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Telling Your Story with Bethany Joy Boring

Telling Your Story with Bethany Joy Boring

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 Bill Lundgren and guest Bethany Joy Boring open a four-part series on how to tell your story. They frame why full-life “from birth to now” dumps overwhelm, and why starting with one scene creates safety and clarity. Bill shares turning points in hearing and vision loss, including the friend who told him the truth and stayed present. Bethany shows how hiding burns energy and blocks connection, how to choose safe listeners, and how adaptive skills become a communication superpower. They outline practical guardrails: begin with one moment, notice body cues, set relational boundaries, and take one small step today.

Contact Info
Guest: Bethany Joy Boring, mental health consultant and author.
Aftersight: feedback@aftersight.org
| (720) 712-8856
Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight

Show Credits
Host: Bill Lundgren
Guest: Bethany Joy Boring
Producer: Jonathan Price
Recording & Post: Aftersight Originals

Chapter Markers
00:00 — Opening and series setup
02:26 — Bethany’s origin and the 20-minute story frame
04:49 — “Start with a scene,” not a saga
07:15 — Bill’s hearing message: “try harder”
09:18 — The energy cost of hiding
11:19 — Naming fear of others’ reactions
13:24 — The truth-telling friend and a career pivot
15:39 — Walking with allies vs. walking alone
18:03 — Professional identity and disclosure
20:21 — Adaptive storytelling as a superpower
22:38 — Selecting safe people, not boxes
25:03 — Asking for help without shame
27:27 — Play, humor, and dignity at home
29:43 — Safety checks before sharing
32:03 — Boundaries, pacing, and “workout soreness”
34:12 — The raw-egg test for trust
36:36 — Reciprocity: listen as you share
38:46 — Journaling when writing is hard
41:06 — Start small and adaptable
43:32 — Be selective; avoid relational poison
45:55 — Radical acceptance, defined and disliked
48:19 — One small action before you hit stop

Exercise 1 — The Mirror Story
Purpose: Start healing by safely naming what’s real.

Steps:
Choose a quiet moment.
Write or record your personal story of loss or change.
Add one line beginning with: “The part of my story I’ve avoided saying out loud is…”
When finished, set it aside for 24 hours before reading or replaying it.
On review, mark any sentences that made you pause, tear up, or smile.
Reflection Prompt: “What truth did my body recognize before my mind did?”
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