If you haven't got any struggle in your story, you haven't really got a story at all. When nothing much happens or it's all good news you're unlikely to engage your audience. In this episode, we explore where to find the struggle in your story and how to tell it in such a way that it enhances your brand.Check out the work of Bryce McNabb on brand storytelling AND the amazing speaker (and coach) Richard McCann.We also feature a guest podcast - Power to Speak by Jackie Goddard.Show is hosted by Andrew Thorp, AKA 'The Multi-Story Man'.Andrew is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

This is the first episode of 2023, published on 1st January and, in a way, it's a plea to adopt a New Year's resolution - to engage in conversation with strangers! It may go against the advice we got from our parents when we were kids, but it's a great way to develop confidence, build a network and perhaps make us happier human beings. Listen to this episode and discover more.Check out a couple of references made by your host Andrew Thorp:Gillian Sandstrom and her research on the benefits of tiny interactions with others.An interview with Gillian on the Hidden Brain podcastThe House of Books and Friends in Manchester, UKWe also feature a guest podcast - Storytelling with Puck by Stefano Capacchione.Andrew Thorp is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

Communication is really all about creating a connection with your audience. When you're fully present, able to think on your feet and perhaps raise a smile in others, you've got some key advantages! This interview with comedy performer and illustrator John Cooper explores these very themes.Watch John Cooper's TEDx talk on the practical value of improvisation.We also feature a guest podcast - Power to Speak by Jackie Goddard.Show is hosted by Andrew Thorp, AKA 'The Multi-Story Man'.Andrew is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

I met Emma Baylin recently at a TEDx event where she spoke passionately about the positive impact that singing can have on us all. Through her company Shared Harmonies (a CIC), she and her colleagues work in the community and the corporate world, using singing to help us shed limiting beliefs and create a shared sense of connection.Check out Emma's website for Shared Harmonies.Watch her amazing YouTube clip entitled 'Our Song'We also feature a guest podcast - Storytelling with Puck by Stefano Capacchione.Andrew Thorp is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

There are umpteen books about how to give a great TED talk but in this episode we put the spotlight on one specific talk, a wonderful presentation from 2013 by Professor Sugata Mitra entitled: Build a School in the Cloud. It's a favourite of our host Andrew Thorp and this is his take on what enabled the professor to wow his audience that day. We also feature a guest podcast - Storytelling with Puck by Stefano Capacchione.Andrew Thorp is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

If you visit the gym once a month and expect results you might be disappointed. A brisk walk every day for a sustained period is far more likely to yield benefits and it's much the same with communication. In this episode we focus on the importance of 'little and often' and the way small, frequent conversations can foster strong, productive relationships. We also feature a guest podcast - Power to Speak by Jackie Goddard.Show is hosted by Andrew Thorp, AKA 'The Multi-Story Man'.Andrew is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

If you want to do justice to your company or organisation, tell great stories - small ones! That's the theme of this episode of Leaning Forward, an exploration of what a small story looks like, how to find them within your own organisation and how to tell them well.We also feature a guest podcast - Power to Speak by Jackie Goddard.Show is hosted by Andrew Thorp, AKA 'The Multi-Story Man'.Andrew is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

What does it actually mean to 'tell a better story'? In this episode we answer this very question with an exercise - the transformation of a bare framework of a story into something more gripping, and human. It's like the difference between a house and a home, an idea popularised by Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross in a hit song from the 1960s.We also feature a guest podcast - Storytelling with Puck by Stefano Capacchione.Show is hosted by Andrew Thorp, AKA 'The Multi-Story Man'.Andrew is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

As a physician in the USA, Steve Shama relied on his technical knowledge to diagnose and treat skin conditions. But he also saw his patients as people, developing a deep appreciation for the importance of empathy and human connection. After 30 years in private practice,  he left medicine to develop a new career as a professional speaker and communication skills coach. In this episode, he shares some of the techniques and principles that he uses with audiences and private clients.Check out the services provided by Steve Shama HERE.We also feature a guest podcast - Power to Speak by Jackie Goddard.Show is hosted by Andrew Thorp, AKA 'The Multi-Story Man'.Andrew is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplashaum on Unsplash

People often work hard to secure a job interview but poor preparation or a lack of confidence can impair their performance when the big moment comes. In this episode of Leaning Forward we’re joined by Chris Delaney, an expert in career and life coaching and a man with an interesting journey of his own. Nuggets include the power of saying "yes", the way he's learned to use his voice and an unusual way to improve your spelling! Chris has written 3 books on the subject of career/interviews; check them out here.We also feature a guest podcast - Storytelling with Puck by Stefano Capacchione.Show is hosted by Andrew Thorp, AKA 'The Multi-Story Man'.Andrew is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of verbal communication and storytelling in the business world.Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.Track: Travel With Us — Vendredi [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/o-rpKzt4KSY​ Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/travel-usPodcast artwork by Peter ThorpMicrophone image: Photo by Claus Grünstäudl on UnsplashBanner image in main feed: Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash