The Storytelling Lab

Rain Bennett
  • 4.7 (46)
  • VISUAL ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Storytelling Lab covers everything you need to know about personal and professional stories to leverage their power to deepen your connections, increase your sales + donations, and serve your audiences better with real-life examples and experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. When Your Brand Design Tells the Right Story with Shane Lukas

    3D AGO

    When Your Brand Design Tells the Right Story with Shane Lukas

    “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.

    54 min
  2. Your Brand's Growth Problem Isn't What You Think It Is with Jensen Savage

    JAN 26

    Your Brand's Growth Problem Isn't What You Think It Is with Jensen Savage

    “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.

    46 min
  3. What Happens When YOU Become the Story with Elton Anderson, Jr.

    JAN 19

    What Happens When YOU Become the Story with Elton Anderson, Jr.

    “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 path Follow 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min
  4. The Real Reason Your Brand Feels Disconnected with Rain Bennett

    12/22/2025

    The Real Reason Your Brand Feels Disconnected with Rain Bennett

    “If your company doesn’t know the story that it’s helping to tell, no marketing campaign is going to save you.” — Rain Bennett Most businesses mistake their vision for a quarterly goal or a financial target, but that’s not a story anyone wants to join. In this solo episode, Rain Bennett unpacks the critical difference between vision and mission, showing how your vision acts as the narrative North Star for your entire brand. Rain shares a clear, actionable framework based on Simon Sinek’s “Just Cause” model and explains how the best visions are resilient, inclusive, and service-oriented. Through two powerful case studies—Patagonia and The People’s Game—Rain illustrates how a well-crafted vision can guide every part of your business, from branding to product development to internal culture. If you’ve ever struggled to articulate why your company exists beyond just making money, this episode gives you the foundation to start telling a story that actually matters. In this episode, you will learn to: Define a brand vision that is resilient, inclusive, and service-orientedAlign your team and decisions around a single, powerful storyAvoid the common mistakes that make most vision statements meaninglessUse real-world case studies to guide your own storytelling strategyCraft a vision that inspires belief, not just activity 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  5. The Billion-Person Mission That Started With Bankruptcy with David Meltzer

    12/15/2025

    The Billion-Person Mission That Started With Bankruptcy with David Meltzer

    “I was made from mistakes. I was promoted, protected, loved, and perfected by them.” — David Meltzer After losing $100 million and hitting rock bottom, David Meltzer rebuilt his life and his business around a mission to empower over 1 billion people to be happy. In this episode, Rain Bennett sits down with David to explore how storytelling became the vehicle for that transformation. David opens up about the bankruptcy he once hid from the world, the emotional healing that followed, and the new definition of success that changed everything. They talk about the myth of “give more, get more,” the strategic use of vulnerability, and how to build a brand rooted in service and joy. If you’ve ever struggled to see the upside in your darkest moments, this conversation will show you how to flip the script and turn your pain into purpose. In this episode, you will learn to: Reframe failure as the foundation for your most powerful storyCreate a happiness-driven business model that serves and scalesEmbrace vulnerability to build real trust and connectionShift from ego-based identity to a mission-based lifeTeach your team to lead with empathy, clarity, and consistency Follow David on: LinkedIn Instagram TikTok YouTube or pre-order his new book, 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  6. How a Local Utility Company Became a Storytelling Powerhouse with Krystal Phillips

    12/08/2025

    How a Local Utility Company Became a Storytelling Powerhouse with Krystal Phillips

    “It’s not just about keeping the lights on—it’s about building a relationship with the people at the end of the line.” — Krystal Phillips, JO-EMC Storytelling isn’t just for trendy brands or startups. In this episode, Rain sits down with Krystal Phillips, Communications and Community Relations Manager at Jones-Onslow EMC, to explore how a rural electric co-op built a storytelling culture that would rival any big tech brand. Krystal reveals the behind-the-scenes thinking that led a utility company to invest in heartfelt video stories, internal leadership programs, and community-first content. Together, they unpack how to measure storytelling ROI when you can’t rely on sales, how buy-in from leadership transforms culture, and why authenticity matters more than production value. This episode is a must-listen for anyone working in “unsexy” industries who wants to make storytelling their competitive advantage. In this episode, you will learn to: Harness storytelling as a strategic tool, even in “boring” or highly regulated industriesBuild team buy-in by grounding your strategy in community and trustEstablish internal programs that create a pipeline of storytellers inside your organizationHumanize your brand with stories that foster empathy and emotional connectionMeasure the real ROI of storytelling beyond dollars and metrics Follow Krystal on: LinkedIn Instagram or visit the JO-EMC 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  7. Storytelling That Builds Trust Across Any Organization with Salvatore Manzi

    12/01/2025

    Storytelling That Builds Trust Across Any Organization with Salvatore Manzi

    “A shared narrative means everyone in the organization is speaking about the story in the same way.” — Salvatore Manzi If every person on your team is telling a different version of your brand story, you don’t have a marketing problem—you have a clarity crisis. In this episode, communication strategist and author Salvatore Manzi joins Rain to break down how to build a shared narrative that aligns everyone in your organization. From CEOs to customer service reps, consistency in storytelling builds trust, clarity, and emotional resonance. Salvatore shares actionable frameworks for clear and compelling communication, how to blend personal and brand narratives, and why metaphors are essential tools for influence. Whether you're leading a nonprofit or a global brand, this episode will sharpen your storytelling and unify your message. In this episode, you will learn to: Align your entire team behind a unified narrative that eliminates confusionUse storytelling frameworks to turn complex data into meaningful messagesBuild trust with audiences by integrating vulnerability into your leadership voiceAvoid common communication pitfalls in both nonprofits and STEM-driven businessesApply the “problem, process, outcome” structure to make your stories more actionable Follow Salvatore on: LinkedIn Instagram 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  8. How to Use Storytelling to Fuel a Content Engine with David Ebner

    11/24/2025

    How to Use Storytelling to Fuel a Content Engine with David Ebner

    “A message map is the most underutilized resource for marketers.” — David Ebner What if the reason your marketing isn’t working has nothing to do with the content itself, but everything to do with the foundation it’s built on? In this episode, Rain sits down with David Ebner, founder of Content Workshop and one of the clearest voices in content strategy, to unpack why most brand storytelling falls flat. They explore the concept of the message map, how to build a storytelling system that scales, and why trust is the most important marketing metric you’re probably not tracking. David also opens up about how his background in creative writing fuels his approach to business storytelling, what metrics actually matter, and how emotion creates longevity in brand relationships. Whether you're a solopreneur or scaling a team, this episode will challenge the way you think about content and give you a smarter path forward. In this episode, you will learn to: Apply the power of a message map to bring structure and purpose to your contentUse storytelling as a system, not just a one-off tacticRethink your marketing metrics and focus on what truly builds trustLeverage long-form cornerstone content to fuel your daily outputAvoid burnout by shifting from production obsession to strategic clarity Follow David on: LinkedIn or visit the Content Workshop website, HERE! And for more storytelling tips and tricks, Visit rainbennett.com or thestorytellinglabpodcast.com Follow on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller Follow on Twitter @rainbennett Follow on Instagram @rainbennett Follow on Facebook @thestorytellinglab  Subscribe to the YouTube Channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
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4.7
out of 5
46 Ratings

About

The Storytelling Lab covers everything you need to know about personal and professional stories to leverage their power to deepen your connections, increase your sales + donations, and serve your audiences better with real-life examples and experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Rain Bennett
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    219
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rain Bennett
  • Show Website
    The Storytelling Lab

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