This interview features writer and producer Shonda Rhymes and TED curator Cindy Stivers, recorded live at TED 2017.

So, future of storytelling, before we do the future, let's talk about what is never going to change about storytelling.

What's never going to change? Obviously, I think good stories are never

going to change. The need for people to gather together and exchange their stories and to talk about

the things that feel universal, the idea that we all feel a compelling need to watch stories,

to tell stories, to share stories, sort of the gathering around the campfire to discuss the things

that tell each one of us that we are not alone in the world. Those things to me are never

going to change. Like that essence of storytelling is never going to change. Okay. In preparation

for this conversation, I checked in with Susan Lyne, who was running ABC Entertainment

when you were working on Grey's Anatomy.

And she said that there was this indelible memory she had of your casting process, where

without discussing it with any of the executives, you got people coming in to read for your scripts,

and every one of them was the full range of humanity.

You did not type anyone in any way, and that it was completely surprising.

So she said, in addition to retraining the studio executives, you also, she feels, and I think this is, I agree,

retrained the expectations

of the American TV audience.

So what else

does the audience not yet realize

that it needs?

What else do they not yet realize?

Well, I mean, I don't think we're anywhere near there yet.

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