Passion Project with Cat Margulis

In this interview for the series Success Story, Gabrielle Stone shares her journey to best-selling self-published author, what worked for her and her book, how to make your videos go viral and how to grow a loyal following.  Gabrielle Stone is no stranger to the world of entertainment. Growing up on set with her legendary scream-queen mother Dee Wallace (Cujo, E.T.), she had days of licking off mommy's fake blood and watching behind the scenes movie magic. Seeing the world with mom and dad gave her the travel bug at an early age—until Gabrielle experienced a real-life horror when she lost her father suddenly at age seven.   After many years in the industry herself, Stone transitioned from meaty acting roles to writing and directing. Her award-winning films It Happened Again Last Night and After Emma gained her awards for writing, directing, and acting—but she had a bigger role in life that would soon present itself: freaking badass.   After the rug was vigorously pulled out from under her when her husband's affair came to light, she found herself falling into the arms of another man. After a second failed attempt at love and a massive heartbreak, she decided that instead of landing flat on her ass—she'd make a career out of it.   And so came the birth of the book Eat, Pray, #FML, where she shared all the mistakes, all the lessons, and most importantly, how she became a fearless leader from it all.

In this interview for the series Success Story, author K.A. Tucker shares her journey from self-published author to traditionally published and back again, as well as what audiences are craving now, her advice for self-published authors and more. K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge. She is the internationally bestselling author of more than thirty books, including the Simple Wild, Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.

In this interview for the series Success Story, Dan Blank shares why your greatest asset in your publishing journey and book marketing strategy is you, and other book launch tips. Dan Blank is the founder of WeGrowMedia, where he helps writers develop their author platforms, connect with readers, and launch their books. He is the author of the book Be the Gateway: A Practical Guide to Sharing Your Creative Work and Engaging an Audience. He has worked with thousands of writers, and amazing organizations who support creative people such as Penguin Random House, Sesame Workshop, Hachette Book Group, Workman Publishing, Abrams Books, Writers House, The Kenyon Review, Writer's Digest, Library Journal, and many others. You can find Dan at https://WeGrowMedia.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @DanBlank.

In this interview for the series Success Story, Tamara Lush shares what she's learned from the Wattpad community about marketing and publishing your book, as well as her secrets to writing a great serial novel and how to market your book without giving up your writing time. Tamara Lush is a Florida-based author and journalist. She's an RWA Rita finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow and the winner of the George C. Polk award for environmental journalism. She was a reporter with The Associated Press, covering crime, alligators, natural disasters and politics.  Tamara is a fan of vintage pulp fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, 1980s fashion, tropical chill, kombucha, gin, tonic, seashells, iPhones, Art Deco, telenovelas, street art, coconut anything, strong coffee and newspapers. She lives on the Gulf coast with her husband and dog.

In this interview for the series The Future of Content Marketing, host Cat Margulis and guest Kate Bradley Chernis talk about AI-powered content, the theatre of the mind and creating content for an audience of one, plus her secrets to designing a powerful content experience.  Kate is the Founder & CEO of Lately, which uses AI to generate high-engaging content in your unique brand voice that is customized to target any audience. As a former rock 'n' roll dj, Kate served 20 million listeners as Music Director and on-air host at Sirius/XM. She's also an award-winning radio producer, engineer and voice talent with 25 years of national broadcast communications, brand-building, sales and marketing expertise. What she learned in radio about the neuroscience of music helps fuel Lately's artificial intelligence. Prior to founding Lately, Kate also owned a marketing agency which got Walmart a 130% ROI, YoY for three years. 

In this interview for the series The Future of Content Marketing, host Cat Margulis and guest Derral Eves talk about YouTube best practices, the future of video and YouTube, and the one thing you need to do to win audiences over. Derral Eves has been on YouTube since 2005 and has helped generate nearly 89 billion video views. His book The YouTube Formula: How Anyone Can Unlock the Algorithm to Drive Views, Build an Audience, and Grow Revenue is a Wall Street Journal best seller. He was featured on the Forbes list "20 Must Watch YouTube Channels That Will Change Your Business," alongside Tony Robbins, Marie Forleo, and Gary Vaynerchuk. Derral is founder of Creatus, a marketing and consulting company, and founder of VidSummit, an annual video conference. He is also Executive Producer of "The Chosen," a series about the life of Jesus Christ and his followers. It is the #1 crowdfunded tv/movie project in history.

Peter Katz is a JUNO Award & Canadian Screen Award-nominated singer-songwriter who has spent the past 15 years touring internationally. To date, his music has been streamed over 5 million times and his music videos have over 20 million views on YouTube. Peter is also one of Canada's most in-demand speakers and facilitators, being called on to give his highly customized 'Keynote Concerts' to hundreds of companies and organizations across various industries, including Bell, Xerox, Royal Lepage and American Express. In this interview, Peter talks about how he combines music and storytelling, and how he brings story to the stage as a way to lead and impact others. He also shares his approach to storytelling and performance and the audience journey.

Zibby Owens is an author, podcaster, publisher, CEO, and mother of four. She is the founder of Zibby Owens Media, which is known for its award-winning podcast Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books, and which includes Zibby Books, a publishing house for fiction and memoir. She is also the author of Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature. In her interview for The Power of Story, Zibby talks about what it takes to get noticed in a crowded marketplace, and about her own journey to the bookshelf and as a champion of other authors and books. Zibby also shares her keys to telling a story that stands out, and what the audience is craving today.

Paul Zak is a professor of economics, psychology and management at Claremont Graduate University, as well as a tech entrepreneur, whose current company, Immersion Neuroscience, is a software platform that allows anyone to measure what the brain loves in real-time to improve outcomes in entertainment, education and training, advertising and live events. Paul is also an author and regular TED speaker. His newest book, Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and Source of Happiness, is out now. In his interview for The Power of Story, Paul explains what the brain loves about story, and shares what immersion really is, as well as how storytelling can create extraordinary experiences that transform audiences.

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Kendall Haven, a master storyteller who has performed for over 6.8 million worldwide during his 32-year career and who has led the research effort for the National Storytelling Association into the architecture of effective stories and into the process of story-based influence and persuasion. An internationally recognized expert on the neuro-science of story, Kendall created the first detailed, tested model of story that accounts for the neurology of how narrative material is processed, understood, remembered and recalled. He has published 34 books of and on the science and use of stories and of/on storytelling and has won 20 major awards for his writing and performance storytelling. In this interview, Kendall shares what's happening in the brain when story is happening and what we can learn about it to be more effective communicators, storytellers and influencers. He also shares the keys to a great story and a hack to find out what your idea audience wants and the best way to deliver your message to them.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Susie Jaramillo, a Latina, Emmy-nominated director, illustrator, storyteller and creator with a vision to help kids learn through character-driven stories and play. Inspired by a world of cultures and seeking to bring to life diverse stories that weren't being told, Susie co-founded Encantos, which includes the Emmy-nominated and 2x Kidscreen award-winning bilingual preschool brand Canticos, Tiny Travelers, a brand designed to introduce children to the countries and cultures of the world, and the latest series, Skeletina and the In-Between World. In her interview for The Power of Story, Susie talks about why OwnVoices matter, how to build a business out of books and why purpose-driven stories are good for business. She also shares what kind of story wins her heart, and what readers, and publishers, are looking for in a book today.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Angus Fletcher, a Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative. Angus's research explores why children are more creative than computer AI—and how to use literature, art and stories to increase innovation, resilience and joy. His work has been called "mind-blowing" by Malcolm Gladwell and "life-changing" by Brene Brown and has been field tested everywhere from public elementary schools to US Special Operations. In this interview, Angus talks about our infinite capacity for creativity and stories, how stories contribute to healing, innovation and resilience, and how when we change our stories, we can change our lives. He also shares what our kids really need to thrive in the world today and beyond.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Anna Sinclair, a Canadian award-winning entrepreneur, businesswoman and investor. She's the CEO of Total Mom Inc, which produces programs, event experiences, products and services that take moms from overwhelmed to supported personally and professionally. Recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women In Canada, Anna has been featured in Forbes both as a contributor and Forbes Business Council member. She is a community builder and mental health advocate, and is passionate about normalizing motherhood and business. In this interview, Anna talks about the keys to a successful business pitch, and why sharing your story is so important, whether you're looking to enrol investors, clients and customers, or partners. She also shares some tips and advice on the best ways to deliver your message, and what NOT to do. (Hint, there's more here than meets the eye.)   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Matthew Dicks, an internationally best-selling author whose books include Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Art of Storytelling. Matthew has performed for audiences around the globe, and teaches storytelling and public speaking throughout the world to individuals, corporations, school districts, hospitals, universities and more. In his interview for The Power of Story, Matthew shares his time-saving hacks and secrets to his prolific output and how he's written a blog post every day for 19 years, not to mention countless books, talks and other projects. He also shares the 3 S's of storytelling—no matter the message, or the platform.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Nicole Smithee, the CEO and Co-Founder of Iridescent Women, a digital media company committed to awakening and championing the brilliance of every woman through honest conversations and authentic connections. Nicole is the co-author of "Brilliance Awakened: 21 Devotions to Embrace Your God-Given Potential." She also co-hosts The Iridescent Podcast and speaks at conferences, churches, and events around the world, and is a regular contributor on YouVersion's Verse of the Day. In our interview for The Power of Story, Nicole talks about how stories open hearts, create connection and empower us all to fulfill our god-given gifts and potential. Nicole also shares how story can transform lives, as well as her keys to a story that stirs hearts and inspires others to reach for the stars.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Sterling Hawkins, the CEO and founder of the Sterling Hawkins Group, a research, training and development company focused on unlocking human and organizational potential. Sterling has been seen in publications like Inc., Fast Company, The New York Times and Forbes and recently released the best-selling book Hunting Discomfort. In our interview, Sterling talks about hunting discomfort and what it takes to lean into vulnerability, as well as reframing the things that challenge us in a way that empowers us. He also shares his tips for crafting messages for the stage, and how the key to success is #nomatterwhat.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Mario Juarez, who helps people and organizations get better business results through strategic storytelling. A former journalist and senior communications leader at the Microsoft Corporation, he founded StoryCo, a Seattle-based communications consultancy, in 2018. His Storytelling for Impact program has proven successful in helping thousands of leaders, visionaries and technologists measurably improve their communications and presentation skills. In our interview, Mario shares how the biggest corporations in the world are shifting company culture and growing their businesses exponentially with the power of story. He also talks about how transforming business is an inside out job, and what it takes to rewrite our business story.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Park Howell, who is known as The World's Most Industrious Storyteller having grown purpose-driven brands by as much as 600 percent. He is a 35+ year veteran of the advertising industry and now consults, teaches, coaches and speak internationally to help business, sales and marketing leaders excel through the stories they tell. Park is also the host of the popular weekly Business of Story podcast, and is the author of Brand Bewitchery, and co-authored The Narrative Gym for Business, a guide to make you a more confident, compelling and persuasive communicator. In our interview for The Power of Story, Park shares the keys to crafting a story that works for your audience, and your business, as well as his storytelling hacks for business and for finding your story.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Lisa Cron, author of Wired for Story, Story Genius and most recently, Story or Die: How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade, and Change Minds in Business and in Life. Lisa spent a decade in publishing, and has been a literary agent, television producer, and story analyst for Hollywood studios. In her work as a private story coach, Lisa works with writers, nonprofits, educators and organizations, helping them master the unparalleled power of story. In her interview for The Power of Story, Lisa shares what an audience really wants from a story, and the keys to telling a story audiences care about. She also talks about why the "why" matters more than the "what," the myth about objectivity and how story can help save the world.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to get-noticed expert Lisa Simone Richards. Lisa talks about why you should stop chasing social media platforms and focus on her get-noticed strategy instead. She also shares what kinds of stories work best onstage, how to build your brand's story, and how to get the media attention you desire.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

In this interview for The Power of Story, a Passion Project series of talks that took place in Fall 2022, Cat talks to Michael Hauge, a renowned Hollywood script consultant and story expert who has consulted on projects starring Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Reese Witherspoon! Applying those same storytelling principles, Michael also coaches independent consultants, speakers, marketers, entrepreneurs and business leaders on using story to transform the lives of their audiences, clients and customers. In our interview together for The Power of Story, Michael shares the truth about what the audience wants, what business leaders can learn from Hollywood and the keys to telling a story that moves audiences, and buyers.   For more on The Power of Story, visit Getthepowerofstory.com and access more great interviews, post-show Q&As, workshops and more!

Cat chats with Southbrook Winery's Bill Redelmeier and Casey Hogan about the joys and challenges of biodynamic wine making and farming.

Cat talks to Naomi and Keshia Krucker of Manorun Organic Farm about growing up on the farm, and what the future of family farms looks like.

Cat chats with Manorun Organic Farm founders Chris Krucker and Denise Trigatti about raising a farm, while raising a family, and what it takes to thrive in both areas today.

Cat chats with Janice Zawerbny, Executive Editor at HarperCollins Canada, about what it takes to get a book deal, the writer-editor relationship and other book publishing frequently asked questions.

In this episode, Cat chats with Farah Heron, author of Accidentally Engaged and The Chai Factor, about how to write romance and romantic comedies, plus first drafts, Beta readers and OWN Voices.

Cat asks literary agent Léonicka Valcius all your burning questions, from how to get an agent, to what they look for, and what to know when coming up with comp titles, plus other book submission query letter do's and don'ts.

In the latest episode of Passion Project, Cat chats with Amy Jones about her books, her author journey, how to give and take feedback and her advice for writing and publishing your book.

Cat chats with author and podcast host Bianca Marais on books, OWN Voices and the stuff no one tells you about writing.

Cat chats with best-selling author Marissa Stapley about her new book Lucky, writing and being featured in Oprah.

Cat chats with book blogger Jen Bober about books, book clubs and #bookstagram.

Talking about about passion, faith and reinvention with Pastor David Eduardo Saenz, founder of Experience Church.

You've heard about The Secret, but do you really know the Laws of Attraction? Or all the ways we self sabotage energetically? Check out Passion Project's interview with Life Coach Keri Stanley as we talk miracles, surrender, receiving and the laws of attraction.

Plenty of mic drop moments in this episode, talking inner childs, the power of play, and making your dreams come true, with business and performance coach Keelin Siobhán Clark.

Talking passion projects, following your heart and doing what you love (for money), with Jennifer Turliuk, author of How to Figure Out What To Do With Your Life (Next)

In this episode, Cat chats with graphic novel author Ho Che Anderson about superheroes and revolutionaries, his new film and taking on the great Martin Luther King.

In this episode, Cat chats with conceptual photographer Claire Dam about art, truth and radical honesty, as well as exploring the rawness and vulnerability of women's journeys with fertility, transformation, connection with other women, and grief.

In this episode, best-selling author Karma Brown talks about her new book The 4% Fix (HarperCollins), time management, her author journey and making things happen.

Talking holiday madness, letting go and courageous self care with wellness and empowerment coach Rhema Flowers.  

In this episode, Laura talks about facing the fear factor, trusting yourself and finding the learning moment.

In this episode of Passion Project, Toronto musician STORRY talks about making music, the Me Too movement and what resilience looks like to her.

In this powerful episode of Passion Project, David Hart talks resilience, joy, what makes a true passion project and the love that does not leave us.

Introducing Passion Project with your host, Cat Margulis.   Cat Margulis is a Toronto writer, book coach, muse and super mom of four working on her third novel and generally trying to do and have it all.   https://www.passionprojectpod.com