Speak Up Storytelling #63: Esam Boray

On episode #63 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Elysha Dicks and I talk storytelling!

In our follow-up segment, we read listeners’ emails about diversity in storytelling, the intersection between vulnerability and social media, and another way of approaching Homework for Life.

We also announce our latest partnership with a fantastic new venue.

STORYTELLING SHOWS 2019-2020

September 7: “Tests” at Real Art Ways
November 2: Great Hartford Story Slam, Hartford Flavor Company
November 9: Sara Kaplan: Champion of the World at Emmanuel Synagogue, West Hartford, CT
November 23: Twenty-one Truths About Love book release, CT Historical Society, Hartford, CT
December 14: “Crafty” at CT Historical Society, Hartford, CT
January 11: Speak Up at the Wadsworth Atheneum
April 4: Speak Up at the Unitarian Universalist Society, Manchester, CT

STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS 2019

October 4-6: Storytelling workshop, Art of Living Retreat, Boone, NC
October 25-27: Storytelling workshop (beginners), Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
November 9: Storytelling workshop (Beginner), CT Historical Society
November 16: Storytelling workshop (Advanced), CT Historical Society
December 6-8: Storytelling workshop (advanced), Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
January 25: Storytelling workshop (Beginner), CT Historical Society
February 22: Storytelling workshop (Advanced), CT Historical Society

In our Homework for Life segment, I talk about a brief but important moment that took place beside a baggage carousel in an airport and how storyworthy moments can sometimes happen in the blink of an eye.

Next we listen to a story by Esam Boray.

Amongst the many things we discuss include:

The power of contrast in storytelling
Turning a story about something huge and incomprehensible into something much smaller and universalCombining anecdotes into a more cohesive narrative
The importance of knowing key characters in a story well before putting them into action
Slowing down key moments in stories to allow the action to unfold for your listeners

We then answer a listener questions about noticing and documenting small changes over time, avoiding over-rehearsing a story, and managing my Homework for Life spreadsheet.

Finally, we each offer a recommendation.

LINKS

Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling

Purchase Twenty-one Truths About Love

Homework for Life: https://bit.ly/2f9ZPne

Matthew Dicks’s website: https://matthewdicks.com

Matthew Dicks’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/matthewjohndicks

Matthew Dicks’s blog:
https://matthewdicks.com/matthewdicksblog

Subscribe to Matthew Dicks’s weekly newsletter:
https://matthewdicks.com/matthewdicks-subscribe

Subscribe to the Speak Up newsletter:
https://matthewdicks.com/subscribe-speak-up

Subscribe to Matthew Dicks’s blog:
https://matthewdicks.com/subscribe-grin-and-bare-it

RECOMMEDATIONS