The Dr. Rod Berger Channel - Stories That Meet The Moment

Something feels off in 2026, and you already know it. Maybe you can't name it precisely, but there's a tilt to the world right now, a sense that the ground beneath familiar systems is shifting in ways that resist easy explanation. If you've caught yourself staring at headlines with a mix of dread and curiosity, wondering whether this stretch of uncertainty is just noise or something more structura...

In this episode, we explore how mental health, purpose, and human connection are evolving amid rapid technological and societal shifts. Jarrod Hoffman, a Memphis-based licensed professional counselor, shares insights into working with teens and families facing uncertainty, especially in the age of AI and a changing educational landscape. Key Topics Covered: The role of purpose and stability in men...

Navigating Voice, Trust, and Advocacy in a Divided World In this episode, Rod Berger sits down with Jim and Tiffany Drastic—creators of The Dangerous Ones & Eleven Films —to explore the journey of finding and using their voices amid societal chaos, personal trauma, and the ongoing fight for justice. Discover how authenticity, modulation, and community-building shape their impactful work. Key topic...

"From the Classroom to the C-Suite: Greta Jackson on Culture, Storytelling, and the Human Hum of Organizations" In this episode of the CultureCon Catalyst podcast, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Greta Jackson, Employee Engagement and Culture Enrichment Director at Tegria, and a CultureCon Culture Catalyst. Greta's journey — from third-grade dreamer to middle school English teacher, high school AP L...

The Power of Storytelling in Leadership: Insights from Dr. Marcus Conyers Discover how storytelling shapes leadership and innovation. Learn key insights from Dr. Marcus Conyers, founder of BrainSmart, on enhancing organizational effectiveness. In today’s fast-paced world, understanding the power of storytelling in leadership is crucial. How can narratives shape our leadership styles and foster inn...

A powerful conversation with the incomparable Tom Junod brought to you by Dr. Rod Berger. In the world of memoir writing, the question of identity often looms large. How we define ourselves, the names we carry, and the stories we tell shape our experiences and the narratives we create. In this post, we dive into the profound discussions that emerged from my recent conversation with Tom Junod, a ce...

Building a Thriving Workplace Culture: Insights from Todd Wuestenberg Learn how to cultivate a vibrant workplace culture from Todd Wuestenberg, Chief Culture Officer at Haverkamp Group. Discover strategies for fostering connection and development in organizations. Creating a thriving workplace culture is essential for any organization aiming for long-term success. In this blog post, we delve into...

There's a moment Jhamal Robinson describes that stopped me in my tracks. He's on a global town hall panel at Warner Bros. Discovery, thousands of employees watching on Zoom, and someone asks him point blank: Do you feel like you have to tailor yourself when you walk into a room? His answer comes immediately. Yes. He code-switches. He adjusts. He becomes a version of himself calibrated to make othe...

Embracing Uncertainty: How to Navigate Life and Work in a Changing World Discover strategies for thriving amidst uncertainty. Learn from Matthew Caldwell's journey in HR and personal growth, and find your path to resilience. In today’s fast-paced world, many of us grapple with uncertainty—both in our personal lives and within our careers. How can we embrace this uncertainty and transform it into o...

How to Harness the Power of Storytelling in Your Life: Insights from Dr. Darin Eich , a CultureCon Catalyst Learn how to leverage storytelling for personal growth and connection. Dr. Darin shares insights that resonate with anyone looking to enhance their narrative skills. Storytelling is not just for authors or filmmakers; it’s a powerful tool that can enhance your life and career. I sat down wit...

There's a moment in every room, every strategy session, every family dinner where someone finally says the thing everyone has been circling. Not a new idea, necessarily, but the buried one. The one that was always there, underneath the decks and the dashboards and the nervous small talk. CJ Casciotta has built a career around finding that moment, and in this episode, we sit down to talk about what...

THE NARRATIVE EDGE A Podcast with Dr. Rod Berger Presented by RIGGG Productions    GUEST: TARYN SMITH Solo Ocean Rower|  The World’s Toughest Row 46 Days, 3 Hours, 37 Minutes  |December 14 – January 29   Episode Overview In this episode, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Taryn Smith, who completed a solo row across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the World’s Toughest Row—spending 46 days, 3 hours, and 3...

Richard Browning, founder of Gravity Industries and creator of the world's first human jet suit, explores how his late father's garage workshop and unfinished dreams shaped his approach to innovation. The conversation centers on why society must embrace what Browning calls recoverable failure, making inevitable setbacks survivable financially, reputationally, and physically, so that dreaming and e...

Join me as I capture, live on stage, the story of Dr. Emad Rahim during Quantum Leap 2026, presented by N2N Services, Inc. and LightLeapAI.  Emad Rahim — born in a concentration camp during the Khmer Rouge Genocide in Cambodia, raised as a stateless refugee in Brooklyn, and now a three-time doctorate holder, Fulbright Scholar, TEDx speaker, and award-winning educator — sits down for a fireside cha...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Rod Berger — journalist, education analyst, global interviewer, and author of The Narrative Edge. Rod has spent years traveling the world, sitting across from leaders, innovators, and everyday people with extraordinary stories. But what stands out most isn’t the résumé — it’s the way he listens, the way he honors people, and the way he finds meaning in the mome...

Do you really know your characters, or are you just moving them around the page? Real character depth doesn't come from a bio sheet—it comes from treating your characters like real people and finding their breaking point. In this episode of The Author's Mind , Shilo Creed sits down with Dr. Rod Berger to discuss how to "interview" your characters to find their hidden truths. We explore the critica...

Episode Summary : Welcome to The Narrative Edge! In this episode, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Emmy Award-winning editor Max Partain for a candid conversation about storytelling, creativity, authenticity, and the evolving landscape of content creation. Max shares his journey from childhood challenges with OCD and ADHD to finding his voice as a creative professional. Together, they explore the nua...

Esther Choy is the author of the book Let The Story Do The Work and is working on a second book about story discovery. Her company, Leadership Story Lab, has worked with leaders from top-tier organizations such as Comcast, Allstate, Chicago Public Schools, United Airlines, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. "Esther Choy isn’t just smart and wise and sensible, but she also imbues...

'Make Your Day Richer' Rod Berger joins me for a rich, reflective conversation about the power of story, the art of the interview, and the emotional tango of writing his new book, T he Narrative Edge . With over 4,000 interviews under his belt, Rod shares how storytelling has shaped his life, deepened his relationships, and helped him find meaning in moments both ordinary and extraordinary. From N...

This week on Partnerships for Profit, we welcome Dr. Rod Berger, Psy. D., a strategic storyteller, keynote speaker, and media contributor whose 4,000+ interviews have spanned figures like Magic Johnson and Sammy Hagar of Van Halen to an audience with the late Pope Francis. A TEDx speaker, Pangea International Literacy Prize winner, and host of The Narrative Edge podcast - part of the Dr. Rod Berge...

Dr. Rod Berger sits down with composer and producer Luke Tomlinson for a one-of-a-kind podcast interview combining the power of song with the power of story. You can learn more about Luke's work at, https://www.impropod.com/ Author and host Rod Berger has conducted over 4,000 interviews, including those with NBA great Magic Johnson and the Crown Princess of Sweden. He's documented stories on behal...

Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Daniel Lucas of Abstract Essay to talk about storytelling in our lives.  The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling that Meets the Moment Discover the potential of a compelling story―and how to craft one―with expert help from an experienced storyteller In The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling that Meets the Moment, celebrated writer, interviewer, and speaker Dr....

How do you tell your story in a way that truly connects? In this episode of Writer Unblocked , I sit down with Dr. Rod Berger —global interviewer, communication architect, and author of The Narrative Edge —to explore how storytelling shapes not just our books, but our identities as authors. Rod has interviewed over 4,000 people worldwide, from Pope Francis to NBA legend Magic Johnson and F1 Champi...

I never expected a story about artificial intelligence to hit me right in the gut—but Rich Tu’s “Human Response” did just that. This episode goes beyond tech headlines, unraveling how personal grief, cultural identity, and creative exploration can mingle to spark wholly new ways of experiencing art. We unpack the emotional backbone of Rich’s acclaimed exhibit: how, after losing his father, he used...

In this inspiring episode of Healed and Chilled , Coach Yana sits down with master storyteller and interviewer Dr. Rod Berger — a man who has captured the voices of NBA icons Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, world leaders, rock legends, and even royalty. With over 4,000 interviews for outlets like Forbes , Entrepreneur Magazine , and Los Angeles Magazine , Dr. Berger’s stories span continents an...