Writer Unblocked: Dr. Rod Berger on The Narrative Edge: Why Authors Must Tell Their Own Story

How do you tell your story in a way that truly connects? In this episode of Writer Unblocked, I sit down with Dr. Rod Berger—global interviewer, communication architect, and author of The Narrative Edge—to explore how storytelling shapes not just our books, but our identities as authors.

Rod has interviewed over 4,000 people worldwide, from Pope Francis to NBA legend Magic Johnson and F1 Champion Jenson Button. With his debut book releasing November 12, he shares why storytelling isn’t just a writing skill—it’s a tool for self-worth, connection, and building an authentic author brand.

We talk about:

• Why so many authors hesitate to share their personal story
• How authenticity can transform you and your brand
• The vulnerability and self-worth behind writing (and publishing)
• What Rod learned from interviews across the globe and how it shaped his book
• Why every author should think strategically about formats—from print to audiobooks

If you’ve ever wondered whether your story really matters, this conversation will remind you: owning your narrative is your most powerful asset.

📚 Pre-order Dr. Rod Berger’s The Narrative Edge (available November 12)

🎧 Listen now and discover how to leverage storytelling in your own author journey

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Rod: drrodberger.com
• Pre-order The Narrative Edge wherever books are sold

For more information about Writer Unblocked please visit writerunblockedpodcast.com.

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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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