Sticky: Stories That Stick

About Sticky: Stories That Stick

What makes a story unforgettable? Join host Amelia Forczak as she sits down with successful executives, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to uncover the pivotal moments that shaped them—and explore what transforms personal experiences into stories that truly stick. These aren't just successful people—they're master storytellers who know exactly which moments from their lives create genuine connection and inspire change. Each episode breaks down the psychology and craft behind their most powerful stories. You'll discover why certain experiences stick with us for decades while others fade, how to identify which of your own moments could become compelling narratives, and the specific techniques these seasoned speakers use to ensure their stories land with impact every single time. Whether you're preparing for your next presentation, writing content that needs to convert, or simply want to connect more authentically in conversations, you'll walk away with proven strategies from people who've mastered the art of turning personal experiences into stories that stick.

Publisher

Amelia Forczak

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Oct 2025

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Ep. 21 | 3x Bestselling Author Jason Wolf Shares His Secrets

   What does it take to turn one meeting into a 424-page book with more than 40 co-authors in just 18 months? Jason Wolf, president and CEO of The Beryl Institute and a three-time #1 bestselling author, joins Amelia Forczak to share how Human Experience in Action: Insights and Opportunities for Transforming Healthcare came together, and what three bestsellers have taught him about writing. Jason went from grooming himself for diplomacy to building a global community of nearly 70,000 people dedicated to one idea: healthcare is human beings caring for human beings. He explains why he required every chapter to have more than one author, how the book kept 40+ individual voices intact, and why success isn't measured in sales but in readers who put the ideas into action. In this episode, you'll learn: How a March 2025 meeting of experience leaders became a co-authored bestseller Why every book is a team effort, and what the right partner makes possible How Jason's three books build on each other, down to the Easter eggs in the covers Why one interested reader is enough of an audience to start writing Why you have to enjoy the ride, trust yourself and get the help you need Resources: The Beryl Institute: https://theberylinstitute.org/ (https://theberylinstitute.org/) To Care is Human podcast: https://theberylinstitute.org/to-care-is-human-a-patient-experience-podcast/ Jason Wolf's books: https://theberylinstitute.org/patient-experience-bookstore/ Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwolf/ Jason on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonawolf24/ Sticky: Stories That Stick is brought to you by Pithy Wordsmithery, a boutique ghostwriting and publishing firm founded by New York Times bestselling ghostwriter Amelia Forczak. Thinking about writing a book? Visit https://pithywordsmithery.com/ Full show notes and transcript: https://pithywordsmithery.com/podcast/sticky-podcast-jason-wolf

2. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Ep. 20 | Bet on Yourself: Equity, Risk, and the Big Payoff With Laura Neuman

   The day Laura Neuman was born, a nurse asked her mother if she wanted to see her daughter. Her mother said, "No thanks, I have the rest of my life to look at her." Eighteen years later, Laura left home with everything she owned in a plastic trash bag and spent six months living out of a car that should have been headed to the junkyard. She went on to earn an MBA without finishing high school or college, turn around an insolvent tech startup that later sold for $230 million, and run a $1.3 billion county government as County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Amelia sits down with Laura Neuman to trace the one decision she made over and over again: to believe in herself when no one else did, including the police who refused to investigate her own assault, and the family who refused to believe her. In this conversation, they dig into the five hard-won lessons behind Laura's story: believing in yourself before anyone else will, showing up even when you can't check the boxes, investing in yourself when it means paying for an MBA on a credit card, betting on equity instead of a paycheck, and advocating for yourself (and for others) when it's the most uncomfortable thing you could possibly do. They also talk about the failures that never make the highlight reel, the venture capital meeting that made Laura tell her story out loud for the first time, and why the 19-year-old cold case she refused to let die ended up delivering justice to ten other women. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: •       [1:30] The story Laura's mother told her about the day she was born, and the childhood of feeling invisible that it explains •       [4:00] Leaving home at 18 with a trash bag, six months in a car, and the assault Baltimore police refused to investigate •       [8:00] Nineteen moves in 12 years, three jobs at a time, and the chosen family that carried her through •       [11:00] Getting turned down for every promotion without a degree, and the direct marketing job with a desk in the hallway that changed everything •       [13:30] The three boxes Loyola's MBA program made her check: the GMAT, big-name recommendations, and employer sponsorship •       [19:00] Losing tuition reimbursement months into the program and paying for the MBA on a credit card •       [21:30] The rejections nobody talks about, and why every success came right after a failure •       [24:00] Closing nearly every deal on an IPO's S-1 and getting cut out of the equity •       [25:30] Turning down a president title to run an insolvent NSA spinout, cashing in her 401(k), and the $230 million exit •       [33:00] The venture capital meeting where an investor asked, "What's your story?" •       [35:00] Going back to Baltimore City, finding Detective Bernie Holthaus, and a case solved in less than three days after 19 years •       [40:00] "You picked the wrong person": showing up in court, going public on 48 Hours, and the six (then ten) other women who got justice •       [43:00] Why Laura stopped fighting the media narrative and what she wants her story to do now In this episode: Laura Neuman is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and host of The Laura Neuman Show. She earned her MBA from Loyola University without finishing high school or college and went on to complete the executive program at Stanford Business School. As CEO of Matrics, she turned an insolvent startup into Venture Deal of the Year and a $230 million exit, a story that later became a Princeton University case study in entrepreneurship. She led the Howard County Economic Development Authority and served as the 8th County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, managing a $1.3 billion budget. After pushing Baltimore police to reopen her own 19-year-old assault case, her public advocacy helped connect the perpetrator to cases involving ten other women. Today she tells stories of resilience and resourcefulness on her podcast and from the keynote stage. Amelia Forczak is the founder and CEO of Pithy Wordsmithery, a boutique firm that helps executives, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders write and publish their books. A New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, Amelia and her team provide end-to-end support from ghostwriting and developmental editing to cover design, audio, and launch strategy. Resources: •       Laura Neuman – lauraneuman.com (https://lauraneuman.com/) •       The Laura Neuman Show on Apple Podcasts •       The Laura Neuman Show on Spotify •       The Laura Neuman Show on YouTube •       LinkedIn: Laura Neuman •       Instagram: @lauraneuman.official •       Chris Dyer – chrisdyer.com (https://chrisdyer.com/) •       Pithy Wordsmithery – pithywordsmithery.com (https://pithywordsmithery.com/)

3. 

   9 Jun 2026

   Ep. 19 | The Soft Skills You'll Need to Navigate the Future of Work With Wayne Nemeroff

   What happens to your career when AI can do the technical work faster and better than you can? In this episode, Amelia sits down with Dr. Wayne Nemeroff to find out. Wayne is an industrial and organizational psychologist and a former professor at the School of Business at SUNY Albany. He's the president and CEO of PsyMax Solutions and the Nemeroff Consulting Group, the creator of the Work Style Matcher assessment, and the author of the new book Shift: 21 Soft Skills to Navigate the Future of Work — built around seven core capabilities and the 21 "people skills" AI can't replicate. In this conversation, they dig into why the soft skills AI can't replicate are becoming the real career differentiator, why about 89% of people who lose a job lose it over those skills rather than technical ones, how to choose work based on tasks and values instead of job titles, the blind spots that quietly derail even strong leaders — and the coaching story of "Joe" that shows what it really takes to change, and what a shorter work week could mean for all of us. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: ·         [2:00] Why the shift to AI and automation will arrive faster than most people expect ·         [5:00] Why roughly 89% of people who lose a job lose it over soft skills, not technical ones ·         [6:00] How Wayne's book Shift turns 21 people skills into real, story-driven lessons ·         [7:00] The soft skills AI can't replicate — empathy, judgment, and truly understanding people ·         [8:00] Choosing work based on tasks and values instead of job titles ·         [17:00] What a shorter three to three-and-a-half-day work week could mean for the future ·         [21:00] The blind spots that hold even strong leaders back — and how a 360 assessment surfaces them ·         [26:00] Why recognition is the number one driver of employee engagement ·         [29:00] The difference between "I can't change" and "I don't want to change" ·         [36:00] The "great mismatch" and the four quadrants of liking versus being good at your work In this episode: Dr. Wayne Nemeroff is an industrial and organizational psychologist and a former professor at the School of Business at SUNY Albany. He is the president and CEO of PsyMax Solutions (Human Capital Assessments) and the Nemeroff Consulting Group. His new book, Shift: 21 Soft Skills to Navigate the Future of Work, breaks down the seven core capabilities and 21 essential people skills that help workers find meaningful, future-proof careers — each brought to life through the real story of someone who learned to build them. Amelia Forczak is the founder and CEO of Pithy Wordsmithery, a boutique firm that helps executives, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders write and publish their books. A New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, Amelia and her team provide end-to-end support from ghostwriting and developmental editing to cover design, audio, and launch strategy. Resources: ·         LinkedIn: Wayne Nemeroff ·         PsyMax Solutions / Work Style Matcher – workstylematcher.com ·         Shift: 21 Soft Skills to Navigate the Future of Work by Dr. Wayne Nemeroff ·         Pithy Wordsmithery – pithywordsmithery.com (https://pithywordsmithery.com/)

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