Changing the Rules
Self-Improvement
About
With Ray Loewe — The Luckiest Guy in the WorldEvery week, Changing the Rules invites you to imagine — and live — a life designed by you. Host Ray Loewe believes every person is a unique original with talents, passions, and quirks that make them one of a kind. When you embrace your uniqueness, you escape the rules others have imposed — and you gain the freedom to flourish.Our guests are living proof. They come from all walks of life and have each designed lives that look completely different — yet they share one thing in common: pure joy. You’ll feel it in their voices, see it in their choices, and sense it in every story they tell.Some overcame loss, illness, or transitions. Others broke free from limbo — that gray space where you’re neither happy nor unhappy. Through courage and self-discovery, they each found their way back to joy.Their stories won’t tell you how to live your life — they’ll inspire you to design your own. Because their joy may be theirs, but the same joy is waiti
Episodes
- E246: Storytelling: How to Tap Your Creative Genius, Guest, Rebecca Hoffman
In this episode of Changing the Rules, hosts Ray Loewe and Mary Ann Steinhauer welcome Rebecca Hoffman, founder of Good Egg Concepts and keynote speaker for the March 2026 Friends Connection Forum. Building on her inspiring presentation fr…
- E245: Leadership: What Lou Holtz Taught Navy Vice Admiral Dan Cooper, Guest, Dan Cooper
What if the best leadership lessons aren’t found in boardrooms… or even on the battlefield? In this episode of Changing the Rules, Ray Loewe sits down with Vice Admiral Dan Cooper (Ret.) to explore leadership through an unexpected lens—a l…
- E244: What the Obituary Missed: Remembering a Life Through Stories
“I lost a friend this week.” That’s how this episode begins—with a simple sentence that opens the door to something much deeper. After reading an impressive obituary filled with accomplishments and milestones, host Ray Loewe is left with a…
- E243: Meet the Reverend Legs Malone, Guest, Anna Brooke
What happens when you stop following the “expected path”… and start following your heart instead? In this episode of Changing the Rules, hosts Ray Loewe and Mary Ann Steinhauer sit down with Anna Brooke—better known to audiences as Rev. Le…
- E242: Designing Great Projects—and an Even Better Life, Guests, Dawn Mahan
Host: Ray Loewe Cohost: MaryAnn Steinhauer What if project management wasn’t just about timelines and deliverables… …but about storytelling, inspiration, and living life on your terms? Dawn Mahan is one of the “Luckiest People in the World…
- E241: More Than Time: The Stories We Wear on Our Wrists, Guest, Bill Hughes
Ray Loewe, MaryAnn Steinhauer, Bill Hughes and John Gardner “Most of us think of a watch as something that tells time. But what if a watch actually holds time? Today’s guest owns more than 60 watches—not because he needs them, but because…
- E240: The Sweetness of Doing Nothing… Over a Glass of Wine, Guest, Justina Latura
Host Ray Loewe Co-Host - MaryAnn Steinhauer Guest - Justina Latura, What if wine wasn’t just something you drink… but something you experience? In this episode of Changing the Rules, we sit down with Justina Latura, owner of the Vine Bar i…
- E239: The Mirracle of Applied Improv, Guest, Dr. Sally Harrison-Pepper
For many people, the word “improv” triggers: “I have to be funny.” “I have to perform.” "I might be embarrassed," “I’m not an actor.” But Impied Improv keeps the spirit of improv but removes the “acting” pressure, and it helps - Spontaneou…
- E238: "The Greatest Risk In Life Is Running Out Of Meaning," Guest, Dale Power
Guest: Dale Power - Inventor, :Reimagine Your Retirement" Host: Ray Loewe Co-host: Mary Ann Steinhauer - One of our "Luckiest People" finds herself way off track at age 51 and uses an "Outward Bound Experience" to explode her way back on t…
- E237: A Great Golf Story, Guest, Robert Kleckner
Making his passion his life, Robert went from golfer to golf course manager to golf course owner, living his life on his own terms. Robert shares some of the challenges he encountered and some of the innovations that helped him achieve his…
- E236: Authentic Influence Group, Guest, Shelly O'Donovan
Host: Ray Loewe Co-host: Mary Ann Steinhauer Guest: Shelly O'Donovan, Authentic Influence Group We communicate all the time through our actions, comments, and body language. When we're doing it right, we can create incredible opportunities…
- E235: My Two Hearing Goddesses, Guests, Dr. Heather Eck & Dr. Kerry Hermann
Host: Ray Loewe Co-host: Mary Ann Steinhauer Guests: Dr. Heather Eck andDr. Kerry Hermann, IntegrityForward Hearing Solutions -------- Hearing loss can slowly and sneakily impede your relationships. You don't know you're not hearing what y…
- E234: It's Not Just A Cup of Coffee, Guests, John Gardner & Jeff Lincoln
Host: Ray Loewe, Co-host Mary Ann Steinhauer. Don Helin, Guest, John Gardner, Guest, Jeff Lincoln, Owner, Passero's Coffee Roasters What's your relationship with coffee? What's your history with coffee? Join us for a lively discussion on h…
- E233: Viking Sagas, The Story Behind The Story, Guest, Don Helin
Host - Ray Loewe Co-host Mary Ann Steinhauer Guest - Don Helin Don didn't think his heritage was all that exciting until he started probing beyond the lives of some Minnesota farmers to a small town in Norway, the home of many of his famil…
- E232: It Started With A Letter, Guest, Lana Edwards Santoro
Host: Ray Loewe Co-host: Mary Ann Steinhauer Guest: Lana Edwards Santoro It Started with a Letter is about the importance of your story and why you need to tell it.
- E231: How Do The Luckiest People Deal With The Winter Blues?
Host: Ray Loewe, Co-Host: Mary Ann Steinhauer, and our podcast team talk about how they stay engaged and on track when winter starts to get them down.
- E230: Where Good Stories Come From - Guests, Don Helin, Phil Fretz, Julie Stauffer
Word has been getting around about our Storytelling Dinners. People keep asking the same questions: How do I get to one? What kind of story should I tell? Where do the best stories in my life even come from? And how do I make a good story…
- E229: Looking Ahead to 2026
The mission hasn't changed. We're still about helping the luckiest people get lucky, stay lucky, and get around the obstacles that get in their way. But there will be greater emphasis on the people who help them and the conversations they…
- E228: Storytelling: With Don Helin & Ray Loewe
Don & Ray talk about how to pull your stories out of you and then tell stories. Stories in this episode: 1. Don talks about his first job. 2. Ray talks about rediscovering the Aurora Borealis. Don talks about "Do we really want to do this?…
- E227: Telling Your Story, Guest, Clemence Scouten
Clemence is the owner of "Memoirs and More." Memoirs are the stories, and more are family histories. Genealogy is the skeleton of the family, but stories are the flesh & blood. How do you begin to tell yours, and why should you tell it?
- E226: Grandfluence, Guest, Joan McWilliams
Joan is an Attorney, Mediator, and Grandparent. In this episode, she talks about the positive influence grandparents have on their grandchildren, but how they often lack the power to follow through.
- E225: The Five Generations, Guest, John Gardner
In this episode, host Ray Loewe and John Gardner explore the idea of “The Five Generations” — how generational context shapes opportunity, social mobility, and perceptions of success across time. The conversation examines how families and…
- E224: The Power of the Story: From Puppets to Balloons to Antique Cars, Guests, Mary Ann and the Two Janes
Host Ray Loewe and guests Jane Armstrong, a puppeteer and ventriloquist; Jane Grove, a storyteller and driver of antique cars; and Mary Ann Steinhauer, a hot air balloon pilot and writer, discuss the power of the story in their lives. Lots…
- E223: Starting that New Business Venture, Guests, Christina Warfel & Katie Gordon
Two single women. A meeting by fate. The creation of a new business venture, Survival. Growth. And now the trials and tribulations of expansion. Now throw in some kids, horses, and chickens, and you have today's interview.
- E222: My Story Coach - More on how to tell stories, Guest, Rebecca Hoffman
Meaningful stories and how we might tell them to a friendly, supportive group. Transitioning into stories, crafting a good story, middling, competitive vacationing, etc. How do you find your best stories? How to practice and improve your s…
- E221: The Value of Sharing Stories, Guests: Helin. Stauffer, Steinhauer
Four storytellers talk about their experiences creating and sharing stories and how stories enhance their relationships with both family and friends.
- E220: Building a Legacy Through the Arts, Guest, Phil Fretz
Phil discusses "Exploring the Arts" by starting with a piece of art and then combining it with written commentary, music, and verbal comments. He also discusses his involvement in storytelling, ranging from prose to poetry, and how he comm…
- E219: An Incredible Story, Guest: Tracey Gates
Tracey Gates, author of "A Few Kind Words," a previous keynote speaker at our Friends Connection Forum, and a previous guest on "Changing the Rules," shares a story that begins with trusting and ultimately comes full circle, back to trust.…
- E218: Stories Make Conversations Better, Guest,Rebecca Hoffman
Rebecca Hoffman, owner of Good Egg Concepts, is a marketing & branding consultant based in the Chicago Metro Area. But to me, Rebecca will always be my storytelling coach. Rebecca introduced me to the world of storytelling with some simple…
- E217: Storyteller, Guest: Geoff Boyer
There is nothing like a good story to boost and improve conversation. Meet Geoff Boyer, parent, grandparent, and businessman. Learn how he uses stories across all three platforms.
- E216: "You Gotta Have Heart," Guests, Marybeth Neyhard & Robin Olson
Both Marybeth and Robin suffered unexpected medical events that derailed their lives and could have derailed them long-term. Yet, both continue today to live their lives under their terms. Support Groups were key to both in achieving what…
- E215: Creating Family Treasures...Stories that Bridge the Ages, Guest, Joyce Debarger
Stories that bridge the ages are sometimes called Living Stories, Generational stories, or Legacy stories. They're stories that bridge generations and often evolve over time. They can memorialize the original creator. And they can create s…
- E214: The Art of the Story, Guests, Don Helin & Brian Giersch
In the first of several podcasts on storytelling, host Ray Loewe discusses the importance of the story as an effective means of communication.
- E213: Don't Let Intimidation Steal Your Joy, Guest, Ray Loewe
Ever felt lost in an art museum? I used to feel frustrated and intimidated, surrounded by masterpieces I just didn’t get. That changed when I met Joanie—an art appreciation teacher for five-year-olds—who shared her simple yet powerful Five…
- E212: Life's Four Critical Decisions, Guest, John Thackrah
We make hundreds of choices every day. Although all are important, most have short-term implications. John cites four that have longer-term consequences. Once made, they are harder to change and often involve financial and other challenges…
- E211: Changing the Rules: Artificial Intelligence Reviews Our First Six Months of 2025
Artificial Intelligence (NotebookLM) reviews our first six months of Changing the Rules. What did we really say?
- E210: The Power of Gratitude: A Year of Appreciation Letters, Guest, Bonnie Shay
Bonnie Shay introduced me to Tracey Gates, a speaker, at our Friends Connection Forum in June 2025. Before attending the Forum, Bonnie had already begun her adventure of writing a letter of gratitude every day for 365 gays. She comments on…
- E209: The Camping Box : A Story in Sixteen Pictures, Guest, Brian Giersch
While sitting in a workshop on "Telling Your Story With A Few Curated Photos," Brian had an inspiration. An image of an old camping box led to a series of photos that conjured up old memories and a photobook, "My Life In Sixteen Photos.' S…
- E208: The Entrepreneurs' Entrepreneur, Guest, Marc Bernstein
Marc is a podcaster and radio show host geared toward the entrepreneur.. Marc and Ray discuss the characteristics of entrepreneurs, particularly "river people & goal people." Discover whether you are a "river person or a goal person." Do y…
- E207: Inspired by Things that Lie on the Edge of Reality, Guest, Jen Delozier
Jen's Journey from Physician to Author. Two concepts that drive Jen's writing: (1) Inspired by things that lie on the edge of reality. (2)The truth is stranger than fiction. Now, imagine two books: (1) Blood Type X and (2) The Photo Thief.…
- E206: Inside the Mind of Joel Burcat, Author, Guest, Joel Burcat
The Whiz Kid is a collaborative effort born from his late father's unfinished novella. How does an author create a plot, characters, and a Title? Let's explore this unique situation: Joel, the Author, is legally blind. Joel contends with b…
- E205: Celebrating Her Life, Guest Terry Webb
Ray talks with Terri Webb about her experience of celebrating her life, in her own words. Get advice on creating your own Living Celebration.
- E204: Overcoming Blindness To Continue His Writing Career, Guest, Joel Burcat, Guest Host, Don Helin
The Joel Burcat Story: Perseverance and adapting to challenges. Transitioning from an environmental lawyer to a writer. Joel discusses how he began writing and the support he received from the writing community. Then, facing a significant…
- E202: A Tale of Two Nurses, Guests, Gail Miller and Marjorie Heschberger
This year, Nurses Day falls on May 8. During the weeks before, I had the privilege of interviewing ten nurses. This podcast is the story of two of them, Gail Miller and Marjorie Heschberger. Both Gail and Marjorie had diverse nursing caree…
- LOUIS PELLICCIONI - Success is more than winning
College sports today, paying players, the portal. Integrity in sports. Helping high school students succeed.
- E200: Living Life My Way, Guest, Dawn Mahan
Dawn makes her life work for her. Listen as she talks about: The Global Village in Cambodia, Scuba - underwater with no phones, no interruptions The Philadelphia - Key West Connection
- E199: The WATTPAD Chronicles, Guest Host, Don Helin, Guest, Dennis Royer
Dennis Royer, an author, has found a unique medium to publish his dozen or so novels. WATTPAD.com offers a free platform that exposes him to 90 million readers. Yes, that's correct. He keeps total ownership, republishing rights, and the op…
- E197: Overcoming Hearing Issues for Better Relationships, Guests, Heather Eck & Keri Herman
If what you said is not what I heard, we have a problem. Is it a physical problem, a concentration problem, or more?
- E196: Four Valuable Concepts for Getting Back on Track, Guest, Garritt Fleming
What happens when a life event gets in the way of living your life? And, more important, how do you get back on track? Host Ray Loewe & Guest The Reverend Garritt Fleming discuss four valuable concepts that work: The Rope of Hope, The Powe…
- E195: "Toxic Pulpit," A Thriller Novel, Guest, Don Helin
for more: www.donhelin.com