Using Story Intelligence to Stay Authentic in the Age of AI with Gabrielle Dolan – The Writing Coach Ep. 224

In this episode of The Writing Coach podcast, I'm joined by Gabrielle Dolan, a leadership communication expert, keynote speaker, and the author of eight books on storytelling, including her latest, Story Intelligence: The Craft of Authentic Storytelling Made Smarter with AI. Gabrielle shares how nearly two decades in senior leadership and change management at one of Australia's largest banks led her to a powerful realization: stories communicate strategy, change, and ideas far better than data and slide decks alone. That insight inspired her to leave corporate life and teach storytelling as a core leadership and communication skill. Together, explore: Why logic alone doesn't persuade and how emotion really drives decisions  The four key types of stories you can use—parables, public, professional, and personal  Why personal stories are the most underused yet most powerful in building trust and credibility  How specificity (like "red back spider" and "Copperhead snake") makes stories more vivid and memorable  The biggest communication failures in large organizations and how story can fix them  What Gabrielle means by "story intelligence" and why authenticity is at its core  How to use AI as a creative partner to find and refine your stories—without losing your voice  The growing distrust of AI-polished content and how writers can stay credible in a skeptical world  If you're a writer, coach, or leader wondering how to stand out in an AI-driven, trust-poor environment, this conversation will help you communicate with more clarity, impact, and authenticity—on the page and in person Check out the episode now!