Teaching Through Better Stories in Sacrament Meeting Talks & Lessons | An Interview with Matthew Dicks

Matthew Dicks is an author, columnist, teacher, storyteller, podcaster, blogger, playwright, and more. He is the co-founder and creative director of Speak Up, a storytelling organization that produces shows throughout New England as well as a weekly podcast, and the author of Storyworthy. Matthew is a 40-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 6-time GrandSLAM champion and has told stories for a wide range of events, radio shows, and performance venues. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Elysha, and their two children. Highlights 7:26: With his wife runs an organization called “Speak Up” which puts on storytelling events 8:13: The science of telling a good story, i.e., public speaking in an engaging way 10:15: Basic storytelling principles: * Know what a story is: a moment in your life that is transformational and reflects change over time, as opposed to a simple retelling of chronological events. * Ask yourself: Am I speaking about a moment in my life that changed me in some way? You can’t really change your audience with a story unless that story changed you. * Share something of yourself, that makes you authentic and vulnerable. Being vulnerable to others also makes you safe to others, and they will be more willing to be vulnerable with you. * Set out to have your listeners feel like they connected with you in the end. * Showing emotion is acceptable so long as you can speak your truth in a clear way. 21:10: Teaching from scripture versus sharing of yourself * It is hard for people to care about the scriptural content or lesson unless they can see a relatable example of application from a person they trust. 24:26: Using our own stories versus using “borrowed” stories, e.g., using a story given in General Conference in a sacrament meeting talk. * Telling your own story is the best way to be authentic. 26:50: Improving our storytelling: * “Homework for life”: Before going to bed, ask yourself “what’s the most story-worthy moment of today?” Write it down. Explore why and how the experience changed you. * Matt has noticed that he has changed every day of his life, as documented in his “Homework for life” spreadsheet. * Frame of the story is most important: what is the end, and what is the beginning? * Must have some entertainment value. * Jump right into the story. Stay within the story. * Remember the story without memorizing--rehearse! Tell the story in “scenes”. * How to tell a story “on the spot”: what does something mean to me? Listeners should know how you are different at the end of the story from the beginning. * Asking “why?” five times about your storyworthy moments. I.e.: Today I was changed by X experience. Why did X experience change me? Why A? Because B. But, why B? Because C. Why C? Because D. Etc. 55:21: Storytime! 65:49: Reviewing and deconstructing the story 72:25: How storytelling has helped him become a better person Links matthewdicks.com Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling TED Talk: Homework for Life