

Anecdotally Speaking
Shawn Callahan & Mark Schenk
Welcome to our podcast, Anecdotally Speaking. Each week we tell a business story, talk about why it works and discuss where you might tell it at work. Our aim is to help you build your story repertoire.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 21, 2025 • 16min
258 – A Memorial in Mashed Potato – Maya Lin
Discover how creativity under constraint led to one of the world’s most distinctive memorials. In Episode 258 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn shares the inspiring story …
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Jul 14, 2025 • 22min
257 – How to Make a Great Story Boring – Notre-Dame
This episode explores how story delivery can either ignite or flatten your message, illustrated by the fire and restoration of Notre-Dame. In Episode 257 of …
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Jul 7, 2025 • 14min
256 – The Power of Coaching
Discover why coaching drives real behaviour change, far beyond training alone. In Episode 256 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn shares research by Joyce and Showers that …
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Jun 30, 2025 • 17min
255 – Rich Church, Poor Church
Discover how 17th-century Rome reveals a clever behavioural insight still relevant for change initiatives today. In Episode 255 of Anecdotally Speaking, Mark shares a story …
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Jun 23, 2025 • 25min
128 – Collaboration and diversity is how you make progress (Rerun)
Collaboration and diversity bring progress. Listen to hear how one woman defied gender norms to receive recognition for a scientific breakthrough.
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Jun 16, 2025 • 11min
254 – Cooking Up Company Culture – Ericsson
Listen to hear how Ericsson’s workplace culture was transformed by a cleaner, and the lessons this brings in empowerment and initiative. In Episode 254, Shawn …
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Jun 9, 2025 • 15min
253 – Radical Transparency in Action – Patagonia
Learn how Patagonia’s radical transparency over PFAS transformed a corporate challenge into a brand triumph. In Episode 253 of Anecdotally Speaking, Mark tells the story …
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Jun 2, 2025 • 18min
252 – The Architecture of Play – Carl Sorensen
In Episode 252, discover how a radical playground redesign during WWII transformed free play and what it teaches us about engagement, creativity, and ownership. Shawn …
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May 26, 2025 • 20min
251 – Starting an Airline with a Blackboard – Richard Branson
Discover how a missed flight led to the creation of one of the world’s most iconic airlines and what it teaches us about innovation and …
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May 19, 2025 • 14min
250 – Barbie is Born – Ruth Handler
In Episode 250 of Anecdotally Speaking, hear how Ruth Handler used a simple story to reframe scepticism and launch one of the world’s most iconic …
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