How Stories Happen cover art

How Stories Happen

How Stories Happen

Written by: Jay Acunzo
Listen for free

About this listen

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.Unthinkable Media Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • The metaphor and the magic: My take on AI in 2026
    Feb 16 2026

    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 entrepreneurs, execs, and teams on the journey from competent to resonant. To do that, I help transform your thinking into clear, captivating ideas, speeches, and IP. Stop chasing attention. Become the one others seek.

    I’m a former marketing leader at Google and HubSpot and globally touring speaker and author. I've spent 20 years building the exact thought leadership I now help clients create—as a practitioner-peer, not a coach with templates.

    Work with me 1:1, book me to speak, or explore free resources at jayacunzo.com

    Don't market more. Matter more.

    Think resonance over reach.

    Don't be the best. Be their favorite.


    ***


    ENJOY THE SHOW? PLEASE SAY THANKS!


    Leave a review on Apple Podcasts


    Leave a rating on Spotify

    Thanks for listening!


    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • My favorite story structure to captivate and teach
    Feb 9 2026

    When you give a presentation of any kind, you don't actually have a captive audience. YOU need to captivate. This is a story structure that can both captivate your audience AND deliver the message or lesson they most need (and you need to distribute to do your job).

    As mentioned, there are just a few spaces left in the next cohort of my public speaking accelerator. Grab yours here:

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

    ***


    ABOUT ME, JAY ACUNZO

    I work with entrepreneurs, execs, and teams on the journey from competent to resonant. To do that, I help transform your thinking into clear, captivating ideas, speeches, and IP. Stop chasing attention. Become the one others seek.

    I’m a former marketing leader at Google and HubSpot and globally touring speaker and author. I've spent 20 years building the exact thought leadership I now help clients create—as a practitioner-peer, not a coach with templates.

    Work with me 1:1, book me to speak, or explore free resources at jayacunzo.com

    Don't market more. Matter more.

    Think resonance over reach.

    Don't be the best. Be their favorite.


    ***


    ENJOY THE SHOW? PLEASE SAY THANKS!


    Leave a review on Apple Podcasts


    Leave a rating on Spotify

    Thanks for listening!


    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Improving the signature speech of a marketing entrepreneur
    Jan 9 2026

    Go inside inside my public speaking accelerator, Design My Signature Talk, with this clip from our final group call.

    Watch the full video of this episode→

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

    In this episode, hear Brian Piper deliver his brand new signature story as a reliable opener of his brand new signature talk that we developed in the cohort. He used this material to get 3 brand new client leads from his first attempt.

    Brian is a marketing consultant and an author who works with people in higher ed. He helps them embrace AI and become more analytical and data led. But for years, he struggled with developing a SIGNATURE speech, instead building new talks every talk. He also struggled to draw from a major source of ideas and identity and stories in his life, refusing to put that material on stage -- a problem we navigated in the cohort to finally crack the code on a stronger opening story for him.

    ***


    ABOUT ME, JAY ACUNZO

    I work with entrepreneurs, execs, and teams on the journey from competent to resonant. To do that, I help transform your thinking into clear, captivating ideas, speeches, and IP. Stop chasing attention. Become the one others seek.

    I’m a former marketing leader at Google and HubSpot and globally touring speaker and author. I've spent 20 years building the exact thought leadership I now help clients create—as a practitioner-peer, not a coach with templates.

    Work with me 1:1, book me to speak, or explore free resources at jayacunzo.com

    Don't market more. Matter more.

    Think resonance over reach.

    Don't be the best. Be their favorite.


    ***


    ENJOY THE SHOW? PLEASE SAY THANKS!


    Leave a review on Apple Podcasts


    Leave a rating on Spotify

    Thanks for listening!

    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
No reviews yet