Watch Now

Show Notes

In this episode of the Hacker Valley Studio podcast, hosts Ron and Chris interview Neil Bearden, storytelling expert and founder of The Story School and Plot Wolf Ltd. Neil originally started his career by teaching statistics and behavioral economics but had an astonishing introduction to storytelling by a stranger in San Francisco.

The episode begins by Neil sharing that he began his career in academia by completing a PhD in psychology which led to him teaching statistics, behavioral economics and behavioral decision-making. At some point, Neil found that he had a passion for storytelling and started the first MBA course at our INSEAD university on storytelling called storytelling workshop. Teaching storytelling at university helped Neil discover that the storytelling market is the entire world! Which ultimately led to his recognition and founding companies that help individuals tell their greatest stories. 

While completing his postdoctoral studies at Duke University in 2005, Neil attended a neuroscience conference in San Francisco where he decided to go for a walk and ran into a stranger that asked him, “Would you like to hear some poetry young man?”. After Neil agreed, the man said:

“They’re latent semantics embedded deep down inside these rambles; these aren't the ravings of a madman alone, the dark with candles. 

These are my notes, the underground they were sent to me from the year 2012

Dusky as he said to a beat these lyrics, they were pinned in a prison cell

Caught up with a knife, sent to the compression of vacuum tubes that articulate expressions 

Are readily answered with a question. 

A rhythm that's progressing

It keeps the head nodding like you agreeing with the lesson

Your freedom, It's called the question - Free will. That's obsolescent. 

It's a myth from long ago. It's no longer relevant to the present. 

So you must obey then all your thoughts young man, you must replace them with this prism. You’re plugged into the system. You too are now in prison. 

In the matrix of your mind known as walls, ancient wisdom in a system of symbols, encrypted and deeply hidden 

In the depths of your unconscious as if it were forbidden from outside awareness, by the id who does its bidding”

The man introduced himself as Osiris, a poet. For several hours, Neil and Osiris shared life experiences together while Osiris recited poems at his own accord throughout the night. After departing, Neil never had the opportunity to meet Osiris again but did attempt to track him down years later with no luck.

After the introduction to Osiris, Neil made a commitment that he’d begin writing poetry and cultivate the courage to share his stories publicly. Neil learned that he could halt beer bottles from clinking, discussions happening, and have listeners lean in while telling a great story. This compelled Neil to pivot from teaching statistics at university to teaching storytelling. After teaching storytelling for many years, Neil realized that he wanted to make a bigger impact and become an entrepreneur and teach storytelling to anyone who needs it.

Today, Neil helps companies and individuals add spice to their stories by extracting the details of a story that helps listeners internalize and visualize the nutrient rich details of a story. Neil is often humbled by the fact that he was able to pivot to a psychology PhD to storyteller organically and is able to help so many through having conversations. 

As the podcast progresses, Neil highlights the difference between a story and a “crappy little speech”. While telling a story, the presenter needs to invoke a visual experience for the audience and provide a mental movie. Providing description of looks, taste, and feel helps build a mental model for the audience when being told a story. Everyone has experiences and knowledge that is story worthy.

 

0:00 - Intro

2:52 - This episode features Neil Bearden, founder of The Story School and Plot Wolf Ltd

3:57 - Neil’s introduction to storytelling by Osiris, the poet.

12:20 - The search for Osiris after 2005

15:09 - How Neil helps companies and individuals with storytelling 18:03 - Difference between a story and a crappy little speech

23:51 - Shaking the dust off of a story and making it great

26:00 - Using previous experience from statistics to tell stories

36:36 - Advice for beginning to tell your story

41:00 - How to stay in touch with Neil Bearden

 

Links: 

Connect with Neil Bearden on LinkedIn

Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio.

Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon.

Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter.

Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.

Learn more about our sponsor ByteChek

Recent Episodes

Jan 14, 2025

Managing and Mitigating Cyber Risks For Your Assets with Jerich ...

What’s the key to mitigating unseen cyber risks? In this episode, Wes Wright, Chief Healthcare Officer at Ordr and Jerich Beason, CISO at WM uncover the complexities of attack surface management ...

Jan 10, 2025

The Year of the Agent: AI, Bug Bounties, and Cybersecurity ...

How will AI redefine cybersecurity in 2025? According to Marco Figueroa, Program Manager for Gen AI at the ODIN Bug Bounty Program, this year is set to be the "Year of the Agent," where AI ...

Jan 7, 2025

Understanding the Psychology of Cyber Risk with David Shipley

Most people think cybersecurity training is about knowledge, but what if motivation is the real key to success? David Shipley, CEO and Field CISO at Beauceron Security, shares how psychology and ...

Dec 24, 2024

From Landscaping to Cyber Leadership with Cole Lisko

How does a scorching July day in a van with no air conditioning lead to a career at one of the world’s top cybersecurity companies? In this episode, Cole Lisko shares his journey from ...

Dec 17, 2024

Think Like a Hacker, Solve Like a Leader featuring Ted Harrington

What if the key to innovation is breaking the rules? Ted Harrington, Executive Partner at Independent Security Evaluators and a pioneering ethical hacker, explores the power of commitment, ...

Dec 12, 2024

Hacking Trust with AI and Deepfakes featuring Iain Jackson

What happens when cutting-edge AI meets the art of deception? In this episode, Iain Jackson, Academy Hive Leader at CovertSwarm, takes us through the uncanny potential and risks of synthetic ...

Dec 3, 2024

Championing the Human in Cybersecurity with Julie Haney

What happens when cybersecurity puts people first? Julie Haney, Human-Centered Cybersecurity Program Lead at NIST, shares how designing security with humans at the center leads to greater ...

Nov 26, 2024

Do You Deserve To Be Hacked? Featuring Ilan Fehler and Dahvid ...

Do you deserve to be hacked? With that bold tagline, CovertSwarm is pushing leaders to rethink how they test and defend their systems, and in this episode, they’re sharing firsthand how ...

Nov 20, 2024

Transforming SOC Operations with AI featuring Roy Halevi

Cybersecurity is evolving fast, and AI is at the center. Roy Halevi, Co-Founder and CTO of Intezer, explains how AI automates SOC operations, improving speed and accuracy while freeing up teams ...

Nov 12, 2024

From Shadow IT to Full Asset Visibility with Wes Wright

Can you truly protect what you can't see? Wes Wright, Chief Healthcare Officer at Ordr, joins Ron to share how organizations can shine a light on their network and asset blind spots and take ...

WORK WITH US

PODCASTS + SPEAKING + EVENTS

Are you the best kept secret in cybersecurity? Let's change that by partnering together for podcast ads, social campaigns, and your next event or keynote. Send us your details to get started.