How Stories Happen

A trick from John Mulaney to create better content

Mar 7, 2025

Discover the storytelling technique inspired by a memorable moment between John Mulaney and David Letterman. Uncover the importance of a strong premise to boost creativity and connect with your core messages. Learn how authenticity in content can lead to better engagement, moving beyond shallow promotions. Get insights that will help you craft a distinct narrative and resonate with your audience on a deeper level.

21:19

Creator website

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Establishing a strong premise is crucial for coherent storytelling, guiding content choices while aligning with personal values to enhance audience engagement.

Consistently interrogating your premise with key questions fosters deeper investigations into ideas, resulting in richer and more resonant stories.

Deep dives

The Power of a Strong Premise

A strong premise serves as the foundation for effective storytelling, guiding the content that follows. Comedian John Mulaney illustrates this through his interaction with David Letterman, where Letterman shares his struggle with a joke premise about a single shoe found on the road. Mulaney emphasizes that a successful premise is a defensible assertion that informs choices and aligns with one’s values, allowing for a more coherent narrative. This idea encourages storytellers to focus on developing a clear premise to shape their subsequent work and enhance audience engagement.

Harnessing the Power of Premise for Effective Storytelling

16min

Creating Authentic Content for Better Engagement

3min

Enrollment is now open into my Public Speaking Accelerator. Register now for $400 off and secure a 1:1 coaching call with me too: jayacunzo.com/signaturetalk

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

A technique for our work found in an incredible moment between John Mulaney and David Letterman. This is a solo episode from me to share something you can apply to your work right away to become a stronger storyteller, to differentiate your message, and to generally compete on the impact of your ideas NOT the volume of your marketing.

***

IMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING + STORYTELLING:

Subscribe to my newsletter and learn more about me at jayacunzo.com

Explore my services: jayacunzo.com/services

Book me to speak: jayacunzo.com/keynotes

***

CONNECT:

Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Bluesky

This episode was produced by Ilana Nevins

Cover art designed by Blake Ink

***

ABOUT ME:

I help business leaders become stronger speakers and storytellers. The goal isn’t to get in front of your audience. The goal is to ensure they care. While others agonize over reach, your ability to resonate helps you compete on the influence of your ideas, not the volume of your marketing.

With my clients, I help clarify + differentiate their message, craft their thinking and expertise into a distinct premise and IP they own, and develop signature speeches, frameworks, and stories to influence, inspire, and drive results.

After making a name for myself as an early advocate for quality and storytelling in content marketing at brands like Google and HubSpot, I’ve partnered with orgs like Mailchimp, Salesforce, Wistia, and GoDaddy and consulted dozens of authors, entrepreneurs, execs, and creators on their storytelling, messaging, and public speaking.

I live in the Boston area with my family as a proud Yankees and Knicks fan (yes, I’m in enemy territory). In the 60 seconds per week I’m not creating stuff for work or making my kids laugh, I like to shoot hoops, sip nice bourbons, cook with my wife, and daydream about telling stories like my storytelling hero, Anthony Bourdain. Say hi on LinkedIn or contact me here.

***

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Leave a rating on Spotify