My Dad and Father-in-law are predictable animals. Every time we go out for a meal, we all know what theyâll have for dessert; Ice cream.
They are blind to everything else on the menu. But it doesnât stop them looking.Itâs a routine. A habit. But we all know what theyâll opt for.
Itâs funny and will become an Anderson-Lyall family story that will be handed down to future generations. But I couldnât do that. I like to mix things up. Iâd get bored of just eating ice cream. So whatâs this got to do with telling stories on your podcast? If you dish out the same stories, your audience will get bored.
How to mix it up
Boring your audience is the last thing you want. Keep them on their toes by serving up a mix of stories. There are two broad categories of stories I want to introduce first, before getting into specifics. Stories we have experienced and stories weâve been told.
Stories weâve experienced
These are the stories weâve personally lived through. Some will be tales that happened to us, while others will be stories that weâve witnessed first hand. In either case, we can tell the story directly. These stories have power. We can add in the detail that will bring the story to life. Weâre also able to add more emotion because of the first-hand nature of the story.
Stories youâve experienced that are directly related to the subject of your podcast give you a degree of authority and credibility. In my case, I could demonstrate my knowledge of storytelling by telling a powerful story. Or I could tell the story of how I created a particular story.
But we also need to think about personal stories. So I could open my show by telling a story about my holiday with family. These real stories help you build a more personal rapport with your audience. You become a much more rounded character in your own stories when you share your world.
Stories weâve Been Told
Thereâs a risk in only ever telling the stories weâve experienced. It can feel like âitâs all about usâ. Adding stories youâve been told will help give you some much needed balance. In this sense you become a curator of stories. The world is your library. There are limitless stories that others tell on a daily basis.
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Your job is to find the stories that will serve your audience. The stories might be classics that youâve grown up with, or they might be new stories youâve just stumbled across.
You know your audience, so youâll have a feel for what stories will interest them. And, if youâre told these stories by your listeners, even better. Get them involved. Make them part of your show.
And remember, you donât have to tell all the stories. Invite guests onto your show that you know have incredible tale to tell. Your job becomes that of story director. If you think thereâs more to the story, then dig a bit deeper. Donât miss an opportunity to make the most of the story.
Letâs get More Specific
There are a huge array of stories you can tell on your show. Hereâs some Iâd recommend you start with.
Stories of Success
Stories that share a success can inspire others. If your podcast promotes your business, you can tell the stories of how you have helped others. Or, you can demonstrate how you had success in trying a new approach to a problem that worked well for you. Better still, give your listeners the opportunity to share their stories of success.
Stories of Failure
Too many joyful stories of success can become a little bit predictable. Mix it up by showing your human side. What have you tried that failed? When were the results less than expected? Your listeners will learn just as much, possibly more, from your honest tale of imperfection. It keeps you humble and likeable.
Stories that Illustrate a Point
Difficult concepts can be hard to put across through audio. You donât have the benefit of images to make your point for you. Find a storytelling way to make the concept more accessible. Youâll make it easy for your listener to grasp the most difficult of subject.
Itâs not always easy, but I believe thereâs always a way. Itâs worth the effort.
Stories that Intrigue
And, of course, you can leave your audience hanging. You donât have to tell all of the story in a single episode. You can create a level of suspense by breaking down a large story into several parts. The key is to leave your audience wanting more.
Build the interest and deliver the punchline in the next episode. Creating a sense of drama will help your show stand out.
Over to you
Hereâs your challenge. Go and try it. Create a single story for your next show. Pick the most appropriate story type for you and spend the time to craft it.
On the next episode, weâll cover the critical art of being a voracious story hunter. Until then – happy storytelling.