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The Story Lab

The Story Lab

By: Jonathan Howard
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The go-to podcast for business owners and marketers who want to harness the power of storytelling to stand out, connect, and grow their brands using the power of stories.


© 2025 The Story Lab
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Want to Be Remembered? Master These 7 Storytelling Rules Ep 9
    Oct 6 2025

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    We break down seven essentials of business storytelling—from purpose and tension to transformation and a clear call to action—so you can craft stories people remember and act on. We keep it tight, practical, and focused on moving listeners from problem to decision.

    • defining the purpose of your story and desired action
    • making it personal while staying relevant to your offer
    • opening with tension and clear stakes
    • using specific details to spark emotion
    • showing the client transformation from dark to light
    • connecting your experience to their current pain
    • cutting fluff to keep stories tight and persuasive
    • ending with a strong, explicit call to action

    Be sure to comment story on this podcast and let me know that you're interested in jumping into the story lab

    If you haven't already, please run over to your favorite podcast platform and give us a rating, share some feedback, and let us know what we're doing well and what you want to see


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    12 mins
  • How "Blowing It" Can Lead to Big Business Wins | Ep 8
    Sep 22 2025

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    The stories where we fall down or fail are the most important ones to share. These "lessons learned" moments humanize us, make us relatable, and provide valuable insights that can help others avoid similar pitfalls.

    • Failure stories are powerful connection points with your audience
    • When starting in social media consulting, I made a major presentation mistake
    • I prepared advanced strategies for an audience who didn't know what Facebook was
    • Had to throw away my presentation and start with absolute basics
    • This failure shaped my entire business approach and led to teaching opportunities
    • Sharing mistakes makes you more human and relatable
    • Your "lessons learned" can save others time and frustration
    • These stories demonstrate growth and real expertise
    • It's not about falling down but how you get back up

    Please go to your favorite podcast platform and give us a rating or write a review.

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    9 mins
  • From Sympathy Likes to Client Conversions: Crafting Stories That Sell Ep. 7
    Sep 8 2025

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    Every coach on social media has heard the advice "just share your story" - but which stories should you actually tell? Not all stories generate engagement, and even fewer convert followers into paying clients. This episode cuts through the confusion to deliver a clear framework for strategic storytelling that actually grows your coaching business.

    Discover why you need both your anchor "founder story" and smaller everyday narratives to build a memorable brand. I explain why repetition isn't annoying but essential branding - people need to see your story at least seven times before it truly sticks! Learn how to create a comprehensive story file with different versions of your key stories for various contexts and platforms.

    The visual component of storytelling often gets overlooked, but your photos and videos communicate powerful emotions without requiring lengthy explanations. I break down which story formats work best for different purposes - reels for emotional impact, graphics for clarity, and carousels for step-by-step narratives. Most importantly, you'll learn which stories actually convert clients instead of just generating sympathy likes.

    The critical difference between vulnerability and oversharing comes down to a simple question: are you sharing to get support from your audience or to offer support to them? Oversharing serves you; true storytelling serves them. Before hitting post on your next personal story, ask yourself who really benefits. Your audience doesn't need perfection, but they also don't need every detail of your personal diary.

    Ready to craft stories that position you as the expert guide who helps clients move from darkness to light? Comment on this episode to learn more about my Signature Style System and transform your social media storytelling from random sharing to strategic client attraction. It's time to make your story the one they remember - the truth that ignites the reason they stay.

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    10 mins
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