If you know what you do but struggle to talk about it in a way that lands - this podcast is for you.
Most founders, creators, and leaders have the expertise…but not the story, clarity, or communication skills to express it with confidence, conviction, and influence.
Disruptive Influence is the storytelling, communication, and executive presence podcast for founders, solopreneurs, and LinkedIn-era leaders who want to communicate with more clarity and power - in meetings, in pitches, in content, and in everyday conversations.
Learn how to:
turn lived experience into clear, compelling stories
communicate with clarity, confidence, and executive presence
build a strong POV that attracts the right people
sell your ideas, your value, and your vision with conviction
unlock the mindset shifts behind real influence and high-performance communication
Hosted by Jeff Abracen - executive storytelling coach, former agency VP, Creative Director, and creator of the Disruptive Influence™ system - each episode reveals how exceptional thinkers shape narratives, build presence, and communicate in ways that create opportunity.
Through a mix of solo tactical episodes and deep conversations with founders and creators who are disrupting and influencing their industries in their own way, you’ll learn how real leaders think, speak, and tell stories that move people.
If you're building a company, growing a personal brand on LinkedIn, leading a team, or simply want to communicate with more confidence and conviction - this podcast gives you the tools and perspective shifts to become the most influential person in the room.
➞ Subscribe and learn how to tell stories that sell - and speak with clarity, confidence, and conviction.
➞ Connect with Jeff Abracen on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.
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How to Turn Everyday Moments Into Customer Loyalty Machines with David Brier
Season 4 · Episode 36
Thursday, January 29, 2026 • Duration 59:19
Most brands aren’t failing. They’re just fading into the background.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with David Brier, one of the sharpest and most unapologetic minds in branding, to talk about why so much marketing today feels polished, competent… and completely forgettable.
David calls it the Wall of Beige: what happens when brands optimize for speed, safety, and scale - but quietly lose their nerve, their taste, and their point of view along the way.
We get into why “meeting expectations” is actually a trap. Why pumping out more content won’t save you if it costs you differentiation. And why loyalty isn’t built through clever tactics - it’s built through intention.
From the ritual of opening an iPhone box, to handwritten notes, to small human moments most brands overlook, this conversation breaks down how everyday interactions - when handled with conviction - become the reason people come back, talk about you, and choose you again.
This isn’t a conversation about trends. It’s a conversation about standards.
If you’re a founder, executive, or brand leader who’s tired of sounding like everyone else - and wants people to stop saying “that’s nice” and start saying “I want more of that” - this is the episode for you.
What we explore
Why so many brands blend in (even when they’re doing “everything right”)
The difference between convenience and care
How fanatical intention turns moments into loyalty
Why anticipation beats persuasion
Where authenticity actually comes from - and where it doesn’t
Chapters
00:00 — Turning Ordinary Into Amazing 00:44 — AI, Speed & the Wall of Beige 04:42 — Why Playing It Safe Is Riskier 06:23 — Freshness, Familiarity & Surprise 10:14 — The iPhone Box Lesson 12:03 — Practitioner vs Professional vs Genius 18:23 — Fanatical Intention 22:39 — Why Meeting Expectations Is a Failure 27:05 — Human Effort Creates Loyalty 30:32 — Apple vs Microsoft: DNA Matters 36:40 — Refusing to Let Ordinary Be Ordinary 41:58 — Curiosity Beats Confusion 44:07 — Why Meaning Beats Marketing 55:17 — The Next 4 Years vs the Next 40 58:44 — “I Want More of That”
How to Design an Inbound Business with Nick Broekema
Season 4 · Episode 35
Monday, December 1, 2025 • Duration 01:04:15
In this episode, I sit down with designer, educator, founder, and category creator, Nick Broekema, the mind behind the booming discipline of Content Design and one of the most recognizable visual brands on LinkedIn™.
Nick has built something rare: a business that’s 100% inbound. No outreach. No cold emails. No chasing. Just magnetic, systematic content that compounds.
We go deep on:
How Nick built an audience of 80k+
How Content Design became a category, and how he's leading it
The exact steps he took to turn random posting into a business
What most creators get wrong on LinkedIn™
Why alignment beats hustle
The role of clarity, positioning, and ICP refinement
His pivot from Done-For-You to Cohorts + Community
And the mindset shifts required to scale a highly creative business sustainably
This is a masterclass in positioning, design, systems, and treating content as a strategic asset - not decoration.
Whether you're a founder, a coach, a designer, or someone reinventing their career on LinkedIn, this is a conversation you will want to save.
Chapters:
00:00 - Teaser Intro
00:41 - Re-Framing, Re-Building
01:08 - The Early Days & Becoming a Category of One
02:50 - From Crickets to Clarity
04:10 - The Coach Who Sparked a Category
05:23 - Why LinkedIn™? Why Now?
07:41 - Quitting, Drifting, and Rediscovering Entrepreneurship
09:20 - Choosing LinkedIn™ Over Instagram
09:53 - What a Carousel Really Is (and Why It Works)
11:30 - Why Visuals Must Be Simple, Clear, and Fast
How to Be Courageously You with Aransas Savas
Season 3 · Episode 26
Monday, April 28, 2025 • Duration 01:03:22
Aransas Savas, motivational strategist and coach, joins Jeff to explore the real drivers behind creativity, influence, and personal growth.
They dive into why healthy conflict is essential for innovation, how to transition from chasing positional power to embodying personal power, and why authenticity, not conformity, is the real superpower.
Aransas shares how embracing play, curiosity, and even our perceived limitations can unlock new possibilities in leadership, creativity, and life. This conversation reminds us that growth isn’t about fitting in - it’s about showing up as your truest self and finding the people and opportunities that see your value.
Key Topics:
Why healthy conflict and tension fuel creativity
Challenging societal norms to uncover your truth
The shift from fitting in to standing out
How to use play to solve problems and get unstuck
Turning perceived weaknesses into your greatest strengths
Finding community, courage, and personal power
How emotional storytelling drives real-world influence
00:36 Understanding Wellbeing and Leadership Coaching
02:20 Embracing Authenticity and Personal Truth
04:43 Challenging Societal Norms and Personal Beliefs
Lifelong Learnings from 10,000 Conversations with Rob Lawless
Season 3 · Episode 25
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 • Duration 53:20
Rob Lawless set out to meet 10,000 strangers for one hour each. 7,000+ conversations in, the project has become more than a social experiment - it's a masterclass in empathy, presence, and the untold power of human connection.
In this conversation, we go deep into what drives Rob, how he turned a bold idea into a global movement, and what he's learned from spending thousands of hours truly listening. From growing up in a big family, coffee shop chat and international stages, we unpack not just Rob’s journey, but our shared humanity.
And in a twist, Rob flips the mic and interviews me for part of the episode, bringing out personal stories I rarely get to share on air. It's a conversation full of curiosity, surprises, and reminders of what really matters.
In this episode:
Why Rob started meeting strangers for one hour at a time
The “Friend” framework for finding what connects us
What 10,000 hours of presence can teach you about being human
Rob’s storytelling superpowers — and how he discovered them
The discipline, empathy, and mindset behind long-term vision
My pie chart of identity — and what’s shifted since becoming a dad
Like what you heard? Subscribe, rate, and share Disruptive Influence!
Why You Need to Be Selling with Elegance featuring Richard Moore
Season 3 · Episode 24
Monday, March 10, 2025 • Duration 01:08:04
Sales and communication expert & founder of the Art of Sell, Richard Moore, joins Jeff Abracen to dig into why most people are selling the wrong way, how to stop chasing vanity metrics, and what really drives business growth in 2025.
They discuss why content and engagement won’t pay the bills, how to ditch the spray-and-pray approach to sales, the power of deep, meaningful conversations over mass outreach, why client acquisition is the only metric that matters, the art of handling objections like a professional, and how self-worth plays a bigger role in closing deals than you might think.
If you’re stuck in the loop of posting, scrolling, and hoping for inbound leads - this episode is a wake-up call. Learn how to sell with elegance, build a business that lasts, and turn connections into clients.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
04:46 Follower Count vs. Follower Quality
09:57 Competency Over Volume in Sales
15:02 Finding Your Niche and Testing Ideas
20:06 The Role of Feel in Business
25:10 Intentionality in Engagement
30:13 The Reality of Selling on Social Media
34:33 The Art of Selling Elegantly
40:27 Overcoming Sales Inertia
47:01 Embracing Your Superpowers
54:07 The Intersection of Sales and Psychology
01:01:24 The Importance of Individual Interactions
How and Why You Need to Stop Reading Slides with Ben Levy
Season 3 · Episode 23
Saturday, February 22, 2025 • Duration 01:07:10
Presentation Coach, Creative Director, and Author, Ben Levy joins Jeff Abracen to break down the art of creative agency presentations, why the best idea doesn’t always win, and how to structure a story that sells.
Dig into the biggest mistakes people make in presentations (and how to fix them), why reading slides out loud is killing your pitch, how confidence in public speaking is built through preparation—not personality, the power of pacing meetings to avoid information overload, why agencies need to ditch templates and start answering the right questions, how to create conversations instead of monologues, and how Ben overcame social anxiety and became a presentation coach…and so much more!
12:52 The Importance of Storytelling in Presentations
21:09 Building Trust Through Effective Communication
25:05 Teaching and Learning in the Creative Industry
33:25 The Power of Storytelling in Presentations
How to Live, Laugh, Brand with Alana Sparrow
Season 3 · Episode 22
Saturday, February 15, 2025 • Duration 48:28
Albany-based Alana Sparrow, Brand Strategist, Visual Storyteller, Founder of The VIB, and Chief Brand Officer & Co-Founder of The Foundry for Art, Design + Culture, joins Jeff Abracen to dig into why storytelling is the ultimate tool for branding success, the rapid rise of personal brands in corporate spaces, how confidence is built through action, scaling a business without sacrificing freedom, the impact of authenticity on trust and growth, embracing Ikigai to align work and life, why entrepreneurs need to stop sprinting and start sustaining, shining a light on your strengths to unlock your full potential, how personal brands will shape the future of business in 2025…and so much more!
Chapters
00:00 – Intro 00:32 – Alana's Path to Brand Strategy 03:15 – Leaving Higher Ed for Entrepreneurship 05:21 – COVID’s Impact and Business Pivot 07:23 – Personal Branding for High Earners 09:21 – Authenticity in Branding and Marketing 11:15 – Early Influences on Entrepreneurial Mindset 15:26 – From Fine Art to Brand Strategy 17:21 – Time Freedom vs. Hustle Culture 18:30 – Slazy™ – A Smarter Work Approach 22:31 – Finding Purpose and Profit with Ikigai 28:23 – How Personal Branding Drives Growth 32:26 – Confidence, Mindset, and Taking Up Space 36:59 – Client Breakthroughs and Business Shifts 38:45 – The Future of Personal Branding in 2025 43:09 – LinkedIn vs. Instagram for Brand Growth 45:00 – Quality vs. Quantity in Social Media 46:56 – Connect with Alana Sparrow
In this extended episode, Darren Lee, Founder & CEO of Voics, and Podcast Host of Kickoff Sessions, joins Jeff Abracen to dig into how he built a 7-figure podcasting business from scratch, the importance of creating your own universe, how focus fuels success, learning through failure, why you should sell before you build, the importance of trust, the power of metrics, niching down and mastering simplicity, monetizing small audiences, leaning into your superpowers and overcoming the odds, why Bali is a haven for creators, personalized tips for my own business…and so much more!
Chapters
00:00 Intro 04:56 The Journey of Focus and Discipline 10:10 From Sports to Startups: A Reflective Shift 14:55 Building Connections and Trust 19:45 The Circle of Safety in Leadership 25:04 Generational Perspectives on Work Ethic 29:53 The Evolution of Entrepreneurship 33:09 Learning Through Experience 36:01 Mastering the Process 38:55 Building Skills for Success 42:13 The Importance of Measurement 46:01 Simplicity in Business 51:45 Selling Before Building 56:10 Finding Your Niche 01:00:01 Staying in the Market 01:02:57 Disrupting the Podcasting Industry 01:06:49 The Rise of Video Content on LinkedIn 01:11:59 Short-Form Video: A New Discovery Tool 01:12:56 Influences and Inspirations in the Podcasting Journey 01:16:15 Building Genuine Connections in Podcasting 01:18:09 Why Bali is the New Hub for Creators 01:22:03 Guidance for Emerging Podcasters 01:28:50 The Importance of Clarity in Communication Offers 01:31:13 The Impact of Helping Others Through Content Creation
When Entrepreneurs Feel Like They're on a Solo Mission with Kasey Jones
Season 2 · Episode 20
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 • Duration 01:03:31
Kasey Jones, Growth Strategist, Personal Brand Coach, Founder & CEO at The Solo CEO, joins Jeff Abracen to talk about how self-compassion is a superpower, turning hardship into strength and opportunity, how finding your ‘One Thing’ brings clarity and magnetism to your brand and business, why your insecurities might be your biggest differentiator, how personal branding creates meaningful connections, why Kasey is a mix between Jocko Willink & Mr. Rogers, the ‘F*ck Yes’ principle…and so much more!
00:00 Intro 03:01 Evolving Solopreneurs into CEOs 05:57 Finding Your One Thing 08:54 Navigating Personal and Professional Trauma 12:02 The Journey of Self-Discovery 14:46 The Role of Empathy in Coaching 18:07 Post-Traumatic Growth and Healing 20:59 Where Personal Growth and Business Success Meet 23:55 Uncovering Your Unique Value 27:05 The Balance of Tough Love and Kindness 29:54 The Evolution of Personal Branding 31:43 Embracing Personal Transformation 34:33 Identifying and Owning Your Superpowers 38:49 The Role of Hardship in Shaping Success 41:39 Leveraging Unique Skills for Business Growth 45:21 The 'F*ck Yes' Principle in Client Relationships 49:38 Experimentation as a Path to Clarity 55:21 The Emotional Side of Entrepreneurship 01:00:57 Self-Compassion and Personal Systems for Neurodivergence
Dhaval Bhatt, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Courage Inc., joins Jeff Abracen to share how he co-built Courage into one of Canada’s top and most awarded in under three years - crafting work for clients like KFC, CIBC, Kit-Kat, Taco Bell and Skip.
They chat about treating clients as collaborators, how to present big ideas & moving at the speed of culture, why the human-to-human approach matters more than ever, the people who have inspired him, the lessons that keep him and his team pushing for better work every day - and the culture behind it all.
And of course, working on big budget productions with celebrities like Jon Hamm (aka Don Draper).
Chapters
00:00 Intro 03:02 Building Courageous Client Relationships 05:53 Human-to-Human Communication in Marketing 08:46 The Importance of Being Proactive 12:08 Promises of Courage: A Unique Agency Approach 15:01 Selling the Sizzle: The Art of Presentation 17:52 The Pursuit of Perfection in Advertising 21:11 Founding Courage 24:03 Collaboration in High-Stakes Production 28:27 Adapting to Client Needs 30:22 The Role of Celebrity in Advertising 34:10 Creative Connections with Calendar Events 37:58 The Customer Experience 41:47 Behind the Scenes of Agency Work 44:07 The Pursuit of Perfection in Creativity 48:45 Influences on Creative Growth 52:36 The Human Element in Professional Relationships 54:27 Guiding the Next Generation of Creatives
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