What happens when storytelling stops being about performance and starts becoming a practice of listening to yourself, to others, and to the body?

We are constantly told to “tell our story.” In leadership spaces, career conversations, and social platforms, storytelling has become a buzzword, something to master, optimize, and perform. But in this episode of Be the Ripple Podcast, Sabine invites us into a much deeper truth: storytelling is not about being impressive. It’s about being honest.

Sitting across from Sabine is Samar Nahas, narrative designer, editorial guide, and creative mentor, whose work spans literature, visual arts, XR, film, and philosophy. More than that, Samar was the creative mirror behind Beyond the Ladder, helping Sabine shape not just the words on the page, but the meaning underneath them.

From the very beginning, the conversation returns to one central idea: every human story matters. The belief that some stories are more valuable than others, Samar explains, is rooted in elitist thinking and it disconnects us from one another. Stories are how we make sense of the randomness of life. They are how we process experience, build empathy, and understand who we are becoming.

The episode gently dismantles another myth: that great storytellers are simply “born that way.” Samar draws a clear distinction between having a story and delivering a story. Before words are shared publicly, they must be owned privately. This means doing the inner work, writing, recording, sketching, walking, reflecting, and allowing the story to take shape without forcing it into performance.

This is where the body enters the conversation as the missing data point. Burnout, exhaustion, creative blocks, and self-doubt are not personal failures; they are signals. Signals that something is misaligned. Signals that the system, whether professional, cultural, or internal, is no longer listening. As Samar notes, we underestimate how much knowledge lives in the body, and how often we override it in the name of professionalism or productivity.

Drawing on her background in audio-visual storytelling and editing, Samar speaks powerfully about listening, not just as a communication skill, but as a way of being. Sound, she reminds us, is the first sense we develop. Long before we see, we hear. And yet, in our rush to speak, pitch, and perform, we forget how transformative deep listening can be.

Throughout the episode, Sabine reflects on her own creative journey, the messiness of writing, the vulnerability of putting words into the world, and the courage it takes to stay with the process even when it feels uncomfortable. Together, they name something many leaders feel but rarely articulate: creativity is not linear, clean, or predictable. It is layered, emotional, and often uncomfortable, but it is also where meaning is made.

As the conversation closes, Sabine asks Samar about legacy. The answer is simple, and quietly profound: to be of service. To help others find their voice, tell their story, and feel less alone in the process. In a world that feels increasingly fragmented and loud, this episode offers a different invitation, to slow down, listen deeply, and remember that our stories don’t need to be perfect to be powerful.

Ripple Reflection:
When we listen…truly listen…to our bodies and our stories, we stop performing our lives and start inhabiting them.

Key Takeaways and Insights

• • Storytelling is not about delivery first it’s about ownership and listening
  • Every human has a story worth telling; the myth of “unimportant stories” is deeply harmful
  • Listening to others and to ourselves is the foundation of meaningful leadership
  • The body holds critical data we often ignore until burnout forces us to pay attention
  • Creativity is messy, non-linear, and essential for reinvention

Timestamps & Segment Titles

• [00:00] Why Storytelling Is Everywhere — and Why It Matters
• [04:30] Separating Story from Delivery
• [09:30] Listening as a Creative Practice
• [14:00] Burnout, the Body, and Ignored Signals
• [21:00] Creativity, Ego, and Professional Identity
• [29:00] Finding Your Medium for Storytelling
• [35:00] Legacy, Service, and Compassion
• [41:00] Final Reflections: Letting the Story Lead

Watch or Listen:

YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcast