James Kirkham and production company TellTale are launching StoryCo, a new podcast examining the role of storytelling in today’s media landscape.
Produced by TellTale executive producer Jago Lee, StoryCo brings together thinkers from AI, film, advertising and digital media to explore how story functions as both cultural force and commercial engine.
Kirkham and Lee conceived the podcast amid a shift from the attention economy to the story economy, an era where film, television and online media converge, brands act like mini-studios, and creators build expansive worlds.
Hosted by Kirkham, each episode explores a guest’s creative origin, defining projects and perspectives on the future of storytelling.
The series intends to inspire CMOs, strategists, producers and founders interested in how great storytelling works.
StoryCo launches on Thursday, 26 March with John Yorke, ex-drama head at Channel 4 and author of Into the Woods. His conversation traces storytelling from tribal origins to Trump-era political discourse.
Guests lined up include PR expert Mark Borkowski, true crime presenter Charlie Webster, author and biographer Andrew Lownie, wellbeing entrepreneur Ryan Hopkins, psychotherapist Kathleen Saxton, and writer Alex Wade.
James Kirkham has more than 20 years’ experience in digital culture and brand building. He co-founded Holler, one of the UK’s first digital agencies, credited with pioneering TV promotion on social media for Channel 4’s Skins, and later launched ICONIC to advise brands on cultural shifts and attention dynamics.
Jago Lee is an award-winning producer and founder of TellTale, known for factual podcasts including Intoxicating History, Sixteen Sunsets, Love Janessa and Educating Daisy. He previously led documentaries for Tiger Aspect and founded Nerd TV.
Kirkham said: “Story has always been humanity’s principal sales tool and best hope for a brighter future. StoryCo is about unpacking how the best storytelling in the world works and how we can all learn from it to improve our lives.”
New episodes will be released every Thursday on all major platforms.
