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

byJeff Ellison

SocietyCulture

Tell Us Your Story - A captivating and thought provoking podcast that intricately weaves together personal stories with timeless ancient wisdom and groundbreaking modern discoveries to unlock the profound mysteries of life.Personal stories, special edition episodes, guest hosts and our Next Gen series, celebrating the young voices that are helping make the world a kinder and less divided place.Our conversations, preserved for future generations will send the same message as the oldest known hand stenciled cave paintings made by our Neanderthal cousins over 64,000 years ago "I was here. My life was meaningful."www.thestoryofusproject.comMake sure to check...

Episodes(40 episodes)

Season 3 - Episode 17

You'll Have Time to Talk. Listen for Now | Byron Easterling on Storytelling, Deep Listening, and the Power of Asking Good Questions.

What happens when a life refuses to stay in one lane?In this episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with author, musician, former professional golfer, humanitarian, mentor, and lifelong storyteller Byron Easterling for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, courage, service, faith, and the stories we leave behind.Byron's life has moved through remarkably different chapters: touring musician, recording pianist, leadership advisor, professional golfer, global traveler, humanitarian, husband, father, and novelist. But beneath all of those identities is one recurring instinct:Pay attention. Ask better questions. And don't be afraid...

Published: Sep 9, 2026Duration: 1h 18m 3s

Season 3 - Episode 16

Continue Being Creative | Arlo Edlin and Seeing the World Through the Eyes of an 8-Year-Old

What can an eight-year-old teach the rest of us about living a meaningful life?Quite a lot, actually.In this special Next Gen episode of The Story of Us, Jeff sits down with his eight-year-old nephew, Arlo Edlin, for a conversation about books, animals, math, infinity, video games, friendship, creativity, family, and a few questions about the universe that most adults stopped asking a long time ago.Arlo is entering third grade, reads at least two hours a day—sometimes four—and is already coding his own video game, Reckin' Warrior. He's also a Ch...

Published: Sep 6, 2026Duration: 55m 4s

Season 3 - Episode 15

Did You Keep Saying Yes? | Sara Roccisano on Transformational Travel, Trusting Your Intuition, and the Journey Back to Yourself

What happens when the life you've built no longer fits the person you're becoming?In this episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with traveler, writer, entrepreneur, and founder of Embolden Adventures, Sara Roccisano, for a conversation about walking away from certainty, answering life's quieter invitations, and discovering that the greatest journey is often the one within.Sara's path has been anything but predictable. She built a successful career that included Wall Street , but beneath the achievement was a persistent call toward something more. Eventually, after reaching a breaking point in 2022, she...

Published: Sep 4, 2026Duration: 1h 10m 57s

Season 3 - Episode 12

You're Loved and Connected | Colin Chenery on Mindfulness, Staying on the Path and Remembering to Slow Down.

What if the peace we're searching for isn't somewhere out in the world... What if it's already here?In this deeply contemplative episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with mindfulness teacher, psychotherapist, martial artist, entrepreneur, and author Colin Chenery for a conversation that spans more than four decades of seeking wisdom across cultures, disciplines, and traditions.From studying martial arts and Eastern philosophy to working as a psychotherapist, addiction counselor, business leader, and meditation teacher, Colin has spent a lifetime asking some of humanity's oldest questions:Why do we...

Published: Sep 2, 2026Duration: 1h 26m 45s

Season 3 - Episode 11

Never Leave Them Without Hope | Dr. Paul Lynch on Addiction, Chronic Pain, and a Mission to Save One Million Lives

What if the most important treatment a physician can offer isn't just medicine... But hope?In this deeply moving episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with pain specialist, entrepreneur, and healthcare visionary Dr. Paul Lynch for a conversation that reaches far beyond medicine into the heart of what it means to relieve human suffering.Although Jeff and Paul lead organizations that could easily be viewed as competitors, they quickly discover something more important:They are pursuing the same mission.To help people suffer less.To...

Published: Aug 30, 2026Duration: 1h 28m 43s

Season 3 - Episode 10

Trust Yourself. Trust Life | Gayathri Narayanan on Mindfulness, Loving Kindness and the Freedom of Letting Go

What if peace isn't something we achieve?What if it's something we uncover after we stop resisting life?In this deeply reflective episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison welcomes mindfulness teacher, contemplative mentor, and spiritual guide Gayathri Narayanan for a conversation that gently bridges ancient Eastern wisdom with the challenges of modern life.Raised in India and profoundly influenced by her grandfather, her guru, and sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita, Gayathri shares the deeply personal journey that eventually led her away from a successful career in health information systems and...

Published: Aug 26, 2026Duration: 1h 6m 8s

Season 3 - Episode 9

I Didn't Have to Wear That Dress Today | Pakesta Washington on Mental Health, Living Beyond the Diagnosis, and Choosing Life One Day at a Time

What if one of the most powerful acts of courage isn't something extraordinary—but simply choosing to live another day?In this deeply personal episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with nurse educator, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate Pakesta Washington for an honest conversation about living with bipolar disorder, breaking stigma, and finding hope after a lifetime of struggle.Pakesta's story begins in childhood, growing up with a mother who also lived with untreated bipolar disorder. Witnessing suicide attempts and mental illness at an early age shaped her decision to become a...

Published: Aug 23, 2026Duration: 1h 8m 43s

Season 3 - Episode 14

You are Loved. You Matter | Cassidy Smith on Mindfulness, Identity, and Finding Your Way Back to Yourself

How do we lose ourselves? Usually, not all at once.In this episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with brand strategist and mindfulness coach Cassidy Smith for a fascinating conversation about identity, authenticity, mindfulness, neuroscience, and the quiet ways we drift away from who we really are.Cassidy describes that process as an accumulation of “small moments of quiet self-betrayal.”We barely notice the drift—until one day we look in the mirror and wonder:Where did I go?Cassidy knows that experience personally. After findin...

Published: Aug 21, 2026Duration: 1h 0m 8s

Season 3 - Episode 8

Don't Get Lost in the Crazy | Sara Hathaway on Building a Meaningful Life in a Chaotic World

What if resilience isn't something you build for the end of the world—but for everyday life?In this thoughtful episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with bestselling author, martial artist, homesteader, and entrepreneur Sara Hathaway for a conversation about choosing a life that looks radically different from the one our culture often celebrates.From her family's homestead in the piney forests of East Texas, Sara has intentionally embraced a life centered on self-reliance, meaningful work, strong relationships, and a deep connection to nature. While many know her through her bestselling Ch...

Published: Aug 19, 2026Duration: 1h 22m 17s

Season 3 - Episode 13

SPECIAL EDITION: I Bought a Bird Feeder and My Family Started Planning My Retirement

There comes a point in life when you realize you've become the person who gets excited about birds.Not stock prices. Not college football scores. Not the latest headline engineered to spike your blood pressure.Birds.In this solo episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison reflects on an unexpected morning ritual: sitting on the back porch with coffee, binoculars, a backyard bird feeder, and his late father's worn copy of the Audubon bird book.What begins as a humorous admission about becoming a "backyard bird person" becomes a meditation...

Published: Aug 16, 2026Duration: 39m 46s

Season 3 - Episode 6

It’s All Gonna Be Alright | Michele Blood on Affirmations. Adversity and Becoming a Light for Others

What if the worst day of your life became the beginning of your life's true calling?In this inspiring episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with musician, author, and transformational teacher Michele Blood to explore an extraordinary journey of resilience, healing, and hope.Before she became known around the world for her affirmation music, Michele was living her dream as a successful rock singer in Australia. Then, in an instant, everything changed. A devastating car accident nearly took her life, leaving her with severe injuries and an uncertain future....

Published: Aug 12, 2026Duration: 1h 0m 55s

Season 3 - Episode 5

Keep Paying Attention | Frank Joseph on History, Storytelling, and the Lives That Shape America

What if history isn't really about the past?What if it's about learning to see one another more clearly in the present?In this compelling episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with journalist and novelist, Frank Joseph for a conversation that spans decades of American history while asking timeless questions about identity, prejudice, memory, and our shared humanity.As a young reporter, Frank covered some of the most turbulent moments of the 1960s, including the riots in Chicago and Detroit. Those experiences placed him on the front lines of...

Published: Aug 9, 2026Duration: 1h 9m 46s

Season 3 - Episode 7

SPECIAL EDITION - Rise & Climb | Transforming Trauma into Triumph with Reggae Artist Ben Barbic

What do you do when life burns everything to the ground?You keep climbing.In this inspiring episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with musician, author, entrepreneur, husband, and father Ben Barbic for a conversation about resilience, purpose, and the quiet decision to keep moving forward—even when life refuses to go according to plan.Ben's story begins with profound loss. As a young boy, his family's home and business were destroyed by a devastating California wildfire, leaving them to rebuild their lives from a donated trailer in the mo...

Published: Aug 7, 2026Duration: 1h 6m 36s

Season 3 - Episode 4

It's a New Home, But It's Still My Home | Dasha Grankina and How One Russian Immigrant Brought Generations of Wisdom to Kentucky

What does it really mean to leave one home and build another?In this heartfelt episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with wellness entrepreneur Dasha Grankina for a conversation that begins with ancient Russian healing traditions but grows into something much deeper—a reflection on identity, family, belonging, and what we carry with us when we cross borders.Growing up in Russia, Dasha was surrounded by traditions that weren't considered "wellness trends." They were simply everyday life. From steam baths and herbal practices to the rhythms of family and community, these cu...

Published: Aug 5, 2026Duration: 59m 4s

Season 3 - Episode 3

We Are More Similar Than Different | Roger Persaud on History, Identity, and the Stories That Connect Humanity

What if the stories we've inherited about history—and about each other—are incomplete?In this thought-provoking episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with historian, veteran, and author Roger Persaud for a conversation that begins with history but ultimately becomes an exploration of what it means to be human.Growing up in British Guiana (now Guyana) without electricity or running water, Roger's journey would take him from the Caribbean to New York City, through military service in the U.S. Air Force, into a lifelong passion for uncovering overlooked chapters of hist...

Published: Aug 2, 2026Duration: 1h 2m 44s

Season 3 - Episode 2

Keep Finding The Joy | Tony Stewart on Love, Loss, and Learning to Carry Life Forward

What if grief isn't something we "get over," but something we learn to carry with love?In this deeply moving episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with author, speaker, and resilience advocate Tony Stewart to explore how profound loss can become a catalyst for purpose rather than despair.Tony shares the heartbreaking story of losing his wife, Lynn, to cancer after a remarkable 35-year marriage, and how that experience transformed his understanding of love, grief, gratitude, and what it means to truly live. Rather than offering clichés about "moving on," T...

Published: Jul 29, 2026Duration: 1h 5m 7s

Season 3 - Episode 1

Season 3 Premiere- The Story Continues...

After several weeks away, The Story of Us returns with the premiere of Season Three.In this personal opening episode, host Jeff Ellison reflects on a season of profound life transitions—from becoming an empty nester and preparing for his son's wedding to traveling through Europe and rediscovering the value of slowing down. Along the way, he shares how these experiences reshaped his understanding of the podcast and reinforced its central mission: exploring what it means to be fully human.What began as a series of interviews has evolved into something much larger—a tapestry of c...

Published: Jul 26, 2026Duration: 48m 13s

Season 2 - Episode 19

SEASON FINALE: You Were Sold a Smaller God… and You Accepted It Without a Receipt.

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 outsou...

Published: May 31, 2026Duration: 31m 36s

Season 2 - Episode 18

We Never Completely Forgot Who We Were with Yaffah Batya DaCosta

What happens when an entire people are forced to hide who they are… for generations?In this episode of The Story of Us, Jeff sits down with Yaffah Batya daCosta—educator, speaker, and advocate for the descendants of the “Secret Jews,” families who were forced to convert during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions while quietly preserving pieces of their identity in secret.But this conversation is about much more than history.It’s about memory. Identity. Belonging. And the human need to understand where we come from.Together, they explore the story of t...

Published: May 24, 2026Duration: 1h 0m 43s

Season 2 - Episode 17

Raising Good Humans…Not Just "Successful" Ones with Rosemary Olender

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 sha...

Published: May 17, 2026Duration: 1h 12m 31s