What if your life story isn’t something to hide—but the very thing that makes your marketing work?

In this episode, I sit down with Melanie Whitaker, author and coach behind You Are Your Marketing and Transforming Pain Into Purpose. Melanie shares her powerful journey of being raised by a narcissist and how that experience shaped her voice, confidence, and approach to marketing.

We talk about how authentic storytelling builds trust faster than any funnel, why your lived experience matters more than polished branding, and how public relations plays a critical role in expanding your visibility without feeling fake, salesy, or exhausting.

This conversation is for entrepreneurs, coaches, authors, and podcasters who know they’re meant to be seen—but want to show up with honesty, authority, and impact.

In this episode, we explore:

• Growing up with a narcissistic parent and reclaiming your voice

• How to market using your story without oversharing or trauma-dumping

• Why “you are your marketing” isn’t a cliché—it’s a strategy

• The role of public relations in long-term brand visibility

• Turning pain into purpose, credibility, and connection

If you’ve ever felt like your story mattered but didn’t know how to use it in business, this episode will change how you think about marketing—and yourself.

Melanie Whitaker