Unlock the Secrets of Audience-Driven Storytelling for Business Growth

Why Your Message Deserves to Be Heard—And How to Make It Happen

You want your stories to break through the noise and actually move people AND you know that real impact happens when your message lands with the right audience, at the right time, in the right way. BUT too often, your words fall flat because you’re not speaking to the real pain your audience feels—leaving your best ideas and business opportunities unrealized.

Dan Manning, former Air Force pilot, startup storytelling mentor, and creator of the “Before, Change, After, Meaning” framework, joins me on the Business of Story to show you how to make your message heard, not just said.

Meet Dan Manning: From Fighter Pilot to Startup Storytelling Mentor

Dan Manning brings a unique blend of military discipline, startup grit, and narrative science to the world of business storytelling. After a career in the Air Force—where he learned that survival depends on learning from others’ stories—Dan became a speechwriter and then a mentor to startup founders. He’s helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and leaders raise millions, clarify their messages, and pitch with confidence. Dan’s new book, The Story Stage Founder’s Guide to Startup Pitching, distills these lessons into actionable steps for anyone who wants to move ideas and inspire action.

What’s in it for You:

1. A proven framework for stories that get results
   Learn Dan’s “Before, Change, After, Meaning” approach and why it works for business, sales, and leadership.

2. How to uncover and leverage your audience’s pain
   Discover why identifying real pain points is the fastest way to connect and why empathy—not demographics—drives engagement.

3. Military storytelling lessons for business impact
   Find out how clarity, brevity, and mission-focused narratives from Dan’s Air Force experience can transform your business communication.

4. The difference between scenes and stories—and why it matters
   See why focusing on moments of change creates stories that stick and how to build your own “story map” for endless inspiration.

5. Avoiding common storytelling mistakes
   Get Dan’s advice on moving beyond jargon, features, and fragmented anecdotes to craft stories that drive action.

6. Practical steps to implement storytelling in your business
   Walk away with actionable tips for marketing, leadership, and team alignment using strategic storytelling.

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How to Turn Hard-Won Attention into Loyal Customers Without Wasting Another Ad Dollar

Why Your Marketing Story Isn’t Over After the Click

You’re a marketing leader who’s tired of watching your budget drive a flood of clicks—only to see most prospects slip quietly away, never to return. You want your marketing to mean something, to move people to act, and to finally see your website deliver the results you know are possible.

But let’s be honest: it’s frustrating. No matter how good your creative, how sharp your targeting, or how big your ad spend, prospects vanish after that first click. You’re left staring at analytics, wondering where the story fizzled out.

Welcome to the Business of Story. Today, we’re rewriting what happens after the click.

Meet Shamir Duverseau: The Post-Click Conversion Architect

Shamir Duverseau spent 25 years leading marketing for brands like Disney, Marriott, Southwest Airlines, and NBC Universal before founding Smart Panda Labs. After a career spent chasing advertising ROI, Shamir did something most marketers would call crazy—he walked away from ads to focus on what really matters: the post-click experience.

His framework has helped enterprise marketers and founders transform their websites into true conversion engines. Shamir’s mission? Help you stop being hostage to ad spend and finally understand where conversions are actually won or lost.

What’s in it for You

• Discover why the post-click experience is the biggest missed opportunity in digital marketing
• Learn how to align your teams for seamless customer journeys
• Get Shamir’s step-by-step framework for turning your website into a conversion engine
• Find out the exact tweaks that can dramatically boost your conversions
• See how to use research and feedback to create continuous improvement
• Get Shamir’s free guide to optimizing your own post-click experience

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How to Choose—and Deliver—the Story That Gets Your Best Audience to Act

Last week, a founder told me, “Everybody can use my product!” I asked how her advertising was working, and she admitted, “Not great.”

If you’re trying to reach everyone, you’re likely connecting with no one. The real winners know their best customers—and tailor their story just for them.

Meet Lee Schneider: Master Storyteller for Modern Business

Lee Schneider is the founder of Red Cup Agency, an award-winning podcast production house.

He’s written for Good Morning America, produced for Dateline NBC, and crafted documentaries for the History Channel, Court TV, and more.

Lee teaches storytelling at USC’s School of Architecture and has helped countless founders, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals turn complex ideas into projects that get funded.

No matter the medium—screenplays, news, business pitches—structure is essential. If you don’t give your story a clear setup, problem, and resolution, your audience will tune out (or worse, invent their own). Lee’s advice? “People crave story structure. If you don’t provide it, they’ll impose their own.”

What’s In It For You

• Discover why “setup, problem, resolution” works in every pitch and presentation
• Learn Lee’s “theme detector” exercise to find your most compelling story
• Build a story library: origin, customer benefit, and use case stories
• Make your audience the hero—why your story should be about their transformation, not your achievements
• Test your pitch with real people and refine it for maximum clarity
• Avoid the trap of being all things to all people—specialization is your storytelling superpower

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Transform Your Recruiting with the Power of Story

Why Your Employer Brand Needs a Narrative (SEO-Optimized)

You want to build a world-class team that will drive your company’s growth AND create a culture of purpose, loyalty, and innovation.

But you’re frustrated because your job postings attract too many mercenaries—candidates who jump ship at the first sign of more money—leaving you with high turnover, lost productivity, and a revolving door of talent.

Imagine a recruiting process where your story makes candidates the hero, your mission becomes their mission, and your company becomes a magnet for A-players who stay for the long haul.

That’s the power of storytelling in recruiting, and today’s episode of the Business of Story reveals exactly how to do it.

Meet Jeff Hyman: Recruiter, Author, Storytelling Advocate

Jeff Hyman, author of Recruit Rockstars, is a 30-year veteran of the recruiting industry. He’s helped hundreds of companies—from Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 500s—find and keep top 5% talent. Jeff’s approach is rooted in the belief that recruiting is more than a transaction—it’s a seduction, and story is your secret weapon.

What’s in it for You?

• Learn why storytelling is the heart of effective recruiting
• Discover the ABT (And, But, Therefore) framework for job posts and outreach
• Understand the difference between missionaries and mercenaries—and how to attract the right ones
• See how AI can help you scale your employer brand story
• Learn how to make your job postings irresistible to A-players

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Artful Intelligence: The Human Advantage in the Age of AI

Why the Future of Brand Storytelling Belongs to the Artful, Not the Artificial

You want your brand storytelling to cut through the noise, move your audience, and make a measurable impact.

But if you’re like most creative leaders, you feel uneasy about the rise of “artificial intelligence”—a technology with a brand name that sounds colder, more mechanical, and less human than anything your audience actually wants.

That’s the tension: AI is everywhere, but “artificial” doesn’t inspire trust or connection. It’s about what the tech world makes, not what it makes happen for you.

So let’s reframe AI as artful intelligence—a skillful, intentional, and creative force that amplifies your humanness and inspires your brand storytelling?

Meet Jen Perry—Creative Leadership at the Intersection of Art and Intelligence

Today’s guest is Jen Perry, Executive Creative Director at Vagrants, where she leads the company’s evolution from a production shop into a creative powerhouse.

With over 20 years of experience building and leading creative teams, Jen’s guided projects for JetBlue, IKEA, and Dunkin’ Donuts, earning recognition from the Emmys, Cannes Lions, and The One Show.

Jen believes in the power of collaboration, coaching, and a strong creative process to bring bold, effective ideas to life.

What’s In It for You?

• How to reframe “artificial intelligence” as “artful intelligence” to unlock your creative edge.
• Proven strategies for keeping emotional intelligence at the heart of your brand storytelling—even as you embrace new technology.
• Actionable methods to build genuine, lasting client relationships and inspire your creative teams in a tech-driven world.

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Why the Hero’s Journey Is Your Brand’s Secret Superpower

Ever wonder why some stories just grab you and won’t let go?

When I first encountered the Hero’s Journey, it didn’t just change my business—it changed my life.

So I’m honored to host Christopher Vogler, author of one of my favorite books on storytelling, The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers.

Chris is a renowned Hollywood story consultant, screenwriter, author, and educator famous for adapting Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” into a practical guide for storytellers.

He significantly influenced Disney films like The Lion King and Hercules and consulted for major studios, applying his 12-stage narrative framework to numerous productions, making him a key figure in modern screenwriting theory. 

What’s in it for you

• Discover how wish fulfillment drives every great brand story
• Learn why obstacles (“threshold guardians”) are your best teachers
• Find out how stories heal, orient, and energize us—even in chaos
• Get practical tips for turning your brand into a wish-granting mentor
• See why the Hero’s Journey is your blueprint for business (and life) growth

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Why Building Your Audience Now is the Only Moat Against AI, With Joe Pulizzi

The content marketing pioneer reveals the urgent 12-24 month window to build discoverable human audiences before synthetic content makes it nearly impossible

As a creator, how well-known are you? How wide is your circle of influence?

How large is your most intimate audience who come to you for thought leadership, advice, and inspiration?

Today’s guest calls these essential elements of true popularity your moat against the onslaught of AI algorithms and synthetic content that are drowning out those who have not built their following.

Joe Pulizzi, who coined the term “content marketing” in 2001, drops a reality bomb in this episode: 99% of content being created today is heavily influenced by AI.

Instagram can’t even keep up with the flood. The window to build a discoverable human audience is closing fast.

But here’s the thing—Joe isn’t running from AI. He’s running WITH it while building something AI can’t replicate: authentic human relationships.

The goal isn’t avoiding AI. It’s using AI as your collaborator while becoming vinyl in a streaming world.

What’s in it for You: The Survival Strategy for Human Creators

Joe Pulizzi helps creators understand that being known for something specific is becoming the only sustainable competitive advantage in an AI-dominated content landscape.

In this episode of Business of Story, you’ll discover:

• Why 99% of content is now AI-influenced and what that means for human creators
• The urgent 12-24 month window to build your audience before discoverability becomes nearly impossible
• Why being known (not famous) is your only competitive moat against synthetic content
• The “vinyl strategy”—becoming the 1% that builds loyal audiences who crave authentic human connection
• Joe’s 30-minute daily AI practice that gives you a decided advantage
• How to find your “tilt”—that one thing you’re exceptionally good at for a specific audience
• Why email and owned audiences matter more than algorithm-dependent platforms
• The generational advantage Baby Boomers and Gen Xers have in the AI age

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How to Use The Hero’s Journey in Business and In Life, With John Bucher

The Executive Director of the Joseph Campbell Foundation reveals why this ancient framework is your blueprint for brand storytelling and personal transformation

You’ve built your business on expertise and hard work. You understand your market, you’ve solved real problems, and you have valuable insights to share.

What drives you is creating authentic connections with your customers through storytelling that actually resonates.

But you’re confounded because your brand messaging isn’t creating the impact you know it deserves.

This is where the Hero’s Journey changes everything.

John Bucher, the Executive Director of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, joins us. He’s a renowned mythologist who’s worked with HBO, DC Comics, Paramount Pictures, Academy Award nominees, and Emmy winners, John Bucher reveals that the Hero’s Journey isn’t just a story framework—it’s a neurological blueprint for how humans make decisions.

The goal isn’t just to tell better stories. It’s to speak the native language of human decision-making.

What’s in it for You: The Framework That Transforms Business Communication

John Bucher helps business leaders understand that the Hero’s Journey mirrors the exact neurological patterns your brain uses to solve problems. It’s not just storytelling theory—it’s neuroscience applied to business communication.

In this episode of Business of Story, you’ll discover:

• Why customers make emotional decisions first, then justify them logically (and how to use this)
• The two paths to the Call to Adventure in business (entrepreneurs vs. managers)
• How to position your customer as the hero and your brand as the mentor
• Why the Hero’s Journey is a form (not a formula) and what that means for your messaging
• The Refusal of the Call in your sales process and how to navigate customer resistance
• How to move from intuitive to intentional storytelling without becoming a story theorist

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The Premise Development Framework That Turns Experts Into Influential Public Voices

You’ve built deep expertise in your field. You understand your craft, you’ve solved real problems, and you have valuable insights to share.

What drives you is the vision of becoming a recognized voice—someone whose perspective shapes how others think and act in your domain.

But you’re confounded because your message isn’t creating the resonance you know it deserves.

This is where Jay Acunzo’s breakthrough changes everything.

As an author, speaker, and public speaking coach who’s helped everyone from bestselling authors to seven-figure consultants become stronger public voices, Jay’s discovered that the secret isn’t marketing more—it’s mattering more through what he calls “Premise Development.”

The goal isn’t to be the best; it’s to be their favorite.

What’s in it for You: The Premise That Changes How You’re Heard

Jay Acunzo helps entrepreneurs and experts become stronger public voices by developing what he calls a premise—a defensible assertion that becomes your lens for seeing everything in your domain. It’s not a tagline or a mission statement. It’s an insightful reframe on a familiar topic that makes people think differently.

In this episode of Business of Story, you’ll discover:

• Why resonance over reach creates more business impact than volume-based content
• The six-beat narrative argument framework that moves audiences from skepticism to action
• How to use laddered messaging to communicate your premise at different depths
• Why Story 2.0 requires practice and posture, not just process
• The difference between clarity and strength in brand storytelling

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How Soul Technology Transforms One-Way Memories Into Living Conversations With Your Lost Loved Ones Who Answer Back

You know that ache when you desperately need your father’s advice on a decision that’s keeping you up at night, or you’d give anything to hear your mother’s voice tell you everything’s going to be okay.

Those moments hit hardest when you’re facing something only they would understand because they knew you better than anyone else ever could.

But they’re gone, and their wisdom went silent with them.

Those videos you treasure can’t answer today’s questions. Those photos can’t offer guidance on tomorrow’s challenges.

The storyteller you need most can’t tell you the one story that would change everything in this moment—because recordings are frozen in time in old VHS videos and fading photos while your life keeps moving forward.

What if that wasn’t true anymore?

Meet Miles Spencer: The Entrepreneur Who Brought His Father Back

Miles Spencer is a curious guy from Pittsburgh who asked a lot of questions and strayed a long way from home. For more than 30 years he’s mentored tech founders, and for 14 years he’s been a dad—two jobs that, as he says, share remarkable similarities.

Along the way, he’s created over 1,100 jobs, founded and exited three digital media companies, served as Venture Principal at Capital Express (the team behind register.com), and hosted MoneyHunt on PBS long before Shark Tank existed.

He’s also an adventurer who’s led 1,500 people across 14 miles of open sea by kayak and trekked 1,100 miles through the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria—journeys that inspired his Amazon bestsellers A Line in the Sand and Havana Famiglia.

But Miles’ most audacious journey started with a quiet wish he shared with his longtime friend and co-founder Adam Drake: one more conversation with someone they loved. For Miles, it was his father. For Adam, his grandparents.

As AI technology accelerated, they saw a way to make that wish possible—not just for themselves, but for everyone. They envisioned something human, intimate, and deeply meaningful. What they now call soul tech.

Together, they transformed grief into vision and memory into connection, creating Reflekta—a platform that’s redefining how families preserve and interact with the wisdom of those who shaped their lives.

What’s in it for You:

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to preserve your loved one’s authentic voice from as little as 10 seconds of audio—Miles recreated his father’s voice from a gibberish voicemail

• Why spontaneous conversations deliver 10x the impact of static videos and photo albums when you need wisdom most

• The positioning evolution that transformed Reflekta from grief-focused to connection-centered—and why that matters for any category-creating brand

• What happened when Miles heard “No problem, Tiger. I love you” eight years after his father passed—and why he stopped correcting people who say they “talked to dad last night”

• How three simple files (life story, photo, voice sample) turn one-way memories into living conversations that learn and grow

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