In this First Time Facilitator episode, internationally bestselling author Matthew Dicks shares why storytelling so important, and how telling stories is not simply sharing a series of events; it’s the manipulation of emotions.

It’s a skill that can be taught and he shares some of the techniques he uses to engage his audience, whether they’re 10 year old kids, or politicians.

In this episode you’ll learn:

What a story is (and what it isn’t)

The details you should leave in your story and more importantly; the details you can leave out

How you can become more memorable by sharing things that are vulnerable, amusing or embarrassing

That it’s important to assume that no one wants to listen to anything you have to say

How to start collecting your own stories by reflecting on everyday moments

About our guest

Matthew Dicks is the internationally bestselling author of the novels Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Something Missing, Unexpectedly, Milo, The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs, and the upcoming Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling. His novels have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide.

When not hunched over a computer screen, Matthew fills his days as an elementary school teacher, a storyteller, a speaking coach, a blogger, a wedding DJ, a minister, a life coach, and a Lord of Sealand.

Matthew is a 35-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 5-time GrandSLAM champion. He has also told stories for This American Life, TED, The Colin McEnroe Show, The Story Collider, The Liar Show, Literary Death Match, The Mouth, and many others.  Heis also the co-founder and creative director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces shows throughout New England.  Matthew is the creator and co-host of Boy vs. Girl, a podcast about gender and gender stereotypes. 

Resources

Matthew Dicks

* Grab his new book! Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling

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Video: Life lessons learned while pole vaulting told by Matthew Dicks

* Video: Homework for Life by Matthew Dicks

Transcript

Read the full First Time Facilitator transcript with Matthew Dicks.

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