Heart-Centered Talks
That Inspire Connection,
Belonging, and Purpose.
Stephanie Cowan is a storyteller, community builder, and creative visionary who takes the stage with warmth, humor, and deep intention. With a background in musical theatre and over 15 years of professional performing experience, her return to the stage through speaking about the importance of belonging is a full-circle celebration of all the parts of who she is. Stephanie shares meaningful stories that awaken audiences and spark powerful shifts in how they connect with themselves, with others, and with their greater purpose.
About Stephanie
Stephanie Cowan is a heart-centered storyteller with a degree in Musical Theatre from Penn State. Her background includes 15 years as a professional actress in the New York area. Now, she brings that same stage presence and expressive storytelling to speaking engagements that blend performance, personal growth, and soulful connection.
Her talks are rooted in lived experience and crafted to open hearts. Whether she’s talking about giving a transformative hug or the power of belonging, Stephanie invites people into deeper reflection and more meaningful ways of showing up in the world. Her facilitation style is authentic, tender, and often joyfully unexpected.
Signature Talks
The Art of Giving a Good Hug (And Other Important Tools for Connection)
This talk is part playful demonstration, part heartfelt invitation into the science and soul of human connection. Stephanie explores how something as simple as a hug can be a profound tool for healing, belonging, and emotional well-being. Through stories, audience interaction, and unexpected moments of tenderness, she unpacks the deeper importance of physical connection in a world that often keeps us at arm’s length.
By the end, you’ll not only know how to give a truly great hug, you’ll also understand why touch, presence, and vulnerability are vital to creating communities where people feel seen, safe, and like they belong.
The Lost Art of Being a Neighbor: Reclaiming Belonging in a Disconnected World
Belonging isn’t something we earn or get invited into.It’s something we can build, moment by moment. In this powerful and personal talk, Stephanie explores how shifting from a “me” mindset to a “we” mentality can change the way we move through the world we come in contact with daily.
Drawing from her own experience as a neighbor, community builder, and connector, she shares simple yet profound practices for creating belonging in everyday life. From learning her grocers names to coffee in the courtyard, you’ll leave with both the mindset and tools to start weaving yourself into the fabric of your surroundings, no matter where you are.
This talk is an invitation to remember that we don’t have to wait for permission to feel like we belong. We get to co-create it with the world around us.
Following the Invisible String: Discovering Your Life Purpose with Curiosity and Courage
Purpose is often seen as a grand destination we must chase, but what if it is more like an invisible thread gently guiding you through life? In this talk, you will explore how to tune in to those subtle signals, those moments of curiosity, joy, and even discomfort that quietly point toward your true calling.
Rather than chasing a fixed plan, discovering your purpose becomes a courageous journey of following the invisible string wherever it leads.
You will learn how to listen deeply to your inner compass, trust the process, and embrace the unknown with curiosity. This talk invites you to shift from confusion and overwhelm to clarity and confidence by honoring the small, meaningful signs that light up your path. It is a story of transformation, reminding you that purpose is not found outside of you but is uncovered within, patiently waiting to be discovered.
The Power of Costume: How Your Clothes Open the World Around You
Your clothes are more than fabric draped on your body. They're a language your soul speaks before you ever say a word. In this vibrant and deeply personal talk, Stephanie takes audiences on a journey through the transformative aisles of thrift stores, where she's spent a lifetime dreaming up what forgotten treasures could become. From handmaking costumes as a child to decorating thrift store finds today, she reveals how creative clothing choices can open an entirely new dimension of human connection.
Drawing from her theatrical background and personal evolution as a costume creator, Stephanie explores how what we wear becomes a beacon that signals to the world who we truly are. Through vulnerable storytelling and empowering insights, she shows how intentional self-expression through clothing communicates our essence, inviting conversations, opportunities, and connections we never imagined possible.
You'll leave inspired to see your wardrobe as a powerful tool for opening doors, understanding how the courage to dress as your truest self can transform not just how you feel, but how the world responds to you. This talk is an invitation to let your soul shine through your style, and discover the magic that happens when you dress not to fit in, but to signal who you are to a world waiting to meet you.
The Magnetic Life: How Small Acts of Creative Courage Build Extraordinary Communities
Community doesn't just happen, it's cultivated with intention, creativity, and a little bit of magic. In this engaging talk, Stephanie shares innovative approaches to bringing people together that go beyond traditional networking or surface-level socializing. From hosting Club New Friends in her living room to organizing neighborhood block parties, she reveals how small, creative gestures can spark authentic connections that build lasting community bonds.
You'll discover how to create gatherings that feel meaningful rather than obligatory, and how to design experiences that invite people to show up as their whole selves. Whether you're looking to strengthen existing relationships or create new ones from scratch, you'll leave with practical tools and fresh inspiration for becoming the kind of person who naturally draws community together!
