A first-person YouTube monologue by Sandi L Boucher (Red Thunderbolt, Loon clan; Seine River First Nation, Treaty 3) reflecting on why her public talks and videos resonate with audiences. She shares personal context (moving, a dental infection, holding a microphone) and professional background (about 15 years delivering keynotes, seminars, workshops). She attributes audience connection to sensing love, authenticity, and vulnerability—prompted by a Robin Sharma remark in an Ed Mylett interview—while grounding her stance in her Anishinaabe/Ojibwe identity and spiritual beliefs. The video ends with gratitude and an invitation for viewers to say what resonates for them.
Chapters
This is what dedication looks like. And if you don't know what I mean, and you probably don't, I'm going to explain it to you. So let's talk about it. Hi, everybody. My name is Sandy Boucher. I'm Red Thunderbolt, woman of the Loon clan, a proud member of Seine River first nation in Treaty 3 territory in Northern Ontario. And as alluded to in previous videos, I'm in the middle of moving. This is going to be my new office, minus the deck chair. You can see into my kitchen with the boxes. Because moving is fun. It is so fun that I actually misplaced the little connector screwy thingy that attaches my microphone to the arm of the microphone. So. But because I had to get this video out to you, because I am that dedicated you, I'm actually holding my microphone. So. And if it sounds a little echoey, that's because it's probably still pretty empty in here. But. And just to make it fun, because moving isn't entertaining enough. Does my face look a little fat? I ended up. I have a tooth that has a natural groove in it that every now and then allows food to get into my gum and get infected. And yesterday I looked like a pumpkin. It's definitely improved. I've got my medication, but this is how much I love you. I am here doing this video. When you're watching it on Monday, I'm actually going to be on the road. I'm doing a full day seminar in London, Ontario on Monday. On top of moving, on top of the infection, I love my life and I would not. That was not sarcastic. I love my life and I love doing these videos for you. So I'm going to do them, even if it means holding this microphone. So what I wanted to talk to you about today, two start off the week, maybe it's my humility teaching, maybe this happens for everyone. You can tell me. But for I've been doing this for 15 years now, doing not necessarily videos, but keynote speeches and seminars and workshops, and with no ego involved. I am good at what I do. And I know that by the response from the audience that they gravitate to what I have to share. And they always are so animated and they're so interested and they have a million questions and I love every second of it. But I know a lot of people that are good at public speaking. I know a lot of people that are dedicated to a cause. They don't necessarily get the same reaction. So I don't want to say struggled, because that's probably Too strong of a word. But how I am so good at what I do has always escaped me. I thanked Creator for it. I lived up to the responsibility that comes with the gift, in line with my teachings. But I really didn't understand why. Why can I connect with an audience so well? And recently, I got super excited because I think I might have figured it out. And you can tell me if you enjoy these videos or you've been to one of my live events and felt that you enjoyed what I do, and it really resonated with you. You can tell me if I'm on the right track. So what was I watching? I was watching an Ed Mylett. Okay. Are any of you surprised? I've mentioned Ed quite a few times. I thoroughly enjoy his videos and especially his interviews with his guests. And he was interviewing Robin Sharma, so definitely worth Googling him and checking into his work. He has a new book out, and I was really enjoying the interview. And suddenly, like it always happens, someone says something, that one sentence, that lightning bolt, and all of a sudden, the clouds part and something makes sense. So what Robin had said was, we are all animals. We feel fear, and we can sense love. We are all animals. We feel fear, and we can sense love. And in that second, I swear, I almost started crying. Because I love you. I love my audiences. I love the people viewing my videos. I love the people reading my blog posts. Even if I've never met you. And I know to some people that sounds absolutely insane, and to me, it doesn't at all. Because it has everything to do with my faith, my belief in my Creator and my traditions. Creator made you. That makes you amazing. Even if I don't know why you're amazing, I know without a doubt you are. Because everything Creator makes is amazing. So even though I have never met you before and maybe we've never had a conversation, I love you. I love your potential. I love the fact that you were interested enough to watch one of my videos, sit in one of my seminars, or listen to one of my keynotes. Because that tells me you are either an ally or a potential ally. And at bare minimum, you're someone who's interested in understanding. And that is worth celebrating. It is also not something I take for granted. I am Anishinaabe Kwe. I am an Ojibwe female trying to live and exist in Canada. That is not easy. That does not come with an automatic acceptance. That comes with a lot of judgment. That comes with a lot of misunderstanding. That comes with a lot of stereotypes. And I know Those all too well. But the people, the problematic people don't come to my seminars, which is why I love my career so much. I am surrounded by. By the most amazing people. So maybe that's it. Maybe the one thing I determined a couple years ago, maybe my audiences love me because they can sense love. And sometimes I believe my work resonates with them. Because authenticity resonates with people. We are so used to, excuse the expression. We are so used to bs. We are so used to the sales pitch. We are so used to people saying what they think we want to hear. That when we actually hear authenticity, it resonates to a deeper level. I am known for my directness. I am not disrespectful. But I also don't dance around an issue. Because I have such a short time with my audience, I'm going to answer the questions honestly in a way that is actually going to help them. I sometimes tell them, okay, hang on to your seat, because I don't think the answer I'm going to give you is the one you're looking for. But I'm going to give them an authentic answer. So maybe it's the love, maybe it's the authenticity. I've had some people react to my vulnerability. The fact that I'm open to sharing my truths and my pain, especially if it can help build a bridge. Maybe I don't know what it is yet. What do you think it is? All I know is I am so incredibly grateful for my work and the opportunity to. To meet with so many people and be able to work and support their growth. Honestly, if I never figure out why it resonates with them, that's okay, because it does. And that shows me that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. So why are you here? Why do my videos resonate with you? Is it the love you feel? Is it the authenticity? Is it the vulnerability? Or am I totally off track? That would fit with everything else that's going on in my world right now, so that wouldn't even upset me. Thank you so much for going on this journey with me. See, I'm not abandoning you even when I'm in the middle of a move and an infection. Until tomorrow. I love you. Take care. Bye. Bye.
