646. The Truth About Why Storytelling Is Important

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Lesley Logan sits down with Brad Walsh, photographer and host of the Empowerography Podcast, to explore what it really means to be seen. Brad shares how his journey from corporate work into storytelling and photography led him to amplifying women’s voices—and why resilience isn’t just about getting back up, but about creating a path for someone else to follow. They talk about authenticity, body image, and the shift from a “me first” mindset to leading with service. This conversation is a grounded reminder that sharing your story can create impact—often in ways you don’t expect.

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In this episode you will learn about:

  • How his photography helped women see themselves in a new light.
  • Using resilience as a permission slip for other women’s strength.
  • Realizing every body is beautiful regardless of the package.
  • Shifting from a “me first” mindset toward service-driven work.
  • Letting go of comparison by owning what makes your work unique.


Episode References/Links:


Guest Bio:

Brad Walsh is a podcast host/producer, photographer, a published #1 International Best-Selling Author and an International Speaker and who found himself wanting to inspire others during the pandemic. He birthed the idea of EMPOWEROGRAPHY, a Top 1.5% Globally Rated Podcast, a platform that highlights strong, inspirational, dynamic women who share their stories of success, triumph, resiliency and transformation. He had no idea that what started as a simple concept would take on a life of its own. He is excited to share this platform with you and continue to EMPOWER, ELEVATE and EDUCATE by amplifying the voices of women all over the world. He is so excited to share this platform with you and continue to EMPOWER, ELEVATE and EDUCATE by amplifying the voices of women all over the world.

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Episode Transcript:

Brad Walsh 0:00  

It is un-fucking-believable. It is so powerful to be able to give that to another human being. And that's the most beautiful part for me as the photographer to be able to do that and show a woman who she truly, truly is.


Lesley Logan 0:17  

Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. 


Lesley Logan 1:00  

All right, Be It babe. This is a fabulous conversation you're about to hear. I'm so excited. I really enjoyed being on this person's podcast. They had the most amazing questions for me, and I was like, this person is very unique. I need to share their story on my podcast. And I was excited about it when I asked them. And now that I've interviewed them. I'm even more stoked about it. So you're in for a ride. You're in for a great conversation. I hope you feel like you're, you know, you're at coffee with us and chiming in. And I hope that this also inspires you to be it till you see it in a bigger, badder ass way, because you're amazing. That's not even a word, but I'm making it one. So here is Brad Walsh of the Empowerography Podcast and let us know what you think. 


Lesley Logan 1:47  

Hey, Be It babe. Okay, we're gonna have a really fun conversation, because I already have had a wonderful conversation with our guest today, and after having those over on his amazing podcast, I had to have Brad Walsh, our guest today, over here on the Be It Till You See It podcast. So Brad, will you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at? 


Brad Walsh 2:04  

Yes. Well, first of all, I'd like to say thank you so much for having me and bringing me on board on your platform. I'm excited to be here and share with your listeners a bit about me and what I do. So I am based in Toronto, Canada. My name is Brad Walsh. I am the host and founder of the Empowerography Podcast platform, which was created to help elevate and amplify the voices of women through sharing their stories. I also host women's empowerment conference online every year. We did our fifth one this year, and that's that's my thing. I love holding space and sharing, sharing the stage and shining a light on women to share their stories.


Lesley Logan 2:40  

So cool. Five, that's amazing. Congratulations. The first few are so hard. And then you get to five, and you're like, whoa, I'll keep doing this.


Brad Walsh 2:51  

Yeah, well, next year, actually, we're doing it live and in person here in Toronto.


Lesley Logan 2:55  

Oh, my God, that is amazing. In person is so powerful. Okay, but have you always been a storyteller? Like, have you always been like an event producer? Like, tell us the journey.


Brad Walsh 3:07  

No, the event producing is new because of Empowerography. Well, new. Five years new, I guess. The storytelling, yes, in a way, because I'm a photographer, so I tell stories visually through capturing images, through capturing moments in time. So yeah, storytelling has always been a part of the journey. My photography, that's my first love, my first passion. That's where everything started for me. I took a photography class in high school, and from the first moment I stepped into that class and into the dark room, it was first love. I fell in love with the art form, and I've been in a love affair with photography ever since. So it's been 35 years there around so, yeah, it's been an amazing journey. There's just something so magical about being able to capture an image in camera and then to develop the film yourself and to see an image come to life on a piece of paper is such a magical and beautiful process. I there's not enough words to describe the beauty in that. So that's where my journey began. I worked in corporate for 12 and a half years as an audio visual tech at one of the big four accounting firms.


Lesley Logan 4:22  

Like you know, I would never have thought that an accounting firm needed an audio visual tech.


Brad Walsh 4:27  

Oh, yeah, absolutely. Oh for sure, video conferencing, webcasting, meetings, off site events, yeah, absolutely, there's, yeah, there's a huge need for it, absolutely.


Lesley Logan 4:39  

Oh, well, that's so cool. I mean, least you got to experience the corporate side of things.


Brad Walsh 4:43  

Yeah, well, it was, it was for the first six years I loved it. The last six and a half were just terrible. I hated going to work. I didn't like my boss. I didn't love the work anymore. I fell out of love with it because I was constantly thinking about my photography, all the while, while I was working full time as an audio visual tech, I was running my photography business part time, but at that time, I was only creating I was creating art. I wasn't photographing people. I had no interest whatsoever in photographing people. That wasn't my thing. It was more architecture, landscapes, urban exploration, although that shifted a little bit for me during my corporate career, because I ended up getting, to put it politely, tasked with the responsibility at my corporate job, with doing the corporate headshots. Yeah, but I fell in love with photographing people.


Lesley Logan 5:36  

You're like, oh, you do photos? You can photograph a building, you can photograph a face.


Brad Walsh 5:41  

Yes, of course. And hey, why not? We've got this guy on staff. He could do this. We could save ourselves thousands upon thousands of dollars by having him do it for free. We don't have to pay him, because we're already paying him a salary. So I mean, that's where I fell in love with photographing people. I loved having that one on one time and that connection that you would get when you when a person sat in front of your lens, it just it created a connection there. And so through that, I a few, a few years after that, after my falling in love with photographing people, I was connected through a mutual friend to a boudoir photographer who was based in Florida, and I fell in love with her work and the mission and the message behind that genre of photography, with what you can help women accomplish in terms of body acceptance, self-love, self-confidence. And I ended up mentoring with her for six months. And when I was done my mentorship, it was just one of those light bulb moments. I just knew that that's what I've got to do with my photography business, when I make the jump, and that's where, that's really where my journey into the whole women's empowerment world started, is through the boudoir photography.


Lesley Logan 6:49  

Okay, this is so cool. I had no idea. So we had, yes, we had a boudoir photographer on earlier, and y'all are probably hearing this in 2026 so earlier in 2025, and I couldn't agree more. Like I, definitely, so back when I lived in LA, I had a girlfriend who wanted to work on boudoir photography, like, can you just, like, be my practice person? I was like, okay, like, whatever. But then you see the photos of yourself, and you're like, I had no idea the eye was so beautiful and like, that looks so amazing. Because, like, you know, first of all, most of all, most of us see ourselves in the lighting of our own homes, which is not always up to par. And you know, mirrors are interesting how they're not consistent. So like, you don't realize, like, the beauty that you have or the power that you have, and until someone does that. And yet, so many people are afraid of doing that, or think that they wouldn't be good enough for that. So I love this. So this is how you got into telling women's stories. And okay, but was it easy to switch? Was it did you have like this? Because I actually am sorry. I'm getting really excited right now. Okay, I'm halfway through my coffee this morning, guys, we are alive. So I love your journey, because it sounds like so many people. It's like I did this, and I kind of fell in love with it, and then I went to corporate, and then I was fine, and then I got bored, and then there was this other thing I was doing. And so I love this, because it's a journey that we all go on. But then to make the big switch to doing something you're really passionate about, there's still so much fear there.


Brad Walsh 8:13  

Oh, absolutely. I mean, with just back to the photography for a second, that gift that I am able to give a woman of her seeing herself for the very first time, like truly who she is. It is un-fucking-believable. It is so powerful to be able to give that to another human being. And that's the most beautiful part for me as the photographer, to be able to do that and show a woman who she truly, truly is. Because, as you said, you don't think about yourself. A lot of the women don't think about themselves that way. But then when they see the images, and they see who they truly are and how they're captured, it's inner and outer beauty, and it is so magical, the transformation that takes place in a 90 minute session with me is unbelievable. She walks in one woman, she leaves a completely different woman. And that is what it's about, is being able to show a woman herself in a brand new light, or a different light, a light that she's not used to seeing herself in, or a light that she's never seen herself in. That process. It's, it's, honestly, there aren't enough words to encapsulate the power in that. For me as a photographer, it is so beautiful.


Lesley Logan 9:31  

Yeah, because you're like, we wrote in something like a, like, a storyteller doula, but like, you are like, like, an empowering me, empowering women doula, you're like, and now go off and, like, impact the world, because it's why I do this show. It's probably why you do your your photography. It's like, I'm really good at what I do, and I love what I do, but my bubble of influence is this. It's whatever it can be, and if I can then influence another woman to be it until she sees it and does something that's so incredibly impactful. Her bubble of influence. And so all of a sudden, like, in my world, the way I envision this, it's like we get all these bubbles, and it's, like it can cover the whole world then, right? Because it's not about one person, it's about all the people feeling their power.


Brad Walsh 10:14  

That's right? And so with the photography, I got to a point I was probably about two years into my business full time, and I started to feel like I love this. This is amazing. What a beautiful gift this is that I get to do this, and I get paid to do this, but I want to reach more people. I want to have a bigger impact. I want my bubble to grow. And so I thought, Why don't I take the purpose, the mission, the values of the work I do as a photographer, and turn that into or transplant that into a podcast where I focus the platform solely on women. At the time and even now, I don't know of any other platform in the world out there that has a man as a host who solely, 100% focuses on amplifying and elevating the voices of women.


Lesley Logan 10:57  

Not gonna lie, Brad, when I saw what you're doing, I was like, what an interesting dude. I wonder why he does it.


Brad Walsh 11:02  

I so I thought, Well, I'm gonna give this to I had no experience interview. I had no idea how to interview someone. No clue. I just thought, you know what, fuck it. I'll figure it out. I'm just gonna jump in. So I reached out to seven or eight friends of mine, women who I had met through my photography journey, and I explained what my idea was for the platform, and of course, it was in its infancy back then, but I shared with them and asked them if they would help me get it off the ground by letting me interview them. They all said, yes. I did the interviews, I created the content, and at that same time, my photography business started to pick up traction. I was getting more inquiries, more booking. So I thought, Okay, I have to, I have to shift all of my energy, my focus, to the business. That's why I left corporate. I shut down the and shelved the podcast, focused on the business. And then, of course, we hit March of 2020. Screwed my business. I couldn't be photographing women. So I thought, Okay, well, you got two choices here. You can go through door number one and sit around and commiserate and complain about what's going on with over half the world. Or you could go through door number two and and see this as a gift that we've all been given and use it to put something good out into the world. We could use that right now. So I reignited the podcast, and here we are, five and a half years later, and it's been an absolutely incredible journey. I have interviewed some of the most beautiful, powerful, inspirational, resilient, courageous women. You being one of them, Lesley, and I mean, it has just been such an incredible journey. It has opened so many doors for me. I and at the foundation of it all is my mom, my grandmother. They are the the inspiration for it. My mom left my biological father when I was 10, he was running around on her having an affair. Back in those days, of course, women stayed home to raise the children while the husband was the one working. So when I look back on that, the fact that she had the strength and the courage to stand up after 15 years of marriage and say, No more. I don't have to put up with this shit. I'm taking my boys and we're leaving, and we left with nothing but the clothes on our back. We moved into a one bedroom apartment. Mom slept on a couch. My brother and I shared a bedroom, and she had to get a job after being out of work for 10 years, because she sacrificed to stay home and raise us and so when she was at work, my grandmother would step in. So for me, those two women are my heart and my soul. I wouldn't be the man I am today without them. And then, of course, all of the women that I've had the honor and pleasure of sitting down with and sharing in their stories, they have all contributed to who I am today because of their stories, because of the lessons and the insights I've I've received from all of these women I take inspiration from every single woman I interview, so they have all had a hand in creating who I am today.


Lesley Logan 13:47  

Brad, I couldn't agree more. Like I feel that in being able to interview people, even people who I don't really always agree with, I'm like, wow, that's an interesting way to be it until you see it. I probably wouldn't do it. But like, even in doing even in doing that, like, your ability to empathize and see people's whole people, because, like, we, we live in a world where people want to go that person did a bad thing, so they're a bad person. This person did a good thing, so they're a good person. And people are so complicated. They're so complicated. And when you know, growing up, you would hear about like, women who left or divorced people. And of course, the woman always gets the shade like because they're divorced, the divorce (inaudible) and knowing what I know now about when she could get a credit card, when she could get a bank loan, when she you're like, whoa, every single one of those women is the biggest badass I have ever heard of, because that would have been the hardest thing to do, like, because they're though the world was against them, and so like what strength and foresight and like to make sure that you guys saw something different. I, I am in the mood of like reading and re listening to women's stories from the past that have been painted in one way, and hearing the full capacity of it, you're like, oh, actually, you know that's that person is is stronger than we thought, or better than we thought, or cooler than we thought.


Brad Walsh 15:07  

Yeah. And I mean, then you add into the mix, if they've got children, they have to do what they have to do to help those kids. But to your point about hearing the full story, this makes me think of something I just discovered recently is the Salem witch trials, and what bullshit that was and what the real truth is, holy shit.


Lesley Logan 15:30  

You guys. We are. We are. I might have got chills. I got chills. We are recording this on Halloween. But like, I actually am in love with the acronym of WITCH, which is, like, woman in total control of herself. Like I am, like, obsessed with the song, I'm obsessed with the acronym, but you're correct, like the Salem witch trials, and also just the witch trials in general, which is just like, oh, she is a healer. She had power, or her husband's dead, and she has got money.


Brad Walsh 15:53  

She has real estate, yes, exactly. 


Lesley Logan 15:53  

And they're just killing these women. 


Brad Walsh 15:57  

I could not believe it when I went down that rabbit hole, I thought, Holy, fuck the amount of lies that we have been told about that and how women have been painted in such a horrible light, which is totally false, totally bullshit. 


Lesley Logan 16:11  

In fact, you know what? Y'all I'm not saying that this is the most accurate statement, but I think if you've ever heard a historical woman being painted as this horrible person, I would just assume that there's probably a 180 story on that, like. 


Brad Walsh 16:26  

Mary Magdalene? 


Lesley Logan 16:27  

Okay, you read my mind. Because, like, you know, you're like, Oh, she's this poor sex worker home girl was fucking rich. She was she was absolutely bankrolling those dudes.


Brad Walsh 16:39  

It's crazy. The shit I have learned is unbelievable.


Lesley Logan 16:43  

Like, do you ever okay? Do you ever wonder, like, Is my whole life a lie? Like, was my whole like, my whole life was a lie? And sometimes I'm like, and so I have been reading there's, um, there's an Instagram channel that his name is for, like, I'm not remembering this moment, but she, like, talks about these, like, women in history that, like, we've just, like, erased, didn't listen to and I'm just like, made myself go every day I'm gonna read one, because it just makes me realize, Wow, we are stronger than we've ever been told we are. And in fact, like all these stories of history and people like, I think it's like these little digs to make sure women feel, Oh, I can't do it. Oh, bad things happen, right? 


Brad Walsh 17:23  

Yep, it's horrible. 


Lesley Logan 17:25  

Okay. The like, you've been platforming women, you've brought up the word resilience, and I, I'm someone who, like, everyone is like, Lesley, you're so resilient. And then what? Some days I just want to go fucking tired of being resilient. I just would, like to.


Brad Walsh 17:39  

I just spoke with someone the other day, and that's exactly what they said. I don't want to be fucking resilient. I'm so tired of that word.


Lesley Logan 17:47  

Like, I like, I like, I'm like, you know those, like, those punching bags where you hit them and they come back up again. I'm like, I just don't, I don't know if I should get back up or stayed. I don't know anymore. Like, just leave me. Let me be over here. Yeah, I guess, like, since you've interviewed so many women, you told so many stories, why should we want to stay resilient?


Brad Walsh 18:10  

Because it because I think that staying resilient by doing that you're giving a permission slip to other women. Because I think I see resilience as courage and inner strength being getting back up that eighth time after being knocked down seven times. That's what resilience is to me. And so when I think, when women do that, it's a permission slip for others, it shows other women what's possible. So yeah, I think, as much as you don't you hate the word, and I understand. I get it. I totally understand. But think about the other women that you are inspiring by doing that. And yes, of course, and there's nothing wrong with getting tired of hearing it. And maybe, maybe you don't have to get up every single time. But I think that by doing so it you are inspiring other women and showing you are proof of what's possible, in my opinion.


Lesley Logan 19:00  

Yeah, you're right. I mean, I'll keep getting back up, but I do, I.


Brad Walsh 19:05  

Somehow I can't see you staying down anyway. 


Lesley Logan 19:07  

I don't even think I would know how to, but I, but I also, I also want to highlight that you said, like, it inspires others to actually maybe step outside and get outside, and I think, like, I think that's also why women have to tell their story, and I also think that's why your platform has to exist for women to tell their story, to have a platform if they don't have one, you know, because, like, so the other day, you don't know this, Brad, but I'll just tell you. So the other day, I got a comment on my YouTube channel, and it was like, Oh, I've loved your videos for so long, but you've been gaining weight, and it was better before.


Brad Walsh 19:48  

It was better. The content was better before you gained weight.


Lesley Logan 19:50  

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because yeah. So I and first of all, they had they so they wrote in Spanish. Which is fine. Like, that's their language. No problem. There's Google Translate. So I see this, like, common in Spanish, and I know enough Spanish to, like, pick up. And I was like, that's not saying what it what it says. So I put it through, no, it said exactly what I thought it said. And then, of course, a couple of my subscribers on YouTube, like, they defended it in the best way that they could, which is, is fine, the person then doubled down. So even if we thought, like, maybe it's a cultural thing, like, look, we have, we have a place in Cambodia, and they will ask you, like, point blank, like, why don't you have kids? Why are you bigger? Why are you looking so old? And it's not here. We would take that as, like, what an asshole. There, it's like, if you're heavier or you don't work, you must be rich. Like, so, like, you know what I mean? Like, it's a different and that's a whole different thing, right? Like, to have weight on your bones is sign of money, where, here we're, like, a sign of wealth is, like, can you just be as skinny as possible, right? And then also, like, look like a child forever. So anyways, so they doubled down on it. So we are clear that it's not a cultural thing. This is their opinion. So I, you know.


Brad Walsh 21:02  

And this was a man, I'm assuming. 


Lesley Logan 21:04  

Yes and I couldn't tell from the handle, until when I called them out and I said, Hey, like, I really hope that when your body changes and it will, that you have space and grace for yourself and others in your life that you love. Because I am, for the record, since you've called it out, 40 pounds heavier than the one I started this channel, and I am stronger and I'm healthier, and I have more longevity, and I will not tolerate fat phobic comments on this channel. Thank you so much, right? And then the person, like, didn't apologize, but was like, Oh, I didn't mean to offend you, which is like, Okay. And then they signed off, and it was a man. And I was like, fucking why the fuck, why is it always a man? Why? But then you know what, here's the thing, I will I will clarify. I've had many women say some nasty things too. So, so I, so I went to the point of the story is, I went on my Instagram account and I shared the story, and I said, you know, like, I am saying this for the women who actually do have to walk into a room that people question. Like, I still go, I'm like, thin passing, right? Like, if we're going to talk about, like, like, I can walk into room and no one's going, Oh, is she? Can she do the exercise? Like, you know, like, what is she doing here? Like, I that doesn't happen to me, but there are women who are in bigger bodies that that happens to and so I just, you know, shared like, this is wrong. Like, bodies do not, size of bodies does not determine if they're a good teacher, a good a good athlete. None of this stuff. The every comment was positive. Every comment was thanking me for sharing, because they felt so seen and so to your point, the resilience of like, I'm gonna get up, I'm I mean, like, if I could punch a bag, that's what I would have done. I'm not a violent person, everyone, but I do think you should punch a bag you know.


Brad Walsh 22:46  

Yeah or scream into a pillow, whatever it is you got to do,


Lesley Logan 22:49  

Yes, yes. And so I shared it, and we're talking a 500 comments of women, that is, it was overwhelming. How many people like we're saying, this is what I or like they'll say, like, thank you for saying this. Or some of them are saying, this is what I'm afraid of. And I had to say, like, this is why you have to post, because people don't see that real bodies are out there. They're all the only people who feel like they can post are these 20 somethings. And nothing wrong with the 20 somethings. If you're listening, like, enjoy the metabolism you have while you have it like, have the best time. But we do have to, if we have a story, tell it so that we can inspire other people, yeah.


Brad Walsh 23:28  

Yeah, for sure. And that, you know what this is, something I love about being a photographer too, is I got to photograph all types of bodies, and every body is beautiful. I don't give a shit what anyone says. Everyone's body is beautiful. It's just a different package that we're looking at that's all and I love that you had the courage to post about it and share it. Because again, and this is exactly what I was saying by you sharing, look at all the comments you got. Look at all the women that stepped up and said, thank you. This is exactly why women need to, not need to. I shouldn't say that. This is why women should be resilient and share and be vulnerable. And I know it's not easy sometimes to be vulnerable, to share your your inner stuff. Think of the impact you can have and who you can help. And that's why storytelling is so very, incredibly poor, important because, and I don't care, I've heard many times I don't have a story. Who's going to want to listen to my story. I guarantee you, as I sit here right now, if you share your story, it will impact one person's life, I guarantee it. And that's all that we're here to do, is have impact. So share your story, as scary as it might be, you can you can edit it. You can decide what parts you want to share. I'm not saying you have to go and share every single detail of your story, but share your story because you will inspire someone else, and maybe by you sharing your story and your struggles, whatever it is, maybe you will help prevent someone from having to go through a similar thing by sharing your story, because you're sharing how you got through it. 


Lesley Logan 24:14  

Yeah. Oh, you. Oh, I love this, okay. I also love the idea like sharing your story even impacts one person. Because, like, if we just, like, who knows? Like, maybe, maybe women are 50% of the population, right? Like, let's just make it even, if you share one, if you share your story and impact one person, you can impact the whole other half of the world. You can impact even just the women around but you can impact, I do think that sometimes we get frustrated with with men sometimes, and it's like, Well, did any women in their life ever tell like, did any woman in their life ever tell them like, hey, don't say that thing that actually you know about others, or here's hey, when you said that, here's a story, like, here's my story, how like that might change it and and that takes courage and conviction. It's not always easy. Some family members suck. So maybe it's maybe it's a co worker, maybe it's a neighbor, but I do think it is important that even if we impact one person, we are changing the world and how it sees everybody.


Brad Walsh 25:56  

For sure, because that will also ripple out to the person that the people that surround that one person. So you are, in effect, impacting more than one person, because yes, you've impacted that one person directly, but indirectly, you've you've impacted the people around her, because it will uplift her and shift her way of thinking. It'll shift her mindset. It'll help her, which then, in turn, helps everyone else around her, because it lifts her up. 


Lesley Logan 26:21  

Okay. So we've been saying that we should, you know, consider sharing a story of ourselves. We, you know, edit how we want. Where do you like? Where do you get started? What makes a good story? Like we got perfectionist listening. They're gonna want to know some action steps.


Brad Walsh 26:36  

Yeah, just, just be authentic. Don't bullshit. Don't try and be something you're not. Just be genuine. Tell your story shit. Figure out, drill it down to what you want to share. First, figure out to what part of your story you want to share, and then just share it with authenticity. Just be who you are. Don't put on some facade. Don't put on a mask. Take the masks off and share who you genuinely are. Because I think when you are genuine, when you are authentic, and I know authentic, everyone uses that word, but it's true when you're authentically who you are that resonates with people. People want to see the mess. People want to know that you're human if you're portraying this perfect person that's gone through, you know, with no struggles, no hassles, no, come on, be who you truly are. Share your struggles, but again, you could be selective in what you share. Just be messy, because we are all perfectly imperfect, and it's okay. I think people will resonate with that more when you're authentic and you're genuine, it just it resonates for people, I think.


Lesley Logan 27:39  

I think so. And I know, like, people have really ruined the word authentic. We got to bring it back, because it's such a good word. I really, and I I think, like, you know, I think some people go, Well, you know, Lesley, Brad, I don't have like, a tragic story. Like, I think people because all the stories they hear is like, somebody like, survived, like, falling off a cliff, and then they turned into, like, some TED Talk speaker, and it's like, hold on, like, you know, like it can, like your story is so it, it will make someone else feel so seen. Like it doesn't have to be that you serve you're the lone survivor of a car accident. You can, you know, you can actually have.


Brad Walsh 28:17  

No, your story matters. 


Lesley Logan 28:18  

Your story matters. You're correct. It could be that you struggled in school, and then you like, led you to like doing art, and it made you realize, like, you know, art tells I think, that we all are harder on ourselves than we need to be.


Brad Walsh 28:30  

Oh yes, we are own worst critics, our own biggest hurdles. We are terrible to ourselves terrible. And something someone said to me quite a while back, is when, when I, because I went through I negative talk. Of course, we all do at some point here and there. And I had someone say, Would you speak that way to your best friend? Would you speak that way to your mother? No, of course you wouldn't. So why are you doing it to you the most important person in your life? You. Stop, stop the shit. You don't deserve it. You're amazing. You're incredible. Every single person has a beautiful light within them. It's just a matter of finding it and then shining it. But surround yourself with the right people. Find your like and heart minded people to surround yourself with. Community is everything, absolutely everything. Community, connection, it's community is relationships are currency. You need them. We all need them, but share your story. It's so important.


Lesley Logan 29:35  

So I get like, what comes up for me on that is like, one, I love that you said we are the most important person our own lives. Like, holy moly. Like, I've never heard it so succinctly, and it's just like, Duh I am if I don't feed myself and sleep and like, I'm the most important person. Yes, of course. And so love that. So you know maybe you can share from your own personal experience, or maybe from. Any of the women's stories you've heard. Like, when you are trying to be more yourself, authentic, share your story. Sometimes your community doesn't exactly like cheer cheer for you. Like, sometimes your community puts those little doubts in your head because of their own fears, of their own shit, and it requires us to, like, find either new community or or or new things to say to ourselves. Like, did you have to go through that when you were making a big transition from, like, corporate to being a photographer or being a podcaster?


Brad Walsh 30:27  

Like, how did you handle that? So there were a few things when I first, before I was when I decided I was going to make the jump, I had so many people saying to me, are you crazy? There's so many photographers out there, how, like, why would you even do that? It's so you have a you have a good paying job, you have benefit, like, but I'm not happy. So why am I going to stay in something? I'm miserable. So many people stay stuck in that position because it's comfortable, because it's easy, because I have benefits, but they don't want to be there. It's not on their heart. So why you think about the fact that we spend so many years of our lives working? Why the fuck do you want to be miserable every day? Find and you know, you hear the excuse, well, I can't, because I can't. I need money for this. I need money for that. I've got better Okay, great. Those are, those are your reasons. That's your reasoning. Find what you love, start doing it part time, until you can build something up enough that you can do that. I know you know, working a full time job and then pursuing this, but I guarantee you, if you find your purpose, your passion, something that lights you up, that just has creates such a fire in your belly, it will change everything for you. I say it's, for me, it was like winning the lottery twice. Once, because I found my purpose, second, because it impacts people. That's what we're all here for. So when I first left, yeah, I dealt with imposter syndrome. Who the fuck am I to do this? Why would anyone want to work with me, all the things, comparisonitis, I would sit there and, well, why is this person, this photographer, so far ahead of me when I'm here? And I thought I would be here, but all of these things and around that piece of it, I thought, well, when I So, the first thing I did was get a mentor. It was the first thing. He helped me get to the point where that comparisonitis and the imposter syndrome. Well, the imposter syndrome was still there a bit, but the comparisonitis stuff he helped me realize that my only competition is me, as long as I can look back at for me as a photographer and see that my work has grown, my work has improved, that's the only competition now, I don't give a shit what that person's doing as a photographer. It doesn't matter. It has no bearing on me. Because first of all, to compare, comparing someone that's at their five year and I'm at my two year, that's like comparing apples to oranges. You cannot compare the two. It's pointless, right? Secondly, no one has, again, speaking about the photography, no one has my eye. No one sees images the way I see them. No one provides the client experience that I can, because no one else is me. That's part of your superpower. That's part of your gift is nobody else on this planet can do what you do the way you do it, I'm saying. Yes, anyone. I mean, look. 


Lesley Logan 33:31  

I love it. I tell people this. I tell people all the time, you are the only person who can do what you do the way that you do it doesn't matter what industry you're in doesn't matter what your dream is. Even if two people are baking an apple pie from the same recipe, it's going to taste different because of what they put into it, what the energy they put into it. Yeah.


Brad Walsh 33:50  

Give, give three photographers the same image to shoot the same thing to shoot, all three images, I guarantee you will be different in some way, shape or form, because we don't have the same eyes. We don't see things the same way. And so through that mentor helping me with that, I also I had a me first kind of attitude, too. When I first jumped into photography, like I would, I was starting to go in with, go into brands, companies, and say, you know, wanting to collaborate with them. And I was going and say, well, what, what can you do for me? Like, how can we work together? What am I going to get out of this? And my mentor said to me, said that, Brad, I'm You're going nowhere fast. You have to shift that mindset and go into these companies and say, How can I be of service to you? What can I do to help your brand? It will come back to you if you go in with a mindset of service. It's a fucking game changer, I promise you. It will change everything but the comparisonitis, the the imposter syndrome, the nerves, the fears, all of that thing, all of those things. I, the comparison, I just no more. I don't deal with that anymore. I'm done. I've got my tools. And this is the thing is, get a mentor. Watch videos on YouTube. YouTube University. It's a great place, talk to people who are in your industry. Talk to people that are further along in their journey. They have the experience and the wisdom. Ask questions, it can only lead you up. It's it's so helpful. Just trust in yourself, believe in yourself. And I know it's easy to say, but I'm telling you, it will change everything once you start to believe in yourself, don't worry about competition. I'm telling you, it doesn't matter what business you're running, what company. There is no such thing as competition. Competition comes from lack. You are unique. 


Lesley Logan 35:53  

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. We coach a lot of Pilates studios and like, they'll be like, oh, so and so is going with this many classes, and they have this many performers, and I should have the same and I'm like, what are you talking about? You don't even know if they're successful. They look successful because they made it look pretty. We don't know that could be a way that their family is writing off the business and having a loss. It might be purposely there to lose money. And I say that because I had a friend whose whole existence for her business was to bring the couple's money down because their tax bracket was really high. So like, if I was comparing myself to her, who looks like she has it all together, I could have driven my business into the ground. Like, you have to, look, market research is real, do the thing, but then also, like you have to do it for you, and the impact you want to make and the service want to be. I love this so much. And I also couldn't agree more, like getting a mentor is like it was, and this might be a terrible joke, but for those who I went to public school, I was homeschooled, I went to private school. So I can say this, from this experience, I feel like when you get a mentor, it's like taking your your business, or your idea or your passion, and putting it in a little bit of a private school, putting in a little bit of a because you get extra attention, you have smaller class sizes, you you get someone who's really invested in you. And I'm not saying, like, public school teachers, you're amazing. Thank you for all the work you do, but, like, it just takes your thing to the next level, or you can still do all the things for free, but you've got to make sure that you're going, okay, my YouTube University, I this, I It's like I paid for this. I like invest in that to make sure that I'm applying those things I'm learning. Yeah.


Brad Walsh 37:31  

Comparison is the thief of joy. Do not compare yourself, because no one else is you. And listen, when I first jumped well before I actually jumped into photography full time, I was doing free shoots. Sometimes that's what you have to do, and that's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. I did the free shoot so I could enhance and hone my lighting skills. Because I had never worked with artificial light before. I'd always worked with natural light. I had to learn how to pose women properly. With boudoir if you don't know what you're doing with lighting and posing, forget it. You're fucked. That's it. It's over.


Lesley Logan 37:54  

Yeah, the opposite effect could happen. 


Brad Walsh 38:03  

Yes, so I was doing free shoots for friends to hone my skills and to learn. That's how you learn. And I know people say, well, I don't have the money for a mentor, and there's nothing wrong with that. But what you can do is trade services, maybe, find someone you could trade services, what you can provide for them, and do it in trade. There's nothing wrong with that either. I'm hearing a lot more people talk about doing things in trade. There's nothing wrong with that. 


Lesley Logan 38:33  

Yep, yeah. And especially, like, I think that it's easier to put a wall up than open a door, you know, and I think, like, if you don't have the money, and I've been there, y'all, I have been homeless. I've had, like, credit cards, max to the brim, student loans, all the things. And today there is a podcast for everything you want to do, and that person is giving you, I promise you, they're giving away all the stuff they coach on for free in the wrong order. So if you have you either have money or you have time, and so what you could do is take that free stuff, figure out the right order through experimentation, and not compare comparison, and you will get to where you can actually take the money and invest it so it will work out for you, but you have to believe in yourself. And I think that's really the hard thing is that so many people are hope, looking for other people to believe in them first. And this is where I don't know how to like, truly help everyone I want to help. It's like, how do we get them to believe in themselves enough to take the first step? Because they really are amazing, you know? And they're just, they don't know it, you know?


Brad Walsh 39:39  

You just have to support them. You just have and you have, it's conversations like you and I are having right now and then taking the time to sit with someone and talk to them and find out hey, why you feel if it's a friend or someone you want to help, why are you feeling this way? How can we help you get to the next level? What can we do to support you? How can we get you there? Because everyone has the ability within them. Every single person on this planet is capable of doing anything, anything, anything in the world that they want to do is possible, you just have to. It starts here with us. We are the foundation for all of it, you have to do the inner work. 


Lesley Logan 40:17  

Oh, you are so, I could talk to you forever. I really hope this is an episode people like, like, I hope they're as fired up as I am from this, because it really there's, there's so much possibility out there. We're gonna take a brief break and then find out how people can find you, follow you, work with you and your Be It Action Items. 


Lesley Logan 40:39  

All right, Brad, where do you hang out? You said Toronto. But where do you hang out online? How can people hear more of your amazing tips and these brilliant stories?


Brad Walsh 40:43  

Instagram, at Empowerography Podcast, my website, empowerographypodcast.com, and Facebook, those, those are the three places I'm on LinkedIn. I'm starting to build up a profile and following on LinkedIn as well. But those are the three main is Instagram, Facebook and my website.


Lesley Logan 41:03  

Yeah, yeah, no, I'm with you. I with you on the LinkedIn, like, oh my God, if you've been listening podcast for the over 600 episodes, where you guys, I still haven't gone. And honestly, here's where I'm at. I'm just gonna have someone do it for me. I I just, like, I'm not a corporate person, so I don't get half the stuff that it's doing. And I just, I just want to do other things. So that will be my 2026, 2027 goal is to just find someone just rock that LinkedIn for me, but, but I do love my I love my platforms I'm on, so y'all go check them out. Follow, check out the podcast. I mean, if you want to hear resilient stories from amazing women, like, what a great way to fill your cup each week, especially if your community isn't doing that for you. Like, you can start with just hearing a story on a podcast. Okay, Brad, you've actually given us some great tips, but we like them at the end, bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us?


Brad Walsh 41:56  

Something that my father always said is what's meant for you will never go by you. So if you don't get that thing that you are hoping for, and don't worry, it wasn't meant for you, and something bigger is around the corner, I promise you, just be patient. Wait for it. It will happen. The universe always has your back. It will never, ever let you down. So like I said, if you're not, if you don't get that TED talk, or you don't get that job you wanted, you don't get that client you wanted to work with, it's okay. It wasn't meant to be something else. I promise you, bigger is coming around the corner for you. So be patient and wait for it. It will happen.


Lesley Logan 42:35  

I think there's such a good like mantra to have, like, written somewhere, like, start your day with it, end your day with it. Like, because I have to say to myself too, like, what is for me will not pass me. Like, what is for me will not pass me. Because you do get doors, like, you're like, Oh, I'm excited about that. Someone asked you to do something. You're like, Yes, I'm in. And they go, Oh, we're going a different direction. You're like, Oh, it feels so deflating. And then you're like, but you have to remember that like, there's another reason why that space is open in your calendar, in your life. Yeah, yeah.


Brad Walsh 43:05  

That's right. I just sent an email off to invite a guest that I really wanted to have on the show. And they came back and they said, sorry, her calendar is full, so no. And I just thought, Okay, well, this I wasn't meant to interview her now, and no means next opportunity.


Lesley Logan 43:22  

Yeah, at least you got an email back. That's great. Sometimes people just don't even say no. And so you're like, should I bug him again? Like, that's a door open for later on going, like, in the new year, like, Hey, how's that calendar? Like we can we have the whole 12 months where we want to put it? 


Brad Walsh 43:37  

That's right, that's right. 


Lesley Logan 43:39  

Brad, thank you. What a great, well, for me on a Friday, interviewing you, what a great way to like end my week. I feel so fired up. For those of you who listen to us on a Tuesday, thank you for listening to the Be It Till You See It podcast. We are so excited to have you. Please make sure you share your favorite takeaways with Brad at Empowerography on Instagram or Facebook, or you can check out their website and listen to their podcast and share this with a woman who needs to hear it. You know, like, even that can be the helpful thing you can say to your friend, like, hey, you've been feeling stuck. 


Brad Walsh 44:10  

He you should check this out. 


Lesley Logan 44:11  

Check this out. Like, sometimes that's the thing that helps people get out of being stuck or being in a rut or feeling like they're not seen. So thank you for sharing it. Until next time, Be It Till You See It. 


Lesley Logan 44:21  

That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.


Brad Crowell 45:04  

It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.


Lesley Logan 45:09  

It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.


Brad Crowell 45:14  

Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.


Lesley Logan 45:21  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.


Brad Crowell 45:24  

Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.



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