For years, as a Boston broadcaster, I shared stories from NBA coaches to politicians to authors, in weekly radio interviews. When I later became a full-time voice-actor, I also pursued my first passion, writing. As a presentation coach,I help professionals tell better stories about themselves and what they do.

What all of these things have in common is storytelling. Experience says whether it’s in fiction or real life, our most compelling stories involve change. Some of it good. Some, well, I’m looking at you 2020.

It’s been a year of change, both unexpected and often unwelcome:A global pandemic, an uncertain economy, job losses, cancelled and postponed celebrations.There’s been social division and a national reckoning of systemic racism.

Let’s not even talk about the election.

It’s also a time of great kindness and generosity we extend to each other and strangers. The compassion of first responders and the tireless care from medical professionals. The pivot toward staying social andkeeping close to loved ones, albeit virtually.

Many of us more fully embrace the idea that, as Martin Luther King, Jr. said ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.’ That we have a lot to learn but realize our education starts with listening.

John Lennon famously sang, ‘Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.’

We have all experienced our lives interrupted, disrupted, sometimes shattered by change. And sometimes luck, maybe timing does play into where we find ourselves. But we don’t have to stay stuck in a bad situation or define ourselves by our circumstances. Easier said than done.

One holiday season years ago I was driving with my three-year old son to visit family for Christmas. I got lost, and headed in the opposite direction of our destination.Of course I voiced that frustration to my child.

The street we turned onto was a fantasia of over-the-top holiday lights,festive decorations.A cul-de-sac of cozy homes glowing bright through winter’s darkness. My son turned to me and said, ‘Sometimes a wrong turn is really a right turn.’ The wisdom of children never ceases to delight and humble me.

So, yes, we take wrong turns, or suddenly veer of the highway. But we can take the wheel, and guide that car, bike, boat, or plane to where we want to venture next.

Embark is all about what’s next. How a scientific experiment leads to a life-saving treatment.How we make work environments a little more human. How from a well of pain and loss we find limitless reserves of hope, optimism and love.

Please join us for stories that change lives. Discover what’s next on Embark at embarkthepodcast.com.