728. How to Tell Stories That Fill the Hope Gap: 3 Lessons from 8 World-Changing Leaders - Jon and Becky

Speaker A: Welcome to Stories that Fill the Hope Gap, a 10 part limited series created in partnership with Good Is the New Cool. And We Are for Good. Hey, I'm John.

Speaker B: And I'm Becky. Together we're unpacking how story is becoming the most essential tool change makers have not just to raise money, but to restore hope in a world that's running low on it. We're breaking down what it actually looks like to tell stories that fill that 27% gap between hope and despair and why the world desperately needs you to start. Let's get started.

Speaker A: Hey, Becky, what's happening?

Speaker B: Hey, John. We are about to break down and I'm about to say something pretty extreme. This may be the most epic series we have ever produced on the We Are for Good podcast, at least for me.

Speaker A: I am going to go ahead and say I agree like this.

Speaker B: Oh, my gosh, yes.

Speaker A: This series has, like, been transcendent. If you're hopping on the podcast today, this is a special episode because we're recapping. This is a tenth episode of the Stories to fill the hope gap. And I mean, this series came together very serendipitously, I will say. Earlier this year we met Afdel Aziz, and many of y' all listening probably got to spend time listening to Afdel at, uh, the Impact Up Story event or on the podcast. He opened up this world to us of the most incredible change leaders who center using really profound story to step into this moment of time. That's not easy. People that are filling the hope gap in a very literal sense with their mission and doing so in a way that we want to replicate, we want to spread, and we want to put amplification behind.

Speaker B: And if this concept of the hope gap is new to you, this is something that Afdel has been pushing around for a while. Uh, since 2010, the Yale center on Climate Research has tracked the gap between hope and despair in society. So in 2010 it was 4% and today it's 27%. And I think that is not a surprising stat to any of us, but I think it can feel like a hopeless stat if you don't have some context around how to turn the tide. And what Afdel is saying and what we believe so fundamentally is that story is the heartbeat of connection. It is the thing that brings hope back. It is the thing that helps reclaim connection, reclaim our purpose. And his reframing is saying that despair is paralyzing, but hope is galvanizing. And so to sit at the feet of these eight missions who are in all estimations disruptors, for good in the greatest possible way. I have been changed by it. And, John, I feel like it is not overselling it to say you have been too. And we've just heard from so many in the community who've been affected by it, and we just wanted to go into it because we see some commonalities, we see some through lines, and they're there for the taking, for literally every mission and every movement on the planet to start galvanizing that same hope.

Speaker A: Can I, like, just connect this to a bigger theme? Becky, as you're talking, I'm going back because we've been geeks about storytelling. I mean, you brought me alongside, uh,

Speaker B: many years ago, you brought me graphically,

Speaker A: like I was using graphic design storytelling boxes to tell a story story. But I say we were geeks about storytelling in our entire nonprofit career. Like, together was like 15 years together in doing this work. But when we sat down to launch We Are For Good now, this community, we pinned this as one of our core values, is to simplify, humanize, and tell a great story. So if you're wondering, why are they always talking about storytelling? It's a value here. We believe in it because we see how it changed us and shaped us and how it builds movement and momentum and then start. Let's go back to the beginning of this year. So that was years ago, the beginning of this year. We're like, what are the shifts that are happening across the sector that we really need to pay attention to? And back in January, we lifted story as infrastructure, as a shift that more than ever, you know. Carolina Garcia Gioram, the, uh, founding executive director, CEO of Elevate Prize, brought to us this whole conversation about how narrative shapes culture and it drives impact. And you look around us in the world today, and that's what we're talking about. That hope gap that we're stepping into. It is about culture. It's about how we think about things. It's about how we galvanize support. So it is a through line of. Of this community, but it's certainly a through line of the last 10 episodes on the feed for the series. So there's a lot here, and I'm sorry in advance that we're so excited about it, but you're in the distance.

Speaker B: Sorry. Not sorry from me, because I just think that the eight leaders that we covered in this series now, Friends, which feels so nice, in addition to afdil, they are proof that stories that are rooted in possibility, they don't just raise awareness, they restore belief. They activate change. That belief is what inspires people to get moving, to see themselves as a part of the change. And so, you know, we say this all the time. The story is not just a story. The gala is not just a gala. Uh, your email is not just an email. It is the linchpin to bringing someone along on this journey of your mission, of your impact, of, uh, the change we are trying to create in the world. And we saw some themes come up in here and some through lines, because we want you to seize them. Let's get into the first one.

Speaker A: John, sitting across these interviews, number one was clarity is a superpower. You know, the majority of these episodes we get to record in person. It was like back in the old days, getting to all be in the same room together, getting to sit in the same room with some of these change makers, hearing their story. It was just poignant to hear them know that piece of clarity that they could tell you exactly what they do, who they serve, what problem they're solving, and why it's solvable. Maybe the most important part is that why it's solvable piece. But let me just piggyback on this. Not just the concept of clarity, because I think it's one thing to have your boiled down talking point, but to be able to do that without losing your connection to it is probably the most incredible gift. Because I think we can all get used to, like we talk about our little boilerplates, but being in staying connected and rooted to that, where you feel it, when someone shares it, that cuts through. And I would say these are such representatives of that kind of mission that your hair stands up on your arm when you hear what they do because it just connects on a deeper level.

Speaker B: I agree with you. We gotta hook somebody into why this matters. They've gotta be able to see it. And when I say they see it, I don't just mean you put a picture up. I mean we need to tell the story in a way that paints a picture. The clarity of who you are and what you're doing and having what John said, such clarity of purpose. Boom. 30 seconds right out the back. Gives you space to give color to it underneath. And your mission is going to be woven in there. You know what else is going to be woven? Your values, your people. Quotes. People are going to be able to see how you are living that. You don't have to tell them, just show them.

Speaker A: Yeah. And I, uh, mean, we got to lift some of these one liners that we heard. Think of Lisa. She just. Her episode Just dropped a couple weeks back. Romanelli. One in five children has a mental health condition. Four in five of those never get treatment.

Speaker B: Holy smokes. This is with the Reach Institute that is really taking on scaling mental health care assistance for children. And that is a shocking stat. I'll give you another one. Imran Ahmed. Um, probably what I believe is the most profound and impactful episode we have ever had on this podcast in over 700 episodes. He said TikTok serves self harm content to a test account within 2.6 minutes of creation. Are we aware of this? This is happening in real time and we have the data to back it up. That kind of stat is going to get your attention.

Speaker A: And AI Jen Poo. I mean, my goodness. Her story. She's one that I think of that still feels so rocked by what brought her into this work, her love of her grandfather. She said, uh, 130 million Americans are engaged in caregiving in some way. That means caregivers make up 75% of every workforce in America.

Speaker B: Every single one of those words gave me a feeling and it gave me an extreme reaction. And when people are sitting in the tension of that shock, that's when we want to lead them through how we're addressing this. Who. Who are the people behind that story? What can be done? What can one person do to help change the tide? And I think that is the power of having clarity within your mission.

Speaker A: What I love about this clarity theme is that it gives us all a very clear activation. I mean, for each of us. You listening, what is that captivating stat that helps you create that case for your mission? Is there a number that captures not just the size of the problem, getting very specific. So somebody listening feels that gut punch of like, ugh, I feel that. I see that it's in my family, it's in my community. I think that's something we can all do.

Speaker B: Yes. And we gotta keep going because theme number two may just be my favorite. And it is.

Speaker A: You were made for this theme.

Speaker B: I. I am made for this theme. The head and the heart is the formula. It's not, uh, the head is the the formula or the heart is the formula. It is both. And so AI Jinp over at carrying across generations named exactly why this formula works. She says people are emotional beings. There's what's factually true, and then there's what's emotionally true. And those are not the same. And John and I are living proof that those perceptions are not the same. I am absolutely. I am led by my emotions. John is led by his logic and his head. And the thing is, we need both of those things in this world. And the reality is we need both of these things in the story because both are absolutely essential. And so what did AI Jen do? She built an entire media movement. It was called Give, Not Take Media. Love the name Psych. And it's this production label for films and storytelling about care. Because she knows that until you change the way people feel about an issue, you can't change the policy around it.

Speaker A: It's like zooming out and asking a bigger question of the mission, too. That it's like, until we can change how people talk about it around the dinner table, it's hard to shift policy, too. So I love that she's playing really big in this. But she said this line that I think is really beautiful, that if care is invisible, you can't value what you can't see and you can't support what you can't name. And that's the power of story. Like, it helps make things visible. The data makes that undeniable, and you need both. So I think this is a pretty clear imperative to how we could storytell. But, you know, this is the call to action here. What's that story that you could share that can bring both of those elements together?

Speaker B: Can I give an example of how I've seen this affect someone in our world? Going back to those healthcare days, we. We had an incredible story of a young man who was saved by a heart transplant. Um, his name was Heath. And, I mean, funny story. We love Heath so much, he ended up becoming our intern later on, um, in the story. And Heath, if you're listening, we love you and hope you're living that big, vibrant life that you deserve. Yes. But I remember when we sat down and we were talking to his parents about the story, we heard it from Heath's purview. We heard it from his parents purview. We had already interviewed the doctors and everything, and we were so caught up in the emotion of the moment. And for them, it was. They could see their son in that, only their son. But when we were able to bring those statistics up and say, hey, this is what's happening in our hospital right now. This is how many people who are waiting. And when we said the line, this is when I remember his dad's entire face and carriage changing that, because we can raise whatever it was at the time, I think we were trying to raise $250,000 for something we said that is going to help us find and heal 500 Heath's and I remember his face changing and he ended up pulling that into his script in the gala. And it was like you never know where the head and the heart need to come together to create some focus for someone. And I think that is just a, uh, powerful tool that was played out in this series over and over. Find the stats, find the human, put them together, make it relatable, pull it back to the mission, put that hope

Speaker A: in there with true. Thanks for taking me back to that. We're on to theme three. And this is your personal story, is your mission story. This may not be true for everyone, but I think, yeah, I think don't get nervous. There's always been this direct through line of the guests that came on the show of, uh, what pulled them into this. It usually wasn't this additive thing. It was like core to their being, it was core to their lived experience in this world. Maybe you relate to that if you're at a founder led organization or maybe you're carrying the torch from the start starting place, but we've just saw the superpower of the personal story put into the very middle of these narratives that when you have that, why are we not leading with that? It's such a human place to start, it's such a relatable place to start and it cuts through. And I think of Richard Casper, he's the founder of Creative Vets that's now doing this incredible work getting veterans connected to the arts and using it to storytell their own experiences. When he came home from war, not only had he lost his dear friend, but he came home with traumatic brain injury and PTSD and didn't know how to talk about it until he found himself at an art school and taking a class and through expression was able to tell a story and put words in a visual form and how he's translated that now into songs that veterans are getting to write to share their experiences with their loved ones and with the world is a story of just using the medium that's available. His story is just exactly what we're talking about with this theme of that his personal story is your mission story. Like the two are so interconnected and

Speaker B: so the activation here is really one. I want you to sit down and breathe because I want to acknowledge that being vulnerable, telling your story, that is a brave thing to do. Sometimes those stories are hard and deep, sometimes they're light. You know, I think about Scott Cameron, you know, coming in with Sesame street, like, can we talk about the good vibes on the Sesame street episode I felt m my hope exploding and like

Speaker A: the depth of Sesame Street. This is like the teaser. This could be thread three. Like, watch Sesame Street 1000%.

Speaker B: And also, I just want everybody to laugh because if you watch the video of that, I hold Scott's hand for an obscenely long amount of time that Julie will never let me live down. So. But I do want to recognize that some of these stories are heavy. Your story deeply matters, but your story is also a bridge to helping someone else feel seen. Who says, oh, I share that story. I share that feeling. I don't want to have that repeated on anyone. I want to go help a hundred more heaths, not have to experience that in the same way I did. So sit down. Map your through line to your mission. Where did your story come in? Where did the mission come in? Where did they intersect? And that right there is your most powerful asset. And if you need a place to start, my friends, start with yourself. Start with your leader or your staff. Maybe even ask some of your volunteers or your board members to share their story. And then guess what's going to happen? Snowball, baby. It's going to pick up momentum. And then you start to build these cultures of storytelling. And you're not just storytelling, you're building cultures of being seen, of psychological safety where we know it's okay to bring the hard and the joyful and everything in between. And so that is going to be attractive to communities who want to be a part of something so radically generous and expansive.

Speaker A: So I just want to name something. I mean, this is a series about storytelling and I had shared earlier that it was, it was special for us because we were all together in New York and got to be in the same space. But I think kind of a behind the scenes aspect of this, that of why this series really worked, is just when you're inviting story, especially as raw and as personal as a lot of these stories went, I just want to name like, what the container really looked like, because I think there is a lot of intention to create a space where story like this can flow and that people feel comfortable and want to go there and share details. So I know B, you have helped shape our entire perspective about this as a company of how we would go about that. But, uh, two, just like how you model it in life. I feel like we should call out a few of the intentions set around it. That could be helpful.

Speaker B: Yeah, I think if your mindset is like, here are my questions, I'm going in to ask them, I would encourage you to Reframe a little bit. Because there is an extreme amount of due diligence that goes in to this and that due diligence is giving dignity to the person that you are interviewing. It's giving credence to their mission. It is giving them the respect that we did our homework and this is what we see. But we only know the bones of it. Like, fill it in, give it color. And I just think that psychological safety cannot be overstated enough in this because when someone feels safe to share a story that has. Has high stakes in it, whether it's because it has trauma or because it has painful memories, or because the statistics are so heavy, there needs to be a different way that we enter the room. And it is with such gratitude and reverence. And the co build aspect of it needs to be stated. This is not our story as a mission to take and do with what we want. In fact, it's the opposite. It's. It's their story that they're lending to us to help shape and connect what is happening to our mission. And so I think that's some of the tone set that I think is so important. What, what about you, John? Like, I feel like you've seen some things that I haven't even seen in this.

Speaker A: I love what you said there. And I would add to it that it's easy also to jump into your preset questions because we still did get prepared and like, have questions that we want to go to.

Speaker B: But.

Speaker A: But leaving the space to get to know the person is everything in this work. And so not just if you're hosting a podcast, but if you're working as a volunteer coordinator in a nonprofit, not just asking, like, are they up on their vaccinations? Hey, what's your story? Like, what were some formative experiences that made you want to volunteer at this place? You know, what brought you into the door today? Or if you're a fundraiser, getting to know and connect the dots of, like, what's the values that are driving this work. We have seen it open up not just great, great stories, but connection, like actual friendship and the power of just knowing each other's stories is everything. And holding space for that is the most important work, some of the most important work we could be doing.

Speaker B: And putting a bow on this entire concept. I'm going to take it back to shift number one this year, which is every single bit of that reinforces trust. Trust is the work now was our shift for this year. And when you can come in and treat a story and a human and the experience with unmatched dignity, kindness, warmth, generosity, and care. Something shifts y'. All. Something, uh, much deeper happens. And then what really happens that you can see actually in your dadding and a lot of your social media efforts and your comms is they love the story and it helps them come alive and it helps them feel seen and it helps them want to help more. And then guess what? They share it with everybody they know.

Speaker A: Ripple, ripple.

Speaker B: They tell everybody they know. And then you've also just created a rabid fan and a believer in your midst.

Speaker A: So if you can see the through line, this is why we love story. Because it's not really about the story. It's about the connection that it creates. And so I feel like we have to wrap with a one good thing.

Speaker B: We gotta end with a one good thing. And you cannot have stories that fill the hope gap and have a one good thing that is not centered on Sesame Street. Can we talk about that? Like, it is the most hopeful, the most joyful nonprofit. And I have been changed by Sesame Street. I have been shaped and molded by Sesame street, as I know you have. Please go and listen to that Sesame street episode. We were so honored to talk to Scott Cameron, who's become just a dear friend, and he shared the Sesame model. And I want to bring that to you as your one good thing. And it is three pieces. It is the Venn diagram of research, education, and creative production. And in this way, you are taking those statistics, you are building the awareness, and you are telling that story in a beautiful way. And what that does is it can ensures that everyone has a voice in what is created. And when you feel that level of agency, you see yourself in that movement, in that mission. You not only see yourself, you see yourself as an important and essential believer in that mission that needs to perpetuate it. So thank you, Sesame street, for all the things, but also all the things.

Speaker A: And that it all comes back to that, whether it's through the lens of a puppet or the ballroom scene of New York, or through carrying across generations in care through different contexts like it's the same heartbeat. And so I hope this series has connected you back to the work, the beautiful work that we get to be a part of. And I hope it's inspired you and connected you to new missions that you can follow along with.

Speaker B: We've rolled up all the resources that we've talked about today in the show notes, so check them out. They're in the episode description. But y', all, I guess we gotta second one good thing. We have a call to action because we want you to share your story with us. We've made it super easy. It's a super quick form. You can find it@weareforgood.com hopegap your story matters.

Speaker A: Grateful for you being here. Please add your voice to this conversation. As always, we are rooting for you mightily.

Speaker B: Keep going believing your story. Believe in the power it can unlock not just for others, but for yourself too.

Speaker A: Hey friend, thank you so much for joining us today. If you find yourself looking for a place to stay connected and keep learning between episodes, I hope you'll come and join us inside the We Are for Good community. Yeah, it is free. It's full of incredible nonprofit leaders like yourself and it's now an app in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. So you can take this community with you wherever you go. Head over to weareforgoodcommunity.com to find us. We cannot wait to see you inside.