Dr. Rod Berger has interviewed over 4,000 people and just wrote his first book, "The Narrative Edge", but his real expertise is in finding the human behind the talking points. In this episode, we explore what makes storytelling important, how Rod breaks through people's scripted responses to get to an authentic connection, and his philosophy that "if you're not telling your story, someone else is."

Rod shares how his "Forrest Gump-like" career of saying yes to unexpected opportunities led him from psychology to refugee work to becoming a master interviewer. We dig into the vulnerable process of writing his first book, why he refuses to ask questions you could find in a press release, and how true presence and authenticity can change everything.

Whether you're struggling to find your authentic voice or wondering how to connect more deeply with others, this episode will make you rethink how you show up in your own story.

Links for this episode:

• Dr. Rod Bergers book "The Narrative Edge"
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• The website:⁠ imperfect.club⁠⁠⁠
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You can learn more about Michael Carruthers and his show, Imperfect Creativew, below: 

Imperfect Creatives
with Michael Carruthers

Exploring what it actually takes to build meaningful creative work in the real world, either alongside or instead of traditional careers. Conversations with people at every stage of the journey, from side project builders to full-time creators and founders, about the practical and emotional reality of choosing purpose over default paths.

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Chapters

(00:00 ) The Journey of Storytelling

(05:36 ) Embracing Opportunities: The Power of Saying Yes

(13:43 ) Crafting Your Own Narrative

(22:09 ) The Art of Authentic Interviewing

(30:46 ) The Addictive Nature of Storytelling

(36:52 ) The Impact of Connection

(42:51 ) The Importance of Being Present

(46:56 ) The Evolution of Storytelling

(54:59 ) Capturing Stories with Integrity

(01:00:18 ) Episode Wrap-Up

Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.

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