There are a lot of podcasts on the subject of storytelling.

And honestly, I've tried listening to most of them.

But the one I keep coming back to, over and over again, is the “How I write” podcast by David Perell, where he interviewed Shaan Puri on the 3 principles to master storytelling.

If you are new to storytelling, here are the three main takeaways to level up your storytelling game:

Reason #1: Every story needs an intention, obstacle and stake

1. What the hero wants (intention)

2. What’s stopping them from getting it (obstacle)

3. What’s at steak for the hero (death, reputation etc.)

If you make it clear to the audience what’s at stake for the main character, allowing them to empathize with that underlying emotion or feeling, then you’ve won. For example, I can share a story from the other day when I cooked for my boyfriend, who happens to be a chef. I can paint the picture of me being scared and doubtful about my cooking abilities, coupled with the fear that if he doesn’t enjoy it, my reputation will suffer, and my ego could take a hit. As long as the audience believes that that’s true for me, the story will be entertaining.

Reason #2: Low status stories build likability and relatedness

Comedy is a low-status game. Building a connection with people means being vulnerable and even showing yourself as low-status.

The reason is that people connect more through relatable moments. Stories don’t have to be extreme. People won’t necessarily find it interesting that you went skiing and suddenly an avalanche hit you. Or that you went to this awesome party back in college. Low-stakes stories with an emotional touch can be even more relatable. Humanly mundane everyday tasks can be something other people might have experienced as well, allowing them to connect with your emotions better.

Reason #3: Work backwards from an emotion

People respond to emotions. When creating any piece of content, whether it’s telling a story or making a video, think about Jenny in her bed. She’s the typical content consumer, bored and mindlessly scrolling through social.

Now think of: What is the emotion that I need to drive for that random person to get her to stop in her tracks?

The main emotions people express alongside any content are represented by the following acronyms:

1. LOL - funny

2. OMG - surprised

3. WTF - frustration

4. WOW - disbelief, wonder, admiration

5. AWW - endearing, heartwarming

When thinking about creating a piece of content, you should be confident that it will evoke one of these emotions. Otherwise, it will create no reaction from the person and Jenny will keep on swiping.