Storytelling That Sticks for Business and Life

doug@dougstevenson.com 1-719-310-8586 - Tucson, Arizona How do you design a speech that works at all levels? It's smart, inspiring and generates income. If you've got lots of speech elements but they don't all fit seamlessly together, the Dynamite Shuffle is the design hack you need. This process will help you choose which elements to keep and which ones to delete. What new content and ideas and s...

You were born with certain talents and aptitudes. They showed up in your personality and tendencies early on. I believe those natural talents and aptitudes revealed your organic purpose. You are here to fulfil that purpose. In this episode, Doug explores what it means to live a life of purpose.

There is a critical moment in every story where the trajectory of the story changes. It can be a powerful and pivotal moment, or it can be an ordinary moment that no one even notices. When you incorporate this seven second technique called Hold the Moment into your storytelling repertoire, your story will go from good to great. Contact: doug@dougstevenson.com

The magic of storytelling is in the details. It's the small but colorful details that make a story come alive. But what if you can't recall every detail because the event of the story happened months or years ago? The answer is called Creative License. Creative license is a permission structure that allows you to fill in the blanks with non-consequential choices. Was her name Bridget or Diane? Pic...

When you are 100% true to yourself, complete within yourself in front of an audience, they will choose to come to you. This requires you to focus IN to who you are, what you have to say and how you want to say it. When you invite the audience to meet you where you are, you become magnetic and attractive. It's your energy and presence that attracts people to you as well as your content.  Contact: d...

Is the story of the life that you are living a story that you are proud to share with your audience? Create a new and inspiring story by making a brave choice. It's a new year and an opportunity for you to turn the page and begin a new chapter in your life. Is the year 2025 the year you Focus Forward and make a brave choice? A brave choice is one that scares and excites you. Change is scary. Remai...

Ty Boyd has some amazing wisdom to share from his decades of speaking experience. He once spoke in front of an audience of 80,000 people. He says, "It's not about being perfect, but rather about stepping into the deep water and finding your authentic brilliance." He encourages us to put our passion into what we do and to tell our truth through our personal stories. Ty Boyd passed away in 2020 havi...

Dr. Terry Paulson is a profession speaker on the topics of leadership, humor and change management. He takes storytelling seriously and, in this episode, he offers practical tips on how to make your stories stick with humor, physicality and deliberate craft. He is the author of Leadership Truths One Story at a Time. One of the insights he shares is how you can find your best personal stories by pi...

Alvin Law was born with no arms. He has been speaking and performing since the age of three. His stories of resilience and perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity are inspiring. He sings, tap dances and plays the drums. Alvin has stories to tell.   His stories about celebrating the beauty from within are rich with emotion and meaning. This podcast is one you'll want to watch on You Tube...

Pegine is a force of nature and an inspiration for anyone who feels that they don't fit into any category or box. She says: "In the sharing of who we are the world expands." The nuggets of wisdom she shares about speaking and storytelling are practical, powerful and motivating. In this interview you will hear the method behind her keynote and storytelling madness as she shares her powerful story o...

Robert Kennedy believes that it's more important to focus on transformation than information. His stories are rich in imagery and emotion while being strategic about the point or lesson. His energy and style inspire people to find their own voice as a speaker just as he has.   Contact: Robert Kennedy III at   inquiries@robertkennedy3.com?  

Can a story boost your career? Can a story change the trajectory of your life? It can, if you take your stories seriously and learn the secrets of story mastery. Kelly Swanson is not only a masterful and mesmerizing storyteller, but she also understands story craft and performance, and she's an expert at teaching how to elevate your storytelling skills. Listen and learn as she tells the tale of th...

What if, after you finish speaking, everyone just stands up and leaves? Does that mean your presentation wasn't a success? Or did they leave immediately because they had another session to get to? In this episode, I discuss a philosophy that helps you know that your message, your story, and your content ideas made an impression on each audience member, even if they don't let you know it. Contact:...

Are you thriving or just surviving? What role do the stories we tell ourselves affect our ability to activate and amplify thriving in our lives and in the lives of the people we work with? In this episode you'll hear how Renee Moorefield of Wisdom Works is leading a global movement of leaders and individuals who make thriving a priority at work, at home, and in all walks of society. Contact:  rene...

Imagine you're running in the 100-yard dash and just after the gun goes off, you stumble and fall. You can't recover. The race is over. That's what can happen to the speech that you've spent hours and hours working on if you don't know what to do before you speak. In this episode, you'll learn how to be prepared mentally, physically, and emotionally, before you utter your first sentence. Contact:...

For Adiba Nelson, her TEDx Tucson talk opened doors of opportunity. As a result of her TED talk, she became the subject of a documentary for PBS that won an Emmy Award. She signed a book deal to write her memoir. She was invited to share her story with speaking engagements nationwide, and it empowered her to believe in herself at a completely new level. In this episode you'll hear how she navigate...

How do you get into a creative zone – on demand? Is it possible to train your brain to be creative? Dave Liber is a Dallas Morning News columnist who writes two columns a week on deadline. He also writes books, plays, and delivers keynote speeches. He has trained his brain to be creative on demand. His TEDx Talk, The Power of Storytelling to Change the World, has been viewed over 270,000 times. Hi...

You don't need story mastery to be effective. You just need to tell your story. Carla Rocha teaches communication and storytelling skills in Lisbon, Portugal. She helps people to become more authentic in their communications to team members and clients. One of the techniques she uses is to have people share personal stories. She urges her students to start small with a personal story where they ov...

Do the Story Theater techniques and principles taught in this podcast make sense to you, but you're scared to implement them?   Are you worried about what people will think?   Do you want to be more theatrical, emotional, and powerful with your stories, but think you would be uncomfortable? How do you break the pattern of self-consciousness when speaking and telling a story? In this episode Doug w...

Lisa McInnes-Smith focuses her stories on what she wants people to think, feel, and do. She's delivered over 7000 keynote speeches and uses her stories to build the foundation for the lessons she wants to teach. She says, "The audience remembers how you make them feel, and once you're in people's hearts, you stay there." Stories ensure that your message sticks. They also grow your speaking busines...

Mark Sanborn says, " Few of us can be famous, but every one of us can be great. " He is an international bestselling author and an award-winning leadership keynote speaker. Mark challenges us to be extraordinary and to turn everyday actions into extraordinary results. He is also a master at turning everyday moments into extraordinary stories. In this episode, you'll hear how Mark crafted a simple...

How did a geeky kid, who was an average student and college dropout, become one of the most successful movie makers of all time? How did Steven Spielberg become Steven Spielberg? You'll be surprised to know the answer to that question. A Game Changer story reveals the backstory of a famous person with the goal of teaching a valuable lesson about success. How did they do it? What choices did they m...

Star Hansen's TEDx Talk has been viewed 255,000 times. Listen and learn how she came up with her Idea Worth Spreading and how she nailed her talk. She shares the intimate truth about what it was like for her to overcome her nerves, focus on her purpose and rise to the occasion. A TED Talk is unlike any other speaking experience. It forces you to get clear about your WHY, what you have to say and h...

It's not as simple as thinking, there are two types of stories: business stories and personal stories. When you understand how to use various story types, you'll be liberated to develop all kinds of strategic and relevant stories. The more you know, the higher you'll go. To help you identify relevant stories, I'm inviting you to go on a story safari with me. This list of twelve story types will tr...

It's not as simple as thinking, there are two types of stories: business stories and personal stories. When you understand how to use various story types, you'll be liberated to develop all kinds of strategic and relevant stories. The more you know, the higher you'll go. To help you identify relevant stories, I'm inviting you to go on a story safari with me. This list of twelve story types will tr...