In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers interviews Jim Matuga, the founder of Interaction Media and creator of StoryMaker, a SaaS platform that leverages AI to help agencies and producers tell compelling stories that drive sales. They dive into the importance of storytelling, content creation, and how to connect with customers on a deeper level by using generative AI.
Jim shares how most businesses communicate through features and benefits but miss the mark by not addressing the internal problems of their customers. A compelling story focused on the customer as the hero is what builds trust and connection.
David adds that too many salespeople listen with the intent to respond rather than understand. Empathy, listening, and understanding are key elements that lead to trust and, eventually, sales.
Jim explains how StoryMaker automates the content creation process by utilizing a company’s existing content and an AI-driven framework to craft 30-second pitches, emails, blog posts, social media content, and more.
StoryMaker learns your business voice, saving time while keeping the messaging authentic. Jim discusses how he used StoryMaker to create his business’s story arc, and how it has been transformative for clients in various industries.
Both David and Jim agree that AI, particularly generative AI, is one of the biggest technological transformations since the internet. AI tools like StoryMaker and ChatGPT allow businesses to create personalized, authentic content quickly, which can be tailored to the needs of different audiences.
Jim highlights how StoryMaker allows non-writers, like insurance agents or other sales professionals, to create high-quality content without needing advanced writing skills. This includes emails, blog posts, and social media content—saving time while producing effective marketing materials.
David shares his experience using AI to simplify complex insurance topics, explaining how ChatGPT helps him create content that resonates with audiences without overwhelming them with technical jargon.
David emphasizes that the AI-generated content must match the salesperson’s voice to ensure authenticity. Without this alignment, there’s a risk of disconnect between the content and the real person behind it, which can damage the trust built through inbound marketing.
Jim introduces StoryMaker’s feature of crafting professional email responses, saving users time and ensuring their tone is appropriate, even in contentious situations. David highlights how this helps avoid emotionally charged or poorly worded responses that could hurt relationships.
The last several years have reshaped the landscape of property insurance across the country. While most national carriers have retreated from coastal states, wildfire zones, and other catastrophe-exposed regions, a handful of disciplined players have taken the opposite path—leaning into difficult markets with a strategic, data-driven approach.
For most entrepreneurs, the decision to start a business is rooted in the promise of freedom. Freedom from a boss, freedom to control income, and freedom to build something meaningful. Yet for many business owners, particularly in service-based industries and middle-market companies, that freedom slowly erodes. What begins as ownership eventually turns into obligation, where the business demands constant attention and the owner becomes the single point of failure.
The insurance industry is full of shortcuts. Some producers look for ways to streamline the quoting process, others avoid hard conversations with clients, and many rely on endorsements or extensions because they are “easier” than diving into the details. Nowhere is this more dangerous than in the world of cyber insurance.
Too many agents assume that a cyber endorsement on a BOP or commercial package policy is “good enough.” It isn’t. In fact, treating a BOP cyber extension as a replacement for a standalone cyber policy leaves clients dangerously exposed, puts producers at risk of losing accounts, and opens the door to costly errors and omissions (E&O) claims.
Cyber threats evolve faster than any other area of risk, and endorsements simply can’t keep up. If producers want to protect their clients and themselves, it’s time to understand why standalone cyber insurance is non-negotiable.
In the middle market, producers don’t lose because the competition has better pricing.
They lose because the competition understands people better—their motivations, their fears, their priorities, and what makes them say yes.
The cyber insurance market has softened in recent years. Requirements that were once rigid — like mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools — have been relaxed by many carriers. But here’s the danger: just because carriers aren’t demanding these safeguards today doesn’t mean businesses can afford to ignore them.
The insurance industry is entering one of the most transformative seasons in its history. For decades, our world has been shaped by carriers, underwriting cycles, prospecting methods, and the grit of producers willing to outwork their competition. But today, a new force is reshaping the landscape—and most producers, agency leaders, and industry professionals aren’t ready for it.
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