Tina Joy

Welcome to the Coming Home to

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Joy podcast. You

Tina Joy

know, interviews are always, I always end up saying, this is so exciting and I'm so excited,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

but I always

Tina Joy

am. So, my guest today is Michelle Saunders

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Gut. Woohoo. Good job. I said it right. Yay.

Tina Joy

Yay. She has to always train me on how to pronounce stuff, so I'm so excited. She is the founder of Altered Stories Ministries. She's a transformational storyteller, an inspirational speaker,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

an amazing woman, and

Tina Joy

I am. Grateful beyond words that she has agreed to spend time. And we are recording this on her birthday, so happy birthday

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Michelle. And we are gonna

Tina Joy

talk today about story and what story is, why it's important, how you can tell yours better as business people. Really it's about people helping other people, and our stories matter. So,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

welcome Michelle. Hey. Hey. Thank you for having me, Tina. This is a great day and I am so excited to be here. This is awesome. I have not had an opportunity to lean into storytelling. On a podcast. Podcast. So this is so amazing. I love being, being something unique

that's

Tina Joy

kind of a thing. So I'm glad that we are.

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

So let's talk first and foremost about Altered Stories Ministries because that's how

Tina Joy

you and I know each other. I was grateful to be able to share my story, on your podcast and. A while back. And so tell us about Altered Stories Ministries. What is it

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

and what's it for? Well, thank you, Tina. You're amazing and you're instrumental friends. She's instrumental in the success of Altered Stories Ministry because she helped me as a coach to get me to where I could. Flourish in the ministry. So let me tell you about Altered Stories Ministry. We love helping women share their transformational God stories so women around the world can hear them and never feel alone. We are a digital online ministry. And we've been in existence for almost five years, and I'm the founder and CEO and we became a 5 0 1 C3 in February of 2019, and we started in Overland Park, Kansas. Nice. And right now we have a board and we have volunteers. Right. And we have a podcast that has helped us build our brand. Mm-Hmm. And helped us share the stories of transformation around the world. So we also have other resources. That we provide to women to help them as they develop their stories, their God stories. And we also have a blog that we put out a couple of times a month. Mm-Hmm. To help inspire, energize those that are reading the blog. Okay. And so we're very lean. And you know, our vision is to bring unity around the world and that we can build a sisterhood and these women that are part of the sisterhood would continue to heal and would bring unity amongst themselves and would be resources and. Would continue to flourish.

Tina Joy

So you mentioned a podcast, and I know I was on the podcast, why podcast? When you started thinking about this and what, as a founder of this, why did you choose a podcast as one of the ways to share story? The one of the, that's the primary way that stories are shared in altered

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

stories, right? It was a pure God thing. I was, my vision was to start a talk show. And to bring women on the show. And when I was working for Compassion International, I was part of the women's group. And we would bring speakers in and they would have these stories and they would inspire the women that were, you know, at the events listening that we hosted to help encourage the women. And so. The vision started there when I went to focus on the family and was working in their organization. I was in their central PMO and I was doing all types of program and project management services for the organization. I was assigned to the broadcast team, and so I worked with some of their broadcast team and leaders, and I began to. Develop an understanding of media. Mm-Hmm. And at that time I was blessed to meet Rob Kirkpatrick. Right. And he was head of that. And podcasting was kind of on the leading edge, right? And so I wanted to be on the leading edge and I wanted to be able to bring a media together. That would like a talk show that would go around the world, that anyone could hear at any places, even in third world countries, in places where women were broken. Yeah. And very broken, broken places. And so at that point in time, I was kind of encouraged to look at the a, the audio. Mm-Hmm. And the podcasting world. There weren't very many people doing it. I. At all then, and I was trying to figure out a way that I could build the vision and the brand and move the mission of my ministry that I was feeling called to, and podcasting was it, but I knew nothing. Absolutely. Oh, I feel you. I feel you. Nothing, I mean, I was in IT governance and, Right. You know, management, senior management in it, and I just never really did I, I worked a lot with those organizations, right. That were marketing and doing all those things. But I had heard this is very expensive. It was all God though. Right. Isn't that so true? You know, I, I'm the same way with the Coming

Tina Joy

Home to Joy podcast. I I, if you told me I would have a podcast, I would be like, what? No. But what this podcast Medium allows us to do is be able to be there with people at times when they're doing other things. At times when they are. I loved what you talked about, about, you know, kind of being able to go. Places where you couldn't get to before. Altered stories, ministries, shares, inspirational, transformational stories of women. And we,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

when you were describing it, you hear the background you hear is, you know, yes.

Tina Joy

At motivational events and you see people in, in speaking gigs, but your podcast has actually allowed people that would

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

never have been able to

Tina Joy

attend any of those events to hear some of these stories. So. So tell me, Michelle, why stories? What, what is it about story that is so important,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

being able to share a story? Well, having come through what I came through as a young child, this story telling component of what I came out of and encountered was an incredible healing. I. In my life and experiencing that really spurred me forward into seeing why stories are so critical to the success of a woman's healing from trauma and brokenness. And. I saw too, how it helped me relate the relatability of what I was able to do through the story and what, and sharing, and it's a lot personal. Mm-Hmm. Okay. And so I also found that. The personal piece really did create trust with others. When you put yourself out there and you're sharing a personal experience through a story, people can relate. They can jump in and they can. You know, maybe identify some part of who they are through the

Tina Joy

story. That's beautiful.

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

And, and so that, I mean, that was, you know, also something ingrained in me maybe having come out of serving the marketing organization at Compassionate International. We talked a lot about storytelling and in, in the marketing that they did so much of. The kids that came out of the really bad areas who were in the program and came out of the program, you know, would tell their stories of what they had come out of and they would have experiences, you know, that I think another person could, you know, through their stories, understand. Mm-hmm. And you know, especially if you were dealing with that kind of situation in your own life. So I know I'm kind of going down a bunny trail when there's a lot to this. We're No,

Tina Joy

that's why we are doing this. Yeah. Is we're what we're, we're, we know there's a lot to this and we weren't There is, we wanna explore the difference. So here's a couple of of things that I would love for you to speak a little bit more about. Sure. You've mentioned a couple of times about healing and story together, and I know when we look at the, the ministry. One of the things that you do in the ministry is help women be able to share,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

tell their story. Yes. Right. And,

Tina Joy

and so talk, talk a little bit more about the relationship, about being able to

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

share your story and, and how that impacts healing

Tina Joy

not only for you, but for maybe for the people that are listening to the story. Can you talk,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

can you share a little more about that? Yeah. Well, so many women who have stories inside of them. When they share their stories through, you know, their I guess their speaking. Mm-hmm. There's writing and they're speaking or telling. There is an incredible healing that can take place in their life through sharing or telling that story. And so most, I would say most women who experience that, they don't understand it until they start doing it. And I think there's that component of, um, vulnerability. Mm-Hmm. And also the power of release through the story. Telling and then a giving aspect of it to the receiver. And so when the receiver receives it, then of course there is that automatic, you know, connection and knowing that there's another person or women who has gone through. What they're going through or Right. You know has empathy Mm-Hmm. Towards what it is or has resources or has overcome or is inspiring.

Tina Joy

I love, I love what you're talking about there, and it's really interesting what you, when you were talking about as you share your story, some things happen not only for you,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

but. You mentioned things

Tina Joy

about creating, it can create trust, it can build

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

relationship.

Tina Joy

It can create connection. So tell us more about that. As, as I own my story, as I start to share my story out loud. It not only gets released from me,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

but

Tina Joy

it actually allows me to connect with other people at a deeper level.

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Is that what you're saying? That is absolutely what I'm saying. You know, the, all I can say is this has been a calling, this has been a calling in my life, whether I'm. You know, at the doctor's office, right? Or I'm on an airplane, right? Or in a one-on-one situation with a woman and we're just having conversations. Ultimately there is this, I guess this desire for the woman that I'm talking to who may be encountering that. Feeling of release need or healing need, or I feel like I ha God's calling me to, to share this story. It happens. They, they feel safe. There's that safe feeling and cared for or somebody that really could relate or get them. Mm-Hmm. Through the story that they tell. About what they're encountering or what they're experiencing, and that has this huge healing in the life of a woman, knowing that she can, you know, she's carrying this inside of her and by bringing it out to be able to share it, there's a validation. There is that validation that there's. You know, someone else that cares enough or can hear what they're saying and it, it kind of empowers that woman. Mm-Hmm. And it, and in my opinion, it brings confidence even to the woman. It's to take this step out to, yeah. You know, to be able to move forward in and being like in a prison, or being all pent up or suppression or hiding, you know, behind things and not being open. It is so healthy. Jesus in the Bible always talked. Others and paralleled his, storytelling. You know, to make it relatable and practical to those that heard him. And he's, I mean, and so I just think there's, there's something very powerful about it. It's, it's very, very powerful. And I'm not alone when I started this. I've got five years of just. Really calling, being called out to this. I didn't realize how many other people had been doing this prior, and now it's like, it's everywhere. I mean, everyone's getting on the storytelling bandwagon, I guess. I think it's awesome. I mean, there's a movement. There is a movement but it is truly freeing to the person who is sharing and freeing to the receiving person who's hearing. Well, and I think that's so

Tina Joy

true. I love when you say like, well, I didn't know anybody else was doing this. And then I started talking about it and it's like everybody, it's kind of like I buy a red, I buy a red car, and all of a sudden all the cars are red.

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Yes, exactly.

Tina Joy

That's part

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

of why we would wanna tell

Tina Joy

our story. When I wrote coming Home to Joy when I wrote my book, that is my personal story. And my thought, you know, as I started the book was, who's gonna wanna hear this? Well, what I realized is, When I finished the book, one of the healing aspects of putting that story out there publicly

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

was. That I felt free from it,

Tina Joy

that I didn't have to now carry that story anymore because if I ever needed to go back and visit it, it was here in the book and I could read it again. And I think that what I love, what you're doing with Altered Stories Ministry is, is you're allowing people to own that story and then release it publicly, which then gives them a chance to not necessarily be defined by it

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

as much anymore. Yes. And what's so bizarre with these stories is they never get old. Yeah. So when you put a story out there, who knew? I keep getting people listening to the story from the very beginning. Yeah. Stories never, they're they're, they're like legacies. Yeah. I mean, you know, you can go back and listen and binge on these stories and that's exactly what people do. Mm-Hmm. You know, I think, you know, people just can't get enough of, of, of, of those kinds of things. So. Let's take a second and let's,

Tina Joy

let's go in a little, little different, I wanna go in a little different direction. Just if you'll, if you'll humor me for a second. 'cause you mentioned that you have a background

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

in marketing, a little,

Tina Joy

a little bit in marketing and working in, in organizations, and there's a connection between storytelling and marketing. So talk a little bit more about what your experience has been in the importance of story. From a business perspective or an organizational perspective a lot of our listeners majority of our listeners are people who wanna build a business that wanna build a business that basically supports who they are so that they can have the lifestyle that they wanna create. Nobody, you know, not looking to be the next you know, huge international

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

conglomerate, but basically, I need to make a living and I need to

Tina Joy

do this marketing thing, and I need to do this business thing. Are you saying that learning how to own my own story and tell my story could actually help me grow the business?

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

It's an absolute need. Really? Yeah. Oh, for sure. And I'll tell you why. Because you gotta have your brand and you gotta, and there's every, every organization has some component of a story they need to tell, and in growing their brand, they have to go out there and grow. It through stories, in my opinion. Mm-Hmm. Whether you are doing a podcast or not, that's, you know, maybe not a requirement or anything, but I do think there's got to be some storytelling component of what you're doing. Mm-Hmm. So that people can relate to it and they also. You can I guess do a heart engagement with it. Right? Right. And also I think too that the, um, the person that you may be wanting to reach out to or to grow your business is going to. Find some relatability, connection something that will inspire them through the organization's ability to, you know, find ways to tell their stories Mm-Hmm. Of what they're doing and, you know, what impacts they're having. I love that. And, and, and I, and I do think that's, that's important. You know, I. Right. You know, we just came through Giving Tuesday and that's so all over the world. Right. It is such an incredible, I would say, growth of nonprofit and, you know, kind of awareness of that and generous givers and all those things. And it's become saturated. Right. But it seems like. Those organizations that can tell stories of what they're doing have really heartstring attachments. Right. And they seem to get the, the, the bigger donations or to get, you know, the clients or they, they get the right people right attached to their organization because they're bought into the organization. So storytelling. Is so key to all, all, in my opinion, all organizations that, you know, are out there trying to make a difference. Yeah. And, and that's

Tina Joy

really what most of us are trying to do with whether it's, you know, you and I have talked about, you know, whether you're a nonprofit ministry or you're a for-profit business, that's a tax designation. That's not Yeah.

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

That's really all it's about.

Tina Joy

Right. And being tell the story. I would submit that there is a story being told about your business. The question is whether you are telling it or other people are telling it, and having an understanding of story and understanding that you need to own your own story and tell your story loudly, clearly. Consistently, over and over. Allows you to attach that brand and story together so that people can buy in. I mean, in in the nonprofit space, you are, you know, giving Tuesday, we're all like, okay, what is the story that I connect to? And when you talked about story or you know, we talked about story before, delivering your story gives you a chance for people to trust the person receiving that story, trust, connection, all of those things are super important. And you know, as. Our society continues to evolve away from industrialism

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

into more of a connection

Tina Joy

economy. Being able to tell our story matters.

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

It does and community matters, right? Community. Community. We

Tina Joy

plug community that we attach, that we, we connect with the story attached to that

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

community. Absolutely. And you know, you think about it all your women in the heartland and those that are out there, you know, the first thing I'm sure these women wanna do is, you know, latch onto the stories of others that are out there and what are they doing and, you know, how are they experiencing this or what have they, you know? What have they encountered, you know, through this or you know, what is happening or their story of, you know, what happened? When I was out there in the garden doing this or Right. Right. I mean, what happened with my, I dunno. Do they,

Tina Joy

how, how marketing,

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

how do get out there? How do get it out

Tina Joy

there? Yeah. Whatcha trying to get out there? Right. So we can find Altered Stories ministries on altered stories.org. Is that correct? Yeah. What would be your best piece of advice for somebody who is listening

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

to this and saying, oh

Tina Joy

yeah, I guess I do need to tell my story. Where, where do we start?

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Well, the first thing I would do is, you know, I would prayerfully sit down, spend some time one-on-one, and really get quiet and reflect. If you're a faith-based woman, you know, get some prayer time and then I would recommend that you start writing it out. Okay? Just highlights points, things that are important to you. But I do believe in an outline. I do think, you know, mm-hmm. You should follow something. You know, that can help you so that you can frame it. Mm-Hmm. And then from there you need to tell it. And maybe tell it to someone you trust. Right? Or someone you know that will not critique it. That won't judge it. You know that you can feel safe with. Mm-Hmm. You know, just get comfortable with it so that it's so comfortable for you that it becomes you, a part of you. That's good. And then when you get ready to write it, if you want to go public. Then you need to then follow the process of that too. There's a lot of other options for doing that. Right, and you've already outlined it. You've already told it. And thens just like, okay, now this can really be put in a book or put in a devo or whatever. But it's a gift. It's so much a gift to others.

Tina Joy

Oh, so good. So, so I just heard you say something I think I wanna just camp on and, and, and kind of wrap this whole conversation

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

up with

Tina Joy

your story is a gift. You've used that term a couple of times.

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

It, it, it is gift, you know,

Tina Joy

just start 'cause your story is a gift and. I think if you can see the story of you, the story of your brand, the story of your business as a gift that you can give to someone else that blesses them, why would you not want to take the time to outline

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

it, share it,

Tina Joy

and just start. Looking at

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

it,

Tina Joy

it's so that, oh, wow. I, I, I just kind of wanna camp right there and say, but take your story. It's a gift. And say, who could, how can I, who can I, how can I package this gift in order to give it away to someone? That's going to create, it'll just create trust and create healing in not only me

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

but them.

Tina Joy

Your ministry is amazing, doing some amazing things for people. Thank you for birthing it. That's not easy. Birthing an organization and whether it's a business or a ministry, is not easy and I thank

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

you for doing. It's definitely, it's definitely a calling and I do really believe that when I talk with women, I have a woman right now, she's like. God just keeps prompting my heart, keeps prompting my heart. I've gotta tell my story and I know you're the person, right? That's gonna help me facilitate it and share it when I get ready to get this out right. You know? I mean, you're just gonna know. And not everyone wants to go public and you, and I'm not saying that everyone should go public with their stories, I'm saying you have to. You need to tell your story and write your story, and everyone has a story. Mm-Hmm. And there's transformation I do will challenge your listeners or viewers. It's a transformational journey, right? You cannot not be transformed by going through this process because it's a growth and. And when you get to the other side and you see the impacts and what it does to a woman who hears a story that she can relate to, I mean, it just does something to the woman and, and God, you know, through that really can. Transform circumstances and all those things, but you know, you gotta be

Tina Joy

brave.

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Yeah. And you, you've gotta be brave and you've gotta have courage, but you've also gotta come outta yourself and not think about you per se. I mean, yes,

Tina Joy

you do need to protect and guard your.

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Heart and you don't wanna go out there and present something to someone that's going to be really cruel and mean. Right. You do have to be sensitive, but you'll know that people will know that. Right. Right. Exactly. They'll know that. They'll know when it's safe. Right. And how, and, and when. It's time and,

Tina Joy

and just start. You just start. And this has been such a great conversation. So if you are interested in. Stories and the stories of amazing women who God has transformed and have gone through things and you know, wanna know more about Michelle's story and my story. Altered stories.org is where you find. All of those stories, and we wanna encourage you to check that out. Check out their podcast. It's the Altered Stories

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Ministry podcast, altered story show, show, podcast. Make sure you

Tina Joy

talk their podcast as well. And. Thank you, Michelle, for taking time on your birthday to be willing to help us see that stories are a gift that will not only transform us, but can transform others. And thank you for the

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

work that you do. Thank you Tina, and blessings to all, and thank you for your great work too.

Tina Joy

Join us for the next episode of the Coming Home to Joy podcast. Subscribe and get all the notifications. Can't wait to see you next time.