Stories in Our DNA – Ep 7: The Stories We Can Tell Instead
About this episode
Helen Packham explores alternative storytelling structures that create meaning beyond conflict-driven narratives.
What if the stories that change us most don’t follow the hero’s journey at all? In this episode, Helen Packham explores three powerful storytelling structures that offer an alternative to conflict-driven narratives: Kishōtenketsu, Ring Composition, and the Braided Narrative. Together, they reveal how stories can create meaning through contrast, reflection, connection, and recognition, not just struggle and triumph. From the quiet symbolism of an umbrella carried “just in case” to the invisible emotional habits we use to feel safe, Helen explores how story structures shape identity, leadership, communication, and the way we understand ourselves. Drawing from cultural storytelling traditions, narrative psychology, coaching insights, and personal reflection, this episode invites you to rethink what makes a story meaningful and why quieter transformations still deserve to be heard. In this episode: • Why conflict isn’t the only path to meaningful storytelling • How Kishōtenketsu creates transformation through contrast and reframe • The hidden emotional power of Ring Composition • Why the meaning of a story is sometimes found in the middle • How braided narratives reflect the…
More episodes of Words that Change Lives
- Stories in Our DNA – Ep 6: The Story We Inherited
- Stories in Our DNA – Ep 5: The Story I Tell Myself
- Stories in Our DNA – Ep 4: Stories Of Folklore Myth & Landscape
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