From Stigma to Story: Reclaiming Taboos for a Better Future
Ari Mostov
Narrative Strategist | Deep Tech Storytelling + Comms | Making Complexity Compelling
originally published on Medium
The taboo never deterred me.
In fact, I built my early career around demystifying taboos, working on documentaries about sexual violence and TV shows about polygamy. Underneath the layers of societal expectations, shame, and silence were stories of human experience. I believed that no matter the stigma, these were stories worth excavating.
As I expanded beyond entertainment into innovation and emerging technologies, I realized we still struggle with taboos, often becoming stuck in the mire of “we can’t talk about that.” But what happens if we don’t have those conversations? What happens if we refuse to engage with something simply because it makes us uncomfortable? Topics like end-of-life care and nuclear power will remain shrouded in mystery and fear as long as we avoid them.
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But we don’t have to surrender to stigma. We have a unique opportunity to redesign how we engage with taboo subjects. It all starts with the stories we tell. By centering these stories on human needs and desires, we can dismantle the harmful legacies that paralyze us with fear. Taboo topics become abstract monsters when we lose sight of the human element. But every taboo has a story within it, and those stories deserve to be shared — especially if we aim to build a better future.
In the end, confronting taboos isn’t just about challenging norms; it’s about embracing our shared humanity. The conversations we avoid often hold the key to progress, empathy, and understanding. By leaning into discomfort and allowing difficult topics to surface, we have the power to strip away fear, ignorance, and stigma. It’s time we reclaim these narratives, not as forbidden subjects, but as opportunities for growth and change. The world moves forward when we face what we’ve been taught to ignore. And in those brave, open conversations, we’ll find the clarity and courage to build a future where no story is left untold.
Ari Mostov is a narrative strategist, crafting our future through the stories we tell. Learn more at www.wellplay.world