Masters of Storytelling

In Part 4 of our mini-series, 'How to Shape a Legacy'  we wrap up the season with a story about legacy at work. In Part 1 we started to define legacy, in Part 2 we talk what it means for business, in Part 3 we discuss legacy in culture....in Part 4, we're taking a look at the creative legacy BRC enjoys.    In this episode, our host, Maya Guice, talks to BRC Founder, Bob Rogers, about what he thinks defines legacy and how he thinks about his own legacy.  Author, speaker, filmmaker, inventor, magician, mentor, entreprenuer, thought leader....Bob understands that legacy is inheritanace. It's like they say in the musical Hamilton: Legacy is planting seeds in a garden you'll never get to see.    To learn more about Bob, visit: www.bobrogers.com    To learn more about BRC: www.brcweb.com    Special thanks to the sponsors of this miniseries, The World Experience Organization, a global institution dedicated to promoting the experience economy, improving the quality of experiences, and enhancing the opportunities for experiential creators worldwide. Learn more: www.worldxo.org 

As we've discussed a lot on this show, a story is many things at once. But a story does not exist without a storyteller. Today's episode is about the stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves, that in turn, define who we are.   How we show up in the world has a big influence on whether the world hears us. And if they can't hear us, how could we possibly make them care? Put differently, the stories we tell ourselves have a direct influence on the ideas that live in the world. Each of us, every day, in our own way, tell the world if we matter, and together, we shape a collective narrative of what matters. What would happen if we did that more consciously?    Samara Bay believes that how we share our vision matters as much as what it is. She's actively redefining what power and authority sound like, teaching people how to use their voice to move their audience & change the world. In addition to coaching television & film actors, she's prepped clients for Broadway & LA theater, UN speeches, televised award show presentations, academic talks, tech pitches, and political ads. She also runs trainings and delivers keynotes across industries including for Women @Google, MAC Cosmetics, SXSW, Telemundo, Warner Brothers Discovery, Princeton University, Compass, and Emerge America. She's a professor of practice at USC's Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism.   Samara is also the author of a fantastic book and podcast by the same name, Permission to Speak: How to Change What Power Sounds Like, Starting With You. It's a #1 bestseller in Women & Business and Public Speaking and the perfect holiday gift!    In this episode, our host, Maya Guice, sits down with Samara Bay to explore how traditional perceptions of authoritative voices influence our communication, the ways our voice stories shape the narratives we share, her personal journey writing Permission to Speak, and practical tools we can all use to cultivate a voice that feels both authentic and powerful.   Ultimately, this episode is meant to be a holiday gift to you—an audience of amazing, creative, intelligent people. If the sound of your voice is the only thing holding you back, we hope this episode causes you to share your story in 2025.    For more information about Samara, connect with her: https://bit.ly/3OT3zHf    To purchase Permission to Speak: How to Change What Power Sounds Like, Starting With You, visit: https://bit.ly/4g8SIES    For more information about BRC Imagination Arts, visit: www.brcweb.com

In part III of our mini-series, 'How to Shape a Legacy' we're leaning into legacy as it applies to community and more broadly, culture. In part I we started to define legacy, in part II we talk what it means for business, and in part III we're leaning into how people—one by one, bit by bit—feed the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. How do these stories shape our collective identity and how do each of us contribute to these narratives in meaningful ways?   In this episode, our host, Maya Guice, talks to BRC Vice President of Creative and Story, Matthew Solari. A creative director with an impressive portfolio spanning museums and cultural institutions, Matt brings a unique perspective on storytelling and its role in shaping cultural legacy. But this isn't just about his work—it's personal. Matt shares how his family has influenced the legacy of one community in Long Island, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the power of family, tradition, and shared stories.   To learn more about Matt, visit: https://bit.ly/3ORg4Si    To learn more about BRC: www.brcweb.com    Special thanks to the sponsors of this miniseries, The World Experience Organization, a global institution dedicated to promoting the experience economy, improving the quality of experiences, and enhancing the opportunities for experiential creators worldwide. Learn more: www.worldxo.org

In Part II of our mini-series 'How to Shape a Legacy', we focus on legacy as it applies to businesses and brands. In this episode, Maya talks to BRC Chief Creative Officer, Christian Lachel, about the closest thing a brand can have to having a soul: a set of values, that lend to a series of decisions, actions, and events that become the lessons we impart, and hopefully, the stories that we tell when we feel like shedding light.   In part 1, Senior Writer, Rich Procter, unpacks legacy as many things: a gift, a call to action, a glimmer of hope, a path…But in the end, a great legacy teaches us that life is not about being rewarded for good behavior; it's about doing the right thing, despite one's personal gain. And all of that is possible, even for things as seemingly mechanical as corporations.   Christian is no stranger to the concept of legacy. He's worked on many corporate archive teams for brands like Ford, Coca-Cola, Caterpillar, and Johnnie Walker, helping the best of them define the best in themselves. Whether you're an iconic brand that has an archive or a brand new company that's dreaming of one, a legacy is possible! But as Christian and Maya discuss, no matter who you are, your legacy is only as good as the people responsible for passing it on.    To learn more about Christian, visit: https://bit.ly/3HAMyfE   To learn more about BRC: www.brcweb.com   Special thanks to the sponsors of this miniseries, The World Experience Organization, a global institution dedicated to promoting the experience economy, improving the quality of experiences, and enhancing the opportunities for experiential creators worldwide. Learn more: www.worldxo.org

If there's one thing kids do better than adults, it's play. As the playwright and political activist George Bernard Shaw once said, "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." Who needs Botox when you have Barbie dolls? Speaking of Barbie... can you think of another brand that has evolved as much over the past 65 years? Barbie is unique in that, over those 65 years, she has transitioned from representing just one of us to representing all of us. Today, Barbie does more than just model; she's President. But today's episode isn't about Barbie. It's about leadership, legacy, and how one woman's personal passion for childhood and commitment to learning through play has enabled many of the world's most iconic toy brands—from American Girl to Polly Pocket, and of course, Barbie—to stay relevant and evolve with the times. Krista Berger is the Senior Vice President of Barbie and the Global Head of Dolls at Mattel, where she leads Product and Brand Marketing for Mattel's Dolls category globally. Krista's career at Mattel began 16 years ago in the Dolls division, where she developed a strong foundation in intellectual property, licensor management, and commercial expertise across the Dolls portfolio and the U.S. Barbie business. When Mattel acquired Mega Brands in 2014, Krista was a key member of the integration team, spearheading the Mega strategic rebranding initiative, which led to increased distribution and impressive double-digit sales growth in the construction category. In 2017, Krista returned to the Barbie team, helping drive record-breaking performance with a 60% increase in the toy business. Notably, Krista's vision and leadership were instrumental in re-establishing Barbie as the #1 global doll property. Her contributions and dedication have earned her several industry recognitions, including the Ad Age 40 Under 40, Brand Innovators 40 Under 40, and the Women in Toys Wonder Women Award. In this episode of Masters of Storytelling, Maya talks to Krista about the importance of play, localizing global brands, and the careful listening required to sustain a brand as iconic as Barbie.    For more information about Krista, visit: https://bit.ly/3MWhyLv For more information on Mattel, visit: https://bit.ly/3zx2C3f For more information about BRC Imagination Arts, visit: www.brcweb.com