Stories With Traction

Hosted by Matt Zaun

Business

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Episodes

203

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Stories With Traction Podcast was created to empower leaders to elevate their businesses through the art of strategic storytelling. By engaging clients and inspiring team members, leaders can significantly impact the world around them. Each episode offers insights into storytelling, marketing, sales, company culture, and leadership, providing practical tools to drive growth and influence positive change. Tune in to transform your approach and lead with purpose.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 16, 2026Episode 20437 min

#204: Why Your Team Still Doesn’t Get It

SHOW NOTES:In this episode of Stories With Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with Lee Caraher to unpack one of the most important and misunderstood skills in leadership: communication.Lee shares why so many leaders mistakenly assume that because they said something once, their team understood it. She explains why head nods can be misleading, why repetition is essential, and why “they should know this already” is one of the biggest red flags in organizational communication.Matt and Lee also discuss how leaders can communicate more effectively across multiple channels, why AI should support communication rather than replace it, and how vulnerability can strengthen trust when used wisely. This conversation is packed with practical insights for leaders who want to reduce confusion, build stronger teams, and communicate in a way that actually lands.LEE BIO:Lee Caraher helps businesses and people achieve their goals through communication. She is the founder of Double Forte and the author of Millennials & Management and The Boomerang Principle. Lee works with leaders and organizations to improve communication, strengthen teams, and build cultures where people can thrive.MATT BIO:Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker, storyteller, and strategic communication advisor who helps leaders and organizations use storytelling to build trust, inspire action, and create stronger connections.Through keynote speaking, workshops, consulting, and his podcast Stories With Traction, Matt equips executives, sales teams, and leaders with practical ways to communicate more effectively and more memorably.

June 2, 2026Episode 20344 min

#203: The Hidden Psychology of Money

SHOW NOTES:In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with DonJay Rice for a thoughtful and practical conversation about money behaviors, identity, fear, family, and emotional health.DonJay explains that unhealthy money behaviors are rarely just about dollars and cents. They often reveal something deeper: fear, grief, control, guilt, or a misplaced sense of safety and identity. Together, Matt and DonJay unpack how money can quietly become a coping mechanism, how success can mask deeper emotional struggles, and why some of the most “financially responsible” habits can actually be destructive.They also explore retirement, over-saving, workaholism, financial enabling of children, and how unresolved childhood experiences can shape adult money patterns. DonJay shares pieces of his own story growing up in poverty, losing his mother at age 12, and becoming intensely driven by fear, and explains how that shaped his relationship with work, success, and security.This episode is a powerful reminder that money is never just about money. It is often tied to identity, safety, relationships, grief, and purpose.

May 26, 2026Episode 20234 min

#202: What Makes an Event Unforgettable

SHOW NOTES:In this episode of Stories With Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with Mark Mallchok of Brella for a fascinating conversation about what actually makes an event memorable.Mark shares why great events are about far more than logistics, schedules, and content. He explains how the best events create real human connection, intentional engagement, and unforgettable experiences that people carry with them long after they leave the room.Matt and Mark unpack the psychology of audience attention, why too many events fail by cramming in too much content, and how planners can achieve stronger ROI by focusing on transformation rather than just information. They also explore why location matters so much, how every 10 minutes of an event should include an engagement shift, and why participants need to feel like active contributors, not passive spectators.If you care about leadership, communication, audience engagement, conferences, or creating experiences that truly resonate, this episode is packed with practical insight.

May 19, 2026Episode 20142 min

#201: Fearless Pricing

SHOW NOTES:In this episode of Stories With Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with Casey Brown, pricing expert, speaker, and author of Fearless Pricing, to unpack one of the biggest profit leaks in business: discounting too quickly, too deeply, and too often.Casey explains why most pricing decisions are driven by fear, why so many sales teams negotiate against themselves before the customer ever pushes back, and why underpricing is often less about strategy and more about mindset.This conversation explores the psychology behind pricing, how value should shape your pricing decisions, why customers often say “too expensive” when they really mean something else, and how to communicate price with far more confidence.If you lead a company, sell a product, run a service business, or ever find yourself hesitating before quoting your price, this episode is packed with insight.

May 14, 2026Episode 20053 min

Episode 200: The Story Behind the Storyteller

SHOW NOTES:For this special 200th episode of Stories With Traction, we’re flipping the script.Instead of Matt Zaun interviewing a guest, GT Freeman of TLC Connections sits down with Matt for a conversation about leadership, communication, and the transformative power of story.Matt shares why storytelling is not just a nice addition to leadership communication; it is one of the most powerful tools leaders have for building trust, creating clarity, and inspiring action. He opens up about his own unlikely journey into public speaking, from intense social anxiety and a disastrous early political speech to becoming a sought-after speaker who has delivered talks across the country.Together, GT and Matt explore how stories help leaders move beyond data dumps and directives to create real connections. They discuss the structure of compelling stories, why reps and discomfort matter so much in becoming a better communicator, and how storytelling can shape company culture, strengthen sales, and deepen leadership effectiveness.Matt also shares a deeply personal story that reshaped the direction of his business and his understanding of human connection.Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, teacher, entrepreneur, or parent, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you communicate and why stories remain one of the most human, memorable, and motivating tools we have.

May 5, 2026Episode 19939 min

#199: Your CRM Isn’t Broken. Your Sales Process Is.

SHOW NOTES:In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Jason Kramer of Cultivize to talk about sales process, CRM systems, AI, follow-up, and the costly mistakes companies make when they try to scale without a clear process. Jason shares how businesses can simplify the path from lead to close, reduce wasted time, and create more profitable systems for both sales and customer management.The conversation also dives into Jason’s entrepreneurial journey, what he learned from building and selling a marketing agency, and why having the right experts around you can dramatically change the trajectory of a business.

April 28, 2026Episode 19838 min

#198: What Honduras Taught Him About Business, Gratitude, and Growth

SHOW NOTES:In this episode of Stories With Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with Nick Martin of MainStreet IT for a conversation about leadership, customer experience, technology, gratitude, and the realities of building a business from the ground up.Nick shares why so many people dislike working with IT teams, what makes MainStreet IT different, and how great customer experience is built in the margins.He also opens up about his early dreams of playing for Penn State and the Philadelphia Eagles, the life-changing impact of serving in Honduras, and how that experience reshaped his worldview.The conversation also explores entrepreneurship, sales, AI, cybersecurity, and the role technology should play inside a business. Throughout the episode, Nick offers practical wisdom on how leaders can think more clearly about service, teamwork, risk, and perspective.

April 21, 2026Episode 19735 min

#197: Why Me? to Why Not Me?

SHOW NOTES:In this episode of Stories With Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with Jennifer “Jiff” Chapman for a powerful conversation about transition, identity, healing, self-leadership, and the mindset shifts that help people move from feeling stuck to living with greater clarity and confidence.Jiff shares her personal story of success in corporate sales, the devastating health crisis that changed everything, and how that experience ultimately led her into coaching, speaking, and helping others navigate major life transitions. This episode is deeply honest and full of practical takeaways for anyone going through a difficult season.

April 14, 2026Episode 19644 min

#196: Communication, Curiosity, and Working Through Unspoken Tension

SHOW NOTES:In this episode of Stories With Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with Dave Turano for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, communication, creativity, discipline, and the hidden tensions that shape teams and families.Dave is an executive advisor and situational sounding board for leadership teams, helping companies build more self-directed teams and stronger communicators. From difficult conversations to creative idea generation, Dave shares how leaders can become more effective in the moment, especially when tensions are high and the path forward is unclear.The conversation also delves into Dave’s personal story, including growing up in a dysfunctional home, learning to navigate chaos, and turning those hard-earned lessons into tools that now help leaders and teams communicate more effectively.

April 7, 2026Episode 19557 min

#195: Fear, Inspiration, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves

SHOW NOTES:In this episode of Stories With Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with executive coach, keynoter, author, and Vistage Chair Danielle Baldwin for an honest conversation about inspiration, identity, and fear.Danielle shares how losing titles in her life (mother, daughter, corporate leader, wife) forced her to confront her true identity, and how that journey shaped her work helping CEOs and executives become more inspired, empathetic leaders.You’ll hear a powerful breakdown of the difference between “inspired by” and “inspired to,” why inspiration at work is so rare, and how leaders can intentionally create conditions where people don’t just show up, but run through walls for the mission.Check out Danielle’s book, Sparking Greatness: Harnessing the Power of Inspiration to Lead Boldly and Live Fully here, and website here.