Curious Worldview

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98: Matthew Dicks | The Key To Hosting A Wedding, Toxic Productivity + A Bit Of Serendipity & Nassim Taleb

Aug 1, 2022

Guest

Matthew Dicks

Matthew Dicks, a storytelling champion and author of "Storyworthy," shares insightful wisdom on hosting unforgettable weddings with humor and authority. He critiques toxic productivity culture, emphasizing the value of communication and serendipity, inspired by Nassim Taleb's concepts of anti-fragility. Dicks reflects on personal stories that highlight how small choices can lead to significant life changes. He also explores the art of memoir writing, revealing how storytelling aids in overcoming adversity and fosters resilience.

01:26:23

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ANECDOTE

Storytelling Tips for Weddings

Tell a story about the couple during a wedding ceremony for meaningful impact.
Use strategic humor: open with a joke, then sprinkle laughs at moments of tension.

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ANECDOTE

Wedding Chaos with Cake Fight

A groom smashed cake on his bride, causing her to leave and lock herself in a car.
As a DJ, stepping in early could prevent such disasters during weddings.

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ADVICE

Wedding Speech Do's and Don'ts

Find unique, emblematic stories about the bride and groom to share in speeches.
Never make fun of the bride; humor at the groom's expense is acceptable.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

The Art of Wedding Officiating

02:07 • 16min

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The Art of Being an Inconspicuous MC at Weddings

18:31 • 2min

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The Power of Communication and Storytelling

20:38 • 21min

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Embracing Anti-Fragility: The Power of Saying Yes

41:16 • 2min

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The Power of Serendipity and Choice

43:31 • 26min

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The Art of Memoir: Personal Stories and Resilience

01:09:17 • 13min

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Exploring Perspectives on Countries and Historical Dialogues

01:22:23 • 2min

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A Call to Action for Podcast Growth

01:24:19 • 2min

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I'll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood

Jessi Klein

Memoirs of an imaginary friend

Matthew Dicks

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend is a captivating story told from the perspective of Budo, an imaginary friend created by Max, an eight-year-old boy on the autism spectrum. Budo helps Max navigate the complexities of school and social interactions, but when Max is kidnapped, Budo must rely on other imaginary friends to save him. The novel explores themes of friendship, imagination, and the challenges faced by children with autism.

The Incerto

Nassim Taleb

Let's Pretend This Never Happened

Jenny Lawson

Let's Pretend This Never Happened is a memoir by Jenny Lawson that combines humor and heartache as she recounts her unconventional childhood with a taxidermist father and her later life struggles with mental health. The book is known for its laugh-out-loud humor and its ability to make readers feel less alone in their own quirks and challenges.

On Writing

A Memoir of the Craft

Stephen King

This book is both a memoir and a writing guide. It details Stephen King's life, from his childhood and early writing endeavors to his struggles with addiction and his near-fatal accident in 1999. The book is divided into sections that cover King's life ('C. V. '), the nature of writing ('What Writing Is'), writing mechanics ('Toolbox'), his advice on the craft ('On Writing'), and his recovery from the accident ('On Living: A Postscript'). King offers practical tips on writing, including the importance of vocabulary, grammar, and style, as well as the need for consistent writing routines and ruthless editing. He emphasizes that good writing comes from within, driven by curiosity, wonder, and emotional honesty rather than commercial motives.

Someday Is Today

22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life

Matthew Dicks

This book provides 22 simple and actionable ways to enhance productivity and turn dreams into accomplishments. Matthew Dicks shares his own strategies and insights from various creative people, including writers, editors, performers, artists, and magicians. The book helps readers silence negative messages, eliminate time-wasting activities, find supporters, and cultivate optimism. It emphasizes the importance of managing time effectively and living a more meaningful life by aligning daily actions with long-term goals and values.

Adventures in the Screen Trade

William Goldman

Adventures in the Screen Trade is a candid and insightful look at the Hollywood film industry, written by William Goldman. The book is divided into three parts, offering essays on Hollywood realities, stories from Goldman's projects, and a practical guide to adapting a short story into a screenplay. It includes the full screenplay of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' and provides valuable advice for aspiring screenwriters.

Storyworthy

Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling

Matthew Dicks

In 'Storyworthy,' Matthew Dicks provides a comprehensive guide on the art of storytelling. The book is divided into three parts: Finding your story, Crafting your story, and Telling your story. Dicks shares his own stories to illustrate key points and offers tips and exercises to help readers improve their storytelling skills. He emphasizes the importance of identifying a 'five-second moment' of transformation or realization in every story and provides techniques for making stories engaging and memorable. The book is designed to help anyone become a better storyteller, whether for personal or professional purposes, and highlights how storytelling can deepen connections with others and enhance one's own life.

🎙️: https://atlasgeographica.com/matthew-dicks-productivity/

The following is a conversation with Matthew Dicks. This is his second appearance on the podcast.

Matthew Dicks first appeared on episode #44. Tune into that episode to hear some original stories from Matt and as well hear him explain the playbook for how to tell a good story.

Matthew has won more Moth championships than anyone else. The Moth championship is like the world cup of storytelling.

In This Podcast With Matthew Dicks, You Can Expect To Hear About…

Someday Is Today.
Advice For Hosting A Memorable Wedding.
Productivity Gurus & The Productivity Space.
+ A Bit Of Nassim Taleb.

Jump In On My Newsletter 📋 🔑 - https://atlasgeographica.com/subscribe
📷 Instagram & Twitter 🐦
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00:00 – Introduction.
01:11 – Top To Bottom Wedding Advice.
20:57 – Is Communication The Most Important Skill?
39:13 – Nassim Taleb & Serendipity.
47:04 – Productivity & Toxic Gurus.
1:04:06 – Matthew Dicks Relationship With Ali Abdaal.
1:09:17 – Memoirs/Biographies + Matthews Darkest Moment.
1:22:44 – Country Matthew Is Bullish On & Conversation Between Any Two People Of History.
1:25:00 – Ambition For The Podcast.

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Episodes Of The Curious Worldview Podcast Mentioned.

Matthew Dicks | Storyworthy
Christian Busch | Serendipity.

Links To Matthew Dicks

Someday Is Today
Storyworthy
Matthew Dicks Twitter

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