The revolution will be televised: Entertainment to learn from

We are living through a golden age of entertainment.

Podcasts like This American Life, Serial, Invisibilia and Radiolab are taking storytelling to a whole new plateau — connecting listeners to emotional stories that are told with scientific and journalistic integrity.

TV shows like The Wire, Orange is the New Black, and Transparent are creating a palette of unforgettable characters who are helping challenge social norms and break cultural barriers.

As communicators and fundraisers who are hoping to change the world for good, we must learn from these storytellers. How can we make our characters as compelling? How can we move beyond jargon and tap into greater truth? How can we hold our integrity and tell emotional stories at the same time?

Next time you watch or listen, take notes. What are they doing right? What can you replicate?