
Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.ai
Welcome to Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.ai. Have you ever wondered why some brands, trends, or products become massive successes while others fade away? That’s exactly what this podcast explores. Hosted by Donald Miller, creator of the StoryBrand Framework, and co-hosted by Kyle Reed, each episode dives into the strategies behind the world’s biggest wins, breaking them down into clear, actionable insights you can use to create your own success.
Discover how to craft clear and effective messaging that works for your business at StoryBrand.ai.
Latest episodes

Oct 19, 2020 • 27min
#223: Daniel Harkavy—Is 2020 a Total Wash for Business Leaders?
The beginning of the pandemic felt like being chased by a tiger. For a lot of us, this is the first time we’re getting to slow down and catch our breath. This week, Daniel Harkavy stops by to share why it’s important to spend time really reflecting on your wins and losses from this season. His new book, The 7 Perspectives of Effective Leaders, provides a framework to become a better leader even in the face of enormous challenges. When you use his perspectives to reflect on everything that’s happened this year -- you’ll feel proud of all you and your team have actually accomplished.

Oct 12, 2020 • 53min
#222: Hal Runkel—What Leadership and Parenting Have in Common
If you’ve ever tried to wrangle a screaming preschooler into a car, you know what the worst days of leading a team feel like. Managing a team and parenting a small child can sometimes feel … a little too similar. But Hal Runkel doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing. This bestselling author of books like ScreamFree Parenting and Choose Your Own Adulthood joins the podcast to show you how his proven parenting techniques can also help you become a confident and respected leader.

Oct 9, 2020 • 30min
#221: Miles Adcox—Should You Really Keep Emotions Out of the Workplace?
How many times have you been told to leave your emotions at the door? Probably too many to count. But when you’re sitting at your desk with chest pains or feel your ears ringing after a frustrating meeting -- that feels pretty impossible. Miles Adcox flips the script when it comes to emotions in the workplace. He gives you permission to actually feel your emotions and shows you 3 ways to use them to your advantage.

Sep 28, 2020 • 34min
#220: Robbie Kellman Baxter—Three Keys to Making Passive Revenue
You want recurring revenue for your business. The thing is — you just aren’t sure if you have what it takes to create something people will actually buy. It stinks, but subscription services can sink your business — fast. So if you’re going to do this, you need to do it right. Robbie Kellman Baxter literally wrote the book on creating subscription services that make money. And in this episode, she’s giving you her secret formula for building a recurring revenue stream that lasts. Listen now!

Sep 21, 2020 • 36min
#219: How to Make Any Communication Campaign a Success
You have great ideas that have the power to transform your business. But it’s hard to get people to pay attention. What you need is a proven framework that makes any communication campaign a success and gets buy-in from your entire team. And that’s exactly what you’ll get in our newest Business Made Simple University course -- Communication Made Simple. On this week’s episode, we’re giving you a sneak peek into the paradigm-shifting framework so you can start applying these helpful tips today!

Sep 14, 2020 • 25min
#218: Sherman Merricks—Two Characteristics the Most Profitable Business Leaders Have in Common
Building a profitable business takes a lot of hard work. But when you boil it down -- there are two characteristics every profitable business leader has in common. On today’s episode, StoryBrand Certified Guide Sherman Merricks is sharing why these two characteristics have the power to make or break your business. Plus, Don and Sherman talk about the current social climate and how business leaders can affect change.

Sep 7, 2020 • 34min
#217: Lee Hartley Carter—How to Persuade Any Audience
If you’ve ever tried to convince someone your position is right, you know it can feel like talking to a brick wall. But what if you were just going about persuasion in the wrong way? The truth is—most people aren’t convinced by some compelling set of facts. Most people change their minds because of their emotions. Lee Hartley Carter has studied the art of persuasion and on today’s episode, she’s sharing what works, what doesn’t, and what you can do to persuade people when it matters most.

Aug 31, 2020 • 48min
#216: Nir Eyal—The Secret to Staying Focused at Work
Life is busy. Between email notifications, calendar reminders, and your wandering mind, it’s easy to let distractions rule the day. But what if staying focused and being productive didn’t have to be so hard? Nir Eyal, author of Indistractable, has cracked the code on staying focused. In this episode, he’s breaking down how to control your attention-span, increase your productivity, and say no to distractions once and for all. If your mind wandered even a little bit while reading this podcast description — this episode is for you.

Aug 24, 2020 • 42min
#215: Gary Hamel—Why Micromanagement is Killing Your Business
You’ve worked hard to grow your business, so you want to make sure that every little thing is done right. But what if there were parts that would be more successful if you let someone else take the wheel for a change? London Business School professor, Gary Hamel, is sharing why top-down micromanagement structures are suffocating businesses and stifling their growth. If you’ve struggled to give up control of your business, this episode might just convince you that it’s actually the best thing you can do.

Aug 17, 2020 • 59min
#214: Dan Heath—Why You Need to Solve Problems Before They Happen
We have two options when we’re faced with a problem. We can either resolve it and walk away or figure out why it’s happening in the first place. It’s tempting to just solve problems as they come up, but bestselling author and speaker Dan Heath thinks there’s a better way. On today’s episode, he’s sharing why it’s important to get to the root of a problem. If managing conflict at work has ever felt like a game of whack-a-mole, this episode will give you the tools you need to create lasting change instead.