Why Facts Don’t Stick (And Stories Do): How to Make Training, Presentations, & Videos More Memorable

What makes a story actually stick? And why do so many professionals get it wrong?

In this episode, host Matt Pierce sits down with Gabrielle Dolan, global business storytelling expert and author of eight books, to unpack why storytelling is one of the most underused skills in any professional's toolkit and what to do about it.

Gabrielle shares why personal stories outperform facts and data every time, how to overcome the fear of being "too vulnerable" at work, and the simple rules that separate a forgettable story from one people retell for years.

She also offers practical tips on how to start and end a story well, why authenticity is non-negotiable, and how even a short, imperfect attempt is always better than no story at all.

Learning points from the episode include:

1. 00:00 – 01:58 Intro
2. 01:58 – 04:13 Gabrielle’s origin story
3. 04:13 – 06:55 What is the essence of a good story?
4. 06:55 – 08:43 An example of storytelling in action
5. 08:43 – 11:10 Using stories to help people understand, remember and retell
6. 11:10 – 14:35 How to use visuals in storytelling
7. 14:35 – 18:27 Why vulnerability is scary, but worth it
8. 18:27 – 20:16 The power of sharing stories around values in business
9. 20:16 – 23:11 Why you should share stories about mistakes
10. 23:11 – 26:41 Tips for telling stories well
11. 26:41 – 30:40 Speed round questions
12. 30:40 – 32:48 Matt’s final take and outro

Important links and mentions:

1. Connect with Gabrielle Dolan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielledolan/
2. Follow Gabrielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielledolan.1/
3. Subscribe to Gabrielle on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KeepingItRealwithJacandRal
4. Check out Gabrielle’s website: https://gabrielledolan.com/