The four types of speech stories

I woke up today to a grateful message from an adult student.

They won a district championship in Toastmaster’s International Speech Contest.

I was impressed, but not surprised. This student deeply understood their speech’s narrative.

The ISC isn’t like a TED talk, which introduces a brand-new idea worth sharing. It’s not like a Persuasive script, which challenges a deeply held, often controversial social belief.

In my view, it’s about drawing a universal, relatable theme out of a lived experience (your narrative).

This might feel incredibly abstract. But, in my view, over 90% of narratives fall into one of four major themes. I call this my E.P.I.C. system.

E is for EVOLVE.

Marie Curie. The Wright Brothers. Iron Man.

These are stories about evolution. They celebrate innovators, inventors, changemakers, and dreamers.

They’re the people who look at Robert Kennedy’s quote "Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” and nod enthusiastically.

P is for PERSIST.

Rosa Parks. Nelson Mandela. Katniss Everdeen.

These are stories about people who couldn’t be broken. They stood up for their principles and refused to bend the knee, take a seat, or crack under pressure. Winston Churchill said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” These folks agree.


I is for ILLUMINATE.

Sir David Attenborough. Bill Nye. Ms. Frizzle.

These are stories that introduce audiences to things they never knew. They’re informative, expository, and guide us to see things in a new light. Helen Keller expressed “Knowledge is love and light and vision.” These stories illuminate us with knowledge.

C is for CONNECT.

Fred Rogers. Dolly Parton. Ted Lasso.

These are stories about love, togetherness, and powerful statements of shared humanity. Albert Camus once warned, “Man is an idea, and a precious small idea - once he turns his back on love.” These narratives broaden and deepen our bonds.

My student’s winning narrative was about how listening to her daughter and allowing herself to trust in a younger person’s perspective brought her closer together.

Which EPIC category do you think her story best matches?

Final Takeaways

1. Frame your story by asking yourself which kind of universal theme (Evolve, Persist, Illuminate, Connect) best captures its heart.

2. Great narratives often feature a “before and after” moment. Here, it was the mother’s choice to lean on her daughter’s perspective, ultimately deepening their relationship and illustrating the power of [insert your answer here]!