Episode 15: You have what you think is a great story: a first-generation student dreams of getting a college education, gets into your school, works hard and graduates. But to master storyteller and former Hollywood writer Andy Goodman, the reaction from the audience is likely to be ‘who cares?’ “What makes stories interesting are the things that surprise us. If someone tells you a story and you know from the beginning exactly where it is going, it’s just not interesting.”
Including unexpected wrong turns, bad moments and vulnerabilities not only make a story interesting, but they also allow the audience to enter the story and root for the main character. The Goodman Center that he co-founded and leads has worked for decades with major companies and organizations around the globe — including higher ed heavyweights such as MIT, USC and Michigan State — to help them understand what makes for a good story and how to go about telling it. In this fascinating conversation, Andy shares some of his key storytelling tips and techniques, and you’ll also learn how to come away from an interview with the compelling details and emotions you’ll need to keep your audience engaged and moved. And, there’s an unexpected twist near the end in which Andy shares one simple thing you can do to make your work life more productive. (See what I did there…) This episode is packed with actionable advice that I know you will find useful.
Podcast Transcript:
