This episode: Telling Stories That Heal: How Steve Seidel Turned Pain into Purpose Through Media and Mentorship.
Here’s what you’ll learn about:
Introduction (0:03)
- Host Drew Deraney thanks the person who introduced him to Guest Steve Seidel and gives a shout-out to Lynn Winter for her work on happiness mapping.
- Drew introduces the concept of life being linear until external circumstances derail it, leading to choices on how to handle adversity.
Types of Men and Adversity (1:16)
- Drew describes three types of men: one who doesn’t notice adversity, one who blames others, and one who sees adversity as an opportunity for Growth.
- He introduces Steve Seidel as an example of the third type of man who uses adversity to become stronger.
- Steve Seidel shares his background, including his upbringing in a divorced Family and his early life as a people pleaser.
- Steve recounts two defining moments: his layoff from Motorola and the death of his father, which led him to pursue a career in storytelling and media.
Personal Growth and Career Transition (21:41)
- Steve talks about his move to New York to pursue a career in creativity and storytelling.
- He shares the impact of his father’s death on his personal growth and his role as a father figure to his younger brothers.
- Steve discusses the importance of hard work and problem-solving, influenced by his parents’ careers.
- He reflects on his journey from being a people pleaser to developing resilience and finding his voice in media and storytelling.
Building a Media Agency (22:37)
- Steve explains how his experience in storytelling and media led to the creation of his media agency.
- He describes the four-part framework his agency uses: mission, media, movement, and impact.
- Steve shares his experience of moving to Lexington, Kentucky, during the pandemic and the challenges of starting a virtual agency.
- He talks about the support group he started, “Jen’s Journey,” to help other men navigate adversity and find connection.
Impact of Personal Losses (23:09)
- Steve recounts the loss of his stepfather and father and how it shaped his perspective on life and Fatherhood.
- He shares the story of his mother’s passing and the emotional impact it had on him and his family.
- Steve reflects on the importance of Legacy and leaving a positive impact on his children and others.
- He discusses the role of humor and play in maintaining a positive outlook and resilience.
Advice for Younger Self and Entrepreneurial Insights (23:21)
- Steve offers advice to his 7 to 10-year-old self, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and perseverance.
- He shares his mother’s advice to “just do it” and the importance of taking risks and stepping out of comfort zones.
- Steve reflects on the value of storytelling and sharing personal experiences to connect with others and inspire change.
- He discusses the importance of finding a balance between work and personal life, especially as a caregiver and entrepreneur.
Final Thoughts and Resources (23:48)
- Drew and Steve discuss the importance of community and support in overcoming adversity.
- Steve shares resources for entrepreneurs and caregivers, including platforms for finding media opportunities and support groups.
- They talk about the challenges of promoting oneself and the importance of building a network of support.
- The conversation concludes with a mutual appreciation for the work they do and the impact they hope to have on others.
To learn more about Steve’s mission, go to his LinkedIn profile at www.LinkedIn.com/in/StephenSeidel or his website at https://theseidelagency.com/.
Steve’s sites
Agency: TheSeidelAgency.com
Coaching: StephenSeidel.com/Media
Men’s Group: GentsJourney.co/join
TEDx Talk: https://rebrand.ly/seidelspeaking
Steve Seidel Bio
Stephen Seidel is a TEDx keynote speaker, media expert, and brand strategist who helps entrepreneurs, startups, and HR leaders drive cultural alignment and authentic leadership. As founder of the award-winning Seidel Agency and coach to changemakers, he draws on 25 years in PR, media, and marketing to help leaders rewrite their stories, leveraging connection as currency. A best-selling author, podcast creator, and co-founder of the men’s collective Gents Journey, Stephen blends humor, heart, and actionable tools to inspire resilient teams and lasting change.
About your host: I’m Drew Deraney, the proud father of three children. For most of my life I’ve been concerned with what people thought of me and how I was supposed to act. I learned not to be my authentic self and instead became a people pleaser, a man wearing a mask.
In a 9-month span a few years ago, I endured four faith-shaking life events that caused me to question my existence.
I became determined to find a better way to live. Through intense self-reflection and awareness, I realized that in order to be happy, I must adhere to my standards of honesty, integrity and truth and needed to break free from the belief system that was anchored in me for close to 50 years.
I now believe that success happens when we find a better way and are willing and able to share it. HOW I do that is by challenging the status quo and thinking differently. Ultimately, WHAT I bring to the table is a way to contribute and add value by having an impact on the lives of others.
My company, Profit Compassion LLC consists of 3 paths:
The Caregiver Family Health Coach: coach for caregivers of individuals with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For Caregivers who are open to a conversation about how I can support you on your Caregiving journey: I help caregivers find balance, build resilience, and rediscover their own well-being. Through personalized coaching, I provide practical strategies, emotional support, and the tools to reduce Burnout, strengthen Relationships, and navigate the challenges of caregiving with confidence. My goal is to empower you to care for yourself as compassionately as you care for your loved one.
The Mindful Man Movement: men’s self-discovery coach, speaker, podcast host, author. For Men Seeking Answers Within: Imagine having crystal clear knowledge of your purpose in life where you make confident decisions, and are assertive, productive, and at peak Mental Health. Corporate executives hire me to guide them to tap into their natural power through self-discovery so they may write their own story and live the life they want to live.
WealthPath Strategies & Solutions: health/wellness and financial services to support individuals and businesses.
Join me in transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. Let’s embark on this journey together.
HOW TO CONNECT WITH COACH DREW:
Website: https://profitcompassion.com/
Email: [email protected]
Book a discovery call: https://link.mavericksystems.online/widget/bookings/netweaving/connect30
Pick up a copy of Drew’s book: https://amzn.to/40dsbyR or https://bit.ly/BandNDrew
You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtwMTiiZvnhTpsaCYMK6oqg?sub_confirmation=1
Drew Deraney now travels the world both to Live and Virtual Events showing mostly men the steps needed to strengthen self-identity and self-worth, to overcome self-limiting beliefs, and to build confidence while being authentic, maintaining boundaries and to transcend people pleasing skills to become the person they are destined to be. Drew challenges them to reach deep inside and make a lasting impact.
In a 9-month span, Drew experienced a grueling divorce, job loss, his son’s suicidal ideations, and his father’s death which devastated Drew emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. It is a commonality for men to consider any challenge as a weakness as well as to show emotion and ask for help. While writing his book, Drew realized he was not the only man suffering in silence. With more clarity of purpose than ever, he began asking for help. Drew Deraney’s mission is to help especially men, release their inner greatness by showing vulnerability, keeping in integrity of their power, and making a great impact on the people in their lives both personally and professionally.
Drew Deraney was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ where he still lives to this day caring for his elderly mom and his 3 adult children Matthew, Nicholas, and Emma. Drew earned his B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Applied Psychology, and two psychology research publications while at Fairfield University; a scholarship from the Healthcare Financial Management Association; and his M.B.A. in Health Care Administration from Baruch College / Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY. His hospital career spanned 24 years where he was co-chair of the Leadership Institute, spoke at JD Power, was one of three leaders interviewed by The Commonwealth Fund, received his Communicating with Empathy Trainer certification and is a Certified Patient Experience Professional. Four years ago, Drew founded Profit Compassion LLC, an entity to coach and empower mostly men to create resiliency and authenticity as Chief Resilience Officer. Drew is the podcast host of ‘From Caving in to Crushing It’ and recently became a best-selling author with his book ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’ - Memoir of a reformed People Pleaser.
