HACK the Art and Science of Perfect Storytelling with Karen Eber
In this episode of the Influence Anyone podcast (previously Legend Effect), host Howie Chan interviews Karen Eber, a storyteller, author, TED and Keynote speaker, and leadership consultant who has educated and inspired over three million globally. They delve into storytelling and the fact that it's not just an art, it's also a science that can be applied to amplify your message and move people, not just inform them.
The discussion emphasizes that great storytelling isn't about you, it's about your audience and truly connecting with them. Karen provides the science behind storytelling, ways to hack the five factory settings of the brain, debunks common myths, and a step-by-step guide on how to put together a compelling story, either beforehand or on the fly.
Episode Breakdown:
03:28 Karen's story of culture and tradition in the Marching Chiefs
06:07 How stories influence our brains and decisions
09:55 Leverage the power of internal stories
15:38 The do's and don'ts of effective storytelling for diverse audiences
19:03 Harness the 5 factory settings of the brain to hack the art of storytelling
28:45 Make people pay attention with this tip
30:00 Putting together the perfect story about the power of branding for skeptics
45:46 What relatable conflict actually looks like
48:39 Use prepared stories, but always connect them to the audience
51:15 How to structure the perfect story on the fly
54:36 Don't rely on just one epic story, and beware of this common mistake
1:00:06 Disco balls, fun metaphors, and visual aids
1:02:53 When to tell and when not to tell stories
1:04:47 A letter to Karen Eber’s younger self
From Our Guest:
Get the book, The Perfect Story.
Watch Karen's blockbuster TED Talk.
Quotes:
“ What neuroscientists have found is that we do make decisions subconsciously based on our long-term memory of knowledge and experiences, and these emotions and stories connect to that and can help shape people's decision making.” – Karen Eber
“ When you hear somebody talking and they're really using interesting language, interesting expressions, the brain pays attention. So, don't be afraid to be unique in what you're saying.” – Karen Eber
“The challenge is anytime you put up a slide, people stop listening to you until their brains make sense of it. So, the more complicated, the less they're listening to you.” – Karen Eber
The Influence Anyone Podcast
The #1 podcast on applied influence psychology. Each episode, Howie Chan, a veteran brand and behavior strategist sits down with world experts and practitioners to uncover the hidden psychology that helps you influence yourself (mastering your mindset, habits, and decisions) and get buy-in from others (your team, clients, and audiences.) Together, we turn science into playbooks you can apply to lead, persuade, and create extraordinary success.
New episodes weekly. Subscribe and start influencing with intention.