Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.ai

Our cups overfloweth with data. But creating a story with data can feel like drinking from a firehose. These days, powerful presentations are less about stand-and-deliver presenting. It’s more about crafting an explanation that can spread online. That’s why we’re so excited to have Nancy Duarte on the podcast. Author of Data Story, she’s the world's leading expert on how to create a compelling keynote. Learn how you can apply her powerful four-part strategy to your own brand to create memorable messages that hit a nerve and earn an audience.

How do you frame a mission, get buy-in for it, and then make it work? That’s what we’re discussing in this episode with U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Trafficking in Persons John Cotton Richmond. When we need to make sure wrong things are being made right, it takes maximum engagement around a clear mission. Ambassador Richmond shares brilliant insight on how to build a team around a mission and help people understand their role – and that the mission is doable. Whether you’re saving lives or improving them, this approach can generate more passion and engagement and make a huge difference.

It’s time for corporations, businesses, and consumers to wise up about how supply chains play a role in human trafficking around the world. While there are more slaves today than ever, Gary Haugen, CEO and founder of International Justice Mission, shares a game plan to stop it. In this critical interview, hear how IJM is partnering with giants like Walmart and Target to clean up supply chains so they don’t facilitate human trafficking. You’ll also hear how “story” is fueling those efforts. If you’re a nonprofit or business owner, you don’t want to miss it.

Local businesses are the heartbeat of a local economy. But to succeed, they have to play the guide. In this episode, our own Koula Callahan interviews Brooke Allison, co-owner of Scout's Barbershop, about the grassroots strategies they’ve employed to grow to 6 neighborhood-based locations. Whether you’re marketing, hiring, learning your customer, or giving back to the community, you need to understand your role in the process. Don’t miss this super practical, local-business focused episode!

Marissa Orr, a former executive at Google and Facebook, is a self-proclaimed Corporate Rebel, and in her new book, Lean Out, she challenges the notion that women have to change in order to succeed in corporate business. In this episode of the podcast, she and Don discuss the myths that prevail about the wage gap and unpack how we got to where only 5 percent of CEOs in the Fortune 500 are women. This is a fascinating discussion you won’t want to miss.

Leaders are the lynchpin in company culture. So how do you identify and develop great ones within your business? Today on the podcast, we talk to management expert Scott Miller, an Executive VP at FranklinCovey, on why management takes a complete shift in mindset – one that’s counterintuitive to your top producers. You owe it to your company to build a culture where people choose to stay and give their all. This episode will help you do that.

Millennials want to work from home or a totally open office space – and have unlimited time off – right? Wrong. On today’s podcast, Lindsey Pollak, a leading expert on Millennials and author of the book The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace, debunks modern workplace myths. She offers insight into what Millennials want instead, and why many companies are re-thinking that age group for the primary talent pool. Discover how you can create a thriving culture that develops employees who are much more likely to stick around.

Cal Newport, a Georgetown University computer science professor and author of Digital Minimalism, dives into the challenges of our tech-filled lives. He discusses the detrimental effects of smartphone addiction on productivity and mental health. Newport shares practical strategies for digital decluttering, emphasizing intentional tech use to boost focus and well-being. He also highlights the historical context of digital communication and offers actionable tips for fostering healthier interactions with technology, aiming to reduce burnout and cultivate meaningful connections.

Captain Obvious here: Successful businesses don’t do stupid stuff.  Of course we all know that, but running a business is hard! And that means we all make dumb (and costly) mistakes along the way. Today’s guest, Keith Cunningham, teaches 5 key disciplines that will help you avoid those common business mistakes. Today’s episode could save you a TON of wasted money and effort. It’s like free consulting. Listen now!

“Well, I’m not really a creative type.”   Today on the podcast, Adam Savage (host of the popular show Mythbusters) is going to bust THAT myth for us.   We’re all creative -- whether we build model cars or entire organizations. But we don’t always know how to tap into that part of ourselves.    When you listen to this episode, you’ll hear Adam’s practical advice to add more creativity to your life. You’ll learn why it matters. Best of all, you’ll give yourself permission to be more curious and creative, both at home and at work.   Give it a listen!