Rising Tides Live – The Power Of Storytelling With Dean LaBay

·57 min·5 clips

A real estate deal nearly collapsed when the seller was being chased by authorities—Elizabeth explains why this hidden story builds trust.

Dean LaBay hosts his first podcast episode from New Orleans, joined by community members from the Rising Tide network who believe in mutual support. This live episode explores how personal storytelling builds connection and business in the digital age. Guests include content creator Elizabeth Doss, branding consultant Richard from the UK, entrepreneur Hilde, Cali Barbecue Media's Kyle, restaurateur Matty Smokes, and writer Eric. Elizabeth Doss explained that her family's tradition of sharing funny stories, like the "googly eye" incident at Claire's, taught her the power of specific narratives. She helps social media clients by recording their authentic stories, citing a realtor whose deal almost collapsed because authorities were pursuing the seller. Richard uses his visit to the UK's House of Lords as a story to inspire clients and employs a scene from the film *The Founder* to simplify complex business processes. Hilde runs four businesses, including promotional sales and a dog-cuddling service, and lost a $40,000 order despite daily educational videos. Kyle shared his journey of learning gardening through online content during COVID and now runs an Instagram channel documenting both successes and failures. Matty Smokes discussed the unpredictable nature of social media, where a casual video of cooking burgers outperforms a carefully produced reel. Eric revealed that recent personal hardships have shown him his "messy story" might help others, emphasizing community. Dean reflected on how sharing his own difficult period in a nursing home resonated with listeners facing similar challenges. A key insight is that the most engaging stories are often specific, personal, and include failures, not just victories. Elizabeth noted clients often pivot to generalizations, but the "juicy" details build real trust. Richard and Kyle both stressed the importance of showing the "crap" early attempts and learning process, not just polished final results. The group agreed that storytelling's impact is unpredictable; a well-crafted post may flop while a spontaneous one goes viral. Matty Smokes highlighted the practical challenge of capturing authentic moments in a busy restaurant, suggesting incentivizing staff to gather footage. Hilde's experience demonstrated that consistent content doesn't guarantee it reaches the right audience, emphasizing the need for strategic repetition. Eric concluded that every personal experience, no matter how jagged, can fit like a puzzle piece into someone else's story and encourage them. The tone is warm, conversational, and supportive, reflecting a close-knit community sharing experiences and encouragement. The style is a free-flowing, roundtable discussion where each participant offers personal anecdotes and professional insights. This episode is perfect for small business owners, content creators, and marketers seeking authentic ways to connect with their audience through personal narrative. Listeners who prefer highly structured, data-driven content or are averse to casual, community-focused conversations might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A live debut that leaves room for the rough edges.

Dean LaVey's live hosting debut keeps its focus on community, failure, and the value of saying what did not work. The episode is at its best when it stays concrete: garden mishaps, early rough cuts, and the contrast between a messy start and a polished result.

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Why you'd press play

You want a live, human conversation about storytelling, failure, and community.

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