17. The heart of storytelling and deeper relationships with Dr. Donny Jackson
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India’s long-time friend, Donny Jackson, is a veteran poet, clinical psychologist, and multi-Emmy winner producer of documentary television. His debut poetry collection, Boy, was published in February of this year. As a psychologist and storyteller, Donny is keenly of aware of our need to be understood and of the role storytelling can play in building relationships and community. He’s a master communicator and shares how we can become better listeners and thereby build better connections with those around us.
Donny believes that his interest in writing and psychology stem the same root, curiosity around what makes people tick and wanting to illuminate that.
He has a desire to continue developing and finds value in “failing out loud” so that he can reflect on and grow out of those failures.
This episode is sprinkled with life wisdom, practical examples, and encouragement to connect with others. Tune in and be inspired to practice active listening and to grow by failing boldly.
“Failure, if you’re paying attention, taught you something.” — Donny Jackson
Your Action For This Episode
[0:51:15] By being a good listener, you have the ability to get someone else to tell their story in such a way that they will develop an ongoing relationship with you. Find an opportunity to do that today.
Consider…
[0:11:27] How we self-preserve through connection and community
[0:12:44] The role of stories play in grounding us
[0:16:21] How you can be a better listener by getting others to talk about themselves
[0:20:08] How you can practice active listening
[0:21:22] How staying curious about others can lead to deeper relationships
[0:27:48] What drives your content creation
[0:30:33] How stories can bring situations to life in a way more powerful and compelling way than regular reporting
[0:39:02] Using social media to highlight someone else’s story
[0:43:29] What it would mean for you to “fail spectacularly”
Quotes
“When you are able to see other people clearly, they are able to see themselves in you and in your content. Your vibe attracts your tribe.” — India
“Empathy and listening can help you be a better storyteller.” — India
“Psychology allows me to be curious about people and reverent for their differences and tolerant of certain extremes.” — Donny
“Stories help ground us. They help comfort us. They give us something to strive for.” — Donny
“What I do in television isn’t wholly different from what I try to do as an individual. Again, everybody wants to be listened to. My stance as an individual is to listen more than I speak.” — Donny
“Removing ego is part of what makes people better listeners than others.” — Donny
“The hardest part of creating this particular book was figuring out what not to put in it.” — Donny
“The goal always with art is to persuade people, to move the needle, to get them to feel or think something they didn’t think or feel before.” — Donny
“Listening allows you to connect with their point of view, and that’s really the definition of empathy.” — Donny
“I like choosing things where I could fail spectacularly…I need that level of challenge, of fear, of unknown in order for me to be my best self.” — Donny
“The only way we evolve is to be faced with something that we couldn’t do before.” — Donny
“Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” — Donny
Connect with Flaunt Your Fire
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Connect with Dr. Donny Jackson
Donny’s book of poetry, Boy
Find Donny’s book at Amazon
Donny on Instagram
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