Why Your Story Isn’t What Your Audience Hears with Kendall Haven

Kendall Haven, narrative influence architect and author of StoryProof and StorySmart, joins the show to uncover why it’s not the story you tell that matters, it’s the one your audience creates for themselves.In this episode, we dive into the science behind why the only story that matters is the one your audience builds in their own mind, and how the best communicators shift from speaker-centric to audience-centric storytelling. We break down the moments when words alone fail, and how unexpected interpretations can trigger reactions you never intended, whether you’re announcing a new strategy, persuading for change, or simply trying to get a process adopted.Kendall Haven reveals the eight levers you can pull to ensure your story lands focusing on character, motive, conflict, risk, and more, backed by decades of research with everyone from NASA to the World Bank. He shares his practical process for identifying your true target audience, unpicking their real blockers, and engineering stories that move them to action (or intentional inaction).You'll discover why emotion is the driver of influence, how to road-test your message with the "green VW" experiment, and a repeatable toolkit for ensuring your stories are remembered, not just heard.GUEST BIO & LINKSKendall Haven is a narrative influence architect, author, and distinguished visiting scholar at Stanford. For two decades, he’s led the research effort for the National Storytelling Association and the International Storytelling Center, and his books, StoryProof and StorySmart, gather evidence from 16 fields of science to prove that the human brain is physically wired for story. Trusted by organisations like NASA, the World Bank, Boeing, and Aramco, Kendall Haven designs stories that shape minds, shift behaviour, and make strategy stick.Connect with Guest’s Name:Website: https://www.kendallhaven.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-haven-7390b73/ABOUT THE SHOWChief Story Officer is a podcast about how stories drive strategy, not just communication. Host Rob D. Willis talks with executives and thought leaders about the moments where the right message changed everything.Real stories. Real impact. Every two weeks.CONNECT WITH ROBWant frameworks for strategic storytelling? Download the free guide: "5 Ways to Make People Care About Your Strategy"→ subscribepage.io/robdwillisConnect with Rob:Website: robdwillis.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robdwillis Instagram: @robdwillis TikTok: @robdwillisSubscribe to Chief Story Officer wherever you listen to podcasts.