We’ve all heard to use stories in our presentations. Stories make our content more interesting and memorable for the audience and can aid in learning. What I’ve seen is that we’re good at providing a *summary* of the story. But, what we’re not doing is *telling* a story. What’s the difference? 5 key ingredients that will spice up your stories. How do you go about telling a good story? Make it an I.D.E.A.L. story. You know I love acronyms and alliterations, so I came up with the acronym I.D.E.A.L. In this episode, we go through each letter - each ingredient - for a great story. → Download the free PDF with the I.D.E.A.L. story ingredients at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/137. This episode is the first of our new series on Storytelling, episodes 137-140. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. Links: Show notes and free PDF at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/137 Book “Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction” by Jack Hart. Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/ or text the word SPEAKING to 444-999. Join our Monetize Your Speaking group coaching program at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/group. Sign up for a Strategy Session at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/strategy. Create your signature talk or TEDx talk. Get all the details at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/coaching. Say hi to me on Instagram and Twitter: @CarolMorganCox. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave a review! Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 57: How to Use Simple Story Structure to Create Compelling Content with Carol Cox Episode 76: Why the Stories We Tell Matter with Leena Nasser of The Chopra Institute Episode 98: Expanding Your Personal Story into a Universal Message with Nicole Rochester, M.D. Episode 113: Storytelling Isn’t Enough – Your Content Needs to be E.P.I.C. Episode 119: Deconstructing a Keynote: Writing, Preparation, and Delivery JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.