What if the secret to stronger workplace connections and higher engagement could be found in your mailbox?

In this episode, Jerome and Julienne sit down with Amy Daughters—keynote speaker, author, and advocate of handwritten letters—as she shares the incredible journey that started with writing notes to a grieving acquaintance and led to a profound reconnection with over 600 Facebook friends.

Amy tells a moving story about her father’s unconventional summer camp rituals that taught her the power of being seen. That same power, she’s discovered, lives in the simple act of a handwritten note. From three-sentence messages that employees keep for decades, to short acknowledgments that create champions out of coworkers and customers, Amy demonstrates how analog tools can solve digital-age problems—especially when it comes to leadership and employee engagement.

Key Takeaways:

• Why handwriting someone a note may engage them more than any digital message
• How recognition—when made tangible—turns people into champions for your mission
• The impact of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership communication
• How a handwritten culture can counteract disengagement and build lasting trust

Links to learn more and connect with Amy Daughters:

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

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Website

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this debrief episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on their conversation with Taylor Scott, author of Lead With Hospitality and the upcoming Give Hospitality. They dive deeper into a powerful quote from Taylor:

Drawing on their own stories, they explore what it really takes to foster that kind of workplace. Jerome recalls a surprising moment of mentorship during his early career in finance, while Julienne emphasizes the enduring power of respect and acknowledgement in professional environments. They highlight how small human gestures can make a big impact—and how sharing lived stories within an organization helps bring core values to life.

Key Takeaways

• Meaningful work is often created not by the task itself, but by how people are made to feel in the workplace.
• Leaders can turn values like “respect” into tangible experiences through small acts of appreciation and support.
• Storytelling helps surface and scale meaningful moments across teams, breaking silos and rebuilding connection.
• You don’t need to overhaul your culture overnight—start with one value, one story, one human connection.

Related Episodes and Resources

• Episode 140: Leading with Hospitality – Interview with Taylor Scott
• Lead With Hospitality by Taylor Scott

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here

In this powerful conversation, Jerome and Julienne speak with Dr. Neal Baer—award-winning television showrunner, physician, and educator—whose career has spanned medical dramas like ER and Law & Order: SVU to pioneering a graduate program at Harvard that fuses storytelling and health. Dr. Baer reflects on how his personal journey—particularly coming out later in life—has shaped the narratives he brings to the screen and the classroom.

He shares stories about shaping public perceptions of HIV through characters on ER, introducing groundbreaking health messaging like U=U on Designated Survivor, and mentoring students who are transforming public health through narrative, art, and data.

Key Takeaways

• Leaders and storytellers can create change by pairing emotion with data and action.
• Personal stories and cultural context help bridge gaps in healthcare access and understanding.
• Great storytelling often emerges from personal struggle, risk, and lived experience.
• Storytelling is not just educational or entertaining—it’s how we know we matter

• Books by Neal Baer:
  • The Promise and Peril of CRISPR – Buy on Amazon
• Health & Storytelling Resources:
  • Harvard Medical School’s Master’s Program in Media, Medicine, and Health
• Referenced Work and Contributors:
  • Under the Skin by Linda Villarosa
  • New York Times Magazine article by Villarosa on HIV in the U.S. South
  • Wildhood by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers
  • Studs Terkel – Working
  • Doris Sommer – Professor at Harvard on narrative and social change

Learn More About Dr. Neal Baer

• Harvard Faculty Profile:
  ghsm.hms.harvard.edu/faculty-staff/neal-baer
• In-Depth Interview:
  ghsm.hms.harvard.edu/interview-neal-baer
• Connect with Dr. Baer:
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

Please join our mailing list to stay updated on all our latest episodes and events.

EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here