Storytelling as a Catalyst for Inclusion and Positive Change

Nick Elston explores how honest storytelling and embracing vulnerability can transform personal adversity into powerful connections, ignite belonging, and inspire authentic conversations that challenge societal norms.

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood explores the transformative potential of honest storytelling with guest Nick Elston. Together, they unpack the role of vulnerability and authenticity in forging meaningful connections, both personally and in professional circles. Joanne shares the evolution of her own narrative and emphasises how sharing lived experiences can foster empathy and a sense of belonging. Nick explains the emotional weight of repeatedly telling one’s story and the importance of adapting narratives to serve both audience and personal wellbeing, whilst ensuring stories remain relevant and impactful. The discussion openly addresses the discomfort and courage required to lead with vulnerability in spaces not always primed for change.

Nick is a keynote guest renowned for empowering individuals to embrace their voice, share their stories, and cultivate genuine human connection. As founder of Forging People, his mission centres on turning vulnerability into a catalyst for growth and transformation. Drawing upon a journey shaped by obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety, Nick began using his voice as a therapeutic tool in the wake of professional burnout. His approach champions not only personal development but actively encourages others to break the silence around mental health and embrace their full selves in the workplace and beyond. Throughout the episode, Joanne and Nick engage in candid dialogue about the challenges of “owning your story” without being trapped in the past, the pitfalls of performative vulnerability, and the necessity of creating spaces where difficult questions can be safely explored.

The conversation further delves into ways of balancing lived experience with boundaries, highlighting the emotional and psychological labour inherent in driving inclusion. Both Joanne and Nick offer practical illustrations of communicating difficult topics—ranging from gender identity to mental illness—with humanity and relatability. They engage in a robust exchange about the power of authenticity to disrupt echo chambers and foster genuine change, particularly in environments resistant to inclusion.

A key takeaway from this episode is the power of lived experience as a vehicle for connection and positive action. Listeners will gain insight into using their authentic narrative not as a limitation, but as an evolving tool for personal empowerment and meaningful impact. Whether you are seeking to share your own story or lead others through theirs, this episode will inspire you to embrace vulnerability and ignite the spark of inclusion.

Published: 22.05.2025 Recorded: 12.02.2025 Duration: 1:02:12

• AI Extracts and Interpretations
• The Inclusion Bites Podcast #160 The Power of Honest Storytelling — app.castmagic.io
• Other Links
• SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts
• Inclusion Bites Podcast on YouTube

Clips and Timestamps

The Power of Authenticity in Professional Environments: “speaking without the filter, speaking with authenticity and vulnerability, and why has that been hugely hijacked since, to be fair? It builds a bridge of trust and connection and depth with people far more than any superficial message were ever trained to deliver in professional environments for sure.”
— Nick Elston [00:04:10 → 00:04:26]

Viral Topic: The Reality of Audience Engagement: “No one cares as much as we think they do. And I mean that in the nicest possible way, that you could be the most exciting a list celebrity, but after fifteen minutes of talking to an audience, they’re gonna wanna know what’s in it for them.”
— Nick Elston [00:07:31 → 00:07:42]

The Universal Search for Belonging: “The common fact factor for me is belonging, And it’s essentially kind of a big reason why I do what I do now is that it affects our sense of belonging enough to feel that we’re marginalized enough to not have a platform, to not have a voice, to not feel that we can step up.”
— Nick Elston [00:11:37 → 00:11:53]

Cancel Culture and the Fear of Asking Questions: “I think we’re really afraid of asking questions for the fear of being canceled or being ashamed or or just saying the wrong thing. And I think that’s something we we need to maintain, the ability to ask better questions.”
— Nick Elston [00:13:05 → 00:13:06]

Viral Topic – Overcoming Toxic Environments: “I withdrew myself from that. So, actually, I I would say this was many years ago, but I admire your strength and courage to do that.”
— Nick Elston [00:17:41 → 00:17:48]

Why Diversity Champions Take On Extra Burdens: “Very often why people come into these roles of representing a section of society or section of humanity is because they have either experienced that directly or indirectly themselves. But by nature, you then become more sensitive to take on the burdens and the challenges of everybody else.”
— Nick Elston [00:24:10 → 00:24:30]

Viral Topic: The Hidden Toll of Mental Health Advocacy: “So, actually, if you look at mental health champions, for example, that by the time they get home, they have not only supported themselves, but 20 other people, and that’s before they even get home. Home is not always a good place.”
— Nick Elston [00:24:36 → 00:24:49]

Viral Topic: The Hidden Cost of High Performance: “we can be highly successful and highly performing fueled by anxiety, but you can only run for so long until you stop, and therein lies the problem.”
— Nick Elston [00:34:06 → 00:34:14]

Viral Topic: Handling Pushback and Low-Level Toxicity
“One of the things that I find people that have been through experiences in their lives find most difficult to start with is trying to engage with people that don’t think like them and actually quite bluntly and and sometimes, as you say, abusively don’t agree with them as well. That could be really challenging sometimes.”
— Nick Elston [00:41:23 → 00:41:42]

Viral Topic: The Power of Perspective in Storytelling: “I could deliver the same talk to the same audience four times and have four different outcomes because if that one person in the audience is going through a marital problem, they’re gonna pick up on the bit when I talk about personal relationships. Next time around, it could be a professional problem, and they’ll pick up they’ll ignore the other bit.”
— Nick Elston [00:51:48 → 00:52:06]

Definition of Terms Used

Honest Storytelling

• Definition: Honest storytelling is the practice of sharing one’s authentic life experiences, including vulnerabilities and challenges, in a manner that is transparent and unfiltered, particularly in professional or public speaking contexts.
• Relevance: Within the episode, honest storytelling serves as a bridge to trust, empathy, and deep connection. It enables speakers and listeners to move beyond superficial communication, fostering inclusivity and a genuine sense of belonging.
• Examples: Nick Elston discussing his journey with OCD and anxiety candidly in workplace settings; Joanne Lockwood reflecting on her experiences as a trans woman to engage audiences authentically.
• Related Terms: Authenticity, Vulnerability, Narrative Therapy, Emotional Leadership
• Common Misconceptions: Some believe that honest storytelling means sharing every personal detail or “airing dirty laundry,” when, in reality, it is about selecting meaningful experiences that enable broader connection without retraumatising oneself.

Vulnerability as a Strength

• Definition: The concept that openly acknowledging and sharing one’s insecurities, struggles, or emotions is not a weakness but a powerful tool for connection, transformation, and leadership.
• Relevance: Highlighted by both guests, using vulnerability builds trust, encourages reciprocal openness, and facilitates transformational engagement, especially in environments where such honesty is uncommon.
• Examples: Nick Elston explaining that sharing his mental health journey led others to open up about their own challenges; facilitating sessions where personal lived experience is centred.
• Related Terms: Emotional Intelligence, Psychological Safety, Authentic Leadership
• Common Misconceptions: There is an assumption that displaying vulnerability exposes one to harm or diminishes authority, rather than recognising its role in deepening relationships and inspiring others.

Belonging

• Definition: Belonging refers to the psychological feeling of being accepted, valued, and included as one’s authentic self within a group or environment.
• Relevance: Central to the Inclusion Bites ethos, belonging is discussed as the common thread uniting diverse experiences of marginalisation, underlining why fostering inclusive cultures matters in both professional and social contexts.
• Examples: Creating workplace spaces where marginalised voices are encouraged and heard; deliberate storytelling that resonates across differences to establish common ground.
• Related Terms: Inclusion, Psychological Safety, Community, Marginalisation
• Common Misconceptions: Belonging is often confused with “fitting in,” but true belonging does not require individuals to hide aspects of their identity in order to be accepted.

Lived Experience

• Definition: Lived experience entails the direct, personal knowledge and insights someone has gained through enduring or navigating specific life circumstances, often related to identity, health, or marginalisation.
• Relevance: In the episode, the sharing of lived experience is presented as a means to foster understanding, challenge stigma, and drive conversation towards meaningful change, particularly around mental health and gender identity.
• Examples: Joanne sharing her transition journey in training sessions; Nick narrating his journey with OCD and anxiety as a means to coach others in public speaking.
• Related Terms: Peer Support, Experiential Knowledge, First-Person Narrative
• Common Misconceptions: Lived experience is sometimes dismissed as anecdotal or less valid than theoretical expertise; however, it is critical for understanding nuanced realities and informing policy or practice.

Reassurance Seeking (in the context of OCD)

• Definition: Reassurance seeking describes the compulsive behaviour found in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), where the individual repeatedly seeks confirmation from others to quell anxiety but finds only temporary relief.
• Relevance: Nick Elston details how reassurance seeking was part of his OCD experience, and explains its role in maintaining the cycle of obsession and compulsion, particularly its impact on family relationships and daily functioning.
• Examples: Asking family members multiple times if the door is locked or the oven is off, though the reassurance provides only short-lived comfort before anxiety resurfaces.
• Related Terms: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Intrusive Thoughts, Compulsive Behaviour, Anxiety Disorders
• Common Misconceptions: Many misuse “OCD” to mean tidy or finicky, and assume reassurance-seeking is simply needing extra care, missing the core that it is a symptom of a disruptive clinical condition.

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Joanne Lockwood SEE Change Happen

A huge thank you to our wonderful guest

Nick Elston

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