Your research could change how the ocean is protected. If policymakers, funders and the public can't connect with it, it stays in the journal.

In this episode of the Ocean Leaders Podcast, Andrew Lewin sits down with his Pisces Oceans colleague Kirsti Burnett, a marine biologist who went from writing in the formal IMRaD structure to teaching storytelling workshops for scientists. Kirsti shares how a documentary first pulled her into science, how teaching shark awareness dives in St. Martin taught her to know her audience, and how she earned the trust of the Cabo Verde government by shaping her shark research around what mattered most to local communities.

They also get into the real barriers that keep scientists quiet, from fear of being misquoted by media to the discomfort of posting on social media. Kirsti explains how the hero's journey and the And, But, Therefore (ABT) framework help scientists flip the narrative so the audience becomes the hero of the story, while every fact stays intact. You'll hear the story of Roxanne the blue shark, why broad LinkedIn posts underperform, and simple ways to start practicing today.

Want a storytelling workshop for your lab, organization or conference? Reach out to Pisces Oceans through the link in the show notes.

Takeaways

• Why your audience, not your research, should be the hero of your story
• How to use the And, But, Therefore (ABT) structure to build a clear elevator pitch for your work
• How to find the "so what" that makes policymakers, funders and the public care
• Why targeted posts outperform broad ones on platforms like LinkedIn
• Low-pressure ways to start, from family dinners to school and museum talks

Are you interested in a Storytelling Workshop for your organization? Click here: