Stories that can change minds

Posted on: September 18th, 2014 by Amy Lynn Smith 2 Comments

There’s no question that storytelling has the power to shape our thinking in ways other media just can’t. Stories about the human experience are compelling because the one thing we all have in common is our humanity, no matter how many ways our views may differ.

Using storytelling to influence and inform is central to the work I do as a communicator, and at the 2014 Netroots Nation conference I had the pleasure of speaking during the closing keynote session about how success stories can change the conversation regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

There’s been a lot of miscommunication and confusion around healthcare reform, and it’s understandable that some people may be apprehensive about this major shift in the way America’s health system works.

But the fact is this: People’s lives are being changed by having improved access to health insurance and healthcare services. In some cases, lives are being saved.

I’m one of the ACA success stories, and at Netroots Nation I shared my story and those of others in an Ignite talk. The Ignite format is very specific. You have five minutes to make your case, accompanied by 20 slides that advance automatically every 15 seconds. It’s an exhilarating, high-energy format, and my experience onstage could not have been more fun.

Watch the video yourself to hear what I had to say — and see how storytelling can change minds.