Trafcom News Podcast

I’m delighted to bring you these insights from renowned storyteller P.W. Fenton. He publishes the award-winning Digital Flotsam podcast, among others, and has a long history as a broadcast engineer, actor, photographer, musician, songwriter and video producer. I’ve learned a lot about telling stories from listening to P.W., and I hope you will too.

You can download this podcast to listen later or subscribe to listen to it in iTunes or you can listen right now with this player:

Trafcom News Podcast 104: Storytelling with P.W. Fenton by donnapapacosta

Here are the shownotes:

00:01 Introduction and welcome; how I was first introduced to P.W. via Shel Holtz on the For Immediate Release: Hobson and Holtz podcast

01:55 About P.W. Fenton

03:20 How P.W. Fenton became a storyteller

05:05 Early influences on P.W., including radio, particularly Jean Shepherd

07:05 Keys to a good story: beginning, middle, end; start by doing something to get the listener interested; narrate in a way that keeps the interest going and that anticipates the ending and supports your conclusion; need to experience your own story as a listener.

08:44 P.W. has lived all of his stories; the best stories come from our own experiences.

09:58 How P.W. produces Digital Flotsam; the importance of editing.

12:07 P.W. has to enjoy his own stories.

12:35 P.W. shares advice about the art and craft of storytelling; the importance of reading and listening to stories and finding your own voice.

13:40 Advantages of audio storytelling vs. written storytelling; much easier to convey intent with spoken words; must write for your own voice and work to your strengths; difficulty of attempting to put P.W.’s own stories into a book.

16:37 My insights about relevance of P.W.’s comments to storytelling in a business context: Enjoy your own stories; listen to others’ stories; structure counts; best stories come from your everyday experiences.

18:27 Reminder to visit P.W.’s website and Digital Flotsam

18:35 Your comments are welcome; where to send comments: Email: donna AT trafcom DOT com, or comment on the show blog: Trafcom News Podcast 

Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com. Theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network