Rain Bennett, award-winning filmmaker and fractional Chief Storytelling Officer, joins the show to discuss why storytelling isn't just marketing—it's strategy.

In this conversation, we explore what a Chief Storytelling Officer actually does, how Nike used story listening to beat Adidas in the 1970s, and why misalignment kills trust faster than bad products. Rain shares his framework for building a brand narrative that guides every decision from product development to sales pitches.

You'll walk away with a vision story exercise (resilient, inclusive, service-oriented), an understanding of how storytelling creates virality through community, and one framework for making sure every department tells the same story.

KEY TOPICS

• What is a Chief Storytelling Officer and why companies need one [01:00]
• How Nike's Nelson Ferris built shoes by listening to high school track athletes [14:00]
• The ROI of storytelling: long-term growth vs. short-term metrics [08:00]
• Why misalignment between departments destroys trust [11:30]
• The three tests every vision story must pass [30:00]

Rain Bennett is an award-winning filmmaker, author of "Chief Storytelling Officer," and host of the Storytelling Lab podcast. He's conducted over 1,000 interviews in 20 years and now embeds himself in companies as a fractional Chief Storytelling Officer.

Connect with Rain:

• Website: rainbennett.com
• Book: "Chief Storytelling Officer" [coming soon]
• Podcast: The Storytelling Lab

Chief Story Officer is a podcast about how stories drive strategy, not just communication. Host Rob D. Willis talks with executives and thought leaders about the moments where the right message changed everything.

Real stories. Real impact. Every two weeks.

CONNECT WITH ROB

• Website: robdwillis.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robdwillis/
• Instagram: @robdwillis