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Thank you Gregory Leeson for joining me on the Born To Talk Radio Show Podcast.
Meet Gregory.
In 2015, while donning the mantle of Master of Ceremonies at his 40th high school reunion, an electric spark ignited his passion for the life stories of seemingly “ordinary” individuals. On May 1, 2022, he embarked on the first of four monumental road trips from his Illinois home covering 26,403 miles to 53 cities in 39 states and eight Canadian provinces. Following these exhilarating journeys, he returned home on June 8, 2023, ready to transform the vivid tapestry of stories he had collected into the book he had envisioned since that fateful night in 2015.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives.
This is not a history book. As you read the stories, you might reflect on your life mirrors as part of the storyteller’s life. Greg breaks down his book into sections. First was meeting and interviewing random people on his road trip. The second section features the opinions of 52 anonymous Americans, they range from all age groups, races, political persuasions and geographic areas. The third section showcases 66 concise mini-biographies of remarkable individuals who contributed to this project. These narratives are crafted for quick and captivating reading.
Greg’s Takeaways.
“We live in a divided world. That much is obvious. But what if you got to know someone’s life story who you instinctively just KNOW is not aligned with your thinking. Would the words of one of the world’s leading authorities in narrative psychology, Dr. Dan McAdams, ring true? He wrote:
“People find common ground through storytelling. Leeson shows us, for it is nearly impossible to dismiss, let alone hate, another person once you have come to know their story.”
“In addition to my storytelling, if there is a second reason to purchase my book, it is Appendix A. McAdams allowed me to publish his life interview protocol. This gem, is nothing short of life transforming.”
In Closing.
Greg, will be sharing his own personal story about his mother and himself. You will hear how he was able to convince the people he met on his journey to share their stories with him. In listening, you might find yourself relating to a story he shares. And, to top it off, he is on the road as we speak! You are also going to hear from Latifa. Greg is at her home and has interviewed her. She too, has an amazing story about living in Morocco as a child, and moving to the US. Why did she move here and how has her life evolved into her professional career?
Conversations + Connections = Community
Making the world a better place. One Story at a time.
What’s Your Story? I want to share it!