Stories With Traction

Matt Zaun
  • 5.0 (35)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Stories With Traction Podcast was created to empower leaders to elevate their businesses through the art of strategic storytelling. By engaging clients and inspiring team members, leaders can significantly impact the world around them. Each episode offers insights into storytelling, marketing, sales, company culture, and leadership, providing practical tools to drive growth and influence positive change. Tune in to transform your approach and lead with purpose.

  1. 9H AGO

    #180: Storytelling FAQ Episode #5

    SHOW NOTES: SUMMARY: This is part of an FAQ series featuring Michelle Griffin and Matt Zaun, who discuss personal branding and strategic storytelling. Michelle Griffin coaches on authority-focused personal branding to help professionals step out and be seen as leaders in their space. Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive results through the power of story. He’s the author of The StoryBank, a practical playbook for using strategic storytelling to build culture, boost sales, strengthen marketing, and become a dynamic public speaker.

    12 min

  2. 12/30/2025

    #179: Authentic Scarcity and Simple Systems: The New Recruiting Playbook

    SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Ryan Hogan, Founder & CEO of Talent Harbor, to unpack what actually works in recruiting top sales talent today. They dig into why “keep it simple” beats complex hiring funnels, how to design a value ladder that moves buyers forward, and where AI helps (and hurts) in the hiring process. Ryan also shares the gritty lessons that shaped him (from bankruptcies to billion-dollar beliefs) and the leadership habits he brought home from the Navy. In this episode, they cover: ✅ Value ladder & micro-commitments — the psychology of getting small “yeses,” including Ryan’s Hunt A Killer application flow that primed buyers before any purchase. ✅ Authentic scarcity — how to use real capacity limits (e.g., only onboarding 3–4 clients/week) to increase conversion without breaking trust. ✅ AI in recruiting (the truth) — great for assessments and repurposing insights; poor at relationship-building with A-players who won’t talk to a bot first. ✅ Hiring veterans — look for resilience + self-awareness; ask how they learned, trained, failed, and translated that into civilian impact. ...and much more! BIOS: Ryan Hogan is the Founder & CEO of Talent Harbor, specializing in flat-rate, expert sales recruiting. A U.S. Navy veteran (now Reserve), Ryan previously co-founded Hunt A Killer, the immersive mystery brand, and has led multiple ventures spanning consumer products and B2B services. He’s obsessed with systems and building teams that produce results. Matt Zaun is a strategic storytelling expert, keynote speaker, and author of The StoryBank. He helps leaders use story to build culture, strengthen sales, and speak with impact.

    33 min

  3. 12/23/2025

    #178: Stop Selling Services. Start Solving Problems

    SHOW NOTES: In this practical, high-energy episode, Matt Zaun talks with Sean Garner, StoryBrand–certified marketer and founder of Sean Garner Consulting, about cutting through today’s 10,000-messages-a-day noise with a simple idea: clarity beats clever. They break down how to build messaging that wins attention, creates qualified demand, and turns “we do X” into “we solve your problem.” In this episode, they cover: ✅ The StoryBrand core — 7 talking points that become your “verbal brand guidelines” for every email, website, and pitch. ✅ Consistency that compounds — Be relentlessly consistent about the problem you solve, not the services you sell. ✅ When prospects don’t know their problem — Lead with the pain, then educate on your unique solution. ...and much more! BIO: Sean Garner is a StoryBrand–certified coach and founder of Sean Garner Consulting, a marketing agency for local service and professional brands that want to dominate their market, not just add a few leads. His team builds message-driven websites, funnels, SEO, and provides fractional CMO support. Matt Zaun is a strategic storytelling expert, keynote speaker, and author of The StoryBank. He helps leaders use story to build culture, strengthen sales, and speak with impact.

    43 min

  4. 12/16/2025

    #177: Beat Obscurity: Podcast Interviews That Build Trust (and Profit)

    Show Notes: In this high-impact episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Tom Schwab, Chief Evangelist Officer & Founder of Interview Valet, to unpack how leaders can use podcast interview marketing to beat obscurity, earn trust at scale, and convert ideal clients, and how to repurpose one 45-minute conversation into a month of authoritative content. In this episode, they cover: ✅ Obscurity is the real enemy — Why trusted conversations (not more funnels) drive the best partners, clients, and hires ✅ “Crowded space”? Good. — Most shows are inactive; focus on the active, right-fit podcasts your ideal buyers already follow ✅ Leader-as-evangelist — Your CEO’s personal audience is ~10× the brand’s; don’t abdicate storytelling—lead it ✅ Quality over quantity — Don’t “create crap at scale.” Clarity, stories, and specificity beat generic content every time ...and much more! BIOS: Tom Schwab is the Chief Evangelist Officer & Founder of Interview Valet, the category leader in podcast interview marketing. A former naval officer and engineer, Tom built Interview Valet’s US-based, remote team (many are military spouses) on one core belief: "our success is proportional to our systems." His firm places thought leaders on targeted podcasts, optimizes topic strategy for human listeners and AI discovery, and turns interviews into revenue-driving content engines. Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive results through the power of story. He’s the author of The StoryBank, a practical playbook for using strategic storytelling to build culture, boost sales, strengthen marketing, and become a dynamic public speaker.

    43 min

  5. 12/09/2025

    #176: When the Economy Crashes…Diversify or Die

    SHOW NOTES: In this insightful episode, Matt Zaun talks with Marcy Sagel, CEO & Principal of MSA Interiors, a Baltimore-based commercial interior design firm with over 30 years of experience designing multifamily, student housing, senior living, hospitals, and more. They unpack how Marcy built a downturn-proof business by diversifying revenue streams, locking in budgets early, and adapting her leadership through crisis...including the sudden loss of her hearing during COVID. Marcy shares how the pain of the 2008 recession reshaped her entire approach to business, what today’s developers need most amid rising costs, and how confidence and grit develop across decades of entrepreneurship. In this episode, they cover: ✅ Surviving 2008–2011 — how Marcy went three years without paying herself, kept her entire team employed, and rebuilt her firm through diversification. ✅ Leading through adversity — Marcy’s story of losing her hearing during COVID and the practical ways she adapted as a business leader. ✅ Team longevity & culture — why she invests heavily in great people, profit-sharing, and happiness, and lets go of misaligned hires faster. ✅ Confidence for women in leadership — advice for young women learning to find their voice in male-dominated industries: “Speak early, speak often, and get reps through public speaking.” …and much more! BIOS: Marcy Sagel is the CEO & Principal of MSA Interiors, a commercial interior design firm specializing in multifamily, student, senior, and healthcare design projects across the U.S. Over three decades, she’s built a reputation for high-impact, budget-disciplined design and resilient business leadership. Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive results through the power of story. He’s the author of The StoryBank, a practical playbook for using strategic storytelling to build culture, boost sales, strengthen marketing, and become a dynamic public speaker.

    40 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    #175: From Despair to Data: Rebuilding a Life One Metric at a Time

    SHOW NOTES: In this powerful episode, Matt Zaun talks with Natalia Zacharin, founder of Zacharin Consulting—an “accounting firm on steroids.” They unpack how fractional CFOs turn messy books into strategic insight, why AI speeds analysis but never replaces human judgment, and how Natalia rebuilt her life (and business) from $7.10/hour to a multi-million-dollar firm. In this episode, they cover: ✅ AI in finance (the truth) — great for speed and patterns; still needs humans to classify revenue vs. loans, deposits, and edge cases ✅ A trust case study — “400 calls a month” salesperson with zero sales; the numbers exposed fabricated activity ✅ Survival tactics when you feel stuck — slash to essentials, stack small wins, and re-engage your mind so you’re not trapped in a negative loop ✅ Why founders should sell more often — being in the sales process forces you to listen and shape services people actually want ...and much more! BIOS: Natalia Zacharin is the founder & CEO of Zacharin Consulting, a full-service accounting firm with controller-level oversight, dedicated payroll specialists, fractional CFO services, and tax strategy. She and her team help clients improve revenue, profit, and cash clarity to build sellable companies. Zacharin Consulting grew 525% in three years (Inc. 5000) and surpassed $2M in annual revenue with a team of 12+. Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive results through the power of story. He’s the author of The StoryBank, a practical playbook for using strategic storytelling to build culture, boost sales, strengthen marketing, and become a dynamic public speaker.

    44 min

  7. 11/25/2025

    #174: Story > Stunts: Building Campaigns Audiences Choose to Follow

    SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Stewart Cohen, award-winning director/photographer and CEO of SC Pictures and Superstock, to unpack how brands can use video and imagery to stay on message in a chaotic, multi-channel world. From keeping large organizations aligned with the role of authenticity (and where it can backfire) to practical ways leaders can tell stories people actually want to binge, Stewart shares practical ways leaders can tell stories people actually want to binge. In this episode, they cover: ✅ From TV spots to everywhere: how video evolved from 30-second ads to an always-on content engine across divisions ✅ Staying on brand at scale: why messages start focused, then get watered down, and how to keep guardrails in place ✅ Who owns the vision: the CMO’s real job (and why short tenures sabotage brand consistency) ✅ Authenticity that works: “strategic authenticity” vs. oversharing; telling the truth without losing professionalism …and more. BIOS: Stewart Cohen is a director/photographer and founder of SC Pictures, creating brand films and campaigns for leading companies and agencies. He is also the owner of Superstock, a global licensing company with 29M+ photos, videos, illustrations, and fine art. Known for visually rich, human-centered storytelling, Stewart helps brands sustain message discipline while producing content audiences want to watch. Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive results through the power of story. He’s the author of The StoryBank, a practical playbook for using narrative to build culture, boost sales, and strengthen marketing.

    40 min

  8. 11/18/2025

    #173: Cybersecurity Meets Comedy: How Humor Builds Trust

    SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Rob Black, Founder & CEO of Fractional CISO, to demystify cybersecurity for growing companies—without the fear-mongering. Rob explains how his team operates as a virtual CISO (security leader) to strengthen programs, enable enterprise sales, and translate “security-speak” into clear business outcomes. Rob shares why security shouldn’t be priority #1 (sales and delivery come first), how to size up the risk when incidents are low-probability but high-impact, and why humor can drive far more adoption than dry policy memos. In this episode, they cover: ✅ Prioritization reality: why cybersecurity should be priority 4–5—not 100 ✅ Humor that converts: skits, wigs, and why fun content outperforms stoic lectures ✅ LinkedIn as referral fuel: staying top-of-mind vs. hard selling (and why neighbors all know what Rob does) …and much more. BIOS: Rob Black is the founder of Fractional CISO, where he and his team serve as virtual CISOs for companies. A veteran security leader with an MBA from Kellogg, Rob blends operator pragmatism with clear business storytelling, often using humor to drive adoption of best practices. Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive results through the power of story. He’s the author of The StoryBank, a practical playbook for using narrative to build culture, boost sales, strengthen marketing, and become a dynamic public speaker.

    31 min
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5
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About

The Stories With Traction Podcast was created to empower leaders to elevate their businesses through the art of strategic storytelling. By engaging clients and inspiring team members, leaders can significantly impact the world around them. Each episode offers insights into storytelling, marketing, sales, company culture, and leadership, providing practical tools to drive growth and influence positive change. Tune in to transform your approach and lead with purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Zaun
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    180
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Stories With Traction
  • Show Website
    Stories With Traction