Ep. 318 How to Use Stories to Teach About Death and Dying

Learn how telling stories can make you a better and more effective teacher about end-of-life issues.

In this solo episode I share some of the research around the power of stories to teach and to change behavior, which is why we should all be using stories when we are working with people around end-of-life issues. You can harness the “magic” of stories to motivate your students to take action and to develop greater empathy for others. Find out how to become a better storyteller in your work, no matter what role you play.

Listen here:

This episode includes:

• The neuroscience of stories and how they work to change our thinking
• Why stories are “empathy machines”
• Why everyone should use stories in their work, but especially in work that involves death and dying
• How stories help with healing
  • Teach about the past
  • Increase empathy
  • Make sense of life
  • Reveal what is hidden
  • Engage the imagination
  • Enhance memory
• Characteristics of a good story
• Tools needed to become a great storyteller
• Types of teaching stories
  • Personal
  • Witnessed
  • Borrowed
  • Nature
  • Historical
  • Myth and legend

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Research on storytelling
• Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound:7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul
• Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio
• Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here
• Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously!

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu! Your contributions make all the difference.