Twenty-five years ago, I wrote my first published article. One word, I now realize, could have changed its meaning. September 12, 2001, was my first day as a published journalist. I was a college student writing for my student newspaper, and my editor was asking for an opinion piece about the attacks of September 11. Its title was “Tragedy strikes but everyday life goes on.” … Continue reading Remembering 9/11 Through the Power of Words
At a recent Pony Club rally preparation workshop, riders and parents gathered for a one-hour communications session led by Stephanie Threinen, founder of Cool, Comms, Collected. Designed for participants ages 8 to 18 and their families, the workshop focused on helping riders communicate with professionalism, courtesy, and confidence—skills that are essential when interacting with judges during both riding classes and Horse Management inspections. In Pony … Continue reading Workshop Recap: Staying Cool, Calm, and Collected—In the Saddle and in Communication
A highlight of local author John W. Howell, who shared his creative journey as a featured guest a 3Cs storytelling workshop. After a long business career, John reinvented himself as a writer, publishing eight novels. During the workshop, he discussed how storytelling follows the Hero’s Journey—a model that mirrors our own lives and personal growth. His message reminded everyone that storytelling isn’t just about fiction—it’s about finding meaning, connection, and self-understanding in everyday life. Continue reading Author John W. Howell and the Journey of Storytelling
As theater students at a private high school in downtown Austin, Texas prepared for their upcoming competition season in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) One Act Play Division, they recently took time to strengthen a skill that is just as important as memorizing lines or hitting stage marks: communication. Stephanie Threinen, founder of Cool, Comms, Collected, led an interactive workshop with … Continue reading Workshop Recap: Communication Takes Center Stage
When I set the lights low and place a flickering Mythologie Candle on the table during our Cool, Comms, Collected (3Cs) storytelling workshop, something quietly shifts in the room. The scent we’re burning is called Garden Party—but the real magic isn’t in the fragrance alone. It’s in the story the candle invites you to step into. I ask everyone to close their eyes while I … Continue reading Immersive Storytelling with Mythologie Candles
Curiosity starts with seeing things differently. In our first Cool, Comms, Collected workshop, we used the visual connection game OuiSi to spark new ways of thinking, laughing, and learning together. What started as a simple matching game became a powerful reminder that curiosity isn’t about having answers — it’s about being open to what we don’t know. Continue reading Discovering Curiosity with OuiSi: Finding the Familiar in the Unfamiliar
Cool, Comms, Collected 