How Storytelling Can Unlock Opportunities and Shape Reality
Release Date: 03/05/2025
How Storytelling Can Turn Crowd Chaos into Connection
Storytelling School
It’s my very first time at Comic-Con. I’m with my dear friend Denise, and it’s her first time, too. The second we arrive in downtown San Diego, we’re hit with a wave of everything - cosplayers everywhere, camera crews darting around, and volunteers all over the place. There are 135,000 people moving in every direction at once. It’s buzzing, massive, and honestly thrilling! Since it’s Day One, we find our way to the convention center and step onto this long escalator. We’re heading up to the top, and I’m trying to act calm - for Denise, sure, but really for myself, too. Inside,...
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200 Episodes In: Your Storytelling Masterclass in 50 Moments
Storytelling School
It’s a Tuesday morning. I am sitting in front of my computer, matcha tea in hand, staring at my podcast dashboard. A little number in the top corner catches my eye. 200 episodes, 200! Part of me can’t even believe it. I think back to those first recordings; I was so nervous, wondering if people would care about storytelling the way I do, yet week after week, I kept going. I didn’t always know if I’d have the time, the stories, or the right guests to keep it fresh. But every single conversation, every solo episode, every moment behind the mic has taught me something. And at each...
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Why Storytelling Mastery Lives in the Middle
Storytelling School
I am standing on a court in Santa Barbara, and it's my very first pickleball lesson. I arrived early and I’m already warmed up, focused and ready to do everything exactly right. In fact, even before booking this lesson, I researched every single coach in town. I landed on Richard Pastoria because he's the real deal: a professional coach for over 25 years, the resident pickleball pro at the Valley Club of Montecito, and - not only that - he also has a military background. That combination of structure and discipline and high standards speaks to me because I've been an athlete my entire life,...
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How Great Speakers Rehearse (It’s Not What You Think)
Storytelling School
I'm on a Zoom call with one of my private clients. She is a powerhouse executive and is preparing for a TED-style keynote. Her ideas are solid, and her story is incredible; it's emotional, has high stakes and everything you would want in an opening story. And the rest of her Talk? That’s epic as well. Plus, she's done the work and is ready to go. We start rehearsing and everything… falls flat. Her delivery is kind of robotic, and there's no energy in her voice. Even the transitions between her story and her insights kind of feel like speed bumps. She is reciting her script but isn't...
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The Callback Strategy Every Speaker Should Know
Storytelling School
I’m working with my client on a TEDx Talk. In her opening story, she shares a vivid moment from her childhood: She is standing on a stranger's doorstep, completely nervous and uncertain if anyone is going to answer at all. It's a small detail yet it’s emotionally powerful and completely gripping. After the story, we go ahead and develop the rest of the Talk. And as a whole, her Talk is strong. It's structured and meaningful… except when we get to the end. Something is missing. Her idea and her content are clear, but there isn't really an emotional lift at the end. I suggest going...
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What Knife Fighting Taught Me About Storytelling
Storytelling School
I am standing in the dojo, drenched in sweat. We’re in the middle of a dynamic circle knife drill, and I’m surrounded by fellow black belts, each armed with metal training knives and ready to attack in a simulation of real-life danger - fast, chaotic, and unrelenting. At first, I hold my own, fueled by adrenaline and a strong desire to prove that I can hang with the best. I move quickly, using flashy moves and relying on sheer speed, but as the drill speeds up, my technique falls apart. I'm rushing transitions, missing critical details, and losing confidence. My partners sense the...
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Why Sharing Difficult Stories Can Change Lives
Storytelling School
I'm a freshman at the University of Hawaii, living the dream on a full-ride softball scholarship. One night during finals week, my roommate and I decide to take a break from studying and grab a bite to eat. On our way back to the dorms, riding our mopeds, the unthinkable happens and I get hit… by a cement truck. I wake up five days later in the hospital with massive head injuries and indescribable pain. The doctor tells me that my sense of taste and smell is gone, permanently. For years, I don’t talk about the accident. I think, who wants to hear a story like that? It feels too...
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How Embracing Imperfection Can Transform Your Storytelling
Storytelling School
It's the early 2000s, and I get invited to speak in New York to a room full of tech heavyweights - people and thought leaders I dreamed of being in front of. I am determined to crush it, so I do what any overachiever would: I obsess. I write, rewrite, and practice endlessly. No improvising. No mistakes. I even buy a stiff, serious outfit that doesn’t feel like me but seems like something a “real” speaker would wear. On the day of the event I deliver my Talk flawlessly, every word in place. The audience claps, though I leave feeling like something is off. It was perfect, yes, but...
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How to Make Numbers Unforgettable Through Story
Storytelling School
It’s 2006. I am sitting in the audience at TED surrounded by visionaries, innovators, and thought leaders. The energy in the room is electric and everyone is buzzing with anticipation about who’s going to take the stage next and what new insight we’ll walk away with. When the next speaker, a Swedish professor specializing in global health and data, is introduced, I brace myself for a dry, academic talk full of statistics and charts. Instead, the speaker starts moving across the stage with visible, infectious enthusiasm, pointing at animated visuals and telling a story through data....
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Why Many Stories Fall Flat in the Final 10 Seconds
Storytelling School
I am coaching a speaker as she prepares for one of the biggest keynotes of her career. Her story is powerful, full of resilience and triumph. As she runs through her story, I am captivated... until it just... stops. She smiles, says thank you, and that’s it. There is no call to action and no invitation. I deliver the news, gently: her ending isn’t serving her or the audience. She pushes back because she doesn’t want to sound salesy. And while I do definitely understand her concerns, I explain that, while her story hits hard, her ending needs to hit home. So we roll up the sleeves...
info_outlineI’m running a high-stakes speaking event and, as I always do, I have everyone share their name and something interesting that may not be on their bio. We go around, one by one, with people sharing surprising facts and fun stories. The energy is light and full of laughter. Until we get to the last person who says, “Hi. I'm Sandy Zabarsky, and I just got out of prison.”
The whole room goes silent, and you can hear a pin drop. All eyes are on her, and for a split second, you can almost see the assumptions kicking in.
Is she really just out of prison?
Did I even hear that right?
She continues and says, “I've been an educator for most of my career. I’ve worked in the juvenile justice system, and I recently retired. So yes, I’ve been in prison, so to speak, for almost my entire career.”
In an instant, the meaning of her words changes completely. The tension in the room releases and transforms. Sandy Zabarsky, also known as my mom, knew that education could change the trajectory of a life by rewriting their story. She helped these kids earn their GEDs because that piece of paper could mean the difference between repeating the cycle or stepping into something new, giving them options and opportunities they might not have had otherwise.
When we look at storytelling it isn’t just about entertainment or children’s books; it’s how we shape reality, and no one knows that better than my special guest today. Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is a globally recognized education leader, known for his innovative approach to children's learning. Having held key roles at KidZania and the Children’s University, he also serves as a professor and advisor to various global education organizations.
In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll learn about why storytelling is so important in education, what common misconceptions exist about new technology, and so much more. We’ll also answer questions such as: How does storytelling impact learning? What are some hidden narratives in education that actually shape decisions and opportunities? How could storytelling be integrated into school curriculums? How can we change our mindset to embrace change instead of resisting it?
What you will learn in this episode:
- The power of perspective and how a dramatic introduction can immediately shift perceptions
- How stories make learning more meaningful than rote memorization
- The value of personal narratives and how everyone, younger and older, has valuable stories to share
- How storytelling helps us process emotions and connect with others
Who is Dr. Graus?
Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is a globally recognized leader in education, known for his unique and innovative approach to children's learning. He was the first Global Director of Education at KidZania and the founding C.E.O. of the Children’s University, advocating for equity, creativity, and progress in education. He currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the National Research University in Moscow, a Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria, and a PhD Advisory Council member at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. He holds advisory roles with various global education organizations, including Bett’s Global Education Council and Dubai Future Councils, and he has received multiple accolades, including an OBE in 2014 and the Global Education Leadership Award in 2018. His professional autobiography, Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education, is set for publication in 2025 via Routledge.
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