Stories that stick

Why sharing stories is the key to learning, connection, and growth

“Inviting a loved one, a friend or even a stranger to record a meaningful interview with you just might turn out to be one of the most important moments in that person's life, and in yours…”

When I first heard about Dave Isay and his quest to help people have meaningful conversations about their lives, I was hooked. In 2003, he opened the first StoryCorps booth in New York’s Grand Central Terminal. It was a simple concept: you come to this booth, sit across from, say, your grandfather, and you listen and you talk. At the end of the session, you walk away with a copy of the interview and another copy goes to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Fast forward two decades, and StoryCorps has grown into the single largest collection of human voices ever recorded.

Imagine how many memories are immortalized through these conversations. How much knowledge is exchanged! StoryCorps is the inspiration for the format we’re exploring today.

📰 What’s the format?

StoryCorps: a platform that allows people to record and share their stories. They use formats like booths, mobile units (they converted an Airstream trailer into a traveling recording studio), and an app.

What I like the most about StoryCorps is that their mission of recording interviews highlights the profound impact of capturing memories and making knowledge visible.

🎛️ What are the features?

• Empathy-driven conversations

• An archive that features tens of thousands of conversations recorded across the United States and around the world.

• Accessible storytelling tools. Whether digital or analog (from mobile apps to physical booths) these tools make it easy for anyone to share and record their stories.

💡 Why is this format effective for learning?

StoryCorps’ approach to capturing and sharing stories provides valuable lessons for the broader field of learning:

• Learning from stories: Storytelling is one of the oldest and most effective teaching methods. Studies in cognitive science show that narratives are easier to remember than facts alone because they provide structure and meaning.

• The power of listening and asking questions: Effective learning begins with asking the right questions and listening actively.

• Fostering empathy: By hearing stories from diverse perspectives, learners build the ability to understand and connect with others.

• Making learning visible: StoryCorps emphasizes preserving and sharing stories, which aligns with the idea of making learning visible. Documenting experiences allows learners to reflect, revisit, and build upon their knowledge.

💌 An invitation

A few days ago, I attempted to do something similar to StoryCorps with my family: capturing meaningful memories. The challenge? There are over 50 of us. We’re a big, fun, and LOUD latin family!

Stripping the StoryCorps format down to its essence, I focused on its core idea of honoring voices and preserving stories. (It’s valid —and encouraged— to play with different formats; after all, that’s the goals of this Substack!) We created a family timeline spanning from 1929 (the year my Grandpa was born) to 2024, where each person wrote down a memory, shared it aloud, and placed it on the timeline.

• People of all ages participated

• The timeline filled with memories spanning decades

• Stories kicked off deeper conversations —funny ones, heartfelt ones, even surprising ones…

And now, we have a record of stories. An archive of memories that capture the essence of our crazy, special little family.

"When Grandma used to dye her hair in bright colors" / "Our first dance as a married couple, with the uncles dancing to 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough.' / "When my brother cut his hand on a wire and Dad almost fainted..."

Stories are powerful vehicles for learning. Through sharing meaningful stories, we invite new perspectives, foster empathy, and uncover lessons we might not have noticed otherwise.

How might you create opportunities to share, listen, and spark learning through stories? Which format might you use?

🏷 Links and Resources

• Animated excerpt from a StoryCorps interview recorded at the original Grand Central Booth. This is 12-year-old Joshua Littman interviewing his mother, Sarah. Josh has Asperger's syndrome.

• List of great questions to ask

• 10 ways to have better conversations (a classic TED talk by Celeste Headlee)

• Storyworth: A platform that structures the process of writing a memoir through weekly responses to storytelling prompts.

I appreciate your time. Thank you for reading! 💙

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