Life Chapters

I have some coaching spaces available now.

If you'd like to chat more about working with me, please email stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk or message me via Instagram or Facebook (links above)

Motherhood & Magpies

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald, Andrea Witt) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

In this honest and open account of life with post natal depression, Andrea explains how having her daughter changed her life.

Listen to how she loved her baby unconditionally but developed an irrational fear of dying herself.

Her lived experience led her to leave her career and retrain - she now helps other Mums in the first months after birth.

You can connect with Andrea here:

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Passionate that every life story deserves to be heard, she teaches female entrepreneurs in the first few years of business where to find their life stories and how to craft them powerfully, alongside practical and technical support.

Connect with Stacey:

I have some coaching spaces available now.

If you'd like to chat more about working with me, please email stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk or message me via Instagram or Facebook (links above)

Not JUST a Mum!

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Melany Simpson, Stacey Macdonald) — Tue, 8 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

High flying and driven career woman to a mum of 2 - but that wasn't the end of the story!

Join me this week as Melany shares how she found a job - a passion - that fitted around her children and made her more than JUST a Mum!

She shares how each one of us has choices in life and we can choose to make a change - if we are brave enough to do so!

The theme tune to this week's episode is Firework by Katy Perry - list to the end to find out why!

You can connect with Melany here:

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

I have some coaching spaces available now.

If you'd like to chat more about working with me, please email stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk or message me via Instagram or Facebook (links above)

How to be vulnerable without spilling blood all over the internet!

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald) — Tue, 1 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Vulnerability is hugely healing - both to you and to others.

BUT you have to set your boundaries and stick to them!

Sharing personal stories WILL feel a little vulnerable but I hope that by talking about my radical hysterectomy you can see how sharing can also be so very therapeutic too.

Your story is like a lamp to other people's feet.

You are only ever a few steps ahead of somebody.

And by sharing what you have already been through - maybe they are in the middle of it and they need to know that actually there is something further forward.

There is a way through.

There is an answer.

It is not going to stay like this forever.

That is the power of sharing your personal life stories.

I hang my hat on it every day of the week.

I am so passionate that when you open up you get to heal and other people have to opportunity to heal as well.

That is why I do what I do.

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

I have some coaching spaces available now.

If you'd like to chat more about working with me, please email stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk or message me via Instagram or Facebook (links above)

Mental Health = Physical Health

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald, Andrea Corbett) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Andrea had a child young but she was determined to finish her qualifications. She worked hard and worked her way from being an after school facilitator to a teacher.

But following a breakdown, she was diagnosed with a mental health illness and in this episode, she talks about the impact it had on her personally, her career and her family.

Due to the stigma in her community around mental health, she kept everything to herself.

Then she found weightlifting.

Andrea talks about the importance of asking "how are you?" and waiting for the response.

Talking about mental health with the same ease we speak about physical health is vital! In order to help others smash through the barriers, Andrea has founded F.O.C.U.S.

You can connect with Andrea here:

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

I have some coaching spaces available now.

If you'd like to chat more about working with me, please email stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk or message me via Instagram or Facebook (links above)

My Life Began at 40

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald, Nicola J. Rowley) — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

A new Mum at 40.

Juggling a full-time job and a young son.

Massive separation anxiety that resulted in tears in the office.

In this week's episode, Nicola shares how she went from just treading water through life to being utterly enthralled in her own story and those of others.

The story starts with her son and a chance encounter in the swimming pool changing rooms.

Nicola J Rowley has more than 25 years’ experience in the media, having trained as a journalist and worked nationally and internationally before embarking on a multi-award-winning career in Communications.

During this time, she worked both in agency and in-house on some of the UK’s most successful PR stunts, campaigns and launches for well-known brands.

In 2019 she launched NJRPR, a Communications Agency helping female entrepreneurs and brands in the entertainment and leisure industries get noticed through strategic PR storytelling.

She was recently Highly Commended in the 2021 national PRCA Awards and was the Silver Award winner in the 2021 CIPR Pride Awards.

Her book, The Power of PR – Effectively Grow and Scale Your Business Through Strategic Storytelling has just been published and became a number one Amazon best-seller in nine categories.

Connect with Nicola on Instagram

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

I have some coaching spaces available now.

If you'd like to chat more about working with me, please email stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk or message me via Instagram or Facebook (links above)

My Second Chance at Love

Tue, 8 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Life dealt Mary a cruel blow when her husband, her high school sweetheart and beloved father to her 2 boys, died of a sudden heart attack.

She lost per person and also her home.

With many similarities to my own story, I knew that I wanted Mary to join me as a guest and share how she navigated this heartbreaking time in her life.

Leaning on her Mom, her church and a bereaved adults group - she took the baby steps into living and loving again.

You can connect with Mary on Instagram and Facebook.

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

I have some coaching spaces available now.

If you'd like to chat more about working with me, please email stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk or message me via Instagram or Facebook (links above)

Boring? Never in a month of Sundays

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald) — Tue, 1 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Everyone has a story to tell - YES - even YOU!

Every week I get told by someone ...

"Oh Stacey, I am just normal and lead a normal life"

"Nothing excited has ever happened to me"

"I'm a real plain Jane and don't have anything to talk about"

I'm here to bust through this MYTH!

Your life story is unique and special and 100% deserves to be shared!

Listen in this week as I share a very boring and normal part of my life.......that has had a huge impact on how I have been able to show up in the world.

I have some coaching spaces available now.

If you'd like to chat more about working with me, please email stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk or message me via Instagram or Facebook (links below)

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

The Passion is in Connections

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Hannah Lloyd, Stacey Macdonald) — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

My guest this week is Hannah Lloyd, Business Development Manager for Scottish Land & Estates.

Hannah grew up wanting to be a primary teacher but after running a children's home and school in South Africa she realised her true passion was not working with children.

After getting a degree in Business Management, Hannah applied for many graduate jobs but just did not seem to be successful in any of the applications.

A job came up at GLM, and she joined as a quiet graduate. It took time for her to work out how her role fit with others in the team. However, the pivotal changing point for Hannah was working with a business coach.

The coach helped build Hannah's confidence, working with her to show to be present and change the story she was telling herself.

It was by changing the story she told herself, that took her from sitting at her desk in Edinburgh to being the face of and running the Inverness Office for GLM.

In 2021 Hannah was named as the Association of Scottish Business Women 'One to Watch' and was a finalist in the Women's Business Club 'Women in Property & Construction' Award – nominations which both reflected a passion for encouraging others, supporting and connecting to facilitate businesses to thrive across Scotland.

Connect with Hannah:

Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Currently taking on new 1:1 clients, connect with Stacey here:

All I ever wanted was to be a Mummy

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Georgie, Stacey Macdonald) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Tissues needed.

Georgie opens up in this open, honest and raw interview about being 1 in 4. Listen to this no holds barred interview as she talks about the pain and heartbreak of losing 3 longed for babies.

The subject of miscarriage is still taboo, but yet talking about it can be healing and offer hope to others.

But Georgie started talking about it on Instagram, opening up about what she went through and people started messaging her as they were in the same situation. Talking about it out loud was therapy.

Connect with Georgie:

Tommys

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

Even 2 Minutes is Enough

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Nicky Thackery, Stacey Macdonald) — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Nicky's career meant she had to travel a lot and following on from the death of her brother and brother in law she found herself looking at her life....

Nicky struggled with both their deaths.

She looked at all the restrictions she had put on herself.

Nicky realised this was an opportunity to look at what she actually wanted from life - not what she thought she should want.

In this episode, Nicky talks about how she tackled the trauma and the thought process around how she could change her life to what she wanted it to be.

That is when she came across meditation and in just three short months she felt stronger and had a clear vision.

Nicky fell in love with meditation.

It made her feel aligned.

So she trained in Meditation and feels like she has found what is right for her.

She had finally found what she was meant to do.

Nicky explains how everyone struggles to slow down, but you can listen to yourself as you know what is right for you.

Start with sitting for just two minutes and focus.

Listen to yourself and tune into how your life wants to be.

Connect with Nicky:

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

Fighting Back to Happiness

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald, Zoe Carroll) — Tue, 4 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Zoe's son was diagnosed at two years old with a genetic chromosome disorder. Zoe lived one day at a time, fighting anyone who limited his potential.

However, after bottling everything up her husband had a mental health crisis and it made her review both her and her family's outlook and how they communicate with each other.

Zoe's son lived his life in the moment and Zoe realised that she needed to do the same and create her own happiness.

Zoe talks about how having a positive outlook has had a positive impact on other people.

It really is ok to say you are feeling great or happy.

As she became more aware of who she was Zoe realised that the career she was in was not right for her, so she made the decision to retrain and run her own business. Supporting other people who have been in a similar position to herself.

In this podcast episode, Zoe talks about how she learned to look at her feelings.

Finding out what makes you happy and following that path. Knowing what makes you happy is important, we seem to put what we enjoy last. However, if we are happy it makes the people around us happy.

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” - President Theodore Roosevelt.

"Comparison is the death of joy" - Mark Twain

Connect with Zoe here:

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

www.theturquoisetable.com

The Turquoise Table

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald, Kristen Schell) — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 07:12:25 +0000

Kristen had four young children and found herself spending most of her time taking her children from one place to another.

Even though she was busy she found herself to be lonely.

Then one day she went out brought a table, painted it turquoise and set it up in her garden.

The intention was to be welcoming to anyone who wanted to join her friends, neighbours or whoever was passing by.

Kristen discusses how she came up with the idea of the Turquoise Table and how it helped people connect with each other.

After people had joined Kristen, they went out and got their own table and the idea of having a safe place to connect grew.

But as Kristen points out in this podcast you don’t need a physical table.

It’s all about opening up and letting people in and taking the opportunity to connect with each other.

You can connect with Kristen here:

Instagram:

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

Everything Will Be OK

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald) — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

The story of the day Chris died continues with an incredibly costly mistake.

One single word changed the course of the day and I'll never forget it.

One single word caused so much heartache.

One single word set in motion a chain of events that couldn't be stopped...

This episode was recorded in December 2021, just a week before the 8th anniversary of Chris' death. The years may have passed, but the memories are crystal clear in my head. Some things are burned into your head - they will never go.

19th December is a date on the calendar. As the anniversaries have come and gone, my emotions enjoy a rollercoaster ride. Some years I'm broken, others I'm contemplative.

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

Two Births But No Living Babies

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald, Gemma Kennedy) — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Tissue Warning

Gemma is a mum of two but has no living children to bring up.

Gemma lost two babies.

A little girl called Darcy, born at 23 weeks and a little boy Jake, born at 24 weeks.

Following the loss of her babies, Gemma found that some individuals found the subject uncomfortable to talk about. They didn’t know what to say to her and some people didn’t speak at all.

However, if you have been through it you need to talk about it.

Gemma decided to talk about her children on social media. She refused to be silent. In the past 18 months, she has found other parents looking to talk about their babies and their experience. It really helped Gemma feel like she was not alone.

In this moving interview, Gemma gives an insight into what it actually feels like to lose a baby, and what support you need from friends.

If you would like to find out more about Gemma’s story you can find her on Instagram

Losing George

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald, Hollie Elliott) — Tue, 7 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Warning - this episode will make you cry - you will need tissues

Hollie Elliott is an incredible graphic designer and the artistic talent that created all the cartoons for this new podcast.

But over the past year, she has been dealing with the hardest situation ever.

Hollie shares the events of the past year in complete honesty.

There are no words to describe what Hollie has been through and this episode might be a hard listen.

Hollie is at the start of a new path and I've invited her to come back and tell me how she navigates her profound loss over the next months.

You can connect with Hollie:

Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle

The charities that helped George and Hollie are:

Daft as a Brush

[You can read a full transcript of this episode here]

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

One Morning In June

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald, Ronah Muir) — Tue, 7 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

The tables are turned in this episode as my daughter Ronah, interviews me.

This is a story she knows all too well - she's grown up with it.

Listen as I share what happened on what should have been just an ordinary Tuesday morning in June 2001.

Ronah is studying Language and Linguistics at Aberdeen University, and when this episode premiers, she is halfway through her third year. You can follow what she gets up to on Instagram

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

Wife to Widow in only 62 days!

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald) — Tue, 7 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

I have never been silent when it comes to telling the world the story of Chris' death.

BUT now I share the actual events of that morning in detail.

Christmas was less than a week away and our family was excited! Planning a fun-packed festive season and a big party to celebrate. One more day of school and the last day of work before the holidays could begin.

Nothing could go wrong...

Listen as I walk you through the early hours of that morning and how the life-changing events unfolded.

This is a small part of the story and I will share more of that day in future episodes.

I'm passionate about sharing the story - the full unedited story - because sometimes it's in the details that the healing needs to happen.

By sharing so openly and honestly, I want you to know that it is OK to talk about what has happened to you in your life. It is OK to remember and share. It is OK to feel the pain and learn the lessons. It is OK to cry and to smile.

The Life Chapters podcast is a safe place to share the story that you hold deep inside.

In this episode, I talk about a bible verse that is special to me:

Jeremiah Ch 29 v 11: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I also talk about a song that was difficult to sing:

It is Well With My Soul - Hillsong Chapel - listen here

[A full transcript of this episode is available here]

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Connect with Stacey:

The Life Chapters Podcast - Trailer

stacey@themodernstoryteller.co.uk (Stacey Macdonald) — Thu, 4 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

In the big book called Life, we have written so many chapters already.

Some are short & painful, others long & joyous.

Join me as I offer amazing women from all around the globe the opportunity to share a chapter of their life with you.

Real women with real stories.

Everyone has a story to tell and everyone deserves to be heard.

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Stacey, The Modern Storyteller, is a storytelling expert and host of The Life Chapters Podcast and The P.S. Club Storytelling Membership.

Passionate that every life story deserves to be heard, she teaches female entrepreneurs in the first few years of business where to find their stories and how to craft them powerfully, alongside practical and technical support.

Connect with Stacey: