A psychology-grounded approach to presentation and communication
"What's the difference between a vision and a hallucination? It becomes a vision when others can see it."
Three essays. Same machinery. Different sides of the fence.
| 😇 The Storytelling Framework | The craft - how to make ideas land using narrative structure, audience psychology, and the hero's journey. The gamekeeper. |
| 👿 The Story Doesn't Care If It's True | The warning - the same framework powers propaganda, and the machine was never fitted with a truth gauge. The poacher. |
| 🕵🏻♂️ Show Me The Receipts | The equipment - a compact mental toolkit for distinguishing evidence from the shape of evidence. The auditor. |
These pieces explore the cognitive science behind effective communication:
| Post | Topic |
|---|---|
| Transportation | How stories literally transport us neurologically |
| The Peak-End Rule | Why endings and emotional peaks matter most |
| Why Stories Matter | Narrative as the brain's default sense-making device |
| It's About Time | Time perception and the neuroscience of stress ⭐ Personal origin story |
| Primacy Theory | The psychology of first impressions (with Eddie Izzard!) ⭐ |
| The Spotlight Effect | Managing the illusion that everyone is watching |
| The Neurochemistry of Presenting | Dopamine, serotonin, cortisol, and testosterone |
| Cerebral Seeds | Memory consolidation and idea uptake |
| Language and Memory | Linguistic techniques that stick |
| The Default Mode | The brain's wandering mind and how to engage it |
Material exploring the psychology of human connection:
| Post | Topic |
|---|---|
| First Impressions | The Dame Edna quadrant — what we reveal instantly |
| Thinking and Feeling | Facts vs emotion in persuasion |
| Mirror Neurons | The neuroscience of empathy and connection |
| Mirror Neurons — Part 2 | Bidirectional influence |
| Non-Verbal Communication | Beyond the Mehrabian myth |
| The Duchenne Smile | Authentic smiles and oxytocin |
| Eye Contact | Saccadic vision and the window to the soul |
A complete vocal training module:
| Post | Topic |
|---|---|
| It's Not What You Say... | The power of tonality |
| Vocal Variety — Pitch | The seesaw of highs and lows 🎢 |
| Vocal Variety — Pace | The BBC 150 wpm standard 🎼 |
| Vocal Variety — Intonation | How emphasis changes meaning 🎯 |
| Active Voice and Tense | Present tense, active voice 🎭 |
| Treading the Boards | Method acting for presenters |
| PREP Framework | Impromptu speaking — tack like a sailboat ⛵ |
Practical techniques for structuring and delivering presentations:
| Post | Topic |
|---|---|
| Controlling Nerves — Part 1 | Pre-presentation anxiety management |
| Controlling Nerves — Part 2 | Real-time nerve control (box breathing, power poses) |
| Creating an Introduction | The four-stage opening framework (WIIFT) |
| Positive Visualisation | Mental rehearsal techniques from sports psychology |
| Perfecting Imperfection | Authenticity over polish |
| May I Have Your Attention | Attention capture and retention |
| Beyond Bullet Points | Visual communication that works |
| Writing Backwards | Start with the ending |
| The Alphabet of Story | Story structure fundamentals |
| Audience Profiling | Understanding who you're speaking to |
| Congruence | Aligning words, tone, and body language |
These materials were developed through decades of real-world presentation experience — from panicked first presentations to TV & Radio interviews, corporate keynotes to training courses.
The approach is grounded in communication psychology, not showmanship. The goal isn't to perform — it's to make ideas land.
Mark Sunner — Former CTO of MessageLabs (acquired by Symantec), speaker, and avid student of the science of communication.
37 posts migrated from Digital Ape Training (2019-2024) and collaborative training materials.