Is telling your brand story enough to build a loyal audience?

In this episode, Rain Bennett breaks down the essential but often misunderstood difference between brand story and brand narrative. While most marketers focus on crafting engaging stories, Rain explains why the real secret to lasting brand trust lies in building a clear, consistent narrative thread that connects everything you do, from vision to product to marketing and sales.

He uses powerful metaphors—from Hamilton to the Bible to Christmas lights—to help you see the structure of your storytelling system in a new way.

You’ll also learn how the Chief Storytelling Officer is the guardian of that narrative, ensuring every department speaks in harmony. If you’ve ever felt like your content is scattered or your message is missing the mark, this episode will show you how to realign your storytelling, as well as your business.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Distinguish between brand story and brand narrative—and why both are essential
• Use narrative as a strategic compass for every department in your business
• Build trust and loyalty by aligning all stories under one cohesive thread
• Create a system (not just content) to sustain long-term brand impact
• Step into the Chief Storytelling Officer role and protect your narrative across platforms

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com or thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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

What if storytelling wasn’t just about clever hooks or flashy content—but instead about casting spells that transform how people feel and act?

In this episode, Rain sits down with Jimi Gibson, a marketing strategist, TEDx speaker, and lifelong magician, to explore the deep parallels between magic and storytelling. Jimi shares how the neuroscience behind awe, attention, and trust can be reverse-engineered into any brand message or business interaction.

He even performs a mind-blowing magic trick live on the show—proving firsthand how story structure mirrors a magic trick’s setup, curiosity, and climax.

Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or content creator, this episode reveals how to tap into your own “abracadabra” and use it to spark genuine human connection.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• See storytelling as a biological sequence of connection, curiosity, and closure
• Use the magician’s mindset to build anticipation and deliver transformation
• Apply the three-part structure of a magic trick to your content and copywriting
• Translate your personal quirks into brand authenticity and visibility
• Reframe timing as a tool for trust—not just attention

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com or thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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

What does it mean to create something that no one else can replicate?

In this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain sits down with Rob Meyers, Managing Director of the creative studio Versus, to explore the concept of “ownable originality.” Rob shares the philosophy behind Versus—one that prioritizes culture over style, curiosity over templates, and meaning over metrics.

The result? A studio that helps brands and creators make work that is not only beautiful, but deeply aligned with who they are.

They discuss the evolving landscape of branded content, how more companies are creating their own original documentaries and films, and why traditional marketing models are no longer enough. Rob also explains how a founder-led, culture-first organization can scale without losing its soul—and how his team’s creative autonomy fuels both client work and original IP like films, books, and games.

If you’re looking for a model that balances creativity, commerce, and community, this conversation will inspire you to reimagine your own storytelling strategy.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Define your brand through culture, not content volume or visual style
• Build a studio or agency that empowers creativity across departments
• Make the case for long-form storytelling and brand-backed originals
• Balance client work with internal creative projects to retain passion
• Lead with values and build trust as your most irreplaceable asset

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com, or

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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

What happens when a fine art photographer becomes a novelist?

In this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain Bennett sits down with Gary Smith, a visual artist turned fiction author, who brings a unique perspective to the craft: writing as seeing.

Gary explains how his background in photography shapes the way he builds scenes, characters, and emotions on the page. His process begins with feeling, moves through visualization, and ends with carefully structured prose that reads like a cinematic experience.

The conversation dives deep into discipline, creativity, character development, and how the act of storytelling can help both writer and reader reflect on life’s deeper questions. Gary shares how years of long-distance running and construction work taught him the habits and resilience that now power his writing routine.

This episode is packed with wisdom for any writer who wants to create stories that resonate visually, emotionally, and philosophically.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Develop a storytelling mindset that starts with feeling and translates to visual scenes on the page
• Build a daily writing practice grounded in discipline, not motivation
• Use your life experience to create authentic, layered characters
• See your scenes cinematically and structure your chapters like movie frames
• Understand how self-publishing can be a fulfilling and strategic path for fiction writers

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com, or

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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

What if the key to growing your brand wasn’t pumping out more content, but going deeper with your message?

In this episode of The Storytelling Lab, host Rain Bennett talks to Renee Frojo, a former journalist turned brand storyteller, about why clarity in your narrative beats consistency in your posting schedule.

Renee breaks down how founders, solopreneurs, and startups can stop chasing viral trends and start building powerful stories that connect, convert, and scale.

From her personal evolution in content marketing to the development of her storytelling retreats and workshops, Renee shares the systems she uses to help brands mine for meaningful stories and communicate with confidence. They discuss how storytelling enhances every part of your business—from sales calls to short-form social content—and why authenticity has its limits when it comes to brand building.

If you're burned out by content creation and looking for a smarter, more resonant approach, this episode will reshape the way you think about storytelling in business.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Reframe consistency by focusing on a cohesive brand narrative rather than daily content output
• Identify emotionally resonant stories through Renee’s “story mining” framework
• Apply short-form storytelling techniques that stand out in crowded digital spaces
• Build trust and credibility with authentic vulnerability—without oversharing
• Design storytelling-driven case studies that simplify your value and deepen engagement

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com, or

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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

How do you uncover what your customers and employees really think—without another boring survey?

In this episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain speaks with James Warren, the founder of Share More Stories and creator of SEEQ, a storytelling and insights platform that blends the emotional power of stories with the analytical depth of AI.

With a background in brand strategy and corporate leadership, James has pioneered a way to analyze written stories to reveal the underlying emotions, needs, and values of employees, customers, and communities.

James shares how emotional mapping, sensory prompts, and narrative-based strategy help organizations tap into deeper truths that conventional analytics miss. Whether you’re a team leader, marketer, or founder, this episode offers powerful insight into how empathy and data can combine to unlock connection and impact at scale.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Uncover hidden truths by using storytelling as a data collection method for organizational insight
• Bridge the gap between emotional intelligence and analytics by using tech tools like AI and NLP without sacrificing humanity
• Design better prompts that help employees and customers recall deeper, more meaningful stories
• Strengthen both employee and customer experience (EX and CX) by listening to the emotions that drive behavior
• Use stories to create authentic culture alignment across leadership, brand, and community

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com, or

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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

Storytelling isn’t just about marketing anymore—it’s about leadership, alignment, and growth.

In this special 200th episode of The Storytelling Lab, Rain kicks off Season 14 by exploring the rise of a new essential role in business: the Chief Storytelling Officer.

Whether you’re at a massive company like Nike or a scrappy startup, someone needs to take responsibility for narrative consistency across your entire organization.

Rain shares insights from his interviews with real CSOs, including Nike’s Nelson Farris, and breaks down what this role looks like—why it matters, what it includes, and how to fill it (even if it’s you). From establishing your brand’s core “why” to ensuring cohesion across departments like product, marketing, and sales, the CSO is the linchpin of a modern brand. And as Rain writes his next book on the topic, he’s bringing listeners along for the journey.

This episode sets the stage for a season focused on clarity, alignment, and the systems that make brand storytelling sustainable.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Understand the purpose and impact of the Chief Storytelling Officer as a leadership role, not just a creative one.
• Translate your brand’s purpose and vision into aligned stories across product, marketing, sales, and internal culture.
• Avoid misalignment and brand dilution by building a system of narrative cohesion from top to bottom.
• Identify the right person to fill the CSO role—whether that’s you or someone already doing the work informally.
• Create trust and connection with customers, teams, and investors through one clear, consistent story.

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com, or

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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

“Think about what your story promises and then ask yourself if you're actually moving toward it.” — Rain Bennett

Tired of overcomplicated storytelling formulas?

In this episode, Rain simplifies the process with a three-step model inspired by bestselling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson: Promise, Progress, Payoff. This framework is rooted in classical storytelling principles but designed for clarity and ease—whether you're telling a short story, a brand narrative, or a social media post.

Rain breaks down what each step means, how to apply it in your work, and why it's so effective at keeping your audience engaged and emotionally invested. You’ll hear examples from The Lion King, Star Wars, and even YouTube tutorials to show how Promise, Progress, and Payoff show up across formats.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by storytelling theory, this episode brings you back to what matters most: clear expectations, forward motion, and satisfying endings.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Use Promise, Progress, Payoff to guide any story you’re telling, no matter the format or length.
• Establish clear expectations early to draw your audience in and build trust.
• Keep your story on track by checking whether each moment is moving the narrative forward.
• Deliver a satisfying resolution that rewards the time and attention of your audience.
• Adapt this structure to content of any scale, from brand videos to epic novels.

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com, or

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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

What does it really take to build a sustainable filmmaking career?

In this episode, Rain sits down with Erika Arlee and Kristi Ray, the powerhouse duo behind Honey Head Films, to explore how they’ve grown a production company that balances passion, purpose, and profit.

They share the story of their debut feature A Song for Imogene, and how they expanded it from a short film into a fully realized, distributed feature while staying true to their vision.

Erika and Kristi break down how they built their brand around authentic Southern stories, women filmmakers, and a collaborative, values-driven approach. You’ll learn how they crowdfunded, built community buy-in, and turned obstacles into creative opportunities.

If you’re dreaming of turning your passion for film into a business that lasts, this conversation is packed with hard-earned wisdom and inspiration.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• Build an authentic film brand that aligns with your values and attracts the right collaborators.
• Create momentum around your project by involving your community early and often.
• Balance client work with creative projects so your passion stays alive while paying the bills.
• Approach collaboration strategically to find the partners who can help you grow.
• Treat your indie film like a startup by thinking about your audience and exit strategy from the start.

Follow Honey Head Films on:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Or visit their website HERE!

*** A Song for Imogene is now on Amazon Prime!

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com, or

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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

How do you run a business and still find time to create content?

In this episode, Rain sits down with Shawn Walchef, owner of Cali BBQ and founder of Cali BBQ Media, to explore how storytelling and content creation aren’t distractions—they’re growth engines. Shawn shares how he went from struggling restaurateur to building a thriving media company on top of his barbecue brand, and why every business today needs to think like a media company.

They break down how to overcome the fear of looking foolish, why quantity and speed matter more than perfection, and how to turn your phone into your most valuable tool.

Shawn also gives practical tips on stacking content, building a team, and staying consistent without burning out. If you’ve ever wondered how to juggle business and content—or whether it’s worth the effort—this episode will change your mindset.

In this episode, you will learn to:

• See content as a growth tool, not a chore and shift your mindset around its value.
• Overcome the fear of looking foolish online so you can finally start creating.
• Focus on quantity and consistency first because that’s what leads to real quality.
• Use simple tools like your phone to build a media presence without expensive gear.
• Stack and schedule your content so that your “show” runs even when you’re busy.

Follow Shawn on:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Or visit his website HERE!

For more storytelling tips and tricks,

Visit my website rainbennett.com, or

Follow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyeller

Follow me on Twitter @rainbennett

Follow me on Instagram @rainbennett

Follow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel

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