Society is structured by stories. The stories underlie the texts that surround us in everyday life, and often go unnoticed, but can influence how we think, talk and act. They are the stories we live by. While some are working well, others are contributing to inequality and environmental destruction. With the current pandemic, we have an unprecedented opportunity to rethink the stories that our society is based on and find forms of language which can help contribute to a more equal and sustainable world.