Stories With Traction
The Stories With Traction Podcast was created to empower leaders to elevate their businesses through the art of strategic storytelling. By engaging clients and inspiring team members, leaders can significantly impact the world around them. Each episode offers insights into storytelling, marketing, sales, company culture, and leadership, providing practical tools to drive growth and influence positive change. Tune in to transform your approach and lead with purpose.
Stories With Traction
#162: She Lost Her Mom at 12—Now She’s Saving Lives with Her Story
SHOW NOTES:
In this powerful episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Kristen Harootunian, mental health advocate and speaker, to explore her journey from addiction and childhood trauma to long-term recovery and national advocacy work.
Kristen shares how losing her mother to suicide at age 12 led to years of substance abuse, and how her path to recovery began at just 17. Now, more than a decade sober, she’s committed to helping others find healing through storytelling, vulnerability, and mental health education.
In addition, they talk about:
✅ Kristen’s advice for parents of struggling teens and why secrecy can be harmful
✅ How she helps normalize the idea that healing is nonlinear, lifelong, and filled with nuance
✅ The “post-speaking high” many speakers experience, and how she manages it with intentional habits
…and much more.
BIOS
Kristen Harootunian is a speaker for Minding Your Mind, a national organization dedicated to reducing the stigma around mental health. After beginning her recovery journey at 17, she now shares her story at over 150 events annually, ranging from high schools and colleges to corporate teams and correctional facilities. Kristen is passionate about redefining what recovery looks like and building cultures of empathy, understanding, and support.
Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps business leaders inspire action and drive results. With a track record of catalyzing growth across 300+ organizations, Matt shows clients how to leverage story to transform sales, marketing, and company culture.