Facts fade. Stories stick. That’s the core lesson behind business storytelling, and it’s the reason only 5% of listeners in one study could recall a presentation’s data points while 63% remembered the story woven through it.
In this conversation, Karin Reed sits down with Andrea Brody, Speaker Dynamics Senior Communication Coach and creator of the Inspiring Through Storytelling workshop. Andrea spent years as a television reporter before she turned her storytelling instincts into a framework that helps professionals communicate with influence in high-stakes rooms.
Andrea breaks down the three-step formula she uses to help even self-described non-storytellers uncover material they didn’t know they had. She explains why a “first, last, best, worst” exercise can surface a moment strong enough to move an entire room, and she walks through the different types of stories, from founder stories to customer stories, that build persuasive leadership communication depending on your audience.
You’ll also hear the story of an NFL prospect who used one on-field moment to prove he was a leader worth drafting, a real-world example of how memorable messaging and business storytelling work together to earn buy-in for ideas far beyond the boardroom. Listen to hear how inspiring teams through communication starts with a story you already have.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 The Corporate Case for Storytelling Skills
01:57 Andrea’s Journalism Roots and the Workshop Origin
04:02 The Research Behind Business Storytelling and Memory
05:24 The Neuroscience of Why Stories Move Us
08:19 Four Story Types Every Leader Should Know
10:14 What to Say to People Who “Can’t” Tell Stories
12:03 Finding Everyday Stories With One Simple Exercise
14:18 A Workshop Breakthrough Moment That Changed the Room
19:54 The NFL Prospect Who Won the Room With One Story
22:27 Using Story to Inspire Teams Through Hard Times
