Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten: Opening Hearts Through Courageous Storytelling

2025-02-25

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How are you helping to crack open hearts and mend the frayed community we live in? In this episode, Jeff and Kelly discuss: Kelly’s transformational experience in South Africa in her early 20s. The beauty of meeting new people and learning from them. Identifying your superpower. The need for engaging, values-based entertainment and programming. Key Takeaways: We are all different. If you are curious and kind, you can always find something t...

How are you helping to crack open hearts and mend the frayed community we live in?

In this episode, Jeff and Kelly discuss:

Kelly’s transformational experience in South Africa in her early 20s.
The beauty of meeting new people and learning from them.
Identifying your superpower.
The need for engaging, values-based entertainment and programming.

Key Takeaways:

We are all different. If you are curious and kind, you can always find something that connects you to someone else.
One of the biggest risks to success and happiness is allowing the day to take us through without spending our time intentionally.
Be willing to take risks. Ask yourself at every juncture, do I want to go left or right? It will free you from the machine.
God’s time and path may not be what we expect, but it is guided by Him. Only in retrospect can we see that path.

"Our job is not to preach. Our job is to crack open hearts. And you crack open hearts with high emotional stakes, with the realization that people can find themselves and their stories on the screen." — Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten

Episode References:

The Spiritual Art of Business by Barry L. Rowan: amazon.com/Spiritual-Art-Business-Connecting-Divine/dp/1514007622
House of David - Coming February 27, 2025: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/House-of-David/0PGUBDIDXTNZZ0JDLMRZWK608M
Wall Street Journal: Religious Movies Are Sweeping Hollywood. Rich Investors Are Pouring In Millions. By John Jurgensen - https://www.wsj.com/style/house-of-david-jon-erwin-wonder-project-angel-studios-d31ac703

About Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, Chief Executive Officer, Wonder Project:

For the last 20 years, Kelly has been at the forefront of innovation in digital media and technology, holding senior leadership roles at Netflix, YouTube, and Aura.

Most recently, Kelly was President & COO at Aura where she spearheaded the company’s product and go-to-market strategy and oversaw the product, sales, marketing, and operations teams. From 2015-2021 Kelly served as Vice President of Content Partnerships at YouTube, where she led the global partnership strategy and management of content creators and media companies across the Americas. Prior to YouTube, Kelly was Vice President of content Acquisition at Netflix from 2007 to 2014, driving the company’s international expansion across markets in Western Europe, Canada, and Latin America. Kelly also held positions at Sony Pictures, Bain & Company, and Audax Group.

Connect with Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten:

Website: https://www.thewonderproject.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellymerryman/

Connect with Jeff Thomas:

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/