Podcast Summary:

The Russell Brunson Show — Episode 93
The Hero With a Thousand Faces: Joseph Campbell’s Framework on Storytelling
Host: Russell Brunson
Release Date: December 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Russell Brunson explores the profound influence of Joseph Campbell’s classic book The Hero With a Thousand Faces—specifically, the Hero’s Journey framework—on storytelling, marketing, and human experience. He recounts his own journey discovering the book, breaks down Campbell’s storytelling structure, and demonstrates how this ancient narrative model drives emotional connection and success, even in business and marketing. Brunson draws parallels to well-known films and his own multimillion-dollar ventures, showing listeners how to apply this timeless formula in their own lives and businesses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Russell’s Discovery of "Hero With a Thousand Faces"

• Personal Anecdote (“My Vault” Segment)
  • Russell introduces his prized first-edition copy of the book and explains its legendary status in narrative arts and business.
  • He first heard about the book at a marketing seminar from Perry Belcher [02:10].
  • He didn’t read it immediately, but as he delved deeper into storytelling for business, the book kept resurfacing.
• Influence on Pop Culture
  • George Lucas read Campbell’s book, had an “oh my gosh” moment, and used the framework to create Star Wars [01:00].
    • Quote: “George Lucas gets this book … he’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, if this is true … I’m going to make a movie based on that.’ And he creates the very first version of Star Wars.” (Russell Brunson, 01:09)
  • Joseph Campbell’s research unearthed a universal sequence in global myths—a pattern he called the “hero’s journey”.
• Framework Across Cultures
  • Campbell discovered that myths from every era and place followed the same storytelling path—a pattern embedded in human nature [02:50].

The Hero’s Journey Explained

• Campbell’s 17 Steps (Simplified) [04:25]
  • Russell offers a condensed, practical version suited for business and presentations.
  • Basic Outline:
    • The hero starts in the ordinary world.
    • Hears the “call to adventure.”
      • Quote: “The hero starts in an ordinary world, right? Then the hero hears the call to adventure.” (Russell Brunson, 04:39)
    • Experiences a “refusal of the call.”
    • Ultimately accepts and departs, meets a guide/mentor, and embarks on a transformative journey.
    • Encounters trials, death/rebirth, revelation, atonement, and returns with the “elixir” (gift/solution) [10:00–15:30].
  • Illustrative Examples:
    • Lord of the Rings: Frodo’s journey from the Shire to Mordor.
    • Rocky: Rocky’s initial reluctance, meeting trainer Mickey, accepting the big fight [11:20].
    • Cars: Lightning McQueen’s path from ordinary life to race champion.
• Subconscious Resonance
  • Russell connects the framework to human development: leaving our “ordinary world” (comfort zone) to pursue growth, guided by mentors, facing trials, and returning transformed [07:20].

Applying the Hero’s Journey to Marketing & Business

• Russell’s Own Experience
  • He started applying the framework in webinars and presentations when launching ClickFunnels.
  • “If it’s the same story framework that’s persuaded people for thousands of years in every culture of all time,” why not use it to “move my audience, to move my people?” [09:00]
  • Russell credits much of ClickFunnels’ billion-dollar success and the vibrant “funnel hacker” community to weaving this storytelling model into all communications.
• Teaching The Framework
  • Russell’s book Expert Secrets instructs using the Hero’s Journey in business storytelling [10:10].
  • Quote: “The Hero’s Journey framework I use over and over and over again. In fact, if you read the Expert Seekers book, I literally teach everybody the hero’s journey framework.” (Russell Brunson, 10:20)

Framework Variations in Hollywood and Business

• Vogler’s Disney Version & Simpler Adaptations
  • Christopher Vogler (Disney exec) adapted Campbell’s 17 steps into a 13–14 step version, now standard in Disney films [16:00].
    • Examples: Moana, Brave, Frozen, etc., all follow this path.
  • Russell demonstrates the core cycle: ordinary world → adventure → mentor → trials → rebirth → revelation → atonement → return with the elixir [17:00–18:30].

Universal Patterns & Personal Transformation

• Personal Application:
  • Story patterns mirror life and spirituality (e.g., rebirth in Christianity, baptism as symbolic death and resurrection) [20:10].
  • “It’s the pattern of your life.” (Russell Brunson, 24:50)
• Seeing the Pattern Everywhere
  • Knowing the structure lets you “see” every movie and story through this lens; it becomes almost inescapable once noticed [19:30].

Practical Resources & Next Steps

• Russell provides links to show notes:
  • Includes:
    • Campbell’s 17 steps,
    • Vogler/Disney’s 13–14 steps,
    • Russell’s own business storytelling version (from Expert Secrets).
  • “You can see three different variations and versions of the hero’s journey, they all follow the same process, the same path.” (Russell Brunson, 26:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• George Lucas’s Revelation:
  “George Lucas gets this book … if this is true … I’m going to make a movie based on that. And he creates the very first version of Star Wars.” (01:09)
• On the Universal Story Pattern:
  “We started looking from culture to culture … time period to time; person told their story in almost the exact same way.” (03:00)
• Relating the Hero’s Journey to All Lives:
  “The Hero’s Journey is our story, which is why I think we resonate at such a deep, subconscious level.” (07:49)
• On Applying the Framework in Business:
  “We layered our message onto the framework found inside of the Hero With a Thousand Faces. That’s why this book is so important to me and should be so important to you.” (09:55)
• On Noticing the Pattern Forever:
  “After I started watching movies [knowing the Hero’s Journey], it would almost be frustrating … there’s the hero, there’s the ordinary world … it’s built literally millions of TV shows, movies, stories, books.” (19:50)
• Encouragement to Apply the Pattern:
  “By learning it and understanding it and mastering it, [the Hero’s Journey] is the fastest way to persuade and influence and change the lives of the people you’ve been called to serve.” (09:35)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:00 – George Lucas & the Star Wars origin story
• 02:10 – Russell’s first encounter with Campbell’s book
• 04:20 – 08:00 – Hero’s Journey basic framework, real-world examples (Lord of the Rings, Rocky, Cars)
• 07:20 – Human resonance and psychological connection
• 09:00 – 10:40 – Using the Hero’s Journey in ClickFunnels & business success
• 16:00 – Vogler’s adaptation & the Disney storytelling model
• 17:20 – 19:50 – Russell’s charting of the simplified journey, repeated cultural examples
• 20:10 – Connections to spirituality and real-life change
• 24:50 – Recognizing the pattern in your own story
• 26:40 – Show notes and three versions of the journey (Campbell, Vogler, Brunson)

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Joseph Campbell’s Hero's Journey is a timeless, universal arc shaping not only mythology, movies, and books, but also narratives in marketing and entrepreneurship.
• Once you understand the pattern, you’ll see it everywhere—and using it can make your stories, messages, and offers deeply persuasive.
• For marketers, creators, or anyone trying to inspire and lead others, mastering this storytelling structure is a shortcut to meaningful impact.

Additional Resources:
Check the episode notes for downloadable frameworks:

• Campbell’s 17 steps
• Vogler/Disney 13–14 steps
• Russell’s business version (from Expert Secrets)

[End of Summary]