April 30, 2025
Have you ever started telling a story and halfway through thought, “Wait… where am I going with this? This doesn’t make any sense. It’s so boring.” If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and this article is for you.
Here, you’ll learn three simple storytelling techniques that can help you turn an average moment into an unforgettable story. To illustrate each one, let’s look at real-life examples from actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Emily Blunt.
Let’s start with a short, powerful story from Leonardo DiCaprio. He was on a plane to Russia when one of the engines exploded. He looked out the window and saw the entire engine turn into a fireball. Oddly enough, no one else seemed to notice or care. He said he felt like he had died and gone to heaven because everyone remained eerily calm.
Despite his visible panic, the people around him remained unbothered. A flight attendant eventually acknowledged the situation in a remarkably composed manner, explaining that the aircraft had lost one of its two engines. Even then, the reactions from others were oddly relaxed.
What makes this story unforgettable is how DiCaprio tells it. He doesn’t simply recount the events—he fully embodies each character. He changes his voice, tone, and even body language to bring each character’s personality to life.
You can apply this technique too. When telling a story:
Use the actual words spoken in the moment.
Alter your voice to reflect each character’s personality or mood.
Make subtle changes in your posture or expressions to bring each person to life. Even small adjustments can make a big difference in how engaging your story becomes.
Sean Penn tells a hilarious story about the night his daughter went on her first date at 16. For 16 years, he had waited for this moment. But as he puts it: “This was not her night. This was my night.”
He told his daughter,
“I will not let you go out with him if I don’t get this moment.”
Then he opened the door quickly, looked at the boy, and said,
“No no no, call me Sean.”
The nervous boy said,
“Yes sir—Sean.”
Then Penn delivered the classic line:
“Whatever time you get her home, whatever you do with her while you’re out… I’m going to do with you when you get her home.”
The way he tells the story builds tension step by step. As listeners, we’re left wondering what exactly he’s going to do or say next, and how the boy will respond. That steady buildup of curiosity keeps us hanging on to every word.
You can use this same approach to create suspense in your own storytelling. Here’s how:
Start with a strong hook – a sentence that immediately sparks curiosity. For instance, mentioning a moment that changed your life or left you stunned can pull people in.
Add mini-hooks throughout your story – moments that hint something important or unexpected is about to happen. Statements that suggest a turning point, a revelation, or a mystery keep your audience engaged and eager to hear what’s next.
By guiding your listeners through a series of questions and emotional beats, you naturally draw them deeper into your story.
Emily Blunt gives us the perfect example of contrast in storytelling. She once had to shoot a scene where she was supposed to ride a majestic creature—a “wolf bear.” She asked if she could ride a horse instead, but the French director insisted, “No, it’s going to be super cool. You’re going to love it.”
On the shoot day, she realized the “wolf bear” didn’t exist. Instead, she had to sit on a green screen mound on a cart, driven by a man fully dressed in green screen gear—like a little lizard. The creature was supposed to move like a bear… but it moved at a glacial pace toward her co-stars. Blunt remembers slowly approaching Jessica Chastain, trying to look regal while bouncing awkwardly on a cart.
This works because of contrast. First, she sets up the expectation: a majestic scene. Then she completely breaks that expectation with something ridiculous and mundane.
To use contrast in your own stories:
Set up an expectation – “I thought my boss was going to love my presentation.”
Break it unexpectedly – “But instead, he said, ‘Sorry, we have to let you go.’”
Or try this:
“I was excited to meet my date—she looked amazing in the photos. But when she walked in… it was a completely different person.”
The formula is simple: “I thought it would be X, but it turned out Y.”
The greater the contrast, the bigger the laugh or surprise.
Even if you use just one of these storytelling techniques, your stories will become 10x more engaging:
Impersonate characters to bring your story to life.
Build anticipation to keep your audience hooked.
Use contrast to surprise, amuse, and entertain.
Want to sound even more powerful using these techniques? Check out the next article where I share the steps to speak with confidence.
Enjoy.
P.S. Want to become a stronger communicator?
Here are two ways I can support you:
👉 Want to tell more engaging stories? Join our next Storytelling Workshop.
👉 Want to speak with confidence and clarity? Check out our Communication Skills Training.
Both are fun, practical, and designed to help you grow fast.
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
Discover how your storytelling skills score and uncover useful insights to help you become a charismatic storyteller:
