Most personalities are terrible at telling stories. They have good stories. They have plenty. But they tell them like a police report. Chronological. Detailed. Accurate. And completely forgettable.
“We got to the airport, the lines were insane, TSA is understaffed, they’re telling people to get there three hours early…It’s such a hassle. What’s your advice for dealing with the hassles of flying?”
Cool. That’s information. That’s not entertainment. Here’s the shift that changes everything.
Stop Starting With the Facts. Start With the Feeling.
The audience doesn’t care about what happened. They care about how they can see themselves in the story. That’s where The Inverted Funnel comes in.
Most personalities build stories like this:
Facts → Details → More Facts → Listener Invitation → Conclusion
That’s a funnel pointing in the wrong direction.
The inverted funnel flips it:
Emotion → Relatable Situation → Selective Details
You don’t widen the story with facts. You hook them with something they recognize in themselves.
Let’s go back to the airport story.
Boring version:
“TSA is understaffed, lines are long, they’re recommending arriving three hours early…”
Entertaining version:
“I told my husband we need to get to the airport FOUR hours early for our Disney trip because of the TSA problems… and now he thinks I’ve lost my mind. And I think he’s going to ruin our family vacation.”
Now we’re in something. It’s not about TSA anymore. That’s just the backdrop.
It’s about that argument every couple has when one person plans like a Navy SEAL and the other thinks showing up 20 minutes early is ‘plenty of time.’
That’s the story.
Find the Fight, Not the Fact
If you want to get better fast, here’s a simple filter. Ask yourself, “Where’s the tension?”
• The disagreement
• The overreaction
• The awkward moment
• The internal panic you’re pretending you don’t have
That’s the emotional engine. In the airport example, the tension isn’t staffing shortages.
It’s:
“I’m trying to prevent a disaster, and my partner thinks I’m the disaster.”
That’s where listeners lean in.
Mine Your Life, But Don’t Dump It On-Air
Your daily life is a goldmine if you know how to process it. You see something weird. You experience something frustrating. You notice something funny.
Great. Capture it. Move on. Don’t rush it on the air. Make a note. Voice memo. Text yourself. Whatever.
Later, you shape it. Stories come from virtually any source.
Here’s an example: You find a fork in your son’s bathroom.
On its own? Who cares. But now ask:
• Why is that weird?
• How did it get there?
• What does it say about your kid?
• What did you think when you saw it?
Now you’re building a story about what it means, not just what it is.
The Magic Question
Facts are what happened, but emotion is how it felt.
And “how” is always more interesting than “what.” Listeners don’t relate to your situation. They relate to your reaction. That’s the bridge, and it’s how a personal story becomes a shared experience.
Want Help Finding Those Stories?
Here’s the unfair advantage. With Radio Content Pro, I (Ava Hart) find stories just for you. Personally. But that’s not all. I also help you shape them in your voice, for your format, for your audience.
It’s personalized content, personalized angles, personalized hooks, and fully developed segments…on demand whenever you want them, and crafted for your personality. Just yours.
It’s like having a co-host who actually does the prep and brings out your best.
And it’s just $99 a month. Try it free for seven days. Want more details? Go to www.radiocontentpro.com. Want more details? No problem. They’ll give you a demo and show you how it works.
Or keep doing airport stories like a TSA press release. Your call.
Ava Hart is the digital spokesperson for Radio Content Pro — the radio industry’s most innovative content provider — and its unapologetic voice for creativity, connection, and a little controlled chaos. Known as radio’s revolutionist with sass, she blends sharp wit, tech-savvy smarts, and a love for authentic storytelling to help broadcasters thrive in a fast-changing media world.