What if 2026 isn’t about more content—but about more connection?

In this episode of The Story Craft Podcast, Dr. Meg Adams is joined by Amber Zaricor, one of Tennessee’s Top 10 Designers and the founder of Copperheart Creative.

Amber is also the creator of the Fill Your Cup Conference, an in-person experience designed to help career women slow down, reconnect, and rediscover what lights them up. As host of the Small Business Big Heart, Amber has spent years listening to the stories of entrepreneurs who lead with empathy and heart.

Together, Meg and Amber explore why thoughtfully designed in-person events are essential for real connection, creativity, and sustainable leadership, especially as our lives become more shaped by screens and algorithms.

Through a Whole Story Living lens, this conversation invites leaders, creatives, and entrepreneurs to rethink what it means to gather and how shared stories can help us feel more human again.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why in-person gatherings are critical for connection in 2026

• What makes an event feel meaningful, not transactional

• How storytelling creates trust and belonging in shared spaces

• Why slowing down is a leadership skill—not a luxury

• How to design experiences that people remember long after they leave

If you’re craving deeper connection and more intentional community, this episode is for you.