{"podcast":{"title":"Chief Story Officer","slug":"chief-story-officer-7582078","podcast_index_feed_id":7582078,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/chief-story-officer/","website_url":"https://chief-story-officer.captivate.fm","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/5c9a86ba-88fe-4340-9e9c-48db40151749/Rob-Willis-Podcast-Art-1.png","author":"Rob D. Willis","episode_count":13,"summary":"Most leaders know storytelling matters. But can stories actually be strategic? On Chief Story Officer we talk to executives and thought leaders who know that the right story at the right time can shift strategy, align teams and transform businesses. Hosted by Rob D. Willis, a strategic story producer who's helped leaders at HelloFresh, Babbel, and Raisin craft compelling stories that make strategies stick, so teams live it and clients feel it. What You'll Discover: 🎯 Real world examples of stories shifting team direction, clarifying strategy or closing deals. 🧠 Strategic frameworks to think about storytelling as part of business strategy ⚡ Practical takeaways you can use in your next meeting, pitch, or all-hands 🎙️ Diverse perspectives from CEOs, strategists, and operators who've cracked the code on strategic storytelling This isn't about crafting perfect presentations or learning narrative tricks. It's about understanding how stories shape decisions, drive alignment, and create measurable business impact. Who This Is For: Chief Story Officer is built for executives, senior leaders, and strategic thinkers who know that communication is more than a soft skill. If you're responsible…","last_synced_at":"2026-06-05T14:18:43.293670+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078"},"episode":{"title":"How Great Leaders Inspire with Stories, Not Slides, Featuring Paul Smith","slug":"how-great-leaders-inspire-with-stories-not-slides-featuring-paul-smith","published_at":"2026-05-22T04:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078/how-great-leaders-inspire-with-stories-not-slides-featuring-paul-smith","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078","url":"https://chief-story-officer.captivate.fm","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/233ba01f-4387-4a22-87c4-bb02000ca230.mp3","summary":"Paul Smith, bestselling author and business storytelling consultant, joins the show to share how surprise turns stories into unforgettable leadership tools and why the best business lessons don’t always fit on a slide. In this episode, we unpack why adrenaline-fuelled surprises make stories unforgettable, how dialogue trumps data in executive communications, and the simple shift from presenting slides to sharing moments that matter. We explore why even data-driven leaders can use storytelling to move teams, clarify strategy, and tackle scepticism head-on. Paul Smith reveals how a CEO's refusal to look at slides sparked his storytelling journey at Procter & Gamble, what over 300 CEO interviews taught him about memorable stories, and why structure matters less than authenticity. He shares the ten essential stories every leader should master, his effortless story collection method, and the science behind why surprise makes learning stick. Listeners will leave with tools to curate and organise their own stories, strategies to shift culture from “presenting” to “connecting”, and practical advice for nurturing a story-driven team. Plus, the one journaling habit that turns everyday events into your organisation’s most valuable assets. GUEST BIO & LINKS Paul Smith is a bestselling author, business storytelling consultant, and former head of consumer research for Procter & Gamble’s $6 billion global business. After 20 years in data-driven corporate roles, Paul shifted his focus to understanding what separates inspiring leaders from the rest and discovered storytelling as the missing skill. He has personally interviewed over 300 CEOs and executives across 25 countries, capturing more than 3,000 business stories and distilling them into three Amazon #1 bestsellers, in…","meta_description":"Paul Smith, bestselling author and business storytelling consultant, joins the show to share how surprise turns stories into unforgettable leadership tool…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2228,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/chief-story-officer-7582078/episodes/how-great-leaders-inspire-with-stories-not-slides-featuring-paul-smith/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078/how-great-leaders-inspire-with-stories-not-slides-featuring-paul-smith.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}