I'm Gretchen Ruben and this is a little happier.

The subject of storytelling is super trendy right now.

I feel like everyone is saying, we're storytellers.

We harness the power of story.

We teach through story.

And often they say this as if they discovered it

or been the first to make use of story.

I don't disagree about the power of stories.

I absolutely agree.

And when I was reading a book of Esaubs Fables,

I was reminded that although the power of storytelling

is trendy right now, it's an ancient truth

that has been recognized throughout the centuries.

Now Esaubs Fables date from the fifth to sixth century BCE.

That is old.

There are various versions.

And in my collection, the story,

Demides and the audience recounts.

Demides of famous Greek order was once addressing

an assembly of Athens on a subject of great importance

and in vain tried to fix the attention of his heroes.

They laughed among themselves, watched the sports of the children,

...