Teaching Through Better Stories in Sacrament Meeting Talks & Lessons | An Interview with Matthew Dicks

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in July 2019.
Matthew Dicks is an author, columnist, teacher, storyteller,
podcaster, blogger, playwright, and more. He is the co-founder and
artistic director of Speak Up, a storytelling organization that
produces shows throughout New England as well as a weekly podcast,
and the author of Storyworthy. He's also the CEO of StoryworthyMD,
where he teaches storytelling online. He consults with Fortune 500
companies, universities, attorneys, entrepreneurs, the clergy, and
many more on storytelling and communication. Matthew is a 58-time
Moth StorySLAM champion and 9-time GrandSLAM champion and has told
stories for a wide range of events, radio shows, and performance
venues. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Elysha, and their
two children. Highlights 07:26 With his wife runs an organization
called “Speak Up” which puts on storytelling events 08:13 The
science of telling a good story, i.e., public speaking in an
engaging way 10:15 Basic storytelling principles: Know what a story
is: a moment in your life that is transformational and reflects
change over time, as opposed to a simple retelling of chronological
events. Ask yourself: Am I speaking about a moment in my life that
changed me in some way? You can’t really change your audience with
a story unless that story changed you. Share something of yourself,
that makes you authentic and vulnerable. Being vulnerable to others
also makes you safe to others, and they will be more willing to be
vulnerable with you. Set out to have your listeners feel like they
connected with you in the end. Showing emotion is acceptable so
long as you can speak your truth in a clear way. 21:10 Teaching
from scripture versus sharing of yourself It is hard for people to
care about the scriptural content or lesson unless they can see a
relatable example of application from a person they trust. 24:26
Using our own stories versus using “borrowed” stories, e.g., using
a story given in General Conference in a sacrament meeting talk
Telling your own story is the best way to be authentic. 26:50
Improving our storytelling: “Homework for life”: Before going to
bed, ask yourself “what’s the most story-worthy moment of today?”
Write it down. Explore why and how the experience changed you. Matt
has noticed that he has changed every day of his life, as
documented in his “Homework for life” spreadsheet. Frame of the
story is most important: what is the end, and what is the
beginning? Must have some entertainment value. Jump right into the
story. Stay within the story. Remember the story without
memorizing–rehearse! Tell the story in “scenes”. How to tell a
story “on the spot”: what does something mean to me? Listeners
should know how you are different at the end of the story from the
beginning. Asking “why?” five times about your storyworthy moments.
I.e.: Today I was changed by X experience. Why did X experience
change me? Why A? Because B. But, why B? Because C. Why C? Because
D. Etc. 55:21 Storytime! 65:49 Reviewing and deconstructing the
story 72:25 How storytelling has helped him become a better person
Links MatthewDicks.com Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and
Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling TED Talk:
Homework for Life Speak Up Storytelling StoryworthyMD.com YouTube
stories Art of Manliness podcast episode Watch this podcast on
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