About
Storyteller & Content Strategist
Howdy, I'm Rian Kochel.
I inherited the gift of gab from my mother and my pops was a pistol, so I'm a real son of a gun with a natural penchant for storytelling.
I understand that words are powerful, and I'm a word nerd. I've harnessed the power of language to drive my success in a variety of fields. I've led marketing efforts for SaaS startups, raised over $80 million in unrestricted funds for esteemed cultural institutions across the U.S., built digital and print campaigns for world-class exhibitions, and my writing has been featured in publications like The Sun Magazine and HuffPost.
I'm a creative force. I don't entertain personal hobbies, I study new ways to refine my craft. This has made me well-versed with a range of artistic disciplines — from music to digital media to my knack for written expression.
What I Do
I will utilize anything you put in front of me to create an engaging story that will resonate with an audience. I understand human connection doesn't live in viral trends or AI algorithms. It lives in the intention that drives humanity's existential need to create. Because of this, I'm compelled to advocate for, and educate others about, AI literacy. I feel that now, more than ever, it's imperative to lead with authenticity in a world that's drowning in tasteless, prefabricated slop.
I put that conviction into practice — I teach Creative Writing with AI and evaluate AI-generated content professionally, work that keeps me at the intersection of craft and emerging technology.
I'm an artist, content strategist, and AI educator with a commitment to human-centered design.
Content & Strategy
Writing
AI & Emerging Tech
Production
Where I've Been
15 years of shaping narratives for organizations that matter.
Shaped large-scale messaging and campaign strategy across complex mission-driven organizations. Wrote and refined website content for rebrands and site launches, conducted stakeholder interviews across leadership and operations, and supported initiatives responsible for $80M+ in cumulative revenue.
Owned product messaging, campaigns, and communications strategy in partnership with executive leadership. Developed brand voice guidelines that scaled across teams and channels, and led creative work through a full rebrand and positioning initiative.
Produced content across web, campaigns, and internal communications for a healthcare technology company. Wrote within regulatory and compliance constraints while maintaining a clear, human tone, and partnered with strategy teams to align messaging with user needs.
Developed clear, audience-first narratives explaining complex tools and workflows to non-technical readers. Balanced speed, accuracy, and craft in a high-output editorial environment while partnering with editors to align content with platform goals.
Currently, I'm teaching people how to incorporate LLMs into their creative endeavors while keeping their artistic voice intact. I also spend a lot of time evaluating AI-generated content for frontier models. I'm actively and intentionally building the bridge between emerging technology and authentic human expression.
How I Work With AI
A 6-step framework for authentic, human-driven AI collaboration.
Define the objective and the AI's role before writing a prompt. Set the "who" and the "what."
Supply background, audience, and situation. Explicitly state what not to do.
Show 2–3 high-quality examples of the desired output style, format, or tone.
Specify the format to make results immediately usable. Markdown, lists, tables, scripts, etc.
Iterate. Edit, request alternatives, use chain-of-thought prompting. AI is a collaborator, not a shortcut.
Audit for hallucinations, bias, and brand consistency before publishing.
How I Work With My Fellow Humans
I listen first. Kickoff calls and stakeholder conversations are where I find the real language and stories that make work feel authentic.
I simplify without reducing — finding sentences that respect a reader's time without erasing the substance of what you offer.
I treat revision as collaboration, synthesizing feedback from multiple voices into cohesive final work. Collaborative, not precious — strategy and craft over ego.
Calm, focused execution within defined timelines. Proactive communication in both async and live settings. User-centered decisions grounded in mission and empathy.
I'm Never Not Creating
And I am always looking to collaborate. I'm driven by curiosity over a fear of failure, because knowledge lives in failure. To hell with false modesty — I fail joyfully and learn constantly.
If any of this resonates, let's talk.
Get in Touch →