The Story Lab

Jonathan Howard
  • 5.0 (6)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The go-to podcast for business owners and marketers who want to harness the power of storytelling to stand out, connect, and grow their brands using the power of stories. 

  1. JAN 12

    Why You Don’t Have a Choice Anymore: Adam Torres on Personal Brand Ep. 16

    Send us a text Why You Don’t Have a Choice Anymore: Adam Torres on Personal Brand | Ep. 16 In this special episode of The Story Lab, Jonathan sits down with Adam Torres, co-founder of Mission Matters Media, to talk about the truth people avoid: opting out of a personal brand is still a personal brand and it’s usually not helping you. Adam shares how he went from managing nearly $200M in finance to building a media company and completing 6,000+ interviews, and why he used to be totally anti-branding until he saw what works. You’ll learn how to use “pocket stories” to connect with different audiences, why repeating your message is how you become known, and how to tell your story in different lengths, from an 8-second hook to long-form conversations. If you’ve been stuck in “I don’t want to be cringe online,” this episode is your permission slip to show up in a way that actually fits you. What we cover Why “not having a personal brand” is still a loud messageAdam’s transition from finance to media and what sparked itThe cringe factor: why most people avoid personal branding (and how to do it right)Authenticity: how to show up without performing for the algorithm“Pocket stories”: choosing the right story for the right audienceWhy repeating your story builds trust and authorityStorytelling at different lengths: 8 seconds, 15 seconds, 1 minute, and beyondAdam’s short-form framework: hook fast, move from basic to complexHow podcasting expands your reach and opens doors you cannot knock onWhy launching messy beats waiting for perfectAction Steps Google yourself and audit what shows up (or doesn’t).Build a “story file”: 5 pocket stories you can tell in 8 seconds, 60 seconds, and 5 minutes.Pick one message you want to be known for and repeat it on purpose.If you want to expand your network fast, launch a podcast and invite the people you want to learn from.Guest + Links Adam Torres (Co-founder, Mission Matters Media) Instagram: @AskAdamTorresResources + agency infSupport the show

    19 min

  2. 12/29/2025

    Winning Stories Rely On Details: Make Them See It, So They Trust It | Ep. 15

    Send us a text Winning Stories Rely On Details: Make Them See It, So They Trust It Most business owners don’t have a storytelling problem. They have a detail problem. “I used to be shy” is information, but “I hid under a pile of coats at family gatherings so nobody would talk to me” is a scene.  And scenes are what make people listen, trust, and remember you. In this episode of The Story Lab, I break down why details create instant credibility, how to turn summaries into scenes, and a simple 3-question exercise you can use to upgrade any story you tell in your content. What You’ll Learn Why details create trust faster than “expert” statementsThe difference between a summary and a scene (and why most content stays forgettable)The 3 types of details that make stories hit:Sensory details (what you saw, smelled, heard, felt)Specific details (what actually happened, not the vague version)Emotional truth (the unpolished thought in the moment)Build A Scene in 60 Seconds: A simple exercise to turn any business moment into a story people feelIf your stories aren’t landing, don’t change your whole brand. Change your details. Try the scene exercise and tell one story as a scene this week. Want help turning your experiences into stories that connect and convert? You know where I will be! Support the show

    9 min

  3. 12/15/2025

    AI Made Content Effortless, But Effortless Content Doesn't Get You Seen | Ep 14

    Send us a text AI Made Content Effortless, But Effortless Content Doesn't Get You Seen with Special Guest Wes Towers  AI made content effortless. But effortless content doesn’t get you seen. Because when everything is easy to publish, it’s also easy to ignore. And the real casualty in the AI age is trust. In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Wes Towers (Uplift 360) to talk about what actually cuts through the digital haze: a clear point of view, human texture, and storytelling that feels lived-in, not manufactured. Wes shares a surprisingly powerful exercise that starts with your behind-closed-doors frustrations about your industry and flips them into your strongest differentiator. The stuff you can’t stand becomes the signal that attracts the right people and quietly repels the wrong ones. Which is not a bug, it’s the whole point. We also unpack why the old funnel is eroding, what Wes calls “search everywhere optimization,” and why your website still matters, just later in the decision journey. If you’re tired of posting into the void and ready to build authority that feels earned, this episode is your playbook. What You’ll Learn Why AI content created a trust drought and what to do about itHow to uncover your differentiator using “the dark side” of your industryWhy a grounded contrarian point of view is a visibility cheat codeWhat “search everywhere optimization” is and how it works across platformsWhy people hit your website later now, when they’re closer to buyingHow stories and case studies add weight, warmth, and credibilityGuest Bio Wes Towers is the founder of Uplift 360. For 20+ years, he’s helped real-world businesses, especially builders and trades, turn websites and SEO into steady, qualified work. No fluff. No jargon. Clear strategy, clean execution, and results you can see on the calendar and in the bank. Links Uplift 360: uplift360.com.au Support the show

    13 min

  4. 12/01/2025

    From Sad To Happy The Secret To Powerful Transformation Stories | Ep 13

    Send us a text We break down the transformation story as a simple, powerful arc from sad to happy and explain how to guide clients from point A to point B without leaving them in the dark. We share concrete steps, a social media example, and why you must be the guide, not the hero. • framing the problem as the audience’s “sad” and the goal as their “happy” • showing the darkness with empathy, then leading to the light • mapping a clear, stepwise path from point A to point B • painting an attainable after-state buyers can believe • using client stories where we act as the guide • keeping language simple and outcomes concrete • reminding listeners the transformation is why people buy If you haven’t already, please give us a review Support the show

    11 min

  5. 11/17/2025

    What Kamala Harris Reveals About Building a Powerful, Memorable Story | Ep 12

    Send us a text What makes a story unforgettable isn’t a mountain of facts—it’s the feeling those facts ride in on. We break down Kamala Harris’s Diary of a CEO conversation as a living case study for how to craft narrative that people actually remember and repeat. This isn’t political punditry; it’s a toolkit for founders, creators, and leaders who want their message to stick in a noisy world. We start by tracing how an origin story anchors everything else. Harris ties present-day choices to a childhood steeped in civil rights and community service, giving listeners a durable frame for understanding her values. From there, we examine the role of vulnerability: imposter syndrome, shock on election night, and the unpolished moments that make expertise feel human and believable. You’ll hear how those honest beats aren’t weakness—they’re bridges that carry trust across the gap between speaker and audience. Then we map the mechanics of narrative tension and stakes. Instead of a flat timeline, Harris moves between hope and fear, control and uncertainty, professionalism and private doubt. That push and pull generates attention and gives outcomes weight. We translate those moves into practical prompts you can use right away: define what’s at risk, name the cost of inaction, and show the before-and-after your audience can feel. Finally, we explore why owning a clear voice—plain language, specific beliefs, and quotable lines—beats trying to please everyone. Clarity drives recall, and recall drives action. If you’ve been leaning on data alone, this conversation will recalibrate your approach. You’ll walk away knowing how to pair emotion with evidence, connect micro experiences to macro beliefs, and use contrast to hold attention. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s polishing their founder story, and leave a quick review to tell us which tactic you’re trying first. Link to Original Diary of A CEO Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/D3lhrrXb4WI?si=oj2vDmCw45GOjz0r Support the show

    16 min

  6. 11/03/2025

    This Story Shares How You Built Your Business (and protects it) | Ep 11

    Send us a text We show how a founder story becomes a trust and referral engine when it centers on one pivotal moment, a clear villain, real stakes, and a hard choice. We share the framework and prompts to help you write a story others can retell and that naturally leads to your offer. • what a founder story is and is not • why stories beat resumes for trust and recall • common mistakes like vague claims and trauma dumping • naming the villain your audience cares about • raising stakes that show what is on the line • making the risky choice that creates tension • showing the messy middle with proof and lessons • stating the outcome and mission that drive your work • using prompts to draft and tighten your story • tying the story cleanly to your offer If you haven’t already, write us a review where you listen to your podcast, give us some feedback, and let me know what you need to make your story the one they remember Support the show

    9 min

  7. 10/20/2025

    Perfect Stories Are Never The Goal: Focus On Connection | Ep 10

    Send us a text When the internet looks flawless, it feels empty.  We open the studio door, let the dog bark, and make a case for why your most memorable work will always be the piece where something real sneaks through. Not chaos, not carelessness, but competence with edges. We break down how a voice crack, a pause, or an awkward laugh becomes a signal of safety that audiences instinctively trust, and why that emotional signal outperforms any perfectly scripted caption or AI-polished reel. Across the conversation, we unpack the psychology of connection: how imperfection lowers defenses, invites empathy, and turns passive viewers into active fans. We talk through the “voice crack moment” as a turning point in storytelling, the instant your feelings become visible and your message finally lands. Then we contrast that with overproduction: flawless B-roll, sterile captions, and the glossy sameness that makes posts forgettable. The takeaway is simple and bold: people don’t connect with perfection; they want realness.  You’ll leave with practical ways to publish more human work: record once instead of twelve times, outline instead of scripting, keep micro-mistakes that don’t change meaning, and run every post through three checks—does it match what you mean, does it feel like you, and can your audience see you in it.  If you’re ready to trade sterile polish for memorable impact, press play, keep the crack in your voice, and let people meet you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this nudge, and leave a review to help others find the show. Support the show

    10 min

  8. 10/06/2025

    Want to Be Remembered? Master These 7 Storytelling Rules | Ep 9

    Send us a text We break down seven essentials of business storytelling—from purpose and tension to transformation and a clear call to action—so you can craft stories people remember and act on. We keep it tight, practical, and focused on moving listeners from problem to decision. • defining the purpose of your story and desired action • making it personal while staying relevant to your offer • opening with tension and clear stakes • using specific details to spark emotion • showing the client transformation from dark to light • connecting your experience to their current pain • cutting fluff to keep stories tight and persuasive • ending with a strong, explicit call to action Be sure to comment story on this podcast and let me know that you're interested in jumping into the story lab If you haven't already, please run over to your favorite podcast platform and give us a rating, share some feedback, and let us know what we're doing well and what you want to see Sponsored by The Unforgettable Edit Get 75% Off of your Unforgettable Edit just click the link above.  Support the show

    12 min
See All (17)

Trailer

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The go-to podcast for business owners and marketers who want to harness the power of storytelling to stand out, connect, and grow their brands using the power of stories. 

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Howard
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Story Lab
  • Show Website
    The Story Lab