Samuel Cook on Building Stories and Systems for Experts
In a recent episode of
The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge sat down with Samuel Cook, co-founder and CEO of Sanity Desk and founder and creative director of James Cook Media. Samuel shared his inspiring journey from Army officer to media entrepreneur and tech innovator, shedding light on his passion for helping experts and influencers craft compelling stories and build seamless marketing systems.
From History to High-Tech
Samuel’s journey began with a deep love for history. After graduating from West Point and serving as an Army officer for 13 years, he transitioned into academia, teaching Russian and Ukrainian history. But in 2013, Samuel took a leap into entrepreneurship, launching James Cook Media to help authors and experts share their stories through documentary-style videos. His passion for storytelling was inspired by his late brother, James, and his ancestor, Captain James Cook, the legendary explorer.
As Samuel’s media agency grew, he identified a common pain point among his clients: managing a patchwork of disconnected marketing tools. This led to the creation of Sanity Desk, a full-suite marketing platform designed specifically for experts and influencers.
The Power of Storytelling
At the heart of Samuel’s work is the belief that storytelling is the cornerstone of effective marketing. "When you’re selling yourself as an expert, it’s personal," Samuel explained. "People make emotional buying decisions and justify them with logic." By crafting engaging, emotional narratives, experts can connect deeply with their audiences, build trust, and guide them toward a better future.
James Cook Media specializes in creating high-quality, documentary-style videos that not only tell compelling stories but also drive results. Samuel’s approach has generated millions in sales for his agency and its clients, proving the transformative power of well-told stories.
Simplifying the Logistics
Through Sanity Desk, Samuel aims to eliminate the technical headaches that often accompany small business marketing. By integrating tools like email automation, CRM, support desks, and landing page builders into one platform, Sanity Desk enables experts to focus on what they do best: connecting with their audiences.
Learn More
To learn more about Samuel’s work and access his free training on storytelling and funnel building, visit
James Cook Media. You can also explore the full capabilities of Sanity Desk at
sanitydesk.com.
Additional Resources:
Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur: https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guest
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!
More from UpMyInfluence:
We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur.
Schedule HERE.
Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you.
Learn more here.
What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER?
Take my free quiz here.
Want to learn more about all the podcasts managed by UpMyInfluence?
Opt in here.
