The Power of Storytelling
How to Use Narrative Techniques to Elevate Your Research and Connect with Others
When I was a young student in kindergarten, just barely comfortable with printing my full name on paper, one of my favorite “classes” was story time.
The entire class would surround our teacher in anticipation, each of us finding a comfortable seat on the carpeted floor so that we could see the colorful pictures and hear the engaging words. I loved to listen to my teacher read each sentence and imagine the unfolding story play out in my mind.
Even at that young age, I understood the magic of a well-told story—its ability to transport us to different worlds, teach us valuable lessons, and make us feel deeply connected to the experiences of others.
As I reflect on the power of storytelling in my academic and professional life, I’m reminded of an essay I wrote in 2021 during the pandemic titled Monuments of American Sorrow.
In that piece, I explored the experience of social distancing at home with my family while teaching my law students remotely. The pandemic, which exposed the socio-political and economic hardships affecting vulnerable communities, also challenged academics, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities.
As a law professor, I found myself grappling with the realities of teaching online while navigating the trauma of police killings of unarmed Black people, the divisive rhetoric of a presidential election, and the disproportionate health effects of the coronavirus on low-income and marginalized communities.
In that essay, I used storytelling not only to reflect on the personal and professional impact of these challenges but also to illustrate how the work we do as educators is deeply intertwined with the experiences of our communities.
The story became a means to convey the complex intersection of race, trauma, and academia during a time of unprecedented crisis. Published by the UCLA Law Review, the non-traditional piece resonated with readers because it connected emotional and intellectual struggles in a way that data alone could not.
Why am I telling you this?
The Science of Storytelling
There is something special about stories and their ability to move us. When we hear a story, our brains release oxytocin, often called the “trust hormone,” which helps us form emotional bonds and empathize with characters.
It’s the reason why Apple described the iPod as “one thousand songs in your pocket” instead of focusing on the technical specifications. Or why political candidates spend so much time crafting their narrative and defending themselves against accusations about their past (or embracing the accusations because its 2025 and they just don’t care).
In academia, it’s why the most cited papers often feature compelling narratives about their research journey and findings, rather than just presenting raw data. It’s why branding and social media consultants remain in demand, and why videos are a critical component of every successful Kickstarter campaign. The ability to shape a narrative is what turns simple data into a movement, an idea into a mission, and a finding into a legacy.
The power of stories is the reason why the most memorable lectures and conference presentations are those that weave research findings into engaging narratives. This isn’t just intuition – neuroscience research shows that when we process facts alone, only the language parts of our brain (Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas) become activated.
But when we hear a story, multiple areas light up – the same ones that would activate if we were actually experiencing the events ourselves.
Side note: This is also why the stories you tell yourself about yourself can determine your future. Limiting beliefs are more powerful than you think.
Our motor cortex fires up when we hear about movement, our sensory cortex engages with sensory descriptions, and our frontal cortex processes emotions. This means that effective storytelling does more than just communicate information—it transforms passive listeners into active participants, immersing them in your research and making your message far more memorable.
Let’s go a bit deeper and explore how to craft stories that will resonate with academic and professional audiences, use narratives to strengthen your research presentations and grant proposals, and create emotional connections while maintaining scholarly rigor.
Whether you’re presenting at a major conference, drafting a policy brief, or writing a book manuscript, the principles of storytelling will help you communicate with impact and inspire action.
Let’s dive in!
The Foundation: Your Controlling Idea
When you are crafting a story that is designed to convey a specific message about your research or persuade someone to embrace an academic initiative, it is wise to determine in advance the key messages you want the audience to remember.
This aligns with how our brains process and store information – research shows that we’re much more likely to remember information when it’s connected to a central theme or idea, thanks to how our hippocampus consolidates memories through neural pattern recognition.
This is particularly crucial in academic writing, where you need to balance complex theoretical frameworks with accessible narratives. A memorable story builds the narrative around a small number of controlling ideas. This will help the audience remember key takeaways and provide them with an opportunity to connect or empathize with your message, whether they’re fellow researchers, students, or grant reviewers.
In other words, without a clear controlling idea, even the most interesting anecdotes can feel scattered or unfocused, reducing their overall impact. This is why a clear overarching thesis is so important to an article or essay.
For example, if you’re a law professor advocating for food justice, your controlling idea might be: “Access to healthy food is a fundamental right, not a privilege.” Every example, case study, or policy discussion you include in the piece should reinforce this central idea, ensuring that your message is both cohesive and persuasive.
Before we continue, I want to remind you:
If you’ve ever felt like your work is getting lost in the shuffle, you’re not alone.
At The Tenure Track, we believe that growth in academia isn’t just about perfecting your research—it’s about sharing your unique story. It’s about being bold enough to express your ideas beyond the walls of academic publishing and carving out space for your voice in the larger conversation.
The key isn’t just to produce more—it’s to ensure your story is seen, heard, and felt.
Ready to make your voice heard? Subscribe to The Tenure Track for insights, strategies, and inspiration on how to share your story, build your community, and ensure your work has the impact it deserves.
The Framework: Five Beats for Academic Storytelling
Storytellers use a wide variety of structures to share their message and engage their audience, from the formulaic three-act structure of screenplays to the 17 steps of the hero’s journey to the more relaxed structures used in speeches that focus on people and places.
In academic contexts, this might mean adapting traditional research paper structures to incorporate narrative elements while maintaining scholarly integrity. Adding storytelling techniques to a research-based argument does not mean abandoning rigor—it means enhancing clarity and accessibility.
Comedian and storyteller David Crabb uses a simple storytelling framework called the Five Beats of Storytelling that anyone can use to make their stories more memorable. This framework is particularly adaptable for academic presentations and research narratives:
Beat 1: The Introduction
This is where you set the scene and explain to your audience why the story you are about to share is important. In academic contexts, this might include the research gap or problem you’re addressing. This should be framed in a way that immediately captures attention and sparks curiosity.
Example: “For years, low-income communities have struggled with limited access to fresh food. I wanted to understand why, so I spent six months interviewing families in food deserts across the country.”
Beat 2: The Inciting Incident
This is the main question your story is asking or the main challenge that your protagonist is facing. For researchers, this could be your research question or hypothesis. It serves as the moment that launches the story forward, creating intrigue and setting up the significance of the findings to come.
Example: “One mother I spoke to, Maria, told me she had to take a two-hour bus ride just to buy fresh vegetables for her kids. Why was this happening in a country with such vast food production?”
Beat 3: Raising the Stakes
This is your discussion of a series of events where you provide specific details and further context to the inciting incident, making your story more memorable. In research terms, this might involve describing your methodology and preliminary findings.
Example: “I examined zoning laws, grocery store placement policies, and historical redlining maps. What I found was a systemic pattern of exclusion that kept healthy food out of reach for millions.”
Beat 4: The Main Event
This is where the inciting incident reaches its climax. The initial story question is answered or the protagonist solves the initial dilemma or challenge.
Example: “My research showed that cities with stronger food policy councils had measurably better access to fresh food, proving that local government intervention could be a solution.”
Beat 5: The Resolution
This is your opportunity to come full circle and highlight what you learned from your story and what it means for the future.
Example: “Maria’s story isn’t unique—but it doesn’t have to be the norm. If cities prioritize equitable food policies, we can turn food deserts into food oases.”
The Full Story
Here’s what the full story from the above examples looks like:
For years, low-income communities have struggled with limited access to fresh food. I wanted to understand why, so I spent six months interviewing families in food deserts across the country (Beat 1: Introduction). One mother I spoke to, Maria, told me she had to take a two-hour bus ride just to buy fresh vegetables for her kids. Why was this happening in a country with such vast food production? (Beat 2: Inciting Incident) I examined zoning laws, grocery store placement policies, and historical redlining maps. What I found was a systemic pattern of exclusion that kept healthy food out of reach for millions (Beat 3: Raising the Stakes). My research showed that cities with stronger food policy councils had measurably better access to fresh food, proving that local government intervention could be a solution (Beat 4: Main Event). Maria’s story isn’t unique—but it doesn’t have to be the norm. If cities prioritize equitable food policies, we can turn food deserts into food oases (Beat 5: Resolution).
The Power of Academic Vulnerability
One of the best ways to make a story truly memorable is to show vulnerability. This is particularly powerful in academic contexts, where there’s often pressure to appear infallible.
There’s a neurological basis for this. When we witness vulnerability in others, our mirror neurons activate, creating a shared emotional experience that triggers the release of cortisol (for tension) and dopamine (for resolution).
By sharing struggles or failures in your story, whether it’s failed experiments, rejected papers, or challenging fieldwork experiences, you not only invite your audience to empathize with your unique experience, you also position the accomplishments that you will describe later in your narrative to resonate even more.
Your Research Story Awaits
The power of stories is the reason why the most memorable lectures and conference presentations are those that weave research findings into engaging narratives.
When you tell a story well, you’re not just sharing information. You’re creating a neural symphony in your audience’s brains, synchronizing their emotional and cognitive responses with your narrative.
It’s not always easy to tell powerful stories that resonate with your audience, especially in academic settings where precision and rigor are paramount.
But by defining your central points in advance, using the “Five Beats” framework, and showing vulnerability, you can strengthen your stories and grow your audience, whether they’re students, colleagues, or the broader academic community.
Now is the time to take that first step.
Think about your next presentation, opinion editorial, or lecture—not just as an opportunity to present data, but as a chance to tell a story that connects with your audience on a deeper level. Start by shaping your central message, applying the tools you’ve learned here, and experiment with storytelling techniques.
Whether you’re looking to advance your field or drive meaningful change, the story of your research has the potential to leave a lasting impression.
The story of your research is waiting to be told.
Are you ready to share it?
Becoming Full,
P.S. As always, thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Tenure Track. If you found this article helpful, I encourage you to share it with a colleague or friend who might benefit from these insights. Together, let’s continue to build a supportive and creative academic community.
This is really great. Thank you offering!!!
Thank you! This will definitely help me with future presentations!