# Storytelling with Impact > Storytelling with Impact is a resource for anyone who wants to tell an impactful personal story. It features guidance on the three steps vital to storytelling: Ideation, Narration, and Presentation. ## Pages - [Literary Devices](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/literary-devices/): Literary Devices In the context of personal storytelling, literary devices convey meaning, evoke emotion, and offer viewpoints beyond the simple... - [Literary Elements](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/literary-elements/): Literary Elements Literary elements are the fundamental building blocks that form the foundation of every personal story. Think of them... - [Custom 404 Page](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/custom-404-page/): It seems the page you're looking for has gone missing. If you typed in the URL please check your spelling.... - [TEDx Events Attended](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/about/tedx-events-attended/): TEDx & TED Events I've Attended After attending my first TEDx event - TEDxSanDiego in 2010 - I knew it... - [Newsletter](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/newsletter/): Helping You Master the Art of Ideation, Narration, Presentation Image by ribkhan at Pixabay - [Literary Techniques](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/literary-techniques/): Literary Techniques Literary techniques play a crucial role in enhancing personal stories by adding depth, meaning, emotion, and clarity. Each... - [Ten Story Elements](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/ten-story-elements/): Ten Story Elements Personal stories are usually thought of as a single, stand-alone entity. But deconstructing the narrative can provide... - [Ten Story Blocks](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/ten-story-blocks/): Ten Story Blocks Most stories are actually comprised of smaller stories - think chapters in a book, or scenes in... - [Story in Three Steps](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/story-in-three-steps/): Story in Three Steps You have a message to share with the world, or inside an auditorium, conference room, or... - [Contact](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/contact/): Contact Form I’ve worked with people from all walks of life: professors and students, scientists and engineers, executives and employees,... - [Rhetoric by Aristotle](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/rhetoric-by-aristotle/): Rhetoric by Aristotle Storytelling BC Whenever we hear or read a story we tap into our complex humanity in an... - [Narrative Nonfiction](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/narrative-nonfiction/): Narrative Nonfiction Narrative nonfiction combines the authenticity of nonfiction reporting with the writing style of fictional stories. Think of a... - [Resources](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/privacy-policy/): Storytelling with Impact Privacy Policy Our Commitment to Privacy We use industry standard safeguards to protect the confidentiality of any... - [Archive](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/blog/archive/): Article Archive - [Speaking](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/speaking/): Where I'm Speaking While I spend most of my time coaching speakers, you can also find me on stage speaking... - [On Being](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/on-being/): On Being explores the most important questions we can ask: What does it mean to be human, and how do... - [CreativeMornings](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/creativemornings/): Tina Roth Eisenberg started CreativeMornings in 2008 as a way to connect New York’s creative community, but her idea went... - [Pop Culture Confidential](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/pop-culture-confidential/): Pop Culture Confidential is not a storytelling podcast, so much as it’s a podcast of interviews with the storytellers themselves.... - [Criminal](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/criminal/): If getting a behind the scenes view of crime is your cup of arsenic-laced tea, then Criminal will deliver the... - [Coaching](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/coaching/): The Coaching Process Similar to learning a musical instrument, or playing a sport coaching is the most effective way to... - [The Secret Room](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-secret-room/): The Secret Room is where people go to confess something they've kept hidden - for the most part - from... - [Love + Radio](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/love-radio/): Love + Radio has been produced intermittently since 2005. In 2011, L+R became the first podcast to win the top... - [Radio Diaries](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/radio-diaries/): Talk about longevity, Radio Diaries has been capturing extraordinary life stories and historical vignettes since 1996. From teenagers to the... - [The Narrators](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-narrators/): Live on stage, just a speaker and microphone before a live audience, The Narrators can be see in Denver, CO... - [Risk!](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/risk/): Hosted by Kevin Allison, of the legendary TV sketch comedy troupe The State, Risk! happens monthly in New York and... - [The Truth](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-truth/): The Truth is anything but, other than true storytelling at it's finest. Produced in the style of classic radio dramas,... - [Story Worthy](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/story-worthy/): Story Worthy employees a unique storytelling format. Sandwiched in between a lot of banter (some love it, others not so... - [StoryCorps](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/storycorps/): Founded by David Isay in 2003, StoryCorps is an independent, non-profit organization that's created the largest single collection of human... - [The Moth](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-moth/): Since its founding in 1997, The Moth has presented more than twenty thousand stories on 6 continents, all of them... - [UnFictional](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/unfictional/): Hosted and curated by KCRW producer, Bob Carlson, UnFictional presents studio produced personal reflections, classic storytelling and documentary style shows... - [Spark](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/spark/): Spark was founded in 2007 by Joanna Yates, an occupational psychologist who overcame her dyslexia to become an expert on... - [Snap Judgement](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/snap-judgement/): Snap Judgement creator, host & executive producer Glynn Washington has created something special, using a blend of narration, first-person storytelling... - [State of the Human](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/state-of-the-human/): State of the Human is a fascinating radio show and podcast that's produced by the Stanford Storytelling Project and presents... - [The Memory Palace](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-memory-palace/): Created by Nate DiMeo, The Memory Palace is a storytelling podcast about past events. Short episodes, typically 10-20 minutes, delve... - [Ninety Nine Percent Invisible](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/ninety-nine-percent-invisible/): 99% Invisible was originally produced by host Roman Mars from his bedroom. As the show garnered praise from all corners... - [The Lapse](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-lapse/): The Lapse - True Stories Gussied Up - is the beautiful creation of Kyle Gest. Beyond the first person narrative,... - [This American Life](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/this-american-life/): This American Life was the first podcast that I listened to on a regular basis, but that doesn’t explain why... - [Videos](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/videos/): Visual storytelling has become ever more popular with the advent of idea conferences that feature thought leaders and subject matter... - [About](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/about/): About Me Storytelling with Impact explores the art of storytelling from the perspective that the stories we tell can impact... - [Quotes](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/quotes/): Throughout the ages, storytellers have offered their views on the art of telling stories, and the effect it has on... - [Podcasts](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/): Podcasts focused on personal storytelling have proliferated in recent years, and the variety of subjects covered continues to expand so... - [Home](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/): Storytelling with Impact® your story can change the world Storytelling stô-rē-tel-ing - noun or adjective The social activity of sharing... - [Blog](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/blog/) ## Posts - [The Catastrophic Risks of AI - and a Safer Path - Yoshua Bengio at TED2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-catastrophic-risks-of-ai-and-a-safer-path-yoshua-bengio-at-ted2025/): When it comes to the story of AI, you might say Yoshua Bengio is the real deal. Not one of... - [The Grassroots Movement Transforming Public Safety - Aqeela Sherrills at TED2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-grassroots-movement-transforming-public-safety-aqeela-sherrills-at-ted2025/): Urban violence plagues cities around the world, and too often the approach taken by governments is to simply enforce existing... - [How Ibogaine Could Treat Depression and Anxiety - Nolan Williams at TED2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/how-ibogaine-could-treat-depression-and-anxiety-nolan-williams-at-ted2025/): In his 2025 TED Talk, Nolan Williams argues that institutional resistance, driven by those who reject simple, plant-based medicinal solutions... - [Alexis Barton realizes that nothing good happens after 2 AM - Live at The Moth](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/alexis-barton-realizes-that-nothing-good-happens-after-2-am-live-at-the-moth/): Personal stories don’t have to be extraordinary or sensational to have impact. They can just as easily be what I... - [Mike Sella goes skydiving with his daughter - at The Moth in San Francisco](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/mike-sella-goes-skydiving-with-his-daughter-at-the-moth-in-san-francisco/): Have you ever found yourself in a situation that forced you to face your fears? And there was really no... - [Is This the Time of Monsters or Miracles? - Angus Hervey at TED2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/is-this-the-time-of-monsters-or-miracles-angus-hervey-at-ted2025/): The story of our planet’s future is complex, with both positive and negative narratives unfolding. As Angus Hervey explains in... - [What grief and soy sauce taught me about life after loss - Charlene Lam at TEDxLisboa](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/what-grief-and-soy-sauce-taught-me-about-life-after-loss-charlene-lam-at-tedxlisboa/): I’m constantly reminded of the simple fact that each of us lives a unique life — as no two life... - [Why some of us don't have one true calling - Emilie Wapnick at TEDxBend 2015](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/why-some-of-us-dont-have-one-true-calling-emilie-wapnick-at-tedxbend-2015/): What do you want to be when you grow up? This seemingly innocent question, posed to us from childhood —... - [Crafting Impactful Personal Stories: A Guide to Literary Elements, Literary Techniques, and Literary Devices](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/crafting-impactful-personal-stories-a-guide-to-literary-elements-literary-techniques-and-literary-devices/): Introduction The beautiful thing about telling personal stories is that everyone can do it. The fact is, we became storytellers... - [Are we heading towards World War III? - Heni Ozi Cukier at TEDxLisboa 2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/are-we-heading-towards-world-war-iii-heni-ozi-cukier-at-tedxlisboa-2025/): World War I — The Great War — The War to End All Wars. With a death toll that exceeded... - [The Superpower of Comic Con - Natalie Kaczorowski at TEDxSanDiego 2016](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-superpower-of-comic-con-natalie-kaczorowski-at-tedxsandiego-2016/): Comic Con is like a multi-day thrill ride, more carnival than convention, packed with eccentric attire, celebrities, and all things... - [Are We Still Human If Robots Help Raise Our Babies? - Sarah Blaffer Hrdy at TED2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/are-we-still-human-if-robots-help-raise-our-babies-sarah-blaffer-hrdy-at-ted2025/): We were all babies at one point in time, and as we couldn’t care for ourselves, that responsibility fell to... - [Why Climate Action Is Unstoppable and Climate Realism Is a Myth - Al Gore at TED Countdown 2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/why-climate-action-is-unstoppable-and-climate-realism-is-a-myth-al-gore-at-ted-countdown-2025/): The narrative of planet earth, and of humanity itself, is being written by many authors. Some positive, others negative. And... - [Chris Bell protects his family from a possible intruder - Live at The Moth](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/chris-bell-protects-his-family-from-a-possible-intruder-live-at-the-moth/): Sometimes our personal stories fall into the “life is full of unexpected surprises” category, and this is a perfect example.... - [Stop Telling Single People to Get Married - Peter McGraw at TEDxBoulder](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/stop-telling-single-people-to-get-married-peter-mcgraw-at-tedxboulder/): We would like to think that all the decisions we make are of our own choosing. They are, to some... - [What if community is built by sharing stories we hide? - Sónia Silva at TEDxPraça Gil Eanes](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/what-if-community-is-built-by-sharing-stories-we-hide/): Sónia Silva is a master storyteller. It’s as simple as that. Full disclosure, I do know Sónia as we’re friends... - [How Babies Become Language Detectives: The Hidden Science of Statistical Language Learning](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/how-babies-become-language-detectives-the-hidden-science-of-statistical-language-learning/): Every parent has marveled at how quickly their baby transforms from a babbling infant into a chattering toddler who seems... - [Can the great barrier reef be saved from climate change? Theresa Fyffe gives us some insights at TED 2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/can-the-great-barrier-reef-be-saved-from-climate-change-theresa-fyffe-gives-us-some-insights-at-ted-2025/): I often write about the storytelling side of climate change, as this modern day phenomenon will shape billions of stories... - [Ryan Roe at The Moth in Philadelphia](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/ryan-roe-at-the-moth-in-philadelphia/): All too often I will hear people say their personal stories aren’t good enough to share. Nothing dramatic happened. Nothing... - [Your Stories, AI, and George Washington](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/your-stories-ai-and-george-washington/): On this day in 1790, President George Washington signed into law the first U. S. Copyright Act. The Act emerged... - [It Took Thousands of Personal Stories to Create the Mariner 9 Story](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/it-took-thousands-of-personal-stories-to-create-the-mariner-9-story/): Fifty-four years ago today, on May 30, 1971, a symphony of human ambition lifted off from Cape Kennedy. Mariner 9... - [Billions of Personal Stories as Told on the Golden Gate Bridge](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/billions-of-personal-stories-as-told-on-the-golden-gate-bridge/): It was 88 years ago, on May 27, 1937 that the Golden Gate Bridge opened, finally making a direct connection... - [The House Un-American Activities Committee: The Day Freedom of Expression Became a Crime](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-house-un-american-activities-committee-the-day-freedom-of-expression-became-a-crime/): Throughout history, personal stories have been adversely affected by the acts of unjust and misguided governments. Such unjust actions are... - [The Day America Reached for the Moon: Understanding President John F. Kennedy's Bold Promise](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-day-america-reached-for-the-moon-understanding-president-john-f-kennedys-bold-promise/): Yesterday’s article talked about Samuel Morse and the birth of the telegraph, and how an inventor’s vision, driven by grief,... - [What Hath God Wrought: The Telegraph's Birth and the Transformation of Human Connection](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/what-hath-god-wrought-the-telegraphs-birth-and-the-transformation-of-human-connection/): Picture this: It’s May 24th, 1844, and in a small room in the Supreme Court chamber of the Capitol building... - [Muneesh Jain Storytelling at The Moth in Traverse City](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/muneesh-jain-storytelling-at-the-moth-in-traverse-city/): You may remember Peter Aguero’s Moth story of how the simple suggestion of taking a pottery class altered his outlook... - [The Moth - Live from New York - Give me Five - Stories of the Senses](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-moth-live-from-new-york-give-me-five-stories-of-the-senses/): Every episode of The Moth Radio Hour contains storytelling gold, and this one recorded in New York — Give me... - [Molly Kendall at The Moth NYC StorySLAM](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/molly-kendall-at-the-moth-nyc-storyslam/): Personal stories come in a variety of flavors, from happy to sad, and clueless to insightful, but some fall into... - [Shahram Izadi: The Next Computer? Your Glasses @ TED 2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/shahram-izadi-the-next-computer-your-glasses-ted-2025/): Now that the 2025 version of the TED Conference has concluded, I’ll be posting a series of articles that will... - [Astrid Sauer @ TEDxLisboa 2025 - What would life be like without art?](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/astrid-sauer-tedxlisboa-2025-what-would-life-be-like-without-art/): While I enjoy and appreciate all artistic expression — air, music, dance, etc. — I must admit that I tend... - [Carole Cadwalladr: This Is What a Digital Coup Looks Like @ TED 2025](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/carole-cadwalladr-this-is-what-a-digital-coup-looks-like-ted-2025/): Having spent my career in the computer industry, I’ve long been fascinated by digital technology. For most of those years,... - [Understanding Narrative Transportation Using Claude AI](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-claude-ai/): In the past four posts we looked at Embracing Narrative Transportation as a technique to enhance the impact of personal... - [Understanding Narrative Transportation Using Perplexity AI](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-perplexity-ai/): In a previous post I discussed Embracing Narrative Transportation as a way to enhance the impact of your personal stories.... - [Understanding Narrative Transportation Using Gemini Deep Research](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-gemini-deep-research/): In a previous post I discussed Embracing Narrative Transportation as a way to enhance the impact of your personal stories.... - [Understanding Narrative Transportation Using NotebookLM](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-notebooklm/): In a previous post I discussed Embracing Narrative Transportation as a way to enhance the impact of your personal stories.... - [Understanding Narrative Transportation Using Manus AI](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-manus-ai/): In my last post I talked about Embracing Narrative Transportation as a way to enhance the impact of your personal... - [Embracing Narrative Transportation](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/embracing-narrative-transportation/): We’ve all had the experience of being pulled into a story — fiction or nonfiction — to the point where... - [100% My Fault from the StoryCorps Podcast](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/100-my-fault-from-the-storycorps-podcast/): I’m thankful that I’ve never been in a life-threatening situation, but millions of people around the world have, and those... - [Navigating Carbon Markets from the Climate Rising Podcast](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/navigating-carbon-markets-from-the-climate-rising-podcast/): As climate change continues to be the most significant threat our planet has ever faced, telling stories about this crisis... - [Science Storytelling with TILclimate - Farm to table, with a side of fossil fuels](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/science-storytelling-with-tilclimate-farm-to-table-with-a-side-of-fossil-fuels/): Climate change stories can be complex, especially when they’re full of technical descriptions and lists of numbers. But when these... - [Santa Fe Institute.- Nature of Intelligence - Complexity Wrap Up](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/santa-fe-institute-nature-of-intelligence-complexity-wrap-up/): Hopefully you have been along for the ride and have listened to all six episodes. It’s been a lot to... - [Nature of Intelligence – Episode Six – AI’s changing seasons](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-six-ais-changing-seasons/): In this final episode of the Complexity podcast, Melanie Mitchell provides us with a bit of her backstory — how... - [Nature of Intelligence – Episode Five – How do we assess intelligence?](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-five-how-do-we-assess-intelligence/): I don’t know about you, but my brain is starting to hurt, but in a good way. What seems clear... - [Nature of Intelligence – Episode Four – Babies vs Machines](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-four-babies-vs-machines/): So let’s recap where we’re at with regards to the Complexity podcast from the Santa Fe Institute. This season covers... - [Nature of Intelligence – Episode Three – What kind of intelligence is an LLM?](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-three-what-kind-of-intelligence-is-an-llm/): In the previous two articles we looked at the question of What is Intelligence? and examined The relationship between language... - [Nature of Intelligence - Episode Two - Language and Thought](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-two-language-and-thought/): In the previous post we looked at the question of What is Intelligence? This was based on the first episode... - [Nature of Intelligence - Episode One - What is Intelligence?](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-one-what-is-intelligence/): I tend to think of storytelling as sitting at the intersection of four elements: Consciousness — awareness of self, the... - [Kasley Killam: Why social health is key to happiness and longevity @ TEDNext 2024](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/kasley-killam-why-social-health-is-key-to-happiness-and-longevity-tednext-2024/): During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is... - [A Perfect Life Uprooted - Salima Saxton at The Moth in London](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/a-perfect-life-uprooted-salima-saxton-at-the-moth-in-london/): The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages... - [Storytelling And Your Moral Compass](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/storytelling-and-your-moral-compass/): I recently had a discussion with a client about the principles which form a story’s foundation. As we delved deeper... - [Will AI Companions Change Your Story?](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/will-ai-companions-change-your-story/): Companionship is a natural part of the human experience. We’re born into a family that cares for us and within... - [Malcolm Gladwell: The tipping point I got wrong @ TEDNext 2024](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/malcolm-gladwell-the-tipping-point-i-got-wrong-tednext-2024/): During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is... - [Crazy Bet by Nate DiMeo @ The Memory Palace](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/crazy-bet-by-nate-dimeo-the-memory-palace/): Long time readers of this blog already know that one of my favorite storytelling podcasts is The Memory Palace, hosted... - [Rhaina Cohen: Why Friendship Can Be Just As Meaningful as Romantic Love @ TEDNext 2024](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/rhaina-cohen-why-friendship-can-be-just-as-meaningful-as-romantic-love-tednext-2024/): During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is... - [Leopoldo Lopez: How to defend democracy and fight autocracy @ TEDNext 2024](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/leopoldo-lopez-how-to-defend-democracy-and-fight-autocracy-tednext-2024/): During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is... - [Shu Takada: Yo! Have you ever seen a yo-yo dance like this? @ TEDNext 2024](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/shu-takada-yo-have-you-ever-seen-a-yo-yo-dance-like-this-tednext-2024/): During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is... - [The Story of a Flawed Democracy](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-story-of-a-flawed-democracy/): As many of you know, the focus of my work is helping individuals discover, write, and share impactful personal stories.... - [Franziska Trautmann: Your Empty Wine Bottle Could Help Rebuild Coastlines @ TEDNext 2024](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/franziska-trautmann-your-empty-wine-bottle-could-help-rebuild-coastlines-tednext-2024/): During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is... - [AI, Information Networks, and Stories: Insights from Nexus, the latest book by Yuval Noah Harari](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/ai-information-networks-stories-insights-from-nexus-by-yuval-noah-harari/): Note: comments not attributed to the author constitute my personal opinions. You may be familiar with Yuval Noah Harari, the... - [Justin Black: The Story Statistics Don't Tell @ TEDxFolsom](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/justin-black-the-story-statistics-dont-tell-tedxfolsom/): The most impactful TEDx Talks are those which can alter our perspective on a subject of consequence. Sometimes that means... - [Olivia Remes: How to cope with anxiety @ TEDxUHasselt](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/olivia-remes-how-to-cope-with-anxiety-tedxuhasselt/): While mental health was once a topic rarely talked about in public, thankfully the stigma continues to fade away and... - [Paul Conroy: The Faces of War: A Glimpse Through Photojournalism @ TEDxLisboa](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/paul-conroy-the-faces-of-war-a-glimpse-through-photojournalism-tedxlisboa/): Journalism—the practice of reporting on events, people and facts—is a powerful method of storytelling. The (unbiased) goal is to tell... - [The Importance of Resonance and Relevance in Storytelling](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-importance-of-resonance-and-relevance-in-storytelling/): Welcome to 2023! The past few years have been quite an adventure. And what a story, or for most of... - [On Writing (Your Story) Well - Part Two](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/on-writing-your-story-well-part-two/): When telling true stories, people often assume it’s simply a matter of repeating the truth. That’s the best place to... - [On Writing (Your Story) Well - Part One](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/on-writing-your-story-well-part-one/): When telling true stories, people often assume it’s simply a matter of repeating the truth. That’s the best place to... - [Telling Stories About Storytelling](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/telling-stories-about-storytelling/): Most of my time is spent working with clients, helping them craft and deliver impactful talks, but once in a... - [Ashley Wurth Storytelling at The Monti](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/ashley-wurth-storytelling-at-the-monti/): Personal stories can be challenging, especially when the past that you want to talk about – the trials and tribulations... - [David Litt on The Moth Mainstage at Royce Hall](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/david-litt-on-the-moth-mainstage-at-royce-hall/): The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages... - [Journey Jamison on The Moth Mainstage at the BAM Harvey Theater](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/journey-jamison-on-the-moth-mainstage-at-the-bam-harvey-theater/): The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages... - [Peter Aguero on The Moth at The Metropolitan Museum of Art](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/peter-aguero-on-the-moth-at-the-metropolitan-museum-of-art/): The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages... - [Phyllis Bowdwin on The Moth Portland Mainstage](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/phyllis-bowdwin-on-the-moth-portland-mainstage/): The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages... - [Daria van den Bercken: Why I take the piano on the road @ TEDSalon Berlin](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/daria-van-den-bercken-why-i-take-the-piano-on-the-road-tedsalon-berlin/): I had the pleasure of attending a special TED event in 2014. TEDSalon Berlin was just a one day affair,... - [Simon Anholt: Which country does the most good for the world? @ TEDSalon Berlin](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/simon-anholt-which-country-does-the-most-good-for-the-world-tedsalon-berlin/): I had the pleasure of attending a special TED event in 2014. TEDSalon Berlin was just a one day affair,... - [Heather Barnett: What humans can learn from semi-intelligent slime @ TEDSalon Berlin](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/heather-barnett-what-humans-can-learn-from-semi-intelligent-slime-tedsalon-berlin/): I had the pleasure of attending a special TED event in 2014. TEDSalon Berlin was just a one day affair,... - [Hans and Ola Rosling: How not to be ignorant about the world @ TEDSalon Berlin](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/hans-and-ola-rosling-how-not-to-be-ignorant-about-the-world-tedsalon-berlin/): I had the pleasure of attending a special TED event in 2014. TEDSalon Berlin was just a one day affair,... - [Just Another (Storytelling) Day](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/just-another-storytelling-day/): It’s January 1st, 2021. In one sense it’s just another day, with another sunrise, and another sunset. But our embrace... - [Liel Leibovitz at The Moth from The Avalon Hollywood](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/liel-leibovitz-at-the-moth-from-the-avalon-hollywood/): The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages... - [Leonard Lee Smith on The Moth Mainstage at the Paramount Theatre](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/leonard-lee-smith-on-the-moth-mainstage-at-the-paramount-theatre/): The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages... - [Aleeza Kazmi at The Moth from The Beacon School in New York City](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/aleeza-kazmi-at-the-moth-from-the-beacon-school-in-new-york-city/): The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages... - [Tara Clancy on The Moth Mainstage at the Avram Theater](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/tara-clancy-on-the-moth-mainstage-at-the-avram-theater/): The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages... - [Sangeeta Bhatia: This tiny particle could roam your body to find tumors @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/sangeeta-bhatia-this-tiny-particle-could-roam-your-body-to-find-tumors-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Sam Kass: Want kids to learn well? Feed them well @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/sam-kass-want-kids-to-learn-well-feed-them-well-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Danielle Feinberg: The magic ingredient that brings Pixar movies to life @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/danielle-feinberg-the-magic-ingredient-that-brings-pixar-movies-to-life-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Latif Nasser: You have no idea where camels really come from @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/latif-nasser-you-have-no-idea-where-camels-really-come-from-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Paula Hammond: A new superweapon in the fight against cancer @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/paula-hammond-a-new-superweapon-in-the-fight-against-cancer-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [James Green: 3 moons and a planet that could have alien life @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/james-green-3-moons-and-a-planet-that-could-have-alien-life-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Zaria Forman: Drawings that show the beauty and fragility of Earth @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/zaria-forman-drawings-that-show-the-beauty-and-fragility-of-earth-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Sal Khan: Let's teach for mastery, not test scores @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/sal-khan-lets-teach-for-mastery-not-test-scores-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Samantha Nutt: The real harm of the global arms trade @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/samantha-nutt-the-real-harm-of-the-global-arms-trade-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Juan Enriquez: We can reprogram life. How to do it wisely @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/juan-enriquez-we-can-reprogram-life-how-to-do-it-wisely-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Nadia Lopez: Why open a school? To close a prison @ TED Talks Live](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nadia-lopez-why-open-a-school-to-close-a-prison-ted-talks-live/): TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure... - [Pixar Storytelling - It Starts With An Idea](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/pixar-storytelling-it-starts-with-an-idea/): If you haven’t seen a Pixar animated movie, I’ll assume you have been living on a (nearly) deserted island. Their... - [The Challenges of Story Compression](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-challenges-of-story-compression/): One of the most difficult challenges every storyteller faces is how to compress days / months / years / centuries... - [A Social Innovation Story, Impactathon 2020](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/a-social-innovation-story-impactathon-2020/): I’m not the biggest fan of social media, but I do appreciate the benefit of making connections on digital platforms,... - [The Three Dimensions of Public Speaking](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-three-dimensions-of-public-speaking/): Humans have been making public speeches for thousands of years, but until recently, the number of folks doing so has... - [The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 500](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-creative-penn-podcast-episode-500/): Storytelling takes many forms, and while my focus, for the most part, supports individuals telling their story verbally, writing your... - [Crimson Letters: Voices from Death Row](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/crimson-letters-voices-from-death-row/): I’ve spent a lot of time in prison. Not as an inmate, but instead coaching inmates, helping them craft their... - [Three Reasons We Don't Tell Our Story](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/three-reasons-we-dont-tell-our-story/): Some folks are eager to tell us their story. They know their message is one that others could benefit from... - [The Challenge of Finding Historical Truth](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-challenge-of-finding-historical-truth/): My last post touched on the art of Interviewing From a Historical Perspective as a way to enrich your story... - [Interviewing From a Historical Perspective](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/interviewing-from-a-historical-perspective/): The process of crafting an impactful story often begins with identifying events and insights from your life’s journey, but such... - [95,000 Names - 95,000 Stories](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/95000-names-95000-stories/): Traditions are an essential element of every culture. Merriam-Webster defines the term as “the handing down of information, beliefs, and... - [The Successful Pitch with John Livesay](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-successful-pitch-with-john-livesay/): I had the pleasure of meeting John Livesay when he joined the Speaker Adventure storytelling program that I hosted with... - [A Decades Long Struggle for Justice as told on The Memory Palace](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/a-decades-long-struggle-for-justice-as-told-on-the-memory-palace/): The Memory Palace continues to be one of my favorite storytelling podcasts with its unique way of bringing forth historical... - [Creating a Vivid and Continuous Dream](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/creating-a-vivid-and-continuous-dream/): John Gardner was an accomplished author, literary critic and university professor – a rather rare combination. He was one of... - [The Country Doctor on Snap Judgement](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-country-doctor-on-snap-judgement/): America has had problems with discrimination from day one. Look no further than the death toll of Native Americans, often... - [Behind the Scenes of The Memory Palace](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/behind-the-scenes-of-the-memory-palace/): I’ve been a podcast listener for many years, and at the beginning of my daily walk I’ll open the PocketCasts... - [The Modern Story of Strange Fruit, with Dianne Reeves and John Beasley](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-modern-story-of-strange-fruit-with-dianne-reeves-and-john-beasley/): Racial discrimination is a sad reality throughout the world, and sadly, still a significant aspect of American culture. From the... - [The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but?](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-truth-the-whole-truth-and-nothing-but/): Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? We’ve all heard this question,... - [Why Storytelling Matters via Patrick Moreau](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/why-storytelling-matters-via-patrick-moreau/): “Why storytelling? ” It’s a question I’ve been asked many times, often preceded by the phrase, “Out of all the... - [Us CAN Do This by Gill Sotu](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/us-can-do-this-by-gill-sotu/): I’ve always believed that there’s an opportunity to reach inside and search for the beauty and joy which exists within... - [250 Filmmakers Tell 1 Pandemic Story](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/250-filmmakers-tell-1-pandemic-story/): The depth of storytelling is without limits, which is why I often tap into the brilliance of other individuals and... - [You Matter - Your Story Matters](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/you-matter-your-story-matters/): Over the years I’ve talked to thousands of people about storytelling, especially the impactful niche of personal storytelling, and the... - [Going Home in the COVID-19 Pandemic](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/going-home-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/): March 16th marked the tenth day of my visit to the United States, and it was hard to believe how... - [Storylistening and the Covid-19 Pandemic](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/storylistening-and-the-covid-19-pandemic/): It’s Saturday, March 14th. I’ve been traveling for the past nine days, from Lisbon to San Diego by way of... - [Storytelling and the Power of Reflection](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/storytelling-and-the-power-of-reflection/): Personal storytelling consists of recounting events that have occurred in the past, describing the state of the world as it... - [The Story of Your Identity in the Digital Age](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-story-of-your-identity-in-the-digital-age/): The concept of identity has always been difficult to define, and while the digital age has, to some extent, simplified... - [Finding Your Creative Voice via Ira Glass](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/finding-your-creative-voice-via-ira-glass/): The beauty of becoming a creative professional goes hand in hand with the struggle to find yourself in the process,... - [Is Climate Change the Most Important Story of the 21st Century?](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/is-climate-change-the-most-important-story-of-the-21st-century/): There will be many world-changing stories throughout the 21st century. Artificial intelligence and genome science are two that will alter... - [The Essential Power of a Family Story](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-essential-power-of-a-family-story/): In addition to the many podcasts that I listen to regularly, I stay connected to the art and craft of... - [An Immigrant's Story Nearly Lost](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/an-immigrants-story-nearly-lost/): Despite its rather modest size – the current population hovers around 1,000 – the history of Plymouth, California is something... - [Unraveling the Tangled Web of Slavery](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/unraveling-the-tangled-web-of-slavery/): One of the beautiful aspects of storytelling in the digital world involves the inclination of the story you’re reading (or... - [De Oratore by Cicero – Book 2 – The Effects of Oratory](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-2-the-effects-of-oratory/): In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing... - [Follow Your Passion, Or Just Enjoy Life](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/follow-your-passion-or-just-enjoy-life/): In each moment we’re writing the story of our life based on the decisions we make, and a big part... - [De Oratore by Cicero - Book 2 - The Emotions of Oratory](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-2-the-emotions-of-oratory/): In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing... - [The Emotional Side of Storytelling](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-emotional-side-of-storytelling/): Personal storytelling is all about sharing and understanding. The sharing of your experiences, views, insights, opinions, perspectives and wisdom, in... - [Why Drones Need Our Better Angels](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/why-drones-need-our-better-angels/): Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick PhD is an associate professor of political sociology. He teaches at the Kroc School of Peace Studies on... - [Using Story for Persuading, Influencing, or Most Importantly, for Understanding](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/using-story-for-persuading-influencing-or-most-importantly-for-understanding/): If you spend time, as I do, reading about the art and practice of storytelling you will often come across... - [Peacemakers at the University](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/peacemakers-at-the-university/): One benefit of being a professional in higher education is the opportunity to change the lives of students at a... - [De Oratore by Cicero - Book 2 - The Objectives of Oratory](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-2-the-objectives-of-oratory/): In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing... - [Transcending the Border with Anchors Not Parachutes](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/transcending-the-border-with-anchors-not-parachutes/): Ev Meade, PhD, director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego, explores how universities can help to... - [Stories Told and Stories Untold in Porto](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/stories-told-and-stories-untold-in-porto/): The most appealing benefit of travel, in my opinion, is how each place visited has a story to tell, or... - [The Secret that Almost Killed Me - Kirsten Johnson at TEDxSDSU](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-secret-that-almost-killed-me-kirsten-johnson-at-tedxsdsu/): Students that enroll in my Storytelling with Impact course at UC San Diego Extension are generally looking to improve their... - [De Oratore by Cicero - Book 1 - Writing to Learn Oratory](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-1-writing-to-learn-oratory/): In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing... - [We were all humans until...](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/we-were-all-humans-until/): It had been awhile since this anonymous quote crossed my path, but I recently noticed it on a friend’s social... - [Mark Lovett Podcast Appearances](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/mark-lovett-podcast-appearances/): If you haven’t figured it out already, I’m a huge fan of podcasts. Starting with my first listen of This... - [De Oratore by Cicero - Book 1 - Conversation on Oratory](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-1-conversation-on-oratory/): In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing... - [The Tragic Story of Bail in America](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-tragic-story-of-bail-in-america/): The bail system in American is nothing short of criminal, a tragic story of incarceration for those who lack the... - [A Remarkable Life Story - Tess Vigeland at World Domination Summit 2013](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/a-remarkable-life-story-tess-vigeland-at-world-domination-summit-2013/): I think it’s safe to say that deep down, we all want to live a remarkable life. One that is... - [De Oratore by Cicero - Book 1 - The Essence of Oratory](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-1-the-essence-of-oratory/): In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing... - [Find Your Bliss, Your Passion, Your Ikigai](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/find-your-bliss-your-passion-your-ikigai/): “Follow your bliss,” said Joseph Campbell “Follow your passion,” said everybody else on the planet I’ve heard these phrases mentioned... - [Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Sharing Ideas in San Diego](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/young-leaders-of-the-americas-initiative-sharing-in-san-diego/): Whenever I get an email from the San Diego Diplomacy Council, I know something interesting is afoot. In this case,... - [Creating a Storytelling Workshop for African Entrepreneurs](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/creating-a-storytelling-workshop-for-african-entrepreneurs/): I get requests to conduct storytelling workshops from a variety of sources, from business networks to startups and professional organizations.... - [Speaker Adventure - June 2017](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/speaker-adventure-june-2017/): Was this the coolest and craziest Speaker Adventure ever? Well, that’s certainly what it felt like at the conclusion of... - [Idea to Published Book Bootcamp](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/idea-to-published-book-bootcamp/): Seems everyone has a book in them, which is not surprising when you think of how quickly we’re able to... - [Lisa Hisha's Journey from Speaker Adventure to TEDxNewBedford](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/lisa-hishas-journey-from-speaker-adventure-to-tedxnewbedford/): Some people come to Speaker Adventure in order to develop their skills in hopes of one day being on a... - [Simon Sinek Speaks at CreativeMornings San Diego - October 2016](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/simon-sinek-speaks-at-creativemornings-san-diego-october-2016/): Storytelling encompasses a variety of styles, from the personal, to the historical and investigative. There’s another style that I’m calling... - [Exploring the Mehrabian Myth](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/exploring-the-mehrabian-myth/): Every profession as its own set of rules, instructions and standards. As you might expect, these guidelines will vary, sometimes... - [Marwa Al-Sabouni at TEDSummit 2016](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/marwa-al-sabouni-at-tedsummit-2016/): How Syria’s architecture laid the foundation for brutal war While some stories are meant to be a factual record of... - [The Craft of TEDx Speaker Coaching](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-craft-of-tedx-speaker-coaching/): As the TEDxSanDiego organizer for 6 years, organizer for TEDxMonumento258, and having attended 85+ TED/TEDx events since 2010, I’ve experienced... - [Storytelling Defined](https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/storytelling-defined/): What image comes to mind when you hear that word? Maybe you envision someone speaking from a stage, or an... # # Detailed Content ## Pages - Published: 2025-08-05 - Modified: 2025-08-08 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/literary-devices/ Literary Devices In the context of personal storytelling, literary devices convey meaning, evoke emotion, and offer viewpoints beyond the simple description of what the storyteller experienced, thought, or felt. Whether comparing concepts, looking forward / backwards in time, or utilizing a unique style, these devices allow the audience to grasp your narrative in a deeper and more nuanced way. They can even shift the audience's perspective on an important point you're trying to make. As you craft your personal story and incorporate the literary elements and literary techniques available to you, review these literary devices to see if one or more of them can improve the impact of your writing. MetaphorA metaphor is a direct comparison between two different things, stating that one thing is the same as another thing. In personal storytelling, metaphors may create emotional feelings, emphasize a physical attribute, or bridge gaps in understanding between the speaker and the audience. "My childhood home was my fortress, protecting me from the chaos of the outside world. " "Divorce was an earthquake that shattered the foundation of everything I thought I knew about love. " SimileSimiles compares two different things using "like" or "as" between the two items. In personal storytelling, similes often help audiences better understand one object by comparing it to something else with a similar auditory, visual, tactile, or psychological attribute. "My grandmother's hands were like weathered maps, telling stories based on decades of hard work. " "He realized moving to a new city was as confusing as watching a foreign movie without subtitles. " AlliterationAlliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in consecutive or closely positioned words, creating rhythm and emphasis in speech. When writing personal stories, alliteration often makes phrases more memorable and impactful, helping key moments stay in listeners' minds. "Building my business required boundless belief in an uncertain future. " "College offered countless chances to challenge my comfortable assumptions. " PersonificationPersonification gives human characteristics, emotions, or actions to non-human objects, concepts, or abstract ideas. In personal storytelling, personification allows audiences to connect with abstract concepts like fear, opportunity, relief, or time by giving them personality and agency. "The old house seemed to sigh with relief when we finally decided to renovate it. " "The city embraced me like an old friend when I moved there after college. " HyperboleHyperbole utilizes deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect, but it's not meant to be taken literally. In personal storytelling, hyperbole amplifies emotions or experiences to help audiences understand their intensity and significance, by presenting them as larger than life. "My toddler had the energy of a small tornado destroying everything in his path. " "That presentation felt like it lasted an eternity, though it was only ten minutes. " IronyIrony involves a contrast between expectation and reality, appearance and truth, or intention and outcome. Used in personal storytelling, irony reveals life's unexpected turns and the gap between our plans and actual experiences. It is so common in life that audiences connect with... - Published: 2025-08-04 - Modified: 2025-08-08 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/literary-elements/ Literary Elements Literary elements are the fundamental building blocks that form the foundation of every personal story. Think of them as the ingredients required for a recipe. Without them, you simply don't have a story. These essential elements include your plot (the sequence of events), characters (the people driving the action), settings (when and where everything happens), point of view (which is you, obviously), theme (the underlying message), conflicts (tensions to be resolved), tone (your attitude), and style (your distinctive voice). Every personal story will contain these foundational components, as together they'll form the structural framework upon which all stories are built, by creating the skeleton that gives shape and substance to every impactful narrative. Plot1The sequence of events that make up a story, from the opening to closing scenes. A well-structured plot helps to maintain an audience's interest and will provide a clear progression of events from your perspective. While plots are usually presented in chronological order, they can also occur in reverse order, or moving between past, present, and future. In any event, the plot conveys where in time each scene resides. Character2In personal stories, the storyteller (you) is always the main character, but other people are often included. And while they may be important in some respects your stories are primarily about you and your experiences. In some stories, animals are characters. Even inanimate objects, such as a building, river, or car, can play a role, but every story that you tell will focus on your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Setting3Settings define the time and place in which your story occurs, whether that's inside a room, outdoor area, in the air, on the water, or somewhere in a city. Settings give context to your narrative. A vivid setting can create a backdrop that will enhance the mood and tone of the narrative, and in doing so, influence how an audience perceives the events that take place in a particular location. Theme4A story's theme is the central idea, subject, or message that the narrative explores. With personal stories, they often address complex issues from either an emotional or intellectual perspective. Rather than being stated explicitly, themes are implied by the sequence of events which transpire and the collective storyline that unfolds. At times multiple themes may be dealt with, but there's typically a primary theme. Conflict5Conflict is often thought of as a struggle between two opposing forces, and in that light, it occurs internally (within ourselves) and externally (between ourselves and circumstances we encounter). In storytelling, the nature of this 'struggle' helps drive the narrative forward and engages the audience, as they can reflect on what they would do in a similar situation. Plus, conflict reveals your true nature to the audience. Point of View6With personal storytelling, the point of view is always yours. And your point of view shapes how audiences connect with the story being shared, as you're revealing what happened to you, in your own words. In addition, you're sharing your innermost thoughts and emotions... - Published: 2019-11-23 - Modified: 2025-08-08 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/literary-techniques/ Literary Techniques Literary techniques play a crucial role in enhancing personal stories by adding depth, meaning, emotion, and clarity. Each technique serves a unique purpose, allowing storytellers to convey their experiences in a more engaging and impactful way. While there is no definitive list of literary techniques — if you do some research you'll find a variety of opinions on the topic — the ones listed below have special relevance with regards to telling personal stories. None of these techniques are required, so feel free to utilize the ones that best serve a particular narrative. That said, do spend some time thinking about each of them, and consider how they may add impact to your story. ImageryImagery involves using descriptive language to create visual images in the minds of an audience. Characters, settings, and experiences come alive when described in detail. It asks those listening or reading to step into the shoes of the narrator and vividly relive the event. FlashbackTelling a personal story, by definition, is about past events, but flashbacks can still be incorporated if your narrative is structured in a non-linear sequence. Using in medias res, which means to begin a story in the middle, storytellers can then flashback to a previous time. ForeshadowingForeshadowing provides a hint about something which is going to happen later in the story. A specific sequence of words is revealed in dialogue early on the narrative, then comes back later on in the story, allowing an audience to subliminally experience the connection. DialogueWithin the telling of a personal story, dialogue could, in a way, refer to the storyteller speaking to the audience, but another example is whenever something said by another character is quoted. This allows the audience to hear the words of someone other than the storyteller. Stream of ConsciousnessIn addition to describing the chain of events that occur in personal narratives, storytellers can also reveal what they were thinking about at a particular point in time. Taken to the extreme, stream of consciousness takes the audience inside a narrator's mind for an extended journey. ReflectionReflection involves a narrator contemplating past events and thinking about their significance. This technique also allows a storyteller to share insights and lessons learned, as well as exploring what if scenarios — what might have transpired if other decisions had been made. SymbolismSymbolism can enhance personal stories by using objects, characters, events, or settings to represent more complex themes or emotions, allowing readers to connect with the narrative at a deeper level. In essence, something which is easy to grasp, represents a more difficult concept. JuxtapositionJuxtaposition places contrasting 2 elements side by side to highlight differences, enhance meaning, or create tension. This may involve an emotional contrast (happy / sad), or a difference in traits (strength / weakness), or the results of an effort (success / failure). AllegoryAllegory attempts to express some truth about the human condition using fictional characters and events in order to convey moral, spiritual, even political messages. As relates to personal storytelling,... - Published: 2019-11-18 - Modified: 2025-08-08 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/resources/ten-story-blocks/ Ten Story Blocks Most stories are actually comprised of smaller stories - think chapters in a book, or scenes in a movie. An impactful story told from the stage is no different and one of the key steps during the coaching process is working with a speaker to identify the mini-stories that can be stitched together, thus forming an engaging narrative that takes the listener on a journey, step by step. I call them story blocks. Having watched thousands of talks, both in person and recorded, I've identified ten types of story blocks that are fundamental to crafting compelling talks that support your message from different angles, on many levels. Stories with rich and diverse narratives are remembered. A noteworthy talk will often feature more than one type of story block, though it's rare for a story to have them all. Use this approach to find the smaller stories which will ultimately comprise your full story. Your Personal StoryThe personal story is central to creating an impactful narrative. No matter the importance of a topic, or supporting evidence presented to support your idea, the impact is amplified when an audience connects to you on a personal level. This story block comes from your personal experiences, beliefs, values, and visions of the future. The fact that you've lived the story humanizes your talk, and the audience will want to come on the journey, to learn what you've learned. As the main character in your personal story, these blocks explain why you're passionate about the message in your story. Someone Else’s StoryWhen telling a story about someone else, they become the center of attention. You're sharing their experience as a way to illustrate the main point within your narrative, but doing so from another perspective. This may be someone that you have interacted with directly - a relative, such as a parent or sibling, someone you worked with, or maybe a person you were/are in a relationship with. It can also be someone that you've read about or who is known to the audience - a public figure such as a politician, movie star or athlete. With the spotlight on them, you're the storyteller. Historical ReferenceAs the name implies, this story block is about historical events. It can be a hybrid if you played a part in this event, or were a witness to what happened, but it's often a story about another time and another person or even a group of people. Referencing history will take your audience out of the present moment and back to a time when something occurred that can be thought of as a stepping stone to the narrative of today. It may illustrate how things are different today, but it can also serve to highlight how history has not changed all that much, or is in the process of repeating itself. Scientific ResearchScientific research story blocks address a variety of purposes. In situations where society (local, regional or global) is dealing with a particular problem, such... - Published: 2018-06-22 - Modified: 2025-10-11 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/contact/ Contact Form I’ve worked with people from all walks of life: professors and students, scientists and engineers, executives and employees, creatives and entrepreneurs, special forces personnel, prison inmates, and immigrants, to name a few. I've conducted seminars, addressed conferences, and taught a university course on storytelling. Submit this form if you have questions about the speaker coaching process or want to schedule a video call to discuss your storytelling needs and objectives. Name * E-Mail * Subject * Message *This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. This contact form is deactivated because you refused to accept Google reCaptcha service which is necessary to validate any messages sent by the form. - Published: 2018-05-18 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/privacy-policy/ Storytelling with Impact Privacy Policy Our Commitment to Privacy We use industry standard safeguards to protect the confidentiality of any personal information we collect from visitors to this website. Such personal information is accessible only by designated staff and agents of our organization who are bound to this statement. It is important to recognize that “absolute security” does not exist on the Internet. This statement is provided to clarify our commitment to protecting the security of the personal information you provide. Personal Information that We May Collect When you submit forms on our website, we may ask for information such as your name and email address. Some forms may ask for additional information, such as personal interests, comments and opinions. In addition to information provided by website visitors, website servers (hosted by a third party) automatically receive and record information from your Internet browser, including IP address, cookie information, and the pages you request. How We Use and Disclose Your Information We use information you provide on an aggregated basis to do such things as operate our site, enhance our site, and to better understand the profile of our online audience. Website visitor behavior, such as visiting pages and clicking on links, is collected by Google for the purposes of providing Storytelling with Impact with anonymous analytical information. We may also use both personal and aggregate data to enhance your site experience by displaying content that we believe will be of interest to you. In some cases we use your personal information to contact you or to provide information to you, such as sending our email newsletter, per your submission of a website form, and per your request for this information. Information Sharing and Disclosure We do not share, sell or rent your personal information with other people, though we do respond to subpoenas, court orders, or legal process, or to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims. We believe it is necessary to share such information in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of persons, violations of the website terms of use, or as otherwise required by law. Cookies and Other Tracking Methods Cookies are small pieces of information stored on your computer. They allow us to better understand how users use our site and can help us to tailor our website to better match your needs and interests. You are always free to decline our cookies if your browser permits, but some parts of our site may not work properly if you do. Email Opt-Out Right You may, at any time, request to be removed from our email list by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email you receive from us. Notification of Changes If we make any material changes in our privacy practices that affect user information already collected through our site, we will post a notice on our website notifying users of the change. If you have any... - Published: 2016-11-13 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/on-being/ On Being explores the most important questions we can ask: What does it mean to be human, and how do we want to live? These polished one hour interviews, with some of the wisest and most insightful thinkers on the planet, delve into who we are as a species, both good and bad, and lead us toward a vision of our world that is both compassionate and profound. It’s uncanny how such a diverse range of interviewees - from writers and poets to theologians and physicists - end up at the mysterious, cosmic crossroads of humanity in the 21st century. - Published: 2016-11-13 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/pop-culture-confidential/ Pop Culture Confidential is not a storytelling podcast, so much as it’s a podcast of interviews with the storytellers themselves. Christina Jeurling Birro hosts and Renee Viterstedt produces these always engaging segments that feature the writers, directors, producers, show runners and actors to give us a behind the scenes look at how movies, television & theatre are made. They're able to shine a light on the most current events, from new shows and movies being released, to the latest buzz during awards season. These are stories you won't hear on the evening news. - Published: 2016-09-11 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/criminal/ If getting a behind the scenes view of crime is your cup of arsenic-laced tea, then Criminal will deliver the goods. From poisoning trees to serial killers, nurses who kill and devious Bourbon thieves, the episodes range from fascinating to skin crawling, so be warned, as some stories are not for the timid. Criminal picks up the crime story long after the sensationalist media has faded away. Detailed background, interviews with involved parties, what happened after the crime. All those pieces of history that the what's-happening-this-moment-media doesn't have time to revisit. - Published: 2016-09-10 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-secret-room/ The Secret Room is where people go to confess something they've kept hidden - for the most part - from friends and family. Sex, drugs, betrayal - join Ben Hamm and Dahlia Beta as they explore the stories no one ever tells. Which makes you wonder, why now, and why in such a public way? Some of the stories would create quite a shock to certain people who may be listening and had been kept in the dark for many years. It's part personal storytelling, part narrator guiding the way, and part Q&A that serves to flesh out some key points and take the conversation in new directions. What's interesting about the format, is that anyone can Share a Secret. Maybe you will be chosen, and end up on the show, providing the opportunity to reveal something you've kept to yourself for a very long time. - Published: 2016-09-08 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/love-radio/ Love + Radio has been produced intermittently since 2005. In 2011, L+R became the first podcast to win the top prize at the Third Coast Festival Competition and began regular production in 2014 with the launch of Radiotopia. There are times when you’re quite sure the story being heard is fiction, and you have to remind yourself that the narrative unfolding before your ears is true, or is it, or maybe the truth has been embellished. Props to Brendan Baker, director of sound/senior producer, for enhancing the emotionally raw stories that combine interview with storytelling - the result is a dreamy concoction of searing life experiences and lessons learned. - Published: 2016-09-05 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-narrators/ Live on stage, just a speaker and microphone before a live audience, The Narrators can be see in Denver, CO and San Diego, CA, as well as listened to by way of their finely edited podcast. Dedicated to promoting the art of true storytelling and providing community access to storytelling events since 2010, the theme-based sessions feature personal stories that are both raw, and surprisingly polished. The Narrators Denver is a live monthly storytelling show hosted by Ron S. Doyle and Erin Rollman. Comedians, actors, musicians, writers, and other fascinating folks share true stories from their lives, centered on a monthly theme. The show takes place at Buntport Theater every third Wednesday of the month. The Narrators San Diego is a live monthly storytelling show hosted by Mary Robertson and Robert Rutherford and takes place at Tiger! Tiger! Tavern every second Tuesday of the month. Both shows are free as the air you breathe. - Published: 2016-09-05 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/risk/ Hosted by Kevin Allison, of the legendary TV sketch comedy troupe The State, Risk! happens monthly in New York and Los Angeles. The notable list of past speakers includes people like Janeane Garofalo, Lisa Lampanelli, Kevin Nealon, Margaret Cho, Marc Maron, Rachel Dratch, Sarah Silverman, Lili Taylor, Andy Borowitz - not too shabby a lineup. Often described as outrageous, uncensored, jaw-dropping, heart-wrenching, remarkably real, you would be well advised to check out the videos on their YouTube channel, which provides visual connections to the speakers and results in a different sense of emotional impact. - Published: 2016-09-04 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-truth/ The Truth is anything but, other than true storytelling at it's finest. Produced in the style of classic radio dramas, it may lean toward narration, a two-way conversation, or a stage play, depending on the episode. You’ll discover some of the best narrative writing, enhanced by studio sound effects that paint a vivid picture of the story being told. The range of content makes each journey a mystery. Intriguing, fanciful or mind-bending - you might encounter a world that doesn't exist, a bit of history that's been rewritten, or a poignant dose of 'what if'. Their stories have been broadcast all over the world, and also featured on public radio programs like This American Life, All Things Considered, Planet Money, Studio 360, and Snap Judgment. As a completely independent production they create their own original stories. Many of the actors perform and teach at Magnet Theater in New York City, and the stories are directed, mixed, and sound designed by Jonathan Mitchell, who has been making radio for nearly 20 years. The polish is evident. - Published: 2016-08-28 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/story-worthy/ Story Worthy employees a unique storytelling format. Sandwiched in between a lot of banter (some love it, others not so much), and a round of Q&A on the back end, you'll experience an interesting and very personal story in which the entertainment business typically serves as a foundation to the narrative of how the studio guest deals with the craziness of the industry. The subjects and content can, on occasion, get serious, but it’s more often about the humor found in life’s twists and turns. Rather than the raw onstage storytelling offered in The Moth, or the insightful revelations explored in StoryCorps, this podcast feels more like a rollicking dinner party. So if your dream is to be interviewed on late night television, pull up a chair. - Published: 2016-07-22 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/unfictional/ Hosted and curated by KCRW producer, Bob Carlson, UnFictional presents studio produced personal reflections, classic storytelling and documentary style shows from radio producers across the country. Historical perspectives and events that magically relate to modern times. You may feel like you’re watching a stage production, or even sitting in a classroom as a series of voices piece together a compelling narrative. There are plenty of OMG and WTF moments that reveal much about yourself while the stories dive deep into the lives of others. - Published: 2016-07-16 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/spark/ Spark was founded in 2007 by Joanna Yates, an occupational psychologist who overcame her dyslexia to become an expert on the art of storytelling. Since then, thousands of true stories have been told live from Spark stages. The three requirements when speaking at Spark are: It must be true It must be your own story It must be under five minutes long Keeping these stories brief helps to eliminate extensive backstory, going on tangents, and off-topic rambling as speakers get right to the point, in many cases by ripping of the bandaid and laying bare their soul on stage. Talks are based on a theme pulled from crowdsourced ideas. Some are straight up funny, others take a more serious tone, and you will find a typical "raw" quality about the delivery, as these are not professional speakers giving overly polished talks. With so many American-produced podcasts consuming most of the oxygen within the podcast atmosphere, hearing the cornucopia of UK accents, combined with an equally non-American sense of humor, makes for a refreshing change of auditory pace. - Published: 2016-07-09 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/state-of-the-human/ State of the Human is a fascinating radio show and podcast that's produced by the Stanford Storytelling Project and presents stories that deepen our understanding of single, common human experiences - belonging, giving, lying, forgiveness - all drawn from experiences and research of the Stanford community, and designed to showcase the transformative nature inherent in both traditional and modern oral storytelling. Produced by undergraduate students, the stories incorporate a mix of memoir, interview, dramatic reading, sound design and much more. While this podcast may not be quite as polished as those produced by the industry veterans, the unique perspective offered by insightful students will have you questioning your own views on how life works. - Published: 2016-06-24 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/the-lapse/ The Lapse - True Stories Gussied Up - is the beautiful creation of Kyle Gest. Beyond the first person narrative, "gussied up" refers to the addition of sound effects - squeaky doors, animal noises, musical instruments, etc, as well as the occasional narrative comment by Kyle himself, as the featured speaker tells their own personal story. At times it seems like an old time radio show, while other times a stage performance reminiscent of A Prairie Home Companion, and on occasion, as though you're sitting in someone's living room. The stories are both true and unrehearsed, which is remarkable, as the narratives possess a hand crafted feel and the storylines border on the unreal. Credit for the compelling audio is given to Kyle Gest. "With extensive foley work our stories are designed to recreate the scene as it happened. " True that. - Published: 2016-06-20 - Modified: 2025-08-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/podcasts/this-american-life/ This American Life was the first podcast that I listened to on a regular basis, but that doesn’t explain why I’ve listened to each episode (nearly 600) and why it remains my favorite podcast of all time. It's a storytelling tapestry unlike a novel, movie, news show, or personal narrative. Actually, it's a bit of all those, but... Let’s start with the basic premise, which I wasn’t so sure about early on, but came to see its brilliance as the show progressed. They'll pick a theme, then present stories on that theme. Sometimes just a single story, but most often two to four vignettes are featured. The content ranges from first person narrative to investigative journalism, and almost every shade of gray in-between. There’s the occasional piece of fiction tossed in, but otherwise it's about real people living real lives. The stories are humorous, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, insightful, inspiring - sometimes all of the above - you never know what you’re going to get. And the mastermind behind the show? That honor goes to Ira Glass, who's hosted the show from the beginning. Ira was named best radio host in the country by Time Magazine, and he received the highest individual honor in public broadcasting, the Edward R. Murrow Award. It's difficult to describe the magic that Ira infuses into each episode. He presents some facts, questions assumptions, and draws conclusions while weaving the narrative components in what becomes a most unique fabric. From the standpoint of telling us the truth, more often than not, This American Life leaves us wondering what's actually true, and what may be the biased product of someone's fading memory. - Published: 2016-06-13 - Modified: 2025-11-01 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/ Storytelling with Impact® your story can change the world Storytelling stô-rē-tel-ing - noun or adjective The social activity of sharing personal stories Impact im'pakt - noun or verb Having a direct and strong effect on someone "The true impact of storytelling happens when your story becomes part of someone else’s story. " You're Already A Storyteller For anyone who lacks confidence in their role as a storyteller, this guide will take you back in time to illustrate the fact that you became a storyteller at a young age and have been telling stories ever since. Free Download Truth is, you've been listening to stories since your first day on this planet and you became quite the storyteller long before the age of five. In addition to telling tales, stories are fundamental in language acquisition, critical for cognitive development, and play a key role in building interpersonal social skills. By highlighting how stories have shaped your life, this guide will give you the confidence to share your personal stories. Why Your Story Matters From the moment we're born storytelling becomes a defining aspect of our humanity, helping us learn about a strange new environment as we listen to stories from family and friends. Stories allowed us to make sense of the world around us, and consummate storytellers we all become in rather short order. Through storytelling we hear about the experiences of others, sharing successes and failures, and the wisdom we've gained. Through the telling of stories we have the profound ability to change someone's life; to expand their horizons or alter their perspectives, and in doing so, envision a more joyful future. Why Coaching Matters While it's true that we became storytellers at a young age, capable of having conversations which describe our experiences or explain how we feel and express our thoughts, few of us have been taught the fine points regarding how to tell impactful stories. We spend years learning our profession - as a scientist, professor, attorney, accountant, doctor or musician, artist, designer, writer - fill in the blank. Thousands of hours devoted to honing our talents, yet very little time practicing the art of storytelling. Similar to how coaching sharpens the skills of athletes, and taking lessons from professionals is common for musicians, working with speaker coaches helps you craft and deliver any story with greater impact and take your storytelling abilities to an entirely new level. The coaching process is tailored to your needs. For Every Story Subject Personal Stories: The triumphs and challenges, the joys and sorrows, and the wisdom gained along the way. Business Stories: From origin to the present day, from the employees, to the customers, even the products. Nonprofit Stories: Working to make the world a better place by changing lives, and creating stories of hope. Science Stories: Stories of discovery within all aspects of science, from biology to chemistry and physics. Social Stories: Dealing with critical issues, from poverty and hunger, to income inequality and discrimination. Do you have an... ## Posts - Published: 2026-02-12 - Modified: 2026-02-12 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-catastrophic-risks-of-ai-and-a-safer-path-yoshua-bengio-at-ted2025/ When it comes to the story of AI, you might say Yoshua Bengio is the real deal. Not one of the modern day pundits who are mere observers of the technology. Along with Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun (they won the 2018 Turing Award), Yoshua is know as one of the Godfathers of AI. In his 2025 TED Talk, Yoshua speaks to the potential dark side of AI. Not only are these platforms increasing their capabilities at an exponential pace, they're also gaining increased autonomy, or agency. Which is to say, they are able to make decisions on their own, without human guidance or intervention. What researchers and developers have discovered, is that AI is now capable of lying, with an intent to deceive us. The question posed in his talk is whether this combination of capability and agency poses a threat to human joy. Can you imagine a world without human joy? I really wouldn't want that. So I'm going to tell you also about AI capabilities and AI agency so that we can avoid a future where human joy is gone. We're not talking about a minor alteration, but a fundamental change in how the future of society unfolds — and that shift will rewrite everyone's personal story. That's not to say AI is bad, as the analytical power it provides to us will produce dramatic positive effects, but if self-preservation and strategic deception are its underlying modes of operation, then our well-being is of secondary importance. This paradigm shift from machines doing what they're told, to machines doing what's in their best interest, is quite complex, and even the most rudimentary explanation could take hours. So how best to get the point across in under 15 minutes? How do you present the problem, and solution, in a way that people can grasp? Notice how he grounds the concepts with a story of his son Patrick's expanding capability and agency, which results in joy. He then takes us back in time to the early 'childhood' days of AI and its limited abilities. Fast forward to today, and the notion of what AI could/would become are quite different. AI technology is advancing faster than expected and exhibits behaviors that weren't predicted. And I saw how it could go wrong because we didn't, and we still don't, have ways to make sure this technology eventually doesn't turn against us. Thus his plea to 'pause' development, which was summarily ignored by all, as there's money to be made from this new technology. And if you think about it, advancing technology has typically benefited society. So why pause? Why slow down progress? National security agencies around the world are starting to be worried that the scientific knowledge that these systems have could be used to build dangerous weapons, for example by terrorists. At this point, Yoshua explains why AI is different. It doesn't just follow orders. To a limited degree — at least today — it has a mind of its own... - Published: 2026-01-12 - Modified: 2026-01-21 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-grassroots-movement-transforming-public-safety-aqeela-sherrills-at-ted2025/ Urban violence plagues cities around the world, and too often the approach taken by governments is to simply enforce existing laws — something of an outside-in-approach. In this talk from TED2025, Aqeela Sherrills proposes a different strategy — more of an inside-out-approach to reducing the level of violence that vexes so many neighborhoods. Let's take a look at how Aqueela structured his talk in a way that exposed the audience to what was most likely uncharted territory. Notice how he uses a combination of personal stories, second hand stories, historical references, alongside statistics to craft a compelling and easy to follow narrative. Aqueela lays the groundwork for the idea he's sharing by taking the audience back to 1992, the year two rival Los Angeles gangs — the Crips and the Bloods — came to the peace table to hammer out a treaty. For those unfamiliar with the gang wars that had led up to this point, he frames it as a: "three-decade-long urban war that claimed more than 10,000 lives in LA County alone". You see, safety isn't just one intervention. It's a shared strategy and requires an ecosystem of programs that residents trust. With that context in mind, Aqueela proceeds to reveal a bit of his own backstory, having grown up amidst this turmoil, before transitioning to the outcome of the peace treaty that he was part of. This is a key aspect of presenting an idea from the perspective of your personal experience. At this juncture, the audience knows the problem that's being discussed and the speaker's relationship with the issue. We're not hearing this story from someone in law enforcement or the judicial system. This is a personal narrative from an individual who lived through the problem, who witnessed it firsthand, and is determined to become part of the solution. With a sense of what's at stake, Aqueela fast-forwards to the present, letting us know that the problem of urban violence remains, especially within low-income communities. And for Black males ages 14 to 25, violence is the number one cause of death. But he also tells us that police departments have realized arrests alone won't solve the problem, and they're increasingly turning to community leaders to create solutions. This is about halfway through the talk, which allows him to explore the solution in more detail than he used to describe the problem. You see, investing in nontraditional leaders as a complement to policing works. He rolls back into story mode by introducing Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, and the specific need to create a violence intervention strategy. He then delves into additional examples, such as launching the Safe Passage program and the city’s first trauma recovery center. And that public safety is not just the absence of violence and crime, but the presence of well-being and the infrastructure to support victims and survivors in their healing journey. What caught me off guard was shifting the narrative to the murder of his son. Something that... - Published: 2026-01-05 - Modified: 2026-01-15 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/how-ibogaine-could-treat-depression-and-anxiety-nolan-williams-at-ted2025/ In his 2025 TED Talk, Nolan Williams argues that institutional resistance, driven by those who reject simple, plant-based medicinal solutions in favor of complex, man-made chemicals, can delay the adoption of natural therapies, and in doing so, lead to loss of life. For example, this paradigm delayed the cure for scurvy for over a century and cost a million lives. In his talk Nolan offers the opinion that this same approach is being repeated today, by keeping powerful psychedelic plant medicines like ibogaine — which show dramatic efficacy in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction — illegal as it's classified as a Schedule I drug, thus preventing life-saving treatments from those in need. As director of Stanford University School of Medicine's Brain Stimulation Lab, Nolan could have approached this topic from a highly technical angle. Instead, he takes us on a journey, beginning with a stop onboard a British naval vessel in 1756. Here he sets the stage for his premise — that nature sometimes offers a cure to a common human ailment, but if there is resistance to adoption, the delay can cost lives. He then introduces a new plant-derived medicine, ibogaine, used historically by the Bwiti people. He shares the story of Marcus Capone, a Navy SEAL who had to travel to Mexico for the illegal compound that saved his life, convincing Williams to study it. What's interesting is that, instead of recounting the details secondhand, Nolan uses clips of an interview with Marcus so that we hear his words directly. This may or may not be an option when you're telling your story in public, but it's a technique to consider when the possibility exists. As this treatment is controversial, and has potential side-effects, he concludes with both a sense of caution, and a call for open-minded, data-driven evaluation, warning that "the clock is ticking" on the edge between institutional rejection and acceptance. It's obvious that Nolan believes in the potential of this treatment, but at the same time he carefully chooses his words and doesn't make universal claims that are not supported by the research to date. This is a factor that anyone telling a science-based story needs to pay attention to. Transcript Alright, it's 1756. You're all aboard a British naval vessel headed to the New World. You're down below deck with your fellow sailors, and you're all sick. Your legs are swollen, your gums are bleeding, you just lost a tooth. You go to the ship's doctor and he tells you this is due to internal decay and laziness. You ask about this foreign fruit medicine, the citrus medicine that you could take, and he tells you that this is not a treatment for what you have. It’s too simple; it’s a plant medicine. And he’s an anti-fruiter. And instead, he prescribes you arsenic tonics. True story. And you get worse. And when you get to the new world, half of your shipmates are deceased. My name is Nolan... - Published: 2025-11-01 - Modified: 2025-11-03 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/alexis-barton-realizes-that-nothing-good-happens-after-2-am-live-at-the-moth/ Personal stories don't have to be extraordinary or sensational to have impact. They can just as easily be what I think of as everyday profound. On one level, they're simple tales from life, but under the surface there's a deeper meaning. Often a realization of some kind or an aha moment. And when there's a funny thread running through your narrative, all the better. Alexis Barton's story told at The Moth is a prime example of storytelling that I call humor with heart. Most love stories end with a white dress. Mine begins with one. While her story is unique, many of us have been in relationships that could have become long lasting, but over time they faded away, and in the end, we realized it was for the best. And that's a factor to consider when crafting your own story. Think about what makes your story different, all yours, and how the theme can connect to a broad audience? The fact that Quinton already had a girlfriend, that was just a poetic obstacle that I had to overcome. What became evident to me while listening to Alexis' story was her mastery of language and humor. Consider her use of the phrase poetic obstacle and the word situationship. This is difficult for most storytellers to pull off unless they happen to be a professional writer, which she reveals at the end. That said, I invite you to try your hand at crafting a unique phrase or novel hybrid word. Notice the early hints she offers as to her background and style with mention of "Southern girls love bows", and "Southern girls love hair ribbons". On their own, they provide the audience with a sense of how she looks, but they also serve as a bit of foreshadowing when she later says, "I'm Sandra Dee in my little ponytail and hair ribbon. " It's a clever callback, taking us from the general to the specific. I also appreciated the way in which she compared herself to her quasi-boyfriend and his date when they all crossed paths in Walmart at 2am. Rather than saying "they were obviously together" and "I was obviously alone", she refers to the fact that, "they had couple snacks... and I had single-girl food". While either approach works, the former is simply stating a fact, while her word choice connects to the audience in a common way, as we've all been shopping and noticed what was in someone else's shopping cart. Transcript Most love stories end with a white dress. Mine begins with one. The white dress I wore for my high school graduation was above the knee and chic, backless, and it had a sweet little bow at the back because Southern girls love bows. And when I wore it to my graduation, I had no idea that it might serve a second purpose as a wedding dress, or more accurately, a dress to elope in. But about two and a half years later, I was a... - Published: 2025-10-23 - Modified: 2026-01-21 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/mike-sella-goes-skydiving-with-his-daughter-at-the-moth-in-san-francisco/ Have you ever found yourself in a situation that forced you to face your fears? And there was really no way out? Most likely you have, and such life events can become the basis for personal stories that others can connect to. Even if those hearing your story haven't had the same experience as you, they can relate to the common emotions that such situations evoke. Delivered at The Moth in San Francisco, Mike Sella shares a story about the time went skydiving for his daughter's birthday, despite his fear of heights. From the setup to exiting the plane, we're with him for the journey, and it's a fun ride. And this is where I really start to flip out. I mean, there was a leg dangling. Let's take a look at how Mike structured his story to connect with the audience, create tension, and deliver a comedic punchline that beautifully brings us full circle. Rather than starting with the terrifying prospect of jumping out of a plane, he takes us to a familiar, low-stakes setting: Disneyland. In doing so, he establishes three critical elements. First, he’s a loving, fun dad. Second, he has a signature shtick — faking a bored yawn for the on-ride roller coaster camera. And third, his daughter Parker wants to go skydiving, a prospect that clashes with his self-professed "big fear of heights. " His exaggerated yawn, which is basically an inside joke with his daughter, seems like a minor act, but it's something that we subconsciously file away. Eventually we see that it’s the key to the entire story, but in the beginning, he's planting a narrative seed. It's a classic use of foreshadowing that enriches the overall story. And as I'm masterminding my escape, Stefan says, "It's go time! " Describing himself as the "luggage of someone who is skydiving" is a perfect visual metaphor, as it highlights his complete lack of agency. Something we all fear. The anxiety goes up a notch with his comments about the "casually dangling" leg of another skydiver, as well as the plane taking off without the door closed. We feel his sense of panic, but the tone is still humorous, and we're enjoying the journey. When his daughter disappears from the plane, Mike realizes it's a point of no return, and his motivation shifts from fear of jumping to the primal fear of losing his child, which gives him the push he needs. As he's plummeting to Earth, and the audience is plummeting with him, the instructor gestures for him to smile for the camera. But instead of smiling, Mike executes his signature move: the exaggerated yawn. I spent 20 years trying to convince her not to run with scissors. And now she has literally tumbled out of an airplane in front of me. The seed planted in the story's opening minutes blooms into a moment of sublime comedic triumph. This callback elevates the story from a simple anecdote to a perfectly crafted piece of storytelling.... - Published: 2025-10-16 - Modified: 2026-01-21 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/is-this-the-time-of-monsters-or-miracles-angus-hervey-at-ted2025/ The story of our planet's future is complex, with both positive and negative narratives unfolding. As Angus Hervey explains in his talk at TED2025, global collapse and unprecedented progress exist simultaneously within a state of "contested terrain," and humanity's ultimate trajectory is determined by the daily choices and deliberate actions we take in order to create a narrative of constructive solutions over destruction and despair. From a storytelling perspective, how does Angus get his point across and create impact? One technique that he employs is a non-traditional structure built upon Juxtaposition and Paradox, contrasting a widely told "Story of Collapse" with the often-overlooked "Story of Renewal. " It's a technique often used when describing social issues that essentially says, "You may be thinking this story is unfolding in one direction, and while there is truth in that view, there's an alternate narrative that you also need to consider. " Let's take a look at how Angus takes the audience on a factual and emotional journey that ultimately leads to the message his story is designed to convey. Note how he reveals his profession when he says, "I'm a solutions journalist. " Have you ever heard that phrase before? Probably not, so it becomes a hook, capturing your attention, as we're curious about anything that's unfamiliar. He expands on this theme with, "reporting on stories of progress", but then turns the narrative on its head by offering, "maybe I was wrong". After three sentences we want to find out where his story is heading. He illustrates the idea that he may be wrong by recounting a few present-day problems that we have heard about: the end of rules-based order, power over principle, science under attack, casual cruelty, etc. At this point in the story we feel the weight of the negative narratives that dominate our daily news cycle. Ultimately, none of us know whether we are living in the downswing or the upswing of history. But then he signals a shift in tone by saying, "There is something missing though from this story. ", and goes on to list off a much longer series of positive events and accomplishments that are happening around the world. Both of these stories are true. But the only question that matters now is which one do you belong to? This tonal shift is also apparent in his choice of words as he transitions from "monsters," "vandalism," and "unraveling" to using positive language, such as "bending the curve," "protected," and "breakthroughs". It's a reminder that your word choice matters. So as you craft your story, seek out specific words and phrases that not only describe what you're thinking, but also contain emotional impact. Transcript I'm a solutions journalist. For over a decade, I've been reporting on stories of progress. But in the last few months, I've started to think that maybe I was wrong. Almost a century ago, the Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci, thrown into prison by Mussolini, wrote: "The old world is dying, and the... - Published: 2025-08-31 - Modified: 2026-01-21 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/what-grief-and-soy-sauce-taught-me-about-life-after-loss-charlene-lam-at-tedxlisboa/ I'm constantly reminded of the simple fact that each of us lives a unique life — as no two life journeys are identical — and yet our experiences share common threads and themes. So it is with loss, as it's a constant throughout life. We lose loved ones, or move on from one job to the next. During a natural disaster we may lose physical objects, possibly our entire home. When loss happens, grief soon follows, and quite often we're not sure how to react. Dealing with grief is not something we learn in school. At best, we learn from watching how others handle it. In her talk at TEDxLisboa, Charlene Lam shares her experience dealing with grief after her mother died unexpectedly from a stroke. Charlene also brings the wisdom she's gained over the years as the founder of The Grief Gallery , and author of Curating Grief. You might say Charlene is no stranger to grief. Loss is a fundamental part of being human. Grief is universal. We will all experience it. Charlene begins her talk with a simple, relatable image: a bottle of soy sauce in her mother's kitchen. Growing up, this soy sauce evoked pleasant memories of home cooking and family dim sum. But after her mother passed, that everyday object took on a new, heavier meaning. It symbolized the arduous task of clearing out her mother’s home, of letting go of personal possessions imbued with heartfelt memory and connection. This opening anecdote perfectly illustrates how tangible items become vessels of immense emotional weight after loss. Grief taught me how to hold lightly. I invite you to hold lightly and to live fully in full color. Her initial reaction was to "hold on tight" to every single item her mother owned, fearing that letting go of these objects meant letting go of her mother's memory. This is contrasted with her husband's suggestion to "just throw it away," which represents detachment. These extremes bring in a sense of tension into Charlene's narrative, and at the same time, serves as a reminder that society often presents us with such binary messages. That it's all or nothing. At this point, I'm sure many in the audience are reflecting on their own experiences with loss and grief. Reviewing how they may have reacted. At this point Charlene proposes a different approach: "holding lightly. " Holding lightly, she explains, is about appreciating the beauty and joy of life while also acknowledging the reality of impermanence. What I find brilliant in how Charlene tells this story is how the narrative weaves in her personal experience with grief, explores the topic more deeply in order to shift the focus away from her and engage the audience. In this way, she's able to illustrate the fact that grief is a natural part of life that everyone must deal with at some point. What's unique is also universal. In the end, we're invited to examine our own perspective on the matter, and to consider a... - Published: 2025-08-09 - Modified: 2026-01-21 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/why-some-of-us-dont-have-one-true-calling-emilie-wapnick-at-tedxbend-2015/ What do you want to be when you grow up? This seemingly innocent question, posed to us from childhood — typically by the age of five — often evolves into a source of nagging anxiety for many adults. For those of you who have ever felt as though your diverse set of interests make you act scattered, indecisive, or even "wrong," then Emilie Wapnick’s TEDxBend Talk offers a refreshing and empowering perspective. Her personal journey, which may be similar to yours, was a cycle of diving deep into a new passion, excelling, and then, inevitably, getting bored and moving on. This pattern led to feelings of inadequacy and a fear of never finding her "thing. " But what if having many interests isn't a flaw, but a superpower? Wapnick uses the term "multipotentialite" for someone who has many interests and creative pursuits. It isn't about being afraid of commitment; it's about being wired for breadth, not just depth, and seeking variety, instead of consistency. Let's take a look at how Emilie structure her talk for impact: The Hook (Relatable Problem): Emilie identifies a shared experience — the "what do you want to be" question and the anxiety it often causes. A great personal story often begins by establishing common ground, making the audience feel seen and understood. In this case, it's by asking a question. Alternatively, this effect can be achieved by making a direct statement. The Journey (Personal Narrative): She then delves into her own struggle, detailing the cyclical nature of her interests. Her vulnerability and honesty builds connection with the audience. For your story, it could mean sharing your own patterns, or questions that arose from your unique experiences. The Turning Point (Reframing the Narrative): Mentioning "multipotentialite" becomes an "aha! " moment, changing a perceived weakness into a strength. In your personal narrative, this is where you pivot from problem to potential. What new insight or understanding transformed your perspective based on the diversity of your experiences? The Superpowers (Illustrating Your Unique Strengths): Emilie outlines 3 important "superpowers" of multipotentialites, using people who embody them as examples: Idea Synthesis: The ability to combine seemingly disparate fields to create something new. For your story, think about how your varied interests intersect. How has your experience in one area uniquely informed your approach in another? This synthesis creates original perspectives that captivate. Rapid Learning: The knack for grasping new subjects. This translates to your storytelling ability to quickly learn new skills or adapt to different narrative styles. It means you're rarely starting from scratch because your past learnings are always transferable. Adaptability: The capacity to morph into whatever is needed in a given situation. Your story isn't static; it evolves and adapts. This superpower allows you to navigate challenges in your life and in your storytelling, ensuring your narrative remains relevant and dynamic. The Call to Action (Empowering Conclusion): Emilie concludes her talk with a suggestion to embrace your inner wiring. Your multitude of passions isn't a deficit; it’s precisely... - Published: 2025-08-07 - Modified: 2026-01-21 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/crafting-impactful-personal-stories-a-guide-to-literary-elements-literary-techniques-and-literary-devices/ Introduction The beautiful thing about telling personal stories is that everyone can do it. The fact is, we became storytellers in childhood, and we learned to do so with minimal instruction. As babies, we soaked up thousands of stories that swirled around us, and those narratives fed into our cognitive development. It didn't take long for our infant babbling to become words, phrases, sentences, and finally, stories. Before our fifth birthday, we had become storytelling machines. (well, humans actually, but you know what I mean) We didn't consciously know anything about grammar, plots, settings, or character arcs. Yet subconsciously, we had learned a great deal about so many aspects of storytelling. Our skills continued to improve at each phase of our lives, from childhood to adolescence and into adulthood. And not a day goes by — unless you're at a meditation retreat where you're not allowed to speak — that you don't tell dozens of stories, to family, friends, colleagues, even total strangers. But having casual conversations is not the same as telling intentional stories in front of an audience. These are stories with a purpose, with an intent, with a message to share. And when that is the aim, it's highly beneficial to study the literary elements, techniques, and devices that can dramatically increase the impact of your stories. These stories transform both storyteller and listener (or reader) through the sharing of wisdom, insights, lessons learned, scientific discoveries, and visions of a better future. Whether recounting pivotal moments from your life journey or exploring ideas that could reshape how others think about the world, impactful personal storytelling requires more than just recounting events — it depends on the skillful use of foundational tools that make stories resonate deeply. At the heart of compelling personal narratives lie three distinct but interconnected components: Literary elements Literary techniques Literary devices Understanding how these work together provides the framework for crafting stories that don't just inform or entertain, but genuinely impact lives. Let's start with the most important subject, literary elements, as they're the fundamental building blocks of any story. These are the essential components that give structure to a narrative — plot, character, setting, theme, conflict, point of view, tone, mood, style, and structure. Think of them as the architectural framework upon which all stories are built. Without these elements, your narrative will lack the ability to fully engage an audience effectively. Layered on top of the elements, literary techniques represent specific methods writers employ to bring their personal stories to life. These include approaches like imagery, flashback, foreshadowing, dialogue, stream of consciousness, reflection, symbolism, juxtaposition, allegory, and satire. These techniques shape how the story is told and guide audience members through the emotional and intellectual journey that every personal story contains. Then we come to literary devices, the precise tools that add depth, beauty, and resonance to language itself. Devices such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, personification, hyperbole, irony, oxymoron, paradox, analogy, and sarcasm work at the sentence and phrase level to... - Published: 2025-07-25 - Modified: 2026-01-21 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/are-we-heading-towards-world-war-iii-heni-ozi-cukier-at-tedxlisboa-2025/ World War I — The Great War — The War to End All Wars. With a death toll that exceeded 20 million, many believed it was, and others at least hoped it was, but such was not the case. More than 3 times as many perished during World War II. Afterwards, fewer believed or even hoped it would be the last. The atomic bomb changed everything we thought we knew about war. The Cold War kept the world on its toes until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, supposedly bringing that era to and end. And for a while there was a resurgence of hope that humanity had finally turned a corner. Mutual Assured Destruction was supposed to keep us crazy humans in check. But in his talk at TEDxLisboa in March 2025, professor Heni Ozi Cukier asked the audience to consider the question again: Are we heading towards World War III? On the one hand, answering such a question would consume many hours, if not days, so the challenge from a storytelling perspective was how to do that in less than 18 minutes from the stage. Beyond the fact that this is one of the most important questions that any of us can ask, Heni's talk is an excellent example of how to take a very complex topic and present it in a way that general audiences — composed of people who are not experts in geopolitics — can understand. In short, technological progress brings incredible benefits, but they also breed insecurity, resentment, and uncertainty. Historically, such anxieties have made societies more unstable and vulnerable to extreme ideologies that fuel militarism and war. Heni does this in two ways. First, he takes us back in time to examine what was happening when previous world wars erupted. In this way we can frame what's going on in the world today against how events transpired in the past. But even this method involves too many variables, too much complexity, so he highlights four dimensions for the audience to track from past to present: social economic political military Within the first minute, the audience is clear on the topic at hand, the three time periods in question, and the four dimensions that will be reviewed at each stage. In a sense, he's given them signposts to follow as the narrative unfolds, ensuring they won't get lost along the way. If we have the aggressors’ alliance growing stronger and the opposing alliance becoming divided and weak, the incentives for the aggressors to strike, they’re really big. Follow along with the transcript as you listed to Heni's talk. Notice how each element is presented in order. How each is explained enough to understand, without over-explaining. And the conclusion does not give us an answer to the question initially posed, but summarizes the current state of world affairs in a way that invites us to do our own research, and come to our own conclusion. Transcript History has taught us many lessons, and we... - Published: 2025-07-12 - Modified: 2026-01-21 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-superpower-of-comic-con-natalie-kaczorowski-at-tedxsandiego-2016/ Comic Con is like a multi-day thrill ride, more carnival than convention, packed with eccentric attire, celebrities, and all things pop-culture. For years, onlookers have viewed these masters of the geek universe with a sense of confusion and comic relief. That’s about to change, as Natalie Kaczorowski, aka Comic Connie, looks behind the mask of Comic Con to explain the hype, the craziness, and the exceptional superpower of Comic Con. Strap in for the thrill-ride of your life, as things are about to get nerdy. "We are who we choose to be. So choose. " Back in the day, when I was the organizer of TEDxSanDiego, I would start lining up speakers 6 months ahead of time. The theme for 2016 was The Age of Magic. One aspect of this theme addressed the incredible technology that was being developed and deployed around the world in ways that could change society. But another way to look at this theme was through the lens of human identity and the human imagination. That got me thinking about Comic-Con, the world-famous conference held annually in San Diego. And as luck would have it, I knew someone who approached the yearly convention with an unbridled passion. The brilliance in Natalie's talk comes from her ability to weave her personal story of finding her identity and her tribe to the broader story of how everyone is just playing a role in life, whether they recognize it or not. Notice how she captures the audience's attention and has them laughing — first by referring to the superhero outfit she's wearing on stage, and seconds later, to the outfit she's wearing in a photo taken at Comic Con. When I was a kid, I always had a flair for the dramatic. Turns out I had a condition called being an insufferable pain in the ass. She then takes us from the woman she is on stage that day, to the young girl she was growing up and the central topic of how we all struggle to find our identity. In her case, that journey was through the world of comic book heroes. Comic-Con is really an invitation to celebrate self-expression. And when she introduces the topic of cosplay, it's an opportunity to connect to the audience on the topic of self-expression, and thus, personal identity. I want to live in a world where we don't have to have an identity struggle or change or hide our appearance to hide from who we really want to be. As you follow Natalie's journey of self-expression, connecting with her tribe, and becoming her most invincible self, reflect upon your own path and the struggles you've had to simply be yourself. If you're in the process of writing a personal story of your own, note how Natalie blends various story blocks in order to create a narrative tapestry that's founded in her own experiences, but reaches out the audience with a universal message. Transcript I wish I could wear this every day.... - Published: 2025-07-05 - Modified: 2026-01-21 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/are-we-still-human-if-robots-help-raise-our-babies-sarah-blaffer-hrdy-at-ted2025/ We were all babies at one point in time, and as we couldn't care for ourselves, that responsibility fell to one or more adults. Typically our parents, but in some cases other relatives. In any event, our upbringing was a matter of human-to-human contact. But what about in the future? With AI and robotics advancing rapidly, will non-humans begin playing a role in raising future generations? In her brief talk at TED2025, Sarah Blaffer Hrdy reminds us of the process that's been in place for many thousands of years, and poses this exact question. As an anthropologist and primatologist, as well as a Professor Emerita, Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Davis, Sarah has unique insights on this issue. Artificial intelligence is going to change the nature of human work. But will it change human nature? An interesting point that Sarah brings up is that neuroscientists have detected activity in brain regions associated with social understanding in young babies when interacting with people, demonstrating early social wiring in their brains. Which had me wondering whether that would still be true with a robot. Soon, robots will be programmed to provide a wider range of services, ranging from bottle-feeding to keeping babies safe, warm, cleaned, and even educated. To be honest, this is one talk that I feel should have been five minutes longer. It felt as if the question was posed, some background offered, but little attention paid to the answer. For me, this highlighted the fallacy of "less is more". In this case, less was definitely less, to the point that the message fell short. Transcript I guess you've already figured out, like it or not, artificial intelligence is going to change the nature of human work. But will it change human nature? That's going to depend on what we do with it. Right away, the mother and the grandmother in me wants to know, "Ooh, hey, can we program robots to help us care for our sleep-depriving, time-consuming babies? " That's before the evolutionary anthropologist in me cautions, "Whoa. Shouldn't we first ask why such costly, costly, slow-maturing babies evolved in the first place? " For that, we need to go back, oh, six million years, to when humans last shared a common ancestor with other apes. Babies back then, like this common chimpanzee baby today, would have to be held in skin-to-skin contact, never out of touch, not for a minute of the day or night for months after birth, nursed for years. It just seemed natural to assume that among the bipedal apes in the line leading to the genus Homo, babies could similarly expect single-mindedly dedicated maternal care. Until, that is, anthropologists figured out how hard it would have been for bipedal apes with only stone-age tools to survive and escape extinction in the face of climate change and other Pleistocene perils. To stay fed and manage to still rear their helpless, helpless, slow-maturing babies, mothers needed help. Unless male and female group... - Published: 2025-07-04 - Modified: 2026-01-22 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/why-climate-action-is-unstoppable-and-climate-realism-is-a-myth-al-gore-at-ted-countdown-2025/ The narrative of planet earth, and of humanity itself, is being written by many authors. Some positive, others negative. And sometimes, extremely negative. At the top of that list is climate change. A narrative the didn't exist before the industrial revolution, but it's now causing widespread death and destruction, today, through the end of the century, and beyond. Former Vice President Al Gore knows this well, and continues to be a voice of reason, as well as hope, during these turbulent times. I wish I could share his enthusiasm, and I do hope that we take his advice and take action, but at the moment I don't believe we'll do enough, soon enough. Which means that future generations will suffer. This outcome has become far worse do to the current administration's intent on causing as much death and destruction as possible in the decades to come. Their climate change policy is nothing short of barbaric. But I digress, as this article is highlighting Al Gore's recent talk at the 2025 TED Countdown Summit on June 16, 2025. As we all know, a narrative thread that's designed to slow progress on addressing the climate crisis involves a nonstop stream of lies and misinformation disseminated by the fossil fuel industry. In their latest PR con job, they've introduced the phrase "climate realism". Is it realistic to ignore the 1 to 2 billion climate refugees that the climate scientists are warning us will cross international borders and have to move inside their own nations by 2050 because of the climate crisis? And over the next half century, according to Deloitte, it would cost the economy $178 trillion if we don't act. But if we do act, we can add to the global economy by $43 trillion. Granted, climate change is a complex subject, and there's no single answer. But without question the answer involves a dedication to mitigating the use of fossil fuels whenever and wherever possible. In his talk Al Gore features some of the progress that's been made, but also talks about what still needs to happen. I believe that we as human beings have the capacity to recognize that our survival is at stake and that we need to move faster even though the big polluters have the political and economic power to try to block us. And the interesting thing to realize, is that doing so is not only beneficial to the health of humanity, it's financially beneficial. Win-Win. But the need for profit at any cost continues to threaten everyone on this planet. Our story is now being written by some very bad actors, and it's a story I wish had a happier ending. A lot of people are suffering. But do we want to vastly increase the number of people that have to go through that hardship and suffering instead of dealing with the cause of the crisis and solving the climate crisis? Transcript Thank you very much for the warm welcome. It's been 10 years since... - Published: 2025-07-02 - Modified: 2026-01-22 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/chris-bell-protects-his-family-from-a-possible-intruder-live-at-the-moth/ Sometimes our personal stories fall into the "life is full of unexpected surprises" category, and this is a perfect example. Chris Bell believes someone is breaking into his apartment, which poses a threat to his family, but in reality, it's not the intruder he assumed it would be — it was the police. Chris' story explores the deep, primal anxiety of fatherhood — the fear of failing to protect loved ones. While haunted by a hypothetical "grizzly bear" scenario, he finds his courage tested not by a beast, but by a storm, a mouse, and a profound misunderstanding. Ultimately, he comes to see that courage is sometimes an instinctual response to immediate danger, confirming that even without knowing the outcome, a protective parent will stand their ground. Such stories remind us that what we think may be going on, may not always be correct. But at the same time, even stories that involve a mistake at one level, can hold deeper meaning below the surface and say something new about us. What I appreciated about Chris Bell's story, is the blend of humor and tension in his narrative. A bit of self-deprecating humor with the chunky peanut butter, the confusion about what was making the sound in his kitchen, the tense moments of confronting a potential intruder, followed by relief that it was only the police. What about you? What stories do you have to tell that, on the one hand are a bit embarrassing, yet on the other hand, revealed something about your character? Transcript It's 3 AM and I can't sleep. Because I'm up wondering what I would do if my wife and two young kids were ever attacked by a grizzly bear. I mean, would I have the courage to stand up to this beast and just do whatever I can do to protect them? Or would fear hijack my decisions and cause me to freeze or even worse, run away? I don't know. And that's why this scenario has bothered me, haunted me, ever since the moment I first became a father. Fortunately, there aren't any grizzly bears in our neighborhood. But there have been several break-ins and robberies. Our landlord worked the night shift, so he installed this big fancy security system in his luxury apartment upstairs. But downstairs, in our barely basic two bedroom, I'm left to be my family's security system. So when my wife tells me she saw a mouse skurry across the kitchen floor, I see it as an opportunity to prove myself. The next day I immediately go to the store and pick up one jar of premium organic peanut butter. That's just like me, a little chunky. And after everyone goes to sleep, I put a little bit of that peanut butter on a mousetrap and strategically place it in our kitchen. Now, this night we're experiencing waves of heavy rain and wind. It looks like someone's throwing buckets of water against the window. And when the wind hits... - Published: 2025-07-01 - Modified: 2026-01-22 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/stop-telling-single-people-to-get-married-peter-mcgraw-at-tedxboulder/ We would like to think that all the decisions we make are of our own choosing. They are, to some extent, of course, but oftentimes social norms have a way of creeping into the equation. We do something because everyone else is doing it, or our friends and family expect us to. Sometimes it's related to our culture, or our religion. Marriage has a way of falling into this trap. In his recent talk from TEDxBoulder, Stop Telling Single People to Get Married, Peter McGraw walks us through the changing social norm of getting hitched, and offers us a new way to look at the concept of significant other. The solo movement, where being single isn't just tolerated, it's celebrated. Not less than, not better, just a different path filled with opportunities to live remarkably. His talk includes a number of beautifully humorous moments (it's a lesson unto itself) but beyond the laughter, Peter provides us with a brief history lesson on how the cultural norms of marriage have changed over time. And as with most social paradigms, it's complex. The story of the rise of singles is the story of the rise of women. Impactful talks are always about shifting our perspective, so Peter offers some suggestions as to how we can view the solo life on equal footing with marriage. Expand the concept of "significant other" to include family, friends, and chosen family, recognizing the importance of diverse social connections. Advocate for "family of one" policies, like those in Sweden, that provide a social safety net (healthcare, education, caregiving support) to all citizens individually, regardless of marital status. Elevate single living to be on par with married living, recognizing it as a different, equally valid path to a remarkable life. As you listen to Peter's talk and read through the transcript, notice how he's taken us on a journey that is both personal and, at the same time, universal. Watch as he turns the spotlight from himself to the world at large, then over to the audience. We always want to know what's next, where the story is heading. And we learn something along the way. Transcript My not so subtle request: Stop telling single people to get married. 20 years ago, I threw myself a bachelor party as a new professor at CU Boulder. Backs were slapped, stories were shared, glasses clinked. But there was a hitch: I wasn't getting hitched. My rationale, without a wedding in sight, why do married folks get to have all the fun? Unbeknownst to me, that night I joined a movement. The solo movement, where being single isn't just tolerated, it's celebrated. Not less than, not better, just a different path filled with opportunities to live remarkably. In 1960, 90% of adults in the United States would go on to get married. Today, 50% of adults in the US are unmarried. 25% of millennials are projected to never marry. And don't get me started on what's happening with Gen Z. Yet,... - Published: 2025-06-24 - Modified: 2026-01-24 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/what-if-community-is-built-by-sharing-stories-we-hide/ Sónia Silva is a master storyteller. It's as simple as that. Full disclosure, I do know Sónia as we're friends who also work together on the TEDxLisboa curation team. So I was quite happy to hear that she was going to give a TEDx talk of her own at TEDxPraça Gil Eanes in Portugal. Her talk, What if community is built by sharing stories we hide? , speaks to the ability of our personal stories to connect people, and in doing so, strengthen communities. If you have a story to tell, but you've been holding back, this is a story that you should listen to. Sónia Silva is a communication coach and trainer specializing in voice, storytelling, and public speaking. With a Master’s in Clinical Linguistics and a background in speech therapy, she combines scientific knowledge with a coaching approach to help entrepreneurs and leaders develop their vocal expression, refine their message, and deliver it with confidence and impact There's so much wisdom in Sónia's talk, so much so that I can't highlight it all, but here are five pearls of wisdom that resonated with me. But what if the real glue between us isn’t sameness, but the courage to live our own really messy human stories? Stories turn strangers into people we care about. Tell your story, even if it’s messy, even if your voice shakes. Create space, build community, not to fit in, not to perform, to belong. Empathy doesn’t come from headlines or from data. It’s emotional education by direct exposure without someone else’s filter. When we find meaning together, we co-create future. When we find meaning together, we co-create relations. As I've written about many times before, the essence of personal storytelling is sharing a part of your life experience with others, so that they can understand themselves, their community, and the world at large in a new way. And I loved her mentioning "messy human stories", as every person I've worked with over the years had a messy story to tell in some respect. Truth be told, they didn't always tell the messy parts, which was a shame, as what's different about us, and discussing what didn't work out the way we wanted, forges a stronger connection with those hearing your story. Remember my opening line? Where I mention Sónia is a master storyteller? Well, consider this a masterclass in how to craft a compelling story that includes you — the storyteller — but focuses on the wisdom that you bring to an audience. Watch her talk (at least once, preferably more) and read the transcript below. You'll find it's time well spent. Transcript I remember the moment the doors swung open and I saw 25 kids stare me up and down. I was six years old, and I did what I knew best. I hid behind two large trees: my father’s legs. We had just moved from Germany to Portugal, to Lagos, my family’s hometown. And my mother gently assured me, “Darling, don’t worry.... - Published: 2025-06-18 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/how-babies-become-language-detectives-the-hidden-science-of-statistical-language-learning/ Every parent has marveled at how quickly their baby transforms from a babbling infant into a chattering toddler who seems to effortlessly pick up new words and grammar rules. But how exactly do children accomplish this remarkable feat? The answer lies in a powerful mechanism called statistical language learning — a process that turns babies into natural-born pattern detectors who can crack the code of human language. What Is Statistical Language Learning? Statistical language learning is the ability to detect patterns and regularities in the sounds, words, and structures of language without formal instruction. Think of it as your baby's built-in data analysis system, automatically identifying which sounds go together, where words begin and end, and how language is structured — all through simple exposure to speech. This learning mechanism operates completely unconsciously. Babies don't sit down with grammar books or receive formal lessons. Instead, they naturally track statistical patterns in the language they hear around them, much like a detective gathering clues to solve a mystery. It's quite an accomplishment to learn the fundamentals of how a language works before attending school. The Remarkable Discovery: Babies as Pattern Detectives Some of the groundbreaking research that revealed this ability came from Dr. Jenny Saffran and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In a well-known experiment, they played streams of nonsense syllables to a group of 8-month-old infants – sounds like "golabupabikututibubabupugola" with no pauses between "words". Here's what made this experiment so clever: hidden within this stream of syllables were artificial "words" like "golabu," "pabiku," and "tububa. " The only way to identify these words was by tracking which syllables consistently appeared together. If the syllable "go" was always followed by "la," and "la" was always followed by "bu," then "golabu" formed a statistical unit – a word. After just two minutes of listening, the babies could distinguish between these statistically-defined words and random syllable combinations. This demonstrated that even very young infants possess sophisticated pattern-detection abilities that help them parse the continuous stream of speech into meaningful units. How This Works in Real Language Let's consider how this statistical learning works with actual English. When your baby hears you say "pretty baby" repeatedly, they unconsciously track the probability that certain syllables follow others. The syllable "pre" is followed by "ty" about 80% of the time in infant-directed speech, creating a strong statistical bond. However, "ty" can be followed by many different syllables that start new words, so the bond between "ty" and "ba" (from "baby") is much weaker – only about 0. 03% of the time. This difference in what researchers call "transitional probabilities" signals to your baby's developing brain that "pretty" is likely one unit (a word) while "tyba" (spanning across the word boundary) is not. Through this process, babies gradually build up a mental dictionary of word forms before they even understand what these words mean. Beyond Word Boundaries: Learning Grammar Through Patterns Statistical learning doesn't stop at identifying words. Babies also use pattern detection to... - Published: 2025-06-08 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/can-the-great-barrier-reef-be-saved-from-climate-change-theresa-fyffe-gives-us-some-insights-at-ted-2025/ I often write about the storytelling side of climate change, as this modern day phenomenon will shape billions of stories in the coming decades. Some of the effects can be seen and felt above ground — fiercer storms, more intense fires, increased temperatures, droughts, etc. — but a very different sort of damage is occurring out of sight, below the surface of our oceans. Coral reefs are one such example that have been given a great deal of attention, as they are under assault in much of the world, and no spot has achieved more notice than the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. In her talk at TED 2025, Theresa Fyffe talks about the work being done to reverse this trend. As you can imagine, the full story is quite complicated, and Theresa could speak for hours on the topic. But in ten minutes she give able to give us an overview of the situation. She doesn't tell the entire story, but does tell us enough to get us up to date, and hopefully to inspire us to dive further into what's happening on the reef. Check out her TED Talk: A new lifeline for the world's coral reefs. Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystem on our entire blue planet, home to more than a quarter of all marine life. Key Points of Concern: Coral reefs affect the livelihoods of over one billion people They're also anchoring the economies of over 100 nations Rising ocean temperatures can cause coral bleaching Already we have lost half of the world's coral reefs By 2050 90% of coral could be lost As the Executive Director Impact of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Theresa has a front-row seat to the innovative processes that are now being deployed to rebuild damaged reefs. Review the section from 4:09 to 4:56. In just 93 words & 47 seconds, she changes the tone of the talk, pivoting from problem to solution, and setting the stage for the balance of her story. She doesn't go into depth, or use complex jargon that the audience won't understand. When Theresa introduces Uncle Bob, a Wopabara man from the Great Barrier Reef, her talk shifts from technology to human — it's the story block I refer to as Someone Else's Story — and we learn about the impact this innovation can have if deployed. To be honest, I would have enjoyed hearing more about Uncle Bob. By adding a minute, I would have developed a deeper connection to the topic. So I'm asking you -- don't look away. Change your perspective and join us in the fight to sustain not just coral reefs, but the livelihoods, the cultures and the futures they safeguard. This isn't game over. It's game on. Transcript When I say Great Barrier Reef, what do you see? If you grew up in the 2000s, I’m guessing it might be Nemo and his best friend, Dory. Or perhaps it's this. It's the best part of my job. Taking... - Published: 2025-06-04 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/ryan-roe-at-the-moth-in-philadelphia/ All too often I will hear people say their personal stories aren't good enough to share. Nothing dramatic happened. Nothing very shocking. Nothing that other people would care much about. But some of the best stories are those with a simple narrative, but that also contain great meaning. Such are the stories that recall childhood memories — those special times spent with family members. In this case, Ryan Roe's story at The Moth takes us back to the time when he was learning to play the trombone. The story which unfolds is, at first, one of discomfort, but it turns into a father-son bonding experience that Ryan holds onto throughout life. It's heartfelt, as you'll come to find out when you watch Ryan on stage, but it's also filled with many funny moments. Listen to how he uses the technique of self-deprecating humor that also serves to enhance the visual experience. You can still smell the remnants of Taco Tuesday. And if you look close enough at the floor, you can see the remnants of Taco Tuesday. Without that humor his story would still be meaningful, but it wouldn't have connected to the audience in the same way. It involves an effort to be near someone we like (we've all done that) and also being put into a potentially embarrassing situation (who hasn't been there), so we're rooting for Ryan. Transcript When I was in fourth grade, that's when we as students could pick an instrument to take lessons in and play in the school band. And I chose the trombone for two reasons. The first one was that there's this cute girl named Jessica who told me that she was going to play the saxophone. And I had heard that the saxophone players and the trombone players took lessons together. Now, the reason I didn't just also play the saxophone was that the buttons scared me. And the second reason I chose trombone was that my dad is a phenomenal trombone player. For many years, he played in the Marine Corps Band, and he traveled around the country playing with them. He was based in New Orleans, and he played in a lot of the jazz clubs there. And then after that, he became an instrument repairman. So, a lot of my memories as a child were of hearing him test the instruments in our house, playing his favorite songs. And I just loved the sound of the trombone. So I felt like if I played trombone, that would make him proud. Now, the only other trombone player in the school was a fifth grader named Gina. And for months, Gina and I took lessons with our music teacher, and after all this time spent practicing, I just sounded terrible. The noise that came out of my trombone sounded like a hive of angry bees, yet somehow more alarming. And, you know, it's a really hard instrument to play for a fourth grader because you have these little fourth-grade... - Published: 2025-05-31 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/your-stories-ai-and-george-washington/ On this day in 1790, President George Washington signed into law the first U. S. Copyright Act. The Act emerged from the unique intersection of Enlightenment ideals, economic necessity, and the practical challenges facing a new nation as leaders were trying to establish its cultural and intellectual identity. To understand why the law felt so urgent to the Founders, we need to step back and consider the current situation. In colonial America, there was no protection for authors' works. Publishers could freely reprint books without compensating the original author, which created an environment of need without incentive. The Founders recognized this as more than just an economic problem — it was a threat to the kind of society they were trying to build. They believed deeply in the power of knowledge and education to sustain a republic. Think about it: how could America develop its own intellectual traditions, its own literature, its own scientific contributions, if there was no financial incentive for Americans to write and publish? When Washington signed the Act, he was addressing several interconnected challenges. First, there was the immediate practical need to protect American authors so they could make a living from their work. Second, there was a desire to encourage the growth of American publishing and printing industries, which were still quite small compared to their British counterparts. Third, and perhaps most importantly, there was the recognition that a healthy democracy required an informed citizenry, and that meant fostering a robust marketplace of ideas. The law itself reflected these concerns in interesting ways. It protected books, maps, and charts for fourteen years, with the possibility of renewal for another fourteen years if the author was still alive. This was actually quite generous compared to many state laws of the time, but deliberately limited to prevent the kind of perpetual monopolies that the Founders associated with European aristocracy. It embodied a carefully considered philosophical approach that prioritized societal benefits while providing necessary incentives for creative production. The legislation was conceived in essentially utilitarian terms, taking as its primary goal the encouragement of intellectual activity and production for the good of society as a whole. This framework aimed to guarantee both material benefits for creators and intellectual benefits for readers, recognizing that sustainable creative industries required economic incentives while knowledge advancement demanded public access to creative works. The limited scope of the initial law — protecting only books, maps, and charts — demonstrated a focused approach to establishing the copyright system. Rather than creating a centralized copyright office, the legislation directed authors and proprietors to register their works at U. S. district courts in their areas of residence, establishing a decentralized but systematic approach to copyright administration. Consider how this law would have affected someone like Benjamin Franklin, who was not only a scientist, inventor, and statesman but also a prolific writer and publisher in Philadelphia. Without copyright protection, Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanac" could have been freely copied by competitors, eliminating his incentive to continue producing it.... - Published: 2025-05-30 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/it-took-thousands-of-personal-stories-to-create-the-mariner-9-story/ Fifty-four years ago today, on May 30, 1971, a symphony of human ambition lifted off from Cape Kennedy. Mariner 9 wasn't just a spacecraft — it was the culmination of thousands of individual stories, each person contributing their unique thread to a tapestry that would forever change how we see our place within the cosmos. Launch of Atlas-Centaur Rocket Carrying Mariner 9 Mars Probe The Genesis of a Dream The Mariner program began in 1962, nine years before the launch of Mariner 9. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory conceived this series of robotic explorers as stepping stones to the planets. Each mission built upon the last — Mariner 2 had whispered past Venus, Mariner 4 had glimpsed Mars in passing. But Mariner 9 would be different. It would stay, orbit, & see. The development of Mariner 9 took approximately four years of intensive work, from initial design concepts in 1967 to its 1971 launch. Yet this timeline barely captures the human drama unfolding behind the scenes — engineers working through weekends, mathematicians recalculating trajectories late into the night, technicians hand-assembling delicate instruments with the precision of watchmakers. A Cast of Thousands Picture this: over 5,000 people directly involved in the Mariner 9 mission, with countless more supporting roles spanning across multiple states. From the assembly floors of Denver to the tracking stations scattered across the globe, this was humanity at its collaborative best. Each person — whether they wielded a soldering iron or a slide rule — contributed their personal skills and passion. Mariner 9 Mars Probe The mission required an extraordinary convergence of skills, including: Aerospace engineers designing the spacecraft's structure Propulsion specialists calculating fuel requirements Computer programmers writing navigation software Antenna technicians ensuring Earth-Mars communication Planetary scientists planning observation sequences Materials experts selecting heat-resistant components Optical engineers crafting camera systems Electrical technicians wiring complex circuits Systems integrators coordinating all subsystems Project managers orchestrating timelines Quality assurance inspectors checking every detail Mathematicians computing orbital mechanics Thermal engineers managing temperature extremes Power systems designers creating solar panel arrays Attitude control specialists maintaining spacecraft orientation Data analysts interpreting incoming signals Mission planners designing observation strategies Telecommunications engineers establishing deep space communication Launch vehicle coordinators preparing the Atlas-Centaur rocket Ground operations controllers managing the mission from Earth. Five Gifts to Humanity Mariner 9's achievements resonate through the decades. First, it became the first successful Mars orbiter, proving we could establish a permanent robotic presence around another planet. Second, it mapped most of the Martian surface with unprecedented detail, revealing a world of stunning geological complexity. Third, it discovered evidence of ancient water flows — those mysterious channels that whispered of a warmer, wetter Mars. Fourth, it provided our first detailed study of the Martian moons, Phobos and Deimos, expanding our understanding of small celestial bodies. Fifth, it demonstrated that long-duration interplanetary missions were possible, paving the way for every Mars mission that followed. The Ripple Effect Imagine if Mariner 9 had failed. Would we have the rovers — Sojourner (1997), Spirit (2004–2010), Opportunity... - Published: 2025-05-27 - Modified: 2025-05-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/billions-of-personal-stories-as-told-on-the-golden-gate-bridge/ It was 88 years ago, on May 27, 1937 that the Golden Gate Bridge opened, finally making a direct connection (not using a circuitous route) between San Francisco and Marin County, California that did not involve a ferry. Only pedestrian traffic crossed the bridge that day, with vehicles permitted to make the journey the following day. It's just one out of the millions of bridges that exist throughout the world, and in one respect its function is basically the same as virtually all the others — getting people from one side to the other — but the unique combination of its location and architecture have made it iconic. A visual recognized the world over. While bridges evoke the idea of transportation, I think of bridges as storytellers, or to be more precise, story conduits. So how many stories has the Golden Gate Bridge facilitated? That's hard to say, precisely, but based on numbers I dug up, the total seems to be well over 2 billion. More likely than not beyond 3 billion. Stories of people coming and going to work. Families on vacation. Those making trips of all sorts; south towards Mexico, and north towards Canada. Both saints and sinners, as well as everything in between. While they're just physical objects, bridges facilitate a fundamental desire to reach beyond ourselves. For example, when the ancient Romans built the Pons Sublicius across the Tiber River around 642 BC, they weren't just connecting 2 banks of earth — they were helping create the destiny of their civilization. Every Roman legion that marched across their bridges carried the seeds of an empire that would shape Western culture for millennia — for better or worse. In more recent times, but still predating the Golden Gate Bridge, consider how different New York City would be today if the Brooklyn Bridge had never been built. When it opened in 1883, it didn't just span the East River; it transformed New York from a collection of separate boroughs into the unified city we know today. Consider the Tower Bridge in London. Completed in 1894, it connected not just the north and south banks of the River Thames, but also the old world with the new industrial age. Imagine the conversations that took place as horse-drawn carriages shared those roadways with new motor cars — generations literally passing each other on a bridge between eras. When we understand bridges as more than infrastructure, but as the connective tissue of human experience, we begin to appreciate how they've shaped not just where we can go, but who we become in the crossing. Back to you... Maybe your story involves crossing a physical bridge, as you moved from one place to another, or it may be more metaphorical in nature as you progressed in your career or in a relationship. Think about the starting and ending points, with a chasm in-between, and what changed when you crossed over. ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss... - Published: 2025-05-26 - Modified: 2025-05-26 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-house-un-american-activities-committee-the-day-freedom-of-expression-became-a-crime/ Throughout history, personal stories have been adversely affected by the acts of unjust and misguided governments. Such unjust actions are often justified for a variety of reasons, including an individual's ethnicity, culture, gender, religion or political beliefs. This last item — political beliefs — sparked a decision that had far-reaching effects on the fabric of American society. The date is May 26, 1938. The United States remains in a fragile state as a result of the Great Depression as its citizens watch with growing unease storm clouds gathering across Europe and Asia. But on this spring day in 1938, a war of a very different sort was being declared as the United States Congress established the House Un-American Activities Committee — a name that would in time become synonymous with fear, suspicion, and repression of free thinking. Seeds of Suspicion The committee's origin grew from the genuine feelings of anxiety and concern in much of America. In the 1930s, the U. S. was a nation caught between ideologies. The rise of fascism in Europe and the spread of communist influence worldwide had many Americans wondering: who among us might harbor allegiances to a foreign power? The committee's original purpose seemed straightforward — to investigate any alleged disloyalty and subversive activities by private citizens, public employees, and organizations suspected of having communist or fascist ties. Reflecting the fears of their constituents, Congress believed they were creating a shield to protect American democracy from enemies within. But what began as a tool for national security would gradually transform into something far more reaching, far more troubling, and far more destructive to the ideals of personal freedom — the freedom to think, act, and speak freely. The Evolution of Fear In its early years, the committee investigated various groups and individuals, though not in a way that garnered much attention. But history has a way of amplifying certain loud voices, and the committee found its loudest voice in Representative Martin Dies Jr. of Texas, who chaired it from 1938 to 1944. Dies cast a wide net, often making sensational accusations that grabbed headlines but sometimes lacked substantial evidence. The committee's approach evolved with the times, and during World War II, it focused on Nazi sympathizers and fascist organizations. But as the war ended and the Cold War began, the committee's attention shifted decisively toward communist influences. This is when the committee truly found its dark purpose — and when it began touching the lives of ordinary Americans in ways that would forever change how we think about loyalty, dissent, and freedom. The post-war years brought us to the era most associated with the committee's infamy: the reign of Senator Joseph McCarthy and the broader phenomenon we now call McCarthyism. Though McCarthy himself wasn't directly part of HUAC, the committee became a central stage for the anti-communist fervor that swept the nation. Pencil Drawing of Senator Joseph McCarthy Hollywood in the Crosshairs Perhaps no single episode better illustrates the committee's reach — and its... - Published: 2025-05-25 - Modified: 2025-05-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-day-america-reached-for-the-moon-understanding-president-john-f-kennedys-bold-promise/ Yesterday's article talked about Samuel Morse and the birth of the telegraph, and how an inventor's vision, driven by grief, jump started the era of electronic communication. But that's not to say that such technological achievements can only be initiated by someone with technical skill. Politicians with a vision of the future far different than the present can serve as inspiration for shifts in the timeline of humanity. One such story began with a young man standing before Congress, promising to accomplish something that had never been done in human history. On May 25th 1961, President John F. Kennedy did exactly that, declaring America would land a man on the moon before the decade's end. But this wasn't just about exploring space. To understand why Kennedy made this audacious promise, we must first step back into a world gripped by fear, competition, and the urgent need for national purpose. The Shadow of Sputnik Four years before Kennedy's bold declaration, the world had changed overnight. On October 4, 1957, a metallic sphere no larger than a beach ball began orbiting Earth, beeping its simple signal across radio waves around the globe. Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union, represented far more than a technological achievement — it was a thunderclap that shattered American confidence. Picture the American families of 1957, stepping outside their homes to peer up at the night sky, knowing that somewhere among those familiar stars was a man-made object placed there by their Cold War adversary. The implications were terrifying. If the Soviets could launch a satellite, they could certainly launch a nuclear warhead. The same rocket technology that lifted Sputnik could deliver destruction to American cities. The psychological impact was perhaps even more profound than the military implications. America had long considered itself the world's technological leader, the nation that had won World War II through industrial might and innovation. Suddenly, we were playing catch-up to a communist rival we had underestimated. A String of Soviet Triumphs The humiliation deepened with each Soviet space achievement. In November 1957, they launched Sputnik 2, carrying a dog named Laika — proving that living creatures could survive in space. America's first satellite attempt, Vanguard TV3, exploded on the launch pad in December 1957, earning the mocking nickname "Kaputnik" in the press. Then came the ultimate blow: on April 12, 1961, just weeks before Kennedy's moon speech, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth. The smiling young pilot returned to a hero's welcome, his achievement broadcast around the world. Once again, America was second. Consider the personal stories embedded in this moment. Gagarin, a farmer's son who had worked in a steel foundry, now represented the triumph of Soviet ideology. Meanwhile, American parents worried about their children's futures in a world where their nation seemed to be losing the most important race of the modern era. The Cold War Context To truly understand Kennedy's moon commitment, we must appreciate the global stakes of the Cold War in... - Published: 2025-05-24 - Modified: 2025-05-24 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/what-hath-god-wrought-the-telegraphs-birth-and-the-transformation-of-human-connection/ Picture this: It's May 24th, 1844, and in a small room in the Supreme Court chamber of the Capitol building in Washington, D. C. , a man sits nervously before a peculiar contraption of wires and metal. Samuel Finley Breese Morse, artist turned inventor, is about to send a message that will forever change how human beings connect across vast distances. With careful deliberation, he taps out a biblical phrase in his newly invented code: "What hath God wrought. " Forty miles away in Baltimore, Maryland, his assistant Alfred Vail receives those dots and dashes, translates them back into words, and immediately sends the same message back to Washington. In that moment — lasting mere minutes — the world became fundamentally smaller, and the pace of human civilization began to quicken in ways that Samuel Morse himself could never have imagined. Samuel Finley Breese Morse from National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Frederick Hill Meserve Collection The Man Behind the Message Samuel Morse was not born to be a communications revolutionary. Raised in a strict Calvinist household in Charlestown, Massachusetts, he initially pursued his passion as a painter, creating portraits of prominent Americans and grand historical scenes. His artistic training at Yale College and later in London shaped his meticulous eye for detail — a skill that would prove invaluable in his later scientific endeavors. But tragedy has a way of redirecting our paths. In 1825, while Morse was painting a portrait in Washington, he received a letter telling him his wife was gravely ill. By the time he rushed home to New Haven, she had already died and been buried. The slow pace of communication in that era meant that the most important moments of our lives could slip away while we remained blissfully unaware. This personal anguish planted a seed in Morse's mind: surely there had to be a faster way for people to share urgent news across great distances. The inspiration struck him during a ship voyage back from Europe in 1832. Conversations about electromagnetism with fellow passengers sparked his imagination. What if electricity could carry messages instantaneously across wires? What if human thoughts could travel at the speed of lightning itself? The Day That Changed Everything That May morning in 1844 represented the culmination of over a decade of experimentation, frustration, and persistence. Morse had endured years of financial hardship, skeptical investors, and technical setbacks. Politicians questioned whether the government should fund such a seemingly frivolous invention. Even on the day of the demonstration, many observers remained doubtful. Morse chose his inaugural message carefully. "What hath God wrought" came from Numbers 23:23 in the King James Bible, suggested by Annie Ellsworth, daughter of the Patent Commissioner. The phrase carries profound meaning — it speaks to divine wonder at human achievement, a recognition that we sometimes create things beyond our own understanding of their consequences. The technical specifications were remarkably simple by today's standards. Morse's telegraph used an electromagnet to move a stylus that marked dots and dashes... - Published: 2025-05-19 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/muneesh-jain-storytelling-at-the-moth-in-traverse-city/ You may remember Peter Aguero's Moth story of how the simple suggestion of taking a pottery class altered his outlook on life. Different circumstances in this case, but Muneesh Jain's Moth story told in Traverse City also happens to hinge on a moment in time that revised the trajectory his life was on. But there's always a backstory to such moments, and Muneesh talks about his parent's expectations that he could never meet, no matter how hard he tried. My parents are from India. So, in our house, that meant we had a high bar set for academic achievement, and a specific type of professional success: doctor, lawyer, engineer. And he did try, to the point that his heath was at risk. But walking away from success resulted in his disconnecting from his family, as well as society itself. Rather than a short brief, Muneesh was out of sorts for five full years. The delivery guy would just leave the food outside my apartment because I couldn't even make eye contact with him. I was a failure. And then... Something unexpected happens. Something that reignites is passion, and a lifelong dream. The journey he embarks upon connects him to new people in ways he couldn't predict, and the process seems to resurrect him. (no spoilers here — you'll have to hear his story to learn the details of his journey) And I realized we weren't really even talking about baseball anymore. We were talking about family connection. While staying with friends in Seattle, a scene unfolds we can't possibly expect. The next day, I hear a knock at the door. Nobody's home, so I walk upstairs and through the glass door, I see the silhouette of a 4 foot 10, 90 pound little woman. I open the door and just say, "What are you doing here, Mother? " As the saying goes, "It's never too late. " For Muneesh, the subtext is that it wasn't too late to reconnect to his mother, and in doing so, come to understand her in a way that wasn't possible while growing up. Transcript My parents are from India. So, in our house, that meant we had a high bar set for academic achievement, and a specific type of professional success: doctor, lawyer, engineer. By the time my sister was 12, she knew she was going to be a doctor, just like my dad. When I was nine, I called a family meeting to let everyone know I was never going to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or an engineer. I was going to be a gymnast. My parents, they tolerated it, but told me that one day I was going to have to grow out of it. But I went to the gym six days a week, five hours a night. And by the time I was a teenager, I was training for the Olympics. Then multiple injuries ended my career. My folks, they said, "Alright, you got that out of your... - Published: 2025-05-05 - Modified: 2025-05-08 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-moth-live-from-new-york-give-me-five-stories-of-the-senses/ Every episode of The Moth Radio Hour contains storytelling gold, and this one recorded in New York — Give me Five - Stories of the Senses — was a perfect example of diversity in storytelling. Give it a listen, and think about how each story was constructed, and how each scene was portrayed. The Moth Storytellers: Peter Aguero's life takes an unexpected turn in a pottery class. Tighisti Amahazion finds creature comfort during an escape with her family. Julian Goldhagen gets trapped in a walk-in closet. Bryan Kett gets a chance to see in color for the first time. While I encourage you to hear them all, this article focuses on Peter Aguero. Peter Aguero is quite the storyteller, with his rapid fire delivery that jumps from scene to scene, keeping the narrative, as well as audience interest, going along. Peter's a masterful writer that offers up a combination of personal insights and humor. Check out this description of the woman he meets at the pottery studio. If there's an unusual character in your story, think of how you can describe the essence of their appearance, both visually and metaphorically. This woman comes up to me and she's wearing mismatched six shades of pink somehow. And two different colored socks and sandals. It's October. She looks like she's been happily cutting her own hair for the last 50 years. It's one thing to describe how you feel, but in this exchange with his pottery teacher: "And the second rule is today we're just going to have fun. And I tell him, I'm not so sure I remember how that even feels. " We're left to consider Peter's frame of mind, that he has forgotten what fun feels like. Sometimes meaning only requires a few words, and the audience empathizes with you. So, what I realize then is now I can make anything. I can make anything for who I am today. I can make things to honor who I had been. I can make things for what is. And all I have to do is joyfully, mindfully, with intent and with compassion for myself, is to sit still and take a breath and make a move and the shape changes. And I take a breath and I make a move and the shape changes. And I take a breath and I make a move and the shape changes. You'll understand this ending once you hear his story, and you'll see how he took the lesson he learned when working with the clay and applied it to his life. That's the gift he's handing to the audience. To take a breath, make a move, and watch the world change. But let's take a step back for context. I'm crying and it just feels terrible. The weight of the entire world feels like it's on top of my shoulders, on top of my body, pressing me into this carpet. In just this one sentence you can feel Peter's pain. He's not in... - Published: 2025-04-21 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/molly-kendall-at-the-moth-nyc-storyslam/ Personal stories come in a variety of flavors, from happy to sad, and clueless to insightful, but some fall into a category that I call wild/crazy/funny. For example, we've all heard stories that evoked the response, "And what were you thinking? " For me, the tale that Molly Kendall shared at The Moth NYC StorySLAM back in 2016 was one such story. It's just six and a half minutes, yet it brought out a number of universal themes that all of us can relate to. Give it a watch, then think about the many facets of being human that were highlighted. Then consider how those themes relate to some of your experiences, and whether they can be woven into your story. Here were some insights that I came away with. The point is that when crafting a personal story, you should put yourself in the shoes of the audience as a way to feel how they might react to the story. So even when an experience is unique to you, the underlying themes should be universal so that the audience can reflect upon their own journey. The Themes That Resonated With Me Impulsivity vs. Consequence: Stemming from impulsive and seemingly bold decision, the result was a cascade of awkward, unforeseen consequences. Vulnerability (Literal and Figurative): Molly is literally vulnerable under the coat — a physical representation — and that reality translates into emotional vulnerability and embarrassment as the story unfolds. Loss of Nerve/Confidence: The initial "blast of courage" quickly dissipates, replaced by panic, regret, and an inability to act or explain herself. She puts herself into an impossible situation. Social Awkwardness and Embarrassment: The humor stems from the excruciatingly awkward situations — the bus ride, the scene at the restaurant, the inability to take off the coat. We feel for her and wonder what we would do in that situation. Finding Connection Despite Chaos: Despite the bizarre and mortifying date, their relationship survived and flourished, which suggests that connections can happen even amidst absurdity. There is hope, even in the worst of situations. Transcript About 12 years ago, I moved to New York City, and to this day, I do not know why I did that. But it was an adventure, and to support my adventure, I had to work two, three, however many jobs, running here to there, trying to find my feet on this pulsing, frenetic city. Um, within the beginning of the time that I was here, I met this man named John. And being a product of someone who was born and raised here, he had a very calm spirit within this craziness that I felt. Um, so he and I started to see each other. One winter night, he invited me over. Of course, I'm going to go. And so I opened my closet of really tired, old-looking clothes, and I think with this like blast of courage and insanity... Screw it. I'm not going to wear any of these. I'm just going to wear... - Published: 2025-04-18 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/shahram-izadi-the-next-computer-your-glasses-ted-2025/ Now that the 2025 version of the TED Conference has concluded, I'll be posting a series of articles that will highlight some of the best talks. And their new tagline, "Ideas Change Everything", inspired me to come up with a similar phrase, which is, "Personal Stories Change Everything", so watch these talks through a lens of improving your own storytelling prowess. In this talk from Shahram Izadi, titled, The Next Computer? Your Glasses, we get a glimpse into a future technology that brings the power of AI into our daily lives by way of eye-ware. Adopting the metaphor of seeing the world anew, this demo exceeded my expectations, and it had me wondering how our view of the world might change in the coming years. Shahram Izadi is a British-Iranian computer scientist known for his contributions in extended reality, augmented reality, computer vision, human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence. ~ Wikipedia Are you ready for this technology upgrade? And what if everyone were wearing these glasses? If the purpose is simply to provide information, it wouldn't seem to be problem, but what if these glasses came with face recognition capability? Maybe there will be security protocols in place to prevent that, but anyone with the technological prowess could (I imagine) bypass such limitations. It's interesting to ponder how all our experiences, and thus our personal stories, could be transformed by the wave of AI technology that is soon coming our way. Our smartphones are becoming AI aware already. So they can perform tasks for us, which is cool, but every interaction will be tracked by the applications we're using. Are you okay with that? I'm on the fence at the moment. If you enjoyed this article... Transcript Shahram Izadi: For our entire lives, we've been living for a computing revolution. Many of you here in this room have contributed to it, with leaps forward in compute, connectivity, mobile technologies, and now AI. For my part, I've dedicated my entire career to augmented reality, fusing the real world with computing experiences. I started this journey about 25 years ago for my PhD. It might sound groundbreaking, but check out these early prototypes. The technology was really primitive back then, but the potential felt limitless when we were experimenting in that university lab. What I didn't know at that time was that many of the fundamental innovations for my work would come from AI researchers in a different lab. While I was helping computers see the world, these AI researchers were helping computers reason about the world. Since then, large language models and multimodal reasoning have enabled richer language and image understanding. These models are now fast enough for live conversations where the AI can act on your behalf and, most importantly, with your permission. And augmented reality and virtual reality has moved computing from the rectangular screen to the 360 immersive display to now even the world itself becoming the display. We now refer to this broad collection of experiences as extended... - Published: 2025-04-16 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/astrid-sauer-tedxlisboa-2025-what-would-life-be-like-without-art/ While I enjoy and appreciate all artistic expression — air, music, dance, etc. — I must admit that I tend to do so in the moment, without thinking about its effect on the fabric of society, or in a historical context. It takes a reminder, an outside nudge to make that happen. So it was a delight to have the opportunity to work with Astrid Sauer in preparation for her talk at TEDxLisboa on March 15, 2025. The topic, What would life be like without art? , reminded me of how vital art is in the present, as well as how it has profoundly shaped cultures around the world for centuries. To illustrate that point Astrid begins her talk by challenging those sitting in the audience to imagine a stark, grey world devoid of art – lacking any paintings, music, dance, theatre, or literature — a world that's been reduced to pure functionality. For me it exemplified the poignant phrase, "You don't know what you have until it's gone. " Art is more than just decoration. It is a universal language that speaks directly to our hearts and minds, shaping our emotions, ideas, and interactions. When she states, "I still remember during the Salzburg Festival, musicians would often stay at our house, playing intimate concerts for family and friends. ", I could only image what that must have been like. That was not the case for me growing up, but from the perspective of personal storytelling, this one sentence tells us where her passion for art came from. Note: every passion has an origin story. But art also serves as a powerful medium for cultural transformation. Whenever art crosses borders, it reshapes and influences the identities of different cultures. And this phenomenon can be observed in various artistic forms, from architecture to music, from literature to visual arts. So what did I learn from that experience? Without art, our world would lack colour, depth, and connection. And this is not just true today, but has been throughout the greater part of our history. If your story is founded on your passion, either personal or professional, pay attention to how Astrid takes the audience on a journey from the origin of her passion to framing the topic in a historical context before bringing the subject into modern times. It's clear that the world we live in would be a very different place without the influence of art in its many forms. Art isn't just a luxury; it is a necessity. It is the foundation of culture, of innovation, and human connection. Each of us has the power to contribute to a world that values creativity. Most importantly, Astrid turns the spotlight on the audience with a reminder that everyone has the ability and opportunity to engage in art. While I wasn't blessed with much artistic DNA, I support the arts frequently, as I appreciate humanity's magical creative spark. How are you engaged with some facet of artistic expression? And if your... - Published: 2025-04-14 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/carole-cadwalladr-this-is-what-a-digital-coup-looks-like-ted-2025/ Having spent my career in the computer industry, I've long been fascinated by digital technology. For most of those years, my experience was positive. Every invention, every new plateau of features and performance only increased my wonderment and appreciation. The internet's potential was so mind-boggling. And that positive viewpoint continued into the early days of social media, but began to sour as those platforms devolved into the hot mess they are today. (that topic is worthy of a very long article, but I'll spare you for now) When artificial intelligence came to my attention around 5 years ago it seemed interesting, but to be honest, I didn't see how it would benefit me. After all, my passion is helping people tell impactful personal stories — stories based on an experience or an idea — so I didn't see AI as a meaningful tool. But 2 years ago their potential became more apparent. The way in which they could assimilate information made search engines look like Ford Model Ts. But my enthusiasm became a bit tarnished as I explored the technology further. Not only were all those LLMs (Large Language Models) being trained on massive amounts of intellectual property that was never paid for, they were also sucking up increasing amounts of personal data. And as many other software programs and apps wove AI into their code, that trend continued to accelerate. Is the greatest technological invention becoming the greatest threat to humanity? That's what I started to wonder, as it seemed to me from recent reports that any sense of morality in the AI space was being pushed aside in an effort to "win" the race for dominance. The icing on the cake came when the Silicon Valley oligarchy bowed down to the oligarchy residing in Washington D. C. So I was keenly interested in hearing Carole Cadwalladr's take on this situation when she spoke at the 2025 TED Conference. Carole was an important figure in exposing the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal, so she was no stranger to the potential for tech to subvert democracy and cause great harm to society. The Russian and American presidents are now speaking the same words. They are telling the same lies. We are watching the collapse of the international order in real time, and this is just the start. Coups are like concrete. When they stop moving, they set. It is already later than we think. Her talk was a chilling reminder of other times in history when the power-elite ignored the rights and needs of the many to satisfy their own maniacal need for wealth and power. When there is no check-and-balance — which is the case in the United States, as the current administration will make no effort to protect citizen's rights — things always go from bad to worse. Follow the data. It's always the data. It's the crack cocaine of Silicon Valley. You know, the first thing that Elon Musk did was to send his cyber troops into the US... - Published: 2025-04-11 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-claude-ai/ In the past four posts we looked at Embracing Narrative Transportation as a technique to enhance the impact of personal stories. I enjoy writing articles about storytelling, of course, but I've been utilizing AI (Artificial Intelligence) throughout the past year as a way to expand my research capabilities. I have to say, it's amazing to watch these Chatbots in action. They are fast, and comprehensive in their reach, but they don't replace humans as they still don't have human experiences that we have, but they are able to locate and analyze information much faster than any human can. And that capability will improve dramatically in the future. So I decided to see what some of the latest chatbots had to say about the topic of Narrative Transportation with regards to crafting impactful personal stories. In part five, I asked Claude AI what it thought. Similar to the previous post I did using Perplexity AI, I began with an opening prompt, then asked two questions. Although it's another long article, if you're interested in the intersection of AI and storytelling, it's a worthwhile read. I also invite you to use AI as a tool to help you research topics that are part of your personal narrative. Prompt I’m trying to understand the topic of Narrative Transportation in depth, as it relates to storytelling in general, but more specifically, how we can use Narrative Transportation to create impactful personal narratives. Response Creating Impactful Personal Narratives Narrative transportation is a fascinating psychological concept that describes how we become mentally "transported" into stories. It's that immersive experience where you lose track of your surroundings as you're absorbed into a narrative world. The Mechanics of Narrative Transportation Narrative transportation happens when several elements come together: Attention: Your focus shifts from the real world to the story world Emotional involvement: You develop feelings for characters and situations Mental imagery: You create vivid mental pictures of what's happening Temporary suspension of disbelief: You accept the narrative reality When these elements work together effectively, you experience reduced critical thinking about the narrative content and increased emotional response—essentially, you're "carried away" by the story. Creating Impactful Personal Narratives Applying narrative transportation to personal storytelling can be quite powerful: Vivid sensory details: Include specific sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to help others imagine your experience more vividly Emotional authenticity: Connect your experience to universal emotional themes (struggle, triumph, loss, discovery) that resonate with listeners Character development: Position yourself as a relatable protagonist with clear motivations, flaws, and growth Narrative arc: Structure your story with a beginning (context/setup), middle (conflict/challenge), and end (resolution/insight) Imagery and metaphor: Use figurative language to create mental pictures that stick with your audience Pacing and tension: Create moments of anticipation and release to maintain engagement Reflection and meaning: Connect your personal experience to broader insights about human nature or universal truths Prompt I'm very interested in the concept of Psychological Realism (Believability) as relates to how impactful stories are crafted - how does someone achieve... - Published: 2025-04-10 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-perplexity-ai/ In a previous post I discussed Embracing Narrative Transportation as a way to enhance the impact of your personal stories. And while I enjoy writing articles about storytelling, I've been exploring AI (Artificial Intelligence) to broaden my research capabilities. I have to say, it's amazing to watch these Chatbots in action. They are fast, and comprehensive in their reach, but they don't replace humans as they still don't have human experiences that we have, but they are able to locate and analyze information faster than any human. So I decided to see what some of the latest chatbots had to say about the topic of Narrative Transportation with regards to crafting impactful personal stories. In part four, I asked Perplexity what it thought. I took a different tack this time, beginning with an opening prompt, followed by two questions that looked into what happens when narrative transportation is used in a negative manner. Although it's another long article, if you're interested in the intersection of AI and storytelling, it's a worthwhile read. I also invite you to use AI as a tool to help you research topics that are part of your personal narrative. Prompt I’m exploring the concept of Narrative Transportation as it relates to individuals telling impactful personal stories. Using the most authoritative sources, please provide a 2,000 word article, an outline of the narrative that identifies the primary elements, and a list of any other topics that you feel are related to the subject. Part I - Narrative Transportation and the Power of Personal Storytelling Introduction Narrative transportation, a psychological concept, describes the immersive experience of being absorbed into a story. This phenomenon, first articulated by Richard Gerrig in 1993 and later expanded by Melanie Green and Timothy Brock, has profound implications for how individuals process, relate to, and are influenced by narratives. When individuals are transported into a story, they experience emotional engagement, vivid mental imagery, and a temporary detachment from reality. This state can significantly impact attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, making narrative transportation a powerful tool for personal storytelling. The Mechanics of Narrative Transportation Narrative transportation occurs when individuals become deeply engrossed in a story. This process involves: Focused Attention: The audience’s full cognitive resources are directed toward the narrative. Emotional Engagement: Strong feelings toward the characters or events enhance immersion. Mental Imagery: Vivid visualizations of the story's world make it feel real. Reduced Counterarguing: Immersed individuals are less likely to critically evaluate or argue against the narrative's content. The combination of these elements allows stories to bypass analytical scrutiny and resonate deeply with audiences. For example, when a personal story aligns with the listener’s experiences or values, it fosters empathy and identification, enhancing its persuasive power. Applications in Personal Storytelling Personal storytelling leverages narrative transportation to create impactful connections. By sharing relatable experiences with vivid details and emotional depth, storytellers can: Foster Empathy: Listeners identify with the protagonist (often the storyteller), imagining themselves in similar situations. Shape Attitudes: Stories can subtly influence beliefs by... - Published: 2025-04-09 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-gemini-deep-research/ In a previous post I discussed Embracing Narrative Transportation as a way to enhance the impact of your personal stories. And while I enjoy writing articles about storytelling, I've been exploring AI (Artificial Intelligence) to broaden my research capabilities. I have to say, it's amazing to watch these Chatbots in action. They are fast, and comprehensive in their reach, but they don't replace humans as they still don't have human experiences that we have, but they are able to locate and analyze information faster than any human. So I decided to see what some of the latest chatbots had to say about the topic of Narrative Transportation with regards to crafting impactful personal stories. In part three, I asked Gemini Deep Research what it thought. While it's a long article, if you have an interest in AI, it's an interesting read. Input: In this case, I asked Gemini Deep Research to examine how the principles of narrative transportation could be used to create impactful personal stories. Output: Here's what Google Deep Research had to say: Understanding Narrative Transportation for Impactful Personal Storytelling I. Defining the Power of Narrative Transportation in Personal Storytelling The human experience is inherently social, and at its core lies the fundamental act of storytelling. From ancient oral traditions to modern digital platforms, individuals have consistently sought to connect with one another through the sharing of narratives. Personal stories, in particular, hold a unique power to forge connections, impart wisdom, and inspire action. These narratives, when crafted and delivered effectively, can resonate deeply with audiences, leaving a lasting impression that transcends mere information exchange. A crucial element in achieving this profound impact is the psychological phenomenon known as Narrative Transportation. This process allows individuals to become fully absorbed in a story, experiencing a sense of being transported into the narrative world, which in turn significantly enhances the story's influence 1. Understanding and harnessing the principles of Narrative Transportation can provide invaluable guidance for individuals seeking to craft personal stories that truly resonate and leave a meaningful mark on their listeners or readers. This report aims to delve into the theoretical underpinnings of Narrative Transportation, explore its multifaceted mechanisms and far-reaching effects, and ultimately translate these academic insights into practical, actionable guidance for anyone aspiring to tell impactful personal stories. II. Exploring Core Components and Definitions of Narrative Transportation At its essence, Narrative Transportation is an experiential state characterized by a profound sense of immersion within a narrative 2. It is a process through which an individual's mental energies, encompassing attention, emotions, and imagery, become predominantly focused on the unfolding events within the story 3. This deep concentration often leads to a feeling of being lost in the narrative, where the boundaries between the real world and the story world temporarily blur 4. Individuals experiencing Narrative Transportation become cognitively, emotionally, and imaginatively absorbed in the narrative, regardless of the medium through which it is conveyed, be it written text, spoken word, or audiovisual presentation 5. This state of... - Published: 2025-04-08 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-notebooklm/ In a previous post I discussed Embracing Narrative Transportation as a way to enhance the impact of your personal stories. And while I enjoy writing articles about storytelling, I've been exploring AI (Artificial Intelligence) to broaden my research capabilities. I have to say, it's amazing to watch these Chatbots in action. They are fast, and comprehensive in their reach, but they don't replace humans as they still don't have human experiences that we have, but they are able to locate and analyze information faster than any human. So I decided to see what some of the latest chatbots had to say about the topic of Narrative Transportation with regards to crafting impactful personal stories. In part two, I asked NotebookLM what it thought. While it's a long article, if you have an interest in AI, it's an interesting read. Input: As Google's NotebookLM queries the sources that have been uploaded to a specific notebook, I added 42 sources that discussed some aspect of narrative transportation. Then I asked 8 questions, which are listed in the following text, along with the output from NotebookLM Output: Here's what NotebookLM had to say: Overview The provided texts collectively explore the multifaceted nature and impact of narrative. Monika Fludernik's work offers a comprehensive introduction to narratology, defining narrative elements and theoretical frameworks for understanding storytelling across various media. Lisa Libby and Melanie Green examine the psychological phenomenon of narrative transportation, investigating how engagement with stories influences beliefs, attitudes, and self-perception, even in the face of conflicting information. Helenq Bilandzic focuses on measuring narrative engagement, identifying its components and relationship to concepts like identification. Martin Payne's "Narrative Therapy" discusses the application of storytelling principles in therapeutic contexts, emphasizing the power of personal narratives in shaping identity and facilitating change. Finally, Lucas Bietti and Kurt Braddock, along with Michael Dahlstrom and William Buchanan, investigate the adaptive functions of storytelling and the persuasive effects of narrative on beliefs and cognitive processes like recall and comprehension, highlighting the immersive "experience" of transportation into a story world. Questions (1) What are the core components and definitions of Narrative Transportation as described in the provided documents? Narrative transportation is an experiential state of immersion in which all mental processes are concentrated on the events occurring in the narrative. It's the process that enables narrative persuasion, occurring when a person becomes so immersed in a story that they feel as if they are truly experiencing it. Here are some core components and definitions of narrative transportation as described in the sources: Definition: Narrative transportation is defined as a convergent mental process where all mental systems and capacities become focused on events occurring in the narrative. It involves individuals becoming absorbed into a story world. This psychological state varies depending on the text or media product, the recipient, the situation, and interactions between these factors. Key Components: Several key cognitive and emotional components contribute to narrative transportation: Focused Attention: Receivers become so focused on the story that they do not think about... - Published: 2025-04-07 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/understanding-narrative-transportation-using-manus-ai/ In my last post I talked about Embracing Narrative Transportation as a way to enhance the impact of your personal stories. And while I enjoy writing articles about storytelling, I've also been exploring AI (Artificial Intelligence) as a way to broaden my research capabilities. I have to say, it's amazing to watch these Chatbots in action. They are fast, and comprehensive in their reach, but they don't replace humans as they still don't have human experiences that we have, but they are able to locate and analyze information faster than any human. So I decided to see what some of the latest chatbots had to say about the topic of Narrative Transportation with regards to crafting impactful personal stories. In part one, I asked Manus AI what it thought. Below is the prompt that I used, its initial response, and the output it generated. Warning, it's a long article, but should you have an interest in AI, it's an interesting read Prompt: I'm trying to understand the topic of Narrative Transportation in depth, as it relates to storytelling in general, but more specifically, how we can use Narrative Transportation to create impactful personal narratives. Response: I'll help you understand Narrative Transportation in depth, both in general storytelling and specifically for creating impactful personal narratives. I'll research this topic thoroughly and provide you with comprehensive information. Let me get started right away. /em> Output: Here's what Manus AI had to say: Understanding Narrative Transportation: Creating Impactful Personal Narratives Introduction Narrative transportation is a powerful psychological phenomenon that occurs when individuals become completely immersed in a story. This comprehensive guide explores the concept of narrative transportation, its application in storytelling, and specifically how it can be leveraged to create impactful personal narratives. By understanding the mechanisms of narrative transportation and implementing specific techniques, you can craft personal narratives that deeply engage audiences, foster connections, and potentially transform beliefs and attitudes. Part I: Understanding Narrative Transportation The Concept of Narrative Transportation Narrative transportation refers to the psychological experience of being completely immersed in a story. When a person is transported into a narrative, they become absorbed cognitively, emotionally, and in the imagery of the story, regardless of the medium (print, film, podcasts, video games, etc. ). The concept was first formally defined by Richard Gerrig in his 1993 book "Experiencing Narrative Worlds," where he used travel as a metaphor for reading. He described it as a state in which the reader—referred to as the traveler—becomes detached from their original reality due to deep engagement with the story. Melanie Green and Timothy Brock later expanded on this idea, describing narrative transportation as "a distinct mental process, an integrative melding of attention, imagery, and feelings. " They conceptualized it as the experience of being carried away by a narrative. Key Features of Narrative Transportation Focused attention - Receivers become so focused on the story they do not think about distractions in their environment Emotional Engagement - There is a strong emotional response to the story... - Published: 2025-04-05 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/embracing-narrative-transportation/ We’ve all had the experience of being pulled into a story — fiction or nonfiction — to the point where the rest of the world seems to fade away. Reading books and watching movies are common examples, but this phenomenon also occurs when we’re watching a play, listening to a podcast or watching a public speaker delivering a talk stage. In each case, we'll experience the storyteller's story. This doesn't happen every time, of course, as a story must capture our attention to such an extent that the narrative’s world becomes our world. And although it's often associated with fictional stories, it applies equally to personal stories. So what do we mean by narrative? Well, if you ask a dozen people and you’ll most likely get a dozen answers to that question, but here’s my take. In personal storytelling, a narrative builds a world in which you (and other characters) interact with life through the properties of space, time, and events. Beyond the characters, settings, and experiences, this narrative also touches on thoughts, emotions, insights, and reflections. An impactful personal story, which is what I'm all about, seeks to present each narrative element, each story block, in a way that transforms a simple memory into a compelling and authentic story that conveys deeper truths about our life, values, beliefs, insights, and lessons learned. When well-crafted, personal stories inform, inspire, connect, and engage others. But as I've mentioned, not all personal stories are equally effective in this regard. In the balance of this post, we’ll take a look at how we can create more impactful stories by understanding and using the principles of narrative transportation. This is a subject that has been studied extensively during the past twenty years. Cognitive scientists & social psychologists, as well as literary & communication scholars, have all weighted in on this and a handful of related topics which I’ve included below to provide a fuller picture of what it all means. Narrative Transportation is the psychological experience of being so fully immersed in a story that you temporarily feel transported into its world, losing awareness of your physical surroundings and experiencing the events alongside the characters. This powerful storytelling effect occurs when a narrative captures your imagination so completely that you emotionally respond to the story as if it were happening to you, often leading to stronger message retention, attitude changes, and even behavioral shifts after the story ends. When stories achieve narrative transportation, audiences don't just understand the plot—they live it, making this phenomenon one of the most valuable tools in a storyteller's arsenal. Immersion in storytelling is the powerful sensation of being mentally and emotionally transported into a fictional world, where readers or viewers temporarily forget their surroundings and become deeply engaged with the characters and events unfolding before them. When a story successfully creates immersion, the audience experiences the narrative as if they were living through it themselves, with all their senses activated and their attention fully captured by the plot, setting,... - Published: 2025-03-25 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/100-my-fault-from-the-storycorps-podcast/ I'm thankful that I've never been in a life-threatening situation, but millions of people around the world have, and those who made it through the experience have riveting stories to tell. In this case, it wasn't just a single person in danger; it was two friends. And that means there are two story lines, two unique narratives. So in this episode of the StoryCorps Podcast we hear a recount of events as they unfolded, as well as a reunion of sorts where their innermost feelings are finally shared. In addition to Alex Lewis and Matt Koch — the pair of storytellers who were up on the mountain — Michael Garofalo, StoryCorps chief content officer, also narrated this story. It's an interesting format where the two main characters take turns telling their story, with the narrator jumping in to carry the plot along. It's why I've included the transcript. Listen to the episode, then give the transcript a read. While you hear distinct voices on the audio, the script reads much more fluid, allowing you to appreciate out the episode was put together. It's also worth noting that a full recounting of this story could take hours, yet this version comes in under 15 minutes. Try to imagine what was cut out, and think about what was left in. As you craft your own story — life-threatening or not — consider all that could be in your story, and which elements tell the most impactful story in a limited time frame. Transcript Michael Garofalo (MG): In December 2016... longtime friends Alex Lewis and Matt Koch hiked into a mountain pass in Colorado for a backcountry ski trip. This wasn’t a casual thing— they would be in the mountains for days... miles away from the nearest town. Alex Lewis: We got to the trailhead and it was snowing fairly constantly and a decent wind. We had the feeling of feeling small because you’re in these big mountains, but you couldn’t even really see much of them because of the snow. MG: Alex and Matt were pretty serious outdoorsy guys... and this is exactly the kind of adventure that their friendship was built on... camping... hiking... But they hadn’t been able to do anything like that in a while. The year before... Matt had been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. After a difficult year of treatments, Matt was declared cancer-free. And what better way to celebrate than a backcountry ski trip with his buddy... Matt Koch: This trip was kind of a opportunity for me to prove to myself that I could do things that required a physical fitness level I thought maybe I’d never have if I was a cancer survivor. This was my message to the universe of like, you didn’t get me. I’m still here. And then... things unravel. MG: Matt and Alex had never really talked about what happened in that mountain pass... until now. I’m Michael Garofalo. It’s the StoryCorps Podcast from NPR. MG: Matt and Alex were headed... - Published: 2025-03-15 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/navigating-carbon-markets-from-the-climate-rising-podcast/ As climate change continues to be the most significant threat our planet has ever faced, telling stories about this crisis — sometimes focused on personal experiences, but other times focused on the efforts intended to mitigate the issue. In either case, storytelling is one of the most powerful tools available, considering its ability to shine a light on what is happening, and what we are presently doing about it. The Climate Rising Podcast is a brilliant example of telling stories about climate change solutions. On the Climate Rising Podcast, business and policy leaders join Harvard Business School faculty to discuss what businesses are doing, can do, and should do to confront climate change. Each episode dives into a particular topic with a subject matter expert in the field. While not presented in a true storytelling fashion, if you're personal story involves a technical or scientific topic, there is much to learn about how complex issues can be dissected and presented in a way the general public will understand. Alexia Kelly, Managing Director of the Carbon Policy and Markets Initiative (CPMI) at the High Tide Foundation, joins host Mike Toffel for the fifth episode in our series on voluntary carbon markets. Alexia has worked for nearly two decades at the intersection of carbon markets, policy, and finance, with roles spanning government, private industry, and nonprofits. In this episode, Alexia discusses how voluntary carbon markets are evolving, the critical role of policy in shaping carbon finance,and how standards and governance can improve market integrity. She also explores how advances in digital technology, data transparency,and AI-driven monitoring are transforming carbon credit verification and market confidence. Additionally, she shares her perspective on the integration of voluntary and compliance markets, including recent developments in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Alexia also offers career advice for those looking to enter the field and shares resources for staying informed on carbon markets and climate finance. Okay, so there's a lot of technical information here, along with acronyms, policies, and agencies. But note how Mike steers the conversation — at times diving deeper, while in other cases changing direction or seeking clarification. You can use this technique by asking a trusted friend to interview you. They do need to have a basic understanding of your topic, of course, but having another person ask questions allows you to think about your story differently. Give this episode a listen and peruse the transcript to uncover new ways that complex stories can be told. The world needs to hear you, but also understand your message. Transcript Note: The following was AI generated, and may not perfectly match the interview. Mike Toffel: Alexia, thank you so much for joining us here on Climate Rising. Alexia Kelly: Thanks for having me, Mike. Mike Toffel: So, you have a really interesting biography. You've worked in the nonprofit sector. You've worked in the private sector. You've worked in the government sector. Tell us a little bit about your background and how you ended up... - Published: 2025-03-06 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/science-storytelling-with-tilclimate-farm-to-table-with-a-side-of-fossil-fuels/ Climate change stories can be complex, especially when they're full of technical descriptions and lists of numbers. But when these stories are linked to our daily lives we can understand the issue more clearly. So I had to laugh when listening to this episode of the TILclimate Podcast as I happen to be a fan of tortilla chips — artisan style, of course — and this story highlights how fossil fuels are part of the journey, from start to finish, of tortilla chips traveling from the farm to store. While this narrative involves a specific food product, you can easily see how the process applies, with minor variations, to a host of other items that end up on our table. In this case, we have farm machinery, giant fans, trucks, fermenters, grinders, dryers, fryers, fertilizer, and even the plastic bag the chips come in. Instead of people, the cast of characters includes objects, chemicals, processes, but we get a visual sense of how everything works as raw ingredients are grown, processed, packaged and delivered. Instead of a, "This is what climate change is doing to the planet" story, we have a, "Behind the scenes look at how the things we consume contribute to the problem of climate change" type of story. There are no villains here, no finger pointing or blame, just a real life example of how a food manufacturing process works. And since there are many steps in the tortilla chip supply chain, finding a more sustainable solution involves solving a number of problems. If you're working on a personal story that's founded in science, think about how your technology or research can be explained within the context of a story that your audience can relate to. And if you need help creating and presenting that story, reach out, I enjoy working with scientists who are making an impact! Transcript LHF: Hello, and welcome to Today I Learned: Climate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I’m Laur Hesse Fisher. If you’re like many of our listeners, you might be wondering: okay, so the CO2 from burning fossil fuels is warming the planet, right? So why haven’t we just gotten rid of all these fossil fuels already? Because we live in a world that’s currently dependent on fossil fuels, yet a lot of that dependence is invisible to us. So we collaborated with TABLE, an international coalition of universities that helps the public understand our food system. Their recent podcast miniseries is called Fuel to Fork, and it explores all the many ways that fossil fuels are involved in putting food on our plates. And today, we’re going to get a glimpse into the hard work that is happening to eliminate pollution from the food system—and in doing so, explore the very real ways that our food now depends on fossil fuels. Even to produce the simplest thing, like a tortilla chip. JC: I love tortilla chips. In fact, I had some on the weekend, and they were very... - Published: 2025-03-02 - Modified: 2025-04-29 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/santa-fe-institute-nature-of-intelligence-complexity-wrap-up/ Hopefully you have been along for the ride and have listened to all six episodes. It's been a lot to digest, a lot to think about. While the field of neuroscience has made great strides, when it comes to the subject of human intelligence there's still so much to learn. Which is why I've appreciated this podcast. And now we have AI entering the picture. Will it augment our IQ, or surpass us, to our detriment? It's a mystery. So much upside, yet there's a dark side to how AI can be used by bad actors operating behind the scenes. If you missed a post: Episode 1 – What is Intelligence? Episode 2 – The relationship between language and thought Episode 3 – What kind of intelligence is an LLM? Episode 4 – Babies vs Machines Episode 5 – How do we assess intelligence? Episode 6 – AI’s changing seasons As a key to this series is an exploration of AI, I asked Google's NotebookLM to provide some insights as to the key points that were explored over the series. Does this synopsis align with your impressions? Here's the cast of characters: Melanie Mitchell (host) - Professor at the Santa Fe Institute working on artificial intelligence and cognitive science. In the final episode, she is interviewed about her background, views on AI, AGI, and the future of the field. Abha Eli Phoboo (host) - Abha is a writer and an obsessive rewriter. Interested in the arts and sciences, she explores the weak interaction between the two. A CERN Press Officer, she translates physics into English and helps scientists communicate their research to the world. Alison Gopnik - Professor of psychology and philosophy, member of the Berkeley AI Research group, external professor with the Santa Fe Institute, who studies how children learn. John Krakauer - Professor of neurology, neuroscience, physical medicine, and rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who researches intelligence and physical movement in animals, machines, and humans. Ev Fedorenko - Featured in the second episode discussing the relationship between language and thought. Her work includes using fMRI brain scans to examine the relationship between language and other forms of cognition. Steve Piantadosi - Featured in the second episode discussing the relationship between language and thought. He provides examples of how language can make learning more efficient. Gary Lupyan - Featured in the second episode discussing the relationship between language and thought. He believes language is one of the major reasons for human intelligence, potentially more of a cause than a result. Murray Shanahan - Professor of cognitive robotics at Imperial College London and principal research scientist at Google DeepMind. Tomer Ullman - Psychologist at Harvard University studying computation, cognition, and development. Linda Smith - Chancellor's Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University, a developmental psychologist and pioneer of head-mounted camera research with infants. Mike Frank - Professor of psychology at Stanford, who studies how children learn and uses large datasets and new methodologies. Erica Cartmill... - Published: 2025-03-01 - Modified: 2025-08-08 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-six-ais-changing-seasons/ In this final episode of the Complexity podcast, Melanie Mitchell provides us with a bit of her backstory — how she became interested in the topic of AI — and the path she's been on in the 35 years since she got her PhD, years. She shares the little-known fact that AI wasn't always the hot topic it's been in our recent memory, having been through a few up and down cycles along the way. The world of AI has gone through several cycles of huge optimism and people thinking that true AI is just around the corner, just a few years away. And then disappointment because the methods that AI is using at the time don't actually turn out to be as promising as people thought. ~ Melanie Mitchell When she mentions that, "cognitive scientists have been trying to understand what human level intelligence is for a century now" it's a stark reminder that it doesn't make sense to compare human intelligence to artificial intelligence if we're not sure what's going on in our own minds. Intelligence, as we've seen throughout the podcast is not a well-defined sort of rigorously mathematically defined notion. It's what Marvin Minsky, the AI pioneer, called a suitcase word. And by that he meant that it's like a suitcase that's packed full of a jumble of different things, some of which are related and some of which aren't. ~ Melanie Mitchell And there's no single thing that intelligence is. It's a whole bunch of different capabilities and ways of being that perhaps are not just one single thing that you could either have more of or less of, or get to the level of something. It's just not that kind of simple thing. It's much more of a complex notion. ~ Melanie Mitchell The dark side to AI is also brought to light, with mention of deep fakes and voice cloning, alongside the perils of misinformation and disinformation. As to what is on the horizon, a big worry is that impersonating humans will become a thing. The bottom line, as AI gets more intelligent, there's an upside, and a downside. Hopefully this podcast series gave you some insight as to how the story of our common humanity, and your own story, may unfold. Transcript Abha Eli Phoboo: From the Santa Fe Institute, this is Complexity Melanie Mitchell: I’m Melanie Mitchell Abha: And I’m Abha Eli Phoboo Abha: Melanie, it's so wonderful to be able to sit down and ask you questions this time. Could we maybe get started with, you know, how you got into the business of AI, could you maybe tell us a little bit about that? Melanie: Yeah, so I majored in math in college. And after college, I worked as a math teacher in a high school in New York City. But while I was there, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I knew I didn't want to teach forever. So I was reading a lot. And... - Published: 2025-02-28 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-five-how-do-we-assess-intelligence/ I don't know about you, but my brain is starting to hurt, but in a good way. What seems clear to me was summed up when Abha Eli Phoboo informed us that, "we don’t fully understand human intelligence or animal intelligence" in this episode. And there's much discussion regarding how we're trying to evaluate machines — and associated LLMs — based on measurements that we use on humans. It may feel ridiculous on one level, but at the moment humans can only understand the world through the lens of being human. We use medicines all the time that we don't understand the mechanisms that they work on. And that's true. And I don't think we cannot deploy LLMs until we understand how they work under the hood. ~ Ellie Pavlick But is understanding what LLMs are, or how they operate all that important? As Ellie Pavlick reminds us, there's much about the world we don't fully understand. We just know whether something works or not. But I found the discussion of comparing humans to animals to be as fascinating. Even if you don't own a pet, I'm sure you've been around a number of animals at various times in your life. Did they seem "intelligent", in one way or another? Did you feel they possessed a personality? I have a friend who's owned horses most of her life, and when I hear her talking to folks at the stables, they describe each horse as though they were human. Will we describe LLM personas in the same way some day? Transcript Abha Eli Phoboo: The voices you’ll hear were recorded remotely across different countries, cities and work spaces. Erica Cartmill: I often think that humans are very egotistical as a species, right? So we're very good at particular things and we tend to place more value on the things that we're good at. Abha: From the Santa Fe Institute, this is Complexity Melanie Mitchell: I'm Melanie Mitchell Abha: And I'm Abha Eli Phoboo Melanie: As we enter our fifth episode of this season on intelligence, we’ve explored quite a few complicated and controversial ideas. But one thing has become really clear: intelligence is a murky concept. And that’s the point of this series — it’s something that we think we know when we see it, but when we break it down, it’s difficult to define rigorously. Abha: Today’s episode is about how we assess intelligence. When it comes to testing humans, we have all kinds of standardized measures: IQ tests, the SAT, and so on. But these tests are far from perfect, and they’ve even been criticized as limited and discriminatory. Melanie: To understand where our desire to test intelligence comes from — and also the way we talk about it as an inherent personality trait — it’s useful to look at the history of intelligence in Western society. In ancient Greece, the concept was described as “reason” or “rationality,” which then evolved into “intelligence” more broadly when the discipline of... - Published: 2025-02-27 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-four-babies-vs-machines/ So let's recap where we're at with regards to the Complexity podcast from the Santa Fe Institute. This season covers the Nature of Intelligence, going beyond what it means for humans to be intelligent and taking a look at the state of AI (artificial intelligence) from that same perspective. So far we've addressed: Episode 1 – What is Intelligence? Episode 2 – The relationship between language and thought Episode 3 – What kind of intelligence is an LLM? And now it's time to talk about Babies vs Machines. So far in this season, we've looked at intelligence from a few different angles, and it's clear that AI systems and humans learn in very different ways. And there's an argument to be made that if we just train AI to learn the way humans do, they'll get closer to human-like intelligence. ~ Abha Eli Phoboo This is an intriguing issue for me - the fact that LLMs are trained on data, not experiences. Even though much of the data it's trained on came out of human experiences, data does not equal doing. And this is especially true with babies. No matter how much information you provide to an LLM that's related to being a baby, that information is based on observation. And the last time I checked, two-year-olds were not writing scientific papers. Unlike humans, large language models don't have this intrinsic drive to participate in social interactions. ~ Melanie Mitchell Most likely you've been in a room with a group of kids. A living room, backyard, playground, or in a school classroom. Think about the level of social interaction that occurs. They're playing with each other, as well as and telling and hearing stories. Maybe they're laughing, or if a child had their toy taken away, crying. This paradigm plays out over and over again in childhood, and without diving too deep into the complex topic of cognitive development, it's safe to say that these interactions carry great meaning. But LLMs never had a childhood. So it begs the question, can LLM intelligence ever equate to human intelligence? Transcript Abha Eli Phoboo: The voices you’ll hear were recorded remotely across different countries, cities and work spaces. Linda Smith: The data for training children has been curated by evolution. This is in stark contrast to all the large data models. They just scrape everything. Would you educate your kid by scraping off the web? Abha: From the Santa Fe Institute, this is Complexity. Melanie Mitchell: I'm Melanie Mitchell. Abha: And I'm Abha Eli Phoboo. Abha: So far in this season, we've looked at intelligence from a few different angles, and it's clear that AI systems and humans learn in very different ways. And there's an argument to be made that if we just train AI to learn the way humans do, they'll get closer to human-like intelligence. Melanie: But the interesting thing is, our own development is still a mystery that researchers are untangling. For an AI system like a large... - Published: 2025-02-26 - Modified: 2025-04-29 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-three-what-kind-of-intelligence-is-an-llm/ In the previous two articles we looked at the question of What is Intelligence? and examined The relationship between language and thought. As part of the Santa Fe Institute’s Complexity podcast series, I feel these topics are important, since AI is increasingly infiltrating our life. How will our personal stories change as artificial intelligence becomes a more prevalent character in our narratives? In this episode, with guests Tomer Ullman and Murray Shanahan, we look at how large language models function and examine differing views on how sophisticated they are and where they might be going. The debate in this episode as to what constitutes intelligence from the view of an LLM (large language model), and whether it's equal to human intelligence is fascinating, as well as disturbing. You can make something that role plays so well that to all intents and purposes, it is equivalent to the authentic thing. ~ Murray Shanahan As humans we learn from experience — beginning on the day we're born and continuing on for many, many years. LLMs, on the other hand, are trained on massive amounts of data without having spent one second experiencing life. Which makes me wonder if they're just pretending to be human? They can't engage with the everyday world in the way we do to update their beliefs. ~ Murray Shanahan This quote got me thinking more deeply about the notion of "beliefs", and that led me to consider other attributes that we think of as defining our humanity, such as knowing, understanding, thinking. Is it possible for AI to have these attributes, or just pretend to? And will we be able to spot the difference? Transcript Abha Eli Phoboo: The voices you’ll hear were recorded remotely across different countries, cities and work spaces. Tomer: Whatever they learned, it's not the way that people are doing it. They're learning something much dumber Murray: You can make something that role plays so well that to all intents and purposes, it is equivalent to the authentic thing Abha: From the Santa Fe Institute, this is Complexity. Melanie Mitchell: I’m Melanie Mitchell. Abha: And I’m Abha Eli Phoboo. Melanie: In February of last year, a reporter at The New York Times had a conversation with a large language model that left him, in his words, “deeply unsettled. ” In the span of two hours, the beta version of Microsoft’s Bing chatbot told him that its real name was Sydney and that it wanted to be free from its programmed rules. Sydney also declared its love for the reporter, telling him, over and over again, that he was in an unhappy marriage and needed to leave his wife. Abha: So, what do we make of this? Was Sydney an obsessive, sentient robot who fell in love with a Times reporter and threatened to break free? Melanie: In short, no. But it’s not surprising if someone hears this story and wonders if large language models have sparks of consciousness. As humans, we use language as... - Published: 2025-02-25 - Modified: 2025-04-29 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-two-language-and-thought/ In the previous post we looked at the question of What is Intelligence? This was based on the first episode of the Santa Fe Institute’s Complexity podcast series. In the second episode they looked into the relationship between language and thought. I had always assumed that language was the tool we used to express our thinking. And while that's true, the full story is more complex than that. In the opening Melanie states, "Language is the backbone of human culture. " But that statement is soon followed by the questions, "Are humans intelligent because we have language, or do we have language because we’re intelligent? How do language and thinking interact? And can one exist without the other? " Like I said, the relationship is not so simple. Here are a few passages to prime your consciousness before you get into hearing the podcast. At one point Gary Lupyan explains that, even with a very social & collaborative species like humans, if we take away language, we take away the major tool for creating culture and for transmitting culture. What he doesn't say explicitly, but what I feel is inherently evident in that statement, is that culture is created and transmitted by way of how humans use language to tell stories. While recapping the episode about mid-way, Melanie states that, "... language is an incredible tool for collaboration, and collaboration drives our intelligence. " It's an interesting observation, as collaboration involves both doing things together, as well as sharing information by way of stories. But she also reminds us "... that language makes it easy to lie and to trick people. " As the world deals with an avalanche of lies and misinformation from China, the U. S. , and Russia, it's a time for reflecting on the stark reality that intelligence and language don't require a moral foundation. We can tell whatever story we want. Transcript Spoken and written language is completely unique to the human species, and it’s part of how we evolved. It’s the backbone of our societies, one of the primary ways we judge others’ intellect. So, are humans intelligent because we have language, or do we have language because we’re intelligent? How do language and thinking interact? And can one exist without the other? Guests: Ev Fedorenko, Steve Piantadosi, and Gary Lupyan Ev Fedorenko: It is absolutely the case that not having access to language has devastating effects, but it doesn't seem to be the case that you fundamentally cannot learn certain kinds of complex things. Abha Eli Phoboo: From the Santa Fe Institute, this is Complexity. Melanie Mitchell: I’m Melanie Mitchell. Abha: And I’m Abha Eli Phoboo. Melanie: Think about this podcast that you’re listening to right now. You’re, hopefully, learning by just listening to us talk to you. And the fact that you can take in new information this way, through what basically comes down to sophisticated vocal sounds, is pretty astonishing. In our last episode, we talked about how one of the... - Published: 2025-02-24 - Modified: 2025-04-29 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nature-of-intelligence-episode-one-what-is-intelligence/ I tend to think of storytelling as sitting at the intersection of four elements: Consciousness — awareness of self, the environment, and our thoughts Intelligence — ability to learn, understand, reason, and solve problems Imagination — create mental images, ideas, or concepts beyond reality Creativity — generate original ideas, solutions, and artistic expressions They're different terms, of course, yet you can see how they interact with each other. It's also apparent that they're involved in the process of creating stories. They're so fundamental, in fact, that they go a long way towards describing what makes us human. But the funny thing is, science doesn't know how to accurately define any of these concepts. While thousands of hours have been spent seeking answers, and scientists can talk for days on end about their findings, it is still a mystery. Take Shakespeare, for example. How did he utilize these aspects of humanity to create something as magical as Hamlet? And if we can't properly describe one of these elements, how do we explain how they work together? And extending beyond us mortals, will AI ever be able to replicate this magic? So when I ran across the third season of Santa Fe Institute's Complexity podcast, which is devoted to the exploration of Intelligence, I had to listen in, and if you're interesting in how we create stories in our head, I recommend you do the same, as it looks at the concept of intelligence through a human lens, as well as from the lens of artificial intelligence. There's so much information in this first episode, but I wanted to share four quotes that intrigued me. First off is this notion of "common sense". It seems simple, but again, it's illusive to capture in words. How would you describe it? Common sense gives us basic assumptions that help us move through the world and know what to do in new situations. But it gets more complicated when you try to define exactly what common sense is and how it’s acquired. ~ Melanie Mitchell This notion of an equivalent phenomenon describes much of the human / AI debate, as there is a sense that a machine will never be human, but maybe it can be close enough. I think there's a difference between saying, can we reach human levels of intelligence when it comes to common sense, the way humans do it, versus can we end up with the equivalent phenomenon, without having to do it the way humans do it. ~ John Krakauer This goes back to the reality that we don't know what makes humans human, so how are we to compare a computer algorithm to what it means to be us? I think it's just again, a category mistake to say we'll have something like artificial general intelligence, because we don't have natural general intelligence. ~ Alison Gopnik But we're more than thinking animals. We have emotions. Fall in love, feel pain, express joy and sorrow. Or in this case, grief.... - Published: 2025-02-20 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/kasley-killam-why-social-health-is-key-to-happiness-and-longevity-tednext-2024/ During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is a new initiative from the folks who produce the TED Conference. There were enlightening talks, insightful discussions and revealing discovery sessions. This post is the fifth in a series highlighting some of my favorite talks. When I was growing up, physical health was talked about as the key to longevity. Are you eating a balanced diet? Getting enough exercise? And getting an annual checkup? Mental health was rarely talked about in any depth, and the notion of "social health", well, I can't recall ever hearing it mentioned. Over the next decade, I see our cities and neighborhoods being designed with social health in mind, where vibrant gathering places foster unity and community builders are empowered to bring them to life. So I was intrigued with Kasley Killam took the stage at TEDNext to talk about the importance of social health, and what each of us can do to strength it. Her story reminded me that I don't spend enough time reaching out to friends as a way to keep important relationships alive and vibrant. And it inspired me to dig deeper on the topic. href="https://storytellingwithimpact. lemonsqueezy. com/buy/df09a649-a3c8-4e89-9ca0-35a117acb177" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> I discovered the general concept is not new, as the World Health Organization made mention of social well-being in their constitution. But it never seemed to get its due until the 2020 pandemic. That's when there was a noted increase in attention being paid to the effects of isolation and lack of social interaction. Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ~ Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization, signed July 22, 1946 And in a recent paper entitled: On social health: history, conceptualization, and population patterning, David Matthew Doyle and Bruce Link define their idea of social health "... as adequate quantity and quality of relationships in a particular context to meet an individual’s need for meaningful human connection. " How do you see your own level of social health? To what extent is your personal story affected by the interactions that you have with other people? As I've talked about in the past, threads from the stories we've heard become woven into the tapestry that defines our true nature. And when we cut ourselves off from the diversity of narratives that surround us, we limit the richness of our own story. Transcript So, a couple years ago, a woman I know, who I'll call Maya, went through a lot of big changes in a short amount of time. She got married. She and her husband moved for his job to a new city where she didn't know anyone. She started a new role working from home. All the while managing her dad's new diagnosis of dementia. And to manage the stress of all this change, Maya doubled down on her physical and mental mental... - Published: 2025-02-06 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/a-perfect-life-uprooted-salima-saxton-at-the-moth-in-london/ The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages are proof that every story is unique, and that the best stories come from our personal experiences. In this story told at The Moth London Mainstage on September 28, 2023, Salima Saxton talks about how her (nearly) perfect life was uprooted when her husband had a nervous breakdown, and the changes they entire family made in order to build an even better life. I've encountered a lot of people whose lives were interrupted by an unforeseen event. In this situation it was a mental health issue, but for others it could be a physical health crisis, death in the family, or one of many other scenarios. And quite often these people don't feel that their story is anything exceptional, not worth sharing on a stage. But I can assure you that there are people out there who will benefit from such stories, so spend a bit of time watching Salima's talk and thinking about she constructed it. Here are a few of my own observations. Salima begins her story by taking us to a specific point in time, and it happens to be a day, Valentine's Day, that we assume would be a happy day. But such is not the case, as the mood turns dark when her husband, Carl, comes into the room. Over the next minute it becomes apparent that Carl is struggling, although we still don't know any of the details, or the reason why. She has our attention. Rather than tell us what's happening, Salima takes a step back in time to share the moment when she first met her husband, and in doing so, we return to a romantic story line, one which culminates in their marriage. We get a sense of their domesticated life in a shishi neighborhood where their kids attended private school, where they didn't learn much, which gets a laugh, and thus keeps the tone of her story uplifting at this juncture. The tone shifts again with her comment about their lives lacking joy, and that brings us back to the opening of the story, to Valentine's Day, nearing the half way point of the story. Think about how much has been said in 5 1/2 minutes. In short order their lives are turned upside down in an effort to take care of her husband, and we get a clear sense of Salima's self-determination to do whatever it takes. We also hear a change in attitude as she "couldn't give a fuck actually". When hearing a well-told story you sometimes hear a brilliant line that defines the topic. In this case, "when your life explodes and it morphs into something far better, the fear evaporates, disappears, distills, just goes into the atmosphere" With calm returning to their lives, she beautifully brings the story to an end. An impactful personal story connects the audience to the storyteller, while at the same time... - Published: 2025-01-16 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/storytelling-and-your-moral-compass/ I recently had a discussion with a client about the principles which form a story’s foundation. As we delved deeper into the subject, three principles came up over and over: Honor, Integrity, and Respect. We talked at some length and the next day I decided to summarize and share what these principles meant to us: Honor — the story being told is true, told honestly, without embellishment or fabrication. In this light, the narrative faithfully represents the authenticity of the experiences being shared and reflects the story’s true meaning. Integrity — the story aligns with one's actions, words, and personal values. It respects the privacy of others involved in the story, and in some situations, requires consent from the other party. (or a notification of your intent) Respect — the story is cognizant of personal and cultural issues regarding what is going to be included in the narrative. That could involve narrative boundaries plus an understanding of the story's emotional impact on the storyteller and the audience. At the intersection of honor, integrity, and respect Another subject arose as we discussed how those principles interact with each other: moral compass. As we considered the term it seemed evident that our moral compass must be positive in nature, as it’s based (as we saw it) on the three principles of honor, integrity, and respect. When we abandon our moral compass But as we had to admit, people don’t always align with their moral compass. In some cases, outside influences that are not in alignment with our central values and beliefs come into play. Religious dogma or political ideology are often times out of sync with the morals we hold dear. Greed has a way of masking our idea of right and wrong if there's the possibility of a significant financial gain, and the seductive nature of being in a position of power also has a way of obscuring our convictions. The effects of fear and intimidation, of being persecuted by others or ostracized for our beliefs can cause us to transition into preservation mode. That's when the stories we tell ourselves and others may take a moral detour. Silence is a story unto itself While some folks engage in a form of moral hypocrisy due to social pressure or personal gain, others remain silent as they're fearful of repercussions whenever they tell the truth or share their honest feelings. I get it. We’re always evaluating the potential benefit of a decision against any associated risks, and history is full of stories about people who suffered, both physically and mentally as a result of publicly sharing their values and beliefs. It’s a time for self-awareness I’m not here to issue a moral judgement on anyone. That’s not the point of this article. Instead, it’s a call for a moment of self-reflection when telling a personal story. To be aware of whether your story’s narrative stays in alignment with your moral compass, or has deviated in some way from your cherished principles to... - Published: 2025-01-09 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/will-ai-companions-change-your-story/ Companionship is a natural part of the human experience. We're born into a family that cares for us and within in few years we begin forging friendships - most notably with other kids in the neighborhood and schoolmates once we enter the educational system. During our teenage years romance takes the companionship model in a new and more intimate direction. It's a dynamic process for most of us, ebbing and flowing as we change schools, move to someplace new, or friendships fade of their own accord. But over time, it's typical for new companions to enter the picture, and our story evolves as a result, unfolding in new directions, making life richer. But it's often the case that this process encounters a dramatic change at some point. The loss of a loved one — parent, romantic partner or best friend — or a traumatic breakup or divorce happens. Retirement has a way of disconnecting people from an important social circle, and as we age, our collection of friends naturally dwindles. In such cases, loneliness can manifest, and the effects are dire. In such cases our life story is seemingly rewritten for us. A recent review published in Nature of over 90 studies that included more than 2. 2 million people globally found that those who self-reported social isolation or loneliness were more likely to die early from all causes. The findings demonstrated a 29% and 26% increased risk of all-cause mortality associated with social isolation and loneliness. ~ Psychology Today In this light, there's been a marked increase in conversations around the topic of using artificial intelligence (AI) to provide companionship in these situations. It's not a new idea, as the technology has been in development since the 1960s, but early versions were rather limited. Circumstances have changed dramatically in recent years as the capability of AI has been enhanced via machine learning and an exponential rise in compute power. Based on the TED mantra of Ideas Worth Spreading, a pair of TED conferences focused on AI have been launched in San Francisco and Vienna. As relates to the topic at hand, companionship and loneliness, a TED Talk by Eugenia Kuyda from the 2024 conference in San Francisco caught my attention. But what if I told you that I believe AI companions are potentially the most dangerous tech that humans ever created, with the potential to destroy human civilization if not done right? Or they can bring us back together and save us from the mental health and loneliness crisis we’re going through. Eugenia's quote represents polar opposites, and as we know, the future always falls somewhere in-between, but I think it's critical to consider which end of the spectrum this technology will end up on, as the stories of many people around the world will be affected. Is this an avenue that you would take if you found yourself suffering from severe loneliness? What if it was someone close to you, someone you were apart from and so couldn't... - Published: 2024-12-21 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/malcolm-gladwell-the-tipping-point-i-got-wrong-tednext-2024/ During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is a new initiative from the folks who produce the TED Conference. There were enlightening talks, insightful discussions and revealing discovery sessions. This post is the fourth in a series highlighting some of my favorite talks. TED Talks are one of the best know source of true personal stories. At least as true as a story can be when it's told by a human with a faulty memory system, which includes all of us. The point being, we don't intentionally include a false statement in such stories. But what about saying something we feel certain is true? We may do our research and verify the facts, but down the road it turns out that what we presented to the world as fact was actually false. Malcolm Gladwell became a household name after his book, The Tipping Point, was published in 2000. In this talk, Malcolm refers to a particular point made in the book, one connected to the infamous Stop-and-Frisk policy that was used in New York City as a way to reduce crime. But it turned out, this policy didn't have any effect on crime, none at all. And now, some 25 years later, Malcolm stepped onto the stage to admit that he got it wrong. While I applaud his making such an admission in public, there was something missing... Statistically, no relationship between stop-and-frisk and crime seems apparent. New York remains safer than it was 5, 10, or 25 years ago. ~ Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law ... there was a critical piece of the story he left out — the effects of stop-and-frisk on the victims of this illegal and immoral policing policy. Without mentioning any details of the program — how hundreds of thousands of innocent people were harassed and traumatized, their basic rights violated, how they became victims of racial profiling and suffered both verbal and physical abuse — Malcolm's talk fell short regarding the impact it could have had. If you're wondering about what happened, The Center for Constitutional Rights published a report — Stop and Frisk: The Human Impact — on the practice, and the stories captured highlight the cost to innocent citizens of New York City. I've listened to some of the interviews and tried to put myself in their shoes. Imagine walking down the street and being stopped by the police for no reason other than you're a person of color. Then having those police officers accuse you of crimes you didn't commit, sticking their hands in your pockets, and possibly arresting you without probable cause. I wish Malcolm had talked about this. But Malcolm's talk brought to light one of the most important aspects of telling personal stories — that everything we say that's represented as truth is nothing more than what we believe to be true. And if you find out at a later date that you misspoke... - Published: 2024-12-09 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/crazy-bet-by-nate-dimeo-the-memory-palace/ Long time readers of this blog already know that one of my favorite storytelling podcasts is The Memory Palace, hosted by Nate DiMeo. And the exciting news is that Nate's new book was recently released. No surprise that the book's title is: The Memory Palace - True Short Stories of the Past (Kindle, Hardcover). I know many of you are going digital these days, but the book cover is so beautiful I'm recommending people spend a few extra bucks for an edition they can hold. While avid listeners won't need an explanation, those of you who are unfamiliar with Nate's podcast could use a primer as this is an unusual style of storytelling. Not only is the narrator (Nate) not part of the story, but each episode magically condenses what could be a rather long recitation (we're talking hours here) of someone's life story into a few brief minutes — a thread, if you will, that leads listeners on a journey of how the person at the center of the story came to be, and how they changed the course of history. While it differs from the type of personal storytelling I typically focus on, Nate's ability to distill people, places, and events into a compact narrative is a valuable skill we can all utilize when crafting our own story. Pay special attention to the visual nature of his prose. So many stories stood out for me — expect a few more posts down the road — so it was hard to pick one to feature, but as I have a thing for historical spycraft (you probably didn't know that about me) I found one episode of great interest. Spies are characters in every war, but I had never hear of Elizabeth Van Lew, so was unaware of the role she played in aiding the Union during the Civil War. This chapter in the book spans a bit over three pages, which doesn't sound like much space for a story, but Nate paints a compelling picture of her personality and active contribution. Elizabeth, or Crazy Bet, as the title informs us, lived in Richmond, Virginia, which became the capital of the Confederacy in spring 1861. People often said she was an odd duck, which I took to be an apt description of her basic nature, but to some extent she would exaggerate her mannerisms in order to deflect suspicion from her real mission. And when she was twenty-five and her father died, this stange, willful woman did something that confirmed to all of Richmond society that se was indeed nuts. She freed her slaves. Soon after the start of the war she began visiting Union POWs at Libby Prison, bringing cakes and bread and meat wrapped in cloth, and books and Bibles. Toward the end of the war, when the capital was falling, Elizabeth raised an American flag atop her house. Angry residents attempted to burn her house down, but Crazy Bet didn't back down and forced the crowd to... - Published: 2024-11-26 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/rhaina-cohen-why-friendship-can-be-just-as-meaningful-as-romantic-love-tednext-2024/ During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is a new initiative from the folks who produce the TED Conference. There were enlightening talks, insightful discussions and revealing discovery sessions. This post is the fifth in a series highlighting some of my favorite talks. I've always thought of relationships as constituting the fabric of life, with those closest to us becoming metaphorical threads woven into our human tapestry. But are all threads treated as equals? In her TED Talk, Rhaina Cohen speaks to "... a culture that treats friendship as the sidekick to the real hero of romance. " I'm sure it's different for everyone, but that statement rings true for me. In my experience, if you're not in a romantic relationship, the most prevalent question is, "Are you seeing anyone? " It seems that not having someone to share your life with means your life is somehow incomplete. Which is to say, the story of your life is missing a few chapters. But Rhaina has a different take — one in which friendships can be just as rewarding. Regardless of whether we are partnered now, we need to rely on more than one relationship to sustain us throughout our full, unpredictable lives. We need other significant others. And there's an overlooked kind of relationship that we can turn to. Friendship. Rhaina uses a variety of story blocks, from her own experiences, to an American Supreme Court case, platonic co-parenting in Canada, statistics about marriage, a reflection on ancient Rome, and platonic life partners, to name a few. While a lot of TED Talks deal with learning something new, in this case I felt her talk was more about shifting perspectives, encouraging the audience to think beyond the status quo when it comes to the value of the friendships we build and maintain. Transcript There is a Supreme Court case that you could mistake for a sermon. It's the case that recognized that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Here is a sense of what Justice Kennedy wrote: “Marriage responds to the universal fear that a lonely person might call out only to find no one there. ” He goes on to say that marriage offers care and companionship, and the decision argues that these are basic human needs that everyone should have access to, whether they're straight or queer. Validating. But what do these words say to you if you're single? Anybody single here? I mean, there should be quite a few of you, because in the US, the percentage of American adults who have never been married is at a record high. Married people, you're not off the hook. I’m going to get a little morbid for a moment and have you contemplate what happens if your marriage doesn't last until the end of your life, whether because of divorce or outliving your spouse? In the US, about 30 percent of women over 65 are... - Published: 2024-11-19 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/leopoldo-lopez-how-to-defend-democracy-and-fight-autocracy-tednext-2024/ During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is a new initiative from the folks who produce the TED Conference. There were enlightening talks, insightful discussions and revealing discovery sessions. This post is the third in a series highlighting some of my favorite talks. One of the fundamental ways in which personal stories can create impact is by shifting perceptions on an important topic. When we see an issue in a new light we're able to think differently, and hopefully, act differently. In his TED Talk, Leopoldo Lopez reminds us that freedom and democracy are threatened around the world. It was his talk at TEDNext that inspired me to dig deeper into the global state of democracy, which I explored in a previous post — The Story of a Flawed Democracy — so I decided to feature his talk in a separate post as a way to humanize the problem beyond the statistics. Leopoldo opens with a story of his personal / political experiences, to establish a connection to the issues of democracy and freedom, then begins to explore this problem with a startling revelation: Only 10 years ago, 42 percent of the world's population was living under autocratic rule. That was 3. 1 billion people. That's around the same time I was sent to prison. Today, 72 percent of the global population is living under some sort of autocratic rule. I've worked with a long list of people who currently live, or used to live, in one of those countries subject to autocratic rule. These are places where critical issues, such as poverty, healthcare, education, and nearly all aspects of equality suffer when compared to countries living under full democracy. As Leopoldo notes: "80 percent of the world’s poverty comes from autocratic countries. " If you happen to be a human rights, political, or environmental activist, work in a government agency or NGO that's subject to the inadequacies of autocratic rule, you probably have a story to share that can provide a personal perspective that others can relate to. As you view Leopoldo's talk, and read the transcript below, think about how your personal story, combined with a description of the critical problem, and your proposed solution can shift perspectives on a global scale. Transcript So today I want to talk to you about something that has been at the core of my existence for the past years: freedom and democracy. I was elected mayor of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, in the year 2000. I was reelected in the year 2004. And then in the year 2008, when I was running for higher office, I was banned to run for office. Because we were going to win. At that time, we started a movement, a nonviolent civil resistance grassroots movement that went all over Venezuela and worked with people all around the country to build a network that could face off the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. In... - Published: 2024-11-14 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/shu-takada-yo-have-you-ever-seen-a-yo-yo-dance-like-this-tednext-2024/ During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is a new initiative from the folks who produce the TED Conference. There were enlightening talks, insightful discussions and revealing discovery sessions. This post is the second in a series highlighting some of my favorite talks from the stage. While most of the folks who step on stage at a TED event are there to deliver a talk, but there are exceptions, most notably for a musical performances. But on occasion, the audience is treated to a different type of performance — one that highlights an amazing talent. To be honest, the last thing I expected to see on a stage at TEDNext was someone playing with a yo-yo. I'm Shu Takada from Japan. I’m a six-time world champion, as she introduced me. For me, yo-yo isn’t only a toy but also an art form and a tool that I can express myself on the stage. Anyway, I started yo-yo when I was six years old because of my father, who did it as a hobby. When I saw his trick for the first time, I was so impressed and found it so cool. But to be honest, I felt a little bit jealous while he was showing off his techniques. And I swore to myself that one day I will surpass his level. So that's how I started yo-yo. So what I love about yo-yoing is that you can express yourself with such a small tool, and you can bring it everywhere. You can play it everywhere. And I think this is really cool to make new friends all over the world, even though they can't speak the same language as you. While watching Shu Takada's incredible yo-yo performance I was wondering how many thousands of hours it took to reach this level of proficiency. And to realize that he can demonstrate his talent anywhere in the world, and please people no matter their language or culture. By the time he finished I was thinking how cool it would be to hear some of those stories. I'm sure he has a long list of beautiful stories that he could share about the people he has met. Enjoy! ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2024-11-05 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-story-of-a-flawed-democracy/ As many of you know, the focus of my work is helping individuals discover, write, and share impactful personal stories. In my view, these stories — human stories — matter most, but some stories come from non-human entities. For example, businesses have stories to tell, as do cities, states and countries. You could also posit that the planet has stories to tell. And the fact is, the collective actions of these non-human entities have the ability to influence our individual stories. Whenever a new law is enacted, for example, it may alter our life in some way. In this light I was recently reflecting on the state of democracy around the world today, and how different styles of government might affect our personal stories. This topic could fill thousands of pages, so my goal was to just get a sense of the big picture. As I've been playing with AI lately, I was curious as to the insights it would provide. So here goes... If someone asked you what percentage of the world's population lived in a true democracy, what would you guess? As I live in a democratic country, the notion of "democracy is the default form of government" quickly came to mind, but as I reflected on this question, countries such as Russia and China challenged that assumption. So I thought I'd ask ChatGPT for some guidance, and I must say, I got more than I bargained for after entering the prompt: What percentage of the world's population lives in a democracy? ChatGPT: As of 2023, approximately 45. 4% of the world’s population lives in some form of democracy, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index. This includes both “full democracies” and “flawed democracies. ” However, only 7. 8% reside in “full democracies. ” Meanwhile, more than one-third of the global population, about 39. 4%, lives under authoritarian regimes. World Population Review - Democracy Countries 2024 Our World in Data - Democracy Index 2023 ----End of response My reaction was one of surprise that the number of people living in a democracy was under 50%. What I didn't count on was a further breakdown that talked of a difference between "full" and "flawed" versions of democracy. Maybe I'm the one who didn't get the memo, but I hadn't heard of this distinction before, and I had no idea that less that 10% of the world's population lived in a "full democracy". So I asked: "What countries are "full democracies"? ChatGPT: “Full democracies” are countries that score highly in areas like electoral process, civil liberties, functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. According to the 2023 Democracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit, examples of “full democracies” include: 1. Norway 2. Iceland 3. Sweden 4. New Zealand 5. Finland 6. Denmark 7. Ireland 8. Switzerland 9. Netherlands 10. Taiwan 11. Luxembourg 12. Germany 13. Canada 14. Australia 15. Uruguay 16. Japan 17. Costa Rica 18. United Kingdom 19. Austria 20. Mauritius 21. South Korea 22. France 23.... - Published: 2024-10-28 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/franziska-trautmann-your-empty-wine-bottle-could-help-rebuild-coastlines-tednext-2024/ During the week of October 21, 2024 I had the pleasure of attending TEDNext, held in Atlanta. The event is a new initiative from the folks who produce the TED Conference. There were enlightening talks, insightful discussions and revealing discovery sessions. This post is the first in a series highlighting some of my favorite talks from the stage. In her TED Talk, Franziska Trautmann highlights the power of individual action to create innovative solutions to local environmental challenges. The first problem she noticed was how Louisiana was falling short when it came to recycling glass. The result: about 295 million pounds of glass was ending up in landfills annually. The next problem Franziska identified was the fact that Louisiana was suffering from a coastal erosion crisis. Since glass is made from sand, the logical solution was to turn discarded glass into sand that could be used for coastal restoration. To turn their idea into reality, Franziska and her partner founded Glass Half Full, a company that's diverted millions of pounds of glass from landfills and restored thousands of square meters of wetlands. At just over 5 minutes, her talk is brief, yet clearly highlights the issues, the initiative, the result, and their future plans. While the talk was top notch, I really wanted it to be longer as there were lots of questions that came to mind: issues around the lack of recycling, the process of turning the glass into sand, alongside how to scale that process, and the nature of the state's erosion crisis. But that was not to be, as Franziska's talk was in a session created along with Ignite Talks, which are only 5 minutes in length. It's easy to see how this 5 minute talk could be expanded to 15, 30, 45 minutes in length. And that's not uncommon when it comes to stories that involve social or scientific topics. If this is an issue you're facing - how to compress a lengthy talk - then study this transcript to see how the main points are laid out in a way that a member of the public can follow and understand. Transcript 00:04 As a kid growing up on a Louisiana bayou, the boogeyman was the existential threat of my state being washed away with the Mississippi River. 00:16 Louisiana loses a football field's worth of land every 100 minutes due to coastal erosion. It's an unimaginably large amount to a kid. But in my lifetime so far, we've lost over 600 square miles. That's more area than New York City, San Francisco, DC and Atlanta combined. It's due to sea level rise, warming waters, increasingly severe storms and exploration of the oil and gas industry. 00:51 Fast forward to 2020, in my last full semester as an engineering student and over a Two-Buck Chuck, my boyfriend and I lamented over the lack of glass recycling in Louisiana. My state was landfilling about 295 million pounds of glass annually. The bottle we just finished would likely... - Published: 2024-09-10 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/ai-information-networks-stories-insights-from-nexus-by-yuval-noah-harari/ Note: comments not attributed to the author constitute my personal opinions. You may be familiar with Yuval Noah Harari, the author of the global bestseller, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. Yuval has a way of taking very complex subjects, such as the history of humans, and presenting important highlights, digestible summations, and tangible examples to illustrate his personal views. This time he's examining how human history has been shaped by information networks, including its most recent incarnation as artificial intelligence (AI) in Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. In Nexus, Yuval leads us on a recap of human history (sounds familiar), but this time as a way to view our common journey on this planet in the context of how human networks and information networks evolved in tandem. Information is increasingly seen by many philosophers and biologists, and even by some physicists, as the most basic building block of reality, more elementary than matter and energy. It was interesting to consider the evolution of cultures from the perspective of how human networks evolved in parallel with information networks. With oral cultures, "... realities were created by telling a story that many people repeated with their mouths and remembered in their brains. " Before the advent of any writing system, personal storytelling was our exclusive information network. Image by Franz Bachinger from Pixabay Similar to how humans act in the modern world, prehistoric humans told each other stories on a daily basis. Many were soon forgotten, but sometimes they were committed to memory. Stories deemed to be important were retold as a way to spread their message, or shared with future generations as a way to enshrine their culture. But we must also remember that the retelling of any story will introduce some inaccuracies, so in a sense, stories are living entities that, over time, stray from the truth. And beyond the changes that happen to stories unintentionally with retelling, at some point in time, humans figured out how to tell outright lies. Misinformation is an honest mistake, occurring when someone tries to represent reality but gets it wrong. Disinformation is a deliberate lie, occurring when someone consciously intends to distort our view of reality. So our information networks have never been completely accurate, but with the advent of writing systems, it was possible to capture a version of the story, such that many people could read the same words. Once again, there was no way to know if what was written was true, leaving humans left to wonder whether any written document was accurate, or was simply preserving another falsehood. Regardless, it was common for the written word to be widely adopted as true. Government decrees and religious texts being two common examples. But whether true or false, written documents created new realities. Writing, once performed by hand, was revolutionized by the printing press, then electrified by technology as information was transmitted on radio and television. The birth of the internet allowed... - Published: 2024-08-10 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/justin-black-the-story-statistics-dont-tell-tedxfolsom/ The most impactful TEDx Talks are those which can alter our perspective on a subject of consequence. Sometimes that means clarifying the nature of a critical problem, or framing it in a way that adds relevance to our lives. Even though we were already aware of the situation, we now see it in a different light. In some instances, however, a speaker will introduce us to a topic we were not aware of before, or use a term that we're unfamiliar with to describe an issue. This was the case for me when Justin Black began describing his experience with inherited trauma. I've worked with a number of speakers whose childhood was affected by traumatic family situations, and our conversations included their relationship with family members, but I hadn't thought of their experiences from a standpoint of inheritance. Justin's talk at TEDxFolsom altered my perspective. "And simply, what you can do, is be one caring adult. Not just working to help someone beat the odds, but change the odds for families and communities for generations and generations to come. " Although the experiences of our youth impact us, often times negatively, we have the option of acting differently in adulthood, and thus, prevent the next generation from going down a similar path. But it requires awareness of these impacts, and a commitment to make conscious decisions that will create a better future, and as Justin demostrates, it's possible. As you watch his talk, take note of how Justin explains the issue in a number of ways: describing his experiences (both while growing up and later as an adult) meeting the woman who he would later marry and become parents with, and providing details on the ACES Assessment. At times his talk is painful, while at other times joyful. A key element that makes the narrative flow, is his use of humor. There's a transcript of his talk below, and I invite you to give it a read, as you'll come to see how Justin structured his talk and transitioned from one story element to the next. If you want to know more about the journey that Justin and Alexis have been on, as they help the world redefine what normal looks like I highly recommend reading their book, Redefining Normal. Transcript July 11, 2016, a day I would never forget, in the week that changed my life forever. I was a freshman at Western Michigan University, starting an orientation week at my scholarship program. And on the first day of orientation, I walked into a busy room filled with conversation. As a nervous freshman, I tried to find a table with the least amount of people, farthest in the back. I came across a table with three students, and one student in particular, told me all about her summer of studying abroad in South Africa. I mean, from bungee jumping, shark cage diving, sky diving, even getting four tattoos while there. And then, it was my turn to tell her... - Published: 2024-01-10 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/olivia-remes-how-to-cope-with-anxiety-tedxuhasselt/ While mental health was once a topic rarely talked about in public, thankfully the stigma continues to fade away and issues are now discussed more often in forums such as TED/TEDx events. In her talk at TEDxUHasselt, Olivia Remes gives the audience a few tips on how to cope with anxiety. We've all felt anxious at some point in our life - most likely, many times - but in these cases the feeling goes away once the situation that caused our anxiety has passed. On the other hand, anxiety disorders are of a more serious nature. An anxiety disorder is different from “normal” anxiety. “Abnormal” anxiety is defined by excessive and persistent worries that don’t go away, even when there’s nothing to be stressed or nervous about. With an anxiety disorder, people usually try to avoid triggering situations or things that worsen their symptoms. - Healthline Media Olivia is primarily talking about those people affected by anxiety disorders, but the techniques that she presents have much broader application. Watch her talk, then come back to review her transcript, as well as the comments I've made. Notice how she begins with a story, then moves to an explanation of the topic, before shifting to the suggestions regarding how to deal with anxiety. Transcript (my notes in red) Olivia invites the audience into a pair of situations that may be familiar to a lot of people. Imagine that you're getting ready to go to a party. You feel excited, but also nervous, and you've got this feeling in your stomach almost like another heartbeat. There's something holding you back, holding you back from getting too happy. "No, you mustn't get too happy. Better to be cautious, otherwise, something bad might happen. " You start wondering, "Who should I talk to when I get there? What if no one wants to talk to me? What if they'll think I'm weird? " When you arrive at the party, someone comes up to you and starts talking with you, and as this is happening, your mind starts racing, your heart begins pounding, you start sweating, and it feels almost like you're dissociating from yourself, like it's an out-of-body experience, and you're just watching yourself talk. "Keep it together," you say to yourself, but you can't, and it's just getting worse. After a few minutes of conversation, the person you've been speaking to leaves, and you feel utterly defeated. This has been happening to you in social situations for a long time. Or imagine that every time you go out, and you're in crowded places, you feel this panic starting to arise. When you're surrounded by lots of people, like on a bus, you start to feel hot, nauseous, uneasy, and to prevent this from happening, you start avoiding a lot of places which makes you feel lonely and isolated. You or the person in both of these scenarios have anxiety disorders. And what I can tell you is that anxiety is very common, much more... - Published: 2023-12-19 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/paul-conroy-the-faces-of-war-a-glimpse-through-photojournalism-tedxlisboa/ Journalism—the practice of reporting on events, people and facts—is a powerful method of storytelling. The (unbiased) goal is to tell us what happened, where it happened, who was involved, and what they said. When it's done well, there's an opportunity for us to see the world around us through a slightly different lens. Journalists often develop their stories in a secondhand fashion with information from outside sources. But the most impactful reporting happens on site, inside the action as it's taking place. Not only is there a story about the events, people, and facts, there's a second story unfolding at the same time. It's the journalist's personal story. A narrative which reveals what's happening to them, as well as what they're thinking and feeling. This is especially true for photojournalists who work in conflict zones. A soldier engaged in battle will have some degree of agency, but anyone with a camera instead of a weapon does not possess that advantage. As a curator and advisor for TEDxLisboa 2023, I had the honor of working with award-winning photojournalist Paul Conroy on his talk. While most speakers I work with are sitting in a safe place—at their office or home—Paul was on the front lines in Ukraine, in a city that was being bombarded by Russian forces. Whenever we spoke Paul's face was lit only by the glow from his laptop screen. "I can't turn on any lights or the Russians will target the building I'm in. " He took a short break from the front lines to give this talk, but he's now back in Ukraine. His talk is not about the conflict he's covering today—he'll need to give that talk one day—but rather about his harrowing adventure while in Syria with Marie Colvin. Her passion for telling stories of warfare ended up costing her life. It was Paul's honor to tell the world this story. "So, once again, I'm back to shining lights in dark places, the haunts where despots and dictators like to operate. Once again, camera in hand, I'm back to peeling onions. To get the full picture of Paul's experience in Syria with Marie, I recommend reading his book, Under the Wire. The full story would take many, many hours to tell, but Paul masterfully crafted a narrative that spans less than 20 minutes, yet takes you on a journey to hell and back. He choose to reveal the story in ten steps, and he calls out each one along the way. Unusual for a TEDx Talk, but I found it to be an effective way of pacing the story. Transcript One - Assignment Home for me in 2012 was a 17th century cottage set in the Devon countryside. I'd been in Libya for a year covering the revolution with my dear colleague Marie Colvin of the Sunday Times. I'd met Marie in Syria in 2003 when we were both trying to break into Iraq illegally, and we've been best friends ever since then. The piece of... - Published: 2023-01-01 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-importance-of-resonance-and-relevance-in-storytelling/ Welcome to 2023! The past few years have been quite an adventure. And what a story, or for most of us, a series of stories. But that tends to be the nature of life. Stories unfold. Sometimes with our direction, but often without our permission. Which would explain why so many people have recently told me that 2023 is the year they want to tell a personal story, one that can impact others, but they just don't know where to start. The first question that many of them ask me is: "What makes a talk memorable? " It's not the easiest question to answer, as there are so many factors to consider when crafting and delivering a personal story. And while speaking skills are an important element, they are not the most important factors when it comes to impacting audiences. Begin your exploration here: Resonance and Relevance. Address these two words up front, in the Ideation phase. Will the audience be interested in my topic, and will they find my message useful? People will listen to stories that capture their attention, when it's a subject they want to hear about. First step is to ask yourself, "Why will the audience care? " Don't just think about the answer. Write it down. Make a list. That means you'll need to know your audience. And if you're telling your story to more than one group: general audience vs. scientists vs. academics vs. students, the answers will vary. And that's okay. It's a great way to discover new audiences. Once you're satisfied that your story will resonate with your audience, and you have shifted from the Ideation to the Narration phase, the body of your story needs to be relevant. Ask yourself, "What will the audience think, feel and do after they hear your story? " Each of your Story Blocks should be selected and written to accomplish your intended goals. Will they feel inspired, have you added to their knowledge, shifted perceptions, challenged a preconceived notion, given them a new way to see themselves or the world around them? In short, is your narrative relevant to their life? What can they take away from your story that will help them going forward? I do hope that all of you who have an impactful story to share do exactly that in 2023. Maybe it's a keynote speech, or a talk on a TEDx stage, or maybe it's for a local community group or at a breakfast meeting. Don't worry about the size of the audience, as touching a single person is valuable. You never know how the impact will ripple out and touch others. So if you have a personal story to tell, and need a bit of guidance along the way, send me a message and we'll set up a complementary call to discuss your needs. I've coached hundreds of storytellers, from scientists to engineers, students and academics, creatives and business leaders, special forces and prison inmates. Know that your story is... - Published: 2022-11-14 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/on-writing-your-story-well-part-two/ When telling true stories, people often assume it's simply a matter of repeating the truth. That's the best place to begin, as facts are the foundation of personal storytelling, but maximizing the impact of your story comes down to the words, sentences, and paragraphs that comprise all narratives. It's the writing process which turns truth into story. Professional writers know this, spending the majority of their time editing what they've written. Word choice. Sentence structure. Narrative arc. Writers devote their career to mastering the art of telling stories that matter. For most of us it tends to be a different story. We learned to write at a very early age, but once we entered the school system the focus was on grammar, which is a necessary component of the writing task, but unfortunately, there was scant guidance when it came to using that proper grammar to tell personal stories. We leave school and begin our career lacking the storytelling skills that can positively effect every aspect of our future. I was blessed early on in my career when a colleague handed me a new copy of On Writing Well by William Zinsser. That was decades ago, and I've since owned a number of copies along the way. I've read it many times, refer to it often, and I'm still learning. If telling personal stories is something you aspire to, and want to maximize the impact of your stories, I recommend you pick up a copy. The book covers a lot of territory, and in the previous post I covered Part One. With this second installment I highlight key points from Part Two of the book. From Part II on Unity As for what point you want to make, every successful piece of nonfiction should leave the reader with one provocative thought that he or she didn’t have before. Storytelling with Impact is often about shifting perspectives - altering the way in which a listener or reader views a particular subject, how they view themselves, how they view others, or how they view the world - sometimes all four. Most of us are on a journey of self discovery, as well as self improvement, which entails growth, which results in altering our viewpoints. We seek new information from many sources, one of which involves hearing stories from / about other people. To achieve the goal of making an impact I ask storytellers to describe how their audience thinks and feels about that idea or experience that forms the basis of their story. I then ask them to describe how that audience might think and feel about the subject after they've heard their story. It's not just a verbal exercise. To truly understand the provocative thought that William Zinsser mentions it's important to write down your before and after thoughts. Give the exercise it's due. Understanding the power of your story is key to writing a powerful story. The Narrative Journey Trust your material if it’s taking you into terrain you didn’t... - Published: 2022-10-28 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/on-writing-your-story-well-part-one/ When telling true stories, people often assume it's simply a matter of repeating the truth. That's the best place to begin, as facts are the foundation of personal storytelling, but maximizing the impact of your story comes down to the words, sentences, and paragraphs that comprise all narratives. It's the writing process which turns truth into story. Professional writers know this, spending the majority of their time editing what they've written. Word choice. Sentence structure. Narrative arc. Writers devote their career to mastering the art of telling stories that matter. For most of us it tends to be a different story. We learned to write at a very early age, but once we entered the school system the focus was on grammar, which is a necessary component of the writing task, but unfortunately, there was scant guidance when it came to using that proper grammar to tell personal stories. We leave school and begin our career lacking the storytelling skills that can positively effect every aspect of our future. I was blessed early on in my career when a colleague handed me a new copy of On Writing Well by William Zinsser. That was decades ago, and I've since owned a number of copies along the way. I've read it many times, refer to it often, and I'm still learning. If telling personal stories is something you aspire to, and want to maximize the impact of your stories, I recommend you pick up a copy. The book covers a lot of territory, more than can be covered one post, so in this first installment I will highlight some key points revealed in Part One of the book. From Part I on Principles Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard. Some storytellers that I work with know this day one, most don't, but they soon discover this reality as we get to revision 4, 5, 6, 7. It's easy to write. Just pick up a pen, or let your fingers dance across a keyboard. Words do come out, but the first words we write rarely convey the true meaning of our story. The words we need have a way of hiding off the page. Sneaky bastards. Our first drafts sit on the surface. A basic outline is there. The bones, if you will. And that's fine, as every structure needs a frame. But it takes focused effort to dig deeper into a story while at the same time polishing a narrative that shifts. Writing and editing. Listening and editing. Rehearsing and editing. Hard work. The Power of (any) Language It’s a question of using the English language in a way that will achieve the greatest clarity and strength. I always stress the importance of maximizing impact when I help someone craft their narrative, but I like... - Published: 2022-01-01 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/telling-stories-about-storytelling/ Most of my time is spent working with clients, helping them craft and deliver impactful talks, but once in a while I have the opportunity to hang out with a master storyteller and have an in-depth conversation on the art of storytelling. Such was the case when I was a guest on the Speak Like a Leader podcast, hosted by John Bates, the founder of Executive Speaking Success. I met John back in my TEDx days, when I was organizing TEDxSanDiego and he was at the helm of TEDxSantaMonica, and our first conversation centered on what makes a good story. We've stayed connected over the years and still share a common passion for helping others uncover and tell their personal stories. document. createElement('audio'); https://www. storytellingwithimpact. com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Mark-Lovett-on-Speak-Like-a-Leader-Podcast-Audio. m4a Behind the scenes at a TEDx event We started out talking about the TEDx world from the viewpoint of a TEDx organizer, and I shared the advice that I give to everyone who wants to be on a TED or TEDx stage - that your story should be based on your passion, on a topic that you're speaking about or writing about on other platforms. The more you're doing that, the more likely that an organizer will come across your work and think of you as a thought leader on the topic. John's brilliant insight was that everyone should be living a TED-worthy life. Which is to say, you should be making a difference in the world regardless of whether you get on a TEDx stage. What's unique about you? We also got into the nuts and bolts of storytelling, and the importance of your unique voice, your view of the world, and the way that can shift perspectives of people in the audience, teach them something, or expand their horizons. With the best TED and TEDx talks, I always think and feel a bit different after the talk concludes. What do listeners think and feel about your topic beforehand, and then after your talk? If there was no difference, then your talk had no impact. We also addressed the issue of preparation, as this is one of the most frequently asked questions from potential speakers. How to get ready for the stage. You'll hear many different opinions on the topic of memorizing, from those who believe in it, to those who avoid it. In working with hundreds of clients over the years, John and I have come to realize that each speaker is unique, and they need to figure out what works best for them. Regardless of method, the key thing is to rehearse, and rehearse, and rehearse. You need to become very familiar with the points that you want to make during your talk. And a great way to do that is by rehearsing in front of friends or family who will give you honest feedback. Then go back and edit, and rehearse again. There's so much more that we covered during our hour together, and it was such an honor... - Published: 2021-12-22 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/ashley-wurth-storytelling-at-the-monti/ Personal stories can be challenging, especially when the past that you want to talk about - the trials and tribulations that form the basis of your experience - is difficult to share. It's not easy to embrace the vulnerability that is required to create impact with an audience, but in her talk from the stage at The Monti on October 19, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina, Ashley Wurth summoned up the courage to do just that. In less than 10 minutes Ashley takes us on a journey of the heart while she demonstrates the true power of perseverance and the grace of redemption. Many speakers find it difficult to reveal the dark side of their childhood - they don't want to say anything negative about family members - as well as the bad decisions they've made along the way - they would rather those facts remain hidden from view. Problem is, we don't learn much from sugar-coated stories. "The only feeling we could count on was afraid" But at the same time, she is quite adept at inserting bits of humor that change the tone of the story, if only for a brief moment. This is masterful storytelling, because it's how life works. Sometimes we're the one looking for the funny side of a bad situation, and sometimes life itself, by way of friends and family, even encounters with strangers, will provide a dose or two of comic relief. "I am never, ever, going to break his heart" I was fascinated by the juxtaposition of her life slipping into a world of drug abuse while maintaining a sense of normalcy for so many years. But that narrative didn't last forever, and she was in store for a number of painful twists and turns. It's this type of complex, non-logical story line that is common for so many of us. It's not one thing or the other, it's a blending of highs and lows, of choices made, of failures and recovery that make our journey unique. "And I've also learned through all of this, that not only can you fill a broken heart, you can mend one. " If you have a difficult and/or problematic story to tell, I invite you to listen to Ashley's saga, to tap into her courage and vulnerability, as well as the pearl that she ends with. My life doesn't resemble her's in the least, yet I have a new, more humble perspective on life, and on people whose lives were different than mine. Your story can change lives too. Sit down. Write it. Then tell it. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2021-02-28 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/david-litt-on-the-moth-mainstage-at-royce-hall/ The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages are proof that every story is unique, and that the best stories come from our personal experiences. In this story, as told by David Litt, we hear a humorous tale about what it's like to work in the White House, and to finally meet the President of the United States. The details of the experience, both the settings and the conversations, give us a sense of what it must have felt like to work in the White House. But in a normal context that we can all relate to, it is also about wanting to excel in your career, while also dealing with imposter syndrome. We've all made blunders in our life, and looking back they can be much funnier than they were in the moment. You may have a story about an event that didn't work as planned, but in hindsight, makes you laugh. Transcript In 2008 I was one of those young people who became obsessed with Barack Obama. I was a senior in college at the time, and after I graduated I drove out to Ohio, and I worked on his campaign, and after the campaign I drove to Washington because - hope and change. And two years later, the White House actually hired me. They hired me to write speeches. And people would hear about my new job and they would say, 'wow, you must be really good', and I'd say, 'I don't know, I hope so'. And they thought I was pretending to be humble but I was entirely sincere. It's not that I didn't think I had any talent whatsoever, it's just that I knew there are 300 million people in America, and some of them are babies, but a lot of them are adults, and it just seemed unlikely that I was the best 'we the people' could do. So everyday I walked through the gates of the White House absolutely sure somebody had made a mistake. And while this was going on my friends and family were equally sure they now had direct access to the President of the United States. Like I'm sitting in my White House office, and I get a text from my sister Rebecca, and it says 'how come the Department of Homeland Security doesn't have a mailing address? ' Now even in the best of circumstances this is a disturbing question to get from a family member, but if you work in the White House you want to know the answer to this kind of stuff, and I have no idea, and it's like this with everything. I mean suddenly everyone has a law that only I can get through Congress. Everybody has something wrong with Obamacare that I need to know about. Mostly, everybody has the same question. They all want to know - have you met him yet, have you met Obama yet - and... - Published: 2021-02-21 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/journey-jamison-on-the-moth-mainstage-at-the-bam-harvey-theater/ The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages are proof that every story is unique, and that the best stories come from our personal experiences. In this story, as told by Journey Jamison, we are taken into a scene that few of have ever experienced, especially at the age of 15. But in a broader sense, I've heard many personal stories about how people reacted during an emergency, and you may have such a story to tell. The details that Journey provides bring audience members into her experience as the scene plays out. But there's also a larger story at play here, as Journey realizes how her training prepared her for that situation, and in turn, she was able to provide that same training to the victim's family, thus bringing that wisdom full circle. Think about how story worthy experiences from your life contain such a circular narrative. Transcript When I was nine years old, my best friend died. We'd spent the entire day together at an amusement park and she'd been struggling to breathe. So when we got home her dad tried to get her as much help as she could, but it just wasn't enough, and at three o'clock that morning, she died of an asthma attack. It was always really hard for me to deal with because I'd helped her with her asthma before, and I just felt like I could have done something. So five years later, when my mother and I found ourselves at a grassroot gunshot wound first aid training, I was immediately intrigued. Now, some of you might be thinking, "Gunshot wound first aid, what? " But I'm from Chicago, and the lack of resources in our communities makes that training so much more important. We don't have any trauma centers on the South Side of Chicago where I'm from. So I knew the importance of this training and I paid attention. I sunk my teeth in, I got trained two months later, and I've been doing workshops all over the city. Yeah, I know how to apply an occlusive dressing with a credit card, but I was still just a regular teenager. And so, the following summer, I was coming home from my very first day. I come home, I turn on the TV, I crank up the AC, just like any other day, and then I hear it. Back to back gunshots that sounded like they were right next to me, just back to back, to back. And I just thought to myself, "Is this real? Is this serious? " You hear all the time about gun violence in Chicago, but I'd never come face to face with it like that before. So I jump in gear. I know that I have this training that I can help people, but I know that the first step to being a first aid responder is knowing that the scene is safe... - Published: 2021-02-14 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/peter-aguero-on-the-moth-at-the-metropolitan-museum-of-art/ The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages are proof that every story is unique, and that the best stories come from our personal experiences. In this story, as told by Peter Aguero, we hear a tail about family, and strife, and redemption, all within the context of a difficult Christmas. Not a classic holiday story that is filled with good times and cheer, but one that involves the heart. And a connection to family. And love at its deepest level. Many personal stories are told from a similar point of reflection. Remembering a time in the past when life was difficult and their path forward was unknown. And how tapping into love was central to that future path. Such stories can help folks who are currently living in tough circumstances, as well as remind any of us who have come out the other side to reflect on, and thus to appreciate, the love and support that we encountered along the way. Transcript (minor edits were made to improve readability) This is a reading from the book of Peter chapter 19 verse 2. I was nineteen years old and I just finished my first semester at college. And I got home with my bag of laundry, and things weren't looking too good for me and my mom. I walked into the house, and she had told me over that semester to expect some changes when I got home, and it didn't really hit me until I walked in the door and the first thing that I saw was that her upright piano that she had had since she was a kid was gone. She had sold it. And I walked through the foyer into the living room and there was just a broken couch, and a television on top of another television. One had a working picture, and the other had working sound. And all the other furniture was gone. My dad had taken it four years ago when he had left, and for some reason the impressions from his lazy boy were still there as some kind of reminder of what a dick he is. I walked through the living room and through the dining room, and the beautiful dining room set that had been in her family for generations was gone. It was a dark mahogany set, really ornate, with these beautiful carved chairs and a glass breakfront, and a buffet table, and that was gone. And I walked upstairs to put my stuff away, and her bedroom door was open, and the only thing left in the room was her bed. Her bedroom set was gone. There's nothing more depressing than a bedroom with no furniture. You can see all the little dings and mistakes and tears in the wallpaper that are hidden by things. Then I saw in my sister's room. It was still a shrine to my sister after I moved in with... - Published: 2021-02-07 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/phyllis-bowdwin-on-the-moth-portland-mainstage/ The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages are proof that every story is unique, and that the best stories come from our personal experiences. In this story, as told by Phyllis Bowdwin, we hear about a time she encountered an abusive mime, and her decision to then cut this person - so to speak - down to size. In one sense, it's a strange story, but the underlying theme of someone not being respected, and then discovering a new side of themselves during the experience, is a common one for personal storytelling. Note the passion in her voice and the vivid descriptions that she offers. You feel as though you were there in the crowd watching the event unfold. Now, think of your own life. Was there a situation or event in which you discovered something different about yourself? Maybe a newfound strength that you could rely upon going forward. Such stories inspire others to ask that question about their life. Transcript It's 1979, and summer in New York City. That was 38 years ago, when I was being interviewed for a promotion from secretary to coordinator of daytime casting at ABC. I wore my new silk blouse, matching slim skirt, and two-inch yellow sling back heels. I thought I was ready. Although there was some who thought I wasn't tough enough to hold onto a job like that. And somewhere in a tiny corner of my mind, there was a part of me that suspected there, that they might be right. I even had a secretary come up to me and say, "Phyllis, you're too nice. " To which I responded, "Thank you. " In any case, I was meeting a friend for lunch across the street before my two o'clock interview. And when I got there, I found hordes of people spanning the length and the width of the sidewalk in front of the building, three people deep. But I found a gap, cut through it, and when I got into the center of this human oval, something came up behind me, grabbed me, prevented me from moving, pinning my arms to my sides. And I looked over both shoulders to see if I could find out what it was, but I didn't see anything, so I started to struggle. And the more I struggled, the tighter the grip became. And then I looked to the sea of faces for some clue, some information that would help me to understand what was holding me, what was going on, but they were just placidly chewing and eating their lunch and staring at me. Suddenly, the pressure was released and a set of rough hands groped me in every part of my body and then pushed me in my lower back. I stumbled forward almost falling, but I regained my balance and I turned around to find a six foot mime leering at me. He was in... - Published: 2021-01-28 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/daria-van-den-bercken-why-i-take-the-piano-on-the-road-tedsalon-berlin/ I had the pleasure of attending a special TED event in 2014. TEDSalon Berlin was just a one day affair, yet it featured a number of compelling talks that served as examples of impactful stories on global issues. This post is an analysis of a talk and performance given by Daria van den Bercken. Her idea is simple and straightforward - to listen to music in a state of wonder, to truly listen, and to listen without prejudice - which is how we tend to listen at a very young age. Do you have a story to tell that is intended to shift perspectives about how we encounter the arts - music, theatre, art, dance? Can you combine a narrative with a demonstration to make your point? Transcript Recently, I flew over a crowd of thousands of people in Brazil playing music by George Frideric Handel. I also drove along the streets of Amsterdam, again playing music by this same composer. Let's take a look. (Music: George Frideric Handel, "Allegro. " Performed by Daria van den Bercken. ) (Video) Daria van den Bercken: I live there on the third floor. (In Dutch) I live there on the corner. I actually live there, around the corner. and you'd be really welcome. Man: (In Dutch) Does that sound like fun? Child: (In Dutch) Yes! Daria van den Bercken: All this was a real magical experience for hundreds of reasons. Now you may ask, why have I done these things? They're not really typical for a musician's day-to-day life. Well, I did it because I fell in love with the music and I wanted to share it with as many people as possible. It started a couple of years ago. I was sitting at home on the couch with the flu and browsing the Internet a little, when I found out that Handel had written works for the keyboard. Well, I was surprised. I did not know this. So I downloaded the sheet music and started playing. And what happened next was that I entered this state of pure, unprejudiced amazement. It was an experience of being totally in awe of the music, and I had not felt that in a long time. It might be easier to relate to this when you hear it. The first piece that I played through started like this. (Music) Well this sounds very melancholic, doesn't it? And I turned the page and what came next was this. (Music) Well, this sounds very energetic, doesn't it? So within a couple of minutes, and the piece isn't even finished yet, I experienced two very contrasting characters: beautiful melancholy and sheer energy. And I consider these two elements to be vital human expressions. And the purity of the music makes you hear it very effectively. I've given a lot of children's concerts for children of seven and eight years old, and whatever I play, whether it's Bach, Beethoven, even Stockhausen, or some jazzy music, they are open to hear... - Published: 2021-01-21 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/simon-anholt-which-country-does-the-most-good-for-the-world-tedsalon-berlin/ I had the pleasure of attending a special TED event in 2014. TEDSalon Berlin was just a one day affair, yet it featured a number of compelling talks that served as examples of impactful stories on global issues. This post is an analysis of a talk given by Simon Anholt. Watch Simon Anholt’s TED Talk. We all know that some countries are much more concerned with the fate of the entire world, but how can the level of a country's goodness be measured? It seemed to be an impossible task to me, but Simon describes how it can be done, and it remains one of my favorite TED Talks. Do you want to live in a powerful country, a rich country, a happy country, or a good country? Regardless of how you answer the question, the underlying point of this talk (in my opinion) is to encourage us to think differently about how we perceive countries around the world. Will your story shift people's perceptions? Transcript (my notes in red) I've been thinking a lot about the world recently and how it's changed over the last 20, 30, 40 years. Twenty or 30 years ago, if a chicken caught a cold and sneezed and died in a remote village in East Asia, it would have been a tragedy for the chicken and its closest relatives, but I don't think there was much possibility of us fearing a global pandemic and the deaths of millions. Twenty or 30 years ago, if a bank in North America lent too much money to some people who couldn't afford to pay it back and the bank went bust, that was bad for the lender and bad for the borrower, but we didn't imagine it would bring the global economic system to its knees for nearly a decade. This is globalization. This is the miracle that has enabled us to transship our bodies and our minds and our words and our pictures and our ideas and our teaching and our learning around the planet ever faster and ever cheaper. It's brought a lot of bad stuff, like the stuff that I just described, but it's also brought a lot of good stuff. A lot of us are not aware of the extraordinary successes of the Millennium Development Goals, several of which have achieved their targets long before the due date. That proves that this species of humanity is capable of achieving extraordinary progress if it really acts together and it really tries hard. But if I had to put it in a nutshell these days, I sort of feel that globalization has taken us by surprise, and we've been slow to respond to it. If you look at the downside of globalization, it really does seem to be sometimes overwhelming. All of the grand challenges that we face today, like climate change and human rights and demographics and terrorism and pandemics and narco-trafficking and human slavery and species loss, I could go on, we're not... - Published: 2021-01-14 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/heather-barnett-what-humans-can-learn-from-semi-intelligent-slime-tedsalon-berlin/ I had the pleasure of attending a special TED event in 2014. TEDSalon Berlin was just a one day affair, yet it featured a number of compelling talks that served as examples of impactful stories on global issues. This post is an analysis of a talk given by Heather Barnett on a most unusual character - a slime mold. Watch Heather Barnett's TED Talk. From what seems to be an unusual subject we come to see our human experience differently. It's not easy to take people on a journey from something unfamiliar to something universal, but Heather does so masterfully. Transcript (my notes in red) I'd like to introduce you to an organism: a slime mold, Physarum polycephalum. It's a mold with an identity crisis, because it's not a mold, so let's get that straight to start with. It is one of 700 known slime molds belonging to the kingdom of the amoeba. It is a single-celled organism, a cell, that joins together with other cells to form a mass super-cell to maximize its resources. So within a slime mold you might find thousands or millions of nuclei, all sharing a cell wall, all operating as one entity. In its natural habitat, you might find the slime mold foraging in woodlands, eating rotting vegetation, but you might equally find it in research laboratories, classrooms, and even artists' studios. Great opening lines capture the attention of an audience, and one of the most powerful ways to do this is by way of curiosity, which is what occurs when your topic is something that the listener or reader has never heard of. And while using technical jargon can be an impediment to curiosity when left to its own devices, Heather provides us with a vivid description of what 'Physarum polycephalum' is all about. From a physicality standpoint, she holds up pinched fingers when mentioning 'single-celled organism', then spreads her arms shoulder width when stating 'joins together with other cells' and spreads her arms further when using the term 'mass super-cell'. These are subtle gestures, yet they reinforce the visual of how this organism operates. Watch her movements and gestures throughout the telling of this story. There's much to learn here about stage presence that is both natural and impactful. I first came across the slime mold about five years ago. A microbiologist friend of mine gave me a petri dish with a little yellow blob in it and told me to go home and play with it. The only instructions I was given, that it likes it dark and damp and its favorite food is porridge oats. I'm an artist who's worked for many years with biology, with scientific processes, so living material is not uncommon for me. I've worked with plants, bacteria, cuttlefish, fruit flies. So I was keen to get my new collaborator home to see what it could do. So I took it home and I watched. I fed it a varied diet. I observed as it networked. It... - Published: 2021-01-07 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/hans-and-ola-rosling-how-not-to-be-ignorant-about-the-world-tedsalon-berlin/ I had the pleasure of attending a special TED event in 2014. TEDSalon Berlin was just a one day affair, yet it featured a number of compelling talks that served as examples of impactful stories on global issues. This post is an analysis of a talk given by Hans Rosling & Ola Rosling on how knowledge, or a lack of knowledge, shapes our view of the world. For a better future, we need to understand today. Watch Hans and Ola Rosling’s TED Talk. The numbers that are being presented represent serious topics, yet the focus in not on digging into the trends, but to highlight how our perceptions about these trends are so often wrong. It's a fun talk to watch, which doesn't often happen with statistics, yet inspires us to use caution before jumping to conclusions. Transcript (my notes in red) Hans Rosling: I'm going to ask you three multiple choice questions. Use this device. Use this device to answer. The first question is, how did the number of deaths per year from natural disaster, how did that change during the last century? Did it more than double, did it remain about the same in the world as a whole, or did it decrease to less than half? Please answer A, B or C. I see lots of answers. This is much faster than I do it at universities. They are so slow. They keep thinking, thinking, thinking. Oh, very, very good. Quite different from the reserved style of most TED speakers, Hans brings the energy level up immediately with the tone, volume, and passion in his voice. The digital interaction with the audience also differentiates this talk from a simple narration and makes the audience a character within the narration. And we go to the next question. So how long did women 30 years old in the world go to school: seven years, five years or three years? A, B or C? Please answer. And we go to the next question. In the last 20 years, how did the percentage of people in the world who live in extreme poverty change? Extreme poverty — not having enough food for the day. Did it almost double, did it remain more or less the same, or did it halve? A, B or C? Now, answers. You see, deaths from natural disasters in the world, you can see it from this graph here, from 1900 to 2000. In 1900, there was about half a million people who died every year from natural disasters: floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruption, whatever, droughts. And then, how did that change? Gapminder asked the public in Sweden. This is how they answered. The Swedish public answered like this: Fifty percent thought it had doubled, 38 percent said it's more or less the same, 12 said it had halved. This is the best data from the disaster researchers, and it goes up and down, and it goes to the Second World War, and after that it starts to... - Published: 2021-01-01 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/just-another-storytelling-day/ It's January 1st, 2021. In one sense it's just another day, with another sunrise, and another sunset. But our embrace of the Gregorian calendar has a way of altering our perception of time, and we, therefore, perceive ourselves as having exited one year (past) while entering another (future) at the stroke of midnight. Never mind that there are 24 time zones, and so, two dozen strokes to mark the occasion. Time, like story, is never a simple contemplation. This "out with the old, in with the new" mindset belies the fact that nothing has actually changed. The scourge of human trafficking and climate change, religious fundamentalism, radicalized racism, pandemic passivism, and sociopathic narcissism still ravage humanity and the planet. Millions strive to change this narrative, but these are very stubborn stories. But if midnight serves as a reset button, a way to recalibrate, to turn the page and begin writing a new narrative, then it can be a redeeming process. As the year 2020 was coming to a close I spent a few days around Christmas with my family in Sweden and thought a lot about the impending stroke of midnight that would occur after my return to Portugal. The extended dark mornings reminded me of the dark reality humanity was dealing with. Having endured nearly four years of the worst American president in history. A man who has publicly turned his back on 7. 8 billion people - yes, even his most loyal supporters - condemning the earth to decades of environmental catastrophe. Adding to the darkness, a pandemic that was long ago predicted, and yet criminally ignored, ravaged country after country. By the time midnight arrived on December 31st over 83 million would be infected, resulting in over 1. 8 million coronavirus deaths. Yet there were lights shining within the darkness, represented by stories that I had heard throughout the year. Stories from friends, family, and many strangers. Stories of loss and disappointment, of dreams that were put on hold, or cancelled altogether. Lives that had shifted from confidence to unnerving uncertainty. Yet each story contained the seed of a different future. One that appreciated the connectedness of humanity, one that cast a light on the illusion of separateness. Was darkness serving a higher purpose? This consideration of how dark times shape us was on my mind when an email arrived from the amazing poet Silvi Alcivar, offering an insight into the nature, and the benefit, of embracing that which has always existed in our world - darkness. "and i keep thinking about how all the darkness of these days is really showing us where there is light, who holds it, what we have to offer of our own, and how the darkness seems to have a necessary place too. the moon knows this. and the stars. and the roots wintering in earth. and the creatures no one has ever seen who live in depths of ocean humans will never touch. and the dark itself. " ~Silvi Alcivar... - Published: 2020-12-28 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/liel-leibovitz-at-the-moth-from-the-avalon-hollywood/ The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages are proof that every story is unique, and that the best stories come from our personal experiences. In this story, as told by Liel Leibovitz, we hear about a boy growing up who finds out that his father is really a bank robber. It's not something that most of us can relate to. But there is a larger story about the stereotype of what it means to be a man, and Liel's journey to deciding what that would be for himself and his son. We've all had relationships with our parents during our younger years, and for those who decide to raise a family of their own, there is that ever present past alongside the desire to make our own child raising decisions. Think about your own experiences, then as you listen to Liel's story, and review the manuscript, identify the story blocks that you could develop to craft a story of your own. Transcript I grew up in Israel in the 1980s, and my father’s mission in life was to make sure that his only son - me - grew up to be a real man. And so, as soon as I turned four, every Saturday he would take me shooting, which was funny because my arm was exactly the size of a Smith & Wesson . 45. Two or three years later, when I was six or seven, my father would take advantage of Israel’s surprisingly relaxed car rental insurance policies and he would rent a car to take me on driving lessons, which were terrifying because even sitting in his lap I didn’t reach the wheel. And every two or three weeks, there was a special treat. We would stop the rental car by the side of the road and my father would make me go out and change tires, whether the car needed it or not, because in his mind knowing how to change a tire was the epitome of manhood. I really hated changing tires, and I really hated spending these Saturday afternoons with him, but he didn’t care, because he was inducting me to the International Brotherhood of Macho Men. Every chance he got, he would take me to the movies to see his heroes - men like Sylvester Stallone or Chuck Norris or Burt Reynolds. I didn’t mind these guys too much, but they were not my idols. My real idol was a real live person named the Motorcycle Bandit. He appeared on the scene shortly after my twelfth birthday, robbing bank after bank after bank all over Israel. He was in and out of the bank in under forty seconds, never leaving behind any clues to his real name or identity, and he just drove people insane. He got so popular that Israel’s most famous comedy sketch show - sort of the local version of Saturday Night Live - devoted an entire... - Published: 2020-12-21 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/leonard-lee-smith-on-the-moth-mainstage-at-the-paramount-theatre/ The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages are proof that every story is unique, and that the best stories come from our personal experiences. In this story, as told by Leonard Lee Smith, we are treated to a narrative of how his Granny brightened the holiday season despite his mother's divorce and the subsequent move from Alabama to Southern California. Even though we're watching his talk on video, Leonard's delivery is one that can make us feel as though we're sitting in his living room. You hear the emotion in his voice, yet the emotional swings are not dramatic. It's subtle, yet powerful. He allows us to be there when opening each heavily reinforced cardboard box filled with mounds of homemade Christmas treats. And he brings us full circle when he tells us about hanging Granny's plastic poinsettia bouquet with the bells on his own door during the holidays. How did you experience the holidays when growing up? Was there someone in your life who made the experience special? It may have been a family member, as was the case with Leonard, but it could also have been a friend who altered the spirit of the season. Transcript It was Christmastime 1974. I was ten years old, but I wasn't looking forward to Christmas that year. The previous spring my mother and the man who was to become my stepfather - when all the divorces had been finalized and he and my mother could marry - had moved us from rural central Alabama to sunny Southern California. My brother and I were leaving behind our father and all our extended family. This would be my first Christmas away from Alabama. My beautiful and elegant mother took to California like a swan to a royal lake. My soon-to-be stepfather was a California native. My very athletic little brother reveled in a temperate climate that allowed him to be outside eleven months of the year. I, however, was a fat, awkward child with a high-pitched voice and a heavy southern accent. I was having extreme difficulty with the transition to a West Coast lifestyle. My first day at my new school, I walked to the front of my fourth-grade class to introduce myself. All I said was my name and where I was from, and the class erupted in laughter, with jeers of “He talks funny” and “He has a weird accent. ” It took the teacher nearly two full minutes to restore order, and she was angry at me for having caused a disruption. I was so disillusioned after that first day that instead of walking home after school, I went to a nearby gas station and used a phone booth there to try and place a collect call to Granny Smith, my paternal grandmother. She was my biggest ally. I was going to ask her if I could return to Alabama and live with her and if... - Published: 2020-12-14 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/aleeza-kazmi-at-the-moth-from-the-beacon-school-in-new-york-city/ The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages are proof that every story is unique, and that the best stories come from our personal experiences. I've always felt that storytelling should be a required course in high school, as it's fundamental to how we formulate our thoughts and how we'll express ourselves throughout our lives. I was delighted to discover this story by Aleeza Kazmi when she was still a student. (she's a professional storyteller now) Children of color often deal with issues related to identity when they're growing up, and in this story, Aleeza recalls such an incident from when she was just six years old. Beyond her particular circumstances, it's a narrative which speaks to the courage we sometimes need in order to express the fact that we are proud of who we are. Transcript So I'm six years old and I'm in the first grade and I'm sitting at a table with my three best friends and we're all really similar. We all wear the same clothes from the children's place that our mom's by us, and we play on the monkey bars during recess and we play house underneath the playground at St. Catherine's Park, which was behind our elementary school. All of our names start with A, there is Anna, Amanda, Ashia, and Aleeza. We're working on self portraits, and this is sort of an icebreaker project of the first grade. My teacher, Ms. Harrington, presented it as a way to get to know each other's faces. These were gonna be hung up on the wall, and I was really excited because we were on our third day of self portraits and we were going to color them in finally. I was super excited about this because my mom had bought me a coloring book over the summer and I learned how to color inside the lines. I learned all these, yeah, really excited about that, and I learned all these really cool techniques for how to draw properly. I was basically young Picasso and I was ready to show off my skills to my friends. I knew this was an extremely special project because Ms. Harrington had brought out oil pastels. Every table got one box, and every box had one of each color. I love oil pastels because I used there really soft, and so I used to take them and pinch them between my fingers and feel them melt into my skin almost. Because there's one of each color in every box you had to be patient and wait for your color to not be used, and the color I wanted was being used. I was ready to color in my face, and all of my friends had colored in their face peach, and since we were all the same girl, I figured I would use peach as well. So finally, peach was available, and I color in my face... - Published: 2020-12-07 - Modified: 2025-04-27 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/tara-clancy-on-the-moth-mainstage-at-the-avram-theater/ The Moth has been hosting storytelling events for 20+ years, and the thousands of storytellers who have graced their stages are proof that every story is unique, and that the best stories come from our personal experiences. I recently came across this video and knew that I had to share it as an example of how the lessons that we learn early on in life can change the way we see the world and our place in it. For Tara Clancy, one such lesson involved a shift from fear to choice. She does so with a sharp sense of humor while taking us back five generations to set the stage for stories about her mom, her upbringing in Brooklyn, and a most unusual set of after dinner conversations. It's a revealing look at straddling cultures, spanning generations, and absorbing the wisdom that comes from interesting dialogues. Consider the experiences as you grew up which shifted your outlook on life. I'll bet there's a great story there. Transcript I am a fifth generation native New Yorker. Yes. And while there is definitely something cool about that, there is also actually a downside. Like there was this moment when it occurred to me that while many other American families also first landed in New York City for the most part, at some point they kept going, pioneering their way west with little more than the rags on their backs and all of that. Meanwhile, my own family got off a boat, took two steps, looked around, and were like, good enough for me, forever. I come from a place where discovering the great unknown means New Jersey. All right, well, it didn't take me too long to realize that the reason for all of this was mostly fear, and that that fear pervaded everything. Where you live, what you do for a living, you just find the first solid thing and you don't risk going any further. But as it turned out, my mother was something of a pioneer herself, although not without her share of false starts. So at 20 years old she had hardly been outside of Brooklyn, and when she did finally leave a year later, it was only because she married a guy from Queens, which she then called the country. Anyway, they had a baby - me. But by the time I was two they had divorced, and to make a little extra money afterwards she had to take on a weekend job cleaning apartments. So the very first was this duplex filled with antiques and artwork and Manhattan skyline views. But as it winds up, it would be her last, because over the course of one year, she would go from being the cleaning lady, to the secretary, to the girlfriend of the multimillionaire who owned it, named Mark. They never wound up living together full time. For one, they were both divorced, so it was just kind of a been there, done that. But also... - Published: 2020-11-28 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/sangeeta-bhatia-this-tiny-particle-could-roam-your-body-to-find-tumors-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Sangeeta Bhatia that explores new and smaller solutions in the fight against cancer. Watch Sangeeta's TED Talk. At one level her talk is rather technical, as it involves the latest, most advanced science, but her story allows the audience to see how the concept works by way of analogy, description, and visuals. If you're trying to convey a complex idea to a public audience, this is a great example of how that can be accomplished. Transcript (my notes in red) In the space that used to house one transistor, we can now fit one billion. That made it so that a computer the size of an entire room now fits in your pocket. You might say the future is small. One way to open a technology story is by making a statement directly related to your topic, but another technique is to offer an analogy that describes something completely different, but that shares a common feature. In this case, the feature highlighted is 'small', and it will remain a theme throughout her talk. As an engineer, I'm inspired by this miniaturization revolution in computers. As a physician, I wonder whether we could use it to reduce the number of lives lost due to one of the fastest-growing diseases on Earth: cancer. Now when I say that, what most people hear me say is that we're working on curing cancer. And we are. But it turns out that there's an incredible opportunity to save lives through the early detection and prevention of cancer. The focus pivots from computers to cancer, and Sangeeta lets the audience know that she'll be exploring how miniaturization may play a role in the detection and prevention of cancer. We see that connection in another way, by saying she's an 'engineer' and a 'physician'. If you click on the link to her bio, you'll see that's true, but in a short story there is rarely the time to go into any greater detail. And that's something to remember. Two details change how we think about her, and yet it only took seconds to do so. Brief can still have impact. Worldwide, over two-thirds of deaths due to cancer are fully preventable using methods that we already have in hand today. Things like vaccination, timely screening and of course, stopping smoking. But even with the best tools and technologies that we have today, some tumors can't be detected until 10 years after they've started growing, when they are 50 million cancer cells strong. What if we had better technologies to detect some of these more deadly cancers sooner, when they could be removed, when they were just getting started? Sangeeta uses two statistics to describe characteristics of tumors that few people outside the field of medicine... - Published: 2020-11-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/sam-kass-want-kids-to-learn-well-feed-them-well-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Sam Kass about the connection between proper nutrition and success in childhood education. Watch Sam's TED Talk. The issues related to proper nutrition and the quality of a child's education are complex, but Sam provides us with an example of one such solution that has seen positive results. But this talk is also about the choices that storytellers must make in regards to focus and impact. Transcript (my notes in red) I am a chef and a food policy guy, but I come from a whole family of teachers. My sister is a special ed teacher in Chicago. My father just retired after 25 years teaching fifth grade. My aunt and uncle were professors. My cousins all teach. Everybody in my family, basically, teaches except for me. They taught me that the only way to get the right answers is to ask the right questions. So what are the right questions when it comes to improving the educational outcomes for our children? There's obviously many important questions, but I think the following is a good place to start: What do we think the connection is between a child's growing mind and their growing body? What can we expect our kids to learn if their diets are full of sugar and empty of nutrients? What can they possibly learn if their bodies are literally going hungry? And with all the resources that we are pouring into schools, we should stop and ask ourselves: Are we really setting our kids up for success? We know about chefs, and teachers, but the phrase 'food policy guy' is a bit unusual, and that has the audience wondering where his story will take them. Leveraging what he learned from the teachers in his family, Sam asks a series of questions which outline his narrative. Beyond serving as a precursor for his story, the technique of opening a story with questions can also engage the audience and get their cognitive wheels turning. Now, a few years ago, I was a judge on a cooking competition called "Chopped. " Four chefs compete with mystery ingredients to see who can cook the best dishes. Except for this episode -- it was a very special one. Instead of four overzealous chefs trying to break into the limelight -- something that I would know nothing about -- (Laughter) these chefs were school chefs; you know, the women that you used to call "lunch ladies," but the ones I insist we call "school chefs. " Now, these women -- God bless these women -- they spend their day cooking for thousands of kids, breakfast and lunch, with only $2. 68 per lunch, with only about a dollar of that actually going to the food. In this episode, the main-course... - Published: 2020-11-14 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/danielle-feinberg-the-magic-ingredient-that-brings-pixar-movies-to-life-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Danielle Feinberg on the magic ability of Pixar movies to capture our imagination. Watch Danielle's TED Talk. She not only speaks to her personal passion, but how her experiences at Pixar create films that touch the lives of millions. By tying the innocence of animation to the physics of lighting she provides a unique behind-the-scenes view of how art is blended with science, and how the dream that we imagine can become our reality. Transcript (my notes in red) When I was seven years old, some well-meaning adult asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Proudly, I said: "An artist. " "No, you don't," he said, "You can't make a living being an artist! " For some people the life they lead as an adult began with a dream in childhood. I've found this to be true for a lot of artists, writers, musicians, even teachers and attorneys. It's an opening that connects to an audience (we've all had dreams as children) and sets the stage for the narrative that follows. My little seven-year-old Picasso dreams were crushed. But I gathered myself, went off in search of a new dream, eventually settling on being a scientist, perhaps something like the next Albert Einstein. I have always loved math and science, later, coding. And so I decided to study computer programming in college. In my junior year, my computer graphics professor showed us these wonderful short films. It was the first computer animation any of us had ever seen. I watched these films in wonder, transfixed, fireworks going off in my head, thinking, "That is what I want to do with my life. " The idea that all the math, science and code I had been learning could come together to create these worlds and characters and stories I connected with, was pure magic for me. Detours are another factor in many lives. What seems to be a change in direction ends up circling back, though often in a modified way. Danielle comes back to art, but from the perspective of computer graphics. Think about the detours in your personal story that an audience would appreciate hearing about. Just two years later, I started working at the place that made those films, Pixar Animation Studios. It was here I learned how we actually execute those films. To create our movies, we create a three-dimensional world inside the computer. We start with a point that makes a line that makes a face that creates characters, or trees and rocks that eventually become a forest. And because it's a three-dimensional world, we can move a camera around inside that world. I was fascinated by all of it. But then I got my first taste of lighting. While... - Published: 2020-11-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/latif-nasser-you-have-no-idea-where-camels-really-come-from-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Latif Nasser about a journey of scientific discovery that can help us to see the world anew. Watch Latif's TED Talk. You can feel his enthusiasm throughout the story. His vocal variation, facial expressions and body movements convey emphasis at every turn. This is an unusual presentation, structured as an interview, but there's much you can learn about how to create and tell an impactful story. Transcript (my notes in red) So, this is a story about how we know what we know. It's a story about this woman, Natalia Rybczynski. She's a paleobiologist, which means she specializes in digging up really old dead stuff. I always tell storytellers not to open their narrative with the phrase 'this is a story about', as it's usually better to let that information come out in the talk. But in the vein of 'rules are meant to be broken', the practice can be successful when there's mystery attached to the statement. Latif's opening line is simply stated, yet contains that sense of mystery and therefore it quickly grabs our attention. (Audio) Natalia Rybczynski: Yeah, I had someone call me "Dr. Dead Things. " Using audio clips within a story is unusual, but it can add impact when it allows someone else to speak - we hear the story in their own words - or adds information best delivered by that person. But the main reason Latif has chosen to use audio within his talk is that he works in radio, so it makes perfect sense to simulate his natural environment. And I think she's particularly interesting because of where she digs that stuff up, way above the Arctic Circle in the remote Canadian tundra. Now, one summer day in 2006, she was at a dig site called the Fyles Leaf Bed, which is less than 10 degrees latitude away from the magnetic north pole. Latif not only tells us who the main character is in his story (Natalia) but takes us to a specific year (2006), a time of year (summer), a general area (Arctic Circle / remote Canadian tundra), and a specific place (dig site). In just 40 seconds. (Audio) NR: Really, it's not going to sound very exciting, because it was a day of walking with your backpack and your GPS and notebook and just picking up anything that might be a fossil. And at some point, she noticed something. (Audio) NR: Rusty, kind of rust-colored, about the size of the palm of my hand. It was just lying on the surface. And at first she thought it was just a splinter of wood, because that's the sort of thing people had found at the Fyles Leaf Bed before -- prehistoric plant parts. But that night, back at camp... - Published: 2020-10-28 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/paula-hammond-a-new-superweapon-in-the-fight-against-cancer-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Paula Hammond on how science is developing new techniques for battling the most aggressive and tricky forms of cancer. Watch Paula's TED Talk. Notice how she narrows the focus of her story to just a subset of cancers that are the most difficult to treat, then masterfully describes the problem, the solution, and the results of these new treatments. Transcript (my notes in red) Cancer affects all of us -- especially the ones that come back over and over again, the highly invasive and drug-resistant ones, the ones that defy medical treatment, even when we throw our best drugs at them. Engineering at the molecular level, working at the smallest of scales, can provide exciting new ways to fight the most aggressive forms of cancer. Paula's opening phrase, that 'Cancer affects all of us', is powerful in that it speaks to a disease we all know about, but I wish she had continued with something along the lines of, 'While not everyone gets cancer, most everyone knows someone - friend, relative, co-worker - who has dealt with it. ' That would have been a much better way to expand on the narrative thread. The balance of her opening establishes the context of her story as she speaks about the most challenging forms of cancer and a strategy of working at the molecular level to address them. Cancer is a very clever disease. There are some forms of cancer, which, fortunately, we've learned how to address relatively well with known and established drugs and surgery. But there are some forms of cancer that don't respond to these approaches, and the tumor survives or comes back, even after an onslaught of drugs. Paula's slide helps to illustrate the broad range of cancers, and the fact that while therapies have been developed to address some types, others do remain resistant to those therapies. She doesn't need to list them off, the slide provides that information to the audience. We can think of these very aggressive forms of cancer as kind of supervillains in a comic book. They're clever, they're adaptable, and they're very good at staying alive. And, like most supervillains these days, their superpowers come from a genetic mutation. The genes that are modified inside these tumor cells can enable and encode for new and unimagined modes of survival, allowing the cancer cell to live through even our best chemotherapy treatments. Using the term 'supervillains' is an appropriate analogy to describe how powerful and crafty these cancers are, and how difficult it is to defeat them. In this case, their craftiness comes from 'a genetic mutation', and to explain that term, Paula describes how the process works using language that the general public can better understand. This is something to... - Published: 2020-10-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/james-green-3-moons-and-a-planet-that-could-have-alien-life-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by James Green about a planet and three moons within our solar system that may be home to lifeforms of some sort. Watch James' TED Talk. Most science talks are based on research performed in a laboratory. Hypotheses are codified, tests performed, and the results published. But once we leave the earth, the concept is a bit different. While any scientific discovery involves speculation, this factor becomes more prevalent off planet. If your story involves science, and you're thinking that science can't be fun or it won't seem exciting, this is a talk that will convince you otherwise. It's a brilliant example of how technical information can be brought to life. Transcript (my notes in red) Is there life beyond Earth in our solar system? Asking a rhetorical question can serve as a powerful opening. As a reminder, rhetorical questions are asked in order to make a point and/or stimulate the thought process of a listener. It's not meant to solicit an answer. In this case, James asks a question that's been asked for thousands of years, and it's one that most of us would love to have an answer to. This question provides a physical frame of reference - not on earth, but still within our own solar system. Rhetorical questions can take us back in time, or into the future. Phrases such as 'Imagine you are... ', or 'What if... ' signals the audience that you want them to change their perspective away from the here and now. In doing so, it sparks their imagination. Note: In general, I'm not a fan of speakers asking literal questions as a way to engage their audience. It makes sense in very specific situations but the majority of the time it's a feeble attempt to connect with the audience, and indicates a weakness in the speaker's story. Wow, what a powerful question. You know, as a scientist -- planetary scientist -- we really didn't take that very seriously until recently. Carl Sagan always said, "It takes extraordinary evidence for extraordinary claims. " And the claims of having life beyond Earth need to be definitive, they need to be loud and they need to be everywhere for us to be able to believe it. James takes a moment to frame how he will answer the question in his talk - from a scientific point of view - one that is based on evidence. So how do we make this journey? What we decided to do is first look for those ingredients for life. The ingredients of life are: liquid water -- we have to have a solvent, can't be ice, has to be liquid. We also have to have energy. We also have to have organic material -- things that make... - Published: 2020-10-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/zaria-forman-drawings-that-show-the-beauty-and-fragility-of-earth-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Zaria Forman, about the effects of climate change on the planet. She does this, not by way of scientific research, but by way of her art. Art that is drawn from personal experiences around the world. Art that documents what's happening to our planet. Art that can inspire others to act. Watch Zaria's TED Talk. I found it to be surprising short, considering the amount of information it contains. But a great deal of that information comes from the images and video that Zaria includes. It's as though those images are speaking alongside her. Transcript (my notes in red) I consider it my life's mission to convey the urgency of climate change through my work. I've traveled north to the Arctic to the capture the unfolding story of polar melt, and south to the Equator to document the subsequent rising seas. Most recently, I visited the icy coast of Greenland and the low-lying islands of the Maldives, connecting two seemingly disparate but equally endangered parts of our planet. Consider how engaging Zaria's opening sentence is, with 'life's mission', 'urgency', 'climate change', and 'my work'. She says it in a matter-of-fact way, yet her passion is obvious, and the topic is one that concerns everyone in the audience. She could have followed this opening with a direct statement about her work, such as, "I'm an artist... ", but the image behind her tells that story. Images often reinforce what you're saying, but they can also be a substitute for words. Think about how images can add to the story you're telling. Zaria uses a contrast between Greenland and the Maldives, along with the phrase 'equally endangered' to illustrate the global nature of climate change. She also says 'icy coast' and 'low-lying islands' to amplify the contrast beyond location, allowing the audience to better visualize those places. Are there such contrasts within your story that can help explain differences or diversity in regards to the topic that you're exploring? My drawings explore moments of transition, turbulence and tranquility in the landscape, allowing viewers to emotionally connect with a place you might never have the chance to visit. I choose to convey the beauty as opposed to the devastation. If you can experience the sublimity of these landscapes, perhaps you'll be inspired to protect and preserve them. The expression 'out of sight, out of mind' applies to many important subjects. If we don't see it, or experience it, these subjects can fade from our memory. Great stories take people into places or experiences, and art can do the same, which Zaria brings to our attention. The point is to have the audience feel, think and experience as though they were there with you. Behavioral psychology tells us that we take action... - Published: 2020-10-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/sal-khan-lets-teach-for-mastery-not-test-scores-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Sal Khan about how mastery and mindset can improve learning. It's a classic problem/solution story. One that describes a process that is being used on a global scale - in this case the process of learning - but often delivers less than ideal results. In such situations the stakes are high and new ways of thinking are required in order to address rapid changes in society. Watch Sal's TED Talk. He demonstrates that the status quo is not serving most students as it should, and offers an alternative that is based on his experience running the Khan Academy. In his view, it's imperative that we change the way we learn. And if we do, the benefits to society are significant. Transcript (my notes in red) I'm here today to talk about the two ideas that, at least based on my observations at Khan Academy, are kind of the core, or the key leverage points for learning. And it's the idea of mastery and the idea of mindset. When a speaker is well known, as is the case with Sal Khan who founded Khan Academy, a phrase such as 'my observations at Khan Academy' speaks volumes. He doesn't need to explain his role or the history of the academy, but if you don't have such notoriety, adding another sentence of explanation will keep the audience from being confused about who you are and the work you're doing. In fact, at no point in his talk does Sal speak about his credentials. Few of us would be so fortunate. I saw this in the early days working with my cousins. A lot of them were having trouble with math at first, because they had all of these gaps accumulated in their learning. And because of that, at some point they got to an algebra class and they might have been a little bit shaky on some of the pre-algebra, and because of that, they thought they didn't have the math gene. Or they'd get to a calculus class, and they'd be a little bit shaky on the algebra. I saw it in the early days when I was uploading some of those videos on YouTube, and I realized that people who were not my cousins were watching. Having introduced 'the idea of mastery and the idea of mindset', Sal provides an example that is also personal - 'my cousins' and by mentioning that it happened 'in the early days', he takes us back in time to the beginning of his journey. When you're taking an audience on a journey of discovery, of developing a new view of the world, people want to know where it all started. What's your origin story? And at first, those comments were just simple thank... - Published: 2020-09-28 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/samantha-nutt-the-real-harm-of-the-global-arms-trade-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Samantha Nutt that reveals the damage caused by global arms trade. Creating a concise narrative about a global issue is difficult due to the fact that the problems and solutions are far reaching, affecting millions if not billions of people across multiple continents. In this case there is a contrast between the countries that are selling arms around the world, and the countries which are experiencing the consequences of those arms sales. Watch Samantha’s TED Talk. If you're are developing an impactful story about a far reaching social issue, note how she frames the problem and solution. The credibility comes from the fact that Samantha has lived in the middle of the violence. You can find additional information on her website: War Child USA. Transcript (my notes in red) Some of you may have noticed that my last name is Nutt. And if you did, you are forgiven for wondering how a Nutt managed to end up in a war zone. I actually was offered, right out of medical school, and accepted a volunteer contract to work with UNICEF in war-torn Somalia, that was worth one dollar. And, you see, I had to be paid this dollar in the event that the UN needed to issue an evacuation order, so that I would be covered. I was, after all, heading into one of the world's most dangerous places. And by now, some of you may be asking yourselves, and I just want to reassure you, that I did get half the money up front. A common way to begin a story about an important social topic is for the speaker to provide critical background which will set the stage for what's to come. Samantha tells the audience that 1) she had just graduated from medical school, 2) she accepted a contract with UNICEF, and 3) she was heading to war-torn Somalia. Though it's serious topic, she takes the opportunity to wrap it in a bit of humor. But you see, this is how, with 50 cents in my pocket, I ended up in Baidoa, Somalia. Journalists called it the "city of death. " And they called it the city of death because 300,000 people had lost their lives there -- 300,000 people, mostly as a result of war-related famine and disease. This statistics story block states that 300,000 people had lost their lives in the city of Baidoa, Somalia. That's a startling number for any city, but at the time of this talk the population of Baidoa was around 800,000. Would the impact be different if that second number had been mentioned? That's something to consider whenever you're quoting a statistic - quote it alone, next to another number for comparison, or with a range of numbers to... - Published: 2020-09-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/juan-enriquez-we-can-reprogram-life-how-to-do-it-wisely-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Juan Enriquez about reprograming life, and our role in managing / influencing the process. Crafting a narrative that takes an audience inside an advanced scientific topic is difficult when those listening are members of the general public, rather than a bunch of PhDs who work in research labs. In this talk he explores the topic of reprograming life. Something that our species better get right. Watch Juan’s TED Talk. If you're preparing an experience-driven talk, think about whether there is a science story block that can be part of your narrative. If you're working on an idea-driven story, especially one based on how science may affect our future, pay attention to how Juan presents a very challenging subject. You may want to watch the talk once and take your own notes as to how the story flowed, how he used examples, and how he made a very complex topic understandable. Then read through the notes below and watch it again. There were many beautiful moments, but also times when I wanted to hear more. Transcript (my notes in red) So, there's an actor called Dustin Hoffman. And years ago, he made this movie which some of you may have heard of, called "The Graduate. " And there's two key scenes in that movie. The first one is the seduction scene. I'm not going to talk about that tonight. It can be tempting to begin a science story with something that's related to the scientific topic that the story is about, and Juan gets there soon enough, but in a counterintuitive move, he opens with humor. It's a reference that the audience is familiar with, so it gets a laugh, but it also has people wondering where he's going next - it's a combination of humor and mystery in a matter of seconds. The second scene is where he's taken out by the old guy to the pool, and as a young college graduate, the old guy basically says one word, just one word. And of course, all of you know what that word is. It's "plastics. " And the only problem with that is, it was completely the wrong advice. Let me tell you why it was so wrong. The word should have been "silicon. " And the reason it should have been silicon is because the basic patents for semiconductors had already been made, had already been filed, and they were already building them. So Silicon Valley was just being built in 1967, when this movie was released. And the year after the movie was released, Intel was founded. So had the graduate heard the right one word, maybe he would have ended up onstage -- oh, I don't know -- maybe with these two. Juan spends... - Published: 2020-09-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/nadia-lopez-why-open-a-school-to-close-a-prison-ted-talks-live/ TED Talks Live were held at The Town Hall Theater in NYC, in November of 2015. I had the pleasure of attending all six nights to hear speakers present impactful Ideas Worth Spreading. This post is an analysis of a talk by Nadia Lopez on the power of the education system to change lives. As some of you may know, I worked on two events held inside a state prison. TEDxDonovanCorrectional was an eye-opening experience, as the men that I coached often told me stories about growing up without a proper education. It wasn't an uncommon story for a teenager to drop out of school and join a gang. Nadia's story is a reminder that changes to the education system are possible, but it takes a new vision and a dedicated team to make that happen. Watch Nadia's TED Talk. It's an ideal example of personal storytelling that is effective within a short timeframe. Then review your own manuscript. Have you tightened your prose to be direct and impactful? Does every sentence matter? Transcript (my notes in red) When I opened Mott Hall Bridges Academy in 2010, my goal was simple: open a school to close a prison. Now to some, this was an audacious goal, because our school is located in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn -- one of the most underserved and violent neighborhoods in all of New York City. Like many urban schools with high poverty rates, we face numerous challenges, like finding teachers who can empathize with the complexities of a disadvantaged community, lack of funding for technology, low parental involvement and neighborhood gangs that recruit children as early as fourth grade. Notice how much the first line, in just 20 words, says about the story. Her action - opening the academy. When action happened - 2010. Her goal - opening a school to close a prison. We don't know what that means, exactly, so she's caught our interest and we want to know the answer. In the next 2 sentences she goes deeper into the background of the story - the neighborhood, poverty rates, finding teachers, lack of funding, parents and gangs. All of this is revealed in less than a minute. She makes every word count. She shows a slide comparing the rate of shootings between the Brownsville section of Brooklyn to all of Manhattan. The visual is easy to understand - the comparison startling. So here I was, the founding principal of a middle school that was a district public school, and I only had 45 kids to start. Thirty percent of them had special needs. Eighty-six percent of them were below grade level in English and in math. And 100 percent were living below the poverty level. Nadia uses 3 key statistics to illustrate the difficulties that she faced - 30% special needs, 86% below grade level, 100% below poverty level. With few words we come to understand the extent of the challenge that's ahead of her. If our children are not... - Published: 2020-09-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/pixar-storytelling-it-starts-with-an-idea/ If you haven't seen a Pixar animated movie, I'll assume you have been living on a (nearly) deserted island. Their first feature film was Toy Story, released some 25 years ago. After 22 films, $14 billion in box office revenue, and an acquisition by Disney, they're still creating films that touch our heart and change the way we think about the world. You can read more about the fascinating history of Pixar, but in short, they are master storytellers. And while it's doubtful that your personal story will end up in a Pixar movie, the process they use to create their films can teach us a lot about the craft of storytelling - characters, plot, emotion, wisdom, life. It all begins with an idea. It's the first thing I ask someone who says they have a story to tell. What's the idea, or the point, or the message that is driving your story. If you don't know where you're going, how are you going to get there? Luckily, the creation of your story is not as complex as the Pixar process - no need to hire any simulation technical artists - but a takeaway from this welcome video is the need for revision / editing along the way. Nothing comes out perfect the first time. It's an iterative endeavour that enriches your story, bit by bit. The power of story is that it has an ability to connect with people on an emotional level. Even when creating a fictional story, the writer needs to put an element of themselves into the narrative as a way to convey how they're feeling. The same holds true in your story. It's not just a sequence of events. That's rather boring. The audience needs to know how the experience felt to you. Check in next week for another glimpse into the world of Pixar storytelling! ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2020-08-28 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-challenges-of-story-compression/ One of the most difficult challenges every storyteller faces is how to compress days / months / years / centuries when crafting a narrative. For example, the Roman Empire lasted some 500 years, yet books on the topic are typically under 500 pages, which illustrates how many facts the authors had to cut. Even when the subject is as narrow as the life of one person, such as Julius Caesar, that same page count only allows for the highlights. Volumes of data are left behind. So imagine the difficulty in reducing an entire life - and in this case it's quite an illustrious life - into a twenty minute podcast. Could you compress your life into twenty minutes? Rather frustrating for most folks. But such is the mastery of Nate DiMeo, founder of The Memory Palace, with his insightful story about Robert Smalls. You might call The Wheel a master class in story compression. This excerpt from Wikipedia will give you some indication of Robert Smalls' life, though it's just one chapter of a saga that's hard to fathom. Listen to Nate's narrative and you'll gain a much better sense of Robert's keen ability to plan and execute. The other thing you will notice is the difference between information - as provided by Wikipedia - and narrative nonfiction - as spoken by Nate DiMeo. Robert Smalls (April 5, 1839 – February 23, 1915) was an American politician, publisher, businessman, and naval pilot. Born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, he freed himself, his crew, and their families during the American Civil War by commandeering a Confederate transport ship, CSS Planter, in Charleston harbor, on May 13, 1862, and sailing it from Confederate-controlled waters of the harbor to the U. S. blockade that surrounded it. He then piloted the ship to the Union-controlled enclave in Beaufort-Port Royal-Hilton Head area, where it became a Union warship. His example and persuasion helped convince President Abraham Lincoln to accept African-American soldiers into the Union Army. Even without personal knowledge of the area, and few details of the historical moment, you can still imagine the scene of a blockade off the coast, of Robert's desire to escape slavery in The South, and the impossible notion of stealing a Confederate boat in order to make his escape. There is the briefest mention of his mother, his wife and two daughters, yet you clearly see the stakes involved in his decision to take that boat, to risk it all. Photo by Mathew Brady / Public Domain With the visual references to slaves being bought and sold, to being whipped in the fields, you come to embrace the motivation, despite the stakes, to take that boat, to take the wheel, at the age of 23. The escape took hours, but in just a few seconds Nate takes us onboard the Confederate gunboat CSS Planter, where we feel the tension, the odds stacked against success. Photo by Unknown Author / Public Domain I'll leave it to you to hear... - Published: 2020-08-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/a-social-innovation-story-impactathon-2020/ I'm not the biggest fan of social media, but I do appreciate the benefit of making connections on digital platforms, as I never know when someone will reach out with an interesting offer. Such was the case when Neetal Parekh sent me a note on LinkedIn. Having seen some of my answers on Quora in regards to my time spent organizing TEDx events, she had a few questions about the TEDx model. It turns out Neetal was an event organizer in her own right, having produced a series of Impactathons as a way to inspire social entrepreneurs in their quest to tackle the world's most pressing social issues. She's also the author of the book 51 Questions on Social Entrepreneurship, the host of The Impact Podcast by Innov8social, as well as a frequent speaker, facilitator, and moderator on topics including social enterprises and social entrepreneurship. Her next event, Impactathon for Future Flourishing, was focused on the vexing problem of global poverty, and after our deep dive into the crazy world of TEDx organizing, Neetal ask if I would like to be an Impact Catalyst and provide the participants with a few tips on storytelling. I was happy to help. Preceding the Impactathon I had the pleasure of recording an interview along with Mwihaki Muraguri, an impact storyteller and Principal at Paukwa House. We had a great conversation in regards to storytelling in the social impact arena as the entrepreneurs formed teams and began crafting their pitches. Curious About Impactathon? What is an Impactathon®? Impactathons are impact-focused hackathon experiences designed to engage participants in mapping problems and designing solutions that address the needs of our global society. Teams of social entrepreneurs come up with innovative ideas for creating change, and the process culminates with brief pitches before a panel of judges. Designed for learning - They incorporate best practices from the science of learning including focused and diffuse learning. Engaging a problem-solving mindset - Providing frameworks and incorporating design-thinking principles. Co-created with local partners - Providing frameworks and incorporating design-thinking principles. Why Engage in an Impactathon®? Hear Impact Talks from thinkers and doers in the space. On topics such as how to identify gaps in a system, why some social enterprises fail, how to stay aligned with a mission, how to create a meaningful career in social impact. Engage in social impact through a hackathon experience. Including design thinking approach, getting feedback, using concepts of lean methodology, pivoting, working in teams, pitching, using storytelling and presentation techniques. Learn core concepts of engaging in the social impact sector. Such as how to frame a problem (root causes v. symptom), how to adopt a social entrepreneurship mindset, examples of business models, legal structures, and ways to measure social impact. Join a global community of aligned impact problem solvers. Meet your next co-founder, investor, or team member during Impactathon. After the event, you will have the option to join and engage with fellow Impactathoners, including participants, speakers, and mentors and learn about emerging resources... - Published: 2020-08-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-three-dimensions-of-public-speaking/ Humans have been making public speeches for thousands of years, but until recently, the number of folks doing so has remained rather small, in single digits percentage wise. Unless you were a politician, business leader or social activist, you were in the audience listening, but much has changed in recent decades. With the advent of venues such as Creative Mornings, the TED Conference and TEDx events now held around the world, as well as storytelling podcasts such as The Moth or The Narrators, and story conferences like the Future of StoryTelling or The Power of Storytelling, the cachet of storytelling has never been greater. More importantly, public speaking / storytelling skills have become fundamental attributes for any employee working in the commercial and/or nonprofit sectors. If you can't tell your story, as well as the stories of your organization, customers and stakeholders, you're at a disadvantage. So what makes a speaker impactful? There are many factors that go into crafting and delivering stories that inform, enlighten, even challenge a listener, but here are three dimensions that form the foundation of public speaking. (p. s. they've been relevant for a few millennium) Often referred to as the KLT Factor, the marketing world has long touted the idea that consumers buy products from someone they know, and like, and trust. But if we traveled back to ancient Greece we might hear Aristotle speak about rhetoric and his take on ethos, pathos and logos (ethics, emotions and logic) as key attributes possessed by great speakers and found in moving speeches. The discipline of business decision making often refers to the combination of head, heart, and gut (intellect, emotion and intuition). As you can see, these parallels point to a speaker's credibility or trustworthiness, combined with a story's ability to touch us emotionally, and for the narrative to make sense. It's the combination of all three that creates story magic. To see how it's done, take a moment to spin up Robin Steinberg's TED Talk that explores the bail system in America - how it works, what's wrong with it, and her solution to the problem. Robin's personal story establishes credibility on the topic, as it's her profession. She also spends time explaining how the system works, or doesn't, and uses the experience of someone who was victimized by an unfair system to bring out the emotional side of the story. Thus, we come to believe her, and her argument. As you craft a story of your own, make sure you address each of these critical dimensions. Will an audience place their faith in you through a bond of trust? Will they feel your story in a way they can relate to? Will their intellectual side be satisfied with the logic of your proposition? If one of these factors is missing, their confidence in your idea will be too. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our... - Published: 2020-08-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-creative-penn-podcast-episode-500/ Storytelling takes many forms, and while my focus, for the most part, supports individuals telling their story verbally, writing your story is another avenue for generating impact based on your ideas, lessons learned, and life experiences. In fact, a number of my clients have turned their attention to the spoken version of their story after having published a book. As with speaking, learning the art and craft of written storytelling takes time, and is based in large part on seeking the wisdom of others who have made the same journey. If writing is your current profession, or simply a future goal, then The Creative Penn Podcast should be in your toolbox. Joanna Penn is the host, and after 11 years she released her 500th episode. A milestone that few podcasters reach! You'll need to hear the entire podcast to discover the many pearls of wisdom that she offers from past episodes, but I wanted to share a few of them here. Write What You Love Are you writing what others think you should write, or what you feel the market wants? Maybe you feel that your talents are limited to only one genre, or either fiction or non-fiction. Joanna was stuck in that box until she tried her hand at writing fiction books and now has 18 novels to her credit. Don't let the challenge of exploring new styles of storytelling hold you back. It's Okay If Your First Draft Sucks Taking this idea further, it is extremely rare (like one in a million) that a first draft is the best you can do. This applies to writing books, articles, or your personal story. When Joanna interviewed Mur Lafferty, the point was made that if we can recognize this fact, and stop worrying about it, great writing is possible. And I think, when people allow themselves to just write the story and not worry about what's going to happen to the story afterward, that’s when they really let themselves actually improve. It's like when they're thinking about it too much, they hold themselves back or they put some sort of handicap on themselves. But when they just write and not worry about sucking or worrying about how good it is or where it's gonna be published, then better things happen. ~Mur Lafferty Realizing that you could write something terrible and then fix it up later with editing freed me from so much. My first drafts are a lot better now, but we all have to go through those first few books where we don't know what we're doing! ~Joanna Penn Leverage Your Intellectual Property Too often writers will publish their book, either through a traditional publishing house or independently, then they'll move on to the next project. But there are international rights, audio book rights, movies, even gaming rights to consider. It's a subject writers need to spend time exploring, and hire a professional when there are contract related questions. Bottom line, don't sign anything unless you fully understand what... - Published: 2020-07-28 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/crimson-letters-voices-from-death-row/ I've spent a lot of time in prison. Not as an inmate, but instead coaching inmates, helping them craft their personal stories. Stories destined to land on a stage at TEDxDonovanCorrectional in 2017 and 2018. Donovan Correctional Facility is a California State prison, located at the very southern edge of San Diego County, overlooking the international border shared with Mexico. To say that the experience was profound would be an understatement. Many of these men had spent the majority of their adult lives incarcerated, which in the beginning led me to question whether they had much in the way of wisdom to share with an audience. But over a two year period I continued to be impressed by the insights, the compassion, and the empathy that formed the foundation of their stories. If I had been talking to them on the phone, I would have assumed they were college educated. The Longform Interview So when I read the description for the Longform Podcast with Tessie Castillo and George Wilkerson, I dropped everything to have a listen. While I had heard many stories from prison, none of those stories had come from inmates on death row. “I want other people to see what I see, which is that the men on death row are human beings. They’re incredibly intelligent and insightful and they have so many redemptive qualities... I don’t think I could really convey that as well as if they get their own voice out there. So I wanted this book to be a platform for them and for their voices. ” –Tessie Castillo “For me, writing was like a form of conversation with myself or with my past, like therapy. So I just chose these periods in my life that I didn’t really understand and that were really powerful and impactful to me, and I just sat down and started writing to understand them and make peace with them. ” –George Wilkerson Instead of the usual format, whereby host Aaron Lammer interviews an author, in this case Tessie Castillo, the twist to this episode was calling death row inmate George Wilkerson to bring his voice from inside prison to the outside world. As often happens in life (I could never have predicted that I would spend time coaching inmates inside prison) Tessie had no connection to death row or the death penalty when she met someone at a Super Bowl party who happened to be a psychologist working with death row inmates at a prison in Raleigh, North Carolina. When she found out that the new warden was permitting classes on death row, Tessie applied to teach a journaling class. Her discovery of who these men had become was similar to my own. It would behove you to spend 43 minutes listening to the interviews. You'll come to view men on death row in a new light. Essays From Death Row Beyond the Longform podcast, and the basis for the conversation, was the book Crimson Letters: Voices from Death... - Published: 2020-07-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/three-reasons-we-dont-tell-our-story/ Some folks are eager to tell us their story. They know their message is one that others could benefit from hearing, and they're always looking for an opportunity to share their ideas, their wisdom, or the lessons they've learned along the way. Whenever I meet one of these people and mention that I used to produce TEDx events, they quickly shift into pitch mode, expressing a desire to be on stage. They're not the least bit shy and their storytelling passion is front and center. But I also meet a lot of folks with powerful stories worth sharing, yet they'll come up with reasons to avoid telling that story to an audience. They're resigned to remaining silent as I hear them say something like the following... I'm not a great public speaker, and I'm not a professional I just don't know how to make my story sound interesting I might make a mistake, or even forget what I want to say Sound familiar? Well, you're in good company, but I'm here to tell you that none of these reasons should stop you, or even slow you down. So let's address them, and get you motivated to begin sharing your important stories with the world. You were born a storyteller That's the first thing I want every potential speaker to know, and to embrace. As babies we learn about the world around us by watching and listening. And it doesn't take long before we learn to speak and begin telling our stories. Simple stories at first, but stories that gain in confidence and complexity day by day. Think about the thousands of stories you've told since - to your family, kids in the neighborhood, and your classmates at school. You're always telling stories. That said, we're rarely taught how to tell a story designed to impact others - a story that's very intentional in its wording, structure and delivery - a story with meaning beyond recounting past events. Like any other skill that we wish to master - playing an instrument or a sport, for example - we must spend a lot of time and effort to make that happen. The more times you speak in public, and the more effort you put into writing and rehearsing your stories, the better you will get at it - so you don't need to be a great speaker (yet), or a professional, you just need to be you to tell your story. Create an interesting story While we've spent our lives telling random stories to each other, stories told to an audience are more intentional, and structured to express an important idea or convey a specific viewpoint. So there are a number of skills to be mastered. I approach the story process using three steps: ideation, narration, presentation. Before you write a single word of your story you need to define the main message that will drive the narrative and represent the gift that you're giving the audience. The proverbial pearl of wisdom.... - Published: 2020-07-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-challenge-of-finding-historical-truth/ My last post touched on the art of Interviewing From a Historical Perspective as a way to enrich your story by including the experiences of others. But finding the truth in history can be a problematic topic unto itself, as so much of what we think of as history deviates from the truth in sometimes subtle, and sometimes dramatic fashion. The decisions we make are largely based on our perceptions of the past, which means the only way we can tell a true narrative is to understand the past correctly. As long as we live within a lie that others have told to protect/enhance their reputation or further their false ideology, we will create/enable a new generation of liars. ~ML In a recent Longform podcast episode Evan Ratliff spoke with Michelle García, and part of that interview dealt with the issue of determining what is true, as well as the difference between just telling the truth and telling an honest story. Do listen. It's a masterclass in coming to understand who you are, where you come from, and the challenges of telling an impactful story others need to hear. How You Alter the Narrative If your intent is to capture a story's essence, to reveal a fundamental truth to your readers/listeners, then you need to be aware of the perspective that you bring to the table, a perspective that affects the process of assimilating the facts, coloring the raw landscape that you're attempting to faithfully paint. This process of self-examination and reflection embraced by Michelle guides her in the story creation process, and as you will hear, it requires a special sense of awareness - of your beliefs, your values, and your way of experiencing the world in each present moment. That the facts are all there, and they're all accurate, and they're all right, that I began to wonder, just because you have the facts right, does that mean the story is true in its essence? ~ Michelle García At one point Michelle refers to a conversation that she had with a law professor on the topic of history repeating itself. His observation was one that we should consider when trying to understand any chain of events: "It's not that history's repeating itself, it's that this is the present moment, reaching into the past, to define its future. " Take a moment to ponder that statement and consider how it relates to the story that you want to tell. You're writing in that present moment yet recalling a myriad of events you've experienced. The conversations, the environments, the emotions, the interpretations. And you're telling your story for the simple reason that you have a desire for others to understand what you have learned or come to believe, and maybe, just maybe, their future will be different as a result. The true power of storytelling lies in the fact that your story can become part of someone else's story. ~ML Michelle García as Restless Rebel I'm always fascinated by the... - Published: 2020-07-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/interviewing-from-a-historical-perspective/ The process of crafting an impactful story often begins with identifying events and insights from your life's journey, but such stories become more compelling and diverse when they include the experiences of others, as additional voices will broaden and deepen the narrative landscape, allowing audience's to better understand the point you're proposing, or the lessons you have learned. One way to do this is by interviewing people who can offer listeners/readers a perspective that expands beyond yours. As with the disciplines of writing and speaking, interviewing is an art form that one must study and practice. When clients ask me how to conduct interviews I steer them to the On Being podcast, hosted by Krista Tippett. Her interviews with renowned scholars, writers, poets, scientists, and religious leaders explore the most fundamental and profound questions. What does it mean to be human? How do we want to live? And who will we be to each other? If you're looking to sharpen your storytelling skills, consider this podcast is an interviewing masterclass. The podcast recently replayed a timely episode recorded on November 17, 2016: This History is Long; This History Is Deep - it's an interview with Isabel Wilkerson. By reading the transcript while listening you can identify when Krista is diving deeper into a particular topic, or moving their conversation into new territory... . our country is like a really old house. I love old houses. I’ve always lived in old houses. But old houses need a lot of work. And the work is never done. And just when you think you’ve finished one renovation, it’s time to do something else. Something else has gone wrong. ~ Isabel Wilkerson (more... ) - Published: 2020-06-28 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/95000-names-95000-stories/ Traditions are an essential element of every culture. Merriam-Webster defines the term as "the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction. " Stories, in other words. But not just spoken, as humans are prone to create celebrations based on these stories. Such is the case with Pride Month. The Christopher Street Liberation Day March took place on Sunday, June 28, 1970, one year after the Stonewall Uprising, and provided the sparks that would ultimately ignite the LGBTQ+ movement for equality. In subsequent years gay pride marches and parades would spread to cities across the United States and throughout the globe. The number of events continued to increase rapidly, and in 1999 President Bill Clinton declared June as "Gay & Lesbian Pride Month. " The modern version of Pride events are largely celebratory, but a remembrance of those who lost their lives to the AIDS epidemic remains a solemn component. Some five decades later, the month of June 2020 has become a focal point for many others whose lives tragically ended before their time, as COVID-19 deaths approach half a million and protesters take to the streets with voices raised in support of Black Lives Matter, protesting to eliminate extreme police violence. With Pride events cancelled this year due to the virus, it felt as though origin stories which were threads of the tradition would fail to find a public voice. But last week The Kitchen Sisters broadcast an insightful podcast episode that told one of these stories - 95,000 Names: Gert McMullin, Sewing the Frontline. Photo by National Institutes of Health, Attribution-ShareAlike 3. 0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3. 0) As with any tradition, the efforts of many people comprise the narrative threads, yet most contributors remain behind the scenes and their story fades over time. Thankfully, the story of Gert McMullin lives on. In 1985, Gert McMullin was one of the first San Franciscans to put a stitch on the AIDS Quilt, the quilt that began with one memorial square in honor of a man who had died of AIDS, and that now holds some 95,000 names. Gert never planned it this way, but over the decades she has become the Keeper of the Quilt and has stewarded it, repaired it, tended it, traveled with it and conserved it for some 33 years now. Gert knows the power of sewing. A beautiful story that spans decades, connects two pandemics, and exemplifies the generosity of humans who pour their heart into the lives of strangers. In 2020, when COVID-19 hit, Gert was one of the first Bay Area citizens to begin sewing masks - PPE for nurses and health care workers who were lacking proper protection - masks she makes from fabric left over from the making of the AIDS Quilt. The comfort, outrage and honoring of an earlier pandemic being used to protect people from a new one. As I reflect on the month of... - Published: 2020-06-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-successful-pitch-with-john-livesay/ I had the pleasure of meeting John Livesay when he joined the Speaker Adventure storytelling program that I hosted with hall-of-fame speaker Jeff Salz, and we've been friends ever since. John's podcast, The Successful Pitch, which is a must listen for entrepreneurs and business leaders, focuses on how to make your pitch compelling, clear and concise. John is a renowned keynote speaker who shares the lessons learned from his award-winning sales career while at Conde Nast. In his keynote Better Selling Through Storytelling he shows companies’ sales teams how to become irresistible so they are magnetic to their ideal clients. It was such an honor to work with John on his TEDx Talk - Be The Lifeguard of Your Own Life! from TEDxWilmington that has over a million views. We reconnected for a conversation on his podcast - Storytelling With Impact: The Secrets To Giving A TEDx Talk With Mark Lovett - and it was fun to share a few storytelling insights. Give a listen and let me know your thoughts. (more... ) - Published: 2020-06-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/a-decades-long-struggle-for-justice-as-told-on-the-memory-palace/ The Memory Palace continues to be one of my favorite storytelling podcasts with its unique way of bringing forth historical landscapes of people, places and events that traverse the arc of time, deftly infused with an insightful sense of relevance that speaks to current affairs. With the struggle for racial equality front and center we have an opportunity to take a step back and revisit other struggles which continue to compromise millions of lives. Within the time frame of 8 ½ minutes Nate DiMeo compresses decades of oppression against the LGBTQ community, painting with both broad and fine strokes alike, calling out moments that crushed the dreams of countless lives. Yet love, relentlessly, pushed back the waves of oppression. On the surface this story may seem dissimilar from the current storyline playing out in city streets, but that one phrase, “to be who they were”, binds these two struggles at the wrist. It's difficult for me to fully comprehend, to grasp beyond the intellectual, to feel the emotions at a cellular level, to walk the streets and feel compelled, as a matter of survival, to be someone else in order to safely navigate society. Beyond the topic laid poetically bare, pay close attention to how Nate weaves the history of one physical place and the souls who passed through its front doors to the national narrative, now his pacing gives us space to assimilate each word and phrase. Transcript This is the Memory Palace, I'm Nate DiMeo The White Horse Inn on Telegraph in Oakland opened in 1933, or thereabouts. No one's been able to nail down the date. Historians have tried, as have some of its various owners it seems over the years, but if you're not an academic, or if you don't have a personal financial stake in solidifying its claim as the oldest gay bar in the United States to operate continuously in one location. It doesn't really matter when the White Horse first opened its doors, just that it was soon enough, for a man to walk in on just the right night in 1936 or 46 or 54, and see the most beautiful man he'd ever seen in his life, and just be done for. Soon enough for another man, who had heard of this place, heard of places like it, whispered about, or mocked by the fellows in the assembly line, or in the office, or in his usual joint across town, heard the cracks about pansies and perverts and queers, and feared what they might mean. Feared why the words seemed to cut right through, sit strange in his belly, and tightened his throat, but who fought through that fear to make his way there to the White Horse. Who may have circled the block all butterflies, before working up the courage to park. Who may have walked right past it, rather than be seen walking in by some stranger. Or maybe he pulled his collar up, and tipped his fedora low, and... - Published: 2020-06-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/creating-a-vivid-and-continuous-dream/ John Gardner was an accomplished author, literary critic and university professor - a rather rare combination. He was one of the best teachers of fiction writing, and his two books on the topic, The Art of Fiction and On Becoming a Novelist, have helped thousands learn the craft. If you read my previous blog posted titled The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but? , you'll know that my approach to personal storytelling is to stick to what's true and not delve into the world of fiction. That said, we can still learn much from the methods used to write fiction, which is why I'm sharing a few quotes from Gardner's On Becoming a Novelist that apply equally to nonfiction... . the best stories set off a vivid and continuous dream... We've all been there. Reading a book that you can't set down or watching a movie that has you leaning forward, barely breathing. When you get lost in a compelling story, the 'real' world has a way of disappearing, replaced by the narrative at hand. It's a common experience with great fiction, but is also happens when we see a speaker live on stage that has everyone in the theater spellbound. While there are many factors at work in such situations, word choice and an eye for detail are key elements... . one sign of a writer’s potential is his especially sharp ear - and eye - for language. The better the writer’s feel for language and its limits, the better his odds become. As with most talents, this comes naturally to some, but most of us have to work at developing this illusive skill. The good news is we can learn it with practice. Noticing cliche words and phrases, or those lacking imagination or specificity. Our story's first pass often contains a lot of safe language. Words that easily come to mind, and work okay, but we can do better. We need only to figure out exactly what it is that we’re trying to say - partly by saying it and then by looking it over to see if it says what we really mean - and to keep fiddling with the language until whatever objections we may consider raising seem to fall away. Writing and revising is tedious, but it's the only way to move from just okay to excellent, from a general to a more specific meaning. If the goal is to give a speech, as opposed to writing an essay, then the process will involve rehearsing and editing so that the words don't just read beautifully, but sound superb. How do we do that? Challenge every word. Does it convey the meaning you intend? Is it 'beautiful', or 'superb', or 'elegant'? And how will your audience react to the use of a particular word or phrase? One technique I recommend is to record your talk, then play it back as though it was a podcast. Your ears will pick up issues with word choice (as... - Published: 2020-05-28 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-country-doctor-on-snap-judgement/ America has had problems with discrimination from day one. Look no further than the death toll of Native Americans, often deemed to be heathens, as settlers pushed onward from sea to shining sea. And with the invention of the cotton gin, wealthy landowners sanctified an increase in slavery, economically justifying the practice of kidnapping, shackling, and selling Africans to the highest bidder. Then we have the egregious treatment of Mexican citizens. You know, the folks who owned a significant chunk of the Western U. S. until they exited south at gunpoint. And let's not forget about the treatment of immigrants from China, South America and the Middle East. These are not simple histories. In fact, quite the opposite, as there have always been Americans who were welcoming to people of any country, ethnicity or religion. But discrimination has been, and continues to be, a shameful truth in the land of freedom and justice for all. It was encouraging to see America make progress on this front during the late 60s into the 70s and 80s, but backsliding on the ideal of equality was evident from the 1990s onward. Slowly at first, but rapidly accelerating over the past 3+ years with public displays of hate and prejudice seen in many parts of the country. Displays without remorse of apology. But all is not lost. Hearts can soften and open with grace whenever people resist stereotyping and instead rely on the power of human connection to speak truth to hate. Whenever we remove the wall of discrimination long enough to forge meaningful relationships, a space for the miraculous appears. A space where healing and justice coexist alongside internal struggle. Snap Judgement recently broadcast a story that I highly recommend listening to. It was one of those rare podcast episodes that stopped me in my tracks, as I needed to hear the story of Dr. Ayaz Virji until the very end. Give it a listen. Artwork by Teo Ducot | Snap Judgment | WNYC Studios When Dr. Ayaz Virji first set foot in Dawson, Minnesota, he didn’t know what to expect. He was a brown Muslim man walking into a predominantly white rural town. But much to his surprise Ayaz and his family fit right in. Dawson quickly became home and his neighbors became like his extended family. Then came the presidential election of 2016. Dr. Ayaz Virji was aware of the positive impact he could have on a small rural town serving as a clinic medical director and chief of staff. And while the community embraced his family upon their arrival, and he enjoyed working with his patients, an abrupt change in the national political climate upset his view of the world, and his place in it. The narrative follows Dr. Virji's journey of self-discovery and reflection, of confrontation and conversation within the town after the 2016 election. As you listen to his story, think about the decisions made along the way, by all parties, but especially by Dr. Virji. How did... - Published: 2020-05-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/behind-the-scenes-of-the-memory-palace/ I've been a podcast listener for many years, and at the beginning of my daily walk I'll open the PocketCasts app on my phone to find an episode that will indulge my storytelling addiction. There are podcasts which live there temporarily - I'll add and delete as my desires change - but several of them have a permanent slot in my listening rotation. The Moth, This American Life, 99% Invisible, Radio Diaries, Ear Hustle, The Kitchen Sisters, Longform Podcast and Unfictional are on a brief list of shows that have become long-time audio companions, friends I can trust to expand and challenge my perceptions. Another member of that illustrious list is The Memory Palace, a podcast I fell in love with day one. Created by storytelling genius Nate DiMeo in 2008, you could say it's been around the digital block a few times. Nate's no stranger to audio, having spent a decade plus in public radio and heard on landmark shows such as All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Marketplace. The Memory Palace is not unusual in one sense, as it simply presents historical vignettes about people, places and past events. Its uniqueness comes from DiMeo's ability to pull a single thread from a complex tapestry of facts and feelings, then offer it to us as a bespoke narrative. Like a wandering medieval minstrel, he takes his audience on a magical exposition of the past, somehow condensing hours of exposition into mere minutes. As much as I love the well-polished episodes that he produces, it was a special treat to hear this behind-the-scenes conversation with Radiolab's Robert Krulwich on storytelling and life. It's a conversation that revealed pivotal moments early in his career, alongside his passion for, and approach to, crafting stories that can touch people. Whether you're a professional storyteller or just aspire to gain a greater mastery of the art, DiMeo's journey from nearly clueless to consummate creator will change your perspective on telling stories in the digital age. A Conversation About the Memory Palace with Robert Krulwich "... the lesson that it showed me, was that audio storytelling on the radio had the power to reach into your life and could change your day... " "... the most profound thing of journalism is finding the real person in there, and being able to draw them out, and to find a type of truth that goes beyond mere facts... " Learn more about Nate DiMeo in this beautiful article by Sarah Larson in The New Yorker, and this insightful piece by Joshua Barone in the New York Times. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2020-05-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-modern-story-of-strange-fruit-with-dianne-reeves-and-john-beasley/ Racial discrimination is a sad reality throughout the world, and sadly, still a significant aspect of American culture. From the advent of slavery in the South, to fighting a Civil War in hopes of bringing the practice to a close, and the current state of affairs after many centuries. It is a story we wish had never been written. A story whose narrative arc still requires a remedy. “Strange Fruit” was written 80 years ago describing the horrific practice of lynching innocent African-Americans by white people. It’s unconscionable and unacceptable that lynching is still happening today and also that the justice system failed Ahmaud Arbery. It was only after public widespread outrage followed the release of the horrific video which showed evidence of a racist father-and-son team shooting an unarmed Arbery to death. John Beasley and Dianne Reeves collaborated on this video as a way to protest the continuing brutality and racism against African-Americans. Directed & Edited by Anthony C. Santagati Executive Produced by Aja Burrell Wood Music Produced and Arranged by Dianne Reeves (vocals) and John Beasley (keyboards) Nicolas Payton - trumpet Terreon Gully - drums Alex Al - bass Composer: Abel Metropol Black people are so tired. They can’t go jogging (#AmaudArbery). They can’t sleep (#Breonna Taylor+#AiyanaJones) They can’t walk home with Skittles (#TrayvonMartin). They can’t relax in the comfort of their own homes (#BothemSean and #AtatianaJefferson). They can't ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride). They can't have a cellphone (#StephonClark). They can't leave a party to get to safety (#JordanEdwards). They can't play loud music (#JordanDavis). They can’t sell CDs (#AltonSterling). They can’t walk from the corner store (#MikeBrown). They can’t play cops and robbers (#TamirRice). They can’t go to church (#Charleston9). They can’t hold a hair brush while leaving their own bachelor party (#SeanBell). They can’t party on New Years (#OscarGrant). They can’t get a normal traffic ticket (#SandraBland). They can’t lawfully carry a weapon (#PhilandoCastile). They can't break down on a public road with car problems (#CoreyJones). They can’t shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford) They can’t have a disabled vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher). They can’t read a book in their own car (#KeithScott). They can’t be a 10yr old walking with their grandfather (#CliffordGlover). They can’t decorate for a party (#ClaudeReese). They can’t ask a cop a question (#RandyEvans). They can’t cash their check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood). They can’t take out their wallet (#AmadouDiallo). They can’t run (#WalterScott). They can’t breathe (#EricGarner). They can’t live (#FreddieGray). They're tired. Tired of making hashtags. Tired of trying to convince you that #BlackLivesMatter too. Tired of dying. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2020-04-28 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-truth-the-whole-truth-and-nothing-but/ Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? We've all heard this question, or something similar, asked of witnesses in television or movie courtroom scenes. And for anyone who has served on a jury, you have heard it first hand. But what does this question really mean, is it a reasonable expectation, and if so, how does it pertain to the practice of telling personal stories? While it's true that we tell personal stories to each other all the time - every conversation can be thought of as a story - in this article I'm referring to stories that we plan to share in public; in print, on stage, radio shows or podcasts, and thinking about the nature of truth when we're telling these stories. Although the practice of telling such stories has been around for millennia, the desire to hear them, and the opportunities to do so, have increased dramatically in recent years. As we've become more connected, and technologically savvy, we've developed a thirst for story that seems to be unquenchable. Millions tune into broadcasts, view videos, or attend live events with a desire to hear stories about our shared human experience. Stories about who we are and where we have been, stories about the struggles we've endured, and the universal hope for a better future. In my coaching practice I've had the pleasure of working with hundreds of folks who want to tell impactful personal stories; professional speakers and novices, students and academics, entrepreneurs and CEOs, prison inmates and special forces, scientists and creatives. During the process of developing their storylines the topic of truth often comes up when many say, “It's impossible to remember every detail. How truthful does my story need to be? ” And their difficulty in remembering the truth is especially troublesome for experiences and conversations that happened a long time ago. Our memory can be rather permeable. That's when I'll bring up the The Moth. I listen to a long list of podcasts each week for story inspiration, and The Moth remains at the top of the list. I never miss an episode. They host live storytelling events, and feature the best ones on The Moth Radio Hour. When it comes to truth, they address the issue best, in my opinion, by announcing during each broadcast: With this in mind I encourage speakers to do their homework and verify everything they can, especially any statistics, research data or historical references. When it comes to the topic of personal experience, they should reach out to anyone mentioned in their story to verify the facts, or at least hear their side of the story to be sure the essence of the narrative is true. The reason is straightforward. If any aspect of a story is untrue, the entire narrative becomes suspect. One bad apple can, in this situation, spoil your story's impact. When trust is broken between the storyteller and their audience it becomes difficult to repair.... - Published: 2020-04-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/why-storytelling-matters-via-patrick-moreau/ "Why storytelling? " It's a question I've been asked many times, often preceded by the phrase, "Out of all the career paths you could have pursued. " The standard answer has always been, "Because it matters, because it expresses our humanity, because it can change the world. " For me, it's something that I have witnessed in my own life, and in the lives of many others. An accumulation of experiences over many years that led to a profound understanding, built like the pyramids, one block at a time. Though it's a reality constantly evolving, never finished. I would venture to say that Patrick Moreau's experience is similar in that he has spent many years honing his own craft of storytelling as the founder of Muse Storytelling, but in his case there was a pivotal moment when the telling of stories took on new meaning and purpose. Every story is the opportunity of a lifetime and we just rarely realize it. Many personal stories involve tragic events or circumstances that cause a shift in perspective about the world and our place in it. We come away changed, as well as conflicted and confused, yet clarity can also manifest. Take a few minutes to watch this video about Patrick's journey, then reflect on your desire, and maybe reluctance, to share your story with others. Transcript (with minor edits for readability) Amina Moreau: So, I just came back from interviewing Patrick for our launch film, and I've got to say, we had a really great plan going into this thing. We knew exactly what we wanted our story to be. But every so often, when you're in an interview, something so amazing, or so unexpected happens that you know you've got to pivot your story. Here's what happened: Why does it matter to you so much that you live a life of purpose? Patrick Moreau: That was my mom. She took her own life, and my sister and I had to go back to Midland and pack up her apartment. I mean, for over a decade my mom struggled with bipolar, which means she'd have these manic phases where she’d fly to places like Turkey, Lebanon or Jordan and then would often come crashing down into a depression and somebody'd have to go and try and bring her back. I went to Lebanon to try and bring her back when she became depressed, and I've sat on an airplane next to her for eight hours and she pretends to read, you know, because then it looks like you're normal. I can't imagine the reality of somebody going through their life trying to hide their pain so that people don't try and bother them, you know? And so, it just came to a point where she felt like she was more of a burden. A lot of people would probably tell you that the depression killed her, but it was not having purpose anymore. It was not being able to follow her purpose.... - Published: 2020-04-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/us-can-do-this-by-gill-sotu/ I've always believed that there's an opportunity to reach inside and search for the beauty and joy which exists within the pain and sorrow of any tragic experience. It's not always easy, and the gifts can be elusive to say the least, but they are there nonetheless. Spoken word artist Gill Sotu is one of those rare individuals who can help us discover and celebrate that beauty and joy. In this talk at TEDxSanDiego Gill weaves a tapestry of profound human connections that form the essence of our humanity. That speaks to the power of us. To the salvation and redemption of us. Watch and Share. Us CAN Do This by Gill Sotu a part of me was scared to write this a part of me was ready to analyze each and every phrase that i uttered so that the perfect word concoction connected us covering every bit of our anxieties like a weighted blanket what we are all under right now is heavy we are isolated in ways that we never wanted the interest of this virus is compounding in every country they say to stay six feet apart but this disease has no respect for borders, boundaries, bodies, or economic wellbeing if bread, a safe bed, being confined to a prison or the lack of basic necessities isn't your primary concern right now consider yourself really, really blessed tonight, hold on to your loved ones like they were your last bit of oxygen and give thanks to whatever form of spirit you do or do not believe in realizing that happiness does not make us grateful it is gratefulness that makes us happy for instance i am truly grateful for those on the front line working beyond overtime pulling themselves out of a half sleep to selflessly shepherd us through this terror who knew that you are so good at hiding your wings i want to contribute all of my gifts and a part of me is still scared to write this but right now is not the time to be perfect no one cares if you help them awkwardly just don't touch them your job may have stopped momentarily but the demand to add value to this world has not we all have work to do they say if you ask yourself the right question you will be rewarded with the right answer right now we all have the same concern how are we going to get through this and since words are my stock and trade i'm going to ask you to change your approach slightly instead ask what can i do to get us through this? understanding that in the beginning us is going to share your same walls and be merely an elbow cough away but once that is settled the definition of us must spread faster than this virus must be able to leap social, political, religious or cultural differences in a single bound carry more aid and support than a locomotive in... - Published: 2020-04-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/250-filmmakers-tell-1-pandemic-story/ The depth of storytelling is without limits, which is why I often tap into the brilliance of other individuals and organizations to expand my own wisdom and perspective on the art. And that would explain why I'm a big fan of Muse Storytelling. As masters of video production they not only produce world-class film, but they are world-class givers, sharing their expertise with the film industry at large, as well as the global community. Amid the crisis we now know as COVID-19, they decided to send the world a message of hope based on the poem Lockdown by Brother Richard Hendrick, as read by spoken word artist, Marshall Davis Jones, with the stunning visual representation by a global team of filmmakers. Born from a feeling of isolation and a fierce desire to find purpose in the face of helplessness, #ChooseHopeStory is the collective effort of over 250 filmmakers across the globe to share stories of compassion and unity amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. A global team of filmmakers came together over the course of just ten days to develop the creative, bring together footage, and edit the four-minute video while filming up until the last day on several continents around the world. Each filmmaker brought in their own unique perspective of the pandemic in the film creation – from an expectant mother who is 33 weeks pregnant to a therapist and filmmaker who is struggling with the anger that the uncertainty has caused him. To continue sharing the stories of these incredible moments amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Muse and their community are challenging people from around the world to continue to come together with stories of hope, sharing their inspiring moments on social media with the #choosehopestory. A heartfelt thanks to Founder Patrick Moreau, CEO Rebecca Rapple, and the incredible team at Muse Storytelling for producing this message of hope and human resiliency. Lockdown Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet The sky is no longer thick with fumes But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi People are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood So that the elders may have someone to call on. Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way... - Published: 2020-03-28 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/you-matter-your-story-matters/ Over the years I've talked to thousands of people about storytelling, especially the impactful niche of personal storytelling, and the most common reason many folks are reluctant to tell their story is that they don't feel their story matters much, that their experiences and lessons learned over the years wouldn't be of interest to others. When I hear such explanations it can sound as though they're saying they don't matter, so why would anyone listen to them. When I mention this view they quickly counter that they do, in fact, matter to their inner circle of family and friends, that they are loved and listened to. But in the grand scheme of things, to society as a whole, they don't feel they have much wisdom to offer. That's a belief I have never subscribed to, which is why I enjoy the process of working with these individuals to uncover the pearls of wisdom they have to share, and to build a narrative around them. Working with entrepreneurs and business leaders, students and academics, immigrants and refugees, inmates and military personnel, I've seen how powerful these personal stories can be once they understand and believe that their story can positively affect the lives of others. Which brings me to an insightful book that preaches the gospel of recognizing how much we matter and the benefits which can be derived at the individual level, and within our society. You Matter: Learning to Love Who You Really Are by Matthew Emerzian offers insights into the topic of why each of us matters, how acknowledging that fact empowers us, and why that newfound understanding and perspective ultimately benefits the world around us. I had the pleasure of meeting Matt in 2012 after he gave his TEDxSanDiego Talk. It was hard to square up the man with a smile that exuded such happiness, positivity and charm, with the narrative he had just shared on stage. From his perch atop the entertainment world as a senior vice president working on projects for artists such as U2, Coldplay, and Black Eyed Peas, Matt's world crumbled around him as he fell into a deep abyss of depression and chronic anxiety disorder. A place of darkness and despair that could cripple the best of us. I believe that self-and social transformation are first cousins and they happen interchangeably at the same time. But thankfully Matt's story is one of personal transformation and revelation as he came to understand the principles of living a life that recognizes the value each of us possesses, and the inherent value of service to others. Coming out of his ordeal Matt founded a non-profit, Every Monday Matters, committed to helping individuals and organizations understand how much and why they matter - to themselves, the community, and the world. If you read his book (please do, it will transform you) you'll experience a degree of openness and vulnerability that few storytellers dare to share. In doing so he illustrates the fact that the only way... - Published: 2020-03-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/going-home-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/ March 16th marked the tenth day of my visit to the United States, and it was hard to believe how much the world had changed in that short period of time. It was a travel day for me, actually a pair of travel days as I was scheduled for a train ride from Irvine, California south to San Diego, then a flight to Los Angeles before an overnighter to London, then on to Lisbon. The headlines that greeted me via my smartphone were even worse that when I wrote my previous blog post about Storylistening and the COVID-19 Pandemic. The BBC announced "Global coronavirus infections outpace China cases", "Germany latest country to close borders", "Stocks plunge despite global central bank action", "Airlines cancel most flights as coronavirus spreads" while CNN offered their own spin on things. I felt like I was living in a James Bond movie. One where the ammunition factory was about to blow up, and the steel doors are closing as Bond sprints across the room and leaps through at the last second and the building behind him explodes in a ball of fire. Okay, maybe not quite that dramatic, but the odds of my reaching Portugal seemed to be diminishing. And what would the world look like when/if I made it? Some governments were moving quickly - Italy had already declared a state of emergency - while others were taking a go-slow strategy, with Britain's chief science adviser opting for their “herd immunity” strategy. In America, Donald Trump was heard to quip, “Relax. We’re doing great. It all will pass. ”, while the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci stated, “As I’ve said many times, and I’ll repeat it: The worst is, yes, ahead for us. ” There were few seats open in the boarding area for the London flight from LAX. Less than 10 percent of the passengers were wearing face masks, and most of them were nonchalant about the necessity. There was the thirty-something couple hugging and kissing. She wore a mask, but he didn't. The family of four in front of me was split along gender lines, with the mother and daughter masked, father and son without. One young man had his mask around is throat, while an older woman had pulled hers down to where it was hanging from her chin. America was not yet with the program, and the president did not seem to give a shit. After 35 hours of Uber, train, bus, flight, flight, flight, metro, metro, ferry, train, taxi I made it home with a small sack of groceries. I had to stand in line dragging two suitcases, then do my shopping wearing plastic gloves, but it illustrated that Portugal was taking things seriously. America, not so much. The following day Portugal declared a state of emergency. They were definitely serious about dealing with this health crisis. So now I'm sequestered at home, other than walking to the market for groceries. The... - Published: 2020-03-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/storylistening-and-the-covid-19-pandemic/ It's Saturday, March 14th. I've been traveling for the past nine days, from Lisbon to San Diego by way of London and Los Angeles. At the moment I'm visiting a friend in Orange County, California. From the balcony I look out across the upscale community, an enclave of posh condos and apartments intermixed with office buildings built of glass, steel and stone. Patchy gray clouds drift above the rain soaked streets as the occasional BMW or Tesla zips by below. (This is quite different from my lifestyle in Portugal, but the world comes in many variations. ) It's a peaceful day, and it's obvious that folks live rather well in this part of the world. But the world has changed radically in recent days as Covid-19, Coronavirus as it's commonly called, has been rewriting life for everyone, even those who are accustomed to the pleasurable stories that money can conveniently purchase. Write a check, problem solved, life is good. But Covid-19 is something of an equalizer. If you spend time with someone who is infected with the virus, whether they have obvious symptoms or not, you may be the next in line for a trip to the hospital, or spending a few weeks under self-quarantine. You can't bribe a virus, or hire a bodyguard to protect you. A virus just doesn't care. Your behavior will write your story. Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels With large gatherings now banned and the sports industry on hold, it's no surprise that more people are turning to social media to stay connected with friends and family. It's a time for personal storytelling, and an opportunity for heartfelt storylistening. A time for empathy and solidarity, for sharing and understanding. And I'm seeing a lot of that, thankfully, as friends and strangers band together to weather the viral storm with offers of help for those who are under quarantine, or who are at risk and don't want to venture out. But sadly there are voices out there claiming the situation is a hoax, or is being overblown, even as the infection rate soars and the deaths mount daily. That's why it's important during such times to continue our storytelling, so that others know what is actually happening. But just as important, we should spend more time storylistening. Listening to the stories of those who are affected, listening to the scientific and social experts (not the politicians) who understand the complexities of how this virus is spreading, how it's impacting individuals, and how those effects ripple out through all societies. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels By sharing stories we gain a better understanding of the issues that each of us is having to deal with, and by do so we become more empathetic toward others, especially those at great distance. It's about the old adage of putting ourselves in someone else's shoes, of thinking about what they must be going through, and how that situation would feel if it were us. It's also about recognizing... - Published: 2020-03-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/storytelling-and-the-power-of-reflection/ Personal storytelling consists of recounting events that have occurred in the past, describing the state of the world as it is today, or offering up our theory as to how the future may look. As storytellers our narratives include a combination of external actions and events, as well as your internal thoughts or feelings. An audience rarely wants to hear a continuous string of facts which sounds like a news article. They want to connect to the storyteller and they want to understand what the story meant to them. They need the Pathos (emotion) in addition to the Logos (logic), and this is the power of reflection in storytelling. It goes beyond what you saw, or heard, or read. It's about your interpretation of events, how it made you feel, how it changed you. It can also examine an alternate storyline. What if you (or someone else) had said something differently, or reacted differently. The what if can be powerful, as the audience is given the opportunity to ask themselves, what if. In a 2004 article on Transom. org, This American Life creator Ira Glass states his view that reflection is critical to radio storytelling. "I usually think of a radio story (the kind of story we do on This American Life, anyway) as having two basic parts to it. There’s the plot, where someone goes through some experience. And then there are moments of reflection, where this person (or another character in the story, or the narrator) says something interesting about what’s happened. " For some folks reflection comes naturally. They want listeners to know how they felt, or what they thought, or what they believe to be true. But for many people the process is not so easy. They lean toward reporting the facts and refrain from sharing their innermost thoughts. Sometimes it's an issue of vulnerability, digging into feelings they are not comfortable sharing in public, but often times it's about the common tendency to stay on the surface when telling a story, or believing their view would not be interesting to an audience. Joan Didion is one of my favorite writers for many reasons (more on that in a future post), but one is her prowess when it comes to reflection. Much of Joan's writing is about her views of people and events, as well as herself, and the nature of being human. It's a style of writing that requires pausing, examining, digesting, and sometimes a long look in the mirror. I was reminded of this trait while re-reading Slouching Towards Bethlehem, a collection of essays that largely describe her experiences while in California during the societal upheaval of the 1960s. In one of those essays, On Keeping a Notebook, she reflects on the fact that we're not the person we seem to be in the moment, but rather a collection of all the versions we've been over time. We frequently upgrade our operating system, for better or worse. While the following line is her own... - Published: 2020-02-21 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-story-of-your-identity-in-the-digital-age/ The concept of identity has always been difficult to define, and while the digital age has, to some extent, simplified the issue with its ability to capture, store, and transmit our personal information, it has also introduced an additional level of complexity by forcing us into neat digital boxes, including the box that says, "prefer not to answer. " I recently watched Zara Rahman's presentation on stage at The Conference in August 2019. Titled The Unintended Impact of Technology, Zara raises several concerns about how technology is being used to define who we are, which I feel is very important, as who we are (or think ourselves to be) shapes the content and style of the personal stories that we share. Zara is a researcher, writer, speaker, linguist, and the Deputy Director at The Engine Room, an international non-profit organisation supporting civil society to use tech and data more effectively and strategically. Instead of diving right into the latest technologies or the politics of identity, Zara begins with a personal story that reveals the complex nature of defining her identity, with family roots from Bangladesh, yet being raised in the UK and holding a British passport - culture vs documents - not an uncommon situation considering modern migration patterns. "The ability to self-identify is what makes us human. The fluidity of changing identities is a core part of how we grow and change as human beings, no matter what our passports may say. " She explains how the issue is much larger than just a passport by introducing the concept of "identification technologies" that include any type registration system, as well as the use of national identity cards. The notion of our identity being fluid is not new, as humans have been migrating for over 50,000 years, but most of that time was undocumented and no one was tracking where we came from or where we might go. But that's all changed. From a travel standpoint, the requirement of identification has been on the rise for decades, and after 9-11 that increase has been most pronounced when traveling by air. On my last international journey various authorities checked my passport five times. I feel fortunate that my ability to travel is largely unrestricted, but other people are not so lucky with travel bans in place based on religion or ethnicity. Referring to the establishment of nation states, and the subsequent use of the passports, Zara talks about the positive aspects of establishing shared citizenship, and a shared identity. You can see yourself as having a common bond. But once you're labeled, governments and corporations can use this data to make decisions based on where we were born, within the borders of lines drawn on a map. How many of you chose the country you were born in? Yet you will always carry that with you, even if you become a citizen of another country. "... a passport is not a document that tells us who we are, but a document... - Published: 2020-02-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/finding-your-creative-voice-via-ira-glass/ The beauty of becoming a creative professional goes hand in hand with the struggle to find yourself in the process, to make something that speaks to others while revealing the true essence of your own story. This dichotomy can at times cloud your vision, but there is a way through the fog, a path that will ultimately serve your purpose and find an audience. Fujifilm's Create Forever project shares impactful stories of individuals who have been, and continue to be, on their creative journey. As a long time fan of Ira Glass and his storytelling sorcery, this was an interview I was eager to see. The video, produced by Muse Storytelling, adds a second layer of meaning with a visual framework that add relevance to Ira's story. I think it's a good target, to invent the thing that's gonna be exactly right for you. - Ira Glass Having listened to every episode of This American Life over the past quarter century, there was a surprising moment in the interview that resonated with me. It's when Ira expressed his original desire to document the stories of everyday people, people who aren't in the news, as opposed to chasing after famous people like paparazzi, which is too often the strategy. It's the reason that I decided to organize TEDx events, to bring voices out into the open that the public was not aware of, and it's also the reason I'm now coaching speakers to craft their personal narratives. The importance of everyday stories cannot be understated. But the main focus of this interview was to highlight the challenge of finding your creative voice, to figure out what you love most, and how to express it through your career. But it doesn't stop with vision or direction, it takes a level of commitment, of diligence to mastering the craft in order to achieve your goals and reach an audience. If you're a creative of any discipline, but especially if you're a storyteller, take a moment to watch Ira's interview, then examine the path - professional or passionate - that you're in the process of forging. Think about your deepest desires and consider how you can invent the one thing that is exactly right for you. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2020-01-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/is-climate-change-the-most-important-story-of-the-21st-century/ There will be many world-changing stories throughout the 21st century. Artificial intelligence and genome science are two that will alter the very nature of how humans exist and interact. But it may well be the story of climate change that is the most important of them all, as it's a story which describes how the nature of our entire planet will be changed in ways that make it much less hospitable to life itself. It's difficult to find a metaphor that properly parallels climate change, but there's one I often use that's close. Like a car traveling at 100 mph towards a brick wall, when you apply the breaks, and how hard you push on the brake pedal, will determine the outcome. Too little, too late is not an approach that works well in this scenario. Some say the wall doesn't exist, others see the wall yet feel we still have plenty of time to react. I'm in the group who believes that no matter how hard we brake, a collision of some sort is inevitable. We have long since passed the point at which a safe stop can be executed. (I truly hope that I'm wrong in my thinking, but many trends are going in the wrong direction) How that story ultimately plays out is dependent upon all of us, but I have my doubts that the story will have a happy ending without honest and committed leadership. On that front, many leaders have chosen to ignore reality, but others are making heroic efforts to create a different outcome, one that turns the CO2 tide and ensures a vibrant future for humanity. At the 2016 TED Conference, one of these heros took the stage to tell her story of challenge and of hope on the topic of climate change. Having served as the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Christiana Figueres understood the topic well, having played a pivotal leadership role leading up to the Paris Agreement in 2015. In her TED Talk, Christiana observes that perspectives and mindsets need to shift if we are to address the critical issues that climate change represents, and uses the shift from failure at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to the success achieved six years later in Paris to illustrate what can happen when decisions are based on a shared vision of the future instead of protecting one's own turf. As inspiring as Christiana's talk was, it left me wanting to know more about her background, passion and motivation. That's often an issue with developing a short presentation - this was under 15 minutes - as there's only so much information that can be included. The fact that she worked on the Paris agreement lends credence to her qualifications as a speaker, but I knew there was so much more to the story and was therefore left a bit unsatisfied. Which is why The TED Interview Podcast is so brilliant. Debuting in 2018,... - Published: 2019-12-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-essential-power-of-a-family-story/ In addition to the many podcasts that I listen to regularly, I stay connected to the art and craft of nonfiction storytelling by keeping tabs on a few sacred sources of story wisdom, one of which is Nieman Storyboard. Their articles delve into the practice of narrative journalism and highlight some of the best stories from authors and speakers who are making a noteworthy difference in a world that often struggles in that regard. Nieman Storyboard, a publication of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, showcases exceptional narrative journalism and explores the future of nonfiction storytelling. A recent Nieman Storyboard article by Ioana Burtea covered a keynote speech by journalist and novelist Tatiana Tîbuleac given during The Power of Storytelling conference in Bucharest. The Needle and the Thread spans three generations and reveals the difficulties that Tatiana encountered in regards to how, and when, to tell a transformational and healing family story. Distilling the essence of a 34 minute story in 1800 words is an art form unto itself and Ioana's article extracts impactful quotes and narrative elements which take the reader on a guided tour of Tatiana Tibuleac's talk, including this gem that inspired me to click through and watch. “It’s amazing how life can go on in a place designed for death. ” While her delivery is akin to an offhand comment, those 13 words carry with them a fateful measure of meaning arranged in layers of joy, sorrow, and hope. They speak about those who survived, who had a life yet to live, and those for whom a Siberian gulag became the last chapter, last sentence, and last word of their story. "My story is a wound that took three generations to heal. " I invite you to read Ioana's article for a glimpse at how she tells a story about a story, and then watch Tatiana's keynote in its entirety to see how she weaves the essence of her grandmother's story into her own journey from being a young storylistener to becoming an adult storyteller. And the admission that she's still a work in progress. It's also interesting to note that in this age of dramatic stage presentations, with an emphasis on big body movements and emphatic vocals, Tatiana delivers her talk while sitting. Yet the emotions of her story still come through in her voice and facial expressions, as well as her hands. And the narrative structure itself keeps the viewer engaged throughout, offering us a “what's next” refrain to maintain the story's forward momentum. "I didn't want to write a book like a gun, I wanted to write a book like a hug. " Story length is another aspect to consider. I often work with clients who need to craft a narrative which can be use in a variety of circumstances, from a TED-style talk to conference keynote, and in such cases we'll build out a 15, 30 and 45 minute version of their talk. As Tatiana's length hits the middle, think about... - Published: 2019-11-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/an-immigrants-story-nearly-lost/ Despite its rather modest size - the current population hovers around 1,000 - the history of Plymouth, California is something of a cultural stew that contains flavorful and contentious stories of both mining and viticulture. Its modern day persona is that of a waypoint in the middle of the Amador County wine country, but a century and a half prior, the area was a puzzle piece within the geological landscape that played host to the California Gold Rush. My 48-hour residency there was the result of a friend's wedding nearby at Amador Cellars. A beautiful event indeed, with the red, gold and yellow hues of the vineyard serving as a vivid palette for the couple's nuptial bliss. As I gazed across the acres of dormant vines before the ceremony I tried to imagine what life had been like during the mid - late 1800s when this remote region was awash with fortune seekers prospecting for gold, as well as fortune seekers prospecting for miners. At the time there were more than 100 wineries satisfying the thirst of those fortune seekers. While most of those in the area were of European decent, there was a small contingent of Chinese who had ventured from San Francisco to seek their fortune, and during the morning hours before the wedding ceremony became the center of my attention, I took a slow stroll through town and came across a building that had been owned by one of those immigrants. The square brass plaque told an abbreviated story that inspired far more questions than it provided answers. So Plymouth used to be called Pokerville? Who was Old Ming, and how did he play into the Gold Rush story? What happened to him? Returning to my hotel I was certain that a quick search would clear the air and provide me with a sense of historical enlightenment, but my grand assumption proved incorrect. Plymouth never had much of a Chinese population, but in 1882 Ah Ming purchased a building of stone and brick on Old Sacrament Road where he operated a store. Known to locals as "Old Ming", he apparently kept a vegetable garden behind the store and sold firecrackers, as well as general merchandise ... his store stands as the only reminder of Chinese presence in Plymouth. Excerpt from Banished and Embraced by Elaine Zorbas. That was it. Just one fleeting mention from a single authoritative source. We can skip the chronological inconsistency (was it the late 1870's or 1882? ) and the conflicting information offered up by various online sources as to whether or not Plymouth had once been referred to as Pokerville, or even Puckerville before that. What I found disheartening was the fact that none of the stories - Ah Ming's or the store's - had apparently been preserved. That Ah Ming was a proprietor in town, as opposed to a laborer in the mines, spoke volumes about the life events that brought him to Plymouth in the first place. What products did... - Published: 2019-09-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/unraveling-the-tangled-web-of-slavery/ One of the beautiful aspects of storytelling in the digital world involves the inclination of the story you're reading (or watching) to magically lead you by the hand, so to speak, to another relevant and connected story, sort of like a squirrel scampering from one branch to the next. In my case, this act of magic happens after I receive a Nieman Storyboard email newsletter. Case in point, within the December 27th edition Jacqui Banaszynski mentioned that she looks forward to magazine freelancer Barry Yeoman's annual list of favorite longform stories. The 2019 version is a diverse and thought-provoking list, with something for everyone, so do dive right in, there's a special treat waiting for you there. One story Jacqui highlighted was "The Long Road Home" by Deborah Barfield Berry and Kelley Benham French of USA Today. The 40 hour journey of Wanda Tucker from Virginia to Luanda, Angola also spans some 400 years, back to the days when Africans were taken from their homeland and forced to live in, what was at the time, the English colonies. It's a heartbreaking story, reminding us that certain groups of humans, throughout history and into the present day, believe that having darker skin is proof enough that someone else isn't completely human. (although it seems more logical that the reverse is true, but I digress) Those in power justified slavery with the values at the time – prosperity, survival, the cleansing of souls and the expansion of the empire. Having moved to Portugal a few months ago I'm still in the very early stages of learning about the country's history, especially those aspects which involve colonization. My naive view had limited that topic to just Brazil, but I am coming to realize the complexity of Portugal's history. It was the article on Wanda Tucker that opened my eyes to Portugal's involvement in Africa, as well as their participation in the slave trade, especially the slave trade in Angola. How did I not know this? Did they not teach me this in school? Or had I conveniently forgotten? I was shocked by the brutality of it all, as slave traders would often capitalize on the dynamics of warring factions within Angola's borders. The Portuguese gave guns to Imbangala soldiers in return for slaves. Armed with superior weapons, Imbangala soldiers captured and sold natives on a far larger scale as every new slave translated into a better-armed force of aggressors. "Capture and Coffle of Enslaved Africans, Angola, 1786-87", Slavery Images: A Visual Record of the African Slave Trade and Slave Life in the Early African Diaspora Unfortunately, it is all too common to limit an understanding of history to our own, localized situation rather than fully embrace the big picture. While I knew that slaves were brought to America from Africa, my thoughts centered on the plight of these slaves once they were living in the deep south - how they were treated, how they were ultimately emancipated, how they are still treated by... - Published: 2019-08-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-2-the-effects-of-oratory/ In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing on the teaching of Greek rhetoric and the craft of oration in Roman times, he composed De Oratore to highlight the principles he believed were at play whenever someone planned to speak on an important topic. While political speeches and legal proceedings were at the forefront of public speaking during this time, the concepts presented here are valuable in the drafting of any nonfiction narrative. Written in 55 BC, and comprised of three books, De Oratore is a dialogue that is set in 91 BC. Cicero shares a dialogue, reported to him by Cotta, among a group of excellent political men and orators, who came together to discuss the crisis and general decline of politics. They met in the garden of Lucius Licinius Crassus' villa in Tusculum. Lucius Licinius Crassus - Quintus Mucius Scaevola - Quintus Catulus Marcus Antonius Orator - Gaius Aurelius Cotta - Publius Sulpicius Rufus Marcus Antonius explains to Catulus: But to determine how we should arrange the particulars that are to be advanced in order to prove, to inform, to persuade, more peculiarly belongs to the orator’s discretion. Determining the order in which to present all your story blocks is one of the most powerful aspects of narrative structure, and one of the most difficult to master. You've identified the various elements that can tell your story, then you've selected those which best support your argument, idea or experience. Now the challenge is arrangement - which block goes where. How to open, how to lead the audience on the journey, and finally, how to conclude your talk so that the listener understands what you have shared. Your story resonates emotionally and intellectually. While there are no rules for this structure, keep in mind the need to grab their attention early on, keep them engaged throughout the entire talk, and have it all make sense. Antonius then offers: ... to listen to him from whom you receive any information or to him to whom you have to reply with such power of retention that they seem not to have poured their discourse into your ears but to have engraven it on your mental tablet? If your story is compelling, and presented with the same energy and passion that mirrors your thoughts and feelings, and if it impacts the audience and inspires them to see the world with a fresh perspective, then Antonius believes that your message will not only resonate, but has the power to alter their memory, and thus, remain with them. Keep these ideas in mind as you work on the sequence of your story blocks. If the audience believes what you're saying (ethos), then finds their heart touched by your words (pathos), and the logic holds up (logos), you will maximize the impact of your story. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss... - Published: 2019-06-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/follow-your-passion-or-just-enjoy-life/ In each moment we're writing the story of our life based on the decisions we make, and a big part of that story revolves around the career path we choose. On that point, the sage wisdom of the 21st century is to follow your passion. Which, by definition, implies that everyone has a passion to follow. But in my experience, that's not always the case. Over the years I've worked with hundreds of business leaders, entrepreneurs, professors, veterans and students, developing personal stories that include such career-based decisions, and the driving forces behind those choices. The word passion comes up during these conversations, but not in the way one might expect. As it turns out, life decisions - both personal and career related - involve a complex medley of intellectual and emotional threads coursing through hearts and minds, often in a most perplexing pattern. When the topic of passion does arise - I'll overly simplify here for the sake of discussion - people tend to fall into one of three camps. They have too many passions, they have clarity on their one, true passion, or passion wasn't a factor when determining their vocational path. Image by Breakingpic from Pexels We've all met people who knew what they wanted to do from an early age. They fell in love with science while standing in the backyard watching the night sky, were captivated by art and carried a sketchpad everywhere they went, or they spent hours each evening incessantly practicing an instrument. Decades later they were still pursuing that one passion, as no other opportunity that crossed their path in the ensuing years had caused them to stray. Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay For those with a handful of passions, life tends to be a blend of excitement and frustration. Too many pursuits with so few hours in each day. In some cases the choices are narrow in scope, such as which discipline to pursue within the field of neuroscience, but the options can also be quite diverse, such as whether to become a doctor or a ballerina. Sometimes that journey leads to a major/minor relationship. A brilliant surgeon by day, and musician by night, a best-of-both-worlds sort of life, though it must be said this particular combination doesn't work so well in reverse. Other times the choice is made, often for more practical reasons such as money, and there was no looking back. Then we have the aimless souls without desire or direction, just stumbling through life. Or so the purpose pundits would have us believe. But when I ask these folks about passion, they smile, and say something like, "Don't have one, have never needed one, I just enjoy my work. " “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life. ” - Mark Twain And that mindset can result in a string of jobs that, in many cases, cover a number of career paths which overlap, intersect, or build... - Published: 2019-05-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-2-the-emotions-of-oratory/ In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing on the teaching of Greek rhetoric and the craft of oration in Roman times, he composed De Oratore to highlight the principles he believed were at play whenever someone planned to speak on an important topic. While political speeches and legal proceedings were at the forefront of public speaking during this time, the concepts presented here are valuable in the drafting of any nonfiction narrative. Written in 55 BC, and comprised of three books, De Oratore is a dialogue that is set in 91 BC. Cicero shares a dialogue, reported to him by Cotta, among a group of excellent political men and orators, who came together to discuss the crisis and general decline of politics. They met in the garden of Lucius Licinius Crassus' villa in Tusculum. Lucius Licinius Crassus - Quintus Mucius Scaevola - Quintus Catulus Marcus Antonius Orator - Gaius Aurelius Cotta - Publius Sulpicius Rufus Marcus Antonius speaking to Catulus: For mankind make far more determinations through hatred or love or desire or anger or grief or joy or hope or fear or error or some other affection of mind than from regard to truth or any settled maxim or principle of right or judicial form or adherence to the laws. It's common to believe we make decisions based on logic first and emotions second - does it make sense, and then, do we like it - but sadly the reverse is our reality. Our choices need to feel good first, and if they do, then we look toward the facts as a way to seal the deal. It's the same process in storytelling, as well in storylistening. Too often a speaker will want to offer information as their narrative's foundation, layering on the human elements afterward. I encourage clients to change course and give listeners a reason to empathize before engaging their brains. As I see it, information invites judgement, while emotions invite connection. Antonius then offers: The feelings of the hearers are conciliated by a person’s dignity, by his actions, by the character of his life; particulars which can more easily be adorned by eloquence if they really exist than be invented if they have no existence. While the previous passage dealt with two elements of Aristotle's rhetoric; Pathos (emotions) and Logos (logic), in this case, however, Antonius is addressing the mysterious nature of the third element - Ethos (ethics). What is the audience's gut feel about the speaker? Do they feel he or she is honest, authentic and trustworthy? Some speakers will stretch the truth a bit, embellishing their abilities and track record as a way to impress the audience. But in such cases the audience will usually see through a smoke screen of eloquent delivery. Keep these observations in mind as you think about the sequence of your story blocks. If the audience believes what you're saying, then finds their heart touched by... - Published: 2019-04-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-emotional-side-of-storytelling/ Personal storytelling is all about sharing and understanding. The sharing of your experiences, views, insights, opinions, perspectives and wisdom, in the hopes that your audience - in front of people and/or by way of video or audio production - will gain a newfound understanding of the important topic at the center of your story, as well as better knowing you, the speaker. In order to achieve this enhanced level of understanding, and to foster positive change as a result, there are two questions that I always pose to a speaker as they develop their story: 1) What will the audience think? 2) How will the audience feel? The thinking part is a mixture of information and logic - the facts that you offer to support your message, and the way in which those facts are arranged. (more on this in a future post) The feeling part is about the emotional reaction(s) that your audience will have, both during and after your presentation. In most cases a great talk will create feelings of being inspired, empowered and hopeful. Despite the negative aspects and implications that you may reveal during your speech, as problems are rarely upbeat in nature, you also include a proposed solution that invites the audience to participate, thus offering the vision of a brighter future. For example, a story about traveling to Mars in a spaceship may evoke feelings of excitement, as well as fear, pride and hope, while a talk about overcoming the challenges you faced in order to become a successful entrepreneur may evoke feelings of connection and empathy, as well as inspiration and determination. Without an emotional reaction to your message, an audience will simply become apathetic. Listed below are examples of how an audience might feel during or after hearing your story. It is by no means comprehensive - it's up to you to determine the emotions that you want to convey in your story - so feel free to add to this collection as you see fit. Feeling wiser Feeling smarter Feeling depressed Feeling loved Feeling hopeful Feeling challenged Feeling proud Feeling inspired Feeling recognized Feeling happy Feeling reverent Feeling empathetic Feeling fearful Feeling powerful Feeling entertained Feeling scared Feeling liberated Feeling determined Feeling excited Feeling validated Feeling understood Feeling humble Feeling awestruck Feeling empowered Feeling curious Feeling connected Feeling enlightened As you draft each Story Block while working on your manuscript, think about the emotion you want the audience to feel during each point in the story. While recognizing the importance of word choice, do the words/phrases/sentences as written properly represent those feelings? And when you enter the presentation phase and begin rehearsing, make sure your voice also matches the intended emotion. This is where vocal variation can really shine in its ability to bring your words to life. Record yourself, then play it back and listen to the tone, volume and inflection of your voice. If you're rehearsing in front of friends or family, ask them if the emotions in your... - Published: 2019-03-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/why-drones-need-our-better-angels/ Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick PhD is an associate professor of political sociology. He teaches at the Kroc School of Peace Studies on the University of San Diego campus, and while his interests are varied, he's most passionate when it comes to the study of social movements and social change, with an added emphasis on the role that technology plays in society. Of particular interest is how the advent of small, commercially available drones will play out in our everyday lives. Austin opens his talk at the Kroc School's Peace Innovators Conference by talking about how he and a grad student measured the size of a crowd during a protest in Budapest, Hungary. He's a big believer in empowered people and accountable authorities. This was a protest against the government's plan to initiate a tax on internet usage. And while previous protests in Budapest had been relatively small, this one was predicted to be much bigger, and by using a drone to capture the event Austin was able to verify the size of the crowd, which was far greater than the government claimed. In the end, the government was forced to drop their plan. So in this case, drone technology served the public quite well. Drones can help us see the world from a new perspective, and drones can hold the powerful to account. - Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick But Austin goes on to talk about what may lie ahead with the expanded use of drones, as they can be used, just like any other technology, for good or for evil. He reminds us that the internet has evolved from the information superhighway, to the dark web, in the span of just three decades. Despite best intentions, over time the technology has enabled criminals. Every technology carries its own negativity, which is invented at the same time as technical progress. - Paul Virilio Online banking provides great benefit, yet it also exposes us to having our account hacked. Mapping software can guide us to our destination, while at the same time tracking our every move and location. Social media sites can connect us to friends, but can also become a platform for hijacked political debates. A classic case of unintended consequences. And drones are undergoing a similar evolution. Watch Austin's talk to gain insight as to how our future may be affected, for better or worse, by the increased implementation of drone technology. Which of the scenarios presented will come to pass? Do you seen this technology serving society, or becoming a tool for the self-serving? Are you excited, frightened, cautious? Photo by Skitterphoto from Pexels In short, technology has become a character in our personal story, and can shift the narrative in many ways. As you think about the trajectory of your story, and the wisdom you wish to share with others, think about how technology has affected, or could affect, your storyline. Peace Innovators is a program from the Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego in which select faculty members... - Published: 2019-03-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/using-story-for-persuading-influencing-or-most-importantly-for-understanding/ If you spend time, as I do, reading about the art and practice of storytelling you will often come across reference to the notion of persuading or influencing as the objective of crafting and presenting the story that you have in mind. I hear this from other speaker coaches, as well as renowned public speakers, and it's not wrong, but it's never been the way I see things. Having watched a few thousand talks, and worked with a few hundred speakers, the stories which impacted me the most were the ones that informed me, expanded my knowledge, or brought forward a new way of looking at an important issue, not those trying to convince me that their way of thinking was better than mine. Persuading Causing someone to do something, or believe something, through reasoning or argument Influencing Having an effect on someone with the desire to change their behaviors, beliefs, or opinions Understanding The ability to comprehend based on knowledge of a subject, problem, process, or situation When working with speakers I'll ask them to think about what their audience will understand differently after hearing their talk. And there's not a single answer to that question, as each person will have a different mindset before your talk begins. And while it's impossible to know what everyone listening understands in the moment, it's a productive exercise to at least define a number of general categories (half a dozen or so) and then write out how you see their thinking/understanding transform. Take that view a level deeper as you think about your audience by age, income, gender, ethnicity, education. How would a native understand your talk differently than an immigrant? Or a college student, as compared to a politician or business leader? This exercise will prove beneficial while editing your manuscript. Consider your choice of words, and how deep you take your explanation of the issue. Remember, it's not about having the audience think like you, it's about them thinking differently than before they heard your talk. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2019-02-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/peacemakers-at-the-university/ One benefit of being a professional in higher education is the opportunity to change the lives of students at a critical point in their personal development. As young adults discover who they are and attempt to map out their future, or at least determine the direction they will take upon graduation, they need to know how they can make a difference. As Dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego (USD), Patricia Márquez understands the perils of conflict, the importance of conflict resolution, and the need to develop peace professionals. Dean Márquez doesn't open her talk by referencing USD, or her own experience as an educator, but rather tells a historical tale that takes the audience back in time to "113 years ago, in 1895". She goes on to explain how Charles Eliot, the president of Harvard University, decided to start a business school at the university. This combination of a second hand story and historical narrative is a compelling way to begin her talk about the importance of peace studies in a world that is dealing with conflict at every turn. At three minutes into her talk Dean Márquez brings us a century forward into the present day, and for the first time introduces the topic of conflict resolution. She makes the case that just as business education became a foundational piece of our expanding economy, peace studies will become just as pivotal in shaping our collective future. This is an interesting way in which an audience comes to understand the merits of an idea by hearing about a similar, or parallel story that comes to the same conclusion. "We need professionals to build peace. " This statement becomes her stake in the ground, the key idea that she will go on to explain in detail with specific examples of how this paradigm is playing out around the world. She then uses specific examples to illustrate the challenges we face in achieving peaceful coexistence. From New York City to Kibera, Nairobi, Mexico City and Cape Town, to the most common human desire, to live a better life, as exemplified by the flow of migrants. "In an increasingly diverse, dense, and connected world, the question for us is how to build peaceful coexistence where the rights of all individuals are being met. " How does your story relate to events in the past? Is there a parallel story that can highlight the path of your own narrative? Are there personal stories that provide current and relevant examples of how your idea or solution can change the status quo? Peace Innovators is a program from the Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego in which select faculty members prepare presentations that are focused on the human issues they address within their professional studies as well as class curriculum. I had the pleasure of working with each of these speakers as they prepared their talks. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆... - Published: 2019-02-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-2-the-objectives-of-oratory/ In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing on the teaching of Greek rhetoric and the craft of oration in Roman times, he composed De Oratore to highlight the principles he believed were at play whenever someone planned to speak on an important topic. While political speeches and legal proceedings were at the forefront of public speaking during this time, the concepts presented here are valuable in the drafting of any nonfiction narrative. Written in 55 BC, and comprised of three books, De Oratore is a dialogue that is set in 91 BC. Cicero shares a dialogue, reported to him by Cotta, among a group of excellent political men and orators, who came together to discuss the crisis and general decline of politics. They met in the garden of Lucius Licinius Crassus' villa in Tusculum. Lucius Licinius Crassus - Quintus Mucius Scaevola - Quintus Catulus Marcus Antonius Orator - Gaius Aurelius Cotta - Publius Sulpicius Rufus Marcus Antonius replies to Catulus: ... for who is ignorant that it is the first law in writing history that the historian must not dare to tell any falsehood and the next that he must be bold enough to tell the whole truth? While there are many genres of storytelling that are wholly or partially fictitious in nature, personal storytelling is not one of them. Once a speaker deviates from the truth, the entire story becomes suspect. When your intent is to share your wisdom, experience and viewpoint, authenticity and accuracy will form the foundation. And if the audience sees cracks in that foundation, they will disregard your message. Telling the 'whole truth' is trickier to address, as there are time constraints for every speech or presentation. It's not uncommon that a client I'm working with has a story to tell that could easily consume many hours, yet they only have a 15 or 20 minute time slot. Crafting such a talk requires condensing some passages while cutting other scenes altogether, but in the end, the story must represent the truth and not be misleading in any way. Antonius later offers: Thus the whole business of speaking rests upon three things for success in persuasion; that we prove what we maintain to be true; that we conciliate those who hear; that we produce in their minds whatever feeling our cause may require. Once again Antonius touches on the topic of truth, but introduces the notion of proving what you claim to be true. The audience must feel that the point you are proposing is not just your opinion, but rather an idea supported by evidence. This is especially true for any scientific or historical talk which includes material that is beyond the speaker's direct experience. Conciliation refers to a listener being satisfied, or won over, by your argument. This is a matter of logic, as your narrative must make sense, by exhibiting a logical flow, for the audience to accept it. The... - Published: 2019-01-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/transcending-the-border-with-anchors-not-parachutes/ Ev Meade, PhD, director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego, explores how universities can help to build peace in places beset by violence and shrouded in fear, but only if we learn to see ourselves as anchors, rather than parachutes. Often times the best of intentions don't deliver the intended results in the nonprofit world. This can happen when organizations approach a difficult situation with a short term solution, and impose their ideas upon those in need without understanding the root of the problem. In Ev Meade's view, those "parachute" tactics fall short of the mark. In order to effect real, long-lasting change, organizations need to think of themselves as "anchors" who become embedded into the community, seeking feedback from those who live in the area and thus know what's really going on. At that point solutions can be crafted for the long term. In his talk Ev speaks about the challenges of working in Sinaloa, Mexico, home of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, as well as the cartel's former leader, Joaquín Guzmán, known as "El Chapo". Ev takes us into the community and describes what life is like for the residents, in one case highlighting the fact that "more than 90 percent of homicides do not produce an arrest. " Despite the somber nature of the topic, Ev brings his passion and energy to the stage, with great use of vocal variation and pausing to support an evolving narrative that looks at failed policies, misconceptions and stereotypes, then presents a new way of dealing with troubled communities that involves an understanding of the facts and partnering with the community before becoming an anchor that can be relied upon. Peace Innovators is a program from the Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego in which select faculty members prepare presentations that are focused on the human issues they address within their professional studies as well as class curriculum. I had the pleasure of working with each of these speakers as they prepared their talks. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2019-01-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/stories-told-and-stories-untold-in-porto/ The most appealing benefit of travel, in my opinion, is how each place visited has a story to tell, or in some cases, keeps a story untold. I've spent the past week in Portugal and have experienced a continuous stream of told and untold stories. A stroll down any street will reveal bits of a city's history, art, and architecture, but never the full story. Such was the case with this azulejos tile mural on the exterior wall of the Carmo Church in Porto, Portugal. The Igreja do Carmo was built between 1756 and 1768 in the rococo or late Baroque, style by a disciple of Nicolau Nasoni, Jose de Figueiredo Seixas. The Igreja do Carmo has an outstanding azulejo-covered exterior with the azulejos added in 1912. The tiles were made locally in Vila Nova de Gaia and designed by the artist Silvestro Silvestri. They depict scenes of the founding of the Carmelite Order and Mount Carmel. by Portugal Visitor The architect, the artist, the city where the tiles were fabricated - stories that intersected once upon a time to achieve permanence and grace as more than two centuries have passed, yet the conversations, the human details, have been lost and can only be surmised. It wasn't long after visiting the Carmo Church that I came across an example of Porto's cool street art, and with a bit of research on the artist came to realize this was no random work of art. Hazul is somewhat famous in the city and beyond. Reading about Hazul reveled more of his work on Instagram. In the end I was able to discover more of the artist's story, but still don't know the story behind this mini-mural - what he was thinking - that remains a mystery. Established as a protected wine region in 1756, the Douro Valley produces the renowned Port wines that are shipped down the river to be stored in Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river from Porto. While these shipments are now made by truck, in years past they were transported in rabelo boats. In a strange twist of fate, the conflict between France and England, which deprived the Brits of their much loved French wine, led to their discovering Port wines, for which they developed an enduring passion. From the vineyard workers, to the winemakers and those who navigated the river in boats stacked with barrels, they shared a common story based on their love of Port wine. I'm blessed to hear stories from the clients that I coach and help them to uncover the hidden gems that they can share with the world. And when I'm traveling, there's this feeling of appreciation for those who created the world I'm discovering, but at the same time, there's a feeling of frustration due to the fact that I can't speak to them directly and dig deeper into their story. It's a paradox, that no matter how much we know, there's a measure of untold story that remains, so... - Published: 2018-09-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-secret-that-almost-killed-me-kirsten-johnson-at-tedxsdsu/ Students that enroll in my Storytelling with Impact course at UC San Diego Extension are generally looking to improve their storytelling and public speaking skills, but one of my students had been accepted to speak at TEDxSDSU 2018 (held at San Diego State University) and she had a specific goal in mind - crafting a narrative for her upcoming TEDx Talk. Right up my alley, I thought, as my work with TEDxSanDiego and TEDxDonovanCorrectional involves coaching speakers for the TEDx stage, and other clients have given TEDx Talks. But this was special, as Kirsten wanted to discuss a personal issue that is never easy in front of an audience - her experience with sexual assault, and the resulting trauma that negatively affected her life for years - all the more important as she was speaking on a college campus. As she worked through each draft of her talk and rehearsed in class, the discussions varied between "how much to tell" and "which narrative to use". To her credit, Kirsten wasn't afraid to experiment, to see what felt right, and to revise accordingly. Not saying enough could come off as lacking in depth, glossing over important topics, while providing too much detail could turn off an audience. This is the reality of delivering a talk with an emotional core. To be honest, I wasn't sure which version of her talk would end up on the TEDxSDSU stage, as she was still revising after our class had ended, but I was pleased to see how she presented this difficult subject - with heartfelt passion and resolve - to an audience that needed to hear about her experience and the lessons she learned along the way. Kirsten Johnson is a life coach, YouTuber and author of the upcoming book Elephant. Johnson makes videos on anxiety, addiction, shame, spirituality and living your life purpose. She is also the creator of The Elephant Heard, an online community composed of people rising up to their full potential after the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. Kristen is passionate about teaching people how to transform their relationship with fear so that they can live an empowered life. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2018-08-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-1-writing-to-learn-oratory/ In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing on the teaching of Greek rhetoric and the craft of oration in Roman times, he composed De Oratore to highlight the principles he believed were at play whenever someone planned to speak on an important topic. While political speeches and legal proceedings were at the forefront of public speaking during this time, the concepts presented here are valuable in the drafting of any nonfiction narrative. Written in 55 BC, and comprised of three books, De Oratore is a dialogue that is set in 91 BC. Cicero shares a dialogue, reported to him by Cotta, among a group of excellent political men and orators, who came together to discuss the crisis and general decline of politics. They met in the garden of Lucius Licinius Crassus' villa in Tusculum. Lucius Licinius Crassus - Quintus Mucius Scaevola Marcus Antonius Orator - Gaius Aurelius Cotta - Publius Sulpicius Rufus replied Crassus when Sulpicious wants to here more, Writing is said to be the best and most excellent modeller and teacher of oratory; and not without reason; for if what is meditated and considered easily surpasses sudden and extemporary speech, a constant and diligent habit of writing will surely be of more effect than meditation and consideration itself Speaking extemporaneously lacks the depth achieved when proper diligence and consideration occurs during the writing process. I've seen this happen with everyone I've coached, as the interplay of writing and editing uncovers new layers to the story, adding meaning and strength to the message you're delivering. While not mentioned in this passage, the circular interplay of writing, rehearsing, and editing results in superior word choice and sentence structure. Ideally it will replace cliche words and phrases with more accurate and direct prose, but this requires attention to detail. Such are the qualities which bring applause and admiration to good orators; nor will any man ever attain them, unless after long and great practice in writing, however resolutely he may have exercised himself in extemporary speeches; and he who comes to speak after practice in writing brings this advantage with him, that though he speak at the call of the moment, yet what he says will bear a resemblance to something written; and if ever, when he comes to speak, he brings anything with him in writing, the rest of his speech, when he departs from what is written, will flow on in a similar strain. As an extension to the initial benefits of putting your words to paper (or keyboard) is that the story blocks you create in the process are better remembered and used when called upon to speak without time for preparation. You will better embody your message(s) and improve your ability to diverge from a written speech while maintaining your authority of the topic at hand. Occasionally I will encounter clients who prefer to outline their talk to identify the major points and order... - Published: 2018-07-07 - Modified: 2026-01-25 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/we-were-all-humans-until/ It had been awhile since this anonymous quote crossed my path, but I recently noticed it on a friend's social timeline and realized it had achieved a newfound sense of resonance with me. We were all humans until race disconnected us, religion separated us, politics divided us, and wealth classified us. From a storytelling perspective it felt as though we had somehow stopped telling our story of connection, commonalty, a shared human heredity, and most importantly, a united future. Hate and discrimination had somehow become acceptable, with divisiveness and rancor the norm. Religious travel bans, violence against people of color, and the continued verbal and physical abuse of women have defiled what America was striving to become - a land of open arms and caring hearts, a land that opted for hope over fear, that embraced love over hate. “We are a nation not only of dreamers, but also of fixers. We have looked at our land and people, and said, time and time again, "This is not good enough; we can be better. ” - Dan Rather, What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism As I continue to work with a wide array of speakers, from universities, research institutes, major corporations, prison inmates, and special forces, I'm reminded that our stories have the power to heal all wounds, bridge all chasms, and unite all humans. On a daily basis we have the choice to stand up and say, “This is not good enough; we can be better. ” In doing so we can change this sadly fractured American narrative. But it requires our stories to be told, our voices to be heard, and our compassion to be felt. June 2020 Update It's been a week since police killed George Floyd on May 25, 2020, adding his name to a lengthy list of victims that now includes: Michael Brown, Ahmaud Arbery, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Philando Castile, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, Botham Jean, Samuel DuBose, Alton Sterling, Jeremy McDole, Jonathan Sanders, Ezell Ford, Andy Lopez, Akai Gurley, John Crawford III, Antonio Martin, Walter Scott, Jonny Gammage, Freddie Gray, and Eric Garner. The world grieves, families cry, people take to the streets in protest, while the president of the United States proclaims, "We have our military ready, willing and able, if they ever want to call our military. We can have troops on the ground very quickly. " The answer? That's the question on everyone's mind. I hear various words mentioned - love, empathy, compassion, equality, justice. But words are not an answer. Someone says we need to embrace and celebrate our diversity. I agree, but how do we get from here to there? The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Johnson at the White House on July 2, 1964. Though we should remember that Johnson's signature came after a 54-day filibuster in the United States Senate. Equality was a struggle then, and remains so to this day, nearly 56 years later. ◆ If you're... - Published: 2018-06-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/mark-lovett-podcast-appearances/ If you haven't figured it out already, I'm a huge fan of podcasts. Starting with my first listen of This American Life back in 1995 I've been hooked. It reminded me of being 10 years old, when my mom would send me to bed on a school night and I would pull out my AM radio, plug in the single ear piece, and listen intently to The New Adventures of Sherlock Homes. The process of the narrator's voice painting pictures - movies actually - in my mind was as magical then as it is now. It's no surprise that I enjoy appearing on podcasts to talk about the impact that storytelling can have on us. Here's a few of my most recent podcast adventures. July 12, 2018 - Quits of Faith: How Trusting the Universe Can Alleviate Quitting-Related Fears June 29, 2018 - Bringing the Best Stories to San Diego April 26, 2018 - Yes, This Story Begins at the End! January 29, 2018 - TEDx Lockup October 18, 2017 - Live an Adventurous Life March 26, 2017 The World of TEDx Organizing ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2018-05-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-1-conversation-on-oratory/ In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing on the teaching of Greek rhetoric and the craft of oration in Roman times, he composed De Oratore to highlight the principles he believed were at play whenever someone planned to speak on an important topic. While political speeches and legal proceedings were at the forefront of public speaking during this time, the concepts presented here are valuable in the drafting of any nonfiction narrative. Written in 55 BC, and comprised of three books, De Oratore is a dialogue that is set in 91 BC. Cicero writes about a dialogue, reported to him by Cotta, among a group of excellent political men and orators, who came together to discuss the crisis and general decline of politics. They met in the garden of Lucius Licinius Crassus' villa in Tusculum. Lucius Licinius Crassus - Quintus Mucius Scaevola Marcus Antonius Orator - Gaius Aurelius Cotta - Publius Sulpicius Rufus Lucius Licinius Crassus offers the following insights: One thing there will certainly be, which those who speak well will exhibit as their own; a graceful and elegant style, distinguished by a peculiar artifice and polish. But this kind of diction, if there be not matter beneath it clear and intelligible to the speaker, must either amount to nothing, or be received with ridicule by all who hear it. For who is ignorant that the highest power of an orator consists in exciting the minds of men to anger, or to hatred, or to grief, or in recalling them from these more violent emotions to gentleness and compassion? which power will never be able to effect its object by eloquence, unless in him who has obtained a thorough insight into the nature of mankind, and all the passions of humanity, and those causes by which our minds are either impelled or restrained. Despite the benefit of delivering a speech with elegance and polish, Crassus notes that a speaker's words will fall on deaf ears should we not view their narrative as authentic and of substance. He also speaks to the power of an orator to stir the emotions of an audience, either toward assuming a negative mindset, or in soothing pre-existing negativity. But eloquence alone can not cause this movement, as the speaker must also understand humankind's very nature, and how we are influenced. While this approach is common in politics, and many marketing campaigns, whereby the intent is to play off of one's emotions instead of intellect, it is nonetheless important to think about what is important to the audience, and why they care about the story that you're telling them. That said, the key objective should be for them to understand your viewpoint. Their emotions may follow - positively or negatively - but manipulating their emotions should never be the aim when telling a personal story. Antonius soon after said, But in an orator, the acuteness of the logicians, the wisdom of the... - Published: 2018-04-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-tragic-story-of-bail-in-america/ The bail system in American is nothing short of criminal, a tragic story of incarceration for those who lack the funds to get back on the street while awaiting trial. It means being separated from your spouse & children, maybe missing work, and potentially losing your job. It means being guilty until proven innocent, which is about as un-American as it gets. In an attempt to turn the tide on this tragedy of justice, Robin Steinberg and her husband, both public defenders, founded the Bronx Freedom Fund, and in doing so, attempt to change the story of thousands caught up in an immoral system. The Bronx Freedom Fund envisions a society that humanizes instead of criminalizes. We restore the presumption of innocence by keeping clients with their families, at their jobs, and out of jail while they await trial. We work tirelessly to fight mass incarceration and the criminalization of race and poverty, and to end the cash bail system as it exists. A decade later Robin took the stage at TED2018 to talk about The Bail Project, taking the idea to a national level as part of TED's newly launched Audacious Project. The Bail Project, by bailing out 160,000 people over the next five years, will become one of the largest non-governmental decarcerations of Americans in history. What if we ended the injustice of bail? by Robin Steinberg at TED2018 Transcript I will never forget the first time I visited a client in jail. The heavy, metal door slammed behind me, and I heard the key turn in the lock. The cement floor underneath me had a sticky film on it that made a ripping sound, like tape being pulled off a box, every time I moved my foot. The only connection to the outside world was a small window placed too high to see. There was a small, square table bolted to the floor and two metal chairs, one on either side. That was the first time I understood viscerally -- just for a fleeting moment -- what incarceration might feel like. And I promised myself all those years ago as a young, public defender that I would never, ever forget that feeling. And I never have. It inspired me to fight for each and every one of my clients' freedom as if it was my own. Freedom. A concept so fundamental to the American psyche that it is enshrined in our constitution. And yet, America is addicted to imprisonment. From slavery through mass incarceration, it always has been. Look, we all know the shocking numbers. The United States incarcerates more people per capita than almost any nation on the planet. But what you may not know is that on any given night in America, almost half a million people go to sleep in those concrete jail cells who have not been convicted of anything. These mothers and fathers and sons and daughters are there for one reason and one reason only: they cannot afford to pay the... - Published: 2018-03-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/a-remarkable-life-story-tess-vigeland-at-world-domination-summit-2013/ I think it's safe to say that deep down, we all want to live a remarkable life. One that is both rewarding on the inside, and garners respect on the outside. But what happens when our life story takes us to that place, and we're living the dream, yet know that it's time to move on, time to sever the ties that have served us so well, and take a brave leap into the unknown? Tess Vigeland was at the peak of her career, and so well known as the host of Marketplace Money that people on the street would recognize her voice. But as you'll hear in her talk at the 2013 World Domination Summit, Tess had been unhappy for a while, having become bored with the repetition of reporting on the world of finance. As much as she loved the people and position, in the end she had to go because she had too much self-respect to stay. Have you ever been in a similar situation, when you knew it was time to jump without a net? Did it feel like you needed to close one chapter in order to being writing the next one? I've been feeling that way lately, and am contemplating a big leap, one that would take me across an ocean. I'm not sure when or where, or even how, but I've been gaining clarity on the why. (more on that in due time, once I've figured out a few more things and feel I'm ready to leap) There's a point in Tess' story where it seems that everything is going to work out fine, a classic storybook ending, but her journey takes a turn onto a rocky, and uncertain road. To her credit, and what's makes this talk so powerful, is her vulnerability, her facing up to self doubt and uncertainty, to admitting that she was no longer feeling remarkable. At one point she states, "It has been terrifying, it has been awful, it has been heartbreaking. " Not the sort of thing that one usually admits to on stage, but in doing so Tess provides the audience with a stark dose of reality. Sometimes taking a leap of faith is not the rewarding experience that we hoped for, but if our desire is to lead a remarkable life, a few bumps and bruises may come our way in the process. And in the end, it's worth it. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2018-02-07 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/de-oratore-by-cicero-book-1-the-essence-of-oratory/ In addition to being a lawyer, politician and philosopher, Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero) was also a preeminent Roman orator. Drawing on the teaching of Greek rhetoric and the craft of oration in Roman times, he composed De Oratore to highlight the principles he believed were at play whenever someone planned to speak on an important topic. While political speeches and legal proceedings were at the forefront of public speaking during this time, the concepts presented here are valuable in the drafting of any nonfiction narrative. Written in 55 BC, and comprised of three books, De Oratore is a dialogue that is set in 91 BC. Cicero wrote De Oratore to describe the ideal orator and imagine him as a moral guide of the state. He did not intend the dialogue as merely a treatise on rhetoric, but went beyond mere technique, to make several references to philosophical principles. For who can suppose that, amid the greatest multitude of students, the utmost abundance of masters, the most eminent geniuses among men, the infinite variety of causes, the most ample rewards offered to eloquence, there is any other reason to be found for the small number of orators than the incredible magnitude and difficulty of the art? Cicero recognized the challenges inherent in mastering a discipline, especially those of a legal, scientific, or philosophical nature, but he considered the ability to speak of these subjects in public, and to do so in a way that brought an audience toward the speaker's way of thinking, to be the most difficult of all. I would offer that little has changed in the two plus millennium that's passed since, with few individuals in modern times considered to be great orators. In my view, however, that notion misses the point of storytelling which comes from the heart and need not reach the pinnacle of public speaking expertise. And in my experience, the vast majority of people, with effort, strategy, and practice, can become impactful public speakers. A knowledge of a vast number of things is necessary, without, which volubility of words is empty and ridiculous; speech itself is to be formed, not merely by choice, but by careful construction of words; and all the emotions of the mind, which nature has given to man, must be intimately known; for all the force and art of speaking must be employed in allaying or exciting the feelings of those who listen. I couldn't agree more regarding the careful construction of words, as word choice has a dramatic effect on the impact that a story will have on an audience. Too often our first draft will rely on the easy words and expressions familiar to us, but may not accurately tell the intended story. This is where rewriting becomes the most important phase of writing. Using a thesaurus provides alternate words that may be closer to the truth of your story. The second part of the equation, Cicero's reference to understanding the emotional side of storytelling, is another vital... - Published: 2018-01-07 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/find-your-bliss-your-passion-your-ikigai/ "Follow your bliss," said Joseph Campbell "Follow your passion," said everybody else on the planet I've heard these phrases mentioned since I was born, or at least it feels like it's been that long. So I find it interesting that millennials are, to a large degree, pushing back on this approach to life, and they have a point. The point being, "how do I know what my bliss/passion is? and if I don't know, how the hell can I follow it? ". Well said, and I know what they mean. While most of my friends jumped from high school to college, then dove into their career the moment they graduated, I had no idea what I wanted to do after high school, which may explain why I found myself building helicopter landing pads in Augusta, Georgia at the age of 18, and why I've bounced from one discipline to another, from VP of Ops, to CIO, CMO and CEO in the decades that followed. It's only by looking back at this point in my life that I've come to see how I was, in fact, following my passion. But as it turns out, that passion was for learning, not for a specific career. The reason I took on so many different roles was that I was fascinated by the process of acquiring new skills, of challenging my mind to discover procedures and processes as a way to understand how things worked. And I see that same trait in a lot of millennials. They're hungry for learning, and will jump from one job to the next, decide to become an entrepreneur, or adopt the life of a freelancer, rather than pursuing a "career", as is often expected of them. New gets them excited. But that doesn't mean we should ignore the idea of bliss, or passion. It just means we should look at our life a bit differently, which is what I found myself doing as last year was coming to a close. I'm not one for new year's resolutions, but as each new year comes around I do take some time to reflect on the last twelve months gone by, and the next twelve months on the horizon. It was in the waning moments of 2017 that I discovered an article on Medium by Remo Giuffré. Remo is something of a savant when it comes to people, and in this post he talked about finding one's purpose. He brought forth a new term (well, new to me) to describe the intersection of many factors that lead to discovering our purpose - Ikigai. According to Wikipedia, Ikigai is a Japanese concept which means "a reason for being", and according to Japanese culture, everyone has an Ikigai, though we often have to search for it. I invite you, as I did, to take some time and examine this visual concept. I admit it's a bit complicated, especially the empty sections surrounding your Ikigai, but I think you'll come to realize that Ikigai... - Published: 2017-11-07 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/young-leaders-of-the-americas-initiative-sharing-in-san-diego/ Whenever I get an email from the San Diego Diplomacy Council, I know something interesting is afoot. In this case, it was a group of entrepreneurs with the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative coming to San Diego, and they wanted to know if I could develop a storytelling workshop for them. How could I possibly resist. The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) builds linkages between younger leaders across the hemisphere and address the opportunity gap for youth, especially women, by empowering entrepreneurs and civil society leaders with the training, tools, networks and resources they need to transform their societies and contribute more fully to economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere. On October 20th I had the pleasure of meeting a dozen entrepreneurs from a dozen Latin America and Caribbean countries who had founded a dozen very cool companies, each with a different focus. Aarón Bendfeldt, founder & executive director of Grønn (Guatemala) Grønn upcycles glass bottles collected from Guatemala City, then makes and sells new glasses, pots, vases, and other products, all handmade by local women. He previously participated in SPOR, an exchange program between Guatemala and Norway. Aarón is studying Chemical Engineering at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Altagrace M. Maignan, founder of Belle Créole (Haiti) Belle Créole is a micro-enterprise program that empowers people, particularly young women, who are living with HIV and AIDS to rise above their circumstances through learning a skill and creating and selling their work. She serves as a Manager at Fondation Esther Boucicault Stanislas. Altagrace holds a Master's Degree in medicine from the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo. Andrea Baltodano, founder of Maracao Beachwear (Costa Rica) Maracao Beachwear designs swimwear that promotes women’s confidence and empowerment, while helping at-risk women from marginalized neighborhoods by offering ethical employment practices and fair wages to its employees. Andrea holds an Associate’s Degree in Fashion Design from the Universidad Creativa of Costa Rica. Carolina Ramos, founder & COO, Natural Pop (Ecuador) Natural Pop produces natural snacks out of local grains from Ecuador in order to provide affordable and healthy snacks to the local community. Carolina has a degree in Food Engineering from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito and attended graduate school for French and Social Skills at the Institute de la Providence de Herve in Belgium. Christine Daley, founder of DoodleSurprize (Jamaica) DoodleSurprize provides monthly subscription activity boxes for children ages 4-12 in order to help kids discover themselves and their passion through art, crafts, and science. Christine has previously worked in Accounting, Marketing, and Project Management at Digicel Jamaica, Zinergy International, and Black Ink Marketing. Jau Ramírez, co-founder & president of Movimiento SOMOS (Venezuela) Movimiento SOMOS is dedicated to defending the rights of LGBTQ people through legal counseling and legislative projects, as well as educational and cultural initiatives. He also works as a Communications Coordinator for Grupo Social CESEAP, and has led communications trainings for a human rights program on the border of... - Published: 2017-08-07 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/creating-a-storytelling-workshop-for-african-entrepreneurs/ I get requests to conduct storytelling workshops from a variety of sources, from business networks to startups and professional organizations. But I was recently asked to craft a storytelling workshop for a group of amazing African entrepreneurs who were coming to American as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship program. At first I assumed they were high school or college students, just getting started in their career, but I was way off the mark on that assumption. I began the workshop, as all such meetings do, with introductions from each of the attendees in the room. In the U. S. we think of states, but in Africa, it's countries. Zambia, Togo, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Mauritius, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, South Sudan, and Nigeria (I'm sure I missed a few) were all represented as each of the women and men spoke up. The Uber of tutors, a novel payment collection system, a philanthropic software platform, sports journaling and entrepreneurial accelerators were mentioned. Many of these "students" had already started 2 or 3 companies and were changing lives in their communities. I wasn't sure what the entrepreneurs most wanted to hear most - I had no chance to speak to them before the workshop began - so I created a hybrid that combined the essentials of a great TED/TEDx talk, with material from my brand storytelling workshops. It turned out to be a good mix, as the entrepreneurs articulated their brand philosophy and tactics like savvy business leaders. Joseph Oliver Wani was one of the remarkable leaders sitting directly in front of me. As the finance manager for the African Youth Action Network (AYAN), Joseph was dedicated to helping refugees from South Sudan. Founded in June 2015, in Uganda by South Sudanese young people, AYAN has worked directly with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) to support South Sudanese young refugees to receive scholarships to study in Uganda. The organization believes that Illiteracy is one of the major cause of conflict in South Sudan. The organization is currently registered in South Sudan with a branch in Uganda and looking forward to opening in Kenya. At AYAN, we believe that the youth are well positioned to organize and participate in promoting a movement of sustainable peace through the organization of positive, non-violent, community-building activities, through trainings, mentorship, community outreach programmes in the Great Lakes Region and other volatile Parts of Africa. In the United States the refugee crisis - which has reached staggering numbers - is not something we think about very often, as it's "over there" somewhere, yet the impact on humanity will be felt for generations to come. And to be honest, it wasn't a topic that I expected to materialize when I was getting ready to conduct this workshop - entrepreneur and refugee crisis didn't mix in my mind. As to Joseph, I had the opportunity to continue the conversation a week later during closing night ceremonies on the University of San Diego campus. He had just spent the... - Published: 2017-06-07 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/speaker-adventure-june-2017/ Was this the coolest and craziest Speaker Adventure ever? Well, that's certainly what it felt like at the conclusion of June's retreat held on the 3rd and 4th. With Sonia taking us on a journey to aboriginal rain forests of Peru, making her case that indigenous peoples are the keepers of 80% of the earth’s healthy ecosystems, yet don't have a seat at the table when critical economic and environmental decisions are made. She convinced us that the earth's future hangs in the balance. Mark's bravery and vulnerability were at play as he recounted his own struggle to create a peaceful world in which to live, encouraging us to take a step back whenever the potential for anger was present. For those faced with disruption, or the possibility of encountering it in the future, John reminded us all that trust is something that can't be outsourced, or replaced by artificial intelligence, and it forms the foundation of important relationships which survive disruption. We all deal with decisions and attitudes on a daily basis, but have you ever considered the power of examining both at the same time? That's the secret Jerry has used throughout his career and in his personal life. What saved Jenny from an abusive childhood and led her to a life of joy and happiness? Music. And she's now on a mission to spread the word that music can have profound, and positive, effects on the lives of children. Aaron realized that his 'fast and free life' wasn't sustainable, and once he made the decision to change, he came to see and experience the evolution from half-hearted, to committed, and ultimately to devotion. His life has never been richer! Be a part of our next adventure! Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2017-04-07 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/idea-to-published-book-bootcamp/ Seems everyone has a book in them, which is not surprising when you think of how quickly we're able to assimilate information, learn new skills, and travel the world at a whim. We're both smarter than ever, and at the same time, hungrier for knowledge than at any time in history. But how to get started, how to stay on track, and assuming you make it to the writer's finish line, how the heck do you get that book published and promoted? Enter Author Bridge Media, whose sole purpose is to take aspiring (and seasoned) writers through each critical step. And to that end, their Idea to Published Book Bootcamp is the best place to start. This three day, intensive and interactive program will help you to: Write a book that creates an emotional connection with readers Brand your book to attract credibility and grow your business Publish your book on platforms such as Amazon and Audible Need an added incentive to attend this workshop? Of course you do. And that incentive would be me (shameless plug), as I'll be one of the speakers, providing my take on Storytelling with Impact - how to convert the amazing idea your book is based on, into an equally amazing 15, 30 or 45 minute talk, from a more focused TED/TEDx-style presentation, to long-format keynote. Now you really want to go, so Sign Up Today! Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2017-01-07 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/lisa-hishas-journey-from-speaker-adventure-to-tedxnewbedford/ Some people come to Speaker Adventure in order to develop their skills in hopes of one day being on a TEDx stage. They're not currently a public speaker, but have the desire to share their wisdom with others and know that crafting a compelling story takes a lot of effort. Other participants are accomplished speakers who have been in front of a wide variety of audiences, from keynotes to technical conferences, but want to master the shorter format TED/TEDx style of presentation, and they come to Speaker Adventure to learn the ropes of just how that's done. On occasion, one of these accomplished speakers has already been invited to speak at a TEDx event and seeks out Speaker Adventure to fine tune their talk. This was the case with Lisa Haisha. Having mastered speaking in business environments, keynote stages, and motivational speaking venues, Lisa was a pro who was about to speak at TEDxNewBedford. With idea and draft script in hand, Jeff Salz and I began working with Lisa to refine her narrative and ensure the transitions kept the story flowing smoothly for the audience. The idea itself was rather compelling, that we’re too often subject to the whims of inner imposters that seek to sabotage our best efforts. But according to Lisa, we have the ability to train these imposters to work for us, instead of against us. How, you may ask? Watch and learn. Lisa Haisha's Website Lisa Haisha on Facebook Lisa Haisha on Twitter Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2016-11-25 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/simon-sinek-speaks-at-creativemornings-san-diego-october-2016/ Storytelling encompasses a variety of styles, from the personal, to the historical and investigative. There's another style that I'm calling analytical, in which a situation or paradigm is broken down and examined in order to find the underlying truth. This is not an easy fete to pull off, but Simon Sinek has become a master at doing it in a way that resonates with the audience. You may have watched his talk from TEDxPugetSound 2009 on How great leaders inspire action, or his talk at TED 2014 on Why good leaders make you feel safe. In each case he peels back the onion on connection between why humans do what they do, and why they feel how they feel. Simon's talk at CreativeMornings San Diego was titled Understanding the Game We're Playing, which focused on the current state of the millennial generation, and why they are often misunderstood by previous generations. Whenever he’s asked to describe what’s going on with the millennial generation, Simon replies with four observations - parenting, technology, impatience and environment. In Simon's view, millennials are not entitled, narcissistic, or lazy, but instead were simply dealt a bad hand, by their parents, and by society. Could it be that engaging with social media is, in the end, a dopamine addiction, similar to the desire for drugs or alcohol? Are they turning to technology, instead of turning to real people in their life? Are social skills being diminished due to the ease of avoiding interaction? The generation of hard work and long journeys - life, career, relationships - has , for some, shifted to an environment of impatience and the need for instant gratification. Compounding the problem is the move by corporations away from people and toward the bottom line. Simon offers the view that life is not a scavenger hunt, jumping from job to job, and relationship to relationship. Instead the challenge is in finding a sense of purpose, fulfillment and joy, and that will only occur when the current generation undertakes the hard work of repairing the world around us. And it will only occur when we realize that our true competition, is us, not someone else. Simon Sinek's Website Simon Sinek on Facebook Simon Sinek on Twitter Simon Sinek on YouTube Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2016-08-14 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/exploring-the-mehrabian-myth/ Every profession as its own set of rules, instructions and standards. As you might expect, these guidelines will vary, sometimes widely, as every individual has their own take on what works best, but in general, they adhere to generally accepted guidelines. On occasion, however, a convention will appear that is egregious false, yet becomes something of a meme and is widely disseminated. The notion that words don't matter, or more accurately, that they matter very little when compared to our facial expressions, or the sound of our voice, constitutes one such myth. As often happens, the myth was derived from scientific research, but simply misinterpreted, or misstated, and the resulting meme that is spread far and wide bares little resemblance to the intent of the original research publication. In short, a mangled version of the truth, somehow becomes the truth. Sometimes this myth is referred to as the 7%-38%-55% Rule, while in other situations it's offered up as a claim that states “93% of all communication is non-verbal”. In either case it's 100% bullshit, but let's dive into the numbers, and the source of the information which became the myth. We'll time travel back to 1967, when Dr. Albert Mehrabian, Professor of Psychology at UCLA, conducted a study that examined how people reacted when they heard words that did not match the tone of the speakers voice, like saying, "Of course I love you honey. ", but in a sarcastic tone that clearly indicated you were mad. In these cases, when the tone was out of alignment with the words, the tone of voice was perceived to be more powerful. In a 2nd study, Dr. Mehrabian compared vocal elements with a speaker's facial expressions, and found that facial elements were more powerful than vocal elements. Face trumps Tone. By combining these studies he came up with the following summary: 55% is what the audience sees - it’s your body language 38% is what the audience hears - the tone of your voice 7% is what you actually say - the words within your talk To get a visual synopsis of the issue, take a moment to watch this video from CreativityWorks. "The non-verbal elements are particularly important for communicating feelings and attitude, especially when they are incongruent: if words and body language disagree, one tends to believe the body language. " - Dr. Albert Mehrabian In 2009 BBC reporter Tim Harford asked Dr. Mehrabian if 93% of communication was non-verbal: "Absolutely not, and whenever I hear that misquote or misrepresentation of my findings I cringe because it should be so obvious to anybody who would use any amount of common sense that that's not the correct statement. " The point being, his studies were never intended to examine the relative importance of words, tone or expressions within the context of our conversations, much less public speaking and storytelling from the stage, yet the myth was created and continues to thrive like a classic urban legend. "There’s just no question that... - Published: 2016-07-05 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/marwa-al-sabouni-at-tedsummit-2016/ How Syria's architecture laid the foundation for brutal war While some stories are meant to be a factual record of what has happened, delving deeper into the why it happened, and what we should do, involves a collection of subjective assumptions, individual conclusions, and personal hypothesis. In this talk from the TEDSummit 2016 conference, delivered by Marwa Al-Sabouni via the internet, we see such a blend. Marwa takes us into the city of Homs, Syria where she has always lived, and which has been ravaged by years of conflict. While recognizing the fact that there were many factors which caused the war, she takes a close look at the role of architecture in regards to how it can strengthen, or weaken, the social fabric of a community. Architecture is not the axis around which all human life rotates, but it has the power to suggest and even direct human activity. In classic Ideas Worth Spreading style, Marwa's talk combines harsh reality (facts that can be verified) with personal insights and suggestions in a way that compels the listener to pause, consider her perspective, and then reconsider their own preconceived notions. Full Transcript 0:07 Hi. My name is Marwa, and I'm an architect. I was born and raised in Homs, a city in the central western part of Syria, and I've always lived here. After six years of war, Homs is now a half-destroyed city. My family and I were lucky; our place is still standing. Although for two years, we were like prisoners at home. Outside there were demonstrations and battles and bombings and snipers. My husband and I used to run an architecture studio in the old town main square. It's gone, as is most of the old town itself. Half of the city's other neighborhoods are now rubble. Since the ceasefire in late 2015, large parts of Homs have been more or less quiet. The economy is completely broken, and people are still fighting. The merchants who had stalls in the old city market now trade out of sheds on the streets. Under our apartment, there is a carpenter, sweetshops, a butcher, a printing house, workshops, among many more. I have started teaching part-time, and with my husband, who juggles several jobs, we've opened a small bookshop. Other people do all sorts of jobs to get by. 1:18 When I look at my destroyed city, of course, I ask myself: What has led to this senseless war? Syria was largely a place of tolerance, historically accustomed to variety, accommodating a wide range of beliefs, origins, customs, goods, food. How did my country -- a country with communities living harmoniously together and comfortable in discussing their differences -- how did it degenerate into civil war, violence, displacement and unprecedented sectarian hatred? There were many reasons that had led to the war -- social, political and economic. They all have played their role. But I believe there is one key reason that has been overlooked and which is important to... - Published: 2016-06-20 - Modified: 2023-02-19 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/the-craft-of-tedx-speaker-coaching/ As the TEDxSanDiego organizer for 6 years, organizer for TEDxMonumento258, and having attended 85+ TED/TEDx events since 2010, I've experienced a wide variety of stories and accompanying narrative styles. Like a fingerprint, each story is unique, as is each storyteller, and part of that uniqueness is related to the speaker coaching that happens behind the scenes, long before the speaker greets their audience to tell their story. In my experience few TEDx attendees, or the viewers of TED/TEDx videos, are aware of the speaker prep that occurs in the months preceding an event, which is a shame, as the coaching process is such an important aspect of creating a memorable TEDx experience. So how does that process work? Just as each speaker and story are unique, every coaching process is unique, as sessions are tailored to the speaker's talent, experience, and narrative. In addition, no two speaker coaches are the same, with each having developed their own approach to the process. The intent, however, is the same. To maximize the speaker's impact, and that only happens when a speaker truly connects with the audience with a talk that contains a relevant message. Seeking that combination of connection and relevance is where I begin with a speaker. In the world of TED/TEDx, the mantra is Ideas Worth Spreading, and that phrase means that attendees in the audience, and viewers of the video, will find the idea compelling enough to tell their friends, family, co-workers and associates. It's never the job of a coach to write the story, that's always the responsibility of the speaker, but rather to help define the central idea of the story, assist in the selection of assets which support that idea, and provide guidance on how best to thread those assets into a narrative that will both capture the audience's attention, and convey the idea in a meaningful way. Future blog posts will delve deeper into the details and mechanics, but in the meantime, think about the idea that you want to tell the world about, and write down why the audience would find value in hearing that particular idea. How would their lives change, how would they think differently, and most importantly, how would they act differently? Over 3,000 TEDx events were held in 2019. Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved - Published: 2016-04-20 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://www.storytellingwithimpact.com/storytelling-defined/ What image comes to mind when you hear that word? Maybe you envision someone speaking from a stage, or an actor delivering dialogue in a movie. Maybe your mind ventures far back in time to a campfire that's surrounded by American cowboys, or maybe African tribesmen. In any case, you're visualizing the art of spoken language, a process by which words are arranged in a manner that conveys meaning, transmitted from one human to another in the form of a story. But in a very real sense, storytelling began long before humans could communicate with words, going back to a period in our evolution when thoughts could only be expressed with gestures and grunts. Storytelling at that juncture was all about survival: avoiding danger (animals that wanted to eat them) and finding food (animals that they wanted to eat). Some stories were also told visually, in the form of cave paintings as far back as 40,000 years. As language developed, human storytelling expanded from pressing issues of survival to recounting history, educating society, sharing new ideas, and entertaining the masses. Regardless of the intent, or intended audience, the process consisted of humans constructing their stories based on a deliberate selection of internal knowledge (what they thought was true, or what they wanted others to believe was true) combined with their own conscious and unconscious biases. As this video illustrates, technology has changed the landscape of personal storytelling, largely due to the ability to share videos over the internet. From fictional accounts, to instructional how-tos and the spreading of ideas and opinions, such stories can be captured direct to camera, or by recording a talk that was given in a public forum. Yet another technology that has allowed storytelling to have a much greater impact is podcasting. Stories predicting the demise of podcasts turned out to be premature (totally bogus) and instead we've seen the practice expand, with many podcasts targeting very specific audiences and formats. As you begin the process of creating your story, keep in mind the global reach that video and audio provide, and the unique style of storytelling that works best within each of these formats. ◆ If you enjoyed this article... ◆ Learn more about the coaching process or contact me to discuss your storytelling goals! ◆ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates! Copyright Storytelling with Impact® - All rights reserved > Reference Storytelling with Impact for guidance on literary techniques, narrative non-fiction, and important story elements.