Those who tell stories rule the world
“Those who tell stories rule the world” is the title of a TEDx talk by Shane Snow, a technology journalist and self-described geek. On the TEDx stage, Snow said he …
A music video about dog poop?
I enjoyed presenting about storytelling at the 2014 ECO Net Summit. In the next few posts I’ll share insights from some of my co-presenters. If you haven’t seen the “Dog …
Stories help people know what to do
Storytelling is one of my favorite topics. I often talk about stories as a way to get people to care about something. But that’s only part of what stories …
What’s wrong with your message? Make it more emotional
What’s more likely to get you to stop using pesticides on your lawn? Facts about possible impacts of pesticides on streams? Or the idea that you might harm your kids …
To make information stick, make it credible.
Why does some information stick and other information is quickly forgotten? One reason is that sticky information has more credibility. In Made to Stick, the Heath brothers offer some ideas …
New Ciscoe pruning videos; help City Fruit win $50,000!
Check out two new pruning videos I produced with zany Ciscoe Morris, Seattle gardening guru, for City Fruit. In “This Branch Must Go!” Ciscoe teaches Kristen Ramer Liang how to …
A tiny bottle of arsenic
When Dave Galvin talks about why we need to manage hazardous waste from houses and small businesses, he sometimes holds up a tiny bottle of rat poison. It’s 100% arsenic. …
Telling the Alzheimer’s story
What will get people to care about an issue? A personal story is often an effective way. It connects with people’s emotions, and that is more likely to lead to …
Santa Claus in an airline safety video?
Can you think of anything more boring than an airline safety announcement? When the flight attendant or video starts telling me how to fasten my seat belt, I quickly glance …
Keep it simple–but not stupid
In my first professional job, I worked for an academic book publisher, Westview Press. My role was book promotion, trying to persuade libraries and professors to buy our books. Each …