BEST Storytelling Techniques for Coaches, Therapists & Leaders | Doug O’Brien

Storytelling isn’t just entertainment — it’s the most powerful tool you have as a coach, communicator, or leader. In this special episode of the Essential Coaching Skills Podcast, Doug O’Brien flips the script and takes the guest seat as his friend Dr. Harlan Kilstein interviews him about his bestselling book, The User’s Guide to Storytelling.

Doug reveals the essential structures, strategies, and subtle language patterns that make a story stick — and how you can apply them in coaching sessions, speeches, sales conversations, or everyday life.

You’ll learn:
✅ Why stories bypass resistance and connect instantly with your audience
✅ The 3 pillars of a story that moves people to take action
✅ How to weave NLP principles seamlessly into storytelling
✅ The difference between telling a story… and telling it so they’ll remember it forever
✅ Practical tips you can start using today to become a more captivating storyteller

🎁 Special Offer: Every copy of The User’s Guide to Storytelling — in any format — comes with a FREE online class valued at $347, courtesy of Doug. Look for the coupon at the back of the book to claim your bonus training.

📚 Get the book here: https://www.essentialcoachingskills.c...
🎓 Learn more about Doug’s coaching, NLP, and Sleight of Mouth programs: https://www.essentialcoachingskills.c...


0:00 – Welcome and Introduction
1:15 – How Erickson, Dobson, and O’Brien Shaped Modern Storytelling
7:40 – The Difference Between Therapeutic and Public Storytelling
12:55 – Why Storytelling is a Superpower in Coaching, Teaching, and Business
19:30 – Doug’s Personal Storytelling Origins & Anecdotes
25:15 – What Makes a Great Storyteller? Vulnerability & Authenticity
33:00 – Moth Story Slams & The Community of Storytellers
40:10 – The Power of Practice and Craft in Storytelling
47:25 – What to Expect in “The User’s Guide to Storytelling” Book