Have You Ever Heard the Story of Pumpkins and Snakes?

Note:

The story of Pumpkins and Snakes — or sometimes Pumpkins and Dragons — has travelled through storytelling and training circles over time, adapted and retold in many forms. Its origins are rooted in oral tradition, and the version we use at Kunjani is one such adaptation. Like all good stories, it continues to evolve — and its meaning shifts depending on who hears it.

At Kunjani, we use the power of story as a secret super power.

In a quiet village, a strange shape appears in the mist. The villagers panic. Is it a snake? A monster? No one knows for sure — but the belief spreads. Fear sets in. And what happens next says everything about human behaviour.

This is just one of the many stories we use in our training rooms — not just to entertain, but to transform.

Because at Kunjani, story isn’t an icebreaker. It’s the framework.

Why We Use Story in Training

In almost every Kunjani deck, story plays a central role. We use it to:

• Theme the session

• Anchor the learning

• Surface reflection

• Invite lived experience

  
  

Whether the focus is emotional intelligence, leadership, feedback, customer service, or team dynamics, we start with story.

It lowers defences. It opens curiosity. It makes space for truth.

Case in Point: Pumpkins and Snakes

We often use this story when training on emotional intelligence. It offers a clear window into how different people respond to fear, truth, and unfamiliar perspectives.

Each character group illustrates a distinct relationship to emotional awareness and behaviour:

• The Third Traveller reflects the emotionally intelligent leader. He reads the villagers’ fear and responds with empathy, not confrontation. He communicates effectively by meeting them where they are.

• The First Two Travellers represent independent thinkers who are self-aware but socially unaware. They know the truth but can’t deliver it in a way others will accept.

• The Villagers act impulsively from fear. They lack both self-awareness and social awareness, resisting perspectives that don’t match their own.

This framework helps learners map the story onto real workplace scenarios — and often, onto their own patterns and teams. It’s not about judgment. It’s about seeing clearly.

From Story to Self-Awareness

The real shift happens when learners begin to recognise themselves in the story.They start to connect the dots:

• “This reminds me of something in my team.”

• “I’ve seen this dynamic play out before.”

• “Now I understand why my message didn’t land.”

We don’t push for this. We simply hold space.

The story becomes a safe mirror — allowing participants to explore their behaviour, assumptions, and choices with curiosity rather than defensiveness.

That’s where growth happens.

The Science of Storytelling in Learning

We’re not doing this because it sounds nice.

As Trainers Warehouse puts it:

“Use memories of the past to anchor lessons… Sharing stories that connect to universal themes primes learners to emotionally engage with the material.”

Storytelling taps into memory, emotion, and imagination — the conditions our brains need for meaningful learning. When learners connect a new concept to a personal experience, they’re more likely to retain it and apply it.

It’s not a trend. It’s neuroscience.

Tips for Training Professionals

If you're a facilitator, coach, or learning designer, here are four ways you can start using story more intentionally in your sessions:

1. Choose the right story: Find something with emotional resonance and a clear turning point. It doesn’t need to be long or dramatic — just relatable.

2. Let the story carry the message: Don’t explain it too quickly. Let the group sit with it. Ask open questions. Let meaning emerge naturally.

3. Invite memory, not performance: Encourage learners to reflect on experiences sparked by the story. That’s where the real learning sticks.

4. Don’t be afraid of metaphor: People often see themselves more clearly in stories than in models or frameworks. Stories create the safety needed for insight.

Final Thought

Stories help people feel the learning. And when people feel it, they remember it.

So the next time you're designing a session, ask yourself: What story could carry this message? What human truth might unlock a shift in the room?

Then let the story do what it does best: transform.

Curious about how we build story-based training experiences — across WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, live events, and more? We’d love to connect and share ideas. Get in touch, or follow along as we keep exploring new ways to make learning stick.