The Business of Stories with Susan Payton

In this episode of The Business of Stories , Susan sits down with business mentor Natasha Britton, whose journey from homelessness, teenage motherhood, and financial pressure to building a successful salon business shows what’s possible when vision, resilience, and self-belief lead the way. Natasha shares her story with honesty and heart - and shows how lived experience, adversity, and hard-earned...

Have you ever realised that you’ve bought into the narrative that success has to be hard, and that nothing worth having comes easily? Well, this episode is an invitation to look at what happens when you get clear about what you want - and the energy you bring to receiving it. In this fun, honest, and surprisingly grounding episode of The Business of Stories , Susan shares unforgettable stories abo...

So much can happen in a year. Not just in your business, but inside you. In this reflective end-of-year episode, Susan explores the idea that every year creates new versions of you. Versions that didn’t exist twelve months ago.  You’ll also learn how to look back on your own year through the lens of story - not just what you did, but who you became. You’ll discover: How moments you barely not...

So many of us move through our days feeling rushed, stretched, or a little bit unseen. And then, every so often, a moment stops us - and reminds us that we matter. In this reflective festive episode of The Business of Stories, Susan speaks to something every human longs for: to be noticed, understood, and held with kindness, even for a second. And how simple acts of connection can shift everything...

What if you’re doing more than building a business? What if you’re building a movement? So many of us have a chapter or conflict in our story that changed us. A moment we wish had been different, or a belief we couldn’t ignore any longer. And yet, we rarely see how that tension is often the very thing that reveals what we stand for - and the beginnings of a movement we may already be leading. In t...

What happens when the story that shaped you is also the one you’re most afraid to share? In this episode of The Business of Stories , Susan sits down with Storytelling Mastery member Jen Neil, who spent years hiding - held back by a chapter of her life that carried deep shame, grief, and a sense of failure. Jen opens up about walking away from everything - her home, her business, her identity - an...

So many of us have chapters of our story that we feel uncomfortable sharing; moments we wish had gone differently or that we fear people might judge us for. In this episode of The Business of Stories , Susan shares why those very chapters often hold the most strength, the most connection, and the most gold.  Through real life stories of celebs and clients, Susan shows how the hardest seasons...

What do you do when your offer gets crickets, your posts fall flat, or people say they’re interested - and then disappear?! In this episode of The Business of Stories , Susan shares the honest truth about what these moments mean, and why they’re rarely a reflection of your ability or the value you bring. She also opens up about her own journey of experimenting, refining, and slowly building a busi...

What truly sets you apart when others are offering the same? In this episode of The Business of Stories , Susan shares why everything from your background, values and quirks to your lessons and lived experiences create a unique blend no one else can replicate. And, how you can use that to make sure your positioning feels aligned, your messaging gets easier, and clients see the real value you bring...

If keeping your stories simple, concise and compelling is a challenge for you, and you struggle to know what to cut out, what to keep in, and how to make sure you don’t lose the emotion in your posts or emails, then this episode of The Business of Stories is for you. Join Susan Payton as she shares one of the most simple structures in storytelling, that sits at the heart of almost every story you...

If you’ve ever felt awkward about showing up online, uncomfortable promoting your work, or worried about coming across as ‘salesy’, this episode of The Business of Stories is for you. Join Susan Payton as she shares one of the most powerful storytelling concepts of all - the Hero and the Guide. Through stories from Star Wars to a vivid jungle metaphor, you’ll discover why your clients don’t need a...

If you’ve ever felt held back in your business by self-doubt, fear of visibility, or those relentless “what ifs,” this episode of The Business of Stories is for you. Join Susan Payton as she shares her own powerful journey of overcoming a debilitating fear of public speaking, and learn how YOU can change the inner story that’s keeping you stuck. From sweating hands and panic attacks to speaking ca...

You’ve made it to the last step of Susan Payton’s transformative storytelling process and it might just be the most powerful yet. In this must-listen episode of The Business of Stories , Susan guides you through Step 7: Your Sweet Spot - where your personal journey and your client’s story connect, align, and unlock marketing magic. Discover how sharing your real, lived experiences can set you apar...

If you’ve ever struggled to sell your services, felt stuck in the ‘time for money’ trap or found yourself competing on price, this episode of The Business of Stories is a must-listen. Host Susan Payton lifts the lid on Step Six of her signature storytelling framework: Your Value. She reveals how powerful transformations happen when you shift your focus from promoting your process to celebrating th...

Are you struggling to cut through the noise and truly connect with your ideal clients? In this episode of The Business of Stories, host Susan Payton dives deep into Step Five of her signature storytelling process: Your People. Susan shares why narrowing your focus and getting crystal clear on who you serve isn’t just good for business, it’s a game-changer for your messaging, your marketing, and yo...

What makes you get up and do what you do every day? And why should your clients care? In this episode of The Business of Stories , host Susan Payton explores the crucial fourth step of her signature storytelling process, uncovering and sharing Your Why . Susan breaks down the difference between your personal why and your big why, and how sharing your own motivations can inspire action, attract lik...

How do you make sure your stories are actually speaking to the people you want to reach?  In this episode of The Business of Stories , host Susan Payton reveals the crucial third step of her process: deeply understanding your customer’s story, so your content can finally land, connect, and sell without ever feeling pushy or salesy. You’ll learn Susan’s Three Ps of Content (personality, positi...

How do you choose between businesses that look the same on paper?  In this episode of The Business of Stories , Susan Payton reveals why your business journey and the stories only you can tell are the secret to standing out, building connection, and winning trust. Susan opens up about her own experience searching for a care agency for her mum, and how a simple story was the deciding factor. S...

What if the part of your story you’re hiding is the part that connects most?   In this episode of The Business of Stories , Susan Payton shares a personal moment watching her daughter run the London Marathon, and how it revealed something powerful about storytelling in business. It’s a reminder that the moments which move people most aren’t always the loudest or most dramatic - and that the r...

What actually makes people stop, listen and buy?   In this second episode of The Business of Stories , Susan Payton shares a simple moment at a local craft market that shifted how she sees storytelling in business. It’s the kind of story you’d easily overlook, until you realise how deeply it speaks to what customers really care about: connection, meaning and truth. Susan also walks us through...

What if the thing holding your business back isn’t your offer but the way you talk about what you do – and why?  In this first episode of The Business of Stories , host Susan Payton takes us back to where it all began, her kitchen table in 2015. She had ideas, ambition, and a group of people who believed in what she was doing. But something wasn’t clicking. Susan shares what it really felt li...

In 2015, Susan Payton shared her ‘ordinary’ story with 1,500 women in business and the response blew her away. So many people resonated, connected, and reached out. That moment completely changed her business … and her life. Since then, Susan has worked with entrepreneurs all over the world, written the international bestselling book The Business of Stories , spoken on stages from Brighton to Barc...