Storytelling
Storytelling is the heartbeat of every great podcast. It’s what turns information into emotion, and ideas into something people actually remember.
In this five-part series, Studio 1878 founder Ed Barker unpacks how storytelling really works in brand podcasts - not as a buzzword, but as a practical creative framework. Each episode focuses on one step in the process:
Why Storytelling Works – How story helps people feel, remember, and act.
Story Shapes – The five structures that give your episodes rhythm and focus.
Listening for Story – How to spot story moments while recording.
Shaping in the Edit – Turning raw tape into narrative that flows.
Making Story a Habit – Building storytelling into your creative process.
Whether you’re a marketer, producer, or brand leader, this series gives you the tools to make your show more human, more structured, and more memorable.
👉 Watch the series on below and subscribe to our Youtube channel for more.
Why Storytelling Matters
If you work in brand, content, or comms, you’ve heard “tell better stories” a hundred times. But what does that actually mean in practice? This episode breaks it down - not as theory, but as a practical tool for podcasters and marketers who want to make their shows unforgettable.
Creating Story Shapes
Five simple story structures you can use to make your podcast episodes sharper and more memorable. From the Hero’s Journey to the Before–After–Bridge formula, you’ll learn how to give every episode a clear arc, emotional hook, and satisfying payoff whether you’re telling founder stories, case studies, or solo insights.
Finding the Story in the Recording
How to listen like a storyteller while you’re recording - the difference between simply running the mic and shaping a narrative in real time. Whether you’re hosting a brand podcast, interviewing guests, or recording solo, learning to hear story moments as they happen is one of the most powerful production skills you can develop.
Shaping Your Story in the Edit
How do you shape a story in post-production? Even if you record a great conversation, or lay down a strong solo take, the story doesn’t always reveal itself right away. Editing is not just about cutting the umms and tightening the audio. It’s about revealing the story shape that was always sitting underneath the conversation.
Making Storytelling a Habit
This episode wraps up our 5-part Storytelling series, where we’ve looked at why storytelling works, how to structure it, how to hear it while recording, and how to shape it in the edit. If you’re building a brand podcast and want to make storytelling part of your process this episode brings it all together. You can find the full series on our YouTube channel and above, and each episode will help you sound more human, more intentional, and more worth listening to.