The StoryBrand Podcast

This summer, we're replaying some of the most useful episodes from the StoryBrand Podcast — episodes that can help you clarify your message so your marketing can actually drive sales. Today's replay is about cognitive load. The idea is simple: It basically means if your marketing makes people think too hard, they don't buy. This episode dives into the science behind why that is. You'll learn how high cognitive load messaging is hurting your business, and how to make your message easier to understand, remember, and act on. Donald Miller breaks down the concept of "cognitive load" and how it silently kills marketing efforts. You'll learn how to simplify your messaging, why "putting the cookies on the lower shelf" works, and how a billion-dollar company shifted gears by making its value proposition crystal clear. Whether you're running a political campaign, pitching investors, or just trying to sell more sweaters, this episode shows you how to make your message lighter, clearer, and more effective without dumbing it down. Ready to clarify your message and grow your business? Attend StoryBrand Your Business LIVE to learn how to explain what you do in a way customers instantly understand: https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop Visit StoryBrand.com for business training, messaging tools, and resources to help you grow: https://storybrand.com/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=storybrand&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_home Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storybrand Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storybrand

Most people walk into a negotiation hoping reason will win. Then the other side throws a punch, and suddenly your "win-win" mindset starts costing you money, leverage, and sleep. Whether you're dealing with a tough client, a legal threat, or a conflict that got personal fast, you need to know what kind of negotiation you're actually in. So how do you protect the relationship without getting steamrolled? In this episode, host Donald Miller sits down with John Lowry, negotiation expert and author of Negotiation Made Simple, to talk about what to do when nice stops working. John explains how to spot competitive negotiators, use power without letting your ego drive, and shift a stuck conversation toward a smarter outcome. You'll learn when to accommodate, when to compete, and when to hit pause before the whole thing blows up. Listen in to learn the skills to turn a tense negotiation into a better result. Buy "Negotiation Made Simple" here: https://www.amazon.com/Negotiation-Made-Simple-Relationships-Delivering/dp/1400336325 Ready to clarify your message and grow your business? Attend StoryBrand Your Business LIVE to learn how to explain what you do in a way customers instantly understand: https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop Visit StoryBrand.com for business training, messaging tools, and resources to help you grow: https://storybrand.com/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=storybrand&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_home Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storybrand Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storybrand

Business owners often think growth comes from doing more, offering more, and saying more. But the more you add, the easier it is to confuse customers, muddy your message, and slow down sales. When people don't understand exactly what you do or why it matters, they move on. So how do you keep your message clear while your business keeps growing? In this episode of the StoryBrand Podcast, Donald Miller talks with Tricia Sciortino, CEO of BELAY, about how the company used clear messaging to grow past $100 million in annual revenue. Tricia shares how BELAY refined its language, avoided confusing customers, and learned to position each service around the real problem it solves. Listen in to learn how the right words can help customers understand your value and buy with confidence. Need help finding the right people to grow your business? Visit:http://belaysolutions.com/donaldmiller Ready to clarify your message and grow your business? Attend StoryBrand Your Business LIVE to learn how to explain what you do in a way customers instantly understand: https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop Visit StoryBrand.com for business training, messaging tools, and resources to help you grow: https://storybrand.com/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=storybrand&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_home Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storybrand Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storybrand

It's easy to give up on people when they disappoint us, miss expectations, or don't seem to fit the role they're in. But great leaders know people are rarely just "good" or "bad" at work. More often, they're either understood or misunderstood, positioned well or placed poorly. What would change if you started looking for people's potential before writing them off? In this episode, host Donald Miller talks with Brian Hooks, CEO of Stand Together and co-author of Believe in People, about how leaders can unlock more value by helping people discover and use their gifts. They discuss building stronger teams, solving social problems from the bottom up, and why believing in people may be one of the most practical leadership decisions you can make. Listen in to learn the secret to putting people in the right role so they can do their best work. Brian's book is out now, get it here: https://www.amazon.com/Believe-People-Bottom-Up-Solutions-Top-Down/dp/1250200962 Ready to clarify your message and grow your business? Attend StoryBrand Your Business LIVE to learn how to explain what you do in a way customers instantly understand: https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop Visit StoryBrand.com for business training, messaging tools, and resources to help you grow: https://storybrand.com/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=storybrand&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_home Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storybrand Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storybrand

Remarkable customer experiences don't happen because someone on your team happened to be in a good mood. They happen when a business decides, in advance, how people should feel at every step. Without that kind of intention, even great companies become forgettable. So how do you design moments customers actually remember and share? In this episode, Donald Miller sits down with Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, to talk about how business owners can turn everyday transactions into memorable moments. Will explains why hospitality is not just for restaurants, how systems can teach your team what "right" looks like, and how his new field guide helps companies build teams, create a culture of excellence, and deliver magic in a deliberate, repeatable way. Listen in to learn how to make customers feel seen and turn that into a competitive advantage. Learn from Will: Will Guidara / Unreasonable Hospitality https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/ Unreasonable Hospitality The Field Guide https://uhthefieldguide.com Pre-Meal Newsletter https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/premeal If you want help creating messaging that drives sales, attend the next StoryBrand Your Business Live workshop for direct teaching from Don and hands-on guidance from a StoryBrand certified marketing Guide: https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop Buy the updated Building a StoryBrand 2.0 https://storybrand.com/building-a-storybrand-book-new/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=basb2.0&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=BASB2.0

Most businesses are losing sales in the first few seconds, not because the offer is weak or the product is bad, but because the message feels like work. When people have to stop and decode your language, they don't lean in. They leave. And if confusion is costing you customers before the conversation even starts, how do you fix it fast? In this week's episode, Donald Miller explains why confusion is the real reason businesses stall and how zero cognitive load messaging helps customers buy. He breaks down the "curse of knowledge," why people say "I'll think about it," and the 3 questions your messaging must answer in seconds. This episode gives you a simple framework to clarify your message so customers engage, trust you, and take action. Connect with Donald Miller on social media: https://www.instagram.com/donaldmiller/ https://www.facebook.com/donaldmillerwords http://StoryBrand.com Make your marketing and messaging work with the StoryBrand framework—and you can do that with the updated version of the book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0, now available! https://buildingastorybrand.com/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=&utm_term=cb&utm_content=SB_Framework

If you want your marketing to convert better, join us for StoryBrand Your Business Live, a workshop in Nashville TN May 7th-8th 2026 where Donald Miller will teach you how to create clear messaging and you'll get direct feedback from StoryBrand Certified Guides so you walk out confident that your message connects. These sell out fast so register now at https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop Every conversation is shaping your future. The way you show up affects whether people trust you, remember you, recommend you, or just move on. Connection isn't a soft skill on the sidelines of success. It's what opens doors. When people feel rushed, ignored, or talked at, they pull back. But when they feel heard, valued, and understood, they lean in. Trust starts to grow, and that trust can change everything from team culture to client relationships to sales. So how do you become more magnetic without sounding fake, forced, or overly polished? This week, Donald Miller shares The Magnetic Conversation Method, a simple framework for building trust in everyday conversations. He explains why connection matters as much as competence and breaks down three practical moves. Don shows how rushed energy creates tension, why curiosity builds trust, and how small phrases can make people feel safe and valued. He also shares practical tips to help you ask better questions, make people feel seen, and stay calm in hard conversations. Tune in to learn how to build trust and become someone people want to work with. Connect with Donald Miller on social media: https://www.instagram.com/donaldmiller/ https://www.facebook.com/donaldmillerwords http://StoryBrand.com Building a StoryBrand 2.0 is now available! https://buildingastorybrand.com/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=&utm_term=cb&utm_content=SB_Framework Make your marketing and messaging work with the StoryBrand framework—and you can do that with the updated version of the book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0, now available!

If you want your marketing to convert better, join us for StoryBrand Your Business Live, a workshop in Nashville TN May 7th-8th 2026 where Donald Miller will teach you how to create clear messaging and you'll get direct feedback from StoryBrand Certified Guides so you walk out confident that your message connects. These sell out fast so register now at https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop Every business wants raving fans. But most end up with something weaker: people who buy once or twice and then move on. In a competitive market, brands that try to please everyone get ignored. When a company doesn't stand for anything, customers have no reason to care. The brands people truly love give customers something bigger than a product. They create a sense of identity, belonging, and trust. People start to feel like they are part of something. And when that happens, customers stick around, tell their friends, and defend the brand. So what makes people care enough about a brand to proudly stand behind it? In this episode, Donald Miller explains the psychology behind brands that develop loyal, cult-like followings. He shares examples from brands like Milwaukee Tool and RRL to show how strong brands attract loyal customers by clearly standing for something and pushing back against an enemy. Don also looks at public figures like Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and Taylor Swift to explain how strong beliefs, clear identity, and shared rituals build devoted communities. Tune in to learn how taking a clear stand can turn your customers into loyal evangelists of your brand. Connect with Donald Miller on social media: https://www.instagram.com/donaldmiller/ https://www.facebook.com/donaldmillerwords http://StoryBrand.com Building a StoryBrand 2.0 is now available! https://buildingastorybrand.com/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=&utm_term=cb&utm_content=SB_Framework Make your marketing and messaging work with the StoryBrand framework—and you can do that with the updated version of the book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0, now available!

If you've ever struggled to explain what your business does or felt like your marketing should be converting better, join us for StoryBrand Your Business Live. It's a two-day workshop in Nashville this May 7-8, 2026 where Donald Miller will teach you how to build clear messaging that works. You'll also get direct feedback from StoryBrand Certified Guides so you walk out confident your message connects. Every workshop this year has filled up fast, and this one will too. Register now at http://storybrand.com/live What does it actually take to build a $400,000 independent marketing business without an agency, without a team, and without burning out? In this episode, Donald Miller breaks down the exact 3-phase, 15-step framework StoryBrand uses to take freelance marketers from side hustle to 6 figures and beyond. You'll learn how to use a pitch deck that shortens the sales cycle, offer high-value products inside fixed timelines, and turn one-time projects into retainers. Whether you're a StoryBrand Certified Guide, an independent marketer, or a small business owner trying to scale, this episode is your roadmap. Don covers the trust formula that turns cold leads into paying clients, how to structure your offer so clients perceive maximum value, and why delivering great work alone will never grow your business. Plus, find out why it's actually easier to run a $400K business than a $100K one. Download the free checklist at storybrand.com/guide Connect with Donald Miller on social media: https://www.instagram.com/donaldmiller/ https://www.facebook.com/donaldmillerwords http://StoryBrand.com Building a StoryBrand 2.0 is now available! https://buildingastorybrand.com/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=&utm_term=cb&utm_content=SB_Framework Make your marketing and messaging work with the StoryBrand framework—and you can do that with the updated version of the book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0, now available!

Get free marketing videos from Donald Miller every week at: https://WeeklySoundbite.com/ Most of us avoid hard conversations. We tell ourselves it's not worth the tension. We don't want to look needy or rock the boat, so we let things slide. At work, at home, with friends. But every time we stay silent, something inside us shrinks. Resentment builds, and the relationships that matter most slowly drift off course. We don't lose influence because we lack talent. We lose it because we lack the courage to say what needs to be said. And that silence costs us opportunities, connection, and even our identity. But what if your next big breakthrough is waiting on the other side of one honest conversation? In this episode, Don sits down with negotiation expert Kwame Christian to explore how difficult conversations shape our confidence, relationships, and success. Kwame shares how overcoming people-pleasing transformed his life, why respect matters more than being liked, and how negotiation is about connection, not manipulation. You'll learn why many negotiations fail before they start, how to plant seeds instead of dropping bombs, and why great negotiators focus on long-term trust over short-term wins. Listen in for a masterclass in how to protect your identity and create better outcomes, one conversation at a time. Hire Kwame at: https://kwamechristian.com Connect with Donald Miller on social media: https://www.instagram.com/donaldmiller/ https://www.facebook.com/donaldmillerwords http://StoryBrand.com Building a StoryBrand 2.0 is now available! https://buildingastorybrand.com/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=&utm_term=cb&utm_content=SB_Framework Make your marketing and messaging work with the StoryBrand framework—and you can do that with the updated version of the book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0, now available!

You might think posting daily, chasing trends, and being "everywhere" is the key to growing your personal brand. But what if the real problem isn't visibility, it's clarity? Most people trying to build a brand skip the hardest part: figuring out exactly what they stand for and how to communicate it consistently. Without that foundation, every post feels like a shot in the dark. And if your message is muddy, even the best content won't convert. So how do you build a brand that actually resonates, builds trust, and drives results? In this episode, Donald Miller sits down with "Podcast Princess" Hala Taha, host of Young and Profiting (YAP) Podcast, to unpack the messaging strategies that built her powerhouse personal brand. They dive into her step-by-step framework for personal brand clarity, how to create sticky content themes, and why it pays to stand against something just as much as you stand for something. You'll also hear how Hala used these strategies to grow a thriving business, land sponsorships, and inspire the next generation of creators. Whether you want to go big or just be "five miles famous," this episode shows you how to get known and stay known. Check out more from Hala on her website: https://youngandprofiting.com -- Click HERE to get in-person help creating your marketing at the next available StoryBrand Your Business LIVE event! Click HERE to find a StoryBrand certified marketing coach to help you grow your business! Learn how to make your marketing and messaging work using a proven framework in the updated book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0. Order it now on Amazon or wherever you buy books!

Get free marketing videos from Donald Miller every week at: WeeklySoundbite.com Leaders often inherit a culture. The problem is, some of those cultures are toxic, broken, and built on a belief system of losing. When you walk into a room where failure has been normalized, where low standards are expected and defeat is baked into the identity, it's not just about improving performance. You have to rewrite the entire story people believe about themselves. That's where many leaders fail. They try to motivate or strategize their way through it without changing the narrative. But what if turning a culture around starts with something as simple and powerful as the words you repeat? In this episode, Donald Miller breaks down how Curt Cignetti, the new head coach at Indiana, didn't just win football games—he rewired an entire organization's identity. From powerful soundbites to obsessive attention to detail, Don explores the leadership and messaging strategies that transformed Indiana from a historic underdog into a national powerhouse. If you're leading any kind of turnaround, this episode is your playbook. -- Click HERE to get in-person help creating your marketing at the next available StoryBrand Your Business LIVE event! Click HERE to find a StoryBrand certified marketing coach to help you grow your business! Learn how to make your marketing and messaging work using a proven framework in the updated book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0. Order it now on Amazon or wherever you buy books!

Get free marketing videos from Donald Miller every week at: https://WeeklySoundbite.com/ Nonprofit leaders often feel stuck between wanting to make a real impact and struggling to get people to care. With attention spans shrinking and skepticism about charitable giving growing, how do you break through the noise and actually inspire action? You're constantly trying to build trust with donors and rally support, but even when the mission is noble, the response can feel underwhelming. What if your biggest hurdle isn't the cause itself, but the way you're communicating it? In this episode, host Kyle Reed sits down with Scott Harrison, founder of Charity: Water, to uncover how a simple, clear message has raised over $1 billion and served more than 20 million people. Scott shares how he turned birthdays into global fundraisers, built trust with a 100% donation model, and why nonprofits must innovate their messaging like any modern brand. Tune in for practical messaging insights that apply to every mission-driven leader. Help Scott continue giving people access to clean water at: https://www.charitywater.org/ -- Click HERE to get in-person help creating your marketing at the next available StoryBrand Your Business LIVE event! Click HERE to find a StoryBrand certified marketing coach to help you grow your business! Learn how to make your marketing and messaging work using a proven framework in the updated book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0. Order it now on Amazon or wherever you buy books!