Narrative Podcast

Most founders fail because they treat their business like a math problem when it’s really a story about survival, identity, and timing. Hess Adnani reveals why the real breakthrough comes when you stop forcing a dead idea, start listening to the market, and build the internal strength to keep going. Tim Croll and Hess Adnani unpack the overlooked connection between entrepreneurship and personal transformation, from the brutal startup “valley of death” to the inner work that changes everything outside of you. Hess shares how selling everything he owned, traveling across 30 countries, and stepping away from the grind led him to a new framework for growth that blends business strategy with nervous system regulation. You’ll discover: Why most startups die by falling in love with their first idea How to know when a pivot is smart instead of quitting The mistake of building in isolation before talking to customers Why self-worth shapes the money you make and the boundaries you set How Hess’s “organic technology” maps the mind-body system into two axes: doer mode and wise mode Connect with Hess: https://hessadnani.com/ Connect with Narrative: https://narrative.live/

In this episode Tim Croll and Shawn Whitson explore themes of personal growth, entrepreneurship, and the importance of values in defining success. Shawn shares his journey from viewing himself as a 'screw up' to recognizing the value of his experiences and the lessons learned from failures. They discuss the impact of childhood narratives on work ethic, the false narratives surrounding money and success, and the importance of community and connection. Shawn introduces Acts Social, a new social media platform focused on positivity and gratitude, emphasizing the need for a supportive online environment. Check out more from Shawn at www.actssocial.com Thanks for listening! To connect with Tim or Steve go to www.narrative.live

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Steve “Moby” Leitch was a swimmer before he was a Moby, a man before a ministry leader, and a wanderer long before he ever became rooted. Born into the world of evangelical Christianity—his father preaching alongside giants like Billy Graham—Steve grew up in the polished halls of faith, where sin was unspoken and perfection expected. But he found more belonging in the locker room than the pews. While swimmers laughed freely, churchgoers seemed like porcelain. And so he drifted. Trying to fit in led Steve to addiction—first to connection, then to substances, and finally to isolation. By his mid-thirties, life had collapsed around him: divorced, bankrupt, estranged, spiritually lost. In 2010, broken and under a tree in Kentucky, he surrendered. No fireworks. Just a decision. One that began a 15-year transformation. Piece by piece, Steve rebuilt—his faith, his body, his family, and his purpose. He gave up drugs, then alcohol, then corporate America. In their place came morning devotions, ultra-marathon swims for recovery causes, handwritten messages to family and friends, and a social media presence not for attention, but for legacy. Now a grandfather, “Moby” uses his swims, storytelling, and scars to remind others: God created you for a purpose. Don’t miss it.

Jonathan Heaslet has been many things over the years. An economics & mathematics major, military, minister, healthcare executive, and more. Jonathan never planned on taking the long way around, but life has a funny way of handing you detours. He spent years chasing certainty, believing that success was a straight line—only to find that some of his best moments came from the unexpected twists. As a kid, he thought confidence was something you either had or didn’t. He learned the hard way that confidence is built, brick by brick, in the moments when you push forward despite the doubt. "The hardest thing isn’t knowing what you want," he says. "It’s believing you deserve it." There were times he wanted to quit, times when the silence after trying felt unbearable. But he kept showing up, kept putting in the work, even when no one was watching. He realized that failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s just another stop along the way. Now, looking back, Jonathan doesn’t claim to have all the answers. But he knows this: the world doesn’t owe you an audience. You earn it by being real. By being honest. And most importantly, by showing up.

In the glamorous world of high-powered executives, Kellan Fluckiger seemed to have it all – wealth, success, and influence. But beneath the Armani suits and corporate victories lay a man drowning in cocaine addiction, failed marriages, and a desperate need to prove his worth to a mother whose harsh discipline had left deep emotional scars. For decades, Kellan rode a destructive roller coaster of success and self-sabotage, making and losing fortunes, ruining three marriages, and struggling with thoughts of suicide. His teenage daughter once told him matter-of-factly that they expected to receive a call about his death any day. Then came the night in August 2007 when divine intervention arrived through an unlikely source – a reality TV show about addiction that mysteriously replayed itself on his television. What followed was an otherworldly experience where Kellan was forced to witness scenes of suffering from his life for 18 hours straight. He emerged with an unshakeable conviction to change, throwing away his drugs and embracing sobriety. Weeks later, at a Yo-Yo Ma concert, another divine nudge led him to propose to a woman he barely knew – a coworker named Joy who would become his guardian angel. Despite his messy past and addiction issues, Joy saw something in him others missed. Together they walked away from their careers and embarked on a challenging journey of healing and transformation. Now, seventeen years later, Kellan is a different man – an author of 20 books and a coach helping others discover their purpose. With Joy as his business partner and wife, he works to reach millions with a powerful message: no matter your past, you matter, and it's never too late to make the difference you yearn to make in the world.

Growing up in Michigan, Scott's early life was marked by dramatic changes. His family went from financial stability, with his father running a successful chiropractic practice, to severe hardship after a failed business relocation. Between ages 8 and 18, Scott lived in 13 different houses, including a period in a tent, and his family relied on their faith community for basic needs like food. The instability peaked when his mother temporarily left with his younger brothers, leaving Scott with his father and older brother for about a year and a half. When his mother returned, Scott's father told him and his brother to never discuss what had happened – just move on. This created deep-seated false beliefs in Scott: that he had to figure everything out alone, and that conflict would make loved ones abandon him. These beliefs affected his marriage and other relationships well into adulthood. The turning point came at age 36, when his spiritual mentor John asked him a pivotal question during a work meeting: "What's in the gap?" after noticing Scott's disproportionate reaction to a situation. This question, combined with becoming a father himself and wanting to give his children a different experience than his own, motivated Scott to seek help. He spent six years in counseling, working through his childhood trauma and false beliefs. Today, at 52, Scott leads organizations helping other men, particularly fathers, through similar journeys. He runs "Dads on Tap," a nonprofit connecting fathers at local breweries, works with "Man in the Mirror" focusing on spiritual fatherhood, and has written a book called "A Dad's Bible Journey." His story demonstrates how awareness of our "gaps" – those places where our reactions don't match the situation – can lead to meaningful personal growth and healing. Check out Dads on Tap - www.dadsontop.com Connect with Tim Croll and Steve Gohl - narrative.live Join the Discord to keep the conversation going! https://discord.com/invite/pKXYuda9Hu