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Tell Me a Story!

By David Kidd, BPR

Storytelling is often described as the social and cultural act of sharing stories; usually with a healthy dose of improvisation, theatrics and embellishment. In other words, a good storyteller knows how to use the interesting bits, add a few extra layers and quietly discard the boring parts.

As Steven Spielberg once observed, “The most amazing thing for me is that every single person who sees a movie brings a whole set of unique experiences, but through careful manipulation and good storytelling, you can get everybody to clap at the same time, laugh at the same time and be afraid at the same time.”

And as George Lucas put it more succinctly: “Storytelling is about two things—character and plot.”

Radio, like film, is entertainment. Or at least, it should be. Storytelling on radio isn’t a sworn deposition of facts; it’s not a police statement or a court transcript. It’s about creating theatre of the mind. A talent’s on-air persona doesn’t need to be a literal, documentary-accurate version of their off-air self. When you tell a story on radio, you’re not swearing on a bible to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The best stories usually begin with real life…..everyday observations, small moments, throwaway interactions. Daily life becomes daily content.

Imagine sitting in a café and overhearing a conversation at the next table. It’s amusing, topical, maybe a little shocking. You don’t simply repeat it word for word. You use imagination. You exercise creative licence.

Psychologists call this counterfactual thinking: our natural tendency to imagine alternatives to what actually happened—the “what if?” moments. What if they’d said this instead? What if they’d done that? What if the situation had taken a sharper, funnier, more absurd turn?

At the heart of any story are its characters. Their wins and losses are what make listeners lean in, laugh or cringe. To make that happen, you need detail; enough to paint a picture in the listener’s mind. What did the couple look like? How were they dressed? How did they speak? And if the reality is too dull, too beige, too forgettable…then you embellish! Make it better. Give the story colour.

Then there’s the dialogue. Tell us what was said—but also ask yourself: what if, in my version of events, they actually said this? What if they did that? The goal isn’t factual perfection; it’s engagement.

There’s a top-rating morning talent in Australia who exemplifies this beautifully. Over many years, he’s told certain stories more than once. The core premise stays the same, but each retelling includes a new twist, a subtle shift in a character, a fresh angle. His audience doesn’t mind. They’re not auditing facts—they’re enjoying a story.

So don’t be afraid to manipulate, embellish and exaggerate when telling stories on radio. That’s not cheating. That’s storytelling.

Just make sure it’s entertaining.