The comedian Maria Bamford says, “my friends are always telling me how easy it is to cook.” She follows this with an astute observation “but not any easier than not cooking”. Shock horror, she’s telling us that she’s an individual who doesn’t cook. She even tells us that she eats cheese out of a squeezy tube.
Hearing people being human and admitting their ‘flaws’ can help us relate to them. It can release us of our shame as we say to ourselves “Oh thank God, I’m not the only one”. It can create a connection with the speaker which helps us to like them, trust them and feel safe. This is the art of authentic storytelling.
Science and research are notoriously difficult to explain. This is because science is messy. Certainties do not always exist. However, certainties are often what the public expects. So how can we find the connections between the flaws of being human and the flaws of science to relate to the public, meet these expectations and build trust? This workshop will explore how authentic storytelling can be used as a tool to do public engagement and build trust in science. It will be fun and interactive and a chance for us to present ourselves as imperfect humans. Humans who may lick the spoon before we put it back in the jam jar or humans who may not always feel completely in control of what’s happening in our lives. Shock horror!
Facilitator Bio:
Aine Gallagher is a professional comedian and storyteller and expert in communication training. She is the former creative director and lead training facilitator with Bright Club Ireland and now works as a consultant with organisations such as Berlin Stand Up School, delivering independently developed comedy and storytelling workshops. Her passion is based on the use of authentic storytelling and the power of sharing our honest stories to build social connection, trust and promote well-being.
