Stories stick in our brains 22 times better than facts and figures. There's a reason why we tell stories to our children at bedtime rather than reading them fact-based reports. The human brain is wired for stories. Partly due to our evolutionary survival, and also due to our emotional limbic system, humans have often used storytelling as a cornerstone of belonging and inclusion.

Fred Diamond‘s work at the Institute for Excellence in Sales (IES) and advocacy for Lyme disease awareness highlight how personal challenges can enhance one’s professional capabilities. In a recent conversation with Collin Stewart on the Predictable Revenue podcast, Fred shared how an unusual path involving his battle with Lyme disease made him a better sales leader.

At a time of extreme political polarization, heightened racial tensions, and cross-cultural conflicts in the United States (and beyond), how can we encourage Americans to build relationships with—or even just try to understand—people who have different backgrounds or views from their own? And how can scientific research help us chart a positive path forward for our multi-racial, multi-ethnic democracy?