You want to hear (and maybe capture) a great story?  Sit down and have a meal with someone.  It’s an ancient practice that modern content creators would do well to understand.

I thought of this today while hearing an interview with Michelle Norris of NPR news.  She was discussing her new book, a memoir of sorts that deals with race and the way people discuss it, especially as it relates to different generations. In the first clip included on the book’s Amazon summary page, she makes the point about getting her best information from her subjects when there was food included.

That’s a great tip from a first-rate reporter. Take it from her, or from the ancients, you want to hear a good story… invite interesting people, bring food, and listen as the magic happens!

Telling meaningful stories over meals has a long history.  A great example is the Jewish celebration of Passover (Pasach).  If you’re familiar with it, you know the meal is essentially a long recitation of the pivotal story that has shaped Jewish culture to this day.  To a lesser extent, the  Christian equivalent of this table experience is seen in the sacrament of Communion.

Of course, the meals I’m talking about are not supposed to be rehearsed nor will they probably represent part of a historical narrative. Nevertheless the passing on of deeper meaning in stories seems to happen better at the table.

Here’s the link in case the one above doesn’t work:
http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Silence-Memoir-Michele-Norris/dp/0307378764/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285257697&sr=1-1