Storytelling! Profit, Purpose, and the Power of Letting Go with Rachel Petzold

🔥 Excerpt
“I want everybody to have that moment—where they take the first bite of the thing that lights them up, and just close their eyes and go... wow. That’s what I live for.”

⚡ TL;DR
Rachel Petzold—founder, storyteller, and self-proclaimed Product Whisperer—joins me on the RPOW podcast to talk about how intuition, storytelling, and soul-aligned business can transform not just your brand, but your life. From corporate trauma to startup healing, we unpack the power of voice, vision, and vulnerability in a world desperate for meaning.

📄 Show Notes
Let’s face it—most founders talk about storytelling like it’s another checkbox on the marketing plan. Rachel Petzold lives it.
In this conversation, we dig into what it means to really find your voice and use it to drive both profit and purpose. Rachel shares her journey from corporate product leader to founder of Laborio—a community built to help the laid off, overlooked, and burnt out rediscover what lights them up.

But what really sets Rachel apart is her ability to see what’s unspoken. She doesn’t just build brands—she tunes into your energy, finds the core of your value, and helps you whisper that story back to the world in a way that sticks.

We talk about:
 • Her journey from layoffs at Nike and Starbucks to launching her own practice
 • How intuition and emotional intelligence give her a competitive edge
 • The difference between a product and a person—and how the story connects them both
 • Why people avoid their gifts (and what it looks like when they finally claim them)
 • The origin story of Laborio and the unemployment epidemic no one’s addressing
 • What it means to “delight” people in business—and why it’s non-negotiable for her
If you’ve ever struggled with owning your voice or explaining your value, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

✅ Key Takeaways
 • Your story starts where your intuition lights up.
 • We often avoid the thing that will bring us the most joy—start there.
 • Don’t just chase roles—chase resonance. If it doesn’t light you up, it won’t light up anyone else.
 • The job market isn’t broken; our systems of access and storytelling are.
 • The magic is in the moment people feel something. That’s what makes stories memorable.
 • Helping others isn’t always about money—it’s about presence, attention, and meaningful action.

👤 Bio
Rachel Petzold is a product leader turned storytelling powerhouse. After three layoffs in four years, she turned her career upside down and founded Laborio—a platform built to support professionals navigating layoffs, burnout, and business reinvention. Known as “The Product Whisperer,” Rachel is a master at aligning passion, purpose, and positioning through deep listening and intuitive storytelling. She’s worked with brands like Nike, Starbucks, and countless small businesses, but her real superpower is helping people find what lights them up—and teaching them how to share it.

🎁 Giveaway
Rachel is offering a storytelling workshop bundle (normally $500–$1,000) to anyone who donates a $99 membership to Laborio on behalf of someone in need.
You’ll get:
 1. A “core clarity” session to explore your voice, story, and soul-alignment
 2. A follow-up to activate your insights and refine your message
100% of your donation goes toward supporting someone experiencing hardship.
Here’s how:
 • Donate a $99 Laborio membership
 • Email Rachel at [e-mail]
 • Receive two sessions + help someone rebuild from the ground up

🧭 Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Product Whisperer
02:42 The Journey to Becoming a Product Whisperer
07:11 Intuition and Emotional Intelligence in Product Development
10:41 The Importance of Storytelling in Business
15:55 Claiming Your Superpower: The Product Whisperer Journey
20:46 Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship
22:04 Navigating Life’s Challenges
23:52 Building a Supportive Community
26:05 Understanding Unemployment Trends
29:46 Finding Unique Job Opportunities
33:48 Creating a Safe Space for Healing
37:53 Engaging with the Community