Not Your Story

Patrick Sternkopf didn't come from the oil and gas industry. Today, he's the Director of Marketing at ThruTubing Solutions and CUDD Pressure Control, where he's helping redefine what great marketing looks like in energy. In this episode, he shares the strategies behind the brand and where he believes the future of oil & gas marketing is headed.

In this episode of Not Your Story, Rory sits down with Khaled Elsebai, the media strategist behind some of the biggest business podcasts in the world, to unpack what actually makes a show grow. Khaled Elsebai has spent 20+ years in media, from college radio and SiriusXM to building podcast infrastructure at Gallery Media Group (under Gary Vee’s VaynerMedia umbrella) before later helping scale HubS...

Learn how programmatic advertising has evolved beyond clicks and impressions. Drako's co-founder breaks down real time bidding, geo-targeting, AI-powered audience scoring, and why measuring incremental lift, not vanity metrics, is the key to maximizing your ad budget across every digital channel.

In this episode, Kyle Puls shares his journey from the military to working offshore, the realities of life on oil rigs, and what led him to Aquila Engineering. We break down why they decided to start a podcast and what it means for the future of offshore oil & gas technology. Subscribe to I Speak Subsea -  ⁨@ISpeakSubsea⁩  Produced by Midnight Marketing - https://midnightmarketing.com/podcasts...

Armand left his dream oilfield job to build ComboCurve after realizing oil & gas was making multi billion-dollar decisions with broken workflows. In this episode, we break down his early fundraising days in Houston, launching during negative oil prices, closing 50 clients in six months, and how relentless passion, speed, and true customer obsession fueled ComboCurve's rise.

When Anthony Smith joined The Diary Of A CEO, the show had 300,000 subscribers. Today, it’s pushing 15 million. In this episode of Not Your Story, Anthony shares how cinematic, narrative-driven trailers helped redefine how podcasts are promoted - after Steven Bartlett challenged him to bring something new to the industry.

In this episode I will walk you through 7 storytelling frameworks you can use to tell great f****** stories for you and your brand.

In this episode of Not Your Story, Rory sits down with Jacob, a producer who’s launched 1,000+ podcast episodes, to break podcasting down step by step, from recording on an iPhone to running a full multi-camera studio. Jacob pulls back the curtain on what he’s learned over 5 years building shows at Digital Wildcatters, launching Energy 101, and producing content for the Collide community.

Chuck Yates once helped manage an $8 billion energy fund and was worth around $150 million at the peak of his private-equity career during the Shale revolution. Then in April 2020, he got fired. Instead of disappearing, Chuck rebuilt. He leaned into storytelling, started a podcast, joined Digital Wildcatters, and recently helped launch Collide. In this episode, Chuck breaks down the rise, the cras...

In 2019, Collin McLelland walked away from a stable oilfield career to chase an idea that didn’t exist yet. What began as a podcast to meet people in Houston became Digital Wildcatters, a storytelling-driven media company and community that has redefined how the energy industry shares ideas, builds culture, and attracts the next generation. That same “Evolve or Die” mindset led to Collide, an AI-p...

In this episode, Massiel Diez breaks down why she quit her 13-year career at SLB, what finally pushed her to make the jump, and what it really feels like to start over after climbing the corporate ladder. She opens up about the moment she knew it was time to leave, the fear and freedom that followed, and why the ticket to get off the wrong train only gets more expensive the longer you wait. If you...

In this special episode, the tables turn, Flipping the Barrel’s own Massiel Diez interviews Not Your Story host Rory Nolan about his journey from growing up in Manchester chasing his childhood dream to become a professional athlete, losing it, and rediscovering his passion through storytelling, marketing, and the creative grind that led to Not Your Story podcast and his role as Strategy Lead at Mi...

What does it really take to deliver world-class client experience at a growing marketing agency? In this episode, Rory sits down with Rachel Pepin, Customer Success Manager at Midnight Marketing, to pull back the curtain on how the team scaled from scrappy, word-of-mouth beginnings to serving 60+ clients, all without long-term contracts. They unpack the pillars of client experience (speed, simplic...

In this video I take you through the true story of podcasting, how it went from internet fringe to the mainstream. From the early iTunes days to the YouTube era of video podcasts, and the rise of B2B podcasts, this is the full breakdown of why podcasting is the most powerful trust-building format in media today.

How do you rewire your brain for success? Katelyn Good, a world championship ice skater turned world-class marketer shares the visualization tools she took from elite performance on the ice into rebuilding her identity and succeeding as a bold marketer and elite mental performance coach. Learn how to silence negative self-talk, push beyond your fear zone, and activate your alter ego to unlock your...

In this episode, Rory sits down with JP Warren, a seasoned expert in communication and community building, exploring the critical role of soft skills in advancing your career, life and business. We focus on enhancing communication skills, the power of effective storytelling, networking, and strategies for leading with soft skills. What's your elevator pitch?

When Weatherford shut down its UK operations, James Crowley had a choice: relocate - or rebuild. What followed was the creation of Rockatek, a stealthy British engineering powerhouse now quietly solving problems for some of the world’s biggest oil & gas operators. In this episode, James Crowley, Co-Owner and Director of Rockatek, joins Rory and Bella to talk about: - Taking the leap from emplo...

In this episode of Not Your Story, recorded live at the OTC conference, we sit down with Anjani Kumar, VP of CoFlow at Computer Modelling Group (CMG), the gold standard in reservoir simulation for over 47 years. In today’s economic environment, operators face intense pressure to do more with less, fewer people, tighter budgets, and higher expectations. CMG’s CoFlow platform is helping teams make f...

If you really want a job in marketing you've got to be OBSESSED.In this episode, we walk out step-by-step if we were restarting out as marketers from scratch today, here's the playbook we would follow. 6 months ago, Saim sent a video to Midnight, telling us why he should be hired. He stood out from the crowd showing his ability to create content with an obsessive attention to detail. We uncover ho...

In this episode, LIVE from NAPE Expo 2025, seasoned oilfield veteran Farhod Hamidov, International Sales leader at BICO Drilling Tools reveals his secrets to building a powerful global network. You'll learn how BICO is revolutionizing geothermal with leading technology and how Farhod has built a name for himself within the industry through strategic networking, storytelling and trust building.

In this episode of Not Your Story, LIVE from NAPE Expo 2025 in Houston 2025, Vasili Borisov shares his journey from professional tennis player, to entering the world of oil and gas and with help from his Russian rocket scientist father, create a revolutionary drill bit technology and founded Cool Edge Bits/ Vasili shares how to tell a compelling story as a founder to pitch your vision and brand to...

In this episode, Bella and Rory dive into the podcasting revolution, exploring why now is the perfect time to start your show. From the rise of video podcasts to tips on growing your audience on platforms like YouTube and Spotify, they share practical advice for beginners and seasoned creators alike. Discover the power of storytelling, the trends shaping podcasting in 2025, and how to turn your id...

Chris Buckley is the founder and CEO of INY. He has a history of innovation building ST9 Oil and Gas that was acquired by Liberty Energy in 2019. Chris shares all the lessons he took from that acquisition and how he's been inspired by those experiences to start his new company INY. Building the first intelligent hybrid high horse power transmission in the world and disrupting the energy, marine an...

Jim Holmes is the founder and CEO of LFS Chemistry. A chemistry technology company revolutionizing the energy industry or the oil and gas industry with sustainable, high-performing molecules. In this episode Jim reveals the biggest mistakes people make when approaching sales. How can you communicate your story effectively as a founder? Tune in to discover more. _____________________ Connect with J...

In this episode you will learn 5 storytelling secrets to tell great f****** stories. Whether you're building your brand, launching a campaign or trying to amplify your message, this video is for you. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:36 - The Hook 1:31 - Conflict 3:57 - Simplicity 4:44 - Show Don't Tell 5:17 - Transformation 5:46 - Recap __________________ Follow Not Your Story: https://www.instagram.com...