More than a Meal: The Stories We Serve

What do a bear, a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, and a blue jean Pinto have to do with hospitality? Turns out, quite a bit.In this episode of Human at the Counter, I’m joined by Ginnie Dunleavy, Executive Director for Auxiliary Services at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), to explore the intersection of AI, storytelling, and hospitality.Drawing on Ginnie’s background as a storyteller and her leadership in a deeply creative campus environment, we talk about why great storytelling is more than marketing, it’s how we make experiences memorable, communicate what matters, and help people feel connected to the places they inhabit.Along the way, Ginnie shares a few unforgettable stories of her own. We also explore where AI can help us uncover and amplify great stories, where it risks sanding off the wonderfully weird human details that make stories worth telling, and what hospitality leaders can learn from storytelling about creating connection and belonging.Because sometimes the stories that stick aren’t the most polished ones. They’re the ones that remind us there are real humans on both sides of the counter.