The Storytelling Lab
Episodes
The Life-Changing Power of Mentors with Steven Pressfield
28 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Steven Pressfield is an American author of historical fiction, non-fiction, and screenplays. He's documented his 27-year journey to becoming a publish...
Stories That Sell in Three Minutes with Dan Manning
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Manning is a 25-yr veteran of the United States Air Force who first sharpened his storytelling skills as a fighter pilot, working at the US headqu...
The Plight of a Multipotentialite with Jake McNeill
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jake McNeill is a personal brand strategy consultant for multipotentialites, which is to say he helps introverted rebels grow their audiences and have...
Making Today the Day with Matthew Dicks
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Dicks is an internationally bestselling author, podcaster, co-founder of Speak Up, and a 53-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 7-time Moth ...
Creating the Content You Dream About with Alana Marie
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alana Marie is a documentary filmmaker, digital content creator and digital content coach. She helps content creators get out of their own way and mov...
Master Storytelling for Your Business with Mark Carpenter
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Your personal life is full of stories that can and will impact your business. Mark Carpenter is a trainer, consultant, speaker, and the co-author of t...
Rewriting Your Brain Stories with Jocelyn Brady
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Your brain has a magical power to influence everything you think, do, feel, experience, and create. Jocelyn Brady is a certified Brain Coach (NeuroLea...
Life Lessons Learned from the Farm with Brian Sheppard
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brian ("B.A.") Sheppard is a TikTok creator, motivational speaker, and a "coach with a natural approach." He lives and works on a farm, where he uses ...
Making Your Stories Magnetic with Gabrielle Dolan
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gabrielle Dolan is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, educator, and author. While working in a senior leadership role at National Australia Bank, ...
Finding Your Brand Voice in Your Story with Chris Ward, Jr.
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Christopher Ward, Jr., is a heart-centered storyteller and brand strategist. He works with personal brands and businesses to help them understand what...
Being More Human in Your Business Podcast with Graham D. Brown
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Graham D. Brown helps corporate leaders find their authentic voice through creating their own podcasts and speaking on other people's podcasts. He is ...
Making Your Social Media Easier with Stephen G. Pope
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After Stephen sold the tech company he grew to 2.6 million/year, he looked back and knew it could have been done even faster. He got clear on the simp...
The Secret Power of Great Stories with Nancy Duarte
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain sits down with Nancy Duarte, a communication expert whose firm, Duarte, Inc., is the global leader behin...
A Simple Brand Storytelling Formula
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Storytelling Lab is BACK! After a six-month hiatus, the show returns with Season 8 which includes the best storytelling voices on the internet and...
Relationship Selling by Storytelling with Kyle Draper
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Announcement, storytellers! This episode featuring social media coach and speaker, Kyle Draper, will conclude the whirlwind that has been season 7. On...
Six Second Stories the Book is Now Available!
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back, storytellers! We know it's been a hot minute since we've uploaded an episode, and that's because we've been hard at work creating a very...
Engaging Your Employees Through Story with Joy Spencer
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain sits down with Joy Spencer, Organizational Development Consultant at Navy Federal Credit Union, professi...
Sharing Your Story on Live Video
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As you may have heard, we took a couple weeks off from The Storytelling Lab to deal with some personal matters, but we're back this week with a very i...
Cultivating Leadership Skills Through Story with Gerry Sandusky
30 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain sits down with Gerry Sandusky (yes, that's Gerry with a 'G'), voice of the Baltimore Ravens and business...
Sharing Your Story with Video
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming Six Second Stories: Maximize Your Impact in Minimal Time with Vi...
Marketing and Selling Yourself as a Speaker with Larry Long Jr.
16 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain catches up with his pal Larry Long Jr., an exuberant speaker, sales coach, and self-made business man. L...
Sharing Your Story on Stage
09 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain dives into his journey of becoming a professional speaker. He goes into how to start your speaking caree...
Livestreaming Your Podcast with Christoph Trappe
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to our first guest episode of Season 7 of The Storytelling Lab! Our first guest is Christoph Trappe, Director of Content Strategy at Voxp...
Sharing Your Story in a Book
19 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back, storytellers! We're coming in hot with season 7 of The Storytelling Lab with an incredible episode line-up and can't wait for you to sta...
Top Storytelling Tips of Season 6
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At last we've arrived at episode 100 of The Storytelling Lab -- and what a journey it has been! This episode features 9 of our amazing guests from thi...
The Mind, Body, and Soul of Storytelling
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is it, storytellers. We've (almost) come to the end of season 6 with a final solo episode from Rain. He talks about how to engage the mind, body,...
The Moments That Make Your Story Special with Mike Ganino
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Storytellers... this is the LAST GUEST of Season 6! This episode of The Storytelling Lab features jack of all trades, Mike Ganino. Mike is first and f...
Keep Your Stories Simple
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Storytellers... we're nearing the end of season 6 and that means we're one episode closer to 100! On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain talks ...
The Story of Who We Are as a Country
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain reconnects with documentary filmmaker, Nancy Buirski. Nancy is most famously known for directing "The Lo...
How Many Stories is Too Many?
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're getting close to the end of season 6, storytellers! Just five more episodes til we reach the milestone of 100 episodes of The Storytelling Lab a...
Determining Your Divine Spot with Your Story with Mothyna James-Brightful
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain has on Mothyna James-Brightful (or Sister Mothyna as some call her), and what an inspiring conver...
The Narrative Drumbeat Behind Your Story
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain addresses the elephant in your mind... "Will people get tired of hearing my story?" No, absolutely not! ...
Mastering the Medium for Your Message with Robert Kennedy III
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain chats with Robert Kennedy II -- author, speaker, coach, corporate trainer, and expert storyteller. Rober...
Finding the Unique Intersections of Your Story
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain talks specifically about one of his course lesson topics (p.s. - if you haven't checked out the course y...
Selling to Your Soul Fans with Jaya Rose
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain connects with Jaya Rose -- and as it turns out, they have A LOT in common! Jaya is a master storyteller,...
The Best Platforms for Your Story
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Heya, storytellers! Have you ever wondered what the best platform is for your story? With so many new and trending platforms out there, it can be diff...
Using Storytelling to Find Your Dream Job with Kerri Twigg
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Storytellers, you're going to LOVE this episode! This episode of The Storytelling Lab features Kerri Twigg, author, speaker, teacher, and expert caree...
Turn Your Story Into a Business
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Storytellers, are you ready for some very exciting news?! On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain announces that his online course "Uncover the ...
How Storytelling Builds, Grows, & Strengthens Group Behavior with Annette Simmons
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain sits down with Annette Simmons, author, speaker, community activist, and behavioral storytelling expert ...
You Don't Need Expertise, You Just Need a Story
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're here with another solo episode from your show host, Rain Bennett. On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain breaks the 'expert' stigma. He t...
The Psychology Behind Successful Storytelling with Neil Bearden
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain unites with his new pal, Neil Bearden. Neil and Rain instantly connected as they have similar upbringing...
You Are Not Special, How You Tell Your Story Is
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain gives us the hard truth: you are not special. That's right, you're not! But the way you tell your story ...
Building a Business Around Your Personal Story with Jimmy Hays Nelson
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of The Storytelling Lab is a lively one! Rain features Jimmy Hays Nelson, a high-performance business coach whose focus is to help client...
Telling the Story that Scares You
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain gets real with us about our common fears and apprehensions of telling our stories. Rain talks about why ...
How to Build a Speaking Career Being Unapologetically You
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain gets in touch with Cam F. Awesome (yes, that's his legal name), a passionate speaker and champion amateu...
Why I Won My First Storytelling Competition
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Happy first solo podcast day of the year, storytellers! As promised, we are going to continue to do these shorter, solo episodes and this one is defin...
Growing Your Authentic Personal Brand with Heather H. Bennett
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back, storytellers! We made it to season 6 of The Storytelling Lab and what a ride it's been. On this episode, we're back with another storyte...
The Top Storytelling Tips from Season 5
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year, storytellers! Before we plunge into Season 6 of The Storytelling Lab in February, we wanted to take one last look back at our best sea...
The 2 Keys to Unlocking Your Storytelling Potential
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Well storytellers, we've finally reached the end of season 5 of The Storytelling Lab and what a phenomenal season it was! This season has been our mos...
How to Overcome Shame by Sharing Stories with Nick Jaworski
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is it, storytellers - we're down to the second to last episode of season 5 of The Storytelling Lab! On this episode, Rain sits down with newcomer...
The Three Stories About You
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is Rain's second to last solo episode of season 5, storytellers! On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain breaks down the 3 types of self st...
The Five Storyteller Styles with Andy Henriquez
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're getting down to the wire of season 5, storytellers! On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain talks with Andy Henriquez, a strategic storyte...
Overcoming Your Fears of Authentic Storytelling
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Thanksgiving, compelling storytellers! On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain answers questions from YOU about your storytelling fears. R...
Using Storytelling to Run a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign with Amanda Cazzolla
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of The Storytelling Lab features Amanda Cazzolla, Director of Marketing at Reinvestment Partners. Amanda enrolled in my storytelling coac...
The Four Parts of Every Brand Story
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain gives us the scoop on his latest projects, including "A Storytelling Workbook for Beginners," coming out...
Sharing Your Lived Experiences Through Stories with Ray Christian
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of The Storytelling Lab features Ray Christian, a professor, author, show host, speaker, and scholar in all things African American histo...
Crafting Your Unique Narrative Voice
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain gives us the inside scoop about one of his most successful coaching methods and how he helps clients dis...
RISKing It All in Your Story with Kevin Allison
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain features none other than Kevin Allison - storyteller, comedian, teacher, author, and host of the widely ...
The Top Five Brand Storytelling Mistakes to Avoid
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of The Storytelling Lab is an exciting one! Not only does Rain divulge the top five brand storytelling mistakes that marketing teams make...
Cultivating Empathy in the Digital Age with Miri Rodriguez
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain talks with the Head of Global Internships at Microsoft, Miri Rodriguez. And if you think her title is im...
The Sequencing of Your Stories
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain addresses a very important aspect of effective storytelling: sequencing. Rain highlights why the order o...
How to Share Your Story on Broadcast Media with Ashley Bernardi
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain sits down with Ashley Bernardi, a media relations expert and publicist whom he previously reached out to...
Under the Influence of The Storytelling Cocktail
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain dives into a concept of his own creation called, "The Storytelling Cocktail." You may have heard ...
Telling Your Authentic Story on Social Media with Troy Sandidge
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of The Storytelling Lab is chocked full of gold nuggets from the one and only, Troy Sandidge, or he's better known as on social media, #f...
The Undeniable Storytelling Formula that Works
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain enters the realm of story structure and implements the "Story Spine" method from our most recent episode...
The Eight Steps of the Story Spine with Kenn Adams
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of The Storytelling Lab features none other than Kenn Adams, a.k.a the inventor of the "Story Spine." Don't know what the Story Spine is?...
How to Create Compelling Characters in Your Stories
20 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain dives into the art and science of character and story development and explains the critical role they pl...
Social Media Storytelling for Nonprofits with Julia Campbell
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're back this week on The Storytelling Lab with another incredible guest who decided very early on that her mission in life was to help others. Juli...
The Five Brand Stories You Need to Tell
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re changing things up this season! This episode of The Storytelling Lab features none other than your host, Rain Bennett. Rain has a rich backgro...
The Lost Colony with Scott Dawson
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back with Season 5 of the Storytelling Lab and kicking it off with Scott Dawson, a local historian, author, amateur archaeologist, and expert ...
The Top Storytelling Tips from Season 4
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Season 4 recap is here! Rain discusses our favorite and most actionable storytelling tips and tricks from our Season 4 guests. We focus on storyte...
Capturing Truth with Burk Uzzle and Jethro Waters
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re rounding out our 4th season with a very special interview from one of America’s most highly regarded photographers, Burk Uzzle, and filmmake...
Better is Possible: Growing a Healthy Community with Joshua Gunn
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s Health & Happiness story is from Joshua Gunn, aka J. Gunn, a Durham native, North Carolina rapper, and community leader. Joshua tell...
The Successful Speaker Guide with Grant Baldwin
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Grant Baldwin, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Buil...
Stories of the South with Shirlette Ammons
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s our 50th episode and we’re bringing you a truly special guest! This week we’re joined with Shirlette Ammons, Poet, Musician, Producer, and ...
Holistic Living with Naya Powell
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s Health & Happiness story comes from Naya Powell, Holistic Lifestyle Strategist and Founder & CEO of Spa Utopia. Naya discusses h...
The Art of the Interview with Rob Simmelkjaer
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week is all about perfecting the art of the interview with Rob Simmelkjaer, journalist and CEO & Co-Founder of Persona. Everyone has a story ...
Being an Only: Inclusion in Banking & Finance with Dee McDougal
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s Health & Happiness story is from Dee McDougal, SVP of Inclusion and Diversity at Pacific Western Bank. Dee shares her experience gro...
How to Use Comedy in Your Storytelling with Kathy Klotz-Guest
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Kathy Klotz-Guest, Keynote Speaker, Story Strategist, Author, and Improv Comedian. You may not think about it but comedians are...
Family Financial Planning with Lauren Erickson, CFP
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s Health & Happiness story comes from Lauren Erickson, CFP, Financial IMPACT Advisor, and managing partner at Erickson Advisors. Laure...
Discovering YOUR Best Practices with Jay Acunzo
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Jay Acunzo, Speaker, Author, Podcaster, and Founder of Marketing Showrunners, a media company committed to helping brands grow ...
Closing the Racial Wealth Gap with Keith Beverly, CFA, CFP
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re moving into Financial Health with this week’s Health & Happiness story from Keith Beverly, Chief Investment Officer and Founder of Grid ...
Story Design: A Tool For Change with Denise Withers
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Denise Withers, a filmmaker, story strategist, and author of Story Design: The Creative Way to Innovate. Denise seeks to create...
Bouncing Back From Rock Bottom with Shelda Askew
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s Health & Happiness story comes from Shelda Askew, a recovered addict and spokesperson for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. S...
The Ultimate Guide to Content Creation with Melanie Deziel
19 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Melanie Deziel, keynote speaker, author, and founder of Storyfuel. Rain and Melanie discuss keeping up with communications &...
Recovery From Burnout with Dr. Nicole Cranley
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s another Health & Happiness week! This story comes from Dr. Nicole Cranley, AKA the Doctorette, a behavioral scientist and lifestyle blogger...
Say Less, Get More with Brant Pinvidic
05 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Brant Pinvidic, documentary filmmaker, producer, speaker, and author of The 3-Minute Rule. Brant is an expert at using short fo...
The Superwoman Complex with Dr. Nicole Swiner
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s Health & Happiness story is from Dr. Nicole Swiner, aka “Doc Swiner.” Doc Swiner is a family medicine doctor, author, and speake...
Better Selling Through Storytelling with John Livesay
20 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is John Livesay, keynote speaker, pitch whisperer, and storytelling expert! Rain and John discuss how to use storytelling to boost...
How Birding Saved My Life with Tom Ferguson
13 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re kicking off our Health & Happiness storytelling episodes with a story from Tom Ferguson, Founder & CEO of Rise Biscuits & Donuts a...
The Science of Storytelling with Paul J. Zak
06 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re kicking off Season 4 with an all-star guest, Paul J. Zak, neuroeconomist and storytelling expert. Zak studies the neuroscience behind storytel...
The Top Storytelling Tips from Season 3
16 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Season 3 recap is here! Rain talks us through our favorite storytelling tips and tricks from our Season 3 guests. We focus on storytelling fundame...
Believing In Yourself with Evan Carmichael
02 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’re bringing you a special bonus episode with the one and only Evan Carmichael, entrepreneurial expert and YouTube star! Evan is working...
Empowering Women Through Motivational Storytelling with Alexa Carlin
19 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Alexa Carlin, motivational speaker and Founder & CEO of Women Empower X, a speaker convention dedicated to connecting diver...
Sustainable Business Stories with Eric Henry
05 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Eric Henry, President & CEO of TS Designs, a sustainable T-shirt manufacturing company in Burlington, NC. TS Designs is ded...
Environmental Storytelling with Brian Powell
21 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we welcome Brian Powell, Communications Director for the NC Conservation Network. Brian works every day to bring light to stories of environ...
Social Media Storytelling for REALTORS with Britni Clark
07 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Britni Clark, social media and marketing manager for the Virginia Realtors Association. We discuss how realtors (and ALL other ...
Storytelling For Change with Sabine Harnau
24 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest storyteller is Sabine Harnau, founder of From Scratch Communications, a company committed to helping businesses change the world t...
Moving Your Audience To Action with Jaz O'Hara
10 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We’re heading back into the nonprofit world with today’s guest, Jaz O’Hara, founder of The Worldwide Tribe, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing sto...
The Top 5 Screenwriting Tips with Jimmy "The Script Butcher" George
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest is Jimmy George (aka The Script Butcher), a horror film producer and scriptwriting consultant. Jimmy has been writing and creating...