How To Series: JD Schramm: How to Tell Your Story

Jul 23

Kristine Michie - Playfull Podcast Interview - JD Schramm

How To Series: JD Schramm: How to Tell Your Story

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie is joined by JD Schramm, an expert in communication and storytelling for nonprofit and philanthropic leaders. Together, they explore how to turn typical "we’re so busy" organizational updates into unforgettable narrative journeys that actually move people to care, give, and get involved. JD shares practical storytelling frameworks, vivid examples, and the essential mindset shifts required to inspire genuine action without slipping into manipulation or "charity porn."

Key Takeaways:

The difference between “just talking” and telling a story is intention—knowing the finish line you want your audience to arrive at and crafting a journey that takes them there.
Storytelling in the social impact space works best when the goal is to create genuine impact in the listener, not to manipulate them into giving or volunteering.
In nonprofit storytelling, focusing on impact over activity (what actually changes for people, communities, or the planet) is far more powerful than listing how busy the organization has been.
Follow JD’s simple storytelling framework with four prompts to deliver a classic story: 1) “once upon a time …” 2) “then one day …” 3) “because of that …” 4) “until now…”
Too much context, too many details, and an overreliance on statistics are common pitfalls; concise, well-chosen stories that spotlight beneficiaries’ voices are far more memorable.

"A well-crafted story that's going to have impact is one that is not over-engineered, but we know the finish line that we want the audience to arrive at, and we craft the story in a way to be able to take them there." — JD Schramm

"We've got to remember that impact is greater than activity." — JD Schramm

"We are always going to be most drawn to the shorter, more concise story. Sometimes a storyteller can just go on too long, and it becomes more about them than the audience and the impact." — JD Schramm

Episode References:

Students Run LA - srla.org
One Mind Accelerator - onemind.org/what-we-do/one-mind-accelerator
Epilepsy Foundation’s Venture Fund - epilepsy.com/strategy/venture-fund
Skoll World Forum - skoll.org/skoll-world-forum
Pattern Breakers by Mike Maples Jr. - patternbreakers.com
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker - priyaparker.com/the-art-of-gathering

More About JD Schramm:

JD Schramm is a leadership communication expert, keynote speaker, and educator with more than 25 years of experience coaching founders, executives, scientists, and educators. He created and led the communication programs at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and currently teaches graduate students at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He is the author of Communicate with Mastery: Speak with Conviction and Write for Impact, a practical field guide for organizational leaders looking to drive change. Drawing from his own life experiences, including surviving a 2003 suicide attempt, he is also a dedicated advocate for mental health and suicide prevention, working to help individuals and organizations move past simple competence to achieve true communication mastery.

Connect with JD Schramm:

Website: https://www.jdschramm.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdschramm/

Substack: https://jdschramm.substack.com/

JD's Newsletter: https://www.jdschramm.com/newsletter

The Power of Play (MEA 3-Day Deep Dive): https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-play-unlock-your-story-purpose-for-whats-next-sept/

Connect with Kristine:

The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-review

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/

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