Presentation Thinking

Hayley Langsdorf is an artist that uses Sharpies to illustrate big ideas from board rooms and beyond. She is a self-described “live scribe” for events, meetings and conferences. 

Hayley’s 2019 TED Talk, “Drawing out our collective intelligence", draws out—literally—the power of the pen. As humans, we’re all moved by story; and when visuals are added, it’s extra memorable. 

Even simple figures and shapes—doodles during meetings to help illustrate what was talked about can create a more powerful record than a list of bullets. 

Hayley’s talk reminds us that simple visual storytelling can help support day-to-day communications. She argues that drawing out ideas to get on the same page could help reduce over-used jargon, excess emails and even combat stifling office environments. 

Business communicators, consider this your cue to get the colored pack of Sharpies. 

This is an episode for: doodlers, communicators of all kinds and self described “non creatives”.

What’s in the Spice Cabinet? 

Watch Hayley’s talk for yourself:

• “Drawing Out Our Collective Intelligence”

Find more of Hayley’s work

• Thoughts Drawn Out

• LinkedIn

This TED talk reminded us of…

• The “Marketoonist” extraordinaire, Tom Fishburne - author of Your Ad Ignored Here 

• Tim Pollard’s work- author of The Compelling Communicator

• Wes Kao’s work on keeping people engaged 

Hayley’s dream talk (according to us)

• Venue? - Something hosted by Bic or Micron or Sharpie?? 

  Walkout song? Beautiful World by Colin Hay

If you are interested in presentation design, you might already know Mike Parkinson—founder of Billion Dollar Graphics, speaker, trainer and self-described “visualization and graphics geek”. 

Mike joins Mikey to chat about how he got into such a niche business, his “M&M” approach, visual storytelling through data and, of course, how AI is shaping the design landscape. 

In Mike’s realization that AI isn’t going anywhere and his feeling that designers should embrace that fact, he’s developed 3 truths around this:

1. Designers or creatives who embrace AI will thrive 

2. AI might always be part of the process—but it won’t be the product

3. As designers, we want to be able to learn to use the right tool the right way. Use your tools accordingly! 

This is an episode for: designers of all kinds, data viz nerds and anyone curious how to work with AI, rather than against it.

What’s in the Spice Cabinet? 

Where to find Mike’s work:

• Billion Dollar Graphics

• Follow Mike on LinkedIn

• He may or may not be working on a new book…stay tuned! 

Rapid fire round:

• Google Slides or PowerPoint: [no hesitation] PowerPoint!!! 

• Fave color? Blue - apparently the most universally appealing color

• Dream presentation place? Croatia 

Go-to walkout song?

• Titanium - David Guetta, Sia
  

After exploring WHAT Visual Storytelling is with Creative Director Allie Wilson in Episode #166, we thought it’d be useful to establish exactly HOW to achieve successful Visual Storytelling. What are the “rules” to implement in each of your slides?

In this episode, Molly sources data directly from presentation designers of GhostRanch to inform several clear “rules” for visual storytelling—keeping ONE idea per slide, establishing a clear hierarchy of information, being intentional with content and keeping your style consistent. While these may seem like simple concepts, breaking out of the typical Header + Bullets style can go a long way.

In our continuous journey for Presentation Excellence, we talk about avoiding the dreaded “Death by PowerPoint” a lot. By establishing these clear parameters, Molly also gives context and a 2025 update to that constant corporate phrase.

This is an episode for: non-designers, visual storytellers and anyone that creates presentations. 

What’s in the Spice Cabinet? 

Watch David JP Phillips’ OG TED Talk:

• “How to avoid death by PowerPoint”

• Listen to Mikey and Molly discuss it in Episode #67

Want to dig into DEFINING what Visual Storytelling is? 

• Queue up Episode #166 with Creative Director Allie Wilson

Need help establishing the type of slide you’re working with to get started?

• Prezent has a great blog - “10 powerful visual storytelling examples for successful presentations”

Want to improve your storytelling skills on a holistic level? 

• Join us at Story Camp July 23-24 in Park City, Utah!

We finally got around to talking about who some refer to as the “father of storytelling”—and the 3 Act Structure—the one and only Aristotle.

In this “Book Club”-esque episode, Mikey and Molly read “Poetics”—an exploration of genre and the elements that make a great story all that it is. 

Film buffs and students of storytelling have been examining it for years and we’re here to make our own Presentation Thinking connections. 

From the “tragic beats” in a plot, to character arc, to the “cherry on top” that is song and spectacle—Aristotle’s early mappings of storytelling still resonate strongly today.

This is an episode for: film buffs, story nerds and Aristotle fan-girls.

What's in the Spice Cabinet?

Read Aristotle's “Poetics” for yourself. Note that quotes and experience will vary slightly depending on the translation you read 

• Buy the book (from a local bookstore!)

• Read it online

Some helpful extras summarizing “Poetics”

• Ask Literature (YouTube)

• StudioBinder - tons of film references! (YouTube)

• Study.com Summary

• Screencraft (Blog)

How did we get into this again?

• Aristotle’s rules of storytelling come highly recommended by award-winning writer Aaron Sorkin his Masterclass

Want to improve your storytelling skills? 

• Join us at Story Camp July 23-24 in Park City, Utah!

Aristotle’s walkout song?

• Molly says that country music is full of good storytelling so—Goodbye Earl by The Chicks 

Social scientist Christopher Cummings takes the TED stage with his talk “The dark magic of communication: how we manipulate others” to show us that communication is like magic—and magic can be used for good or evil. (Dun dun dunnnnnn!)

What kind of “dark magic” could we be talking about? As a social scientist and health/risk communicator, part of Christopher’s job is assessing risk and just how dangerous or risky something actually is. We all know there’s a difference between perceived risk and actual risk but how does that get determined? 

Christopher walks us through synesthetic ideation, the risk algorithm, how ‘affect’ and ‘fear’ both play a role in communicating risk and why it’s important to be critical of headlines and overly hyped media.

Mikey and Molly have seen their fair share of neuroscience-backed communication TED Talks but this was a fun (and important) new spin. 

This is an episode for: neuroscience nerds (Christopher makes it digestible!!), journalists and communicators or presenters that relay important or sensitive information. 

What’s in the Spice Cabinet? 

Watch Christopher Cummings’ 2017 TED Talk

• The Dark Magic of Communication: how we manipulate others

Who did Christopher remind us of?

• “Pete” from Hulu’s The Bear - played by Chris Witaske

(What we think) Christopher’s walkout song is? 

• Evil Woman - ELO

Have a fave TED Talk we haven’t talked about yet? Send it our way!

• [email protected]

B2B folks everywhere:

You’ve probably heard of “visual storytelling” and how important it can be for your brand and for your presentations. 

However, like many a buzzword, we’ve seen the phrase thrown around so much, we fear its true meaning is often confused with a focus on style, rather than substance. Visual storytelling goes beyond decoration, embellishment and off-brand AI imagery. True visual storytelling helps marketers achieve clarity in their communications—it helps to bring the core of our messages to life with meaning and memorability.

To join us in this Visual Storytelling deep dive, we invited Creative Director of GhostRanch Communications, Allie Wilson, to unpack its definition, how it works, why it matters now and the immense value of investing in it at all.

Because Allie presented on the same subject at the PMA Summit in NYC in March, we also get into her own Visual Storytelling methods, design red flags and how she put together her presentation.

This is an episode for: brand strategists, graphic designers and anyone that has to put together presentations.

experience of all varieties (we’re talking Oracle, Q2 and more). 

The throughline of her work? Communication is everything—and she joins the pod to share her perspective on how these soft skills (like presentations!) have evolved and shifted with the growth of product management in general. 

From establishing clear and consistent messaging to selling a vision, April doles out many a word of wisdom. (Ahem, expert alert!!) 

This is an episode for: product marketers, managers, presenters & communication nerds.

What's in the Spice Cabinet?

Find April and connect! 

• On LinkedIn! 

• Via the Women in Product Group

PowerPoint or Google Slides?

• PowerPoint

Product Marketing leader to learn from?

• Marty Cagan of the Silicon Valley Product Group - “he’s kinda like the Godfather of product”

• Check out his books and more here

April’s walkout song? 

• Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N’ Roses

Final words of wisdom for Presentation Nation?

One thing I always tell everybody that's ever worked for me when you're presenting: nobody probably knows more about this than you. So don't stop. Like when you mess up, nobody knows. You know?

...The soft skills, the presentation—it's the future. You know, it's one of the core things I look for and I know a lot of the other leaders I work alongside and have worked alongside with, look for. You can be the smartest person in the room, but if you cannot articulate what you're doing, that is a problem.

At this point in our storytelling journey, Mikey and Molly have learned a lot about the “science” of storytelling and why our brains click so well with remembering (and being moved by) narrative. 

However, journalist, author and teacher Will Storr’s 2018 TED Talk “The Science of Storytelling” presents something we haven’t heard yet. 

From understanding how our eyes are constantly evaluating for change with movements called “saccades” to understanding all stories as gossip—a means for survival and sharing of information—Will’s 6 elements of the science behind storytelling are truly unique.

Will helps to understand that through our personal “hero’s journeys”, living with purpose and applying purpose to any story is the thing that brings resolve and a “eudaemonic happiness.” In other words, the pursuit of happiness in life is part of the reason that stories can resonate so well. 

This is an episode for: Brand managers, big thinkers and story nerds.  

What’s in the Spice Cabinet?

Listen to Will’s TEDxManchester yourself

• Tune in here

Find more of Will’s work 

The one where Mikey and Molly embody their role as “students of storytelling” by taking Aaron Sorkin’s Masterclass on screenwriting. 

Aaron’s writing is literally award-winning—think A Few Good Men, The Social Network, The West Wing—so this online class seemed like a more affordable option than film school.

We dig into Aaron’s teaching style, his reverence for Aristotle and what can be gleaned in our presentation and marketing world from screenwriting tips. 

From story sequencing to letting the audience in on the secret to the importance of research (hello, win-loss interviews!)—Aaron’s advice is applicable to a broad range of mediums.

This is an episode for: storytellers of all kinds, writers and of course—film nerds.

What’s in the Spice Cabinet? 

Don’t just take our word for it! 

• Take Aaron’s class yourself

Aaron’s an Aristotle fan and so are we

• Check out the classic Poetics

Aaron’s walkout song? (He said it himself in class!)

• Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

Join GhostRanch at Story Camp this summer and practice your presentation skills!

• Learn more here

COMING THIS SUMMER to Park City, Utah—GhostRanch’s Story Camp retreat is now open to the public!! 

What is it? Story Camp is a small but mighty micro retreat this July 22-24th, 2025. No huge hotel crowds, we’re talking 40-50 people.

Who is it for? It’s for anyone that wants to level up their presentation, storytelling and soft skills. 

In fact, soft skills pay bills is part of the hypothesis that brought Story Camp into existence! 

Molly interviews Mikey about where this idea came from and how with the rapid growth of remote work, technology and AI, we’re in a soft skills gap. The ability to tell stories, to speak in front of people and simply communicate well are all part of our everyday work and life that maintain both relationships and opportunities. 

After a chill hike, some socializing by the pool, getting to practice presentation skills in your own “Lightning talk” and receiving feedback from peers, you’ll also get to hear from some incredible headliners: 

• Former White House speechwriter Terry Szuplat

• Design scientist and visual communication expert Dr. Steven Franconeri 

• Dr. Amy Cuddy—speaker and social psychologist who termed the phrase, “power poses” 

These expert Presentation Thinkers will be spitting their A-game for you and with a group this intimate, you’ll have 1:1 access to them! 

Find out more at StoryCamp.com or reach out to Mikey ([email protected]) and Molly ([email protected]) with any Qs.

See you up there, at “Presentation Excellence” altitude.