Are you looking for a way to transform your content into engaging entertainment? Use stories. Storytelling can be a powerful tool for your podcast.

If you would like my Story Development Worksheet, find it at PodcastTalentCoach.com/story.

CLIENT’S STORY

I was working with a client the other day and he was having a tough time structuring his stories in order to make them as powerful as possible.

To make your story strong, start with the end in mind. Lead with the punchline. Make your point right up front. If you wander into your story, it will be difficult to capture the attention of the audience.

Then, follow the powerful introduction with great details.

My client is originally from Bangladesh. He was telling a story of growing up in his village. There was a homeless guy in his village who had a lot of personality.

The guy was a really lovable guy. Everyone in the village would help him.

Eventually they had to cut off the help. The village thought the guy was just free-loading and doing nothing to help himself.

One day, my client was walking back to the village with his dad and brother. They saw a crowd of villagers are attacking the homeless man. Everyone was chanting “thief”. Apparently, the guy was being punished due to custom of handling thieves.

Two years later, my client was living in US. Living with his uncle, aunt & cousin. The cousin was the reason he and his brother didn’t feel homesick.

They boys went to a toy store. As they were leaving, security guard stops them because the cousin had shoplifted. The boys thought the guards were going to put their hands on cousin.

This was all due to what had happened in their village back in Bangladesh. They stepped in to intervene. The guards said they were just going to tell his mother.

THE POINT

The point of the story was events will hold different meaning to different people due to their background and culture. You should learn to understand before you judge.

However, this was the exact structure he used for his story. The entire time he was telling the story, I was wondering where he was going.

What do we want people to take away from this story? Start with the end in mind.

Storytelling can transform your podcast.

People do business with people they know, like and trust. Stories help you develop that knowledge, likability and trust.

Your stories define you and will touch many more people. The stories you tell and the details you include reveal many things about you. That begins to develop that like and trust.

It can be a bit scary to reveal things about yourself on your podcast. Develop the ability to recognize your unique thoughts and the courage to reveal them on your show.

MY COACHES

Two radio coaches have influenced me greatly over the years. They each have similar views on storytelling.

Radio consultant Randy Lane says use stories to “make it human by making it humorous, compelling or tragic”.

Radio talent coach Bill McMahon suggest you decide what you hope to make your audience “Laugh at, marvel at or better understand.” He calls it the provocative point.

How do you want your audience to feel after hearing your story? Frame that feeling in your engaging introduction. Decide what you hope to reveal about yourself with the story. Start there.

My client’s provocative point was that we should aim to be more understanding rather than judging. Things have different meanings in different cultures due to the person’s upbringing.

Start with your provocative point and then add details in the story that help support it.

Stories help you connect, motivate and inspire.

After you have defined your provocative point, there are four parts to the storytelling structure.

ENGAGING INTRODUCTION

This pulls your listener right into the story. Your introduction should tell your listener exactly where the story is headed. It should include your provocative point. Nobody wants to go on a trip when they don’t know where they are going. Let them enjoy the journey.

VIVID DETAILS

How will your emotion be revealed in the story? Use vivid details to make your story come to life in the theater of the mind.

What is the boundary between painting the picture and being too detailed?

Still moving the story forward.

POWERFUL CONCLUSION

Wrap up the story with a reframing of your engaging introduction.

WHAT ELSE?

Asking “What Else” will transform your show. Don’t let the story simply end and fade away. Turn it into something powerful.

“What Else” can we do with a compelling story? You could create a video, continue the conversation on social media, follow up with listener input in the following episode or various other things. Let your story lead to something bigger.

Ask “what else can we do” and see where it leads.

 

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.