We should all have aspirations of getting better. When we rest on our laurels, we lose the ability to make an impact in our lives and with our audience. That’s why I went to Podcast Movement in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. We can learn a lot from the top people in our industries, and Podcast Movement was no exception.

Since I began my podcast, I’ve received nothing but positive feedback, but it would be foolish to stay stagnant. Going to Podcast Movement has inspired me to take my podcast to the next level.

There were a lot of great speakers, and even more fellow podcasters, who made the conference worthwhile. Here are some of the highlights from my weekend at Podcast Movement:

Glynn Washington

Glynn is the voice behind the Snap Judgement, a show that focuses on telling personal stories. You might believe this makes Glynn as a wonderful storyteller, and you would be right. Here are some of the great things I picked up from his keynote:

Trust Your Guests. As hosts, we need to believe in our guest’s ability to tell their own story. The only way to do this is to listen to them and make sure we ask questions that dig a little deeper.

Don’t Translate Stories. Sometimes it’s better to let the story speak for itself. As hosts, we need to let the reader interpret their own lessons from what the guest is saying.

Storytelling Takes Iteration. When you hear a good story, you might think it comes out naturally the first time. While sometimes it does, more often than not, it is the result of iteration. We can always improve and get better.

Inspiration is for Amateurs. We can’t just sit around waiting for inspiration to come to us. We need to seek it out for ourselves. Only amateurs wait for that spark before they start working.

Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith is the writer and director of many cult films including Clerks, Jay and Silent Bob, and Dogma. But he is also the host of many podcasts. The funny thing is, he didn’t plan on creating a podcast, nevertheless a network of podcasts, it just kind of happened. Here are some things you can learn from the famous storyteller.

There are no Gatekeepers. One of the great things about the podcasting medium is, there is no one to tell you what to do. You can make a show about anything you want. That’s exactly what Smith did. He just kept making shows that made sense to him.

Be an Imitator. Too often, artists worry about imitating other people’s work. The funny thing is, that’s exactly what Kevin Smith did. He said his first film, Clerks, was just a poor imitation of Richard Linklater’s Slacker. By imitating a film he loved, Smith was able to create a film that other people loved too.

Stop Asking Why, Ask Why Not. There is enormous difference between those who ask why and those who ask why not. People who ask why are doubters. They let their skepticism get in the way of accomplishing their goals. Instead of asking why, ask why not. Smith believes this simple change in phrasing can profoundly change your outlook on life. Just think of it: Why not you? Why not now?

Andrew Warner

Andrew is the host of Mixergy, a show where he explores startup stories with the founders of some of the world’s most well known companies including Wikipedia, Y Combinator, and Pixar. He is one of the most well respected interviewers in all of podcasting. He is not afraid to ask the tough questions and he has built a passionate following because of it. Here are some of the tips he gave:

Empathy Connects You with Your Audience. Many companies fail because they don’t empathize with their customers. Instead of listening to their customers, they all they do is try to sell. What they don’t realize is, the best way to sell is to connect with your customers. What are their biggest pains? How can you help them solve that pain? These are the questions you need to answer if you want to build a better business.

Understand Their Problem. People do not go out looking to spend money. They are trying to solve a problem. When you empathize with your audience, you discover what they are really looking for. The only way to solve someone’s problem is to know what it is. As creatives, we need people to connect with our work. How does your art connect with your audience? What problems does it help to solve?

Make an Impact. The best way to gain customers is to actually make an impact on their lives. People have so many options to choose from, why would they choose you? That’s why, when you can empathize with your potential customers, you have a much better chance of making that impact. That one thing can make the difference between a customer and a fan.

Shannon Cason

Shannon Cason is a masterful storyteller. He is a GrandSlam champion with The Moth and regularly appears on Snap Judgment. He also has his own storytelling podcast called Shannon Cason’s Homemade Stories. Shannon gave some great tips on how to tell a great story. Here are a few:

Stories Create Connection. When you can tell a great story, you create much deeper connections with your audience. Have you ever felt like you knew the host of a podcast? If you don’t listen to podcasts, have you ever met someone who tells great stories and felt an immediate connection with her? That is the power of a great story. Using stories when talking about your art can help build that deep connection with your audience.

Be Authentic. While this might seem like a no brainer, often times we ignore this advice. Being authentic is absolutely necessary if you want to build real connections with your audience. If you are dishonest about one thing, what’s to say you aren’t being dishonest about everything? People can easily sniff out someone who isn’t being authentic. Don’t let the thought of impressing someone dissuade you from being who you are.

Stories Should Have a Purpose. In order to be a good storyteller, your stories must have some sort of purpose. We don’t tell stories for stories sake, we tell stories to convey a message or a meaning. Whether you’re telling a story to teach a lesson or get your meaning across, make sure it has a purpose. A story without a purpose is not really a story at all.

Dan Miller

Dan is the author of 48 Days to Work You Love and No More Dreaded Mondays. He hosts a podcast that’s consistently ranked #1 in iTunes. And he is on a mission to help people increase their personal and business success. Here are some of the insights from Dan’s talk:

Be Intentional. If we aren’t intentional about our work, it will never connect with our audience. We must be willing to put ourselves out there regardless of what people might think of our work or our message. In order to make a lasting impact, we can’t wander aimlessly hoping something will stick. We have to approach everything we do with purpose.

Give Value. As artists, people turn to us to make them feel. You can make them feel nostalgic, happy, or curious. It doesn’t matter what you make them feel, as long as they feel something. That is the value of art. We need to provide people with value if we want to sell our art. What is the value of your art? How can you use that value to connect with your audience?

Be Unique. Too often we try to mimic other peoples’ success. She was successful because she used this strategy. He was successful because he did this. The list goes on and on. If we want to stand out in the crowd, we can’t follow someone else’s path like some food recipe. We need discover what makes us unique and own it.

Alex Blumberg

Alex is the host of Startup and the CEO/co-founder of Gimlet Media. Before that he was also a producer for This American Life and the co-founder of Planet Money. Suffice it to say, he knows a lot about telling a good story. Here are some things I learned from Alex.

Audio is Powerful. Audio is an extremely powerful form of media. The difference between audio and the visual of video is, nothing pulls you into a story like audio. When someone begins telling a story, you can’t help but wonder what happens next. We are compelled as human beings to listen to stories.

Stories Must be Interesting and Have Self-Reflection. Stories need to be interesting if you are going to capture your audience’s attention. If your story doesn’t have a point, or isn’t interesting, people will stop paying attention. Your story must also have a moment of self-reflection. Without self-reflection, the message of the story becomes lost.

The Power of Empathy. Stories are the most powerful when they are told with an element of empathy. Empathy is what connects the storyteller with her audience. Empathy puts us in the shoes of the storyteller. It allows us to see their point of view and perspective. It is what makes stories so powerful

—

There were  many more great speakers and attendees at Podcast Movement, but these were the ones that stood out to me. If you are interested in hearing more about my experience, or sharing your own, feel free to let me know in the comments below.