“The stories we take on as children are often the ones we spend the rest of our lives trying to rewrite.” — John Bucher

What if the story you’re living isn’t the one you were meant to live?

In this episode, Rain sits down with John Bucher, President of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, to explore how the ancient patterns of mythology still shape our modern lives. Together, they dive deep into Joseph Campbell’s enduring influence on storytelling—from Star Wars to brand narratives—and how we can harness those same mythic structures to better understand our own identities and destinies.

John shares his personal journey from a small Texas town to becoming a global thought leader in mythology, and how a series of “accidents” and calls to adventure helped him rewrite his life’s story. They also discuss how stories evolve, how to avoid getting stuck in the romanticized “Hollywood version” of your life, and why lived experience will always outshine AI-generated narratives.

This is a powerful, heartfelt conversation about the stories we inherit, the ones we believe, and the ones we choose to write next.

In this episode, you will learn to:

Recognize the power of personal mythology and how your childhood beliefs shape the stories you tell—and live—today.
Use the four story endings from Aristotle to understand your own journey and navigate expectations around success and fulfillment.
Reframe your career path and goals by identifying moments that call you into a new chapter, even if they start as mistakes.
Embrace storytelling as a tool for community and healing, especially in a world increasingly influenced by technology and isolation.
Keep storytelling human in the age of AI by leading with lived experience, emotional connection, and authentic curiosity.

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