July 10, 2025 • 10 mins
Forget everything you thought you knew about effective communication. It’s not the stats, not the slides, and definitely not the script that makes people lean in, it’s the story.
In this solo episode, I break down the neuroscience behind why storytelling is one of the most powerful communication tools we have. When you tell a real story, especially the messy, imperfect ones, you create a shared experience with your audience that facts alone can’t touch.
I walk through the 3-part storytelling framework I use with every keynote: Struggle, Strategy, and Transformation. Skip the struggle and you skip the connection. But when you open up about the nights you almost quit, the awkward stumbles, the trial-and-error moments, your audience doesn’t just hear you, they feel you.
I also share a personal moment where a story completely shifted the room, and how I discovered that vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s credibility.
If you’ve ever wondered how to connect faster, lead stronger, or speak with more confidence, the answer might be hiding in the story you haven’t told yet.
Want to practice? Try this: Spend 30 seconds describing a challenge you faced, and 30 seconds on how you got through it. That unfiltered version might just be your next standing ovation.
Resources mentioned:
Get the free guide: The Top 21 Challenges for Public Speakers (and How to Overcome Them)
Register for The Formula for Public Speaking course
Want to be a guest on Speaking With Confidence? Send Tim Newman a message on PodMatch
Speaking With Confidence
Formula for Public Speaking
Facebook
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tim (00:08):
Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence, the podcast
that helps you build the softskills that lead to real results
Communication, storytelling,public speaking and showing up
with confidence in everyconversation that counts.
I'm Tim Newman, a recoveringcollege professor turned
communication coach, and I'mthrilled to guide you on your
journey to becoming a powerfulcommunicator.
In the most recent episode ofthe Speaking with Confidence
(00:30):
podcast, my guest, cam Awesometold lots of stories to get his
points across.
If you were to watch him speakin person or online, he is the
same way he connects with peoplebecause of his story.
In this episode, I'm going totalk about the power of
storytelling.
What if I told you?
The most confident speakersaren't the ones who know the
(00:52):
most.
They're the ones who tell thebest stories.
Storytelling is what separates aforgettable talk from one that
truly sticks.
In fact, research shows peopleare 22 times more likely to
remember a fact if it's wrappedin a story.
And here's the best part.
You already have everythingthat you need your wins, your
(01:14):
losses, the moment you laughedor learned the hard way, that's
all the good stuff.
You don't need more credentialsor bigger words.
You just need to shape yourstory so it connects.
You don't need more credentialsor bigger words.
You just need to shape yourstory so it connects.
When your story lands, yourmessage lands, and that's what
makes you unforgettable.
But why do stories have thiskind of power?
(01:35):
Let's look at what's actuallyhappening in your audience's
brain.
Imagine giving a presentationpacked with data, only to have
your audience forget almost allof it, except for the story you
told.
It's not a coincidence.
When you share facts, youraudience processes them in a
limited part of the brain, butwhen you share a story,
(01:56):
something different happens.
Stories lay up more brainregions than facts alone.
Sensory, emotional and evenmotor areas all get involved.
This whole brain activationhelps the message stick.
Scientists call thisneurocoupling.
When you describe a real moment, maybe you froze during a big
(02:18):
talk or your hands were shaking.
Listeners don't just understand.
Their brains mirror theirexperience.
Say my palms were sweating, andsome people's palms might
actually start to sweat.
That's because stories triggermirror neurons, making your
audience feel what you felt.
(02:38):
Research backs this up.
Ted's top talks show a 22 timesretention boost over facts
alone, according to cognitivepsychologist Jerome Bruner.
It isn't that statistics don'tmatter they do but stories give
your facts a heartbeat when youshare a mistake, a challenge or
(02:59):
a turning point, you activatethe brain's empathy center,
making your message feel humanand memorable.
Let's make this real Picture twofinancial advisors explaining
retirement planning.
One shows a compound interestchart.
The other tells a story abouthelping a client who lost their
(03:20):
job, describing late-night calls, stacks of bills and the plan
they built together at thekitchen table.
In a Wharton study,storytellers raised 300% more
funds than data-only fundraisers.
Now, vulnerability builds trust, and trust makes your message
stick.
So when you prepare your nexttalk, don't just ask what do I
(03:41):
want to say.
Instead, ask what have I livedthrough that they need to hear?
And when your story includesreal moments, listeners' brains
sync with yours.
That's neurocoupling and it'sthe reason your message truly
lands.
A story's power isn't just aboutemotion or memory, it's about
structure.
So let's see how a simpleblueprint can turn even the most
(04:03):
forgettable talk into somethingpeople actually remember.
There's a core structure behindevery story that sticks the
struggle, strategy andtransformation.
I learned this firsthand when Iwas giving a presentation
overloaded with information and,honestly, this is a problem
with academic researchpresentations in general.
(04:24):
The slides were dense and Icould feel the energy slipping
away.
People were present but nottruly engaged, so I made a
split-second decision to dropthe script and share a real
story about a time things wentsideways for me and what I
learned from it, and instantlythe room changed.
People leaned in, they sawthemselves in the story and most
(04:48):
speakers skip the struggle andjump right into the polished
success.
But research confirms thatstories with clear conflict and
resolution are far morememorable.
When I talk about messing up atalk, losing momentum or bombing
a Q&A, the response is alwaysstronger than I just list off
the wins.
The audience connects with thechallenge because it feels real.
(05:09):
When I walk through thestrategy I use to recover, like
how I rehearse differently nowor how I open with connection
instead of content, peopleactually listen.
Then I close with thetransformation, the result, the
growth, the impact and studiesshow that using this three-part
framework significantly improvesrecall and engagement.
(05:32):
This isn't just for storytellingkeynotes.
If you're explaining a product,you could say it saves 40% in
processing time.
Or you could tell the story ofsomeone drowning in manual work,
the struggle, who finds theright tool as a strategy and
finally gets their weekends backas a transformation.
That's the version that peopleremember.
Framing your audience as a herotaps into motivation.
(05:56):
Research on heroes' journeys.
In this blueprint, the audiencefaces the challenge.
You're the guide who helps themfind the solution.
The villain might be aninefficient process, a looming
deadline or even self-doubt.
When you're walking through thejourney struggle, strategy and
transformation you activatetheir problem-solving brain and
(06:18):
make your message stick.
And here's a key Don't rush thestruggle.
Stay in it long enough for youraudience to feel it.
When the struggle is real, thetransformation feels earned.
The next time you prepare atalk, start with a real
challenge.
Then show that change and whatcame next.
(06:39):
Taking the step from your ownlife to the stage or in the
front of the room leading ameeting starts with recognizing
that your most meaningfulstories often come from moments
you didn't plan to share.
One of the stories that drewthe biggest response in my
experience wasn't about a majorachievement.
It was about a time I feltunsure and frustrated, figuring
things out as I went along.
(07:00):
The moment I shared it, peopleleaned in.
That's when I realized it's notthe polished success stories
that connect.
It's the honest, everydaymoments.
The mistakes, the pivots andthe lessons you take from them
are what resonates.
Research backs this up.
Studies show that when youshare an authentic setback, your
(07:22):
credibility rises by 43%.
Audiences don't just want tohear about your wins.
They want to know what youstruggle with and how you move
forward.
For example, a financialadvisor sharing the late night
spent reworking a client's plan,or an engineer describing the
frustration of a stubborn bugcan be more memorable than a
list of accomplishments.
Describing the frustration of astubborn bug can be more
(07:44):
memorable than a list ofaccomplishments.
These details invite listenersinto a real moment, making your
message stick.
If you want to find your beststory, try a 60-second sprint.
Spend 30 seconds describing achallenge, then 30 seconds on
how you overcame it.
That first unfiltered versionusually holds your most
(08:06):
compelling material.
Don't worry about making itperfect.
Focus on being specific.
Mention the late night emails,the doubts or the frustration.
These details are what peopleremember, and people connect
more with your tension than yourtriumph.
When you talk about the nervesbefore a big meeting or the
uncertainty after a toughconversation, your audience sees
themselves in your story, andwhen you explain what you tried
(08:29):
or how you adjust it, you givethem something to apply in their
own lives.
So how do you know if a storyis worth sharing?
If it still tightens yourstomach, it's emotional gold.
That's the story that youraudience needs Leading into.
That discomfort is what makesyour message real and memorable.
The real impact of your talkdoesn't come from perfect slides
(08:52):
or polished data.
It comes from the connectionyou create.
Authentic stories are what makeyour message last when you speak
.
It's not just about theinformation you share.
It's about the impact you leavebehind.
Stories create that emotionalconnection that facts alone
can't achieve, and data showslisteners recall only 10% of
(09:13):
facts three days later anyway.
But stories improve that toaround 65%, and that's a
difference that you can use thisweek.
Pick one client story and mapit to struggle, strategy and
transformation.
Share it in your next meetingand notice how engagement shifts
.
The best speakers move peopleto action by creating
(09:34):
experiences, not just deliveringinformation.
So don't just inform, connect.
Share one story today and watchyour message stick.
Remember we're looking forprogress, not perfection.
That's all for today.
Be sure to visitspeakingwithconfidencepodcastcom
to get your free book the Top21 Challenges for Public
(09:55):
Speakers and how to Overcomethem.
You can also register for theForm of Public Speaking group.
Always remember your voice hasthe power to change the world.
We'll talk to you next time,take care.
Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence, the podcast
that helps you build the softskills that lead to real results
Communication, storytelling,public speaking and showing up
with confidence in everyconversation that counts.
I'm Tim Newman, a recoveringcollege professor turned
communication coach, and I'mthrilled to guide you on your
journey to becoming a powerfulcommunicator.
In the most recent episode ofthe Speaking with Confidence
(00:30):
podcast, my guest, cam Awesometold lots of stories to get his
points across.
If you were to watch him speakin person or online, he is the
same way he connects with peoplebecause of his story.
In this episode, I'm going totalk about the power of
storytelling.
What if I told you?
The most confident speakersaren't the ones who know the
(00:52):
most.
They're the ones who tell thebest stories.
Storytelling is what separates aforgettable talk from one that
truly sticks.
In fact, research shows peopleare 22 times more likely to
remember a fact if it's wrappedin a story.
And here's the best part.
You already have everythingthat you need your wins, your
(01:14):
losses, the moment you laughedor learned the hard way, that's
all the good stuff.
You don't need more credentialsor bigger words.
You just need to shape yourstory so it connects.
You don't need more credentialsor bigger words.
You just need to shape yourstory so it connects.
When your story lands, yourmessage lands, and that's what
makes you unforgettable.
But why do stories have thiskind of power?
(01:35):
Let's look at what's actuallyhappening in your audience's
brain.
Imagine giving a presentationpacked with data, only to have
your audience forget almost allof it, except for the story you
told.
It's not a coincidence.
When you share facts, youraudience processes them in a
limited part of the brain, butwhen you share a story,
(01:56):
something different happens.
Stories lay up more brainregions than facts alone.
Sensory, emotional and evenmotor areas all get involved.
This whole brain activationhelps the message stick.
Scientists call thisneurocoupling.
When you describe a real moment, maybe you froze during a big
(02:18):
talk or your hands were shaking.
Listeners don't just understand.
Their brains mirror theirexperience.
Say my palms were sweating, andsome people's palms might
actually start to sweat.
That's because stories triggermirror neurons, making your
audience feel what you felt.
(02:38):
Research backs this up.
Ted's top talks show a 22 timesretention boost over facts
alone, according to cognitivepsychologist Jerome Bruner.
It isn't that statistics don'tmatter they do but stories give
your facts a heartbeat when youshare a mistake, a challenge or
(02:59):
a turning point, you activatethe brain's empathy center,
making your message feel humanand memorable.
Let's make this real Picture twofinancial advisors explaining
retirement planning.
One shows a compound interestchart.
The other tells a story abouthelping a client who lost their
(03:20):
job, describing late-night calls, stacks of bills and the plan
they built together at thekitchen table.
In a Wharton study,storytellers raised 300% more
funds than data-only fundraisers.
Now, vulnerability builds trust, and trust makes your message
stick.
So when you prepare your nexttalk, don't just ask what do I
(03:41):
want to say.
Instead, ask what have I livedthrough that they need to hear?
And when your story includesreal moments, listeners' brains
sync with yours.
That's neurocoupling and it'sthe reason your message truly
lands.
A story's power isn't just aboutemotion or memory, it's about
structure.
So let's see how a simpleblueprint can turn even the most
(04:03):
forgettable talk into somethingpeople actually remember.
There's a core structure behindevery story that sticks the
struggle, strategy andtransformation.
I learned this firsthand when Iwas giving a presentation
overloaded with information and,honestly, this is a problem
with academic researchpresentations in general.
(04:24):
The slides were dense and Icould feel the energy slipping
away.
People were present but nottruly engaged, so I made a
split-second decision to dropthe script and share a real
story about a time things wentsideways for me and what I
learned from it, and instantlythe room changed.
People leaned in, they sawthemselves in the story and most
(04:48):
speakers skip the struggle andjump right into the polished
success.
But research confirms thatstories with clear conflict and
resolution are far morememorable.
When I talk about messing up atalk, losing momentum or bombing
a Q&A, the response is alwaysstronger than I just list off
the wins.
The audience connects with thechallenge because it feels real.
(05:09):
When I walk through thestrategy I use to recover, like
how I rehearse differently nowor how I open with connection
instead of content, peopleactually listen.
Then I close with thetransformation, the result, the
growth, the impact and studiesshow that using this three-part
framework significantly improvesrecall and engagement.
(05:32):
This isn't just for storytellingkeynotes.
If you're explaining a product,you could say it saves 40% in
processing time.
Or you could tell the story ofsomeone drowning in manual work,
the struggle, who finds theright tool as a strategy and
finally gets their weekends backas a transformation.
That's the version that peopleremember.
Framing your audience as a herotaps into motivation.
(05:56):
Research on heroes' journeys.
In this blueprint, the audiencefaces the challenge.
You're the guide who helps themfind the solution.
The villain might be aninefficient process, a looming
deadline or even self-doubt.
When you're walking through thejourney struggle, strategy and
transformation you activatetheir problem-solving brain and
(06:18):
make your message stick.
And here's a key Don't rush thestruggle.
Stay in it long enough for youraudience to feel it.
When the struggle is real, thetransformation feels earned.
The next time you prepare atalk, start with a real
challenge.
Then show that change and whatcame next.
(06:39):
Taking the step from your ownlife to the stage or in the
front of the room leading ameeting starts with recognizing
that your most meaningfulstories often come from moments
you didn't plan to share.
One of the stories that drewthe biggest response in my
experience wasn't about a majorachievement.
It was about a time I feltunsure and frustrated, figuring
things out as I went along.
(07:00):
The moment I shared it, peopleleaned in.
That's when I realized it's notthe polished success stories
that connect.
It's the honest, everydaymoments.
The mistakes, the pivots andthe lessons you take from them
are what resonates.
Research backs this up.
Studies show that when youshare an authentic setback, your
(07:22):
credibility rises by 43%.
Audiences don't just want tohear about your wins.
They want to know what youstruggle with and how you move
forward.
For example, a financialadvisor sharing the late night
spent reworking a client's plan,or an engineer describing the
frustration of a stubborn bugcan be more memorable than a
list of accomplishments.
Describing the frustration of astubborn bug can be more
(07:44):
memorable than a list ofaccomplishments.
These details invite listenersinto a real moment, making your
message stick.
If you want to find your beststory, try a 60-second sprint.
Spend 30 seconds describing achallenge, then 30 seconds on
how you overcame it.
That first unfiltered versionusually holds your most
(08:06):
compelling material.
Don't worry about making itperfect.
Focus on being specific.
Mention the late night emails,the doubts or the frustration.
These details are what peopleremember, and people connect
more with your tension than yourtriumph.
When you talk about the nervesbefore a big meeting or the
uncertainty after a toughconversation, your audience sees
themselves in your story, andwhen you explain what you tried
(08:29):
or how you adjust it, you givethem something to apply in their
own lives.
So how do you know if a storyis worth sharing?
If it still tightens yourstomach, it's emotional gold.
That's the story that youraudience needs Leading into.
That discomfort is what makesyour message real and memorable.
The real impact of your talkdoesn't come from perfect slides
(08:52):
or polished data.
It comes from the connectionyou create.
Authentic stories are what makeyour message last when you speak
.
It's not just about theinformation you share.
It's about the impact you leavebehind.
Stories create that emotionalconnection that facts alone
can't achieve, and data showslisteners recall only 10% of
(09:13):
facts three days later anyway.
But stories improve that toaround 65%, and that's a
difference that you can use thisweek.
Pick one client story and mapit to struggle, strategy and
transformation.
Share it in your next meetingand notice how engagement shifts
.
The best speakers move peopleto action by creating
(09:34):
experiences, not just deliveringinformation.
So don't just inform, connect.
Share one story today and watchyour message stick.
Remember we're looking forprogress, not perfection.
That's all for today.
Be sure to visitspeakingwithconfidencepodcastcom
to get your free book the Top21 Challenges for Public
(09:55):
Speakers and how to Overcomethem.
You can also register for theForm of Public Speaking group.
Always remember your voice hasthe power to change the world.
We'll talk to you next time,take care.
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