350: How to Tell Stories in Your Presentations that Connect to Your Message and Audience

In the last episode, I talked about connecting your personal brand and your thought leadership

Your stories and experiences are integral to both. Your stories connect you with your audience.

Have you ever heard a speaker share a story and have one of these reactions:

#1: Wow, I really feel connected to what this person is saying. I have a new perspective on my own situation.

-OR-

#2: Why is this person telling this story? I don't get how this relates to the rest of their content or why I should care or this feels icky.

You don't want to end up being the speaker where the people in the audience are having the second reaction.

You want your stories to have purpose and meaning and be of service to your audience.

In this episode, Diane Diaz and I talk about:

• Contrived vulnerability (your audience can tell)
• What contrived storytelling sounds like and feels like
• The elements of authentic storytelling
• Examples of authentic storytelling, from our clients and from our own talks

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/350/

Register for our live online workshops on Zoom this fall = https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/workshops/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 337: Sharing Your Story as a Catalyst for Transformation with Karen Keene
• Episode 341: Unearthing Your Unique Message: Discovering What Makes You Stand Out with Judy Carlson
• Episode 92: Deconstructing My TEDx Talk: Why We’re Uncomfortable with Women in Power

Become Bookable Live Online Workshop - April 15, 2026
If you want to speak more but you’re not sure where to start or your efforts haven’t produced the results you want, I’m hosting a live online workshop called “Become Bookable: How to Get Speaking Invitations” on Wednesday, April 15th.

A lot of brilliant women assume they just need to pitch themselves more. But the real reason speakers get invited isn’t because they pitch harder — it’s because they’re positioned as bookable.

In this 3-hour interactive workshop live on Zoom, I’ll show you how speakers actually get invited — and help you clarify the positioning that makes event organizers say yes.

As a podcast listener, use the coupon code “Podcast100” to save $100 on your registration.

Learn more and register at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable