MindSpeaking Podcast Episode 26 -Matthew Dicks, Author of Storyworthy
🎙️Listen on your favorite channel:
🎧 Spotify
▶️ Watch the podcast with video on YouTube:
Timestamps:
00:01 – Introduction to the MindSpeaking Podcast
00:23 – Guest introduction: Matthew Dicks
01:49 – Welcoming Matthew to the show
02:27 – Matthew's background in teaching and storytelling
03:42 – Storytelling simplifies complex information
05:07 – Storytelling's role in human history
06:04 – Matthew’s first storytelling stage experience
08:48 – Definition of storytelling: change over time
10:27 – Example of a small impactful story
14:23 – Self-reflection’s role in storytelling
17:08 – Explanation of "Homework for Life"
19:33 – Storytelling slows down and enriches life
23:27 – Using storytelling in data presentations
28:31 – Focusing on "what" and "why" over "how"
31:31 – Overcoming fear of personal stories
37:59 – Step-by-step guide to crafting stories
42:06 – Using characters and specificity effectively
48:48 – How to tell better vacation stories
52:17 – Where to connect with Matthew Dicks
Summary:
In this episode of the MindSpeaking Podcast, host Gilbert Eijkelenboom interviews Matthew Dicks, a world champion storyteller, author, and storytelling coach. They explore the power of personal storytelling and how data professionals can use it to communicate insights more effectively.
Key insights include:
✅ How to find stories in everyday life – using Homework for Life to capture meaningful moments.
✅ Why personal stories matter in business – and how to use them without feeling awkward.
✅ Step-by-step methods for crafting engaging, concise, and impactful stories.
✅ The role of vulnerability in making stories memorable and building trust.
✅ How to avoid overwhelming your audience with too much detail – focusing on the what and why, not the how.
Matthew shares practical storytelling techniques that data professionals can apply in presentations and stakeholder communication to increase engagement, trust, and impact.
Introduction
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
I’ve been eagerly looking forward to this episode because today’s guest is Matthew Dicks. Matthew is an author of eight books, including Storyworthy, a book about storytelling that deeply resonated with me. He’s won numerous storytelling awards, and today, we’re diving into:
How to find stories in your everyday life (especially if you think you don’t have any).
Why personal stories are more impactful than generic ones and how to use them in business.
A step-by-step method for crafting compelling stories, particularly for data presentations.
How to be more concise, use metaphors effectively, and deliver stories with impact.
If you’ve ever struggled with making data engaging or gaining stakeholder buy-in, this episode is packed with insights. Let’s jump in!
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
Thanks for having me! I’m thrilled to hear you liked the book.
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
Let’s start by setting the scene. For those who don’t know you, can you share some background on your journey? I know you’ve had quite an eventful life.
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
Sure. I’ve been an elementary school teacher for 25 years, and I still teach today. While I’ve won many storytelling competitions and worked with businesses and nonprofits, my success comes from my ability to break complex ideas into small, repeatable steps—just like teaching 10-year-olds long division.
Storytelling is a skill you can build over time. Unlike math, where one mistake gives you the wrong answer, storytelling allows you to improve with each new technique you learn. That’s why I’ve been able to help so many people—from corporate professionals to kids—become better storytellers.
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
That’s fascinating! Many data professionals struggle with simplifying complex topics. Has your storytelling career influenced your teaching?
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
Absolutely! Even before I stepped on stage, I realized that the most powerful way to connect with my students was through personal stories. When they know you—not just as a teacher, but as a person—they become more engaged.
I’ve also discovered that if 10-year-olds can become great storytellers with a little practice, adults certainly can too!
The Power of Storytelling in Business & Data Communication
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
Many people say storytelling is innately human. Would you agree?
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
Yes! Before writing existed, storytelling was how we passed down essential knowledge—like which berries were poisonous or how to survive. Our brains are wired to remember stories more than anything else.
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
At some point, you stepped on stage for the first time. Can you take us back to that moment?
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
Yes! My friends pushed me to compete at The Moth, a live storytelling event in New York. They told me, “You’ve had the worst life of anyone we know,” which isn’t exactly a compliment, but they weren’t wrong!
I didn’t plan to get on stage—I even hoped my name wouldn’t be drawn from the hat. But when it was called last, my wife kicked me under the table and said, “That’s your name!” I hesitated, but as soon as I started speaking, I realized I had been storytelling all my life—in classrooms, at weddings as a DJ, and even as a kid at summer camp.
That night, I got hooked.
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
Many people find storytelling intriguing but also abstract. How do you define a story?
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
A story is change over time. It’s not just reporting events—it’s about transformation. Most corporate presentations list facts, but lists are forgettable. A real story starts in one place and ends in another.
How to Discover Your Own Stories
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
Many people, including myself, have thought: I don’t have enough stories to tell. How can we find more stories in our lives?
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
That’s why I created Homework for Life. Every night, I ask myself: If I had to tell a story about today, what would it be? Even if nothing big happened, I write down one moment in a spreadsheet—just two or three sentences.
At first, I expected to find one new story per month. Instead, I discovered my life was full of untold stories—I just hadn’t been paying attention. Over time, I went from noticing 1.6 stories per day to 7.8 stories per day!
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
I’ve been practicing this, and it truly makes time slow down. You remember more, reflect more, and even find connections to business and communication.
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
Exactly! Time doesn’t fly—it just feels that way if we don’t mark meaningful moments.
Applying Storytelling to Data Presentations
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
Many data professionals need to communicate complex insights to non-technical stakeholders. How can they use storytelling effectively?
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
First, make it relatable. I worked with a biotech company that made 14 different tube sizes for experiments, while competitors offered only one.
Instead of talking about data, their best presenter simply told a story about grocery shopping. He described how his family prefers different types of apples—Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious. The alternative? Buying just one type and telling everyone to deal with it.
That simple metaphor resonated more than any chart. It generated more leads than all the other scientists combined—because it was memorable and human.
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
That’s brilliant! Many analysts struggle with sharing personal stories in business. They fear it’s not appropriate. What do you say to that?
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
If you want to be forgettable, do what everyone else does. But if you want to stand out, dare to be different.
The most successful presentations contain personal elements. That doesn’t mean sharing your life story—it means weaving in small, human moments.
One executive I worked with was terrified of sharing personal details. But when she finally included a 30-second anecdote about having an idea after three glasses of wine on a lonely Tuesday night, she had more people approach her after her talk than ever before.
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
So vulnerability, specificity, and contrast make a story compelling?
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
Exactly! A great story has:✔ Contrast (start vs. end)✔ Specificity (not "a restaurant", but "a tiny café in Paris")✔ Emotion & vulnerability (sharing real struggles or humor)
Final Thoughts & Where to Connect
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
This conversation has been packed with insights! Where can people find more of your work?
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:
For business storytelling: StoryworthyMD.comFor my books, blogs, and personal work: MatthewDicks.com
🎙️ Gilbert Eijkelenboom:
I highly recommend Storyworthy and Someday is Today. Thank you, Matthew, for sharing your storytelling secrets!
🗣️ Matthew Dicks:Thanks for having me!
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