logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
35m 27s

Why That Worked #11: Starbucks—The Brand...

POWERED BY STORYBRAND
About this episode

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.

 

We’re only sharing these episodes in the former Marketing Made Simple feed for a limited time! Catch them early every Monday by subscribing to the StoryBrand YouTube Channel or following Why That Worked wherever you listen to podcasts.

 

Now, enjoy this week’s episode of Why That Worked!

 

--

 

If someone told you in the ’90s that people would happily pay $5 for a cup of coffee, you probably would’ve laughed. Before Starbucks, coffee was just… coffee. It wasn’t an experience, a ritual, or a “third place” between home and work. So how did one company transform a simple commodity into a global phenomenon? The rise of Starbucks wasn’t just about caffeine—it was about community, habit-building, and a relentless pursuit of consistency.

 

In this episode, hosts Don and Kyle dive into the fascinating story of Starbucks, breaking down how a small Seattle coffee shop grew into a 35,000-location empire. They explore the visionary leadership of Howard Schultz, the brand’s impact on American culture, and how Starbucks managed to make coffee both an addiction and an experience. Plus, they debate whether Starbucks is still as great as it once was—or if its best days are behind it. Listen in for a deep dive into what made Starbucks work.

 

--

 

Unlock the power of a framework that works—the StoryBrand Framework at StoryBrand.ai. It's like having the world’s best copywriter create high-converting marketing whenever you need it. Start your free 7-day trial at StoryBrand.ai.

 

Learn how to make your marketing and messaging work using a proven framework in the updated book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0. Order it now on Amazon or wherever you buy books!

Up next
Sep 24
StoryBrand Podcast #38: BIG NEWS—Introducing The StoryBrand Podcast
Welcome to the first episode of The StoryBrand Podcast (formerly Why That Worked), where we’re doubling down on what actually grows businesses: clear messaging. Most business owners are too close to their own work to explain it clearly. They tweak and refine, but your customers s ... Show More
1h 12m
Sep 17
Why That Worked #37: Slate—Why This $20K Truck Is Getting All the Attention (RE-RELEASE)
Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to you ... Show More
38m 40s
Sep 10
Why That Worked #36: Annoying Ads—The Dumbest Campaigns That Won Your Attention and Made Millions (RE-RELEASE)
Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to you ... Show More
31m 36s
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
Starbucks' Bitter Brew | A Cup of Competition | 3
Starbucks might be number one in market share, but the competition over coffee is hot. In one corner, you’ve got the New England-based fan favorite Dunkin, with their no-frills vibe and celebrity boosters. In the other, you’ve got the up-and-comers: drive-through only chains like ... Show More
44m 28s
May 2025
Starbucks' Bitter Brew | Back in Black | 2
It’s 2023 and Howard Schultz’s hand-picked successor as CEO is facing trouble. While employees are voting to unionize, competitors are targeting Starbucks’ perceived weaknesses. Dunkin’ and others are beating Starbucks on price, while McDonald’s hopes to beat Starbucks on speed o ... Show More
43m 16s
May 2025
Starbucks' Bitter Brew | The Founder's Curse | 1
It's 2021 and Starbucks workers are experiencing post-pandemic exhaustion. For the first time, baristas and others seem poised to vote to form a union. To head that off, Starbucks legendary CEO, Howard Schultz, comes out of retirement. He promises to lead Starbucks back to its em ... Show More
39m 21s
Apr 2024
Need Better ShopFloor Coffee?
 This week Charli has Amy Teal on for some coffee talkAmy Teal, the CEO and co-founder of ShopFloor Coffee, is at the forefront of revolutionizing coffee for the manufacturing industry. Alongside her team, Amy is dedicated not only to supplying superb coffee but also to giving ba ... Show More
17m 40s
Jul 2024
TIP642: The Story of Starbucks: Building an Iconic Brand w/ Clay Finck
On today’s episode, Clay discusses the early days of Starbucks and Howard Schultz’s book — Pour Your Heart Into It. Starbucks has been one of the market's best-performing stocks over the past three decades. Since the IPO in 1992, Starbucks stock has had an average annual return o ... Show More
1h 23m
Jun 2025
Building the Espresso Machine Everyone’s Talking About - Fellow’s Series 1 | NICK TERZULI!
Fellow have just dropped their first ever espresso machine and we need to talk about it! We’re joined by Nick Terzulli, the VP of Research and Development at Fellow, who shares the creation journey of the Espresso Series 1. We dive into specialty coffee at home, the evolution of ... Show More
1h 8m
Sep 2024
How Starbucks Can Turn Around
Brian Niccol, the former CEO of Chipotle, began leading Starbucks earlier this week. Transforming the coffee shops back into third places will be a tough task. (00:21) Jim Gillies and Ricky Mulvey discuss:- The situation that Niccol is coming into at Starbucks.- Why previous lead ... Show More
30m 34s
Jan 2025
⚡ Red Bull: How The World Got Its Wiiings | 16
What’s keeping us up at night (besides our own thoughts)? An 8.4-oz blue-and-silver can of caffeine, taurine, sugar, and flavoring that’s part LaCroix, part Robitussin. Red Bull is not only America’s best-selling energy drink, it was its first: before the Bull, ‘energy drink’ in ... Show More
45m 17s
Jul 22
The Aspire Playbook: How Allison Ellsworth Turned a Kitchen Experiment into a Billion-Dollar Brand
Ever wondered what it really takes to turn your small idea into a billion-dollar success? Today, Emma sits down with Allison Ellsworth, the founder behind Poppi, the revolutionary beverage brand that became the second fastest-growing drink company in history. Allison shares the r ... Show More
1h 27m
Nov 2024
Starbucks Teams Up With DoorDash, Wonder Buys Grubhub & Amazon Halts Fertility Project | Fast Five
In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Ownit AI, Avalara, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, Chris and Anne discussed:Starbucks offering delivery via DoorDash through the Starbucks app (Source)Amazon shutting down a secret ... Show More
41m 31s