Story Building Experiences with Bill Blankschaen

You probably know that there are a lot of podcasts out there to listen to. By one estimate, as of January 2026 there are 4.58 million podcasts. That’s a lot of people churning out content that runs the gamut of topics and guests. If you look at the podcast stats, you also will see that nearly one-third of podcasts are 20-40 minutes in length.  Which makes Experience by Design stand out in a somewhat unique way in terms of the length of my conversation with guests. Only about 15% of podcasts last an hour or more.  So why go for an hour when most podcasters go for a much shorter length? Stories. Part of my goal here at ExD is to hear the stories that people have to offer, to learn about the people behind the products and offerings. I like to think about it like “Humans of Experience Design.” As an ethnographer, I like to hear people’s stories. I’ve also found that people like sharing their stories. In many ways, the manner in which we share stories is what makes us human, or more human. My guest today knows all about telling stories. Bill Blankschaen is here to talk about his book “Your Story Advantage: A Proven Path to Maximize Your Impact, Influence, and Income.”  Bill’s background has roots in his study of English and History, both of which are rich in stories. He then found himself leading a private school. While rewarding, he felt a calling for something more, and that was to help people tell their stories. This led to his company StoryBuilders, “a creative team of storytellers who are passionate about serving people with excellence in genuine, high-trust relationships.” Bill and StoryBuilders provide coaching, assistance with writing, getting it ready for launch, and getting it in front of your audience. They have worked with a range of business leaders, political figures, cultural influencers, and many more, helping to tell their stories and get their message out. Bill also is a multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling writer and business founder. Bill and I talk about the path to finding purpose in life by engaging in your passion. We explore writing as a journey of exploration rather than just a final product. Bill relates about working with people who have a clear vision on what they want to do, as well as those who just have the desire to tell a story but not quite sure how. We also talk about the emergent area of hybrid publishing. While self-publishing has become more accessible, it’s still important to ensure quality and align publishing strategies with the author’s goals. He also emphasizes StoryBuilder’s approach to customize the publishing approach to each author’s needs.  Finally, Bill talks about the role that AI is starting to play in the writing and publishing process, and how it should compliment creativity rather than replace it.  StoryBuilders, LLC: https://mystorybuilders.com Bill Blankschaen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billblankschaen/ “Your Story Advantage: A Proven Path to Maximize Your Impact, Influence, and Income”: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Story-Advantage-Maximize-Influence/dp/1954521901