Disruptive Influence: The Storytelling, Communication & Executive Presence Podcast
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 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.
Disruptive Influence: The Storytelling, Communication & Executive Presence Podcast
Lifelong Learnings from 10,000 Conversations with Rob Lawless
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
- What’s next for Rob after 10,000 people
- Why being present is the ultimate superpower
Connect with Rob:
Instagram: @robs10kfriends
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rob-lawless-robs10kfriends/
Connect with Jeff:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffabracen/
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Chapters
00:00 – Intro
01:30 – How the 10,000 People Project Started
04:54 – From Coffee Shops to Cruise Ships
09:56 – The “Friend” Framework
15:07 – The Art of Conversation
20:03 – Post-10,000 Vision
26:47 – Jeff’s Creative Roots
29:48 – Life as a Timeline: Curiosity, Memory, and Storytelling
32:55 – Natural Gifts and Learned Superpowers
37:23 – The COVID Pivot That Changed Everything
42:48 – The Real Influences: Family, Friends, and Gratitude
44:21 – Books, TV Shows, and Staying Relevant (or Not)
46:43 – Presence Over Performance
48:00 – If We’re Popping Champagne Next Year...
50:00 – A Masterclass in Presence
51:57 – Mutual Gratitude and the Power of Saying Yes
Connect with Jeff Abracen on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffabracen/]
If you are or know a disruptive influencer who would make a great guest, we'd love to hear from you.
Every Like, Share, Subscription and Review means a lot.
Cover art by Daniel Devoy
Music by Stephen Voyce
©2024 The Disruptive Influence Podcast - Jeff Abracen