I consider Stephana Oetinger my friend, even though we’ve only met in “cyber-space”. Below was our first youtube chat; we have plans for another in a month or so.
The entry audio is some candid Stephana talk about how a leader can give good & true advice, and yet fail to follow their own good & truth advice.
It reminds me of the video below that I recently watched, where Alan Watts was pretty much doing the same thing, and yet also turned it into a super-power of understanding, just like Stephana.
For another inspiring story from Chuck Swindoll Jr., a man who teaches from Watts’ material (and dealt with his own existential struggles and battles with cancer), check out the post below:
I’ll end this post with my amazon.ca review of Stephana’s latest book, “S.A.N.E.”
5 out of 5 stars
Staying S.A.N.E. in an insane world
Reviewed in Canada on April 8, 2026
This was an excellent read! The words were carefully chosen, specific enough and yet general enough, to inspire contemplation about similar situations in my own life. I might have liked more details about the author’s personal struggles, but that’s probably just me being nosey. :-)
The most haunting and beautiful part of this text is the recurring mention of the “Signal”—exemplified by Oetinger’s son telling her, “Mom, you are choosing this.” It serves as a reminder that the truth is often right in front of us, but we require a specific internal frequency to hear it. Stay S.A.N.E. is an essential read for anyone who has ever “won” the day only to realize they’ve lost themselves in the process. It is a quiet, powerful manifesto for sustainable power. “If your success requires you to lose yourself, it is not success.”
Final Verdict: A must-read for CEOs, parents, and anyone operating in high-pressure environments. It doesn’t teach you how to do more; it teaches you how to be more while doing what you do.
Note: The one criticism in my review was wishing for more personal details about the author’s struggles. If you listen to the entry audio, Stephana provides some more of these details, but also explains why her book is sparse about the specifics.
For more from Stephana, check out her website: leadstrongerlonger.com.
