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Dare To Own You | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 297: Liz Brunner

Dare To Own You | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 297: Liz Brunner

Dare To Own You | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 297: Liz Brunner

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  • Dare To Own You | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 297: Liz Brunner
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Click a timestamp below to be taken to the exact spot in the episode…

My guest this week is Liz Brunner, the CEO and founder of Brunner Communications and best-selling author of Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams Into Your Next Chapter. 

Liz is sought by high-profile people and organizations to build meaningful reputations and powerful brand identities within their markets. She is also a frequent speaker at corporate conventions.

In 2020, Liz launched her podcast, Live Your Best Life with Liz Brunner, where she shares stories of recreation. All of her guests have taken their life experiences, the good and the bad, the successes and even the failures, and used that knowledge to not only create their “next chapters,” but to inspire others as well. 

Liz also founded the Brunner Academy of online learning in 2020, with a goal to provide access to high quality speaker training. Her flagship masters public speaking course, How to be a Rock Star Public Speaker, has received high praise. 

5:40 – Liz 101

  • Liz is a classically trainer singer, former journalist and now an entrepreneur and best-selling author.
  • She wants to continue teaching, motivating and inspiring people to live their best lives and find their authentic lives. 

8:31 – From teacher to journalist

  • No knowledge or experience is ever wasted, even if it wasn’t what you planned to do.
  • When Liz was a teacher and a journalist, she was telling stories. There is a connection between different jobs.

13:20 – Why journalism?

  • When she taught high school music, Liz thought there was something more she should do, but she wasn’t sure what it was. 
  • She thought about being an architect or psychologist. She heard about informational interviews, so she called up TV stations and asked for a job.

17:50 – Chasing perfection

  • Sometimes being imperfect is more perfect, because you’re being your best authentic self. 

20:57 – Living her purpose

  • Liz has interviewed presidents and other important people, but the work she’s doing now is more fulfilling. 
  • She has found her purpose and what she is meant to do in this world.

28:08 – A mosaic identity

  • Liz calls herself a “mosaic” because she is a blend of many different nationalities. 
  • She was bullied at times because of her ethnicity. 

40:36 – What’s next?

  • Liz has added new courses to her online learning academy.

42:37 – Get to know you

  • Who was she most nervous to interview? President Obama
  • Guilty pleasure? Chocolate candy and cupcakes

FEATURED QUOTES

I want to continue to teach. I want to continue to motivate. I want to continue to inspire people to live their best life, whatever that is. 

Sometimes being imperfect is more perfect, because you’re being your best authentic self. 

I am doing my purpose and what I was meant to do in this world.

CONNECT:

  • https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Own-You-Authenticity-Chapter-ebook/dp/B09JN6QKFN
  • https://lizbrunner.com/
  • https://www.brunneracademy.com/

About Liz Brunner:

Best-selling author, Executive Communications Coach, Motivational Speaker, Podcast Host, and Emmy award-winning journalist. Liz Brunner’s television career spanned 28 years and featured many memorable highlights. Along with co-anchoring the #1 rated 6pm newscast at ABC-TV, WCVB NewsCenter 5 in Boston, she conducted exclusive one-on-one interviews with prominent figures ranging from professional athletes to global political leaders including President Barack Obama as well as cultural icons such as Oprah Winfrey.

In 2013, Liz excitedly embarked upon her next chapter, becoming the CEO and Founder of Brunner Communications and launched BrunnerAcademy.com in 2020. Both are dedicated to helping people find their authentic voice, tell their story and lead with presence. Liz is also the host of the Live Your Best Life with Liz Brunner podcast, on which she guides her guests to share their stories of self-discovery and re-creation. Listeners around the world join in on the journey, garnering inspiration from the wisdom shared. Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams into Your Next Chapter is her first book.

A classically trained vocal performer and former high school music educator, Liz holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. She has performed with the Boston Pops and at professional sporting events for teams including the Boston Celtics, the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, among others.

  • Connect with Liz Brunner on:
  • Instagram @lizbrunner
  • Facebook @OfficialLizBrunner
  • Twitter @LizBrunner
  • LinkedIn
  • Official site LizBrunner.com

Thank you to our partner of the show!

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Some seasons stretch you in ways you wouldn’t choose, but end up shaping you anyway. Today, I finished my fourth semester of seminary (I`m officially halfway through!) in the middle of a beautiful and hard season... it reminded me that growth doesn’t come from having it all figured out. It comes from showing up, staying connected, and trusting that what’s forming quietly now will matter later.

Grateful for the lessons I didn’t plan on learning. 🤍

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Some seasons stretch you in ways you wouldn’t choose, but end up shaping you anyway. Today, I finished my fourth semester of seminary (I'm officially halfway through!) in the middle of a beautiful and hard season... it reminded me that growth doesn’t come from having it all figured out. It comes from showing up, staying connected, and trusting that what’s forming quietly now will matter later. 

Grateful for the lessons I didn’t plan on learning. 🤍

⭐️ ONE MONTH ⭐️

How is she one month already? Also, why was my pregnancy 753 years long, but she was born five seconds ago. This girl has been the greatest blessing and surprise of our lives and we are obsessed with her.

Her quilt handmade by my dear friend @beakersandbobbins is perfect for this btw. 😭🥹😍 #galileejoy

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⭐️ ONE MONTH ⭐️ 

How is she one month already? Also, why was my pregnancy 753 years long, but she was born five seconds ago. This girl has been the greatest blessing and surprise of our lives and we are obsessed with her. 

Her quilt handmade by my dear friend @beakersandbobbins is perfect for this btw. 😭🥹😍 #galileejoy

Can’t stop won’t stop.

#galileejoy #newbornlife #babyhumor

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Can’t stop won’t stop. 

#galileejoy #newbornlife #babyhumor

Just got our maternity pictures back and I love them so much. And so thankful we got them taken in the nick of time. Grateful doesn’t cut it. 📸 @stellaandbirdiephotography //

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Just got our maternity pictures back and I love them so much. And so thankful we got them taken in the nick of time. Grateful doesn’t cut it. 📸 @stellaandbirdiephotography //

Extra extra thankful this year. Happy Thanksgiving from the fab-5 Stillman crew. 🦃🍁🍽🧡

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Extra extra thankful this year. Happy Thanksgiving from the fab-5 Stillman crew. 🦃🍁🍽🧡

Two weeks with this punkin’ and I’m wondering if there’s some sort of serum we could give her to keep her this precious and tiny forever. Also, this is a Galilee fan account now. #galileejoy

(sweater from her seminary auntie @13buttercreamstreet)

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Two weeks with this punkin’ and I’m wondering if there’s some sort of serum we could give her to keep her this precious and tiny forever. Also, this is a Galilee fan account now. #galileejoy 

(sweater from her seminary auntie @13buttercreamstreet)

On #worldprematurityday, our preemie, Galilee Joy, would like to say: “Already this household is bending to my every will! Muahahahahaha.”

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On #worldprematurityday, our preemie, Galilee Joy, would like to say: “Already this household is bending to my every will! Muahahahahaha.”

World, meet the miracle we never knew we’d witness… our daughter, the best surprise of our lives: Galilee Joy Stillman.

I’ve wrestled with how I’d even begin to write a post like this, but at this point, this is my imperfect attempt. For those that have followed along, in 2018, we lost our sons Elijah and Malachi in back-to-back second trimester losses. After that, we essentially were told we couldn’t have more children and so we’d grieved, but accepted the reality, and trusted God in it all.

Fast forward to April of 2025, and I find myself with the surprise of a lifetime - a positive pregnancy test. We chose to keep the news close to ourselves and just our close friends and family… this pregnancy was not without its complications (pregnant at 40 is NO JOKE 🥴), but God’s hand was in every detail. Also, hiding this from the internet was a challenge! 😂

This past Monday, I went in for a routine OB checkup at 35 weeks and, long story long, ended up in the hospital, diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and sent into an emergency c-section. Our miracle was born at 5:25pm and the sound of her cry filled the room with JOY. We didn’t find out her gender until birth so hearing “it’s a girl!” was such sweet news!

This week has not been without its challenges for us both and we’re not out of the hospital yet, but we’re thankful that God’s been protecting us all along. I’m at a loss for words at how the people in our lives have showed up for us this week and beyond. There aren’t enough thank yous to adequately express our gratitude.

I’ll share her full birth story at some point because it’s a doozy.

For those who pray, we will gladly accept any you would like to send our way.

For now, enjoy a few pics of our Galilee Joy. 💕 #galileejoy

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World, meet the miracle we never knew we’d witness… our daughter, the best surprise of our lives: Galilee Joy Stillman. 

I’ve wrestled with how I’d even begin to write a post like this, but at this point, this is my imperfect attempt. For those that have followed along, in 2018, we lost our sons Elijah and Malachi in back-to-back second trimester losses. After that, we essentially were told we couldn’t have more children and so we’d grieved, but accepted the reality, and trusted God in it all. 

Fast forward to April of 2025, and I find myself with the surprise of a lifetime - a positive pregnancy test. We chose to keep the news close to ourselves and just our close friends and family… this pregnancy was not without its complications (pregnant at 40 is NO JOKE 🥴), but God’s hand was in every detail. Also, hiding this from the internet was a challenge! 😂

This past Monday, I went in for a routine OB checkup at 35 weeks and, long story long, ended up in the hospital, diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and sent into an emergency c-section. Our miracle was born at 5:25pm and the sound of her cry filled the room with JOY. We didn’t find out her gender until birth so hearing “it’s a girl!” was such sweet news!

This week has not been without its challenges for us both and we’re not out of the hospital yet, but we’re thankful that God’s been protecting us all along. I’m at a loss for words at how the people in our lives have showed up for us this week and beyond. There aren’t enough thank yous to adequately express our gratitude. 

I’ll share her full birth story at some point because it’s a doozy. 

For those who pray, we will gladly accept any you would like to send our way. 

For now, enjoy a few pics of our Galilee Joy. 💕  #galileejoy

Six years ago I felt God calling me to go to Seminary. I ignored that call, coming up with excuse after excuse as to why I shouldn’t or why I *couldn’t* do it. Then in 2024, God swung the door to attend @denverseminary wide open to join the Women’s Leadership Cohort and practically shoved me through.

I’m finishing my first full year and just completed my first residency week on campus studying the Epistles and Revelation. I didn’t know what to expect walking into this week, but any expectation I COULD have had was completely blown away.

To study under the brilliant Dr. Joey Dodson (@jrrdodson) and guests like @preston.sprinkle, @madisonpiercephd, @studies_in_revelation, and more was incredible. To learn alongside some of the most brilliant women I’ve ever met was a gift.

I’m leaving with even more questions than I arrived with, but also more assurance that I am PRECISELY where I am supposed to be. I can’t help but smile thinking about the Apostle Paul learning that in 2025 a group of WOMEN are studying the Word of God and how much that would delight him. I pray I steward this responsibility well. #womeninseminary #densem #denverseminary #seminary #densemwlc #womensleadershipcohort

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Six years ago I felt God calling me to go to Seminary. I ignored that call, coming up with excuse after excuse as to why I shouldn’t or why I *couldn’t* do it. Then in 2024, God swung the door to attend @denverseminary wide open to join the Women’s Leadership Cohort and practically shoved me through. 

I’m finishing my first full year and just completed my first residency week on campus studying the Epistles and Revelation. I didn’t know what to expect walking into this week, but any expectation I COULD have had was completely blown away. 

To study under the brilliant Dr. Joey Dodson (@jrrdodson) and guests like @preston.sprinkle, @madisonpiercephd, @studies_in_revelation, and more was incredible. To learn alongside some of the most brilliant women I’ve ever met was a gift. 

I’m leaving with even more questions than I arrived with, but also more assurance that I am PRECISELY where I am supposed to be. I can’t help but smile thinking about the Apostle Paul learning that in 2025 a group of WOMEN are studying the Word of God and how much that would delight him. I pray I steward this responsibility well. #womeninseminary #densem #denverseminary #seminary #densemwlc #womensleadershipcohort

“Let the strength of your passion match the depth of your study.”
-Preston Sprinkle

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“Let the strength of your passion match the depth of your study.”
-Preston Sprinkle
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