Business of Story

Your audience doesn't understand your message first—they feel it. In today's noisy world, tone is the hidden ingredient that makes your brand story resonate, build trust, and spark a real connection.
On this episode of the Business of Story, Park Howell welcomes Charly Tate, founder and Chief Kindling Officer at Kindling Works and host of the Tater Thoughts podcast. With over a decade in communications, storytelling, and marketing—and a background in music—Charly helps founders and business owners find clarity in chaos and connection through intentional, heartfelt storytelling.
Listen in to discover:
Why tone is the first thing your audience notices—even before your message
How to uncover and express your authentic brand voice
The biggest mistakes brands make with tone—and how to fix them for lasting impact
Charly shares her journey from rebuilding after real estate to launching her consultancy, the lessons she learned from Queen, and actionable steps you can take to audit your own brand's tone.
Ready to move from background noise to a story your audience can't forget? Tune in now and start making your brand truly resonate.
Learn more about Charly at kindlingworks.com.

Unlocking predictable growth starts with one thing: message market match.
In this episode, Park Howell welcomes Charles Gaudet—CEO of Predictable Profits, creator of The Predictable Profits Operating System™, and "The CEO Whisperer" (Yahoo Finance)—to reveal why so many founders get stuck working harder for less.
You'll learn how to escape the founder's trap by aligning your brand story with the real needs of your market. Charles shares how to identify your true super consumer (and why most ICPs miss the mark), the data-driven secrets to effortless lead generation, and the frameworks that have helped his clients generate over $100 million in revenue.
If you want to make marketing easier, scale beyond yourself, and build a business that thrives without your constant hustle, this episode is for you.
Listen now and unlock your message market match.

Discover how to make your message truly heard with Dan Manning, former fighter pilot, speechwriter, and military diplomat turned professional storyteller. In this episode, Dan reveals his simple, repeatable "Before, Change, After, Meaning" framework that helps founders and executives communicate ideas that move people to action.
Learn why understanding your audience's pain is the secret to engagement, how scenes—not just stories—create connection, and what military storytelling can teach you about clarity and impact. Dan's clients have raised millions in investment, sold millions in products, and landed dream jobs at Fortune 10 companies—all by using stories that stick.
If you want actionable steps to clarify your message, inspire your audience, and drive real results, this episode is for you.
Tune in to hear practical frameworks, high-stakes lessons, and storytelling secrets that will transform the way you communicate and lead.

Unlocking Post-Click Success: How to Convert Clicks into Customers with Shamir Duverseau
Are you pouring budget into digital ads, getting plenty of clicks—but not enough conversions? You're not alone. Most marketers focus on getting the click, but the real opportunity comes after.
In this episode of the Business of Story, Park Howell sits down with Shamir Duverseau—founder of Smart Panda Labs and former marketing leader at Disney, Marriott, Southwest Airlines, and NBC Universal—to reveal why the post-click experience is the most overlooked (and profitable) part of your marketing funnel.
Shamir shares his journey from running campaigns for iconic brands to building a framework that helps businesses turn website visitors into loyal customers. You'll learn:
The psychology behind why prospects vanish after the click
How to align marketing, IT, and product teams for seamless digital journeys
Simple tweaks that can dramatically increase your conversions
Proven strategies for building trust and removing friction on your site
How to use research and feedback to continually improve your results
Whether you're a startup founder or an enterprise marketer, you'll discover actionable steps to transform your website into a conversion engine and get more from the traffic you already have.

Finding the Right Story for Your Audience with Lee Schneider
Are you telling your story in a way that truly connects with your best customers? Most businesses try to be everything to everyone, but the real magic happens when you focus on the 20% of your audience that delivers 80% of your results.
In this episode of the Business of Story, host Park Howell welcomes Lee Schneider—founder of Red Cup Agency, award-winning podcast producer, USC professor, and veteran storyteller whose credits include Good Morning America, Dateline NBC, and documentaries for the History Channel, Court TV, and more.
What you'll learn:
How to identify and tell the right story for your specific audience
The three essential stories every business needs to win trust and drive action
Practical ways to test and refine your narrative for real-world impact
Whether you're a startup founder, entrepreneur, or creative professional, you'll discover actionable storytelling techniques to help you stand out, build credibility, and grow your business.
About Lee Schneider:
Lee draws on decades of experience in media-making, screenwriting, and education to help leaders transform complex concepts into projects that get funded. He's also the creator of the Storyline Sessions masterclass and a leading voice in podcast production.
Related Episodes:
The Writer's Journey with Christopher Vogler
How to Build a Story Library for Your Brand
Making Your Customer the Hero
Connect with Lee:
Get Lee's free storytelling starter kit at redcupagency.com/storybusiness