3 Videos That Will Improve Your Storytelling Game

Hey Beyonder! 👋

For the past few weeks that I have been sharing the Storytelling Frameworks, I have been showing you how great campaigns have some fundamental storytelling frameworks that they follow.

I have broken down some of my viral videos to show you how great stories can be distilled down to a simple framework and how simple frameworks can develop itself to make great stories.

But this time I felt like breaking the pattern. I understand that it might be boring to read about a case study or a framework again and again!

So here I am, sharing some great videos that have deeply impacted me. These videos are the works that I keep going to again and again when I feel stuck. These are my pinterest for storytelling inspiration. And I will tell you why!

Ameen Haque: The Art of Business Storytelling at Google

The first time I watched Ameen Haque's talk, I wasn't looking for business advice. I was actually trying to figure out how to explain complex ideas to my friends without boring them to death.

Ameen explains something so fundamental yet often overlooked: "Facts tell, stories sell." This isn't just business jargon - it's how our brains are wired. We're naturally drawn to narratives over raw information.

What struck me most was his concept of "painting a world that people want to become citizens of." This isn't just for business presentations - this is what all great fiction writers do. They don't just tell you about a world; they make you want to live in it.

What I keep coming back to in Ameen's talk is the elegant simplicity of his "And, But, Therefore" framework:

• "And" sets up the situation

• "But" introduces the conflict

• "Therefore" presents the resolution

This framework distills storytelling to its essential elements. The power lies in the "But" - that moment of tension or conflict that makes listeners lean in, waiting for resolution. It's like a mental hook that creates a need for closure.

When you watch great TED talks or even advertisements, you'll start noticing this pattern everywhere. The speaker establishes a world, introduces a problem that disrupts it, then offers a path forward.

What I appreciate about Ameen's approach is that it strips storytelling down to its essential elements. No fancy techniques, just the core of what makes a story work.

David Perell's Conversation with Richard Powers

David Perell's podcast with Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Powers is one of those rare conversations that pulls you in completely. It's the kind of discussion that makes you want to stop whatever you're doing and just listen.

Powers shares something that completely changed how I think about creating content: "The stories that matter most are the ones that help us make sense of the world we live in."

This was a deep realization for me because I realized I had been trying too hard to be clever or original in my storytelling. Powers suggests that the best stories aren't necessarily new - they're the ones that help us understand our reality in a deeper way.

One idea that I keep coming back to is Powers' belief that stories are how we organize chaos into meaning. He explains that humans have always used narratives to make sense of complex experiences.

This perspective shifted how I approach my content. Instead of asking "Is this creative enough?"

I started asking "Does this help make sense of something important?" It's made my storytelling feel more purposeful and connected to real human needs.

The most practical takeaway from this conversation was learning to trust that my own curiosities and questions are worth exploring. Powers emphasizes that authentic wondering leads to stories that resonate far more than manufactured cleverness.

Julian Treasure: How to Speak So That People Want to Listen

Julian Treasure's TED talk addresses something I had completely overlooked: the mechanics of delivery. You can have the greatest story structure and the most authentic content, but if your delivery fails, nothing else matters.

Treasure introduces the HAIL approach:

• Honesty: Is what you're saying true?

• Authenticity: Are you being yourself?

• Integrity: Are you being your word?

• Love: Do you wish your audience well?

These four pillars create the foundation of trustworthy communication. Without them, even the most perfectly crafted story falls flat.

What I find most practical about this talk is Treasure's specific techniques for voice modulation. He demonstrates how changing your register, pace, pitch, and volume can transform the same content from forgettable to captivating.

I've been consciously practicing these techniques during everyday conversations. Lowering my voice slightly when making an important point. Using strategic pauses to let ideas land. Varying my pace to build tension and release.

The results have been immediate and noticeable. People interrupt less. They ask more thoughtful questions. They remember what I've said.

Connecting These Three Approaches

When I look at these three sources of inspiration together, I see they form a complete storytelling system:

Ameen Haque gives us the structure - how to organize information into a compelling narrative arc.

Richard Powers provides the purpose - how to find meaningful content that helps people make sense of their world.

Julian Treasure teaches the delivery - how to physically communicate so people stay engaged.

Most storytelling advice focuses on just one of these areas. But I've found that truly effective communication requires all three.

What Makes These Resources Different

What sets these talks apart from typical storytelling advice is their focus on fundamentals rather than formulas.

They don't offer quick hacks or trendy techniques. Instead, they explore the deeper principles that have made stories work since humans first gathered around fires.

These principles work whether you're creating social media content, writing an email, giving a presentation, or just having a conversation with a friend.

Your Turn: The Complete Storyteller Challenge

I'd love for you to experience the power of combining these approaches. Here's a simple exercise:

1. Choose something you care about explaining to someone (a hobby, a belief, a process)
   

2. Structure it using Ameen's "And, But, Therefore" framework:

   • "And" - What's the current situation or context?

   • "But" - What's the conflict, problem, or tension?

   • "Therefore" - What's the resolution or new understanding?
     

3. Apply Powers's authenticity test:

   • Does this story help make sense of something important?

   • Am I exploring something I genuinely care about?

   • Does it connect to real human experiences?
     

4. Practice delivering it using Treasure's techniques:

   • Vary your pace at different points

   • Lower your register for important moments

   • Use strategic pauses after key points

I'd love to hear what happens when you try this approach. What changes when you combine structure, purpose, and delivery? Reply to this email with your experience.

Remember: The most powerful stories aren't necessarily the most original or complex. They're the ones that help us organize chaos into meaning, delivered in a way that makes people want to listen.

Keep telling stories!
Epaphra

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