The Storytelling Lab

“You can’t even begin to talk about results or impact until you actually put something out into the world.” — Kristen Sweeney

What if the real problem with your content isn’t execution, but alignment?

In this episode, Kristen Sweeney, founder of Every Little Word, breaks down the invisible work behind great communication: messaging frameworks, internal clarity, operational discipline, and the codified point of view that most companies skip.

We explore why B2B brands struggle to articulate what they actually believe, how regulated industries can differentiate without breaking compliance, and why thought leadership without a clear stance is just noise.

Kristen also shares how her background in theater shaped her confidence in high-level conversations and why content operations, not just creativity, determine results. If your content feels scattered, generic, or reactive, this episode is your blueprint for fixing it at the foundation.

In this episode, you will learn to:
Clarify and codify your point of view before producing a single piece of content
Extract real insight from subject matter experts instead of settling for surface-level answers
Build messaging foundations that reduce friction across teams and client communication
Differentiate in crowded B2B and regulated industries without sacrificing accuracy
Move from informational content to perspective-driven leadership

Follow Kristen Sweeney:
Website → https://www.everylittleword.com
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristensweeney

For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:
Website → https://rainbennett.com
Podcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Or follow along at:
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“There is no version of storytelling that does not become therapy.” — Spade Robinson

What if the difference between an average story and a great one has less to do with talent or skill and more to do with self-awareness?

In this episode, screenwriter and story consultant Spade Robinson breaks down why structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s the foundation that allows it to thrive.

We explore how unforgiveness shows up on the page, why most writers avoid the emotional core of their work, and how discipline in story design eliminates writer’s block.

Spade also shares hard-earned insights from Sundance and the development world about the changing industry, why writers must think of themselves as studios, and how short-form storytelling and brand partnerships may shape the next era of film.

If you care about story craft, emotional truth, and building a sustainable creative career, this conversation will challenge you in all the right ways.

In this episode, you will learn to:
Strengthen your stories by confronting the internal human question driving them
Use structure as a creative advantage rather than a limitation
Eliminate writer’s block by building a strong outline before drafting
Understand art and commerce must work together in today’s industry
Position yourself as a creator-studio in an attention-driven economy

Follow Spade Robinson on:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/spaderobinson
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/spade-robinson-5588a231/
Website → https://www.atlantafilmproject.com/

And for more storytelling tips and tricks:
Visit → https://rainbennett.com or https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Or, follow along at...
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The real story is always in the subtext.” — Tal Lazar

Most people lose their audience the moment they start explaining.

In this episode, cinematographer, educator, and author Tal Lazar breaks down why the real story is always in the subtext, and why emotion beats information when you’re trying to persuade, pitch, teach, or lead.

We talk about why leaders default to “feature lists,” how filmmakers create coherence across dozens of departments, and why there’s no such thing as a formula for “coverage” if you’re actually telling a story. The throughline is simple: focus on the transformation your audience wants, not the impressive details you’re tempted to showcase.

If you’ve been chasing better tools, better tactics, or better talking points, this conversation will pull you back to the skill that makes everything else work.

In this episode, you will learn to:
Shift your messaging from “what it is” to the transformation it creates for your audience
Use subtext intentionally so your communication lands emotionally, not just intellectually
Spot the fear-driven habit of over-explaining and replace it with story-first clarity
Lead like a director by creating one coherent interpretation across many moving parts
Build cinematic impact with fewer resources by knowing what your audience is actually feeling

🔗 Follow Tal on:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/talazar
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/talazar
Website → https://cinematicimpact.com

📚 For more storytelling tips and tricks:
Visit → https://rainbennett.com
Or → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Vision is what inspires your people. Mission is what activates and organizes them.” —Rain Bennett

What good is a bold vision if you don’t have a mission to back it up?

In this solo episode, Rain Bennett breaks down why mission is the most misunderstood and most essential piece of a brand’s storytelling system.

Using examples from WeWork’s collapse and Airbnb’s legendary collaboration with Pixar, Rain explains how to turn abstract ideas into real-world action through a story-driven mission.

If your company struggles to align teams, inspire customers, or scale with clarity, the problem may not be your vision. It may be the lack of a narrative-driven mission.

This episode will teach you how to build one that works, aligns, and lasts.

In this episode, you will learn to:
Find the gap between vision and mission that leads to brand drift
Craft a mission that functions like a plotline for your business
Align internal teams and stakeholders around a shared narrative
Use customer journey mapping as a story structure
Translate lofty goals into repeatable action through story

📚 For more storytelling tips and tricks:
Visit → https://rainbennett.com
Or → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Or following along on...
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Your stories are building bricks of belief in your brand." — Shane Lukas

How do you sell something your customer can’t see, touch, or fully understand?

Shane Lukas has spent decades helping professional service providers do exactly that by using story as a tool to create trust, clarity, and emotional resonance.

In this episode, Rain and Shane explore how narrative makes “invisible” value tangible. From accountants and coaches to consultants and creatives, anyone who delivers a process or service will benefit from Shane’s simple but powerful storytelling framework.

Together, they discuss the importance of transformation-driven messaging, the psychology of pre-sale belief, and how to guide your prospects with authentic case studies that show, not just tell, what you really do. This is a masterclass in making your message matter.

In this episode, you will learn to:
Sell intangible services by framing the emotional outcome, not the technical details
Guide potential clients through stories that build trust before you pitch
Use transformation case studies to prove your value without overselling
Understand why people buy with emotion, not logic—even in B2B
Reframe your sales process as a storytelling journey

🔗 Follow Shane on:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/agreatidea
Website → https://www.agreatidea.com
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-lukas/

📚 And for more storytelling tips and tricks:
Visit → https://rainbennett.com or https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com

Or follow...
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer
Twitter → https://twitter.com/rainbennett
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.