Narrative storytelling
True stories, documentaries, deep dives
Cold open
Direction: Hushed, intimate, slow pace — pull the listener close.
Start mid-scene with a vivid moment. No introduction, no host name — just the story already in motion.
Title & premise
Direction: Lift the energy slightly; confident and clear.
Name the show and the episode's central question in one sentence each.
Act one — setup
Direction: Steady, curious, measured pacing.
Introduce the people, place and stakes. End the act on the moment everything changes.
Act two — tension
Direction: Faster pace, rising intensity, shorter sentences.
Complicate the story. Each new fact should raise the stakes of the central question.
Act three — resolution
Direction: Slow back down; warm, reflective delivery.
Answer the question — or explain why it can't be answered. Land on one image the listener keeps.
Outro
Direction: Friendly, unhurried, smiling slightly.
Thank the listener, tease the next episode, and give one clear call to action.