Rephonic
Artwork for How Stories Happen

How Stories Happen

Jay Acunzo
Storytelling
Creativity
Marketing
Public Speaking
Chase Jarvis
Leadership
Personal Development
Calm As a New KPI
Entrepreneurship
Social Media
Crypto Confidential
The Good Enough Job
Scott Monty
Friendships
Rand Fishkin
Customer Experience
Business Development
Innovation
Women's Relationships
Public Relations

Become a stronger public speaker and storyteller. You've got plenty of competence. What you need next is resonance. On the show, go inside the process of exceptional communicators and how they craft their ideas, stories, and speeches to connect. You'll walk away with inspiration and practical frameworks to apply today. Hosted by Jay Acunzo, speaking and storytelling advisor.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes63Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessMarketingEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for How Stories Happen

Latest Episodes

Thanks to the ubiquity of AI, this is the last great advantage.

To get more ideas like this, subscribe to my newsletter→

PS: As mentioned in the episode, please expect a name change and cover art change for the show soon. Can't wait for things to c... more

The way we write pitches is broken compared to what actually works, all because of one nuanced but critical reality:

We're good at describing our talks. We're bad at describing why they'd BOOK US TO SPEAK.

But isn't that the point?

In this short... more

There is a very big difference between having a good idea and actually owning it publicly. In this episode, a means to re-think your approach to crafting and publishing your content, no matter the channel or medium. The goal is to both clarify your t... more

It's been a good long while since I've had a good long rant.

*Cracks knuckles.*

Let us begin.

Join the next cohort of Design My Signature Talk (starts Feb. 23, 2026)→

Subscribe to my newsletter→

***

ABOUT ME, JAY ACUNZO

I work with entrepreneu... more

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Recent Guests

Brian Piper
Marketing consultant, author, and skydiving expert
Self-employed
Episode: Improving the signature speech of a marketing entrepreneur
David Burkus
Bestselling author of five books and popular Ted Talk speaker.
Episode: David Burkus: Stories about others should still say something about YOU
David C. Baker
Bestselling author and expert in marketing and positioning
Punctuation
Episode: David C. Baker: Clarity comes *in* the articulation, not before it
Michelle Florendo
A Stanford-educated decision engineer and ICF-certified executive coach, specializing in teaching decision-making frameworks and coaching executives.
Powered by Decisions
Episode: Coaching call: Jay develops the premise of an entrepreneur and coach
Jordan Geary
Emmy Award-winning producer and storytelling expert
Sesame Workshop
Episode: Jordan Geary: Lessons from Sesame Workshop and an Emmy-Award Winning Producer
Neen James
Leadership strategist and keynote speaker
Neen James Communications
Episode: Neen James: how to create visual frameworks to elevate your business
Chris Ducker
Serial entrepreneur, founder of Youpreneur, and author of 'The Long-Haul Leader.'
Youpreneur
Episode: Chris Ducker: why you need a catalyst story to increase influence
Tom Webster
Partner at Sounds Profitable and author of The Audience Is Listening.
Sounds Profitable
Episode: Tom Webster: podcasting's top researcher on how to tell the story of numbers
Erin Halper
Founder of The Upside
The Upside
Episode: Erin Halper: What consultants who share content need to realize

Host

Jay Acunzo
Host of How Stories Happen; speaking and storytelling advisor

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 92 ratings
  • Exceptional Experience

    Jay not only provides an exceptional value to his listeners, but as a guest, it was an exceptional experience for me!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    neenjames
    United States7 months ago
  • March 7th, 2025

    So this is going to sound dramatic, but listening to that particular podcast changed my projection and ultimately my life! Sometimes you just hear the right thing at the right time and it blows your mind. Love this podcast. Thanks for sharing your insights Jay!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NicoleK1013
    Canadaa year ago
  • Worth every minute you listen

    First up - you should know I’m not into podcasts. Listening to learn isn’t my strong point. So when a podcast grabs and more importantly keeps my attention - I pay attention. This podcast is quality throughout from sound production, guest selection, the insightful questions Jay asks.

    You will always take away something that makes you better at telling stories.

    Love your work Jay! 😀

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michelle J Raymond
    Australiaa year ago
  • I’m obsessed!

    I’ve been bingeing this podcast since I discovered it, little under 1 month ago. I love Jay’s style, the production, the soundtracks, but MOST of all the analysis of stories. Each episode brings new guests who regale their signature stories, followed by keen observations and discussion on what worked and where the magic happens. It’s an intellectual listen and it goes way deeper into storytelling and public speaking than I’ve heard anywhere else. Each episode is packed full of gold. I’ve no... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ellabellacat
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Inspired Storytelling

    Thank you, Jay, for bringing together so many wonderful professionals. As an artist and online gallery owner, I know the importance of stories and how they connect us all. The episodes help me enhance storytelling skills for both myself, my collectors and my fellow artists.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jennifer Steck, Artist
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Production quality and pacing are consistently strong, making complex ideas easier to apply.
Listeners praise the host's thoughtful questioning and deep dives into storytelling craft.
Episodes are described as deeply insightful and highly actionable for business communication.
Guests are high-caliber with practical, actionable insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#7
Netherlands/Business/Marketing
Apple Podcasts
#133
Finland/Business/Marketing
Apple Podcasts
#153
Belgium/Business/Marketing
Apple Podcasts
#185
Netherlands/Business
Apple Podcasts
#191
Denmark/Business/Marketing
Apple Podcasts
#197
India/Business/Marketing

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Improving the signature speech of a marketing entrepreneur
Q: What changes have you seen in your presentation style?
Brian noted significant improvements in clarity and conciseness, now making his presentations more engaging and effective.
Improving the signature speech of a marketing entrepreneur
Q: How did you internalize that material?
Brian emphasized that prior guidance helped him to deliver his story more cohesively, allowing him to focus on impactful moments.
David C. Baker: Clarity comes *in* the articulation, not before it
Q: Why write this piece?
Baker explains that he wants to model good behavior in communication and connect with others authentically.
David C. Baker: Clarity comes *in* the articulation, not before it
Q: What do you see that communication style doing to the service provider?
Baker discusses the fear of failure that leads professionals to not be themselves, which ultimately backfires and brings them closer to failure.
David C. Baker: Clarity comes *in* the articulation, not before it
Q: Where do you suppose that came from and why does it matter?
Baker reflects on his desire for authenticity in communication, noting that he gets frustrated when he feels others aren't being real with him.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About How Stories Happen

What is How Stories Happen about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on practical storytelling and public speaking, featuring interviews with authors, marketers, educators, and industry veterans who unpack how to craft ideas, speeches, and content with resonance. Episodes frequently explore frameworks, storytelling structures, and the craft of engaging an audience, often tying concepts to real-world business outcomes like branding, leadership, and keynote speaking. Unique strengths include deep-dive analyses of storytelling mechanics, actionable premises and IP building, and guest perspectives spanning marketing, entrepreneurship, and media production, making it valuable for listeners who want tangible ways to improve communication and influence.

Overall, it stands out for blending rigorou... more

Where can I find podcast stats for How Stories Happen?

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How many listeners does How Stories Happen get?

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What are the audience demographics for How Stories Happen?

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How many subscribers and views does How Stories Happen have?

To see how many followers or subscribers How Stories Happen has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to How Stories Happen?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How Stories Happen:

1. Deep Questions with Cal Newport
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. A Bit of Optimism
4. Hard Fork
5. Freakonomics Radio

How many episodes of How Stories Happen are there?

How Stories Happen launched 2 years ago and published 63 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact How Stories Happen?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for How Stories Happen?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for How Stories Happen from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for How Stories Happen?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of How Stories Happen. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on How Stories Happen?

Recent guests on How Stories Happen include:

1. Brian Piper
2. David Burkus
3. David C. Baker
4. Michelle Florendo
5. Jordan Geary
6. Neen James
7. Chris Ducker
8. Tom Webster

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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