Pathways with Amber Stitt

Helping Others Tell Their Story: Derrick Hatch on All Things Narrative

• Amber Stitt • Season 3 • Episode 1

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🎙️ Welcome to a special edition of Pathways with Amber Stitt – "Pathways Unleashed" recorded live from the "Unleash Your Superpower" conference in Delray Beach, Florida. 

🗣️ In this episode Amber dives deep into the transformative power of storytelling with Derrick Hatch, author, entrepreneur, and founder of All Things Narrative. 

✍️ Derrick shares his journey from discovering his passion for storytelling in childhood to helping others unlock and share their own unique stories through his courses, workshops, and narrative coaching.

📚 Listen in as Amber and Derrick explore how each of us has a unique story to tell, and why unlocking your authentic narrative can change your life – not just in business, but in relationships, leadership, and personal growth.

👬 Learn how storytelling shapes our identities, influences our relationships, and helps us lead with purpose. 

📓 Derrick reveals the inspiration behind his chapter in the new book, discusses the concept of Narrative Therapy, and shares how consciously crafting and living your story can bring greater clarity, meaning, and contentment to your life. 

📖 Whether you're a natural storyteller or just beginning to find your voice, Derrick’s insights and experiences will motivate you to own your narrative and use it to design the life you truly want.

💡 This is an inspiring conversation packed with actionable advice, personal anecdotes, and the kind of real talk that will help you take the next step on your unique path!

📽️ To watch this episode: https://youtu.be/ULvn8s_uuGU

🔗  Want to connect with Derrick Hatch?

📲 Learn more: https://www.AllThingsNarrative.com

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-hatch-4447a81a6

📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthingsnarrative

📲 The All Things Narrative Podcast: https://www.allthingsnarrative.com/podcast

#pathwayswithamberstitt #derrickhatch #allthingsnarrative #amberstitt #narrativetherapy 

📻 Thank you for tuning in to Pathways!

🔗 Connect with Amber on Social Media:

📲 Be sure to visit Amber's website:

www.AmberStitt.com

And remember, let's take action today!!!

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Derrick Hatch [00:00:00]:
We've all got a story. Everyone's got a story to tell, right? And even though, you were talking about this idea of being a natural. I think everybody does have a storytelling voice and a style that is natural to them, but we need someone to draw that out. We need someone to be able to listen and be able to coach and to be able to say, "Oh, this is what I'm seeing here."

Derrick Hatch [00:00:24]:
And so that's a lot of what my course here, my program does. The art of storytelling is really about immersing you in this world. What the art form is, the different ways that we express it, how each of us personally use it. As entrepreneurs, as leaders, as artists, in all these different ways.

Amber Stitt [00:00:44]:
In relationships really.

Derrick Hatch [00:00:46]:
Exactly. How do we find that storytelling voice that we have? How do we get clarity about what our story is, how we communicate it? And I found that as you do that, it changes the way you live the story of your life.

Amber Stitt [00:00:59]:
Interesting.

Derrick Hatch [00:01:00]:
Yeah.

Amber Stitt [00:01:02]:
Hello and welcome to Pathways Unleashed, a special edition of Pathways with Amber Stitt. The Pathways Unleashed podcasts were recorded with special guests and the authors of the Unleashed Entrepreneur and the Biohacking Entrepreneur, who were celebrating the book launches at the "Unleash Your Superpower" conference in Delray Beach, Florida in April 2025. Let's join the conversation.

Amber Stitt [00:01:27]:
Derek, we're live.

Derrick Hatch [00:01:30]:
Woo-hoo we're here.

Amber Stitt [00:01:30]:
We're at Pathways Live, which for me, Pathways is usually recorded out of Arizona. So I want to welcome everybody here today and all of our Owwll Network, our community there, as well as a lot of our friends that have been in the co-author space, but also that might be with us on Friday. You'll hear us talk about Barnes and Noble this Friday for a book signing. Lots of projects and a lot of authors that I'm interviewing today specifically, because I'm maybe a little bit of an inquisitive person. But stories are so important to help not only ourselves, but others. And I thought about doing this about a year ago with all these special books that we've been reading and publishing and the best sellers that we have access to. So I'm so excited that you are here today to watch all of us and capture some of the stories, but also hopefully be able to write your own story, whatever it is. I'm hoping that today will help motivate all of you.

Amber Stitt [00:02:25]:
So my first guest of the day, Derrick Hatch. Thanks for being here.

Derrick Hatch [00:02:29]:
Thank you so much for having me, Amber.

Amber Stitt [00:02:31]:
So, as I told you, it's very important to have you be the first, I think because you have always been a natural storyteller, and you talk about this in a new book. So let's pause there and do a little congratulations on your book launch. That's happening and it's real. As of Friday, we're gonna be holding them and celebrating that show.

Derrick Hatch [00:02:50]:
Cannot wait for that.

Amber Stitt [00:02:51]:
So it's a long time coming, though, right?

Derrick Hatch [00:02:53]:
It is, yeah. It's a lifelong dream that I've had. I've always been passionate about writing and storytelling, and so I've had these dreams of being a published author.

Derrick Hatch [00:03:02]:
And working with Wendi, working with Patricia, working with all these different co-authors. That moment has arrived where it's gonna be a physical, tangible book you can buy at Barnes and Noble, Amazon. It's a beautiful feeling.

Amber Stitt [00:03:14]:
Yeah. So I won't spoil it for anybody. You're gonna have to read it for yourself. But as I've gotten to know you through different...We've been on video calls with our community. Let's talk about All Things Narrative.

Derrick Hatch [00:03:25]:
Yeah.

Amber Stitt [00:03:25]:
Just even hearing your title of your...so you founded that, but you've always been a natural storyteller. So you talk...let's go back in time a little bit. I think you always had it in you that this was going to be a thing, and you kind of knew it. But can you share how this, from being young to present, how that kind of unfolded?

Derrick Hatch [00:03:41]:
Sure. I mean, being able to write stories, tell stories in different artistic mediums, you know, I share this in the book. But in first grade, I got to be in a play. I got to have the lead role. That was kind of like my first taste of, like, "Oh, I really like bringing stories to life in creative ways," and I'm a musician, as well. And so I've had a lot of different experiences in the arts in being able to play around in the world of storytelling. And so I feel like as my career has developed and my educational journey, it's always been there in some way, and I didn't always quite know that that's what it was. But when you look back on your story, when you take that time to reflect, you start to see, "Oh, that's the common theme. That's the thread that links everything together."

Derrick Hatch [00:04:30]:
That was about five years ago that I started to actually realize that. And then people would call me like, "Oh, you're the story guy. You're the narrative guy."

Derrick Hatch [00:04:38]:
And I was working as a teacher at a nonprofit, and I was always interested in helping people to bring their stories to light, to have a sense of clarity, of what their story is, the stories we tell ourselves, the stories we tell others. And what is the journey towards living our stories more intentionally, more meaningfully? And so that's what I've dedicated myself to, I feel like my whole life, just in different ways.

Amber Stitt [00:05:05]:
You're listening to Pathways with Amber Stitt. For more episodes like this, plus so much more, check out the podcast page at: AmberStitt.com Let's take action together! Now let's get back to our episode.

Amber Stitt [00:05:19]:
Now, I'm bringing this up because you're probably a natural, which then leads to you helping others do this in real life, because some people are gonna have that, but it's not...you're not feeling that calling yet, or you're not trusting it. So it's like you gave yourself some grace five years ago. You're like, "Okay, we're gonna do this, and I'm gonna make a change." So throughout the episodes with "Pathways Live Unleashed" here in Florida, Boca Raton, Florida, when we get through these episodes, there's this foundational element of like, "What are people asking of you?" And so you have these people coming to you, and you're like, "Well, that's not my job. I don't..." And then something comes to fruition. You're like, "Okay, you gotta trust that I'm actually good at this.

Amber Stitt [00:05:58]:
We're gonna make this happen." So the reason I wanted to bring that up is that also you have developed some courses, and this new world that you have is now helping others pull their story forward. Can you share a little bit about, I almost feel like this is something you wish you would have had when you were younger to say, "It's okay to be me and do these things." How is that then pulled into your curriculum and how you help people today?

Derrick Hatch [00:06:21]:
Great questions there. So, the entrepreneurial spirit goes way back throughout my life. And so what I found myself doing starting in high school was I was creating these spaces where we can just get together and have people here doing this. And I think that's half the battle, is making space and time in our lives for us to reflect on our story. Because life is busy. It moves quickly. Sometimes it's happening to us.

Derrick Hatch [00:06:48]:
We're reactive. We're not active. So how do we take the time to stop and reflect on our stories? And so when I eventually wanted to pursue a master's degree, I was like, "Oh, man, I want to do something that helps bring that together."

Derrick Hatch [00:07:02]:
And so there's a field of study called Narrative Therapy that I was very interested in. And as I studied it, I started developing what was going to become that course.

Derrick Hatch [00:07:11]:
That was actually my thesis innovation project was we had to create something that would be able to bring a lot of these ideas and principles and practices of the world of narrative to the people that we serve, the people that we want to reach.

Derrick Hatch [00:07:28]:
And we've all got a story. Everyone's got a story to tell.

Derrick Hatch [00:07:32]:
And even though you were talking about this idea of being a natural,

Derrick Hatch [00:07:36]:
I think everybody does have a storytelling voice and a style that is natural to them but we need someone to draw that out. We need someone to be able to listen and be able to coach and to be able to say, "Oh, this is what I'm seeing here."

Derrick Hatch [00:07:53]:
And so that's a lot of what my course here, my program does. The art of storytelling is really about immersing you in this world. What the art form is, the different ways that we express it, how each of us personally use it.

Derrick Hatch [00:08:08]:
As entrepreneurs, as leaders, as artists, in all these different ways.

Amber Stitt [00:08:13]:
In relationships really.

Derrick Hatch [00:08:15]:
Exactly. How do we find that storytelling voice that we have? How do we get clarity about what our story is, how do we communicate it? And I found that as you do that, it changes the way you live the story of your life.

Amber Stitt [00:08:28]:
Interesting.

Derrick Hatch [00:08:29]:
Yeah.

Amber Stitt [00:08:30]:
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Amber Stitt [00:08:53]:
Okay, so for somebody to get actual proof of this, reading your chapter in your book that we have "The Unleashed Entrepreneur". You weave this beautiful story of like almost a character. And I'm not going to give it away.

Derrick Hatch [00:09:06]:
Sure, sure.

Amber Stitt [00:09:06]:
To get full evidence of the proof of how you built one story, explaining it, you have evidence in how you wrote the book. But can you explain to the audience for the person listening, narrative? I mean, I could think of the Webster's definition. What does it mean to you? Narrative Therapy, what is that?

Derrick Hatch [00:09:25]:
Sure. What is that world?

Amber Stitt [00:09:26]:
You're the first person that's brought this up to me and I think it's fascinating.

Derrick Hatch [00:09:29]:
Yeah. So essentially the foundation is what we call the narrative metaphor, and that's that we make sense of our lives through stories. It's as simple as that.

Derrick Hatch [00:09:39]:
So as human beings, story has been a part of our...it's been a part of our language. It's universal across cultures, across different groups.

Derrick Hatch [00:09:49]:
It's always been there. And so storytelling is a way that we make sense of the world around us and that we make sense of the world within, as well.

Derrick Hatch [00:09:59]:
Of our own experiences, of our identity, of our relationships. And so narrative is essentially, we all have, not just a narrative, but we have many narratives about things.

Amber Stitt [00:10:11]:
Well, I think you read the word of God, or the history, let's call it history. History of any sort, whatever people are reading.

Derrick Hatch [00:10:16]:
Yeah.

Amber Stitt [00:10:17]:
There's always a story.

Derrick Hatch [00:10:18]:
There is.

Amber Stitt [00:10:18]:
People are traveling and not such great times and places and times and weather, and they got it done way before us. We're very lucky to be here at this point in time. But they were always telling the story and writing it in something. I mean, since the dawn of time we're communicating, and so it's important to share that. But we've been born doing that.

Derrick Hatch [00:10:38]:
Yeah. And there's great books that talk about this, as well. Like psychologically, the Storytelling Animal is a good one by Jonathan Gottschall, where it talks about how our brains, our psyches, everything about our being is wired for story.

Derrick Hatch [00:10:51]:
And so what I really get the pleasure of doing is unlocking that for people is being able to help people to realize that you have a story and it is unique to you.

Derrick Hatch [00:11:02]:
There's a paradox within narrative, which is that on the one hand, we have stories that are unique. No one has the same exact patterns of experiences in life. But at the same time, we have themes and ideas that we share together within our source, and that's how we connect with each other. People are going to read my chapter and the different chapters in this book, and there's going to be different things that they connect with in each person's story.

Derrick Hatch [00:11:25]:
So that's the beautiful paradox of narrative. And it's in that paradox that we ultimately are trying to make sense of life. And what does my life ultimately mean?

Amber Stitt [00:11:37]:
Purpose.

Derrick Hatch [00:11:38]:
Yeah.

Amber Stitt [00:11:38]:
From that, pulling it into business for a moment. There's people that say, "Study the people that you want to be like." So if you're reading these chapters, it could eventually you could borrow 5,000, 10,000 hours of someone else's studies to then pull it into your own world, in your own universe, to figure out where it could click in and bring purpose. So I know that you have a podcast, and in addition to the courses and the podcast, leading into this I'm going to ask everybody, what really was the catalyst to unleash this entrepreneurship for yourself? Was there a certain path, or was it pathways? Did it just...

Derrick Hatch [00:12:14]:
I think when we have stories and we become conscious of the stories that we're living, it's not just in the past and the present, but it's in the future. What is the story that I want my life to be told? We talk about legacy and these different words, but when we think about narrative, where do I ultimately want my life to go? And for me, I'm a father. I'm a husband. That's very, very important to me.

Derrick Hatch [00:12:38]:
And I want to be a father. I mean, my daughter's sitting right over there. I want to be a father that's all in for my family. And I wanted to create a lifestyle for myself where I could be more present with them, where I can do the things that I love, but on my own terms and not living somebody else's dream.

Derrick Hatch [00:12:58]:
And so that was really the catalyst was just realizing, "What do I want my story to be?" And starting a company, starting All Things Narrative, it gives me a lot more agency in how I want to be able to live out my story. And, I mean, in the last few years, I've just seen such a shift in my relationship with my kids, in my marriage, and just my overall sense of being and purpose.

Derrick Hatch [00:13:24]:
A sense of contentment that I have, even though as entrepreneurs, we're always looking for the next thing. But at the same time, I know that I'm doing what I'm called to do. And that's what gets me so excited, is I know this is the story, and that story is about helping people to unlock their story. And so it's just such a privilege to get to have that level of clarity and to chase after that narrative.

Amber Stitt [00:13:47]:
There's a bit of control in a good way, controlling your own narrative. But what you're ultimately talking about is leadership. And that's part of the reason why, even today, I was talking with some people here at the Owwll Studios. We are live at Owwll. The founder let us be here today talking through, "What do you do?" Well, part of this is also showing leadership. So whether or not it's to ourselves, to others, it's really we can show our fans that they can do it, too. So I think that's really special.

Amber Stitt [00:14:15]:
So I'm glad that you're able to do that and help others do that. I know you've mentioned a couple things that people can Google search. But how would you like people to find you so that they can work with you?

Derrick Hatch [00:14:24]:
Yeah. So, AllThingsNarrative.com has our coaching workshops, classes, events here in the South Florida area, and our podcast that you mentioned, as well. You can also find me on Instagram, @AllThingsNarrative. I'm on LinkedIn, I'm on Facebook. I'm on those different places, as well. So let's connect. I believe you have a story worth telling and at All Things Narrative we want to be your guide towards telling and living that story more meaningfully.

Amber Stitt [00:14:49]:
Do you think we should bring your daughter over real quick?

Derrick Hatch [00:14:51]:
Sure.

Amber Stitt [00:14:52]:
Do you want to come over? She's ready.

Derrick Hatch [00:14:54]:
So my daughter is here because it's take your kid to work day, and she told me, "Daddy, I want to be an author one day." So she writes.

Amber Stitt [00:15:00]:
She's writing her story right now.

Derrick Hatch [00:15:01]:
She's literally over there writing a book right now, so I'm really proud of her and honored that she can get to see this. She's a little shy, but it comes out in her writing.

Amber Stitt [00:15:10]:
That's the point. We all do it in our own ways. And so eventually that's where I felt like in your story from the chapter of the book, that you trusted your gut feeling. But, sometimes it takes some different, like, we talk about pathways to get to that point to be like, "All right, it's time to execute that." So I'm really excited that we can do that this week together and meet our crew in real life.

Derrick Hatch [00:15:28]:
So it's all a leap of faith.

Amber Stitt [00:15:30]:
Yep. Well, thanks for being here. I really appreciate it.

Derrick Hatch [00:15:32]:
Thank you so much, Amber, for having me.

Amber Stitt [00:15:34]:
Yep.

Amber Stitt [00:15:35]:
Thank you for joining us for this special edition of Pathways Unleashed, recorded at Owwll headquarters here in Delray Beach, Florida. Join us for more powerful conversations with real people who dare to design life on their own terms. Until next time, keep taking action on your unique path!