Presentation Thinking

Visual Designer Isabela Humphrey has always loved to draw, growing up surrounded by a family of creative people.

But her journey to becoming a successful designer wasn’t so straightforward.

From studying fashion design to side-hustling with card-making, Isabela is further proof that there are limitless pathways to becoming a full time illustrator.

Her clients now include Apartment Therapy, Refinery 29 & Google Play and don’t be surprised when she eventually starts her own artist agency “where it’s more like a co-op.”

Isabela’s continuous inspiration from the strong women in her family is apparent in her swoon-worthy Insta feed which you can follow here.

This is an episode for: aspiring illustrators, pro graphic designers & people that get pumped about the ~process~.

For this episode’s “Presentation Book Club” discussing Making Numbers Count, we brought on our favorite CFO and the biggest “numbers guy” we know—Kip McCauley.

Kip and Mikey break down their takeaways from Chip Heath and Karla Starr’s 2022 book, Making Numbers Count.

How can we most effectively communicate data and numbers? It’s all about painting pictures, comparing them to human terms or translating to a more digestible scale.

This is an episode for people that deal with data, reports, and everyone who’s intimidated by it.

P.S. Kip is leading our 11/15 webinar, “Do Data, Better” on the same subject! Register here.

We’ve arrived at the SEVENTH and final of the 7 Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories —Rebirth.

While “rebirth” conjures up images of a phoenix rising from the ashes, we now might also think of a wilting rose in a castle or the Ghost of Christmas Past. Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast & A Christmas Carol are all familiar classics that can be considered a “rebirth” plot.

A dark shadow, menacing threats & finally, a redemption figure are key components in resolving a Rebirth story.

We’re excited to wrap up these 7 story frameworks with which you can/should start any project.

Are you (or your project) the hero that needs redeeming? The solution to overcoming the monster? The map to guide one’s Quest?

Assigning a plot and making a story out of something builds a more compelling case—and hopefully a happy ending.

It’s all here for you in Christopher Booker’s 7 Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories.

Lianna Patch knows the power of making someone laugh.

In fact, she’s built her own business around it. Punchline Copy is one of many projects for this speaker, stand-up and professional conversion copywriter.

After Mikey saw her present in Mexico City, we did a classic cold email to get her aboard the pod—and boy, was it worth it.

From copywriting tips like her very professional “We-We" process, to bombing onstage, to running a full-on COURSE on infusing your marketing with humor, Lianna’s experience is so valuable. And hilarious.

This is an episode for speakers, wannabe speakers, copywriters & stand-ups alike.

On its surface, The Tragedy is a story we all know well—a sad and dark string of events that ultimately lead to a hero’s doom. (Debbie downer, I know).

But for Christopher Booker’s book 7 Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories, it follows another clear plot pattern that is well worth studying. From Romeo and Juliet to Bonnie and Clyde, tragedies tell us about a hero/heroine’s run with temptations, greed, lust and hubris.

Does a brush with death ALWAYS resolve a plot? And how could they serve as cautionary tales in our presentations?

Welcome to Presentation Book Club. Let’s talk about tragedies.

Todd Henry is an “arms dealer for the creative revolution.” And if that branded phrase of his doesn’t strike a creative chord somewhere deep inside you, well, keep moving.

An international speaker, we’ve had the privilege of hearing from Todd on both big and small stages. For this episode, he joins Presentation Thinking to chat about translating creative concepts into slides for the stage.

Author of six books, the most recent release called Daily Creative, Todd is also an expert on how to maintain prolific, brilliant and healthy work. AND he’s the host of the popular podcast, “The Accidental Creative.”

We’re big fans and constantly inspired by him—and know you will be too.

If you think you know the “Comedy” plot structure from Christopher Booker’s The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories as the “SuperBad” movie or Jim Carrey’s slapstick—you’re not wrong.

But you don’t have the full picture.

This plot structure has undergone an evolution throughout history starting with Aristophanes’ “Old Comedy” in ancient Greece to an introduction of lovers facing ridiculous obstacles until finally, Shakespeare transformed it into the kind of Comedy that we know and love today.

And, plot twist—it doesn't necessarily have to be out loud “ha-ha” funny.

While Booker’s examples might be a bit outdated, Mikey and Molly are here to apply it to relatable Rom-Coms and Judd Apatow productions that will have you questioning what IS and ISN’T a comedy story arc.

“Voyage and Return” clocks in as the FOURTH plot of Christopher Booker’s The 7 Basic Plots book, bringing you a few all-time classic stories.

While Booker walks us through the commonalities in Alice and Wonderland, Wizard of Oz & Peter Pan, Mikey and Molly applied the plot to some PIXAR favorites—Toy Story and UP!

The idea of embarking on our own ambling journey is one of the most relatable plot shapes yet. Some of the best presentations are ones that share their respective “Voyage”....and “Returns.” (Get it??)

Tune in for more storytelling breakdowns, what we can learn from the “Thrilling Escape” & a call-back to why PIXAR is always making us cry.

Everyone enjoys a good sense of humor.

But have you ever wondered what it might do for your career? Or better yet, your next presentation??

Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas are students of silliness. Having researched and taught on the subject at Stanford, their book, Humor, Seriously gets straight to the heart of the funny bone.

They walk us through the anatomy of funny, the psychology behind it and how to be more successful at work by being funny—all with the research and data to prove it.

Loyal listener Breece Justice joins Mikey and Molly for this book club episode comedy nerds are sure to love.

Our take? Humor, Seriously is seriously fun.

As we continue with Christopher Booker’s The 7 Basic Plots book, “The Quest” is his third “story shape”, lending itself to some of the most epic stories of all time.

Homer’s Odyssey, Moby Dick, Lord of the Rings (kind of).

We all cheer when the hero sets out to get the prize, destroy the ring, achieve the dream—but what are the lessons learned along the way?

What are the patterns we can implement into our Presentation Thinking world?

Is The Goonies a “Quest” kind of story??

Time to set out on our own Quest journey and find out.