In this debrief episode of Leadership Story Talks, Jerome and I reflect on what we learned from our very first Leadership Story Talks LIVE—a live storytelling event that delivered exactly what it promised, though not in the way anyone expected.

What begins as a conversation about a technical glitch quickly becomes a deeper exploration of trust, vulnerability, leadership, and what it really means to “show up” when things don’t go according to plan. A brief moment of on-air chaos—barely two minutes in real time—felt enormous in the moment, yet invisible to much of the audience. That contrast becomes a powerful lesson in perception, presence, and resilience.

Rather than stopping the show or striving for perfection, Jerome and I chose to move forward ( I didn’t have a choice!) —relying on preparation, partnership, and mutual trust. In doing so, we modeled the very principles we teach: listening first, staying human, and allowing imperfection to become part of the story.

The debrief also reflects on how this moment of vulnerability unexpectedly created safety—not just for the hosts, but for the storytellers themselves. When something went “wrong,” it gave everyone else permission to relax, let go of scripts, and trust their own voices.

You’ll Hear:

• What “Live” Really Means — Julienne shares the internal experience of being suddenly alone on screen, and how slowing down, grounding herself, and trusting the process made all the difference.
• Two Minutes That Felt Like Forever — Jerome reflects on how time distorts under Stress, and how rewatching the episode revealed how little the audience actually perceived.
• Trust as a Leadership Decision — A pivotal moment where Jerome chooses not to stop the livestream, but instead trusts Julienne to carry the moment—illustrating what real leadership looks like under pressure.
• Preparation vs. Perfection — Why deep preparation allows for flexibility, presence, and grace when plans inevitably fall apart.
• What Imperfection Makes Possible — How the glitch reassured storytellers that they didn’t need to be flawless to be powerful—and that being real matters more than being polished.
• The Power of Not Explaining Everything — A reflection on how a personal story can communicate trust, credibility, and professional identity without spelling it out.
• “You’re Not Alone” — A reminder that while telling a story can feel solitary, the right listening space ensures no one carries it alone.

This debrief is a living example of the core belief behind Leadership Story Talks: meaningful connection doesn’t come from getting it right—it comes from staying present when things go wrong. When leaders model trust, vulnerability, and responsiveness in real time, they don’t lose credibility. They build it.

Here are the recordings:

https://youtu.be/xUXCQndYiQs?si=BB3-5uNNAoqoXiKq and https://bit.ly/NarativPodcast179

Here’s a few resources to assist you with coping when things go wrong.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201311/the-one-most-important-way-cope-when-things-go-wrong

https://xchange.avixa.org/posts/live-event-failures-and-how-to-fix-them

https://thomas-oppong.medium.com/staying-calm-when-things-go-wrong-is-a-superpower-42ae5fffe1b2

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Julienne Ryan Humorist, Speaker, Trainer, Facilitator, Coach

Julienne B. Ryan began her professional career at age five when she did TV commercials and learned important things like “the teamsters always eat first,” her social security number and how to endorse checks for bank deposit.

Ryan studied psychology in college because she wanted to understand humans. She conducted her “field work” in a variety of roles, hearing the phrases “merger synergies, reorganizations, downsizing and rightsizing for change” more times than she cares to mention.

Later she enrolled in an Ivy League graduate school where she paid oodles of money to validate her prior on-the-job learning experiences. However, she did learn to name drop up-to-date theories and trendy psychologists with alarming ease.

Ryan evolved into working in “Talent Management,” a fancy way of saying “try to find people and keep them moderately happy.” With inadequate budgets and staff allocations, she had to find creative ways to encourage her staff to work effectively. These ranged from begging and borrowing resources, improvising childcare, telling stories and even giving snacks as rewards. She tried to convince herself that working a bazillion hours and “multi-tasking” equaled achievement.

Her work took place in cubicles, conference rooms or, with luck, in offices with a door. Occasionally she would make the time to emerge from her allotted real estate to really talk to people. Ryan learned something transformative in the process:

Yes, she was effective. But not because she used fancy theories – or gave great snacks. Ryan’s success, her staff believed, was a result of her uncanny knack for weaving storytelling with humor to motivate and encourage them. Crucially, they encouraged Ryan to de-emphasize “that normal HR stuff” and focus on bringing her unique storytelling skills to a broader stage.

Thanks to them, Ryan continues to collect, connect and tell stories in her work helping people find their “true selves in the world of work.

She is the author of the humorous, all true "The Learned It In Queens Communications Playbook - Winning Against Distraction!".that now includes a workbook and is available at booksellers across the globe..

She is a guest contributor to The Procurement Foundry, LifeBlood, and the global storytelling community.

Certifications include
Accumatch (BI) Behavior Intelligence
Narativ Applied Storytelling Methodologies
Collective Brains – Mentorship Methodologies