#208. TED Talkin’: Angus Fletcher on the power of plot twists

Angus Fletcher is the ultimate Presentation Thinker. Currently the Professor of Story Science at Ohio State University’s “Project Narrative”, the world’s leading think-tank for the study of how stories work, Angus started out in neuroscience, realized the brain isn’t data-driven, got into the story science and walked away with a PhD in Literature from Yale. (Phew!) He worked in Hollywood, helped design AI and now writes books and teaches.This varied background provides unique insights into niche perspectives such as the one provided in this 2025 TED Talk, Twist Your Fate: Overcoming Adversity with Your Story. Angus shares that a group of veterans were working through depression and PTSD and it wasn’t until trying journaling that there was a breakthrough. It wasn’t necessarily the content of this veteran’s particular story, but the plot twists that allowed its author to realize what they were capable of. Angus dives into the science behind this story device and how it can help us in work and life—and, of course, presentations. This is an episode for: speakers, writers and story nerds of all kinds.What’s in the Spice Cabinet? Watch Angus’s TED TalkTwist your fate: Overcoming Adversity with your storyFollow Angus’s work:His websiteWe’re particularly obsessed with his FAQ page