171. Advice from Nontraditional Storytellers Part 2

Make your audience a part of the story.

Great storytellers don't just relay information — they create experiences. As magicians, TikTok influencers, and stand-up comedians, these masters of engagement know that true connection happens when you make your audience a part of the story.

In part two of this special series on storytelling, host Matt Abrahams explores the art of audience connection with an extraordinary lineup. For magician Alex Moffat, it’s about immersive performance. “How can I get the audience to not [just] sit there watching? They've got to be able to feel it too,” he says. As TikTok's head of creator marketing, Kudzi Chikumbu says authenticity is everything. "Be your authentic self. Show yourself in a way that other people don't." And for standup comedian Orlando Leyba, it’s about leveraging presence and responsiveness to transform a performance into a genuine conversation.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, discover how these engagement experts create stories that don't just inform or entertain — they forge genuine connections with every audience member.

Episode Reference Links:

• Alex Moffat
• Kudzi Chikumbu
• Orlando Leyba
• Ep.168 How Story Can Change Everything in Your Career
• Ep.50 Telling Good Stories: How to Use the Elements of Narrative to Keep Listeners Engaged

Connect:

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• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
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• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (00:56) - Linear vs. Nonlinear Storytelling
• (06:10) - Tools for Engaging an Audience
• (09:35) - Key Ingredients of a Good Story
• (11:24) - Authenticity in Storytelling
• (12:33) - Description in Storytelling
• (13:00) - Positivity in Storytelling
• (16:33) - Engaging Through Presence
• (18:10) - Conclusion