Ira Glass gave a point of view on storytelling that I’ve never really thought of before. I have always noticed the effects that audio has on a story, but I did not realize the full depth and the importance. The way Glass explained things by using examples was a good way to show the significance of how something is said or heard.

Ira’s explanation on anecdote is something I’ve never thought about but makes sense when hearing it. He explains that anecdote is just a series of actions strung together to make a story. That didn’t make a lot of sense to me until Glass gave an example, and then it clicked. He told a story that had no purpose, plot, or really any meaning at all. However, Glass told it in a way that keeps the listener hooked because of the descriptive words he used along with the speed and intonation.

Another main part of storytelling that Glass explains is the moment of reflection. Good stories need both anecdote and reflection for them to have good meaning. Many stories have great anecdote, but it means nothing because there is either weak or no reflection at all on the events that took place.

Glass also had a unique take on finding good stories and what it takes to do so. He explains how failure to find good stories is expected and necessary to be successful. It is trial and error and success by numbers. If you find five bad stories you might get lucky and find one that is good and makes the other five worth it.