Jun 17, 2026 · 44 min · 13 segments
In this episode of Upside, we sit down with public speaking coach and storytelling expert Rob D. Willis. Rob explains why most founders fail by pitching dry data instead of building real tension…
Most people think that storytelling is a soft skill.
This week's guest is a strong disagree.
Rob D. Willis is a public speaking coach, storytelling expert and host of Leadership for Unicorns.
Before working with companies like HelloFresh, Salesforce, Babbel and T-Systems, Rob spent nearly a decade giving walking tours across Berlin, speaking to more than 100,000 people and learning a simple lesson.
Facts inform and stories move people.
In this episode, we explore why most founders get storytelling wrong, the framework for creating real tension in your message, how to make ad-strike ideas land, and why your audience should always be the hero of the story, not your brat.
If you're getting in business, creating content, or trying to get people to care about what you do, this is a conversation for you.
Let's go.
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Most people think that storytelling is a soft skill.
This week's guest is a strong disagree.
Rob D. Willis is a public speaking coach, storytelling expert and host of Leadership for Unicorns.
Before working with companies like HelloFresh, Salesforce, Babbel and T-Systems, Rob spent nearly a decade giving walking tours across Berlin, speaking to more than 100,000 people and learning a simple lesson.
Facts inform and stories move people.
In this episode, we explore why most founders get storytelling wrong, the framework for creating real tension in your message, how to make ad-strike ideas land, and why your audience should always be the hero of the story, not your brat.
If you're getting in business, creating content, or trying to get people to care about what you do, this is a conversation for you.
Let's go.
