Blog Post Archive
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Crimson Letters: Voices from Death Row
/in Emotions, Humanity, Justice, Prison, Writing/by Mark LovettI’ve spent a lot of time in prison. Not as an inmate, but instead coaching inmates, helping them craft their personal stories. Stories destined to land on a stage at TEDxDonovanCorrectional in 2017 and 2018. Donovan Correctional Facility is a California State prison, located at the very southern edge of San Diego County, overlooking the […]
Three Reasons We Don’t Tell Our Story
/in Audience, Narrative, Public Speaking, Storytelling/by Mark LovettSome folks are eager to tell us their story. They know their message is one that others could benefit from hearing, and they’re always looking for an opportunity to share their ideas, their wisdom, or the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whenever I meet one of these people and mention that I used to […]
The Challenge of Finding Historical Truth
/in History, Narrative, Nonfiction, Storytelling, Truth/by Mark LovettMy last post touched on the art of Interviewing From a Historical Perspective as a way to enrich your story by including the experiences of others. But finding the truth in history can be a problematic topic unto itself, as so much of what we think of as history deviates from the truth in sometimes […]
Interviewing From a Historical Perspective
/in Discrimination, History, Humanity, Interview, Narrative, Podcast/by Mark LovettThe process of crafting an impactful story often begins with identifying events and insights from your life’s journey, but such stories become more compelling and diverse when they include the experiences of others, as additional voices will broaden and deepen the narrative landscape, allowing audience’s to better understand the point you’re proposing, or the lessons […]
95,000 Names – 95,000 Stories
/in Discrimination, History, Humanity, LGBTQ/by Mark LovettTraditions are an essential element of every culture. Merriam-Webster defines the term as “the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.” Stories, in other words. But not just spoken, as humans are prone to create celebrations based on these stories. […]
The Successful Pitch with John Livesay
/in Brand Storytelling, Entrepreneurs, Podcast, Speaker Adventure, TEDx/by Mark LovettI had the pleasure of meeting John Livesay when he joined the Speaker Adventure storytelling program that I hosted with hall-of-fame speaker Jeff Salz, and we’ve been friends ever since. John’s podcast, The Successful Pitch, which is a must listen for entrepreneurs and business leaders, focuses on how to make your pitch compelling, clear and […]
A Decades Long Struggle for Justice as told on The Memory Palace
/in Discrimination, History, Humanity, Identity, LGBTQ/by Mark LovettThe Memory Palace continues to be one of my favorite storytelling podcasts with its unique way of bringing forth historical landscapes of people, places and events that traverse the arc of time, deftly infused with an insightful sense of relevance that speaks to current affairs. With the struggle for racial equality front and center we […]
Creating a Vivid and Continuous Dream
/in Audience, Fiction, Narrative, Nonfiction, Writing/by Mark LovettJohn Gardner was an accomplished author, literary critic and university professor – a rather rare combination. He was one of the best teachers of fiction writing, and his two books on the topic, The Art of Fiction and On Becoming a Novelist, have helped thousands learn the craft. If you read my previous blog posted […]
The Country Doctor on Snap Judgement
/in Discrimination, Health, Podcast, Storylistening, Truth/by Mark LovettAmerica has had problems with discrimination from day one. Look no further than the death toll of Native Americans, often deemed to be heathens, as settlers pushed onward from sea to shining sea. And with the invention of the cotton gin, wealthy landowners sanctified an increase in slavery, economically justifying the practice of kidnapping, shackling, […]
Behind the Scenes of The Memory Palace
/in Art, History, Humanity, Narrative, Podcast/by Mark LovettI’ve been a podcast listener for many years, and at the beginning of my daily walk I’ll open the PocketCasts app on my phone to find an episode that will indulge my storytelling addiction. There are podcasts which live there temporarily – I’ll add and delete as my desires change – but several of them […]