#112: The Art of Storytelling: Why Stories Matter with Sarah Goone

Episode Summary

What makes a story stick? In this episode, Erick talks with visual artist and graphic recorder Sarah Goon, who transforms spoken presentations into live illustrations. After Sarah visually captured Erick’s keynote, “The World Belongs to the Encourager,” the two reconnect to explore how pictures, words, emotion, and curiosity work together to make ideas memorable.

Sarah explains what it takes to translate a speaker’s message into visual notes in real time, why she uses color with intention, and how the same storytelling principles can strengthen our everyday conversations at work and at home.

Key Takeaways

• Stories create human connection. Facts inform, but lived experiences and emotional context help people relate to one another.
• Visual storytelling is translation. Sarah listens for the central ideas, then combines brief phrases and images to communicate them clearly.
• Constraints sharpen creativity. A limited color palette helps Sarah focus, organize recurring themes, and make quick decisions during live events.
• Know your audience. The same story may land differently depending on the room, its energy, and the experiences of the people listening.
• Every story needs a point. Decide what you want people to understand, feel, or remember before you begin.
• Observation fuels connection. Notice the setting, people’s interactions, and what may be going unsaid before choosing how to communicate.

How to Become a Better Storyteller

• Start with a real experience. Use something you’ve lived through to illustrate a lesson rather than relying only on instructions or advice.
• Find the beginning, middle, and end. Study storytellers you admire and notice how they build toward a clear takeaway.
• Adapt to the room. Consider the audience’s background, language, expectations, and energy.
• Practice and refine. Tell a story, notice how people respond, and adjust it the next time.
• Stay curious. Ask what others might see or feel that you have overlooked.

Inside Sarah’s Creative Process

Sarah describes live graphic recording as entering a flow state: she sets aside her own opinions and follows the speaker’s journey. She shares a memorable example of capturing a dairy-industry event despite being vegan. She also explains how a small set of colors can organize meaning, with specific hues helping viewers recognize important ideas across a finished visual.

Memorable Ideas from the Conversation

• “I always describe it and think about it for myself as being a translator.” — Sarah
• “There has to be a point or essentially a goal to that story.” — Sarah
• “If you’re a good storyteller, you’ll be a good speaker.” — Erick

This Week’s Challenge

Choose one story from your own life that illustrates a lesson worth sharing. Give it a clear beginning, middle, and takeaway. Tell it to someone, pay attention to their response, and consider how you could make it more relevant to that person.

Sarah Goone

Resources & Visuals

Explore Radiant Eye Studio and Sarah’s work. The episode landing page can also feature the live visual Sarah created during Erick’s keynote, “The World Belongs to the Encourager.” Click Here to see Sarah’s work.

Final Thought

Storytelling is not just for speakers and artists. It is how we help people see what matters, understand one another, and remember ideas long after a conversation ends. Tell stories with intention—and pay attention to the people receiving them.

Resources Mentioned

1. Subscribe to the podcast
2. Rise Above Chaos book
3. Work with Erick
4. Connect with Erick: erickrheam.com
5. Get the Rise Above Chaos Planner
6. Radiant Eye Studio

Action Step

• Tell a prepared story to someone