You're passionate about community outreach. How can storytelling enhance your impact during interviews?

Story telling elevates the human angle of social issues beyond rhetorics and imagination. It also helps to demystify data which most times are conveyed summarily and seem to be far from the lived experiences of human. I believe we all need to invest in story telling.

In medicine, we often parse big and complicated topics with patient case histories. As in the larger community, the use of storytelling, and employing narratives that reflect and capture the empathetic aspects of lived challenges, triumphs, disappointments and conundrums prove themselves as powerful tools to communicate. Stories can be, in short, a hook, to draw in one's audience, and through their telling, engage them and open them up to learn and absorb new information. see an extended version of these thoughts on my LinkedIn page posts. As they stay on the Moth Storytelling podcast, have a storyworthy week!

The power of storytelling lies in its ability to connect on a human level. When you share a story during an interview, you’re not just conveying information—you’re inviting the listener into a personal experience. A well-told story can transform your responses from mere facts into memorable narratives of challenge, triumph, and dedication. It allows you to vividly illustrate your points, showing rather than just telling why community outreach is meaningful to you.

Choose powerful stories and tell them out like they are happening now. Know your audience and keep the story telling session powerful, action packed with few breathers.

Taking and spending lots of time with interviewees. I covered a Native American Powwow. Understandably, Native American people do not trust outsiders. While scouting in advance, an elder approached, found I was writing a story and vetted me for an hour. Satisfied, he introduced me to other leaders. I spent six hours conversing with participants and when allowed, interviewing and taking photos on the first day; I spent seven hours the next. One Native person said, "Watch. The Tribune, Sun-Times and big papers will show up for the grand processional, take pictures of the Indians and be gone 20 minutes later. You stayed with us." Caring enough as a reporter about others to tell their story, in their words, is critical to a story's power.

Emotional connection is a powerful tool in storytelling, especially during interviews. Humans naturally empathize with others, and a well-told story taps directly into that empathy. When you share a story, you’re not just recounting an event—you’re inviting your listener to feel what you felt. This emotional resonance makes your passion for community outreach tangible and memorable. While stating your commitment to a cause is important, sharing a personal moment that moved you—whether it was a triumph or a challenge—brings that commitment to life.

Story telling simplifies complex ideas and experiences making them easier to understand and remember. Unique stories differentiate you from others highlighting your distinct perspective and strengths.

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Any person listening to an interview is already there for a reason, there is an emotional connection already established. Emotional connection is about why we care but even more so about the things that matter the most in our lives.

It’s easy to convey to the community a story about your self, but it becomes a little more difficult when you’re not directly involved. The way around this, is to place yourself in the situation don’t think what if this happened to me? Think or allow yourself to actually have what ever took place to be you. As an intercessory prayer I did that often. One time it was necessary for me to feel the lost of my child as I thought about coming home and being told my child ( I actually thought it to be my baby girl, which my middle child at the time) as I believed her to be dead , I honestly thought I would die. As I prayed for my friend I begain to cry almost worse than her, because the lost was so great.

Community means people. People like to be made a part of whatever is taking place. Each person has to be of importance. You must value the feelings and perspectives of each person. Make your actions and thoughts relevant to everyone. Always be sincere, honest and straightforward in everything. Whatever you say or plan conclude everyone involved.

I think strategic highlights is more about branding than skills and abilities. Its about branding, showing the impact you have made, and want to make. People will understand the vision you want to realize and if you show clear steps on how you want to reach there.

Absolutely. Without a call to action (CTA), your story might leave your audience engaged but without direction. They’ve connected with the story, felt the emotions, but what should they do next? The CTA is what guides them to the next step, turning their engagement into meaningful action. Always make sure you include one—it's crucial for moving from connection to conversion to closing.