Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Theresa Bakken. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Theresa, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Finding silver-linings is a survival instinct and a super power. Focusing on how ‘things could be worse’ has helped me stay optimistic through personal disappointments and crises. But, I have learned from others that my immediately jumping to the upside of a bad situation is not always a welcome or helpful first response. It’s important to acknowledge the suck and validate that its okay to be mad and sad about things not going the way you want them to. Over time, through health scares and job loss, I’ve seen the value in embracing the suck (even wallowing in it a bit), so that you can move through it. There’s a great repeating line from a kids book called We’re Going on a Bear Hunt that says, ‘You can’t go over it, you can’t go under it, you gotta go through it!’. Optimism comes from going through it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an audiobook narrator working with authors and publishers from my home studio. My background was in local news, so every time I finished an audiobook project I wanted to interview the author and tell everyone about how and why they told the stories they did. So, I started a podcast called Desideratum where I explored the power of story and featured scenes from audiobooks. The pod is now it its fourth season. I’m in conversation with some incredible and award winning authors and narrators, and I’m working on a three part series with an author who tracked down and told the true story of a notorious fugitive from the 1930’s called In Search of the Blonde Tigress : The Untold Story of Eleanor Jarman.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Curiosity, humility, empathy. Ask lots of questions. Thinking you know best, or have all the answers, will not lead to growth. Listen to others with empathy. Everyone has a story to tell. And, really paying attention by trying to imagine how you would feel in their stories will lead to growth.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Not a book – a poem – called Desiderata. It’s full of life lessons and essential things.
It ends with these words…
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theresabakkennarrator.com/
- Instagram: https://www.threads.net/@theresabakkennarrator
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theresa.bakken.7/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-bakken-19318512/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTZWyKjrzoNO02yy-kMbXA
- Other: https://linktr.ee/tbnarrator
