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Matthew Dicks

Author & Storytelling Coach at Independent

Matthew Dicks is a 59-time Moth Story Slam winner, author of Storyworthy, and one of the most acclaimed storytelling coaches in the world who teaches leaders to communicate through narrative.

Dimension Profile

Strategic Vision 30%
Execution & Craft 50%
Data & Experimentation 10%
Growth & Distribution 50%
Team & Leadership 45%
User Empathy & Research 85%

Key Themes

five-second moment storytelling business storytelling being memorable vs forgettable story structure fundamentals overcoming fear of vulnerability actionable storytelling frameworks

Episode Summary

Matthew Dicks, the winningest Moth Story Slam competitor in history, shares his framework for telling stories that stick. His core insight is that all great stories are rooted in a 'five-second moment' of transformation, and he argues that without story, business communication is forgettable 100% of the time. He provides actionable techniques for finding and telling personal stories in professional contexts.

Leadership Principles

  • All great stories are rooted in a five-second moment of transformation in someone's life
  • If you're not telling stories, you will be forgotten 100% of the time
  • Our minds are not designed to remember pie charts or statistics — they remember stories with imagery

Notable Quotes

"Everyone loves the word storytelling in business. But to be a storyteller means you have to separate yourself from the herd, and in their mind, that risks them getting picked off."

— On why business leaders struggle with real storytelling

"How many times have you gone to a conference, listened to someone speak, and by the time you're pulling into the driveway, you can't remember anything? That's what happens if we don't speak in story."

— On why storytelling is essential for being remembered

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