How Stories Happen
Episodes
A look inside my business
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I've been through the ringer these past few years and come out the other side with something special. It's time for a transparent look inside my busin...
I can't believe people can do that
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I can't believe people can do THAT.I can't believe people can DO that.I can't believe PEOPLE can do that.***To get regular advice, frameworks, and sto...
Something bad happened to me thanks to AI
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I'm sharing the full story in this episode. It's time to take stuff like this more seriously.To get regular advice, frameworks, and stories helping yo...
How to (actually) grow your paid speaking
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When you want to make speaking a real revenue engine, the temptation is to invest in a couple of incorrect things. In this episode, I set the record s...
The last great advantage
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to the ubiquity of AI, this is the last great advantage.To get more ideas like this, subscribe to my newsletter→PS: As mentioned in the episo...
How to write better pitches to book speaking gigs [Jay's go-to format]
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The way we write pitches is broken compared to what actually works, all because of one nuanced but critical reality:We're good at describing our talks...
Content ARCs: how to own your ideas in the market
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There is a very big difference between having a good idea and actually owning it publicly. In this episode, a means to re-think your approach to craft...
The metaphor and the magic: My take on AI in 2026
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a good long while since I've had a good long rant. *Cracks knuckles.* Let us begin.Join the next cohort of Design My Signature Talk (start...
My favorite story structure to captivate and teach
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When you give a presentation of any kind, you don't actually have a captive audience. YOU need to captivate. This is a story structure that can both c...
Improving the signature speech of a marketing entrepreneur
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Go inside inside my public speaking accelerator, Design My Signature Talk, with this clip from our final group call.Watch the full video of this episo...
My process for booking keynotes (the engine most overlook)
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to book more and better speaking opportunities, this is the episode for you. I take a closer look at the process most speakers miss, not b...
Scott Stratten: "I dare you to look away"
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There’s this THING that happens to a public speaker and storyteller that feels addicting. It happens after you’ve internalized your content and pu...
David Burkus: Stories about others should still say something about YOU
08 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The more experienced and accomplished my guests are, the more they tend to care deeply about the little things. They're the ones who could "wing it" a...
David C. Baker: Clarity comes *in* the articulation, not before it
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you’re an expert in something, it’s tempting to assume the role of your communication is to deliver something in an academic way. Instruct, a...
Coaching call: Jay develops the premise of an entrepreneur and coach
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Very excited for this one, my friend: I'm releasing a recording of a coaching call I had with entrepreneur Michelle Florendo, who runs a business call...
Jordan Geary: Lessons from Sesame Workshop and an Emmy-Award Winning Producer
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's one thing for a solopreneur with a microphone to tell you to trust your own lived experiences to differentiate, resonate, and tell stronger stori...
Neen James: how to create visual frameworks to elevate your business
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re an expert in something, chances are, you share content about that something. But so does everyone around you. Merely sharing your expertis...
Chris Ducker: why you need a catalyst story to increase influence
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the hallmarks of great business storytellers is something called the catalyst story. They don't just shove their expertise at you like a wall o...
Jessica Abel: Author of my favorite book on storytelling ever
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are 2 books I recommend most often to others who say they want to be a stronger storyteller: one is from a world-famous legend, and the other is...
Why some people earn passionate fans and others don't
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Advice from experts feels like it's getting aggressive. This is why, and also what we can do to show up better.Happily, this is the difference between...
Tom Webster: podcasting's top researcher on how to tell the story of numbers
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're presented with a lot of false choices in our work: Quantity or quality? Revenue or social impact? Sweet or savory? But few false choices are mor...
Mark Schaefer: How to create urgency in an audience through your stories
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What ideas haunt you? What can't you stop thinking about, you care about it that much? As public voices and experts, we all have those ideas that chas...
Erin Halper: What consultants who share content need to realize
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, experts, consultants, and others who share advice content and thought leadership concepts need to embrace a tough truth. Our guest is the perfe...
Six-Way Stories: a method for you to become a stronger storyteller
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Looking back on my own career as a speaker, storyteller, and communicator across projects and mediums, I realize: every time I developed a signature s...
How to resonate with experienced pros (stop being tricked by the internet)
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to resonate with better clients and buyers—people with experience and taste who hire you for everything that makes you unique. This is differen...
Steve Pratt: Storytelling lessons from the MTV of Canada and #1-ranked podcasts
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Pratt has spent a lifetime earning attention, from his time working for "the MTV of Canada" (Much Music) and as the co-creator of the most popul...
BEST OF HSH: Andrew Davis on figuring out your story
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I know a ton of storytellers and creators and entrepreneurs, but I know exactly zero other people who have learned how to do what they do from both le...
Make me care: Lessons from Roy Kent and Seth Godin
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's a big difference between people hearing your words and understanding you. There's an even bigger gap between understanding and caring. How can...
Dorie Clark: How to turn expertise into breakthrough ideas
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a total blast and tour de force from one of the world's foremost business communicators, Dorie Clark! Dorie is a Wall Street Journal b...
Justin Moore: How he altered his storytelling to resonate with more people
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Reworking in Realtime." That’s a phrase I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. How often do you get to sit with a peer, a colleague, a mentor, a ...
My recipe for great stories
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lessons from 20 years of storytelling through my writing, speaking, podcasting, videos, and most of all, from my Grandma.***IMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING + ST...
Neal Foard: How to tell small stories with big meaning to persuade and inspire
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AI and people both run on LLMs. AI has large language models. People have little life moments. But mostly, we don't draw on our LLMs confidently or co...
Jay Answers Your Questions about Public Speaking as Marketing Approach, Revenue Engine, and Creative Craft
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus episode, I take your questions about public speaking. We talk about the craft, but also the way we can better approach our speak...
The elements of stronger messages & how to say what they can’t unhear, with Tamsen Webster, message designer
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode, we do something a bit different. I’m joined by the brilliant messaging strategist and pioneer of the message design industry, Tamsen W...
A trick from John Mulaney to create better content
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A technique for our work found in an incredible moment between John Mulaney and David Letterman. This is a solo episode from me to share something you...
"Stories that inspire more stories: that's what I'm after" - Brad Montague, children's author and keynote speaker
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's hard to show up publicly at times, sharing your work, giving of yourself to others. It can be even harder given the places we mostly show up onli...
If growth is hard, you might need your "idea before the idea"
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, I share a storytelling concept I'm calling "the idea before the idea," which helps solve issues of growth and audience traction....
“Is this ANNything?” Ann Handley Returns to Work Out New Drafts
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, I’m joined by my favorite recurring guest and the star of our “Is this ANNything” mini-series, the brilliant Ann Handley.Throughout t...
“You can’t make pottery without clay” | Elise Hu dissects her TED Talk
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we go inside the delivery and construction of a popular TED Talk! Elise Hu gets real with us about the preparation and challenges tha...
How to find powerful stories everywhere | Jay Baer, hall-of-fame speaker & NY Times bestselling business author
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Inspiration is everywhere -- if you're paying attention.Today we’re resharing a slightly modified version of an episode I used to help pilot How Sto...
"It's not effortless, it's intentional" | Mike Ganino, keynote director & author
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re told to steal from those we admire, but so often, we mimic the wrong things. It’s not WHAT someone does but WHY they do it (and why it works...
“Little nuggets take your story furthest” I Veronica Romney - Author, Entrepreneur, and Marketing Leader
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does the psychology of family systems have to do with being a good storyteller? Well, according to Veronica Romney, a lot. Understanding identity...
“Great stories are ownable” | Ron Tite, keynote speaker and agency exec
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you make a story truly come alive? You pace things down and focus on the small details. Everyone else might want the big, flashy story, but you...
Whisper
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A special bonus story and a crucial question to guide your 2025. This episode was handcrafted for you by Jason, with love.
"Specific moments make it feel real" | Natalie Taylor, B2B marketing leader
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When we communicate with business results in mind, whether we work in-house on a team or we ARE the business, it's so common that we omit specific det...
"The personal is more universal than we think it is" | Sarah Stockdale, CEO of Growclass
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to one of the more inspiring episodes of the show! Entrepreneur and growth marketing expert Sarah Stockdale is one of the most nuanced, capabl...
“Now is the time to double down on your story” I Shez Mehra, creative entrepreneur and DJ
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a special episode of the show. I’ve partnered with Intuit Mailchimp as part of a limited series called B2B Storytelling Stars. You can watch...
The 2 questions (and a quote) that helped me most in 2024
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As another year comes to an end, we often reflect backwards, because hindsight is 20/20. But what we don’t often realize is that sometimes when you ...
"Your brain is a straight line machine" I Melanie Deziel, author and speaker
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Signature stories aren’t just stories you tell a lot. They’re stories you’d sign your name to. In this episode, author and speaker Melanie Dezie...
A repeatable system for stronger ideas and stories
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"You have a real gift," we say to our storytelling heroes. But do they? Storytelling is a skill. Communicating with greater impact is a craft. It’s ...
Designing a New Signature Talk Beat by Beat with Justin Moore (Founder of Creator Wizard, Author of Sponsor Magnet)
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for a new edition of "Is This Anything?", the miniseries where friends and clients join me to work out new drafts and ideas for upcoming pie...
Seth Godin Dissects a Signature Story
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today, it's a total treat as the one and only Seth Godin takes us into how he thinks about storytelling and the intersection of strategy and story, an...
“Is this ANNything?” Ann Handley and Jay Acunzo Work Out New Drafts
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’re joined by our first-ever recurring guest. The brilliant Ann Handley (WSJ bestselling author of Everybody Writes and globally tourin...
“We’re both the heroes and the villains in our own stories” | Chase Jarvis, Photographer + Entrepreneur + Author of Never Play It Safe
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is candor essential for a good story? How brutally honest should you actually be in sharing a story with the world? The great Chase Jarvis brings...
"If all knowledge is experience, all wisdom is framework" | Laura Gassner Otting, Keynote Speaker & Author
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is a super-story? And how can you flex yours to fit different audiences, mediums, or conclusions? That’s what we dive into today with powerhous...
Working out a new TED Talk with Simone Stolzoff, Author & Journalist
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Go inside the development of a brand new TED Talk, as Jay offers notes to friend Simone Stolzoff on his v1 draft. Simone is the author of The Good Eno...
“A perfectly competent character is boring” | Nat Eliason, Author & Essayist
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Telling stories about your life feels fraught. How do you weave together a story that is deeply personal to you and others, contains the right amount ...
What it takes to craft a signature story | Susan Boles, CFO, Business Strategist & Podcaster
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What should you include or omit to ensure your stories carry your message, resonate with others, and deliver something that could only come from you? ...
To tell stronger stories, understand yourself first | Ryan Hawk & Brook Cups, Coauthors of The Score That Matters
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Storytellers often face a paradox: to connect deeper externally, you have to turn deeper internally. You have to know yourself and get more honest wit...
“You have to work against people assuming they know how this goes” | Danielle Bayard Jackson, Author of Fighting for Our Friendships
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do we compress our lifetime into their runtime? When we’re asked to explain our backgrounds and bios, we need a structure, some practice, and a ...
“I could tell this story in 1950 or 2024” | Scott Monty, Exec. Coach and Speaker
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While everyone scrambles to learn the new trends and act like a futurist, it’s the folks who understand what parts of this work are timeless – bec...
“Words can do WHAT?! Are we serious right now?!” | Tucker Bryant, Poet & Keynote Speaker
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do we craft a metaphor that works? More importantly, perhaps, how do we ensure the metaphors we use pivot to the audience to teach them something ...
“We congregate around emotional stories” | Rand Fishkin, CEO of SparkToro
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The hardest question to answer when we show up publicly might be the simplest question we receive: “Tell me about yourself.” Who are you? How’d ...
“How do we all sign our work?” | Ann Handley, Author & Keynote Speaker
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When so many people are excited to create a higher volume of content, shouldn’t we think more about what gives our work greater power? That’s what...
“A story needs a job to do” | Michelle Warner, Business Designer & Strategist
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for this episode is rarely online. But when she is, she’s telling small stories with big meaning.Meet Michelle Warner—she’s a business...
“The only way to figure out a story is to tell it” | Andrew Davis, Keynote Speaker
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I know a ton of storytellers and creators and entrepreneurs, but I know exactly zero other people who have learned how to do what they do from both le...
Introducing How Stories Happen: Business Builders Dissect Their Signature Stories Piece by Piece
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to How Stories Happen, a show for business storytellers focused on standing out easier and resonating deeper through substance and stories, no...