This episode is something special.

Our special guest is none other than Mike O'Krent, founder of LifeStories Alive, a company devoted to helping families preserve the voices, memories, and life lessons of the people they love most. Mike's journey is incredible: from interviewing Holocaust survivors for Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation to building a business that turns family stories into lasting video heirlooms for future generations. And trust me, once you hear why he does this work, it's going to hit you right in the heart.

You'll hear why stories matter more than ever, how the simple act of listening can change a relationship, and why capturing someone's voice, wisdom, and legacy before it's too late may be one of the greatest gifts you ever give. Mike also shares practical gems on asking better questions, handling emotional conversations with grace, and becoming the kind of person people truly open up to.

And hang with us all the way to the end, because Mike drops powerful advice on how to become a better conversationalist and listener. It's the kind of insight that can transform the way you show up at home, at work, and in every relationship that matters.

This one is heartfelt, eye-opening, and full of Ripples that can last for generations.

Ripple with Mike O'Krent:

Website: https://www.lifestoriesalive.com

Ripple with Steve Harper:
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You walk into the conversation feeling clear, calm, and even confident. Then, somehow, you walk out, replaying every sentence, wondering if you said it wrong, if you overreacted, if you are the problem. If that sounds familiar, there's a good chance you just tried communicating with a narcissist, or you're dealing with narcissistic tendencies up close at work or at home.

Maybe it's a narcissistic boss who turns every meeting into a scoreboard. Maybe it's a narcissistic coworker who can't share credit. Maybe it's a client, a partner, a friend, the person you cannot fully avoid. You try to resolve the issue like an adult, and suddenly you're in a loop of gaslighting, deflection, and a conversation that keeps snapping back to them. That's exhausting. It drains your energy, scrambles your confidence, and makes even simple conflict feel like walking through wet cement.

In this episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, I'm talking to you about how to deal with a narcissist without losing your peace, your professionalism, or your self-respect. Not in a "win the argument" way, because you already know that usually goes nowhere. In a practical, real-life way that helps you stay steady, set boundaries with a narcissist, and keep the conversation pointed toward an outcome instead of getting dragged into their chaos. If you've ever thought, "Why does every difficult conversation become a trial?" you're in the right place.

If you're watching this because you feel worn out, tense before meetings, or you're starting to doubt yourself after every interaction, I want you to hear me clearly. You're not crazy. You're not weak. You're not "too sensitive." You're navigating a tough personality dynamic, and there are communication skills that can help you hold your ground without becoming someone you don't recognize.

Stick with me to the end, because the most important shift isn't what you say to them. It's what you stop giving away to them.

If this hits home, leave a comment and tell me what you're dealing with right now. Narcissist at work, toxic coworker, narcissistic boss, or something closer to home.

And if you know someone who needs this, share it with them. We Ripple better when we don't do this alone.

Ripple with Steve Harper
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Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

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To inquire about my availability for conference keynotes, corporate training, or performance coaching, please contact info@ripplecentral.com.

Welcome back to The Ripple Effect Podcast.

Today, you're getting a conversation that hits where it counts. Barbara Burgess joins us for a powerful interview that goes way beyond career talk and straight into what it really takes to move from corporate America to entrepreneurship.

Barbara Burgess is an author, mother, executive, and unapologetic dark-chocolate lover who's embraced the beautiful messiness of life. She founded Corluma (cor = heart, luma = light), a Chicago-based consulting firm; wrote and performed a one-woman show, "The Extraordinary Experience of Being Ordinary"; and most recently wrote her first book, Enough: Finding Peace in a World of Distractions, Hustle, and Expectations. Known for her humor, vulnerability, and practical wisdom, Barbara shares simple shifts to help people remember they are enough and have enough. Her ego is kept in healthy check by two teenage children and career adventures that include selling candy bars for Nestle Foods, launching Grainger into internet commerce, a brief marketing stint at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and, most recently, overseeing operations, marketing, and finances as the COO of a non-profit.

Listen until the end because we get real about a lot of interesting topics. We talk about the difference between confidence and self-efficacy, why being an introvert can actually be an advantage in entrepreneurship, and how that "not enough" voice loves to show up when the world is screaming hustle, distraction, and expectations. We also go into executive coaching for tough leaders, what it looks like to face what isn't working without flinching, and the shift that happens when you start living by your own compass instead of somebody else's scoreboard.

If any of that feels familiar, you're in the right place.

Ripple with Barbara Burgess
Website: www.corluma.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/barbaraburgess1
Book: www.beenough.com

Ripple with Steve Harper
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon
X: https://twitter.com/rippleon
Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com

Subscribe to the Ripple mail list: https://ripplecentral.com/subscribe

Be a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SteveHarper

Join our ever-growing community of Ripplers in The Pond:
https://ripplecentral.com/pond