The Neuroscience of Storytelling and Why Our Brains Crave Stories with Susan Lovett
If you’ve ever gotten lost in a book, teared up during a movie, or felt instantly connected to a stranger online because of something they shared – you’ve felt the power of storytelling in action. But did you know there’s actual science behind why our brains respond so strongly to stories?
In this episode of The Ultimate Blog Podcast, we interviewed writer and storytelling expert Susan Lovett about the neuroscience of storytelling – why our brains are hardwired for it, how it shapes our decisions, and how bloggers and content creators can harness that power to truly connect with their audience.
Meet Susan Lovett
Susan Lovett runs FigmentsandFables.com where she shares her passion for story with entrepreneurs, content creators, and writers who want to engage their audiences from the first word. She breaks down the neuroscience of story and simplifies writing techniques without gimmicks or fluff.
What Is the Neuroscience of Storytelling?
According to Susan, when it comes to storytelling, there are two responses happening in our brains:
1. The Neuroscientific Response
This is your body’s physiological reaction to a story. It’s all thanks to something called mirror neurons. Discovered by Italian scientists in 1996, mirror neurons are what allow us to feel like we’re experiencing something ourselves when we see or hear someone else going through it.
In simple terms: when you read a story, watch a movie, or listen to someone speak, your brain lights up the same way it would if you were actually living that experience. It’s called neuro-coupling, and it’s the reason stories make us feel so connected.
2. The Psychological Response
This is the emotional side. It’s known as narrative transportation – that moment when you’re so immersed in a story, you forget everything else. You cry with the characters, cheer them on, and feel every twist and turn.
This is what businesses and bloggers should aim for. It’s not just about entertaining your audience – it’s about emotionally engaging them.
Why Storytelling Matters for Bloggers
Bloggers often focus on SEO, keywords, and algorithms, but storytelling is the secret ingredient that builds lasting trust and connection.
Susan explained it this way: “We make the majority of our decisions in our subconscious through our emotions. We validate with numbers.” That means even the most fact-based readers are still emotionally driven at their core.
Common Storytelling Mistakes in Emails and Content
Susan shared a few humorous examples of storytelling gone wrong. Like the email where someone described “co-founding four children” or another that opened with a story about explosive diarrhea – both of which triggered an immediate unsubscribe.
In business, you’re never telling a story just for the sake of it. There’s always something that comes next – a pitch, a product, an invitation to connect. Your story needs to support that message, not distract from it.
If You’re Not Naturally a Storyteller
Not everyone thinks in stories, and that’s okay. If you’re someone who struggles to see the narrative in your own experiences, Susan encourages you to start by asking:
- What challenges have I overcome?
- What have I learned through trial and error?
- What small, everyday moments have shaped how I work or serve others?
You don’t need dramatic, life-altering events to tell powerful stories. Often, it’s the small, relatable experiences that resonate the most. When you can build a story bank and tie those stories to a message or a lesson for your audience, that’s where the magic happens.
Start With the End in Mind
If you’re promoting a new course, PDF, or membership, start by identifying what transformation that product offers.
Don’t ask, “What am I selling?” But instead ask, “What do they get?”
Once you know the transformation you’re providing, you can reverse-engineer a story that illustrates that emotional journey.
The Part Most People Miss: The Transition
One of the biggest mistakes Susan sees in storytelling emails and blog posts is jumping straight from a story into a sales pitch.
You need a transition. The transition connects the story to the solution. It helps the reader understand why the story matters, and how it relates to what you’re offering. Without it, your story feels disconnected, and your offer feels abrupt.
Make It About Them
Another common storytelling trap is making your offer the main part of the story. Instead, make your writing about the reader.
Instead of saying, “Here’s what my product does,” say, “Here’s what you can do once you have this.” It’s a subtle shift, but it keeps the focus on their needs, desires, and goals.
And if you ever feel unsure, Susan offers this gut-check: Would you say this in person to a friend? If it would feel awkward or inauthentic face-to-face, it’s probably not going to land in your email, either.
Stop Trying to Sound Like Everyone Else
Susan’s last piece of advice is to remember that your voice is your most powerful tool.
Trying to mimic someone else’s writing style – or relying too heavily on templates or AI – can water down your message. It won’t sound like you. And connection comes from authenticity.
Whether you’re writing a blog post or a launch email, the key is to sound like yourself. That’s what builds trust, invites engagement, and ultimately drives action.
In this episode, we covered:
- How Susan Lovett became a storytelling expert
- The neuroscience of storytelling
- Why storytelling matters for bloggers
- Common storytelling mistakes
- How to create a story bank (especially if you’re not naturally a storyteller)
- What to focus on in your stories
- How to bridge your stories into a pitch
- Why your authentic voice matters
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Check out Susan’s website and blog
- Get Susan’s freebie: 19 Reasons Your Stories Aren’t Working and How to Fix Them
- Grab our free Summer Startup Checklist!
- Join The Ultimate Blog Roadmap
- Check out last week’s episode on how to tell stories well with Jessica Graham!
We hope you loved this episode with Susan Lovett on the neuroscience of storytelling! Please leave us a comment and let us know your biggest takeaway from this episode!
