The StoryBrand Podcast

Hosted by StoryBrand.com

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Nov 2026

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Each week on the StoryBrand Podcast host Donald Miller, bestselling author of the book "Building A StoryBrand", shares strategies for creating marketing and messaging that make you stand out, connect with customers, and actually grow your business. Get the tools you need to create clear and effective messaging that grows your business at StoryBrand.com.

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November 9, 202629 min

#97: Howard Partridge: $0 to $52 Million with No Ads, Just Referrals

In the age of SEO and AEO, businesses can sometimes forget the power of a simple recommendation. In this episode of the StoryBrand Podcast, Donald Miller sits down with entrepreneur and business coach Howard Partridge to discuss his book "Referrals Made Simple" and how a few simple systems can give an outsized boost to revenue. Buy "Referrals Made Simple" here: https://www.amazon.com/Referrals-Made-Simple-Predictable-High-Quality/dp/1637635664 The StoryBrand Your Business Field Guide releases January 12, 2027. Pre-order now to get one of the first copies: https://storybrand.com/storybrand-your-business-field-guide/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=fieldguide&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast --------------------------------- The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide: The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast 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

November 4, 202631 min

#96: The Missing Piece of StoryBrand: Why I Wrote My New Book

For 10 years, StoryBrand readers have clarified their message and then asked the same question: now what? Don Miller watched it happen over and over. Clients left workshops with great sound bites, and months later their website looked exactly the same. The message got stuck in committee, and nothing shipped. In this episode, Don announces his new book, the StoryBrand Your Business Field Guide, and tells the story of why he wrote it. He was 40% through a 300-page book when he realized everything he was trying to teach fit on one sheet of paper. That page became the StoryBrand Messaging Canvas: your core sound bites, tagline, elevator pitch, and brand story on one side, and a map of every piece of marketing you'll create on the other. It's the fastest book Don has ever written, and he believes it's the most helpful. The StoryBrand Your Business Field Guide releases January 12, 2027. Pre-order now to get one of the first copies: https://storybrand.com/storybrand-your-business-field-guide/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=fieldguide&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast --------------------------------- The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide: The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast 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

November 2, 20260 min

A Quick Update—Big News Is Coming Wednesday!

Where's Don? We're switching things up on The StoryBrand Podcast this week! Podcast producer Bobby Richards drops in with a quick update: our next episode arrives Wednesday, November 4, 2026 along with a big announcement you won't want to miss. Keep an ear out. We'll see you Wednesday! ------ The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide: The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast 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

October 26, 202613 min

#95: The List of Deliverables that Every Marketer Should Fill Out

If you're in marketing you're up against a huge problem: the people you work for might not trust you because (let's face it) marketing can be very vague sometimes. But the StoryBrand Messaging Canvas fixes that. With a filled-out Canvas, your client or boss can see every step you'll walk them through and the soundbite behind every deliverable: Part 1: The Four Rules of Messaging Part 2: The Five Soundbites (Problem, Empathy, Answer, Change, End Result) Part 3: The Three Cornerstones (Tagline, Elevator Pitch, Brand Story) Part 4: The Campaign Map Part 4 is especially helpful because it keeps deliverables from getting vague: it helps you and your client stay focused on the most important pieces you need to create. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide: The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast 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

October 19, 202615 min

#94: How to Tell Your Customer's Story, Not Yours

It's a ridiculously common misconception that you should be telling people YOUR story. You shouldn't. Because in your story, the hero is..... You. Instead you should be inviting customers into a story where THEY are the hero. It's a big paradigm shift. But if you can make that shift, people will actually start paying attention to you instead of tuning out when you start telling them how many employees you have and the square footage of your warehouse. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide: The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast 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

October 16, 202614 min

#93: This Is What Makes a Great Elevator Pitch

If people can't quickly and easily understand what your product can do for them, they'll skip you and move on. But a great elevator pitch is a ridiculously effective way to solve that problem. And in this video bestselling marketer Donald Miller shares the three parts of an effective elevator pitch, gives real-world examples, and has suggestions for places to use it. Once your elevator pitch is written and memorized, you and your team can use every conversation, every website hit, and every ad view as opportunities to share your product's value. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide: The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast 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

October 5, 202624 min

#92: Exactly How to Write a Tagline That Grows Your Business

Your tagline is probably the most important piece of marketing collateral you can write. And most businesses get it wrong. Most people try to imitate the style of international brands, but since they don't have the name recognition, it's a huge waste of time and money. In this episode of the StoryBrand Podcast, bestselling marketer Donald Miller share tips and real world examples to help you write a tagline that instantly communicates your value and opens the door to new customers. If you ever wonder why some marketing instantly grabs your attention while the rest gets ignored, know that it's not about luck. It's not about a bigger budget. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide. The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast 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

September 28, 202620 min

#91: How to Explain Why Your Product is Valuable

Do you know exactly what to say when someone asks you about what you sell? If not, you need to. But it's easier than you might think. In this episode you'll learn the five short soundbites that you can use to get people to quickly understand and engage with your product. The five soundbites are: 1. Problem 2. Empathy 3. Answer 4. Change 5. End Result Once you have these soundbites figured out, it will actually be easy to use them to write your company's tagline, elevator pitch, website, and all the other marketing collateral you've been struggling to get right. If you ever wonder why some marketing instantly grabs your attention while the rest gets ignored, know that it's not about luck. It's not about a bigger budget. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide. The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast 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

September 21, 202612 min

#90: All Marketing Has to Follow these Four Rules

How do you know if your marketing is going to work? Most people fly by the seat of their pants: they rely on a gut instinct or a general consensus, but those aren't actually very reliable. They're certainly not worth risking the future of your business on. Before you put out ANY message for your business (a post, a tagline, a header) you need to make sure they follow the Four Rules of Messaging. Based on years of experience, centuries of storytelling, and successful for literally thousands of businesses, the Four Rules of Messaging keep your messaging from complicated, confusing, and ignored. Rule 1: Make it Zero Cognitive Load Rule 2: Link it to Survival Rule 3: ... Rule 4: ... ....listen to this episode of the StoryBrand podcast to learn the rules and how to implement them into your business marketing. If you ever wonder why some marketing instantly grabs your attention while the rest gets ignored, know that it's not about luck. It's not about a bigger budget. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide. The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast ---------------------- 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

September 14, 202629 min

#89: If You Are a Marketer, You Need This Tool

If you're a marketer, it's incredibly hard to actually show your value. That's not right. But if you use a StoryBrand Messaging Canvas you prove your value instantly by showing your client or boss your entire plan on a single page. The Canvas is a story framework from bestselling marketing author Donald Miller that makes sure your marketing stands out from the crowd and actually grows business. ---------------------- If you ever wonder why some marketing instantly grabs your attention while the rest gets ignored, know that it's not about luck. It's not about a bigger budget. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide. The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast ---------------------- 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