The Story of Us: From Cosmic Dawn to the Depths of Being

What if the feeling you call “God” was never meant to be contained inside a building?In this Season 2 finale of The Story of Us, Jeff reflects on the moments that leave us speechless—the overwhelming awe of standing beneath the vaulted ceilings of Notre-Dame, the impossible beauty of La Sagrada Familia, the silence of a mountain range, the pull of a night sky filled with stars.Part travel reflection… part philosophical exploration… part deeply personal letter…this episode explores the human tendency to build institutions around mystery—and what may be lost when we outsource our search for meaning to them.Drawing inspiration from Mark Twain, Eastern philosophy, the great cathedrals of Europe, and the ordinary moments of everyday life, Jeff asks a difficult but essential question:What do you actually believe?And perhaps more importantly…Have you ever stopped long enough to truly feel it for yourself?🌍 In This EpisodeWhy ancient cathedrals evoke awe—even for nonbelieversThe emotional experience of visiting La Sagrada FamiliaHow religions evolved from stories into institutionsThe difference between spirituality and organized beliefWhat Eastern traditions understood about mystery and presenceWhy the sacred may live in ordinary moments—not sacred buildings🎯 Key ThemesAwe and wonderSpirituality vs religionHuman connectionPresence and attentionThe search for meaningThe beauty of existence🧠 Memorable Questions ExploredWhat do you actually believe?Has organized religion brought us closer to the divine—or further from it?What if you are not separate from the sacred… but an expression of it?What if wonder itself is the point?✨ Final InvitationThis episode is ultimately an invitation:To slow down. To pay attention. To stop outsourcing the search for meaning.And to rediscover the extraordinary hidden inside ordinary life.🌐 Explore MoreSubscribe to our free weekly blog:Letters From The Middle of It All👉 www.thestoryofusproject.com/start-here📲 Follow The Story of UsInstagramFacebookBlueSky🎥 Full episodes, shorts, and spoken word reflections available on YouTube.🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.❤️ Thank YouThank you for being part of Season 2.These conversations exist because people like you continue sharing them, discussing them, and helping us build a growing community centered around curiosity, connection, and what it means to be human.💬 Final ThoughtMaybe the sacred was never hiding inside the cathedral.Maybe it was waiting…in the moments you almost overlooked.🪨 The Story of UsFrom stardust to stillness.“I was here. My life was meaningful.”

What does it really mean to raise a “good” human?Not a high achiever. Not a perfectly behaved child. But someone who is kind, grounded, resilient… and emotionally aware.In this episode of The Story of Us, Jeff sits down with educator, consultant, and author Rosemary Olender—who has spent decades working inside classrooms, schools, and family systems—to explore what actually shapes a child.This conversation goes beyond parenting advice.It’s about the everyday moments… the conversations we have… the behaviors we model…and how those small things quietly shape who our children become.Drawing from over 20 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and director of special education, Rosemary shares what she’s seen change in today’s families—and what still matters most.Together, they explore:Why character matters more than achievementWhat emotional intelligence really looks like in real lifeThe biggest mistakes parents make (often without realizing it)How families and schools can work together more effectivelyWhat it means to raise children who are prepared for life—not just successThis episode isn’t just for parents.It’s for anyone who cares about the kind of humans we are raising—and the kind of world we’re creating.🎯 What You’ll Take AwayWhy children learn more from what you model than what you sayHow to build emotional intelligence in everyday interactionsWhat strong families do differentlyThe importance of communication between home and schoolHow to shift from reactive parenting to intentional guidance🌍 Key ThemesCharacter developmentEmotional intelligenceParenting with intentionFamily dynamicsHuman connection👤 About the Guest – Rosemary OlenderRosemary Olender, MS, CAS, is an educator, consultant, and non-fiction author with decades of experience supporting families and schools.Her career includes:17 years as a teacher of profoundly deaf childrenRoles as a junior high and elementary school principalDirector of special educationEducational consultant working with school districts across New York StateShe is the author of:Coffee and WisdomThe School-Home ConnectionHer work focuses on helping families and educators build stronger relationships, improve communication, and support children in reaching their full potential.🌐 Explore MoreIf this conversation resonated with you, we’ve created a space for you to go deeper.👉 www.thestoryofusproject.com/start-hereExplore more episodes, reflections, and insights on what it means to be human—and how we shape the next generation.📲 Follow & ConnectFollow The Story of Us:FacebookInstagramBlueSky🎥 Full episodes, clips, and shorts available on YouTube.🎧 Share This EpisodeIf you know someone raising kids—or working with them—send this their way.Because the small things we do today…become the foundation for who they are tomorrow.💬 Final ThoughtWe don’t just raise children.We raise future humans.And that might be the most important work any of us will ever do.

Episode TitleShe Sold Everything to Sail the World… Here’s What She Found | Alison GieschenEpisode DescriptionWhat happens when you walk away from everything you’ve built…and choose a life most people only dream about?In this episode of The Story of Us, Jeff sits down with Alison Gieschen—author, storyteller, and global sailor—who made a bold decision alongside her husband to sell everything they owned and circumnavigate the world by sailboat.Since then, they’ve traveled across five continents, visited over 50 countries, and lived a life shaped not by schedules… but by wind, water, and the unknown.But this conversation isn’t just about travel.It’s about what happens when you strip life down to its essentials.About the people you meet along the way. The perspectives that change you. And what truly matters when comfort, routine, and certainty are no longer part of the equation.From navigating storms at sea to navigating different cultures and ways of living, Alison shares what years on the ocean have taught her about humanity, connection, and the shared experience of being alive.What You’ll Take AwayWhy transformational travel is about people—not placesWhat Alison learned from communities living with far lessHow stepping outside your normal life reshapes your perspectiveThe difference between chasing experiences and finding meaningWhat really matters when everything else is stripped awayKey ThemesHuman connection across culturesSimplicity vs modern lifeAdventure and uncertaintyPerspective and gratitudeWhat it means to truly liveAbout the Guest – Alison GieschenAlison Gieschen is a former teacher, equestrian vaulting coach, and horse farm owner who chose a radically different path—selling everything to sail around the world with her husband aboard their 43-foot vessel, EQUUS.She is an author, travel blogger, and storyteller known as The Nautical Novelist, sharing her journey through books and her sailing blog.Her works include:Riding the Waves of RealityRiding the Waves of Reality IITHE SEVEN: An Odyssey of Seven Horses and Seven SoulsJulia’s Vaulting DreamConnect with AlisonWebsite: www.alisongieschen.comSailing Blog: www.sailmates.orgExplore MoreIf this conversation resonated with you, we’ve created a space for you to go deeper.👉 www.thestoryofusproject.comExplore more conversations, reflections, and stories about what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world.Listen. Reflect. Share.If this episode made you think, feel, or see the world a little differently…Share it with someone who needs to hear it.Final ThoughtSometimes the most powerful journeys…aren’t about where you go.They’re about how you begin to see.

What does it actually mean to be a “tough guy”?Lately, that definition feels… off. Somewhere along the way, toughness has been confused with anger. Strength with cruelty. Confidence with tearing other people down.In this solo episode of The Story of Us, Jeff steps back and challenges that idea.This one is personal.Through the lens of his son Brady—a welder, diesel mechanic, and what most would call a “man’s man”—Jeff explores the difference between being disciplined, resilient, and capable… versus being closed off, hateful, or divisive.Because those aren’t the same thing.And they never were.This episode is a spoken-word reflection based on Jeff’s blog post:“You Can Be a Man’s Man Without Being an Asshole”It’s about redefining strength. Reclaiming character. And remembering that toughness and kindness were never meant to be opposites.🎯 What You’ll Take AwayWhy toughness and cruelty have been incorrectly linkedThe difference between strength and insecurityHow modern culture is distorting masculinityWhat real character looks like in everyday lifeWhy kindness is not weakness—and never has been👤 A Personal NoteThis episode is inspired by Jeff’s son, Brady—whose life reflects a powerful truth:You can be rough, tough, hardworking… and still be a good man to the people around you.🌐 Read the Full BlogWant to read the full written version?👉 https://thestoryofusproject.com/2026/04/16/you-can-be-a-mans-man-without-being-an-asshole/🔗 Explore MoreIf this episode resonated with you, we’ve created a space for you to go deeper.👉 https://thestoryofusproject.com/START-HERE/More conversations. More reflections. More of what it means to be human in a world that’s changing fast.🎧 Share This EpisodeIf you know someone who’s been wrestling with what it means to be a man today…Send this to them. Because the conversation matters.💬 Final ThoughtYou don’t have to change who you are to become a better man.You just have to remember:Tough doesn’t mean cruel.

From Big Bang to Space Colonies (13.8 Billion Years in Under 90 Minutes) | with Richard AndersonWhat if the story of your life didn't begin when you were born — but 13.8 billion years ago in a single flash of energy that contained, quite literally, everything?In this episode of The Story of Us: From Cosmic Dawn to the Depths of Being, we sit down with Richard Anderson — molecular biologist, clinical scientist, and author of The Evolution of Life, Big Bang to Space Colonies — for a conversation that begins at the beginning and somehow still manages to feel personal by the end.Richard spent decades in laboratories doing the patient, rigorous work of understanding how life actually functions. Then he retired, traveled the world, came home to a pandemic, and wrote a book that traces the full arc of existence from the first cosmic moment to the far future of human civilization.In this conversation, we explore:Why carbon and water are the only possible building blocks for life — anywhere in the universeWhy intelligent life elsewhere is far less likely than the movies want you to believeHow predator and prey shaped the very way you think — and why your brain is wired for right now, not the long termThe role of mythology, religion, and science in the story of human civilizationWhy colonizing Mars may not be the answer — and what Richard thinks actually isArtificial intelligence, sentient beings, and what happens when the robots never dieThe hummingbird story — trust us, stay for the hummingbird storyRichard also answers the two questions we ask every guest: what would you whisper to your younger self, and what do you want to say to the future version of you listening back one day?His answer to the first one involves Tesla stock. His answer to the second is quieter, and worth the wait."Watch the movies. But read the books." — Richard Anderson📖 Richard's Book:The Evolution of Life, Big Bang to Space Colonies — available on Amazon🌐 Find Richard:richardandersonauthor.com | Facebook: Richard Anderson | Blog at his websiteThe Story of Us is a podcast exploring the big questions — who we are, where we came from, and what it means to be alive at this particular and unrepeatable moment. New episodes wherever you listen. Want to learn more? START HERE -- www.thestoryofusproject.com/start-here

You've changed. More than you know. More than you're probably comfortable admitting.Not gradually. Not just a little. Fundamentally. Repeatedly. And you're not done yet.In this rare and deeply personal solo episode, host Jeff Ellison steps away from the guest chair and turns the microphone — and the mirror — on himself. What begins with an ordinary Tuesday morning and a steamed-up bathroom mirror becomes something far more searching: a raw, honest, and at times uncomfortably beautiful meditation on identity, impermanence, and what it means to keep becoming someone new while carrying everything you've already been.This one is different. And if you're a human being in the middle of your own story — which you are — it may be exactly what you needed to hear today.In this episode, Jeff explores:The jarring moment he looked in the mirror and saw his father's face looking back — and everything that moment cracked openWhy we are, biologically and philosophically, never quite the same person twice — and why we fight it so hardThe Buddhist concept of Anicca — impermanence — and why the self is not a noun but a verb, an ongoing, never-finished becomingThe Ship of Theseus and what it means that your skeleton, your skin, your liver — your very body — quietly replaces itself while you're busy living your lifeThe pivotal moments that don't just change you gradually, but draw a hard line between the before and the after: graduation, travel, parenthood, turning 50, chronic pain, and the decision to build something that mattersWhy clinging to an old version of yourself isn't loyalty — it's grief dressed up as identityWhat exploring Buddhist philosophy and meditation revealed about the difference between the self and the weather passing through itHow launching The Story of Us Project gave Jeff not just something to do, but somebody to beThe two questions Jeff asks every guest — and why turning them on himself, and on you, may be the most important thing this episode doesWhy the panic of aging is not the enemy — it's information. The self, awake enough to feel its own impermanence, asking urgently: are you paying attention?The Two Questions — For You:Jeff asks every guest these questions before the conversation ends. This time, he's asking you.What does this version of yourself want to tell the younger version of yourself?Knowing that some future you will one day look back at this exact moment — what do you want them to know?Don't rush past them. Let them make you a little uncomfortable. That discomfort means they're working.Join the Conversation: Jeff wants to hear from you.What's been your biggest identity pivot? The moment that cracked you open and left someone slightly different standing in the rubble?Share your story with us:🌐 Visit our website: www.thestoryofusproject.com ✉️ Subscribe to our free blog: https://substack.com/@jeffrellison?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jeffellison-thestoryofus?si=apsFqObcwr1aGbK-💬 Find us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Blue Sky.The circle is always open. And your story belongs in it.

What happens when the hardest moments of life become the seed for a lifelong mission?In this episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with Jill Chalsty, founder of the global life-skills initiative Overcoming Obstacles and author of Packets of Hope. Jill shares the remarkable journey that began with childhood bullying and evolved into a curriculum that has reached over 180 million students in nearly 200 countries.Her story takes a powerful turn after the loss of her husband and her own battles with cancer. Facing grief and uncertainty, Jill embarked on a 107-day voyage across the globe—hand-delivering “packets of hope” to ministers of education in dozens of countries, spreading a message about life skills, resilience, and purpose.This conversation explores bullying, forgiveness, grief, courage, and the profound power of human connection. It’s a story about turning pain into purpose—and why one small step can change the course of a life.What We Discuss in This EpisodeHow childhood bullying shaped Jill’s life missionThe unexpected apology that sparked a global education movementBuilding the Overcoming Obstacles life-skills curriculumTeaching decision-making, empathy, and resilience to students worldwideJill’s work with gang members alongside NFL legend Jim BrownGrief, caregiving, and facing multiple cancer diagnosesA 107-day world voyage delivering “packets of hope” to education leadersWhy purpose and connection are essential for healingThe Maori phrase “Ake Ake Ake”—and how it became Jill’s mantra for resilienceWhy small steps can transform even the darkest seasons of lifeMemorable MomentsA childhood bully apologizes years later—and changes the trajectory of Jill’s life.Teaching life skills to gang members in Los Angeles alongside Jim Brown.A powerful moment in Samoa where strangers prayed for Jill’s healing.Delivering the most meaningful packet in Cape Town, honoring her late husband’s roots.Discovering that sometimes the people we hope to help are the very ones who end up healing us.About Jill ChalstyJill Chalsty is the founder of Overcoming Obstacles, a nonprofit that provides free life-skills curriculum to educators around the world. The program teaches decision-making, communication, goal setting, empathy, and resilience to students from kindergarten through high school.The curriculum has reached over 180 million students across nearly 200 countries through hundreds of thousands of educators.She is also the author of Packets of Hope: A Journey of Healing and Rediscovery, a memoir documenting a global voyage that helped transform grief into purpose.Resources & LinksPackets of Hope (free download): https://packetsofhope.comOvercoming Obstacles curriculum: https://overcomingobstacles.orgKey TakeawayOne small step—whether asking for help, starting a journey, or reaching out to someone else—can become the turning point that changes everything.

What if becoming stronger has less to do with pushing harder… and more to do with yielding?In this conversation, Jeff Ellison sits down with Jeff Patterson—martial artist, meditation teacher, and author of The Yielding Warrior—to explore the surprising intersection of combat and consciousness.With 36+ years of training (and black belt equivalencies across multiple disciplines), Jeff could absolutely toss most of us like a beach towel in a hurricane… but he’s devoted his life to something quieter and far more powerful: breath, awareness, regulation, and intelligent response.You’ll learn why distraction isn’t failure in meditation, how to return to center in real time, and how “yielding” can transform not just your training—but your relationships, reactions, and inner life.Stay tuned for one of the most useful stories you’ll hear all week: the monk, the puddle, and the art of leaving it behind.Key Topics / What We CoverWhy meditation isn’t about “clearing your mind”Distraction as the rep—and the whole point—of the practiceThe three pillars of meditation: Ritual, Active, PhilosophicalThe power of a strong “why” (and why consistency beats hype)The concept of yielding: physical, mental, and emotionalHow to avoid conflict by noticing the first flicker of imbalanceParenting, presence, humility—and training as a lifelong pathThe “monk and the puddle” story (and why we carry things too far)Memorable Moments“It’s like seafood… but sifu.”The moment Jeff’s practice “clicked” after months of doubt“You’re still carrying that girl? I left her back at the puddle.”GuestJeff Patterson — Martial Artist, Meditation Teacher, Author (The Yielding Warrior)Links & ResourcesJeff Patterson’s website: theyieldingwarrior.comGet the book (free copy — pay shipping, US): theyieldingwarrior.com/bookFree breathwork course (“One Breath Away”): theyieldingwarrior.com/onebreathawayBook on Amazon: The Yielding Warrior (search on Amazon)Call to ActionIf this episode helped you take one deeper breath or choose one calmer response, please:Follow / Subscribe to the showLeave a rating + review (Apple Podcasts helps a ton)Share it with a friend who’s carrying something “two miles past the puddle.”Show InfoThe Story of Us: From Cosmic Dawn to the Depths of Being Website: thestoryofusproject.com

In this Valentine’s Day episode of The Story of Us, Jeff sits down with Melanie Love — a former investment manager turned chronic pain advocate and founder of (un)block — for a deeply honest conversation about reinvention, healing, and embodiment.Jeff first met Melanie at an event hosted by Season 1 guest Molly Jones. What began as an organic connection around chronic pain and shared purpose turned into a powerful dialogue recorded at Jeff’s kitchen table.Melanie shares her journey growing up in Calgary, Canada, the influence of her grandparents, and her impressive career in international energy finance. But the heart of this episode centers on her Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) diagnosis, multiple traumatic brain injuries, and the unraveling — and rebuilding — that followed.Together, they explore:What Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is and why it’s often misunderstoodThe connection between fascia, trauma, and nervous system regulationThe emotional and physical toll of chronic painWhy “no pain, no gain” might be the wrong framework for healingThe difference between life happening to us, by us, and through usThe power of surrender and the meaning behind “Let It Be Enough”Melanie also discusses how her personal healing journey led her to create (un)block, a fascia-based self-care tool designed to help people release tension, regulate their nervous systems, and reconnect with their bodies.This is a conversation about curiosity over collapse, presence over perfectionism, and learning to soften instead of force.If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from your body — this episode is for you.Learn MoreVisit Melanie’s website: https://theunblock.shopExplore her fascia-based recovery tool and educational resources designed to support mobility, nervous system regulation, and embodied healing.Key ThemesChronic Pain & Ehlers-Danlos SyndromeTrauma & Nervous System RegulationFascia & Body-Based HealingReinvention & EntrepreneurshipEmbodiment & Emotional AwarenessLetting Go of PerfectionismSurrender & Self-TrustNotable Quotes“Love does not need to be earned.”“You’re not a machine. You’re a human being.”“Let the chapter you’re in be enough.”Connect with the ShowIf this episode resonated with you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need to hear it.Thank you for being part of The Story of Us.

Welcome back to The Story of Us: From Cosmic Dawn to the Depths of Being.In this opening episode of Season Two, I want to slow things down for a moment and let you into the why behind this project—how it started, what Season One taught me, and why we’re continuing the journey together.This episode is part reflection, part gratitude, part gentle nudge forward.I share how turning 50, navigating chronic pain, watching my kids grow up and move outward, and feeling my own body push back forced me to finally open the box, dust off the microphones, and begin telling stories instead of waiting for the “right time.” What started as a Father’s Day gift (and a very loud bluff called by my family) became a creative lifeline—one rooted in curiosity, presence, and connection.We revisit the kitchen-table beginnings of Season One—the imperfect audio, the laughter, the vulnerability—and the themes that kept returning to us: that naming the struggle doesn’t weaken us, it frees us; that pain is universal, but so is compassion; that awe doesn’t disappear in midlife—it just learns how to whisper; and that our ordinary lives are far more sacred than we often realize.This episode is also an invitation.As we step into 2026 and into Season Two, I reflect on what it means to begin again—to write the next chapter without demanding perfection, to tell the truth kindly, to rest without guilt, and to choose courage more often than comfort.Season Two will bring better sound, deeper conversations, and new voices—but the same heart. The same curiosity. The same belief that your story matters.So pull up a chair. Put on some headphones. The page is blank—not because nothing has happened, but because it’s waiting for you.Here’s to listening a little better. Here’s to telling the truth. Here’s to Season Two.Peace be with you, my friends.Topics explored in this episode:Why The Story of Us beganTurning 50 and the sacred ordinariness of midlifeChronic pain, slowing down, and listening to the bodyMental health, compassion, and naming the struggleSeason One reflections and lessons learnedThe courage to begin before you’re readyWriting the next chapter with honesty and presence

“Some people become like a sunrise; others like a storm over the ocean. Both are beautiful in their own way.”In this deeply personal — and often hilarious — father-son conversation, Jeff sits down with his 23-year-old son, Brady Ellison, to reflect on the journey of becoming a man.Brady opens up about growing up a camo-clad, Lego-scattering, ninja-star-crafting kid who could break an AC unit faster than most people could turn one on… and the outdoor adventures, mishaps, and long list of injuries that shaped him along the way. From early mornings in deer stands to legendary fishing trips in remote Canada, Brady shares how nature gave him the stillness and peace his mind rarely offered on its own.We explore his non-traditional but deeply intentional path into the trades — welding certifications, diesel mechanic training, YouTube-enabled mastery, and the pride he takes in building a life with his hands. We also talk about the danger of welding in flip-flops (don’t do it), why his Boy-Scout-badges-for-injuries would fill a varsity jacket, and the highly questionable series of truck purchases that helped shape the man he’s becoming.Brady opens his heart as he reflects on living with bipolar depression, the challenges of finding peace in a noisy world, and the compassion those experiences have carved into him. His honesty will resonate with anyone navigating their own storms or supporting someone who is.And then — in the most tender arc of the episode — he tells the love story of meeting Sophie at 15, the ways she became a lifeline during the darkest days, and the shared compass guiding their dreams toward country roads, acreage, and a barn-dominium of their own.This episode is full of joy, vulnerability, humor, and the kind of generational storytelling that reminds us why The Story of Us exists in the first place. It captures a moment in time — Brady at 23 — before the chapters ahead unfold.If you're a parent, a young adult carving a non-traditional path, someone who loves the trades, or simply human enough to know what feeling different feels like… this one’s for you.Topics include:Growing up different — and embracing itHunting, fishing & the healing silence of natureWelding, diesel mechanics, and life in the tradesMental health, patience, and compassionSocial media “brain rot” and finding peaceFalling in love young & building a shared compassThe questionable truck era (seven trucks… enough said)Advice to younger self & future selfWhy becoming isn’t linearFather–son stories you’ll laugh and cry throughA warm, funny, and powerful exploration of becoming — through storms, sunrises, and everything in between.

Recorded at Jeff's kitchen table on a cold, rainy late October night, this conversation traces a lineage of people helping people. Molly Cassaro Jones—daughter of Irish and Italian second-generation immigrant families—grew up watching her grandfather defend dispossessed renters in Depression-era New York, her mother choose integration in 1960s Florida (“because I can make this choice now”), and her father welcome Iranian students during the hostage crisis. That inheritance of courage met an unthinkable loss when one of Molly’s 5 children, her son Pete, a gifted, big-hearted twin, elected to take his own life by suicide at the age of 23.Out of grief, Molly and her family built The Pete Foundation the very next day—turning sorrow into action, silence into language, and stigma into community. This episode is a hand on the shoulder and a lantern in the dark.What We Talk AboutA family legacy of standing up for others—and why it still matters nowPete’s life, laughter, and quiet way of making everyone feel seenThe moment grief became a mission: birthing The Pete Foundation overnightYouth mental health: giving kids the language to name what they feelFrom Chalk the Walk to Rock the Elephant: creativity as medicineThe Mental Health Flag: taking the conversation into public spacesTwo hard but vital questions parents can ask their kidsQPR training (Question, Persuade, Refer): a simple, life-saving startKey Facts (let’s make the invisible visible)~1 in 5 young people experience a mental health disorder.Suicide is the #2 cause of death for ages 10–34 in the U.S.In Kentucky, suicides outnumber homicides by nearly 2 to 1. Statistics aren’t stories—but stories give statistics a heartbeat. This is one of those stories.Resources & LinksThe Pete Foundation — programs, trainings, Mental Health Flag, and ways to help: thepetefoundation.orgQPR Suicide Prevention Training (free via The Pete Foundation): inquire on the siteMental Health Flag — fly it, post it, normalize it (available via The Pete Foundation and other public sellers)If You Need Help (now)Call or text 988 (U.S.) for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—24/7, free, confidential.If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.A Line to Carry With You“Truth wins out—and so does good.”Call to ActionIf this episode moved you, do one thing today:Schedule a QPR training for your school, team, office, or faith community.Buy and fly the Mental Health Flag.Share this episode with one person who needs to know they’re not alone.

Host Jeff Ellison sits down with longtime friend Paul Osting — athlete, engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of Peacemakers Elder Care — to explore faith, family, and the courage to “run to the roar.” Inspired by Mark Batterson’s Chase the Lion, Paul’s story reminds us that peace isn’t found in comfort, but in choosing to live with purpose and heart.Together, Jeff and Paul explore the power of mentorship, legacy, and “running to the roar” — facing life’s fears head-on with love and conviction. It’s a story that captures what The Story of Us Project is all about: discovering the sacred threads that connect us all.Featured Topics:Growing up in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, in a multi-generational family businessLessons from baseball that transcend the game — discipline, teamwork, and resilienceA 26-year career with UPS: from global engineering to personal callingFounding Peacemakers Elder Care and living out the Beatitude “Blessed are the peacemakers”How faith, family, and service shape a life of purposeReflections from Mark Batterson’s The Lion Chaser’s Manifesto:“Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Run to the roar.”Episode Themes:Faith as a compassThe courage to start againFinding purpose in serviceGenerational legacy and the ripple effect of dreams“Running to the roar” — the sacred act of facing fear with loveKey Quote:“Peace isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you make.” — Paul OstingIf Paul’s story moved you, share this episode with someone who needs to be reminded of their own courage.Every story told becomes a story shared — and that’s how The Story of Us continues.Keep listening deeply. Keep telling your story bravely.Together, let’s keep writing The Story of Us.