Events & Lectures
Sylvia Ewing, left, and Marrianne McMullen discuss Persuasive: 40 Lessons in Communicating for the Common Good at at Tangible Books in Chicago.
Storytelling as Strategy
At a recent half-day workshop at Impact House in downtown Chicago, Gordon Mayer and Marrianne McMullen led a training in capturing and telling compelling stories that move organizations toward their goals. For more information about available workshops and trainings, email persuasive4good@gmail.com.
Busboys & Poets,
Washington, DC
Presentations, Interviews & More
2026
Persuasive is chosen for the President’s Reading Room at the Obama Presidential Center. The reading room holds a collection personally curated by Barack and Michelle Obama.
Storytelling as Strategy: a 3-hour workshop with Gordon Mayer for how non-profits can identify and tell the stories that will advance their organization’s goals, Chicago.
2025
Communication in a Crisis Era: Maintaining Impact Amidst the Noise, strategic communication workshop at the Netroots Nation conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Just a Few Questions podcast interview
Persuasive book talk and discussion at Pilsen Community Books, Chicago
2024
“Timely Lessons: ComNet Book Talk,” Dec. 2, 2024, video recording
Persuasive book talk and discussion, with author Matt Kohut, Busboys and Poets, Washington DC
Persuasive book talk and discussion, Earlham College, with Professor Victor Kumar, Richmond, Indiana
Persuasive public book talk at the University of Dayton, with UD Communications School Dean Chad Painter
Dayton Voice Story Hour, Blind Bob’s Bar
Using Principles of Persuasion to Support Health Outreach, Lurie Children’s Hospital Outreach Team, Chicago
Applying the Persuasion Matrix, American Marketing Association, Chicago
Above photos at Tangible Books by DORRIYON WARD
Marrianne McMullen reads an excerpt from her book Persuasive at a Pilsen Community Books event.
Guest Lectures
Guest Lectures
“Writing Persuasively,” presentation for the Public Relations Society of America
“Applying Principles of Persuasion in Health Communications,” Health and Communications course, University of Dayton
“Sociology of Social Media,” to media and communications majors, Earlham College
“Using Public Interest Communications to Translate Academic Research to Grassroots Audiences,” to communications graduate students and communication professionals at the University of Minnesota
Dayton Voice Reunion & Story Hour
September 29, 2024
At Blind Bob’s Tavern in the Oregon District
Former Dayton Voice staff, free-lancers and supporters gathered to hear stories from Persuasive about publishing the alternative newsweekly in the ‘90s, and to share their own stories.