Episode 39: REWIND – Curiosity, Sobriety, & the Healing Nature of Stories with Anna Zimmerman
Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

We’re rewinding the clock today and revisiting one of the most downloaded, most shared, and most loved episodes of Crafted Connections — a conversation that continues to resonate deeply with this community.

I’m joined by my dear friend Anna Zimmerman — facilitator, former professor, strategic thinker, and someone who leads with deep care and grounded presence. In this episode, Anna opens up about her journey through academia, sobriety, identity shifts, and choosing a life rooted in curiosity and connection.

We explore how storytelling shapes recovery, why shedding old identities can feel like an ego death, and what it looks like to define success on your own terms. Anna’s warmth, honesty, and humor make this a conversation you’ll want to return to again and again — and yes, she still gives cozy-blanket-and-tea energy in every moment.

We also talk about gratitude as a practice of noticing, of staying awake to the moments that anchor us and remind us of who we’re becoming. It’s a tender, thoughtful, resonant conversation — and the perfect episode to revisit at the end of the year.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
🧠 Why unlearning old identities is part of growth
💬 How storytelling shapes sobriety and recovery
🎓 Leaving academia and redefining professional success
🌀 Embracing curiosity as a core life value
💪 Showing up for strength—not aesthetics—in healing your body
📖 How stories can connect, confine, or liberate us
💛 An ode to gratitude as a grounding force for change

Ready to Step into Your Next Chapter with Clarity?
Story Strategy Sessions are 50% off for the next week and a half as part of my Resolution: CLARITY sale.

Whether you're launching something new, refining your message, or craving direction for the new year, this one-hour session helps you get clear on your story — and how to share it in a way that aligns with who you’re becoming.

6 slots available at this price. Sale closes 12/9/25.

🎥 Book your session and use code SEASON2025 for 50% off:
https://katelyncalhoun.as.me/story-strategy-session

You Can Connect with Anna:
📷 Instagram: @annagracezimmerman

💼 LinkedIn: Anna Zimmerman

Join the Conversation:
📲 Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

📬 DM us your questions or reflections!

Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

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 Keep creating, keep connecting.