The StoryConnect Podcast
308 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsStoryConnect features interviews with marketers, communicators, CEOs and other leaders at cooperative and independent broadband companies, electric cooperatives and municipal power providers. The goal of the podcast is to help listeners discover ideas to shape their stories and connect with their customers. It is produced by Pioneer Utility Resources.
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Episodes
Weaving the Co-op Difference into Economic Development and Staff Storytelling, With Marty Walsh
April 17, 2024 10:00 - 24 minutes - 56 MBDo you have a local network of cooperative storytellers? From his dual roles as an economic development manager at People's Energy and board member for Cooperative Development Services, Marty Walsh’s has a unique take on co-op education and how Utility Pioneers can turn the cooperative difference into shared storytelling opportunities to foster member success.
Managing a New Brand, With Larry Mattox
April 10, 2024 11:00 - 11 minutes - 26.8 MBIn under three years, Central Rural Electric Co-op moved from breaking ground to 85% buildout of their broadband service, CentraNet, in Oklahoma. During a break from the Calix event, Larry Mattox shares how the small team managed this growth, a new brand and evolving member expectations.
Persona Based Marketing, With Chris Lovell
April 03, 2024 11:00 - 12 minutes - 29.7 MBIn an effort to move beyond features like speed, CL Tel has begun discussing its broadband based on what their service can do for specific customer profiles of personas like gamers, remote workers and families. Special: Recorded LIVE at NTCA
Broadband Labels Rules and Regulations, With Dereck DeVries
March 27, 2024 11:00 - 23 minutes - 53.1 MBNow that the rules have been finalized, Dereck DeVries, of Vantage Point, shares the latest on what marketers, communicators and executives need to know about the where, what and when of broadband labels.
Staff Leadership Programs to Grow Future Leaders, With Chinelle Christensen
March 20, 2024 10:00 - 21 minutes - 48.6 MBSioux Valley Energy's staff LEAD program builds a culture of cooperation across the utility, creating a competitive edge when recruiting talent. Learn how projects from the leadership program improved volunteerism programs, removed silos and strengthened the co-op's internal communications.
Working with Different Kinds of Co-ops to Build Our Shared Story, With Cathy Statz
March 13, 2024 10:00 - 18 minutes - 43 MBFood co-ops, credit unions, utilities and other types of co-ops may serve different needs, but we share many of the same stories. Cooperative educator Cathy Statz talks about the power of sharing the cross-sector co-op story with young people, then offers advice for building your local cooperative community.
Photo Tips to Tell Better Stories, With Chris Pietsch
March 06, 2024 18:20 - 14 minutes - 33.8 MBChris Pietsch, director of photography for Gannett Newspapers in Oregon, shares tips on "making — not taking" better photos while previewing the sessions he will lead at StoryConnect in April.
How Self-Editing Can Make You A Better Writer, With Teddy Feinberg
February 28, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBTeddy Feinberg, managing editor at the Idaho Press, gives us a preview of his sessions at StoryConnect 2024, where he will be the writing instructor. In this episode, Teddy focuses on the value of concise writing and gives tips on how to improve your writing by self-editing.
Questions to Ask Before You Start Market Research, With John Marling
February 21, 2024 13:00 - 25 minutes - 58.1 MBJohn Marling has been conducting market research for almost four decades. In this episode, he shares insights on what marketers and communicators need to think about in order to get meaningful, actionable data from their research. Learn more at pioneer.coop/surveys.
Recruitications: Using Communications to Recruit Staff, With Weston Putman
February 14, 2024 11:30 - 24 minutes - 55.7 MBToday's jobseekers are watching your utility's communications to see what kind of organization you are. And while your primary audience will almost always be your members or customers, Weston Putman says it's crucial to signal to potential new hires that your organization is a place they would want to work.
Storytelling Tactics From Different Types of Cooperatives, With Mary Miller
February 07, 2024 12:00 - 30 minutes - 68.8 MBWith a story-packed career spanning three different types of co-ops, WCTEL’s Mary Miller shares ideas for co-op culture-building, effective campaigns and co-opportunities for growth.
Preparing Your Co-op to Launch Fiber in a Competitive Area, With Lindsay Brinker
January 31, 2024 11:30 - 13 minutes - 30.3 MBCommunicating in a competitive community? Prepare yourself by learning who you're up against — and know your differences — focus on your community, get peer support and strengthen your story.
Finding Staff Who Champion Your Story, With Gregg Hunter and Peter Davies
January 24, 2024 12:00 - 19 minutes - 44.1 MBHow can you get an engineer excited about telling your utility story? Gregg Hunter, one of Nemont’s storytellers, sits down to talk culture and the value of story with network engineer Peter Davies.
Transforming Communication Skills into Broadband Marketing Tactics, With Bonnie Baty
January 17, 2024 11:30 - 22 minutes - 50.4 MBLike many broadband storytellers, Bonnie Baty began working on the electric utility side. She offers advice for communicators making the switch and shares her take on how broadband communications will evolve over the next 5 years.
Connecting With Your Community Through a New Brand, With Elizabeth Kuhns
January 10, 2024 11:00 - 22 minutes - 50.8 MBLaunching or refreshing a brand? Get storytelling tips and tactics from Elizabeth Kuhns, who partnered with Pioneer to create the Ignite Broadband brand.
What Do You Need to Know Before Starting a Podcast?, With Michael Rovito
January 03, 2024 12:00 - 25 minutes - 57.9 MBThinking about creating a podcast? Michael Rovito, host of “Alaska Powerline,” explains how he prepared to launch the podcast, built a content strategy and measures success.
How Can Culture Get Your Team Through The 'Great Transition’, With Ed Wolff
December 27, 2023 12:00 - 11 minutes - 27 MBEd Wolff says trust, urgency, empowerment and other elements of strong organizational culture can be the keys for telcos and utilities having to reinvent themselves due to changing demands. Special: Recorded Live at the KYRBA/TNBA Fall Conference
Achieving a 4.8 out of 5 on Online Review, With Anne Tetamore and Michael Wynschenk
December 20, 2023 11:14 - 22 minutes - 50.4 MBHow can your utility achieve a 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google reviews? Hunter Communication’s Anne Tetamore, VP of marketing, and CEO Michael Wynschenk tell us how valuing both customers and employees plays a key role into achieving success.
Making Your Marketing Campaigns Work, With Lynn Hall
December 13, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes - 47.3 MBCalix Marketing Giant Award winner Lynn Hall shares her utility's Go to Market campaign strategy, with tips to prepare staff for action when marketing is successful.
Building Your Story Into the Communities You Serve, With James Ratterree
December 06, 2023 11:30 - 19 minutes - 44 MBFrom community coffee chats to branded coolers for football teams, the WAVE Rural Connect shares fresh ways they build the broadband story into their Arkansas community.
Making Boring Stories Interesting, With Geni Whitehouse
November 29, 2023 12:00 - 16 minutes - 37.5 MBGeni Whitehouse left a career in an accounting firm to help people tell their stories in a more interesting way. She says one key to making your stories more interesting is to understand the four types of personalities in your audience. Recorded live: at the NWPPA's NIC
Activating Your Members for Advocacy, With Garrett Hylton
November 22, 2023 12:00 - 28 minutes - 64.4 MBWells Rural Electric Cooperative is taking a multichannel approach to motivate members to take action on hydropower regulatory issues. Special: Recorded live at the NWPPA NIC
How Do You Know What People Think About You?, With Kelly Burns
November 15, 2023 14:42 - 15 minutes - 34.5 MBWant to track consumer sentiment but not sure where to start? CTC's Kelly Burns shares her telco's experience with the net promoter score and how the utility lets the voice of the consumer guide its marketing strategy.
Everything Coming Together to Give You a Competitive Advantage, With Tom Williams
November 08, 2023 13:53 - 16 minutes - 38 MBFrom harnessing net promoter scores to refining your strategic marketing plan, Schurz CEO Tom Williams shares highlights from his speech at Calix ConneXions 2023.
Delivering an Excellent Customer Experience, With Josh Wehe and Jordan Wehe
November 01, 2023 12:41 - 21 minutes - 48.7 MBWi-Fi wizards and tour guides are part of how the Jade Communications team powers up the customer experience. Get takaways from the team's session at Calix ConneXions 2023.
What Are Some of the Major Takeaways From the 2023 Calix ConneXions Conference?
October 25, 2023 12:28 - 17 minutes - 39.7 MBMake subscribers heroes, find foggy-night scenarios and focus on service, not speed. Those are a few of the broadband storytelling ideas “StoryConnect” hosts Andy and Megan share from the annual Calix software conference.
Promote Your Pod: How To Grow Your Listening Audience, With Jacob Puckett
October 18, 2023 11:00 - 21 minutes - 48.9 MBBlue Ridge Energy promotes its "Unplugged" podcast on streaming audio stations like iHeart Radio and MLB At Bat in an effort to meet potential listeners where they already are. Jacob Puckett describes the approach, as well as his perspective on why "every listen matters.”
Truck or Treat!, With Melissa Greenwood
October 11, 2023 10:00 - 14 minutes - 34.1 MBWhat's the only thing some children like more than candy? Big trucks! Melissa Greenwood combined both to entice families in her Montana community to engage with their utility and other local businesses at a Truck or Treat event. Special: Recorded live at the NWPPA NIC
Is Your Brand Iconic?, With Bryan Rader
September 27, 2023 11:00 - 20 minutes - 46.8 MBBryan Rader discusses what it means for a brand to be "iconic" and how broadband providers can take steps in that direction.
How Can a Podcast Strengthen Your Story?, With Carrie Huckeby
September 20, 2023 11:30 - 22 minutes - 52.4 MBLean into your personality, and don't focus on the numbers. That's the advice of veteran podcaster Carrie Huckeby. She shares how the Tennessee Broadband Association uses its “Lead Tennessee Radio” podcast to tell its story, with tips on ways audio storytelling can help utilities reach new audiences.
How Can What You Know About Consumers Change the Way You Tell Your Story? With Brianna Wall
September 06, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes - 44.3 MBIn the second part of our conversation with Brianna Wall, we dive into audience segments and how the team at Oklahoma Electric Cooperative identifies and adds internal data to their communication strategy. Link to OEC’s electric vehicle webpage: https://okcoop.org/ev/.
How Can Data Support Strategic Storytelling?, With Brianna Wall
August 30, 2023 12:00 - 16 minutes - 36.7 MBYou've got data, but are you using it strategically to strengthen your stories? Hear how Brianna Wall leverages analytics and existing data to be strategic with her communications plan and storytelling. Learn more about Oklahoma Electric Cooperative at https://okcoop.org.
(Soft)Serving The Community With A Broadband Ice Cream Truck, With Stuart Gregory and Carrie Binns
August 23, 2023 10:02 - 37 minutes - 86.4 MBWhen Stuart Gregory and Carrie Binns wanted to make an impression and grow Bulloch Solutions’ brand in new territories in south Georgia, they thought outside the carton — er, box. By converting an aging fiber splicing van into an ice cream truck and opening a general store in the lobby, they are engaging members and potential customers in new ways.
Connecting With Each Other Like Humans Do, With Ginger Johnson
August 16, 2023 11:00 - 32 minutes - 74.6 MBWhether we're writing, networking, making a presentation or just socializing with friends, connecting with other humans in real ways is vital. Ginger Johnson, who spoke at NRECA's Connect conference, shares her ideas on why those connections matter, what they look like for different people and how marketing and communication professionals can learn to make those connections everywhere. Connect with Ginger at https://gingerjohnson.com.
What’s the Magic Formula for an Engaging Utility Podcast?, With Tiffany Trueblood
August 09, 2023 11:00 - 25 minutes - 58 MBFrom lineman tales to water heater relationship advice, the Central Connection Podcast uses humor and relatable hosts to make waves. Co-host Tiffany Trueblood shares how staff engagement plays a key role in the co-op’s latest communication channel.
How Can a Pink Hard Hat Transform Your Story?, With Michelle Geans
August 02, 2023 11:00 - 23 minutes - 54.1 MBAre you generating Pink Power? Since 2011, lineworkers at Baldwin EMC in Alabama have worn pink hard hats each October to educate the community about different types of cancer. They even have a PINK BUCKET TRUCK (name TBD). Learn how you can wear pink to share your story.
When Is It OK to Say No?, With Brianna Wall
July 18, 2023 11:00 - 16 minutes - 38.4 MBAs Utility Pioneers, we want to say yes to everything. But often, saying yes to one thing means saying no to something else. Brianna Wall shares how she sets deadlines, takes time before accepting new tasks and weighs the benefits of a project to better manage her time.
Engaging Young People in Youth Programs, With Elizabeth Brown
July 10, 2023 13:00 - 11 minutes - 26.7 MBElizabeth Brown, marketing manager at Panhandle Telephone Cooperative, shares ideas on how community involvement can be a competitive edge, especially when it comes to engaging young people in your youth programs.
Improving Your Video Storytelling, With Taylor Holland
July 05, 2023 14:00 - 11 minutes - 25.6 MBTaylor Holland dishes out tips for improving your video work, from planning and preproduction to software and postproduction.
Using SMS Messaging to Improve Your Google Reviews, With Andy Henderson
June 27, 2023 11:10 - 10 minutes - 22.9 MBIn a rare double-Andy podcast, Andy Henderson outlines a text messaging campaign that took his telco's Google review score from the 2s to the 4s.
Building Relationships Between CSRs, Sales and Techs, With Tim Gilford
June 20, 2023 11:15 - 11 minutes - 27 MBThe relationships between staff on the front line of your operation are critical — and sometimes difficult. Tim Gilford shares ideas on formal and informal ways to build strong connections among CSRs/MSRs, techs, marketing and sales team members.
Tips for Shooting Better Video, With Melissa Lanzourakis
June 13, 2023 13:15 - 9 minutes - 22.2 MBWith her background as a television news journalist, Melissa Lanzourakis has a strong understanding of how to shoot good video. As online video trends continue to evolve, she shares new tips for shooting better video.
How to Be A Better Public Speaker, With Erick Rheam
June 06, 2023 11:00 - 15 minutes - 35.4 MBAuthor and speaker Erick Rheam discusses how people who like public speaking — and those who don't — can improve their skills to be a better communicator. Learn more about Erick and his book at erickrheam.com.
How Can Storytelling Be Your Brand's Competitive Edge?, With Mary Miller
May 30, 2023 11:00 - 18 minutes - 42.2 MBMary Miller shares ideas from her panel on how broadband providers using ideas like those presented in Donald Miller's StoryBrand framework can gain a competitive advantage in marketing and in understanding the customer journey.
Realigning Utility Spending to Match Your Mission, With Kyle Allwine
May 23, 2023 10:44 - 13 minutes - 30.5 MBAfter the pandemic made a virtual business meeting possible, one utility transformed its annual member meeting into the Bright Futures Fund Run, a way for community members to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library childhood literacy campaign.
How Can You Introduce New Employees to Your Co-op Story?, With Kathryn Green
May 09, 2023 11:20 - 15 minutes - 36.5 MBRetirements and competitive hiring makes storytelling critical for staff retention. How can you introduce new team members to your culture and keep them happy? Kathryn Green shares her co-op's onboarding process, which turns the first few days on the job into memorable moments.
How Can Artificial Intelligence Support Utility Storytelling?, With Kyle Allwine
May 02, 2023 15:03 - 23 minutes - 54.6 MBWhether you’re writing a story or creating an image, prompts are key tools to help you effectively work with artificial intelligence. Kyle Allwine shares how he uses prompts to deliver different versions of original content and strengthen his storytelling.
Cutting-Edge Technology — The PR Value of Smart Mowers
April 25, 2023 10:50 - 20 minutes - 47.5 MBCentral Georgia EMC has deployed 18 smart mowers to save money on a landscaping contract. Seeing the autonomous mowers working on the grounds started community conversations and further positioned the co-op as a technology leader for electrification and smart products.
How Can A Podcast Help Your Utility Tell Its Story?, With Krystal Phillips
April 18, 2023 11:00 - 12 minutes - 29.7 MBJones-Onslow EMC uses its "Flippin' The Switch" podcast to build community around its brand by sharing a mix of community stories and discussions of utility-related topics. Learn how they do it and how the podcast fits into the overall communications plan. Tune into "Flippin' The Switch" here: https://joemc.com/news/podcasts-2 Podcasts recorded live at StoryConnect are sponsored by Meridian Cooperative.
How Can Member-focused Roles on Your Team Strengthen Your Story?, With Kyle Coulson and Justin Thompson
April 11, 2023 10:00 - 13 minutes - 31 MBStories have a tendency to change when a lot of folks are sharing them. It’s a big game of telephone, and phrases may shift the further you get from the source. Hoosier Energy Member Relations Specialists Kyle Coulson and Justin Thompson share why the G&T created their roles to help streamline and strengthen consistent storytelling in Indiana and Illinois.