Business of Story
The Business of Story helps sales and marketing leaders excel through the stories they tell. Hosted by Park Howell, known as The World's Most Industrious Storyteller, this popular weekly show is ranked among the top 10% of downloaded podcasts internationally and is the #1 Business Storytelling Podcast according to Feedspot. #StoryOn!
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#563: The Mistakes and Miracles of the Lovesac Brand Story, with Shawn Nelson
<p >Why the Last Couch You'll Ever Buy Is the Most Radical Business Idea in America, with Shawn David Nelson</p> <p >What does it take to build a brand designed to last forever — in an industry built on replacement cycles?</p> <p >Shawn David Nelson started Lovesac at 18 with a hand-sewn bean bag made from his parents' chopped-up camping mattresses. He paid $25 to register the company. Today, Lovesac (NASDAQ: LOVE) operates 300+ showrooms, employs 2,000 people, and is one of the fastest-growing furniture brands in America — anchored by a product philosophy so counterintuitive it sounds almost reckless.</p> <p >They want you...
#562. How to Understand the Narrative Behind Your Numbers for Growth, With Nick Jain
BGBrand Genius Genie™ Sent on 3/26/2026, 3:09:10 PM <p >On it — working through Steps 6, 9, and 10 now. Let me start with the Libsyn description.</p> <p >Step 6: Libsyn Episode Description</p> <p >What if the story your business is telling the world is completely out of sync with the story your numbers are telling you?</p> <p >Nick Jain, co-founder of Eagle Rock CFO, has spent his career helping $5–$50M businesses close that gap. A Harvard MBA who graduated top of his class, with degrees in math and physics, Nick has turned around and scaled three companies up to $100M in revenue — across trucking...
#561: Why Storytelling Is the One Skill AI Can Never Replace, with Joe Lazer
<p >What if the skill that made us human is the same one that will keep us relevant in the age of AI?</p> <p >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.</p> <p >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...
#560: The Story You're Afraid to Tell is the One That Changes Everything, with Rachel McCord
<h2 >Don't Ever Waste a Heartbeat: How Open Heart Surgery Unlocked Rachel McCord's True Purpose</h2> <p >What happens when the woman producing 19 shows, running a Hollywood media network, and appearing on national television is quietly fighting to stay alive?</p> <p >That's the story Rachel McCord tells in this raw, remarkable episode of the Business of Story.</p> <h3 >Meet Rachel McCord</h3> <p >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 th...
#559: Why Tone is the Missing Link in Brand Storytelling Success, with Charly Tate
<p >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.</p> <p >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.</p> <p >Listen in to discover:</p> Why to...
#558: Unlocking Message Market Match: The Secret to Predictable Profits, With Charles Gaudet
<p >Unlocking predictable growth starts with one thing: message market match.</p> <p >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.</p> <p >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...
#557: How to Be Heard: Turning Audience Pain into Business Impact, with Dan Manning
<p >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.</p> <p >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 s...
#556: From Clicks to Conversions: Fixing Your Post-Click Story, with Shamir Duverseau
<p >Unlocking Post-Click Success: How to Convert Clicks into Customers with Shamir Duverseau</p> <p >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.</p> <p >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.</p> <p >Shamir shares...
#555: Which Story Should You Tell and to Whom, With Lee Schneider
<h3 >Finding the Right Story for Your Audience with Lee Schneider</h3> <p >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.</p> <p >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 mo...
#554: How Great Brand Storytelling Helps You Recruit Rockstars, With Jeff Hyman
<p>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!</p> <p>Test the strength of your...
