In this powerful solo episode of Digital Mythology, host Declan Goodman dives deep into the third and final pillar of his storytelling framework for digital transformation: Catalyst. With storytelling flair and insightful metaphors, Declan unpacks how igniting emotional and role-based engagement is key to winning stakeholder buy-in. He explores how “Catalyst” serves as the driving force that turns understanding into action—clarifying stakeholder roles, inspiring identity within the transformation journey, and ensuring each person feels both seen and essential. From bamboo tree metaphors to practical engagement tactics, this episode is a must-listen for transformation leaders seeking to connect, motivate, and mobilize their teams.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – 02:00 | Welcome & Recap
Declan reintroduces the Digital Mythology podcast, his background in IT, and the purpose of the show: using storytelling to empower digital transformation. He briefly references the three pillars: Shin (emotion), Metaphor (understanding), and Catalyst (action).

02:01 – 04:45 | What is Catalyst?
Declan defines Catalyst as the spark that drives engagement. After connecting with stakeholders emotionally (Shin) and intellectually (Metaphor), Catalyst is about inspiring action and involvement.

04:46 – 08:00 | Catalyst and Stakeholder Identity
He discusses the importance of helping stakeholders see their role in the story. By creating a sense of identity—whether as champions, contributors, or informed observers—stakeholders become more invested.

08:01 – 11:30 | The Bamboo Tree Metaphor & Long-Term Engagement
Declan uses the metaphor of a bamboo tree (long time underground, rapid growth) to illustrate the slow but powerful build-up of digital transformation and how early stakeholder engagement matters—even if results aren’t visible immediately.

11:31 – 15:00 | Role Clarity and Business Alignment
He offers real-world examples of how to define stakeholder roles at different phases. Whether it’s gathering business requirements or supporting vendor management, clarity drives confidence and alignment.

15:01 – 17:00 | Crafting the Story for Your Audience
Declan advises tailoring your transformation story to your audience, much like screenwriters adapt scripts for demographics. The aim is to reduce fear, eliminate rumors, and foster active participation.

17:01 – 18:00 | Final Thoughts & Call to Share
He closes by inviting feedback from listeners, especially change managers, encouraging a shared dialogue about how to best ignite the flame of transformation in others.

Why Listen
This episode blends actionable strategy with evocative storytelling. Whether you're a digital leader, change agent, or just passionate about transformation, Declan’s Catalyst framework provides the inspiration and structure needed to turn strategy into reality.

As you embark on your digital transformation journey, remember that success isn't just about the tools or technology—it's about how well you can tell your story. By leveraging the timeless power of mythology, storytelling, and emotional connection, you can engage stakeholders, win buy-in, and inspire action. The Digital Mythology Podcast is here to help you bridge the gap between complex tech and human understanding, transforming your digital efforts into a narrative that truly resonates.

Join host Declan Goodman as he guides you through this journey, one story at a time.

In this thought-provoking episode of Digital Mythology, host Declan Goodman is joined by renowned educator and design science expert Dr. Wayne Hellmuth to unravel the intricate relationship between digital transformation, learning, and identity. More than just a conversation about technology in education, this episode dives deep into the human side of digital experiences, blending ancient mythological insights with modern-day challenges in learning and self-understanding.

Together, Declan and Wayne explore why storytelling, identity, and embodied experience matter more than ever in an increasingly digital world. They critique the over-reliance on tech in schools and workplaces and emphasize how digital systems risk detaching us from authentic, social, emotional, and physical identity—core pillars necessary for meaningful learning. Grounded in philosophy, psychology, and educational theory, this episode is both a call to reflection and a practical guide for parents, educators, and digital professionals alike.

🧭 Episode Breakdown

00:00 – 05:30 | Opening & Intentions
Declan introduces the episode’s theme: identity in the digital age, and why storytelling is a critical lens for understanding digital transformation.

05:30 – 15:00 | Dr. Wayne Hellmuth: From Literacy to Design Science
Wayne shares his 35-year journey from classroom teaching to his PhD in design science, focusing on solving “wicked problems” in education with information systems.

15:00 – 25:00 | The Learning Crisis: Can Tech Really Teach?
A philosophical unpacking of whether digital tools can truly replace embodied learning. Declan and Wayne question if current tech-driven methods enhance or hinder educational outcomes.

25:00 – 35:00 | Digital Identity vs. Real-World Roles
Explores how social roles shape identity and the impact of digital platforms—where role clarity and uniqueness often blur or vanish.

35:00 – 45:00 | Social, Emotional, and Physical Identity in Learning
Introduces the Three Learning Pillars:

• Social Identity: Role salience and group contribution.
• Emotional Identity: Dr. Marc Brackett’s RULER model (Recognize, Understand, Label, Express, Regulate).
• Physical Identity: Importance of play, hands-on learning, and embodied cognition.

45:00 – 55:00 | The Cost of Convenience: Doomscrolling, Disconnection & ADHD
An honest discussion about how digital habits disrupt attention, emotional regulation, and genuine learning—especially in children and teenagers.

55:00 – 60:00 | Tips & Takeaways: How to Reclaim Identity in Learning
Wayne offers actionable advice:

• Encourage multiple social roles for children to build diverse identity anchors.
• Teach emotional literacy using the RULER framework.
• Reintroduce physical play and real-world activities to ground learning in experience.

As you embark on your digital transformation journey, remember that success isn't just about the tools or technology—it's about how well you can tell your story. By leveraging the timeless power of mythology, storytelling, and emotional connection, you can engage stakeholders, win buy-in, and inspire action. The Digital Mythology Podcast is here to help you bridge the gap between complex tech and human understanding, transforming your digital efforts into a narrative that truly resonates.

Join host Declan Goodman as he guides you through this journey, one story at a time.

🔍 Episode Synopsis:

In this insightful episode, Declan Goodman explores the second pillar of the Digital Mythology storytelling framework: metaphors. Building on the foundation of the first pillar, Xin (the heartfelt narrative), Declan emphasizes the critical role of metaphors in bridging the gap between complex technical language and stakeholder understanding. With engaging examples—from ancient parables to surfing metaphors—he demonstrates how metaphors can transform digital transformation conversations into relatable, memorable stories that foster alignment and buy-in across an organization. Whether you're leading a digital initiative or trying to gain executive support, this episode provides practical tools to help you communicate with impact.

🧩 Episode Breakdown:

00:00 – 01:20
Introduction & Context
Declan reintroduces the podcast and sets the stage by revisiting the storytelling framework, with a focus on the second pillar: metaphors.

01:21 – 04:30
Why Metaphors Matter in Tech
Declan explains why the digital industry, known for its jargon, needs metaphors more than most. Like engineering or architecture, digital systems are complex—and metaphors help translate that complexity into human terms.

04:31 – 07:50
Metaphors as Bridges
Metaphors serve as bridges between technical speak and business language. Declan positions them as the “middle” of the storytelling tree—linking emotion (Xin) with action (to be covered in future episodes).

07:51 – 11:10
Examples: The Blind Men and the Elephant
Declan uses the classic parable to illustrate how different perspectives in an organization can lead to misunderstanding—and how a single metaphor can align everyone around the bigger picture.

11:11 – 13:50
“What’s In It For Me?” & Surfing the Digital Wave
Tackling common resistance to change, Declan shares examples of metaphors that resonate with stakeholders—like planting seeds for future systems, or catching the right wave at the right time.

13:51 – 15:50
Metaphor Strategy: Match the Domain or Shift the Lens
Guidance on selecting metaphors tailored to stakeholder backgrounds—sometimes staying close to their area of expertise, other times deliberately shifting perspective to unlock new understanding.

15:51 – 17:00
Closing Thoughts & Call for Listener Metaphors
Declan recaps the value of metaphor as a communication tool and invites listeners to share their own culturally diverse metaphorical approaches to digital transformation.

🎧 Perfect for:
Digital leaders, transformation professionals, tech communicators, and anyone looking to engage stakeholders through the art of storytelling.

As you embark on your digital transformation journey, remember that success isn't just about the tools or technology—it's about how well you can tell your story. By leveraging the timeless power of mythology, storytelling, and emotional connection, you can engage stakeholders, win buy-in, and inspire action. The Digital Mythology Podcast is here to help you bridge the gap between complex tech and human understanding, transforming your digital efforts into a narrative that truly resonates.

Join host Declan Goodman as he guides you through this journey, one story at a time.