a shop, via a brochure, from the universe? Have you ever ordered a husband? If you were to order a husband or a partner for life, what specifics would you ask for? Susan Payton made a very specific order on April 27th 2006 and you can find out all about it by listening to Episode 11 of Series 3 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast. You can also discover how many stories we all have within us, how to create a bank of stories to share when the time is right and how Susan uses stories to create more business and deeper connections.

Would you like to build deeper connections? Why not start by building a connection with the wonderful Susan Payton. Find out how below:

Are you ready to be ahead of the crowd when opportunity comes knocking? One man was and our guest on Episode 10 of Series 3 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast is going to tell you all about him. He’ll also tell you about succinct copy, owning a radio station, how to come up with new ideas and more.

If you’re still wondering why you should listen. It’s all about the stories. Scott has lots to tell. Who was the top salesperson? What does learning on the job really look like? Is there a job you wouldn’t want to be hands on with?

To find out more about Scott and to connect, click the links below:

Sometimes, we go through things and we have no idea why. We can’t work out what’s happening in our lives or how to fix it. Sometimes, we feel like we need to fix things that we don’t. When we look back at a life that once was, we often look with fresh eyes. We see what we could never have seen before. Only our knowledge today can inform our past. Gillian Jones, our guest on Series 3, Episode 9 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast is an exceptional writer with so many stories to share. Her own history, her love of history and her empathy with people in the present are just a few of the factors that make her Story Hotel a place worth visiting.

To get directions to her hotel and find out more about Gill, click on the links below:

Charles Waters is an explorer. He’s travelled through many countries across many continents but that isn’t the only way he explores. For him, every new day is a chance to discover something new. From boarding school to university, to working in a wine shop, to travelling, to landscaping and to writing powerful copy, Charles is always discovering something new.

In his most recent exploration, Charles found himself guesting on Episode 8, Series 3 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast. What a guest he was! Explore just how wonderful his stories are by listening today.

Charles’ appetite for exploration is just one of the aspects that make him a wonderful writer and you can find out more about him by clicking on the links below.

Please be aware that this episode talks about suicide and mental health challenges. If now isn't the right time to listen, please don’t press play. These stories are important and we need to tell them to raise awareness but your health and your current state of mind is more important than anything else.

Steve shares the story of his son, Jordan. It’s not just about that painful moment in time but about everything that came before and the changing world that has developed since. We talk about the challenges, the lack of health parity and the need for better care. We also focus on hope. There is hope and with The Jordan Legacy, there’s a real opportunity to take action. #BatonOfHope is a hashtag that you will see more and more over the next year. Keep an eye on it and support it where you can as we need all of our efforts to make sure it has the impact it deserves.

With words, with music, with poetry, with story, we create a rhythm, we let the beat guide us. Ta tam, ta tam, ta tam. Sheron’s poetry takes us into her flow, yet the occasional thump!

Thump!

Thump!

Interrupts that beat. Her stories, her poetry, her insights will keep you enthralled.

There are many places to go to connect with Sheron and to buy her wonderful books. Check them out below:

Do you like speaking in front of groups?

What stops you? Lack of confidence? Fear? Something else?

Have you heard of TEDx? Would you speak at one of those? Maybe you have already?

Is your heart beating faster as I ask these questions?

It’s OK if presenting isn’t your thing. It really isn’t for everyone but one thing is for sure, everyone can present.

Mark Robinson, our guest for Episode 5 of Series 3 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast has a lot to say on the subject and he’s definitely worth listening to. Get ready for 3 Cs, 3Es and more than 3 stories. 

Get ready to present and make the most of Mark Robinson’s expertise by clicking the links below:

Smile for the camera!

Where does inspiration come from? It comes from stories, of course. Here’s a prime example. Our guest for Series 3, Episode 4 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast is a powerful storyteller. His medium is the camera. His films highlight the challenges of businesses, their successes, their stops along the way. With every story he tells, he inspires somebody, somewhere to take action. Tim was inspired, in his own right, by a story. Find out more about that by listening today.

Let Tim make you smile by finding him using the links below:

It’s not about dogs, it’s not about McFly, it’s not even about Teddy or Tizzy. It’s about you. You’re probably wondering how it’s about you. Maybe you’re even wondering what exactly IT is. Well, that’s the power of words. The power of magic. The power of alchemy. Once you listen to the compelling copywriter that is Eleanor Goold, you’ll understand everything. Luckily for you, there’s an opportunity to listen right now. Eleanor was a guest on Episode 3 of Series 3 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast. (Just so you know, we talk about dogs!)

To find out more about Eleanor’s alchemy, click on the links below:

From one land to another, from one story to another, from one life to another. Bina Briggs has gone though things that many of us couldn’t imagine. A refugee from Uganda with a tough home life, Bina never had things easy. Still, she currently runs a successful HR company called Plain Talking HR and enjoys her life in Sunny Luton, in the UK. What got her here, you may ask? Well, if you’ve got the ears to listen, Bina’s got the legs, the strength and the tenacity to take you on this journey with her. Start listening to Episode 2 of Series 3 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast now, to find out more.

You need to buy Bina’s book. Really, you need to buy Bina’s book. You may also want to get in touch with her in other ways. We’ll leave the links below. Seriously though, buy Bina’s book. It’s called the Red Thread.

It starts with a hen

Hens, homesteads, a little LinkedIn, a lot of marketing, where are we going with this? Jennifer Elia says that content is anything that educates your audience and stories are an amazing way of making that happen. Still, if you’re wondering what hens have to do with Jennifer’s business, this is the best place to find out. Start listening to Episode 1 of Series 3 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast right away.

Are you looking to get found on LinkedIn? Check out Jennifer's links below to see how you can make that happen.

Some people know exactly what they want to do at a very young age. Everything is planned out and no stone gets left unturned in making sure that they get there. Jennifer Nunez was not one of those people. Life after school was about taking things as they come. By doing that, Jennifer learned a lot about life and business that is easily missed when we follow a pre-determined path. Still, a marketing degree came calling, a marketing community was to be developed and a move to a completely new continent was on the horizon. Listen to episode 15 of Series 2 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast to find out more.

Want to be part of Jennifer’s amazing marketing community or hire her to make your business go further? Click on the links below:

Isn't it brilliant that we're all so unique? You'll hear Puck Creations talk about the benefits of standing out all the time and we explain that the best way to do that is by defining who you are. You are unique, you are the magic ingredient. Yet, being unique doesn't mean that we need to be alone or lonely. We still have a lot in common with those around us. We can still connect. We can still share the feelings that matter most to us. Harshita Khandelwal writes in a way that helps us to connect on a deeper level and we get to share in her brilliance in episode 14 of Series 2 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast.

Want to find out more about Harshita? Of course you do. Find her using the link below:

It seemed like all the hard work was paying off. Bill and Melinda Gates had offered a scholarship, her grades had met all expectations and she was ready to make herself known to the world. Sadly, for Claudia Miller, the world hit her first and she learned that she had to be ready for any challenge that lay ahead. In episode 13 of Series 2 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast, we talk about how Claudia got to where she is today, what she does to help others to get the career they deserve as well as how Claudia balances life and work. There are too many other areas to cover in this introduction so you’ll just have to listen.

If you’re looking for a new career path or if you’re just interested in finding out more about Claudia, you can find her details below:

When was the last time you slept in a tent, hoping that a hyena would visit? No, us neither but this week's guest, Mark Kingston Jones has a story about that. We also talk about whether animals should be in captivity, how he had a slightly unusual "real animals in the wild" experience and how Team Building with Bite is a little different. Ready to listen? Go on, be an animal.

Get on Mark’s wild side and find him using the links below:

What a life. The excitement, the adventure, the near misses, the big hits, the rollercoasters, the injuries, the twists, the turns, the intrigue, the adrenalin rush, the power, the celebrity meetings, the clamour, the list goes on! To top it all off, her Dad was a stunt man too and that’s where this episode of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast starts. Get ready to listen to this marvellous lady, Jackie Goddard in episode 11. It’ll be worth it.

Once you’re done, make sure you pop over to Power to Speak, Jackie’s very own podcast where she interviews amazing creatives from all over the world. You can find the link to this and the other ways to find Jackie below:

Brain Child - The girl with blue lips

Imagine. That's how this episode starts but some of the incredible subject areas and stories that Gill McKay touches on in this episode can sometimes be hard to imagine. Blue lips, blue fingernails, being different, being unique, working with the mind, working on our minds, future thinking, future planning and that's before we even mention neuroscience. Curious? It's time to start listening to Gill.

Would you like to pick Gill's brains too? Find her using the links below:

A wig won't cover it!

Janine Coombes, our guest for this episode has often worn a wig. Her initial story involves wigs. It also involves her own hair, as you will hear but for certain situations, you can't just cover over the cracks. With marketing and branding, what happens when you base your whole business at the offer level? What happens when you're not clear about what you do?

Where can you find all of Janine's juicy offers? Find the details below:

You have to stop to keep going

Stop completely. Take a beat as our magnificent guest, Rory Berry says. It doesn't have to be long, maybe just 20 seconds. Maybe you can get back to it or maybe you can take a bit more time to play. Whatever you do, taking those breaks, investing in stories and allowing yourself to have fun again will have serious benefits to your work and life. Listen to Rory in episode 7 of Series 2 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast to find out more.

Roar into Rory’s world by clicking on the links below:

Divide, conquer, escape, reflect, be empathetic, be understanding, come up with solutions, agree, disagree, do it all with kindness. Episode 6 of Series 2 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast tells a story of power, chaos and everything in between. A model, an actor, a talent manager and a curious creature, what happens when "too much" curiosity stops the conversation? Joey Sordyl explores his internal conflicts, the division in the wider world and his ideas for a better one. 

To find out more about Joey, his views and his work in the world of music management, click on the links below:

When you're howling at the moon, are you thinking about the Christmas Turkey? Probably not but Shelley Wilson works in the world of fantasy fiction when she's not supporting authors of both fiction and non-fiction to produce something great. Let's forget about fiction and non-fiction for a second and concentrate on the important bit: the story! 

To learn more about Shelley's books, werewolves, turkeys, fantasy and more, get in touch with her using the link below:

Dancing Through Lines

If it is forced, they will quickly lose interest, if they care, they will sing, they will dance, they will write, they will compose forever! Marijana teaches her children to dance in a way that separates her from many of the teachers who taught her as a child. Listen to her story, her music and her dancing flow in episode 4 of Series 2 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast.

Compose yourself and get in touch with the multi-talented Marijana Ajster by clicking on the links below:

Training in a Train

Where does creativity come from? How do we come up with ideas? What background do we need to get into a creative role? Is there a stock answer to any of those questions? Florentina Martin comes at all of this from a different angle to many. It’s clear that getting stuck on a packed train was at least part of Florentina’s inspiration for her original story and her father was a big influence for the rest. When you’re ready, press play and listen to creativity flow as Florentina shares her magical tales.

Want to discover more about Florentina. Find her details below:

Catherine Williams: Are you sitting comfortably?

Then we'll begin. Catherine Williams works with the finer details of your self-publishing world, through the Biz Book Foundry and Chapter One Book Production, your book can go from an idea to a fully formed masterpiece. It's the fictional stories and the masterful descriptions from some of Catherine's favourite books that inspire her work. We get to look a little closer at her story and the stories she loves in episode 2 of Series 2 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast. Listen today.

Want support with your next book? Make sure you find Catherine using the links below:

From Broken to Bionic

How many near death experiences have you had? That's probably not a question you get asked often but it's worth posing because it's unlikely to be as many as Shona Hirons. Listen to the 1st episode of the new series to find out what happened at Shona's birth, on a family holiday, on a motorbike and more. See how she dealt with everything and how the people around her dealt with both physical and mental health challenges too. Shona has learned a lot from all of these experiences and is now supports others to keep on top of their wellbeing.

Shona's new book will be released soon so keep an eye out for it and connect with Shona. Her details are below:

One final story for Series 1. This one is the story of stories. From childhood memories to dreams, to worlds that are not as they seem, this episode highlights the power of connecting through stories. We're saying farewell but we'll be back soon with Series 2.

Open, honest, ready to assess problems and find solutions, that’s what it’s all about for this week’s guest, Nicola Richardson because in her words: “you don’t want flannel”. Her business and leadership lessons have come throughout her life but they all started in her childhood working in a café.

Need leadership support? Looking to make changes to your team? Find Nicola using the links below:

You know that feeling? The one where you're doing something, over and over again but it just doesn't feel quite right. Everyone else is doing it so why not follow them? Yet, you're suffocating, trapped, unable to be you. Well, you might be feeling squashed and this episode's guest, Trisha Lewis knows all about that. 

There's a lot more to uncover in Trisha's wonderfully entertaining and informative book: 

A life of theorising, a life of learning, a life of understanding. Is this science or stories? Well, maybe they're more similar than we think. Yet, when we hear about somebody studying micro-biology and bio-medical science at university, we might not expect that to precede a career in writing. Absorb yourself in the wonder of Garima Nabh's story.

Want to find out more about Garima? Of course you do. Click on the links below:

What can one small gesture do to change a moment, to change a life? No matter the intention, a small gesture can make a huge difference. That can be positive and it can also be negative, often, we won't know until it's happened. Ria Moolgie brings us into the world of 3 young children and one small gesture that almost changed everything.

If you'd like a photo restored, a collage created or just a chat with this marvellous human, get in touch with Ria using the links below: 

It may not have been because of Madonna but it was at that moment when everything changed for Rosalyn Palmer. A rollercoaster life, full of tragedy, lessons learned and joy, Rosalyn can really speak through experience. If we had 10 hours for this one, it wouldn't be enough but we're grateful to Rosalyn Palmer for giving up an hour of her time to delve into some of the most pivotal moments in her life.

An expert in marketing and PR but now working as a therapist, Rosalyn has a lot to offer and you can connect using the information below:

"You cannot come in here. you cannot do what you wish to do. You cannot be who you wish to be. You are not worthy." Words to keep you down. Sound familiar? Let the sound of SJ Woods' drum keep you going as she brings you into a world of music, stories, therapy, nature and reflection. It'll be worth it.

Now's the time to get the support you deserve from SJ Woods and you can find her details below:

Nick doesn't follow the traditional paths and neither do his dreams. Fantasy swoops in to remind him of the realities of life. Nick's linguistic prowess, acting acclaim and public speaking excellence are only a part of who he is. We find out a little more in episode 13 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast.

Technique is everything, learn how to speak well with Nick by clicking on the links below:

One more coffee, one more sleepless night, one more great line from the spectacular Carol Miltersteiner.

A drama broken down into 3 acts, a story told, a world discovered. Carol compels you to listen, we were compelled to ask for more and now is the time to be compelled by episode 12 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast.

To discover more about Carol to buy her book or to connect with her, click through using the links below:

Karen met her daughter in the bar to have a proper catch up but this meeting ended up taking a different turn. This story is just the start of our challenging but important conversation with the multi-talented Viv Parry. Find out about mentoring, storytelling in business and the world of a business owner, dedicated mother and all-round, wonderful person.

For mentoring, executive level support and more, get in touch with Viv using the links below:

Jules White hasn't lost some of the cheeky instincts that she had as a child, although they are only one part of her UHP (Unique Human Proposition). When it comes to human connection, Jules lives it, loves it and sells it but as you listen to episode 10 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast, you'll realise that she is connected to more mystical creatures too!

Want to dig into your UHP with Jules? Find her using the link below:

To say that life hasn’t been easy for Chrissie Lowery would be an understatement but that didn’t stop her. Battle after battle, challenge after challenge, Chrissie fought on. Today, an entrepreneur with 2 books, multiple media appearances and a genuine passion to support others, Chrissie truly deserves the “inspirational” title. We were privileged to be able to find out more about her story in episode 9 of the Storytelling with Puck Podcast.

To see Chrissie’s crafts, to become part of her network or to give her ideas of how to get on This Morning, check out the links below:

There is almost a reassuring inevitability to certain areas of our lives; foundations that keep our feet on the ground until we're ready to take off. In episode 8 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast, Ben Masters shows why he is a master of language as he takes a look back at the life of a generation prior, the direct effect it had on him and the world we live in today.

If you'd like Ben to carve out a writing masterpiece for you, find him by clicking on the links below:

Many of us will have had relationships that often felt amazing but in reality, were detrimental to every part of our life. Shaena Jasmat opens up episode 7 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast with a letter to say goodbye to a bad influence. Free of that and starting a new phase of her life, we had the privilege of listening to the story of how she got to where she is now. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

To find out how Shaena can help you with your mindset, take a look at her links below:

Take the opportunities when they come, that’s a key takeaway from each of Clive’s stories. Clive has many facets to his work but there is a common thread in everything he does and his stories show why. Listen to episode 6 wherever you get your podcasts or simply listen on this page.

Want to communicate with Clive? Click the link below:

Stories create the possibility to connect on a deep level and we love to feast on them but a more traditional feast of food and drink can connect too. In episode 5 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast, Kayla Conley provides all of the nutrition we could possibly want. With our bellies and our hearts full, we offer you the chance to listen and enjoy the same tasty morsels that we did. Bon appetit!

Want to speak like a pro? Ask a pro to help you. You can find Kayla using the links below:

How the world has changed in just a few decades. Gary offers an insight into his personal story but he offers something else too. He gives each one of us the chance to look back and remember or discover a world that once was. What has really changed? Is life really so different? Gary's story invites us to ask these questions and many more so take a moment to really listen to his words in episode 4 of the Storytelling with Puck podcast.

Need to illustrate how amazing you are to your clients? Get in touch with Gary on LinkedIn using the link below: