Not every good story belongs in your talk. I know, I know! But it’s true.
I’ve seen too many leaders confuse “funny” or “entertaining” with impactful. The result? Their audience remembers the laugh but forgets the message.
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the sneaky ways we sabotage our own talks by choosing the wrong stories.
And don’t worry, I’m not just here to call you out. I’m here to hand you the tools so your next story actually lands.
Here’s what you’ll walk away with:
- Why a hilarious story might actually undermine your authority (yep, Uncle Bob, I’m looking at you).
- How to start your story in the exact moment that matters without the ten-minute “let me back up” monologue.
- The “mirror test” that shows you if your story connects or if it’s just self-therapy in disguise.
Think of this episode like tough love with a side of strategy.
Because you don’t need more stories, you need the right ones. The kind that stick.
The kind that shift people. The kind that make you unforgettable for all the right reasons.
Your audience deserves better than the “lost luggage in Chicago” saga. And honestly? So do you.
✨ Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!
👉 Become a Storytelling Pro in 60 minutes: Access the Story Method Workshop
👉 Never give boring talks, ever again. Get access to the Sticky Messages Masterclass and create talks like a seasoned presenter.
👉 Become an Advanced Speaker through my: The Speaker Accelerator Intensive
👉 Order my book, Finding Your Voice, today: Click Here!
👉 Free Vocal Guide: 10 Mistakes That Kill Your Vocal Presence (and how to fix it)
Let's connect on IG at www.instagram.com/csillamuscan
or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/csillamuscan/
Send me an email at: csilla@csillamuscan.com
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.