What if the very expertise that built your business is the exact same thing making it harder to communicate it clearly?

Many founders believe that if we just keep pushing - working harder, achieving more, scaling faster - eventually we’ll outrun the internal doubts, insecurities, and unresolved stories that follow us.

But what if the opposite is true?

In this episode of BUILDERS, I am so excited to sit down with Kyle Gray; founder, author, story strategist, and host of The Story Engine Podcast. Kyle works with high-performing founders, coaches, and experts who have already built meaningful businesses… but struggle to communicate their expertise in a way that truly lands.

Not because they lack knowledge. But because they’re too close to it.

When we get really good at something, we often make it harder to explain. We overcomplicate it. We wander. We try to prove our expertise instead of communicating it, and the stories that elaborate it, clearly.

Here’s what we unpack in this episode:

00:00 – 08:46 | How Your Expertise is Ruining Your Influence

We dive right into why presence matters just as much as polish when you're growing a business and showing up as a leader. Kyle explains why high-performing founders struggle to communicate. Turns out, your brilliance actually makes it harder to simplify your message! We talk about why trying to "outwork" a communication problem usually just results in stepping on your team's toes and getting C-minus results.

08:47 – 24:13 | From Chronic Illness to Superpower

Kyle shares the deeply personal story of his battle with an autoimmune condition, and how a coach told him his illness was actually his superpower. It’s a literal goosebumps moment about how the parts of ourselves we think are "trash" are often exactly what sets us apart and allows us to connect with the people who need our help the most.

24:14 – 34:07 | The Life Cycle of Stories: Too Soon vs. Too Late

We unpack why audiences crave presence over perfection. Plus, Kyle breaks down his "Life Cycle of Stories" framework. We talk about the danger of telling a story that's "too soon" versus "too late", and the fine line of emotional resonance and control required to make it land intentionally with your audience.

34:08 – 47:44 | The Big Lie We Believe About Success

We completely nerd out on a scale metaphor for success. So many of us think we can just add more money and achievement to one side of the scale to avoid dealing with our shame or grief. Kyle explains why expanding our capacity for pain and vulnerability is what actually brings true abundance, and why you simply cannot out-succeed your problems.

47:45 – 54:35 | The Authority Story Framework

Want to know exactly how to structure the first 3 to 5 minutes of your signature talk to make people tune in to listen? Kyle gives us a masterclass on his 3-act play.

54:36 – End | Storytelling as a Mirror & Martial Art

We talk about the massive knock-on effects of finding your story. Kyle shares an incredible example of a that completely redesigned his life to come into alignment. And forget memorizing the perfect script. Kyle explains why great speaking is a flexible martial art, allowing you to adapt your story's framework to whoever is standing in front of you, whether they are clinicians, biohackers, or CrossFit gym owners.

This episode is for the builder who:

• Knows their expertise is strong - but struggles to communicate it clearly when it matters most.

• Has built success through intelligence and effort - but senses the next level requires presence, clarity, and deeper self-awareness.

• Is building something meaningful and wants to communicate that vision in a way that truly resonates.

Because the ability to tell your story well isn’t just a speaking skill.

It’s a leadership skill.

Connect with Kyle:

https://www.instagram.com/heykylegray/

https://www.youtube.com/@heykylegray