The Narrative Advantage

Erin Trafford
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The Narrative Advantage Podcast is where ambitious entrepreneurs and leaders learn how to unlock the real power of their story — so they can sell with resonance, lead with confidence, and build businesses that align with their purpose. Hosted by Erin Trafford — trusted communications strategist, media veteran, CEO of Story Studio Network and creator of The Narrative Advantage Method — each episode blends sharp storytelling strategy with embodied practices that help you feel safe, confident, and magnetic in your message. More than tactics, this is about building the clarity and narrative advantage that sustains your business—and your energy—for the long run.

  1. JAN 15

    When it's time to release a bad fit client

    Open your inbox right now. Do you have a physical reaction to someone's name? That pit in your stomach, the chest tightness, the split second where you stop breathing—your body is giving you 80% of the information your brain is trying to ignore. And while you're overriding those signals, you're bleeding cash, morale, and energy. The longer you let a bad situation fester, the worse it gets. Most founders know this intellectually. But they stay stuck in what Erin calls "the loop"—a closed circuit of fear, dysregulation, and mounting resentment that compounds with every email, every meeting, every scope creep request. In this episode, Erin breaks down the four red flags that signal it's time to release a bad fit client or move on from a misaligned team member—and why ignoring your body's wisdom is leaving 80% of critical business intelligence on the table. You'll learn:The two boundary signals that show up at the very beginning (before you even sign the contract)Why scope creep isn't just annoying—it's a leadership failureHow to recognize when you're stuck in an emotional loop with a client or team memberWhat happens to your body when you ignore dysregulation signalsWhy release is growth, even when it's terrifyingThis isn't about firing clients casually. It's about recognizing that sometimes the bravest thing you can do as a leader is trust what your body already knows. Your Next Steps: Book your Communications Clarity to Conversion Diagnostic www.erintrafford.com/comms-diagnosticGrab the Story & Somatics Private Audio Vault: https://erintrafford.com/story-and-somaticsConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.erintraffordConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erintrafford/Find Erin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfZBA8F_znMYzT4pjtWCbhA

    27 min

  2. JAN 8

    Stop Pulling Last Year Forward

    You sit down at your desk on the first real work day of January. Coffee's hot. Notebook's fresh. You've got that "let's go" energy. And then… nothing. You stare at the screen for 20 minutes. Or you find reasons to sweep the floors instead of opening your laptop. Or you hyper-fixate on a task that doesn't actually matter. Welcome to Circle Back Season. January has this unspoken energy where we're expected to pick up where we left off—same processes, same offers, same team rhythms—but with new results. It's old energy trying to play in a new space. And it doesn't work. In this episode, I'm breaking down why "circling back" feels so draining and what to do instead. Spoiler: it's not about doing more of what didn't work last year. It's about reviewing what actually broke down in your communications, sales, operations, or client experience—and drawing a line in the sand. In this episode:Why your nervous system reacts to January (freeze, flight, or hyper-focus)The hidden communication breakdowns that persist if you don't stop them nowHow to shed instead of set goalsReal examples of how my clients (and I) are rebuilding instead of restartingI have two comms client spots open in January. If you're listening to this thinking, "I wonder what Erin would say about my process," DM me on LinkedIn or email team@erintrafford.com. Let's do it. Your Next Steps: Book your Communications Clarity to Conversion Diagnostic www.erintrafford.com/comms-diagnosticGrab the Story & Somatics Private Audio Vault: https://erintrafford.com/story-and-somaticsConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.erintraffordConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erintrafford/Find Erin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfZBA8F_znMYzT4pjtWCbhA

    20 min

  3. JAN 1

    The invisible inflection point capping your growth

    So here's a question I need you to sit with: When was the last time you tried to take a week off—actually off—and came back to find something in your business that made you cringe? Maybe it was a social media post that didn't sound like you. Maybe it was how a team member described what you do on a client call. Maybe it was realizing that every important conversation still requires you in the room because nobody else can quite articulate your value proposition. If you're nodding along, welcome. You're stuck in what I call the Founder Dependency Trap. And it's not your fault. When you're small, being the voice of the business works. You should be in every conversation. But there's this invisible inflection point where what got you here becomes what stops you from getting there. Most founders don't see it coming because they're too busy translating. In this episode, I break down exactly how to diagnose whether you're stuck in founder dependency, why letting go feels impossible (even when you know you should), and what organizational coherence actually looks like when you build it right. This is especially critical as we head into 2026 because I saw this pattern intensify throughout 2025—founders who built real momentum suddenly realizing they've become the bottleneck in their own revenue engine. In this episode, you'll learn: The three gut-check scenarios that reveal founder dependency (the vacation test, the client call cringe, and the bottleneck you've baked in)Why you're spending more time correcting your team's work than it would take to do it yourselfThe difference between being a micromanager and being a translator (and why the latter is more insidious)What organizational coherence actually means—not consultant-speak, real infrastructureThe three psychological blocks keeping you trapped: perfectionism, trust gaps, and identity crisisHow to build narrative infrastructure that's simple enough for everyone to ownThe self-diagnostic questions to run with your team this week Specific mentions in this episode:Erin's Conversion Shift blog series: https://erintrafford.com/blog Clarity to Conversion Diagnostic : https://erintrafford.com Subscribe to The Narrative Advantage wherever you listen to podcasts Your Next Steps: Book your Communications Clarity to Conversion Diagnostic www.erintrafford.com/comms-diagnosticGrab the Story & Somatics Private Audio Vault: https://erintrafford.com/story-and-somaticsConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.erintraffordConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erintrafford/Find Erin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfZBA8F_znMYzT4pjtWCbhA

    30 min

  4. 2025-12-11

    Why Your 2026 Launch Strategy Should Start Now

    This is the last episode of 2025, and we're going out with something practical: how to actually integrate communications into your strategic planning for 2026—not as a bolt-on, but as something built-in from the start. If you've ever scrambled two weeks before a launch wondering why nothing is landing, or if your marketing team feels constantly behind and under pressure, this episode is for you. We're breaking down:Why treating communications as downstream creates misalignment, wasted energy, and trust erosionThe hidden costs of leaving marketing out of strategic decisionsHow to plan your 2026 launch periods with a communications flywheel (not a funnel)The simple shift that makes launches feel like invitations instead of surprisesWhat it looks like when your marketing is integrated into planning from the beginningThis episode pairs with the Conversion Shift blog series (all five parts are live at erinTrafford.com)—I recommend reading Articles 4 and 5 before you start planning for next year. Your Next Steps: Book your Communications Clarity to Conversion Diagnostic www.erintrafford.com/comms-diagnosticGrab the Story & Somatics Private Audio Vault: https://erintrafford.com/story-and-somaticsConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.erintraffordConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erintrafford/Find Erin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfZBA8F_znMYzT4pjtWCbhA

    23 min

  5. 2025-12-04

    When "Women Supporting Women" Becomes Toxic: The Hidden Costs of Community

    The "women supporting women" movement started with genuine intention—lifting each other up, creating community, and dismantling systemic barriers. But somewhere along the way, it got twisted into something that can actually damage the very people it's meant to help. In this episode, I break down the five ways this dynamic breaks down in business—and why so many coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs are burning out trying to "support" each other. What We Cover: The Five Breaking Points:Emotional labor disguised as support (and why holding space became carrying everyone's feelings)Boundary collapse that makes saying "no" feel like betrayalOver-identification and "coaching down" that erases individual contextUnspoken expectations that create performative collaborationValidation masquerading as support (the most insidious problem)What Actually Works:Setting clear boundaries around time, finances, and accessibilityTransparent communication without the highlight reelCollaborative clarity that defines expectations upfrontSkill sharing instead of saviorismCreating offerings without creating obligationsThe Shift for 2026: Moving from "I need to save you" to "here's what I'm offering—take what serves you and make it your own." Announcements:Breathe Plan Thrive Workshop (January 2026, Eastern Passage/Cow Bay, NS): A day-long somatic finance workshop with financial coach Danielle Abbott. Early bird $95 CAD until December 15—already halfway sold out (email or IG DM for registration)Season Break: This is the second-to-last episode of 2024. Taking a holiday break and returning in January with fresh contentThe Conversion Shift Blog Series: Five-part series on conversion continues at erintraffford.com Your Next Steps: Book your Communications Clarity to Conversion Diagnostic www.erintrafford.com/comms-diagnosticGrab the Story & Somatics Private Audio Vault: https://erintrafford.com/story-and-somaticsConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.erintraffordConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erintrafford/Find Erin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfZBA8F_znMYzT4pjtWCbhA

    29 min

  6. 2025-11-27

    Why Business Feels Exhausting right now

    If you've been feeling like you're pushing water uphill with your marketing—you're not imagining it. Something fundamental has shifted, and the old funnel-driven, transaction-focused approach is exhausting both you and your audience. In this episode, I break down why the energy of traditional sales funnels feels so depleting right now, and introduce you to a completely different way of thinking about how your content, offers, and sales can flow: the flywheel economy. What You'll Learn: The real problem isn't your funnel tactics—it's the pressurized energy behind them. We've been treating people like transactions instead of, well, people. And after everything the world has gone through in the last 18 months, nobody wants that anymore. I walk you through the chocolate fountain analogy (yes, really—and it's delicious), explain why the flywheel approach builds relationships at scale instead of forcing transactions, and share why your offer clarity matters more than ever in this new paradigm. Key Topics:Why "pushing water uphill" perfectly describes what so many founders are experiencing right nowThe exhausting energy of traditional funnels—and why it's not working anymoreWhat a content flywheel actually looks like (think: chocolate fountains and infinity symbols)How the flywheel invites people in at their own speed versus forcing them down a prescribed pathWhy your offer needs to be rock solid in a flywheel economyThe relationship economy vs. the transaction economy Your Next Steps: Book your Communications Clarity to Conversion Diagnostic www.erintrafford.com/comms-diagnosticGrab the Story & Somatics Private Audio Vault: https://erintrafford.com/story-and-somaticsConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.erintraffordConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erintrafford/Find Erin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfZBA8F_znMYzT4pjtWCbhA

    21 min

  7. 2025-11-20

    The $50,000 Mistake: Why You Keep Spending on Tactics Instead of Strategy

    Have you ever looked at your business expenses and thought, "Why did I spend that?" New website. Fresh copy. Brand refresh. Social media manager. Ads strategist. Before you know it, you're $50,000 deep—and still not seeing results. Here's the uncomfortable truth: you're not buying bad services. You're buying hope that execution will solve what only decision-making can fix. In this episode, I break down what I call "the tactical shopping spree"—the pattern of spending on tactics to avoid sitting with three critical strategic decisions: Who do you serve?What are you known for?What are you saying NO to?IN THIS EPISODE: Why smart founders keep making this expensive mistake (especially now)The hidden costs beyond the actual money (lost time, credibility leaks, team morale)Why you can't copywrite your way out of strategic confusionMy personal confession: how indecision cost me a year of tractionThe four steps to stop the bleeding and get clearWhy this compounds in 2026 (and what to do about it NOW) Your Next Steps: Book your Communications Clarity to Conversion Diagnostic www.erintrafford.com/comms-diagnosticGrab the Story & Somatics Private Audio Vault: https://erintrafford.com/story-and-somaticsConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.erintraffordConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erintrafford/Find Erin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfZBA8F_znMYzT4pjtWCbhA

    30 min

  8. 2025-11-13

    The Email List I'm Embarrassed About (And How I'm Fixing It)

    Ever feel blocked about your email list? Yeah, me too. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on something I've been avoiding—my email strategy (or lack thereof). This is building in public at its finest. No polished plan, no "6 steps to success." Just me, a rainy Monday morning, and a complete rethink of how I'm approaching my consultancy marketing for 2026. What You'll Hear: I walk through my actual planning process in real-time, including:Why I'm finally admitting I'll never send weekly emails (and why that's okay)How I'm turning thought leadership into email series instead of one-offsThe "that to what" framework for warming up your audienceWhy consistency is about energy, not calendarsHow I'm weaving together email, podcast, YouTube, and LinkedIn into one cohesive engineThe prompt I used with Claude AI to generate six email series ideasMy backwards and forwards planning method for content launchesWhy creating content and promoting it are two completely separate jobs (and both matter)Key Frameworks Mentioned:The "That to What" promotion strategyEmail series as lead magnets (3-5 emails per series)The Small Bites approach for YouTube (7-10 minute videos solving specific problems)EAT optimization (Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness) Your Next Steps: Book your Communications Clarity to Conversion Diagnostic www.erintrafford.com/comms-diagnosticGrab the Story & Somatics Private Audio Vault: https://erintrafford.com/story-and-somaticsConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.erintraffordConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erintrafford/Find Erin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfZBA8F_znMYzT4pjtWCbhA

    32 min
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About

The Narrative Advantage Podcast is where ambitious entrepreneurs and leaders learn how to unlock the real power of their story — so they can sell with resonance, lead with confidence, and build businesses that align with their purpose. Hosted by Erin Trafford — trusted communications strategist, media veteran, CEO of Story Studio Network and creator of The Narrative Advantage Method — each episode blends sharp storytelling strategy with embodied practices that help you feel safe, confident, and magnetic in your message. More than tactics, this is about building the clarity and narrative advantage that sustains your business—and your energy—for the long run.

Information

  • Creator
    Erin Trafford
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Erin Trafford Incorporated
  • Show Website
    The Narrative Advantage