108: The Real Reason Your Story Falls Flat (And How to Fix It) | Dan Manning

Reframe to Create

We’ve all been told that storytelling is a superpower.

But what if the way you’ve been using it is aimed at the wrong target?

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Manning, who will help us reframe storytelling from something you tell to something you design—with empathy, intention, and transformation at the core.

Dan Manning is a veteran fighter pilot, entrepreneur, and master story designer who will help you take your storytelling to the next level.

If you want your stories to do more than just sound good but you want them to move people, then this one’s for you.

🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why your audience is already telling themselves a story and how to make sure it’s the right one

• The difference between storytelling and story design (and why it matters so much)

• How to avoid triggering the wrong narrative in your audience’s mind

• The power of listening, empathy, and understanding pain before you ever open your mouth

• Dan’s “Nano Story” and “Micro Story” tools for building impactful stories fast

• How to frame your story so people choose transformation

🖇️ Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danmanning

🌍 Learn more at: buildthestory.com

About my guest: Dan is the Chief Story Architect and Founder of Build The Story, where he helps founders, coaches, and consultants create short, impactful stories to sell themselves and their businesses.

Before beginning this business, Dan was an Air Force officer, fighter pilot, and military diplomat. He led the day-to-day air operations against ISIS from the Combined Air Operations Headquarters in Qatar. During that deployment, he also served as the lead operational negotiator with Russian forces in Syria. In his storytelling work, he examines how stories shape our beliefs and behaviors.

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations. Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy. This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future. It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.

Follow Joy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer