Episode 95

full
Published on:

8th Oct 2025

Are you telling stories that connect—or delivering information your audience soon forgets?

Stories bring content to life and add relevance. Tune in for key insights for lasting impact.  

In this insightful SPEAKPact episode, learn how  effective storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for connection—transforming complex ideas into relatable narratives that audiences remember.


Resonate with your audience on a deeper level to grow in demand.


Effective speakers focus less on themselves and more on their audience, listening to cues and adapting their message for maximum impact.


 — Uncover how developing storytelling skills requires practice, timing, and delivery—and how capturing even one story a day from real-life experiences can sharpen your craft.


 — Discover why finding your unique style and authentic voice is essential, because true influence comes from originality, not imitation.


 — Recognize the importance of mentors who can guide and inspire, while remembering that your path and stories must ultimately reflect your own journey.


 — Explore how great leaders and communicators know that transitions—even the messy middle—can be reframed into purposeful stories that inspire growth.


 — Master the art of crafting stories with intention and a positive outcome, because when done well, storytelling doesn’t just inform—it transforms.



IMPLEMENT:


Storytelling builds connection – It transforms complex ideas into relatable narratives that audiences can understand and remember.


Audience-first mindset – Effective speakers listen to their audience, read cues, and adapt their delivery instead of making the talk solely about themselves.


Practice sharpens your craft – Capturing even one story a day from real-life experiences helps refine timing, delivery, and impact.


Authenticity matters – True influence comes from finding your unique style and voice, not imitating others.


Mentorship accelerates growth – Guidance from mentors can refine your storytelling, but your stories must still reflect your own journey.


Reframe challenges as stories – Great communicators know how to turn transitions into purposeful stories of growth and resilience.


Craft with intention – Stories should have clear purpose and positive outcomes; when done right, they don’t just inform—they transform.


Science meets art – Understanding the structure and steps of storytelling provides a framework, while delivery adds emotional impact.


Leadership through story – Authentic personal stories build credibility, trust, and stronger connections with audiences.


Think in stories – Approaching communication as a series of narratives ensures your message lands with clarity, purpose, and resonance.


Antoniette Roze and Doug Thompson discuss the importance of storytelling in making technical subjects like AI and cybersecurity relatable and engaging. Doug shares his journey from a technical background to becoming a storyteller, emphasizing the need to connect with audiences through relatable narratives.


Doug outlines the science behind storytelling, the importance of listening to audiences, and the eight steps for crafting a compelling story.  He also underscores the value of discovering one’s unique storytelling style and highlights the impact of mentoring others on their storytelling journey.


They explore the nuances of authentic leadership and the role of personal storytelling in building meaningful connections with audiences.  They also discuss the process of finding one’s authentic voice amidst external influences and the importance of crafting stories that truly resonate.


Finally, Doug and Antoniette emphasize the need for speakers to think in stories, understand their audience’s needs, and deliver messages with both purpose and authenticity.


Uncover how storytelling bridges the gap between complexity and clarity, turning even technical topics like AI and cybersecurity into messages that truly resonate.  You’ll explore the science behind crafting powerful stories, the art of authentic delivery, and why your unique voice—not imitation—is your greatest asset.


Don’t just inform—learn how to transform yourself as a speaker.


Ready to transform your talks from forgettable to unforgettable?  Tune in now and master the storytelling skills that will set you apart as a speaker and leader!


LEARN MORE at https://taplink.cc/1antoniette 


Connect with our guest, Doug Thompson at:


https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedougthompson/


https://thedougthompson.com/ 



Show artwork for SPEAKPact

About the Podcast

SPEAKPact
Speakers, Authors, & Experts leverage SPEAKPACT to bridge the gap between their expertise and the hosts who book them. It is a stage where experts are empowered, connections are formed, and speaking careers are launched to the next level. Celebrated Speaker Agent and large-scale event producer, Antoniette Roze, brilliantly merges thought leaders in wellbeing and optimum performance with the producers who look for them. Cultivate rapport with producers and veteran speakers who share their insider secrets, insights, and strategies to catapult your voice, brand, impact, and income to the next level.
Antoniette understands the struggle of getting seen and heard in today's noisy world and how to set you above the crowd. Seize this unique opportunity to unlock your potential, share your voice, and create your legacy by taking the guesswork and “circling the mountain” out of the equation and elevating you on the direct path to your ultimate targets. Join us as we merge thought leaders in the optimum performance space with the producers who book them and the strategies that make them household names!