In my previous post in this series, I highlighted that one of the defining features of a good story is that it takes you somewhere. If stories direct people’s attention, they also help us connect and take people with us. This post offers another perspective on why, when we hear a story, we can’t help but lean forward and engage. In short, it’s because our brains are participants, not observers. They can’t help being part of the action, and the reason for this is linked to our social wiring. Finally, I explore the implications for presenting in a way that incorporates this key principle of storytelling: it’s about them, not you.