What if the skill that made us human is the same one that will keep us relevant in the age of AI?

Joe Lazauskas — CMO of Pepper, co-founder of Contently, and author of Super Skill: Why Storytelling Is the Superpower of the AI Age — spent five years inside AI companies researching exactly that question. His answer: storytelling isn't just surviving the AI revolution. It's the one skill the machines can't replicate.

In this conversation with host Park Howell, Joe reveals why AI slop is flooding the web and driving up the value of authentic human voices, the four story elements — relatability, ease, novelty, and tension — that make any audience stop and listen, and how to use AI as a creative amplifier without ever letting it replace your voice.

You'll also hear the science behind the vulnerability loop, why Kurt Vonnegut's rejected thesis turned out to be right all along, and how the Neanderthals — despite having bigger brains — lost to homo sapiens because they had no Wi-Fi.

Joe also shares a special 20% discount offer exclusively for Business of Story listeners — including a signed copy of Super Skill, access to his Storytelling in the AI Age course, live office hours, and yes, dope socks.

Guest: Joe Lazauskas | CMO, Pepper | Author, Super Skill Subscribe: storytellingedge.substack.com Connect: Joe Lazauskas on LinkedIn Podcast: The Art of the Zag with Shane Snow Test your brand story free: businessofstory.com

Don't Ever Waste a Heartbeat: How Open Heart Surgery Unlocked Rachel McCord's True Purpose

What happens when the woman producing 19 shows, running a Hollywood media network, and appearing on national television is quietly fighting to stay alive?

That's the story Rachel McCord tells in this raw, remarkable episode of the Business of Story.

Meet Rachel McCord

Rachel McCord is the founder of The McCord List, a Hollywood media network that produces McCordless Today — a daily talk show airing on network television and streaming on Roku, Apple TV, Samsung, and Amazon. She's the author of You Can't Heal Your Life, But I Know a Guy, and the co-founder of Viral Brand, a creator marketing company that has launched campaigns for some of the biggest films and TV shows in the world.

But before any of that, Rachel was a girl who moved 33 times before she was 16, grew up in multiple trailer parks in Georgia, and began working 13-hour days at a pizzeria at age 13 — not because she had to, but because she was battling depression and didn't want to go home.

What You'll Discover in This Episode

The hidden cost of success nobody talks about. Rachel was running the education for the world's largest fashion trade show, building a seven-figure media network, and appearing on national television — while simultaneously fighting PTSD, suppressed childhood memories, suicidal depression, and a heart condition that was quietly marching her toward heart failure.

How EMDR therapy unlocked a missing chapter of her life. A chance encounter with a therapist led Rachel to a session that recovered years of suppressed childhood memories in a single afternoon — memories she had blocked as a protective response to severe early trauma.

The Jerusalem moment that changed everything. Two months before her EMDR breakthrough, Rachel stood in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and begged God to heal her broken heart — not knowing how much healing was still ahead.

Open heart surgery at 32 — and the peace that surprised everyone. When Rachel was diagnosed with severe mitral valve prolapse and told she needed open heart surgery (a procedure one in five patients don't survive), she discovered something unexpected: she was ready. The two weeks before surgery became the catalyst for her book.

The three-part framework from her book. Get real and honest about your life. Starve fear, feed faith. Do what you're here for. Rachel breaks down each principle and why self-help alone — no matter how many books you read — can't do what faith can.

The StoryCycle Genie brand assessment. Park ran Rachel's brand through the StoryCycle Genie before the episode. Rachel shares what it validated, what gaps it revealed, and why she immediately started planning how to use it for her own show hosts.

Resources Mentioned

• Rachel McCord: themccordlist.com
• Viral Brand social media analysis (free for listeners): themccordlist.com
• You Can't Heal Your Life, But I Know a Guy by Rachel McCord
• Free StoryCycle Genie brand assessment: storycyclegenie.ai
• EMDR therapy information: emdria.org

Subscribe to the Business of Story

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all major platforms. Join 5,000+ subscribers at businessofstory.com/newsletter.

Your audience doesn't understand your message first—they feel it. In today's noisy world, tone is the hidden ingredient that makes your brand story resonate, build trust, and spark a real connection.

On this episode of the Business of Story, Park Howell welcomes Charly Tate, founder and Chief Kindling Officer at Kindling Works and host of the Tater Thoughts podcast. With over a decade in communications, storytelling, and marketing—and a background in music—Charly helps founders and business owners find clarity in chaos and connection through intentional, heartfelt storytelling.

Listen in to discover:

• Why tone is the first thing your audience notices—even before your message
• How to uncover and express your authentic brand voice
• The biggest mistakes brands make with tone—and how to fix them for lasting impact

Charly shares her journey from rebuilding after real estate to launching her consultancy, the lessons she learned from Queen, and actionable steps you can take to audit your own brand's tone.

Ready to move from background noise to a story your audience can't forget? Tune in now and start making your brand truly resonate.

Learn more about Charly at kindlingworks.com.

Unlocking predictable growth starts with one thing: message market match.

In this episode, Park Howell welcomes Charles Gaudet—CEO of Predictable Profits, creator of The Predictable Profits Operating System™, and "The CEO Whisperer" (Yahoo Finance)—to reveal why so many founders get stuck working harder for less.

You'll learn how to escape the founder's trap by aligning your brand story with the real needs of your market. Charles shares how to identify your true super consumer (and why most ICPs miss the mark), the data-driven secrets to effortless lead generation, and the frameworks that have helped his clients generate over $100 million in revenue.

If you want to make marketing easier, scale beyond yourself, and build a business that thrives without your constant hustle, this episode is for you.

Listen now and unlock your message market match.

Discover how to make your message truly heard with Dan Manning, former fighter pilot, speechwriter, and military diplomat turned professional storyteller. In this episode, Dan reveals his simple, repeatable "Before, Change, After, Meaning" framework that helps founders and executives communicate ideas that move people to action.

Learn why understanding your audience's pain is the secret to engagement, how scenes—not just stories—create connection, and what military storytelling can teach you about clarity and impact. Dan's clients have raised millions in investment, sold millions in products, and landed dream jobs at Fortune 10 companies—all by using stories that stick.

If you want actionable steps to clarify your message, inspire your audience, and drive real results, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear practical frameworks, high-stakes lessons, and storytelling secrets that will transform the way you communicate and lead.

Unlocking Post-Click Success: How to Convert Clicks into Customers with Shamir Duverseau

Are you pouring budget into digital ads, getting plenty of clicks—but not enough conversions? You're not alone. Most marketers focus on getting the click, but the real opportunity comes after.

In this episode of the Business of Story, Park Howell sits down with Shamir Duverseau—founder of Smart Panda Labs and former marketing leader at Disney, Marriott, Southwest Airlines, and NBC Universal—to reveal why the post-click experience is the most overlooked (and profitable) part of your marketing funnel.

Shamir shares his journey from running campaigns for iconic brands to building a framework that helps businesses turn website visitors into loyal customers. You'll learn:

• The psychology behind why prospects vanish after the click
• How to align marketing, IT, and product teams for seamless digital journeys
• Simple tweaks that can dramatically increase your conversions
• Proven strategies for building trust and removing friction on your site
• How to use research and feedback to continually improve your results

Whether you're a startup founder or an enterprise marketer, you'll discover actionable steps to transform your website into a conversion engine and get more from the traffic you already have.

Finding the Right Story for Your Audience with Lee Schneider

Are you telling your story in a way that truly connects with your best customers? Most businesses try to be everything to everyone, but the real magic happens when you focus on the 20% of your audience that delivers 80% of your results.

In this episode of the Business of Story, host Park Howell welcomes Lee Schneider—founder of Red Cup Agency, award-winning podcast producer, USC professor, and veteran storyteller whose credits include Good Morning America, Dateline NBC, and documentaries for the History Channel, Court TV, and more.

What you'll learn:

• How to identify and tell the right story for your specific audience
• The three essential stories every business needs to win trust and drive action
• Practical ways to test and refine your narrative for real-world impact

Whether you're a startup founder, entrepreneur, or creative professional, you'll discover actionable storytelling techniques to help you stand out, build credibility, and grow your business.

About Lee Schneider: Lee draws on decades of experience in media-making, screenwriting, and education to help leaders transform complex concepts into projects that get funded. He's also the creator of the Storyline Sessions masterclass and a leading voice in podcast production.

Related Episodes:

• The Writer's Journey with Christopher Vogler
• How to Build a Story Library for Your Brand
• Making Your Customer the Hero

Connect with Lee: Get Lee's free storytelling starter kit at redcupagency.com/storybusiness

Unlock the secret to recruiting top talent with storytelling! In this episode, Park Howell welcomes Jeff Hyman—author of "Recruit Rockstars"—to reveal how the ABT narrative framework can transform your hiring process. Discover why stories attract missionaries (not mercenaries), how to make your job postings irresistible, and the role of AI in scaling your employer brand. Whether you're an HR leader, hiring manager, or job seeker, you'll learn actionable strategies to build a team that stays for the mission, not just the money. Listen now and make your next hire a rockstar!

Test the strength of your brand story on the StoryCycle Genie® for FREE.

Story on!

≈Park

Discover how to transform "artificial intelligence" into "artful intelligence" and inspire your brand storytelling in this must-listen episode of the Business of Story. Park Howell is joined by Jen Perry, Executive Creative Director at Vagrants, who shares her journey from building creative teams for brands like JetBlue, IKEA, and Dunkin' Donuts to leading Vagrants' evolution into a creative powerhouse.

You'll learn why "artificial intelligence" is a branding problem, and how reframing it as "artful intelligence" helps you keep your storytelling human, emotionally resonant, and truly impactful—even as you embrace the latest technology. Jen reveals practical strategies for using emotional intelligence in your creative process, building lasting client relationships, and coaching teams to bold, effective ideas.

Plus, you'll hear a real-world case study from Tom Schwab of Interview Valet on how the StoryCycle Genie™ platform delivers artful, brand-aligned content that saves hours and elevates quality.

Listen now to discover:

• How to blend AI and empathy for better brand stories
• Why artful intelligence is your creative edge
• Actionable steps to inspire your team and audience

For more insights and resources, visit businessofstory.com.

Chris Vogler, legendary story consultant and author of The Writer's Journey, joins Park Howell to reveal how the Hero's Journey is more than a Hollywood formula—it's a living, breathing blueprint for personal and brand transformation.

You'll discover why wish fulfillment is at the heart of every great brand story, how to turn obstacles ("threshold guardians") into opportunities, and why stories have the power to heal, orient, and energize us in a chaotic world.

Chris shares behind-the-scenes stories from Disney, explains the science of story energy, and offers practical advice for marketers, leaders, and anyone looking to create deeper connections with their audience.

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or searching for your own path, this episode will help you unlock the universal patterns that move people—and move the world.

Related Episodes: • How to Use The Hero's Journey in Business and In Life, With John Bucher • Robert McKee: The Science of Story • Park Howell: The ABT Framework for Business