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"A narrative lives or dies on the conviction of the most senior authorized leaders of the organizational system. The story is the strategy. A company without a story is usually a company without a strategy." — Michael Margolis | Storied, Inc.
What if your organization's stories were the new code base?
In this episode, Rain sits down with Michael Margolis, founder of Storied, Inc., and one of the most respected voices in organizational storytelling and narrative strategy, for a conversation that functions as a masterclass in how language, storytelling, and brand messaging actually drive business outcomes in the age of generative AI.
Michael has spent over two decades pioneering narrative as a management discipline, working inside Facebook and Meta across 14 product divisions, advising companies like Google, Shopify, Uber, and NASA, and now serving as an operating partner for narrative at Veridical Ventures.
This conversation goes deep into the distinction between story and narrative, two words most marketing strategy and brand storytelling content treats as interchangeable but which Michael argues are fundamentally different disciplines. A story is a closed loop with a beginning, middle, and end. A narrative is an open loop, an abstraction, an architecture that every individual story hangs from like an ornament on a Christmas tree. Michael breaks down the four waves of organizational storytelling, from early knowledge management to the social media era's democratization of brand narrative, to his seven years embedded inside Meta building the strategic narrative behind Facebook Groups, to today's narrative economy where large language models are, by definition, narrative machines.
Whether you're a founder building brand purpose from scratch, a CMO trying to align your messaging house, or simply someone trying to understand why storytelling has quietly become the literal infrastructure of how modern organizations operate, this episode will change how you think about every word your company puts into the world.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Distinguish between story and narrative and understand why that distinction is the foundation of effective brand strategyRecognize language debt inside your own organization before it compounds into misalignment and confusionBuild narrative architecture using the thesis, first principles, identity layer, and evidence stack frameworkChoose coherence narratives over controlled narratives to navigate disruption and uncertainty with integrityUnderstand why large language models function as narrative machines and what that means for how you communicate going forward
Links & ResourcesFollow Michael Margolis:
Website → https://www.storiedinc.comLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmargolisBook → Story 10x: Turn the Impossible Into the Inevitable by Michael Margolis https://amzn.to/4eUdxVxFirm → Veridical Ventures → https://www.veridical.vcLearning Platform → Narrative Intelligence courses on Maven → https://maven.com/storiedPerson Referenced → Steve Denning, founder of Golden Fleece community of practice
Person Referenced → Paul Costello
Person Referenced → Shane Curry, Deloitte Australia
Person Referenced → John Hagel, Deloitte Center for the Edge
Person Referenced → Ben Horowitz, Andreessen Horowitz
Person Referenced → Jose Velez, Curation Labs
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Pre-Order The Chief Storytelling Officer HERE: https://amzn.to/4eihvql
"Commercials interrupt people. Shows invite them into the story world. That is the difference between traditional marketing and storytelling." — Rain BennettYour marketing campaign strategy is perfectly executed... and it still flops.
The visuals are crisp, the copy is tight, and nobody cares. In this solo episode, Rain breaks down the real reason most marketing fails: it isn't a production problem, it's a storytelling problem.
When your marketing isn't rooted in a clear brand purpose, it becomes what Rain calls "story yelling," which is loud, scattered, and ultimately forgettable. This is the fifth installment of the Narrative Operating System series, and it's where brand building and marketing strategy finally collide.
Rain walks through how the Chief Storytelling Officer fits into your marketing function. Not to replace your CMO, but to ensure every campaign, every message, and every piece of content traces back to the brand narrative your company intentionally chose.
The CSO's job isn't to ask "does this say what we want to say?" It's to ask "does this make people feel what we want them to feel?" That distinction is the entire difference between brand storytelling and traditional advertising.
Using Yeti, Cali BBQ, and the Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation as case studies, Rain shows how the most effective marketing strategies aren't campaigns at all—they're story worlds.
He introduces the Content Cascade model as a practical framework for building tent pole projects, supporting stories, and audience amplifiers from a single unified brand messaging strategy.
And before you go, he breaks down which metrics actually reflect meaningful connection (watch time, saves, comments, shares) and which vanity metrics to stop reporting on entirely. If your brand purpose is clear but your marketing still feels scattered, this episode is your blueprint.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Understand the difference between story yelling and storytelling—and which one your brand is currently doingUse the Content Cascade model to build tent pole projects, supporting stories, and audience amplifiers from a single narrativeReplace vanity metrics with story metrics that actually measure connection and community growthAvoid the traps of trend chasing, channel hopping, and virality chasing that derail most marketing strategiesAudit your last 10 pieces of marketing to see if they stem from one unified brand narrative or exist as isolated piecesLINKS AND RESOURCESEpisodes Referenced:
EP 225 → Brand: How It Feels to Be Part of Your Story World
EP 230 → Product: Where Your Story Gets Proven
Guest Referenced → Sean Walcheff, Cali Barbecue Media → https://www.calibbq.media
Organization Referenced → Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation → https://www.ncf.net/
Book → The Chief Storytelling Officer by Rain Bennett → Coming August 25th https://amzn.to/4eihvql
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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"A good day is when the flow starts to happen and you kind of lose yourself in it. But you cannot count on those days. So I'm a real believer in grinding — just get in there and take what the defense will give you." — Steven PressfieldORDER THE ARCADIAN HERE: https://amzn.to/4nYHV5e
Steven Pressfield is your favorite writer's favorite writer.
But years before his best-selling hits like Gates of Fire and The War of Art, Steven Pressfield didn't sell his first novel until he was 52. After over two decades of trying!
In Part 2 of our conversation, he and Rain dig into what kept him going, and what keeps him going still.
From his daily gym ritual to his philosophy on the Muse, from building a catalog instead of betting everything on one book to his relationship with mentor Robert McKee, this episode is a masterclass in the long game of creative work.
If you're in the weeds, struggling to finish, or wondering whether it's too late, this is the conversation you need to hear.
In this episode, you will learn to:Build a daily creative habit that beats Resistance even when inspiration doesn't show upThink in catalogs, not single projects, to take pressure off any one piece of workUse physical movement and morning routines as momentum for the creative work that followsTrust the Muse over the market — your least commercial idea may be your most resonant oneEmbrace the long game and stop measuring yourself against overnight success storiesSpecial Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor for this episode, Vocatales → https://www.vocatales.com
Links & ResourcesFollow Steven Pressfield:
Website → https://www.stevenpressfield.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/steven_pressfield/
Book → The Arcadian by Steven Pressfield (out May 2025) https://amzn.to/4dA7yFJ
Book → A Man at Arms by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/4uvYojv
Book → Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/4nVT5aT
Book → The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/4tXWiYM
Book → The War of Art by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/43wWTWn
Person Referenced → Robert McKee
Person Referenced → Randy Wallace (screenwriter, Braveheart)
Person Referenced → Rick Rubin
Person Referenced → Jack Carr (thriller writer)
Nove/Film Referenced → Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir)
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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"Sometimes you write a character that asserts himself—something you didn't plan. It's like he wanted to come back, and he brought his own story with him. It was kind of my job as a writer to ask myself what that story was." — Steven PressfieldORDER THE ARCADIAN HERE: https://amzn.to/4nYHV5e
Steven Pressfield is your favorite writer's favorite writer.
And in this episode, Rain sits down with him in person in Los Angeles to talk about the craft behind The Arcadian, the new novel in his Telamon series.
What starts as a conversation about a centuries-spanning warrior with a karmic curse quickly becomes a writing advice masterclass in how great fiction actually gets made: through instinct, detail, observation, and a willingness to follow a character wherever he leads.
Steven breaks down how he discovered Telamon's immortality only after writing him across multiple books, why physical and historical details are what make the impossible believable, and how a 2500-year-old quote from an ancient Greek philosopher became the seed of an entire novel.
If you write anything—novels, screenplays, brand stories, or scripts—this conversation will change how you think about finding and following a story.
In this episode, you will learn to:- Trust instinct over planning in your writing and follow your characters even when you don't understand where they're going- Use specific physical details to earn the reader's trust before asking them to believe the extraordinary- Find story seeds in quotes, lyrics, and observations, and let them percolate until the full shape emerges- Get the story first and research second to avoid using research as a form of Resistance- Move the camera inside your prose, shifting perspective the way a cinematographer would, to write vivid, immersive scenesSpecial Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor for this episode, Vocatales → https://www.vocatales.com
Links & ResourcesFollow Steven Pressfield:
Website → https://www.stevenpressfield.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/steven_pressfield/
Book → The Arcadian by Steven Pressfield (out May 2025) https://amzn.to/4dA7yFJ
Book → A Man at Arms by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/4uvYojv
Book → Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/4nVT5aT
Book → The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/4tXWiYM
Book → The War of Art by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/43wWTWn
Film Referenced → Past Lives directed by Celine Song
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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"AI was going to get better at technical skills like coding and data analysis much faster than storytelling, because it's much easier to objectively define what is correct code. With storytelling, it's much more ephemeral. AI researchers have called it absurd, trying to quantify what good storytelling is." — Joe Lazer
When ChatGPT launched, the headlines were brutal. Storytellers were cooked, creative work was done, they all said.
Joe Lazer did what any good journalist would do: he started asking questions. What he found, after two years of salons, research, and interviews with AI developers and future-of-work researchers, was the exact opposite.
In this episode, Joe breaks down why AI will make storytelling the most important skill in the new economy.
Joe is the co-founder of Contently, author of the new book Super Skill, and one of the sharpest thinkers on the intersection of AI and human-centered storytelling.
We get into the neuroscience of why storytelling makes us better at leadership, persuasion, and collaboration; why heavy AI reliance causes a measurable 17% drop in skill mastery; and how to avoid the "vortex of mid" that's pulling most brands toward mediocrity. We also get real about how both of us actually use AI day-to-day, and where we draw the line.
In this episode, you will learn to:Understand why AI raises the value of storytelling rather than replacing itRecognize how heavy AI reliance causes measurable skill atrophyAvoid the vortex of mid and stay out of generic AI-flavored contentApply the Unlock, Unleash, and Upgrade framework from Super SkillBuild audience trust through transparency about your AI useLinks & ResourcesFollow Joe Lazer:
Website → https://www.joelazer.com
Book → Super Skill by Joe Lazer → https://amzn.to/4ublf3W
Substack → Subscribe for a signed copy → https://www.joelazer.com/subscribe
Company → Contently → https://www.contently.com
Tool Referenced → Verify My Writing → https://www.verifymywriting.com
Newsletter Referenced → Rachel Karten (Link in Bio) on Substack
Person Referenced → Shane Snow
Conference Referenced → State of the Story by Storytelling360
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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"A living story is immersive, embodied, agentic, responsive, and social. It's stories that we get to be in and experience and live — as opposed to dead stories." —Charlie Melcher
Charlie Melcher has been on the cutting edge of storytelling for decades—from designing books with J.J. Abrams and Al Gore to building an app that Steve Jobs fell in love with to producing a 6,000-person immersive storytelling summit.
In this conversation, he breaks down what he calls living stories: experiences that are immersive, embodied, agentic, responsive, and social, and why he believes they are the antidote to the loneliness and disconnection fueled by passive media.
We cover the neuroscience of multi-sensory learning, the dyslexia origin story that put Charlie on this path, and the moment he walked into his team and said, "We're no longer in the book business." We also get into where AI fits into all of this and why Charlie sees it as the great unlock for immersive storytelling at scale.
This one will make you see every story you've ever consumed differently.
In this episode, you will learn to:Understand what a living story is and how immersion, agency, and embodiment change the way audiences feel and rememberRecognize why limiting storytelling to two senses is leaving most of your audience's emotional capacity untappedUse multi-sensory and physical elements to deepen learning, memory, and emotional connection in any story formatSee how AI will enable personalized, responsive story worlds at scale and why that demands a moral compass from storytellersReframe your own origin story the way Charlie did: not as a limitation but as the thread that explains everything
Follow Charlie Melcher:Website → https://www.futureofstorytelling.org
Podcast → The Future of Storytelling with Charlie Melcher
Book → The Future of Storytelling by Charlie Melcher https://amzn.to/4w6gFVQ
Company → Melcher Media → https://www.melchermedia.com
Experience → Future of Storytelling Explorers Club → https://www.futureofstorytelling.org
Book Referenced → The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul https://amzn.to/42UcU8A
Book Referenced → Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam https://amzn.to/4whTtUJ
Book Referenced → S. (Ship of Theseus) by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst https://amzn.to/4f7PvI0
App Referenced → Our Choice (iOS app, Apple Design Award 2011)
Conference Referenced → State of the Story by Storytelling360
Experience Referenced → Meow Wolf: House of Eternal Return (Santa Fe, NM)
Experience Referenced → Sleep No More by Punch Drunk Theater
Experience Referenced → The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere (Las Vegas)
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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"Your product is not the features, the specs, it's not what you ship. The product is the experience, the transformation that your customer goes through. It's the change in their lives. That's what you're selling." — Rain Bennett
You can have a bold vision, a clear mission, and a brand people believe in... and still fail.
Because none of it matters if your product doesn't deliver.
In this solo episode, Rain breaks down the fourth layer of the Narrative Operating System: Product, the moment where your story is either proven or broken. Using Nike's grassroots origins and screenwriting software Highland Pro as case studies, Rain shows how the best brands don't build products for their customers—they build them with them.
He also introduces the Hub and Spoke Model as a practical framework for keeping every feature and offering tied back to your core brand narrative, and walks through the most common product traps (feature bloat, trend chasing, and data misreading) that cause brands to drift and fracture over time.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Reframe your product as the moment your brand story is proven, or exposedUse the Hub and Spoke Model to keep every product feature tied to your core narrativeBuild with your customers instead of for them by treating listening as a storytelling strategyUnderstand where the Chief Storytelling Officer sits in the product conversation and why it mattersAvoid the three biggest product traps: feature bloat, trend chasing, and misreading data without contextEpisodes Referenced:
EP 216 → Vision: The Big Future Story (https://www.thestorytellinglabpodcast.com/items/the-real-reason-your-brand-feels-disconnected)
EP 220 → Mission: How You're Going to Get There (https://www.thestorytellinglabpodcast.com/items/%E2%80%9Cvision-is-what-inspires-your-people.-mission-is-what-activates-and-organizes-them.%E2%80%9D)
EP 225 → Brand: How It Feels to Be Part of Your Story World (https://www.thestorytellinglabpodcast.com/items/the-real-brand-difference)
Guest Referenced → Nelson Farris, first Chief Storytelling Officer at Nike
Guest Referenced → John August, screenwriter and founder of Highland Pro
Podcast Referenced → Scriptnotes with John August and Craig Mazin
Software Referenced → Highland Pro → https://www.highland.app
Book → The Chief Storytelling Officer by Rain Bennett → Coming August 25th (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-chief-storytelling-officer-b-rain-bennett/1149080177?ean=9781636988115)
Substack → Subscribe for more NOS content → https://rainbennett.substack.com
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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"CQ — the character quotient — is who you are at the core of your values, and how consistently people can trust you to be that person. That to me is the exponential topper." — Bill Blankschaen
Every person has a story no one else has. The problem is most people either don't know how to tell it or don't believe it's worth telling.
Bill Blankschaen, author of Your Story Advantage and founder of StoryBuilders, has spent over a decade helping thought leaders (from John Maxwell to Lewis Howes)nfind their story, shape it, and use it to grow their impact, influence, and income.
In this episode, Bill breaks down the Story Multiplier Formula, the five traps that keep people from ever telling their story, and why the structure he teaches doesn't constrain you, but actually sets you free to be more creative and more effective. He also walks through IQ, EQ, and the often-overlooked "CQ," and why that last one is the only variable that's entirely your choice.
If you've got a message inside you that you haven't figured out how to get out, this is your episode.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Apply the Story Multiplier Formula to turn who you are into measurable impact, influence, and incomeIdentify and break out of the confidence trap, the chaos trap, and the other story blocks holding you backUnderstand the difference between IQ, EQ, and CQ—and why character is the only one you fully controlBuild a story ecosystem with a clear message, a multiplier like a book, and a path to monetizationEdit your story for your audience, not yourself, because your story is about you but it was never for youFollow Bill Blankschaen:Website → https://billblankschaen.com/
Free Resources → https://www.yourstoryadvantage.com/free-resources
Book → Your Story Advantage by Bill Blankschaen: https://amzn.to/4vPjudW
Company → Story Builders → https://mystorybuilders.com/
Book Referenced → Never Quit by Glenn Cunningham (https://amzn.to/4tsDFNe)
People Referenced → John Maxwell, Lewis Howes, Dean Graziosi, Jason Wilson, Stephen Covey, Hugh Hewitt
And for more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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"I wasn't processing and dealing with my own stuff. Somehow I made my way back to storytelling. And that was really, if I could point to two things—my wife and story—those pulled me out." — Ret. Lt. Col. Scott Mann
Scott Mann spent nearly two decades as a Green Beret, but the most powerful weapon he ever wielded was his story.
In this episode, Scott breaks down rooftop leadership, the concept he coined in Afghanistan after watching storytelling and human connection turn frightened villagers into fighters. What he learned on those rooftops became the foundation for everything he now teaches about leadership, trust, and the courage to be relatable.
After leaving the military, Scott hit rock bottom, standing in his closet holding a pistol, lost and without purpose. Storytelling pulled him out.
Now he's an author, playwright, and the founder of a nonprofit helping veterans and first responders find their voice. His book The Generosity of Scars and his one-man shows Last Out and 11 Days are taking that message across the country and onto stages where veterans and civilians sit side by side and finally make sense of things together.
If you've ever wondered whether your story is worth telling, Scott Mann's answer is clear: it was never about you in the first place.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Use storytelling as a trust-building tool in any high-stakes, low-trust environmentDistinguish between vulnerability for its own sake and relatability as an intentional, powerful communication strategyUnderstand what "autobiographical listening" means and why it explains how stories move people to actionOwn your story rather than let it own you by working through it in the service of othersRecognize that your scars are not your wounds—they are your most generous gift to the people who need to hear themFollow Scott Mann:
Website → https://www.scottmann.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/greenberetscottmann
Books → The Generosity of Scars (out May 12th) and Operation Pineapple Express by Scott Mann
Plays → Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret and 11 Days: The Story of Operation Pineapple Express
Nonprofit → Task Force Pineapple
Program → Take the Mic (storytelling coaching)
People Referenced: Steven Pressfield, Bo Eason, Dr. Diego Hernandez, Gary Sinise, Daniel Coyle, Daniel Pink
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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"When you live in alignment with your values, you cause yourself as little suffering as possible in the long term. And that one just always sticks with me because it's really challenging in the short term. But if you have faith in your values and who you are and how you want to show up in the world, then ultimately you're creating a path that's going to serve you for the long term." — Jon Bregel
What happens when the thing you love most… starts breaking you?
In this episode, Rain sits down with cinematographer, founder of Variable, and career/life coach for filmmakers, Jon Bregel, to unpack a reality most creatives don’t talk about enough: burnout.
After years of success in the film industry, Jon hit a breaking point that forced him to reevaluate everything—his career, his identity, and the story he was telling himself. That journey led him to create The Nourish Community, a space designed specifically to support the mental and emotional health of filmmakers.
This conversation goes beyond tactics. It’s about identity, purpose, and how to build a creative life that actually sustains you, instead of slowly draining you.
If you’re a filmmaker, creator, or entrepreneur feeling the pressure… this one hits close to home.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Recognize the early warning signs of creative burnout before it becomes a crisisUse core values as a practical decision-making compassUnderstand the difference between a life coach and a therapist and why creatives may need both for different reasonsReframe career plateaus, pivots, and rest as seasons of inner growth rather than signs of failureBuild or seek out real community as a creative and understand why that distinction changes everythingFollow Jon Bregel:
Website → https://www.nourishcommunity.co
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jonbregel
Production Company → Variable (New York City)
Film Referenced: The Baltimorons — directed by J. Duplass, starring Michael Strassner (cinematography by Jon Bregel)
And, for more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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"If you think the world could be better and you want to change it, you're going to have to come up with a better story and know how to tell it better." —Joseph Romm
What happens when a physicist with a PhD realizes that data, charts, and credentials can't change a single mind, but a story can?
Joseph Romm spent years working in climate science and clean energy before arriving at an uncomfortable truth: facts don't persuade people. Emotions do.
In this episode, Joseph breaks down the ancient storytelling tools—the figures of speech used by Homer, Shakespeare, Lincoln, and yes, Taylor Swift—that make stories stick, spread, and move people to action.
But this episode is about more than communication theory. Joseph and his daughter co-host the podcast Decoding Taylor Swift, where they analyze the storytelling craft embedded in her music. What started as a way to bond with his daughter over song lyrics became a masterclass in how great writers use foreshadow, irony, the hero's journey, and circular narrative structure to create stories that lodge in the brain and don't let go.
As a father of a daughter himself, Rain finds this project deeply personal, and the conversation that follows is one of the most layered and surprising in the show's history.
Whether you're trying to communicate complex ideas, reach an audience that doesn't share your worldview, or simply connect more deeply with the people you love, this episode gives you the framework to do it.
In this episode, you will learn to:
• Understand why storytelling is more effective than raw information in shaping beliefs
• Recognize how narrative framing influences what people accept as true
• Replace ineffective fact-based arguments with story-driven communication
• Identify why misinformation spreads faster than truth
• Apply narrative thinking to make your ideas more memorable and persuasive
Follow Joseph Romm: Podcast → Decoding Taylor Swift (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/decoding-taylor-swift/id1708550100)
Book → How to Go Viral and Reach Millions by Joseph Romm (https://www.amazon.com/How-Viral-Reach-Millions-Shakespeare/dp/1944733779)
Books & Talks Referenced:
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Roger Federer's Dartmouth Commencement Speech
Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
And, for more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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"Marketing might be how you get the first date. But to get the second and third date and hopefully form into a relationship, you have to have a brand." — Rain Bennett
Brand isn't your logo, your color palette, your fonts, or your tagline.
Brand is the story others tell about you. And in this solo episode, Rain breaks down exactly how to influence that story before it gets told without you. As part of the ongoing Narrative Operating System framework from his upcoming book The Chief Storytelling Officer, this episode is your practical guide to building a brand that goes deeper than decoration.
Rain walks you through two foundational tools: the Brand Pyramid and the Brand Bible. Using real-world examples from Patagonia, Liquid Death, Apple, Yeti, and even his own mother's real estate business in Eastern North Carolina, he unpacks how the most powerful brands in the world built identity, loyalty, and community.
Whether you're building something from scratch or realizing your current brand has drifted off course, this episode gives you the framework to get it back on track. From finding your one-word North Star to running a voice test on your content, Rain arms you with tools you can use this week, and a mindset that will serve your brand for the long run.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Distinguish between the three types of story every brand carries — the story you tell yourself, the story you tell others, and the story others tell about youBuild your Brand Pyramid from the ground up, starting with a single guiding word that informs every decision you makeCreate a Brand Bible that keeps your voice, visual identity, and messaging consistent across your entire team and every platformUse real brand case studies (Patagonia, Liquid Death, Yeti, Apple) to reverse-engineer what makes brand identity actually stickEvolve your brand intentionally over time through a cycle of inspiration and reflection — without losing who you areEpisodes Referenced:
EP 216 — Vision: The Big Future StoryEP 220 — Mission: How You're Going to Get ThereEP 150 — Brand Essence & the Brand Pyramid (Deep Dive)EP 219 — Shane Lucas on Design as StorytellingBook Mentioned: The Chief Storytelling Officer by Rain Bennett → Pre-order now! Release date: August 25th
Book Recommendation: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? by Alan Alda
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
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“When you start to look at things through the lens of story, it helps you appreciate and process what’s going on.” — Corey Rosen
What makes someone lean in when you tell a story instead of tune out?
In this episode, Rain sits down with Emmy-nominated TV writer, Moth champion, and brand storytelling expert Corey Rosen to break down the real tactics behind stories that actually land.
This is not a fluffy conversation about “storytelling matters.” It’s a practical deep dive into curiosity gaps, emotional stakes, visual detail, and the inner life that gives a story dimension.
Corey shares how his background in comedy, television, and live storytelling shaped the way he now teaches stories for every occasion—from keynotes and investor pitches to eulogies, wedding toasts, and brand messaging. They also get into improv, theme parks, AI, and why the future belongs to people who can create connection, not just content.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Build curiosity early so people care about where your story is goingUnderstand the three elements that make stories feel vivid, human, and memorableUse storytelling to build trust before you try to persuade, pitch, or influenceReframe everyday experiences as story material by noticing what changed and why it matteredSee how storytelling skills transfer across live performance, brand communication, and businessFollow Corey Rosen on:
Website → https://www.coreyrosen.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/storycoachcorey
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyrosenstorycoach
For more storytelling tips and tricks:
Visit → https://rainbennett.com and https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at...
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“You can’t even begin to talk about results or impact until you actually put something out into the world.” — Kristen Sweeney
What if the real problem with your content isn’t execution, but alignment?
In this episode, Kristen Sweeney, founder of Every Little Word, breaks down the invisible work behind great communication: messaging frameworks, internal clarity, operational discipline, and the codified point of view that most companies skip.
We explore why B2B brands struggle to articulate what they actually believe, how regulated industries can differentiate without breaking compliance, and why thought leadership without a clear stance is just noise.
Kristen also shares how her background in theater shaped her confidence in high-level conversations and why content operations, not just creativity, determine results. If your content feels scattered, generic, or reactive, this episode is your blueprint for fixing it at the foundation.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Clarify and codify your point of view before producing a single piece of contentExtract real insight from subject matter experts instead of settling for surface-level answersBuild messaging foundations that reduce friction across teams and client communicationDifferentiate in crowded B2B and regulated industries without sacrificing accuracyMove from informational content to perspective-driven leadershipFollow Kristen Sweeney:
Website → https://www.everylittleword.com
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristensweeney
For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“There is no version of storytelling that does not become therapy.” — Spade Robinson
What if the difference between an average story and a great one has less to do with talent or skill and more to do with self-awareness?
In this episode, screenwriter and story consultant Spade Robinson breaks down why structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s the foundation that allows it to thrive.
We explore how unforgiveness shows up on the page, why most writers avoid the emotional core of their work, and how discipline in story design eliminates writer’s block.
Spade also shares hard-earned insights from Sundance and the development world about the changing industry, why writers must think of themselves as studios, and how short-form storytelling and brand partnerships may shape the next era of film.
If you care about story craft, emotional truth, and building a sustainable creative career, this conversation will challenge you in all the right ways.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Strengthen your stories by confronting the internal human question driving themUse structure as a creative advantage rather than a limitationEliminate writer’s block by building a strong outline before draftingUnderstand art and commerce must work together in today’s industryPosition yourself as a creator-studio in an attention-driven economyFollow Spade Robinson on:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/spaderobinson
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/spade-robinson-5588a231/
Website → https://www.atlantafilmproject.com/
And for more storytelling tips and tricks:
Visit → https://rainbennett.com or https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or, follow along at...
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“The real story is always in the subtext.” — Tal Lazar
Most people lose their audience the moment they start explaining.
In this episode, cinematographer, educator, and author Tal Lazar breaks down why the real story is always in the subtext, and why emotion beats information when you’re trying to persuade, pitch, teach, or lead.
We talk about why leaders default to “feature lists,” how filmmakers create coherence across dozens of departments, and why there’s no such thing as a formula for “coverage” if you’re actually telling a story. The throughline is simple: focus on the transformation your audience wants, not the impressive details you’re tempted to showcase.
If you’ve been chasing better tools, better tactics, or better talking points, this conversation will pull you back to the skill that makes everything else work.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Shift your messaging from “what it is” to the transformation it creates for your audience Use subtext intentionally so your communication lands emotionally, not just intellectually Spot the fear-driven habit of over-explaining and replace it with story-first clarity Lead like a director by creating one coherent interpretation across many moving parts Build cinematic impact with fewer resources by knowing what your audience is actually feeling🔗 Follow Tal on:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/talazar
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/talazar
Website → https://cinematicimpact.com
📚 For more storytelling tips and tricks:Visit → https://rainbennett.com
Or → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“Vision is what inspires your people. Mission is what activates and organizes them.” —Rain Bennett
What good is a bold vision if you don’t have a mission to back it up?
In this solo episode, Rain Bennett breaks down why mission is the most misunderstood and most essential piece of a brand’s storytelling system.
Using examples from WeWork’s collapse and Airbnb’s legendary collaboration with Pixar, Rain explains how to turn abstract ideas into real-world action through a story-driven mission.
If your company struggles to align teams, inspire customers, or scale with clarity, the problem may not be your vision. It may be the lack of a narrative-driven mission.
This episode will teach you how to build one that works, aligns, and lasts.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Find the gap between vision and mission that leads to brand driftCraft a mission that functions like a plotline for your businessAlign internal teams and stakeholders around a shared narrativeUse customer journey mapping as a story structureTranslate lofty goals into repeatable action through story📚 For more storytelling tips and tricks:Visit → https://rainbennett.com
Or → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or following along on...
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“Your stories are building bricks of belief in your brand." — Shane Lukas
How do you sell something your customer can’t see, touch, or fully understand?
Shane Lukas has spent decades helping professional service providers do exactly that by using story as a tool to create trust, clarity, and emotional resonance.
In this episode, Rain and Shane explore how narrative makes “invisible” value tangible. From accountants and coaches to consultants and creatives, anyone who delivers a process or service will benefit from Shane’s simple but powerful storytelling framework.
Together, they discuss the importance of transformation-driven messaging, the psychology of pre-sale belief, and how to guide your prospects with authentic case studies that show, not just tell, what you really do. This is a masterclass in making your message matter.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Sell intangible services by framing the emotional outcome, not the technical detailsGuide potential clients through stories that build trust before you pitchUse transformation case studies to prove your value without oversellingUnderstand why people buy with emotion, not logic—even in B2BReframe your sales process as a storytelling journey🔗 Follow Shane on:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/agreatidea
Website → https://www.agreatidea.com
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-lukas/
📚 And for more storytelling tips and tricks:Visit → https://rainbennett.com or https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Or follow...
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“Everybody in your organization has to be aligned… or it all starts to break down.” — Jensen Savage
If you’ve been muscling your way through growth and wondering why it still feels so hard, this episode is for you.
Jensen Savage, founder of Savage Growth Partners, breaks down the true cause of stagnation in business: misalignment.
In this conversation, we explore why brute force can’t scale and how systematizing your customer journey can unlock powerful, sustainable growth. Jensen and Rain dig into the often-ignored “connective tissue” between marketing, sales, and operations and show how storytelling is more than messaging and communication—it’s infrastructure.
Whether you're a founder, marketer, or small business owner, this episode will help you rethink what’s actually holding you back.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Understand why growth stalls even when you’re doing everything “right”Uncover the unseen gaps in your customer journey that silently kill momentumMap your marketing to metrics that matter most for service-based businessesBuild systems that turn handoffs into high-performance linksUse story-driven alignment to unify your brand from sales to operations🔗 Follow Jensen on:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/savagegrowthpartners
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensensavage
Website → https://savagegrowthpartners.com
📚 For more storytelling tips and tricks:Visit rainbennett.com or thestorytellinglabpodcast.com, or
Follow...
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“Every time you press upload, you’re telling the universe this is your part in the grand scheme.” — Elton Anderson, Jr.
What if your content wasn’t just a creative outlet, but a mirror for your transformation?
In this episode, Rain Bennett sits down with Elton Anderson—a photographer, storyteller, and founder of L10 Media—for a deep, vulnerable conversation on using storytelling to break free of the algorithm, let go of outdated identities, and build a media platform rooted in purpose.
Elton shares his own creative pivot, leaving behind a successful photography career and embracing a new chapter built around authenticity, micro media ownership, and spiritual self-alignment.
Together, they explore how to attract the right audience by showing up fully as yourself, why resistance is a sign you’re on the right path, and how to build a life and career that flow from the inside out. If you're multi-passionate, burned out by content trends, or questioning how to evolve in public, this episode will show you that your shadow isn’t something to fear—it’s where your story begins.
In this episode, you will learn to:
Embrace identity shifts as part of your creative evolutionFind your unique voice through consistent, imperfect actionUse storytelling as a tool to connect with others and yourselfBuild a micro media company around your personal purposeReframe resistance as a signal that you're on the right pathFollow Elton on:
Instagram
TikTok
or visit his website, HERE!
And for more storytelling tips and tricks,
Visit rainbennett.com or thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
Follow on TikTok @chiefstorytellingofficer
Follow on Twitter @rainbennett
Follow on Instagram @rainbennett
Follow on Facebook @thestorytellinglab
Subscribe to the YouTube Channel
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- Visa fler
