The Storytelling Lab

"When you live in alignment with your values, you cause yourself as little suffering as possible in the long term. And that one just always sticks with me because it's really challenging in the short term. But if you have faith in your values and who you are and how you want to show up in the world, then ultimately you're creating a path that's going to serve you for the long term." — Jon Bregel

What happens when the thing you love most… starts breaking you?

In this episode, Rain sits down with cinematographer, founder of Variable, and career/life coach for filmmakers, Jon Bregel, to unpack a reality most creatives don’t talk about enough: burnout.

After years of success in the film industry, Jon hit a breaking point that forced him to reevaluate everything—his career, his identity, and the story he was telling himself. That journey led him to create The Nourish Community, a space designed specifically to support the mental and emotional health of filmmakers.

This conversation goes beyond tactics. It’s about identity, purpose, and how to build a creative life that actually sustains you, instead of slowly draining you.

If you’re a filmmaker, creator, or entrepreneur feeling the pressure… this one hits close to home.

In this episode, you will learn to:
Recognize the early warning signs of creative burnout before it becomes a crisis
Use core values as a practical decision-making compass
Understand the difference between a life coach and a therapist and why creatives may need both for different reasons
Reframe career plateaus, pivots, and rest as seasons of inner growth rather than signs of failure
Build or seek out real community as a creative and understand why that distinction changes everything

Follow Jon Bregel:
Website → https://www.nourishcommunity.co
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jonbregel
Production Company → Variable (New York City)
Film Referenced: The Baltimorons — directed by J. Duplass, starring Michael Strassner (cinematography by Jon Bregel)

And, for more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"If you think the world could be better and you want to change it, you're going to have to come up with a better story and know how to tell it better." —Joseph Romm

What happens when a physicist with a PhD realizes that data, charts, and credentials can't change a single mind, but a story can?

Joseph Romm spent years working in climate science and clean energy before arriving at an uncomfortable truth: facts don't persuade people. Emotions do.

In this episode, Joseph breaks down the ancient storytelling tools—the figures of speech used by Homer, Shakespeare, Lincoln, and yes, Taylor Swift—that make stories stick, spread, and move people to action.

But this episode is about more than communication theory. Joseph and his daughter co-host the podcast Decoding Taylor Swift, where they analyze the storytelling craft embedded in her music. What started as a way to bond with his daughter over song lyrics became a masterclass in how great writers use foreshadow, irony, the hero's journey, and circular narrative structure to create stories that lodge in the brain and don't let go.

As a father of a daughter himself, Rain finds this project deeply personal, and the conversation that follows is one of the most layered and surprising in the show's history.

Whether you're trying to communicate complex ideas, reach an audience that doesn't share your worldview, or simply connect more deeply with the people you love, this episode gives you the framework to do it.

In this episode, you will learn to:
• Understand why storytelling is more effective than raw information in shaping beliefs
• Recognize how narrative framing influences what people accept as true
• Replace ineffective fact-based arguments with story-driven communication
• Identify why misinformation spreads faster than truth
• Apply narrative thinking to make your ideas more memorable and persuasive

Follow Joseph Romm: Podcast → Decoding Taylor Swift (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/decoding-taylor-swift/id1708550100)
Book → How to Go Viral and Reach Millions by Joseph Romm (https://www.amazon.com/How-Viral-Reach-Millions-Shakespeare/dp/1944733779)

Books & Talks Referenced:
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Roger Federer's Dartmouth Commencement Speech
Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

And, for more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Marketing might be how you get the first date. But to get the second and third date and hopefully form into a relationship, you have to have a brand." — Rain Bennett

Brand isn't your logo, your color palette, your fonts, or your tagline.

Brand is the story others tell about you. And in this solo episode, Rain breaks down exactly how to influence that story before it gets told without you. As part of the ongoing Narrative Operating System framework from his upcoming book The Chief Storytelling Officer, this episode is your practical guide to building a brand that goes deeper than decoration.

Rain walks you through two foundational tools: the Brand Pyramid and the Brand Bible. Using real-world examples from Patagonia, Liquid Death, Apple, Yeti, and even his own mother's real estate business in Eastern North Carolina, he unpacks how the most powerful brands in the world built identity, loyalty, and community.

Whether you're building something from scratch or realizing your current brand has drifted off course, this episode gives you the framework to get it back on track. From finding your one-word North Star to running a voice test on your content, Rain arms you with tools you can use this week, and a mindset that will serve your brand for the long run.

In this episode, you will learn to:
Distinguish between the three types of story every brand carries — the story you tell yourself, the story you tell others, and the story others tell about you
Build your Brand Pyramid from the ground up, starting with a single guiding word that informs every decision you make
Create a Brand Bible that keeps your voice, visual identity, and messaging consistent across your entire team and every platform
Use real brand case studies (Patagonia, Liquid Death, Yeti, Apple) to reverse-engineer what makes brand identity actually stick
Evolve your brand intentionally over time through a cycle of inspiration and reflection — without losing who you are

Episodes Referenced:
EP 216 — Vision: The Big Future Story
EP 220 — Mission: How You're Going to Get There
EP 150 — Brand Essence & the Brand Pyramid (Deep Dive)
EP 219 — Shane Lucas on Design as Storytelling

Book Mentioned: The Chief Storytelling Officer by Rain Bennett → Pre-order now! Release date: August 25th
Book Recommendation: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? by Alan Alda

For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“When you start to look at things through the lens of story, it helps you appreciate and process what’s going on.” — Corey Rosen

What makes someone lean in when you tell a story instead of tune out?

In this episode, Rain sits down with Emmy-nominated TV writer, Moth champion, and brand storytelling expert Corey Rosen to break down the real tactics behind stories that actually land.

This is not a fluffy conversation about “storytelling matters.” It’s a practical deep dive into curiosity gaps, emotional stakes, visual detail, and the inner life that gives a story dimension.

Corey shares how his background in comedy, television, and live storytelling shaped the way he now teaches stories for every occasion—from keynotes and investor pitches to eulogies, wedding toasts, and brand messaging. They also get into improv, theme parks, AI, and why the future belongs to people who can create connection, not just content.

In this episode, you will learn to:
Build curiosity early so people care about where your story is going
Understand the three elements that make stories feel vivid, human, and memorable
Use storytelling to build trust before you try to persuade, pitch, or influence
Reframe everyday experiences as story material by noticing what changed and why it mattered
See how storytelling skills transfer across live performance, brand communication, and business

Follow Corey Rosen on:
Website → https://www.coreyrosen.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/storycoachcorey
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyrosenstorycoach

For more storytelling tips and tricks:
Visit → https://rainbennett.com and https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Or follow along at...
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You can’t even begin to talk about results or impact until you actually put something out into the world.” — Kristen Sweeney

What if the real problem with your content isn’t execution, but alignment?

In this episode, Kristen Sweeney, founder of Every Little Word, breaks down the invisible work behind great communication: messaging frameworks, internal clarity, operational discipline, and the codified point of view that most companies skip.

We explore why B2B brands struggle to articulate what they actually believe, how regulated industries can differentiate without breaking compliance, and why thought leadership without a clear stance is just noise.

Kristen also shares how her background in theater shaped her confidence in high-level conversations and why content operations, not just creativity, determine results. If your content feels scattered, generic, or reactive, this episode is your blueprint for fixing it at the foundation.

In this episode, you will learn to:
Clarify and codify your point of view before producing a single piece of content
Extract real insight from subject matter experts instead of settling for surface-level answers
Build messaging foundations that reduce friction across teams and client communication
Differentiate in crowded B2B and regulated industries without sacrificing accuracy
Move from informational content to perspective-driven leadership

Follow Kristen Sweeney:
Website → https://www.everylittleword.com
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristensweeney

For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett

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