How a Local Utility Company Became a Storytelling Powerhouse with Krystal Phillips

“It’s not just about keeping the lights on—it’s about building a relationship with the people at the end of the line.” — Krystal Phillips, JO-EMC Storytelling isn’t just for trendy brands or startups. In this episode, Rain sits down with Krystal Phillips, Communications and Community Relations Manager at Jones-Onslow EMC, to explore how a rural electric co-op built a storytelling culture that would rival any big tech brand. Krystal reveals the behind-the-scenes thinking that led a utility company to invest in heartfelt video stories, internal leadership programs, and community-first content. Together, they unpack how to measure storytelling ROI when you can’t rely on sales, how buy-in from leadership transforms culture, and why authenticity matters more than production value. This episode is a must-listen for anyone working in “unsexy” industries who wants to make storytelling their competitive advantage. In this episode, you will learn to: Harness storytelling as a strategic tool, even in “boring” or highly regulated industries Build team buy-in by grounding your strategy in community and trust Establish internal programs that create a pipeline of storytellers inside your organization Humanize your brand with stories that foster empathy and emotional connection Measure the real ROI of storytelling beyond dollars and metrics Follow Krystal on: LinkedIn Instagram or visit the JO-EMC website, HERE! And for more storytelling tips and tricks, Visit rainbennett.com or thestorytellinglabpodcast.com Follow on TikTok @c hiefstorytellingofficer Follow on Twitter @rainbennett Follow on Instagram @rainbennett Follow on Facebook @thestorytellinglab

You can listen to How a Local Utility Company Became a Storytelling Powerhouse with Krystal Phillips online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How a Local Utility Company Became a Storytelling Powerhouse with Krystal Phillips is an episode from The Storytelling Lab by Rain Bennett.

This episode is 50:36 long.

This episode was published on Dec 8, 2025.

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