The Story Engine Podcast

Kyle Gray
  • 5.0 (50)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Story Engine Podcast where we teach you how to make marketing easier, more powerful and fun through storytelling. Each week we learn from top entrepreneurs, influencers and world-changers on how to share your story through content, copywriting, speaking and how to make your story your most powerful marketing tool.

  1. 5D AGO

    Building Wealth on Your Own Terms: The Infinite Banking Strategy with Brandon Neely

    What if the way you think about money is holding you back from the life you actually want? In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Kyle Gray sits down with entrepreneur and financial strategist Brandon Neely to explore how infinite banking—a system used by some of the wealthiest families in the world—can give you control over your money, your business, and your life. Brandon shares his deeply personal journey from running a coffee shop with no safety net to navigating floods, business volatility, and family challenges—all while learning to build wealth the smart way. From bootstrapping his first business to developing a financial system that balances profit, cashflow, and freedom, Brandon reveals how he and his wife crafted a life of clarity, security, and choice. If you've ever felt trapped by debt, uncertainty, or the stress of running your business, this conversation will give you actionable insights and the confidence to take control of your financial future. On This Episode 01:12  Brandon's transition from coffee shop owner to financial entrepreneur 03:32  How emergency funds and access to capital saved their first business during a flood 06:36  Navigating volatility: COVID, business stress, and maintaining a life to the fullest 08:44  Three critical rules for business owners: know your calling, build a supportive team, and know your numbers 10:49  Explaining Profit First: a system to structure business finances for sustainability and growth 14:39  Using the 10-10-10 rule and percentage-based financial planning for clarity and control 16:41  The STILL method: set goals, track, inspect, adjust, and live deliberately 19:45  Overcoming personal and business crises: miscarriage, loss, and debt 23:18  Experiencing freedom and choice through financial clarity: trips, experiences, and family priorities 25:19  Building rhythms in life: date nights, family trips, and meaningful routines

    33 min

  2. MAR 3

    7 Practices to Lead with Impact and Joy with Patrick Thean

    Being a CEO isn't just about working harder—it's about knowing when to step back, lead with intention, and grow both yourself and your company. On this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Kyle Gray sits down with Patrick Thean, CEO coach and author of The Journey to CEO Success, to unpack the 7 key practices that help executives lead more effectively, achieve their dreams, and increase the value of their businesses. Patrick shares his own journey of burnout, reflection, and transformation—from feeling like a "Chinese dish spinning on a lazy Susan" to discovering how rhythm, commitment, and courageous leadership can unlock sustainable success. Together, they explore how CEOs can avoid the trap of overworking, develop the right team, embrace vulnerability as a leadership tool, and align personal growth with company growth. Whether you're a first-time CEO or running a multi-million-dollar business, this conversation offers actionable insights to become the best version of yourself while creating lasting impact for your team, your company, and your life. Episode Highlights & Timestamps 01:06 Patrick shares his personal journey, family life, and coaching philosophy 02:16  Defining the CEO: mid-market firms, growth ranges, and long-term client partnerships 04:33  What "success" really means for CEOs: combining joy and achievement 06:30  Why high-achieving CEOs often hit a ceiling; the limits of working harder alone 09:32  Symptoms of burnout: fatigue, irritability, and reduced joy in work 11:46  The vicious cycle of overworking and underperforming; the need for coaching 14:28  Patrick's methodology: conviction, commitment, courage, and predictable rhythm in leadership 17:52 Consistency as a core leadership principle: how emotions impact your team 19:34  Using vulnerability effectively: sharing struggles to lead and inspire 21:39  Choosing clients and relationships that align with mutual respect and chemistry 23:25  The 7 key practices from The Journey to CEO Success: starting with yourself, building alignment, culture, and strategy 24:13  Reflecting on transformation: how intentional practice improves leadership, personal life, and company growth 27:16  Patrick's "lazy Susan" metaphor: recognizing burnout, reflection, and aligning personal and professional growth

    34 min

  3. FEB 24

    Divine Wealth: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life with Francesca Rea

    Money is more than numbers on a page—it's energy, reflection, and a pathway to aligning your life with your purpose. On this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Kyle Gray sits down with Francesca Rea, senior wealth advisor, prosperity coach, and author of Divine Wealth, to explore how women can reclaim power over their finances and their lives. Francesca shares her journey from managing money in a rigid, masculine way to embracing the feminine side of wealth—learning to receive, give, and create abundance while staying aligned with her purpose. Together, they dive into the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of money. Francesca reveals the unique financial challenges women face, the limiting beliefs that hold them back, and how balancing structure with intuition can create not only financial success but also freedom, joy, and presence. From her own experiences with divorce, self-sabotage, and transformation, Francesca provides actionable strategies for women to attract the right clients, manage finances with intention, and build a life of abundance that reflects their true selves. On This Episode 01:53 Overview of Divine Wealth: a mix of fiction and nonfiction weaving an 8-step process through a money retreat in Bali 02:42  Unique struggles women face with money: prioritization, societal pressures, and anticipating independence due to death, divorce, or decision 05:03 Common limiting beliefs: fear of greed, unworthiness, avoiding numbers, and feeling too busy to engage with finances 06:38 Masculine vs. feminine energy in money: extremes, balance, and the importance of structure and strategy alongside intuition 10:09  Money and relationships: starting conversations, establishing "we" and "me" accounts, and cultivating financial freedom within partnerships 12:11  Spiritual perspective on money: money as energy, mindful awareness, and the concept of a "money date" to nurture your finances consciously 14:54  Francesca's unique approach: combining strategic planning, mindset work, and spiritual alignment to generate results and fulfillment 17:08  Personal transformation: divorce, self-reflection, limiting beliefs, and learning to slow down, be present, and align money with life purpose 21:03  Doubling income while slowing down: intentionality, visualization, tracking, and magnetizing the right clients 24:46  Kyle reflects on his own experiences; Francesca shares the deeper impact of aligning money with life, presence, and empowerment

    31 min

  4. FEB 17

    Time Freedom, Cash Flow, and the Future of Investing with Dr. Axel Meierhoefer

    Real estate investing doesn't have to be scary, complicated, or out of reach. In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Kyle Gray sits down with Dr. Axel Meierhoefer, a master of creating wealth through residential real estate, to explore simple, powerful ways to build financial freedom and a better life. Dr. Axel shares how he transformed his own life from military service and corporate work to becoming a successful real estate investor, and how others can do the same—even from anywhere in the world. They dive into the myths that hold people back from investing, the importance of focusing on cash flow over speculation, and how to define your "time freedom point" to live life on your own terms. From his early lessons during the dot-com bubble to the emerging role of AI and robotics in property management, Dr. Axel shows how real estate can be a consistent, reliable path to wealth while giving you the time and freedom to enjoy your life. Whether you're new to investing or looking for a better strategy, this conversation is packed with insights and actionable guidance. On This Episode 00:53  Dr. Axel shares his military background and transition to the US 01:20  Journey from Air Force to corporate consulting and early real estate exposure 04:42  How real estate became a lever for wealth and prosperity 05:30  Debunking common real estate investing myths; focusing on cash flow vs. appreciation 08:31  Defining the "time freedom point" and calculating the number of properties needed to reach financial goals 09:47  How Dr. Axel spends his time: podcasts, gardening, lifelong learning, and curiosity about technology 11:31  How AI and technology will transform property search, evaluation, and management 14:07  Future cost reductions and efficiency gains through robotic property management 17:11  Vision for smart, service-oriented communities and sustainable abundance 19:49  Personal lessons from stock market bubble frustrations and the importance of understanding cycles 24:55  Kyle shares his own experience with investing and the value of strategy, not speculation 28:32  Dr. Axel's advice: find a mentor, get guided, and learn to invest with confidence

    32 min

  5. FEB 10

    Your Body Isn't Broken: How Genetics Reveal the Missing Link in Health & Healing with Dr. Sam Shay

    What if the reason your diet, supplements, workouts, or "perfect" health routines never quite worked wasn't lack of discipline—but missing information? In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Kyle Gray sits down with functional genetics expert Dr. Sam Shay to explore how genetic testing can uncover the hidden drivers behind chronic symptoms, inflammation, food sensitivities, mood issues, and long-standing health struggles that traditional approaches often miss. Dr. Sam shares his powerful personal journey—from childhood trauma, chronic illness, insomnia, and unexplained symptoms to finally finding clarity through genetics testing after nearly 20 years of searching. Together, Kyle and Dr. Sam unpack how genetics provide a lifelong roadmap for diet, lifestyle, inflammation control, supplementation, and behavior—helping people stop guessing, stop blaming their bodies, and start working with their biology instead of against it. Whether you're a practitioner wanting better client outcomes or someone who feels like you've "tried everything," this episode will completely change how you think about health. Episode Highlights & Timestamps 01:03 Why genetics testing may be the most overlooked tool in personal health 01:25  Dr. Sam's "wounded healer" origin story and lifelong struggle with chronic illness 06:29 Why most people get overwhelmed and stuck when they run genetics on their own 09:00  Why genetics is the highest-value health test you can run once and use for life 11:24 How genetics determine carb tolerance, caffeine sensitivity, inflammation, and food reactions 15:24 Why cravings, overeating, and sugar addiction are often genetic—not willpower failures 18:47  The moment Dr. Sam got his genetics results and finally had answers 21:42  How genetics ended self-blame and helped him forgive his body 24:32 Feeling "in the right body" again: reclaiming strength, safety, and confidence 26:54  Kyle reflects Dr. Sam's story and the transformative power of genetic clarity 31:08  How practitioners and individuals can get started with genetics testing today

    34 min

  6. FEB 3

    From Burnout to Supported: Why Entrepreneurs Don't Have to Do It Alone with Kirsten Graham

    What if the reason your business feels overwhelming isn't a lack of hustle—but a lack of support? In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Kyle Gray sits down with business coach and outsourcing expert Kirsten Graham to unpack why so many entrepreneurs burn out trying to do everything themselves—and how the right kind of support can completely transform both your business and your life. Kirsten shares her deeply personal journey from surviving the 2008 financial crash, closing her mortgage and title companies during one of the hardest seasons of her life, to rebuilding a business rooted in sustainable growth, leadership, and global team support. Together, Kyle and Kirsten explore the real reasons entrepreneurs resist hiring, the hidden cost of waiting too long to build a team, and how outsourcing—especially with skilled virtual assistants from the Philippines—can unlock creativity, clarity, and the feeling of being a "real" business owner again. If you've ever felt maxed out, isolated, or secretly wondered how everyone else seems to be doing it all, this conversation will change how you think about support forever. In This Episode 01:00 – Kirsten's "Accidental" Path to Business Coaching How mentoring a former mortgage client led to a 15-year coaching career. 02:34 – What "Not Feeling Supported" Really Looks Like Burnout, overwhelm, and the invisible pressure entrepreneurs carry every day. 03:57 – The Real Beliefs Holding Business Owners Back from Hiring Why "I'll just do it myself" is a short-term mindset with long-term consequences. 05:38 – Hiring Too Late: The Hidden Trap Why waiting until you're drowning is the worst possible time to build a team. 06:01 – How to Train Without Burning Yourself Out Simple ways to create SOPs and train team members using screen recordings and systems. 07:07 – Where Entrepreneurs Need Support Most Marketing, podcasting, guest booking, tech, and bookkeeping—what Kirsten sees again and again. 08:52 – Why Skipping a Bookkeeper Is Costing You Money Missed write-offs, poor cash-flow decisions, and flying blind financially. 10:46 – The Human Side of Outsourcing Why hiring isn't just about delegation—it's about partnering with people who love what they do. 12:23 – "I Feel Like a Real Business Owner Now" The emotional shift clients experience once they're no longer doing everything alone. 13:42 – Hiring Too Late vs. Firing Too Late How both mistakes quietly drain your time, money, and energy. 16:15 – September 2013: The Breaking Point Kirsten recounts the moment she closed her businesses while caring for her terminally ill mother. 19:08 – What True Support Feels Like How having the right partner and team changes everything. 20:30 – A Conference That Changed the Game The moment Kirsten realized support meant freedom, not overwhelm. 22:06 – What Makes Kirsten's Approach Different Why her company isn't an agency—and why that distinction matters. 22:43 – Kyle Reflects Kirsten's Story Back to Her A powerful narrative moment that captures the heart of the episode. 27:43 – Final Advice for Entrepreneurs "If your time is worth more than $6 an hour, why are you doing tasks you hate?"

    30 min

  7. JAN 27

    How to Scale on Amazon Without Getting Crushed by Competition With Sean Stone

    Amazon is one of the largest—and most competitive—marketplaces in the world. For e-commerce brands, the opportunity is massive, but so are the risks. In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, Kyle Gray sits down with Sean Stone, an expert in helping brands scale and grow profitably on Amazon, to unpack what actually works in today's crowded marketplace. Sean shares how brands can cut through the noise, avoid costly mistakes, and build systems that allow them to grow without burning margin or momentum. From positioning and strategy to understanding how Amazon really rewards sellers, this conversation is essential listening for founders, brand owners, and marketers who want to compete—and win—on Amazon. Whether you're just entering the platform or already scaling, this episode will change how you think about Amazon as a growth channel. On This Episode (00:20) Meet Sean Stone: How he helps brands scale in the world's most competitive marketplace (00:35) The biggest mistakes brands make when trying to grow on Amazon (00:50) What most sellers misunderstand about Amazon's algorithms and incentives (01:05) How to position your brand to stand out—without racing to the bottom on price (01:20) The strategic mindset shift required to scale profitably on Amazon

    31 min

  8. JAN 20

    Mastering Corporate Storytelling: How to Get Your Ideas Heard with Namaan Mian

    In high-pressure corporate environments, great ideas often die—not because they're bad ideas, but because they're poorly communicated. In this episode, communication expert Namaan Mian joins Kyle to unpack the art and science of storytelling inside organizations where decisions move slowly, egos run high, and clarity is rare. Namaan has mastered how to help leaders across levels—from emerging managers to senior executives—craft stories that move people, shape action, and cut through complexity. He reveals the subtle psychology behind influence, the mechanics of message design, and the conversational patterns that make your ideas impossible to ignore. If you work in any environment where ideas must be championed, defended, and sold, this conversation will give you tools you can put to work immediately. In This Episode 00:40 — What Makes Corporate Storytelling So Hard? Namaan breaks down the unique pressures of corporate communication—hierarchy, pace, personalities, politics—and why most messages get lost. 01:05 — The Cost of an Unclear Message Why even brilliant leaders fail when they can't articulate vision, strategy, or expectations. 01:28 — Namaan's Foundational Framework for Communication The starting point of his process: identifying the "why," the audience's state of mind, and the outcome you're trying to create. 01:55 — Story Structure for Busy Leaders How Namaan teaches executives to organize their message so people listen, remember, and take action. 02:10 — Communicating Up vs. Down the Chain The differences between influencing senior leaders versus giving direction to teams—and why most people confuse the two. 02:35 — Overcoming Corporate Noise Namaan shares the techniques he uses to help leaders break through organizational static and get their ideas championed. 02:58 — Real-World Examples A look at how Namaan has helped leaders navigate conflict, pitch complex ideas, and gain buy-in on critical decisions. 03:25 — The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Storytelling Why data alone fails—and how Namaan trains leaders to understand human drivers behind acceptance and resistance. 03:50 — Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Namaan How to continue learning from Namaan and apply these principles to your own communication challenges.

    32 min
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5
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

The Story Engine Podcast where we teach you how to make marketing easier, more powerful and fun through storytelling. Each week we learn from top entrepreneurs, influencers and world-changers on how to share your story through content, copywriting, speaking and how to make your story your most powerful marketing tool.

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